Wanted A Real Family(51)
Had Jase even considered that?
“Could it be that you’re the one who’s ashamed of it, and you constantly try to make good because of it?” she asked perceptively.
“You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“Maybe not, but I think you want to succeed because at one time no one thought you could.”
“Playing the therapist again?”
“You brought this up, Jase, and I’m trying to figure out why. Why tonight, when we got closer?”
Had they gotten closer? With Sara, physical intimacy seemed to lead to emotional intimacy. That had never been true with Dana.
They started walking again and as they neared the cottage, Sara suddenly stood her ground and straightened her shoulders. “Do you think you were protecting me tonight—against knowing my own mind and making my own mistakes?”
“Yes, I was protecting you. Your life is unsettled and I don’t want to take advantage of you.”
“I think that’s hogwash. I think you were protecting yourself. Your walls are higher than mine.”
When he didn’t respond, she turned to go.
The door to the cottage was only about ten yards away, and he could just let her fade into her life with Amy without saying another word. But he couldn’t let her go like that.
He grabbed her hand, pulled her close and kissed her.
When they broke apart, he didn’t have to say anything and neither did she. Words were irrelevant. They wanted each other, maybe even needed each other. Still, he wasn’t ready to give in to that need, even if she was.
He would make no mistake this time.
* * *
The following day, Jase was working on the next Mommy Club article, going over his interview with Sara. It was going to be a good piece. It would capture readers’ attentions and definitely draw them in.
When Liam came into his office for a planned meeting, Jase checked his watch and saw the afternoon had almost disappeared.
“More PR to take along to San Jose to the Wine Expo?” Liam asked with a brow arched.
“No, it’s an article for the newspaper.”
“Another Mommy Club piece?”
Jase nodded.
“Did Sara give you the go-ahead for her interview to go into print?”
Jase didn’t show his surprise that Liam knew about both the article and Sara’s interview. “She talked to you about it?” he asked evenly.
“She was unsure about going ahead with it. I just pointed out it would be better for her to lay out the truth rather than letting the general public create fiction. I think I finally persuaded her. I’m glad to see she’s taking my advice.”
“What specific advice was that?” The fact that Sara had talked this out with Liam rather than him bothered him.
“I told her the truth never hurts. People are going to think what they want, but she should at least give them a fair shot at thinking the right thing.”
“So you and Sara are getting to know each other?”
Liam shrugged. “We are. Little by little.”
Although Jase wanted to know exactly what that meant, his pride kept him from asking. He wouldn’t give Liam the satisfaction of thinking any involvement he had with Sara bothered him.
As Jase studied Liam, he wondered if Sara asked his advice because she liked him...because she trusted his judgment. She didn’t know him well enough for that, did she? Or was she attracted to Liam for the same reason she’d been attracted to Conrad—because he was older?
An hour later, his conversation with Liam still running around in his head after their meeting, Jase sat at his desk to do one last edit on the article. When the phone rang, he picked it up automatically. Marissa was long gone.
Checking caller ID, he saw that it was Sara.
After his hello, she said, “I’m so glad you’re still there.”
“You have my cell number.”
“I called that first but got voice mail.”
He’d forgotten he’d turned off his phone for his meeting with Liam. “I turned it off for a meeting. What’s up?” There was something in her voice that put him on alert. Shakiness? Fearfulness? Something.
“It’s Amy. I don’t know what to do. She’s gone.”
“What do you mean gone? How’s that possible?”
“I had a phone call and when I turned around, she wasn’t here. The door wasn’t latched properly and I think she went outside. I looked all around, but I don’t know which way to go.”
“She can’t have gone that far. I’ll alert everyone and we’ll start a search. Stay put. I’ll be over there as soon as I call Liam and Dad. If anyone’s still left in the winery, they can search, too.”