The Parks Empire: Secrets, Lies and Loves. Marie Ferrarella

some of it,” Sara admitted. “She helped me get the town house…” Realizing she might have said too much, Sara let the words trail off.

      “Yes, I’d already figured a bit of collusion there.”

      “I didn’t plan the rest,” she said in a low voice. “What happened between us, the visit to the ranch and…and everything.”

      He stood and paced the deck like a caged beast. “That’s good to know. For a while, I thought maybe you’d faked your response, then I decided you hadn’t. It was too compelling for either of us to pretend.”

      “I didn’t expect it. The passion, the terrible need, like lightning inside me.” With an effort, she stopped the futile confession. “It was unwise.”

      “But good,” he murmured, so quietly she could hardly hear. “So very, very good.”

      They observed each other without speaking for a full minute. Torrents of hunger surged between them like a storm tide caused by an angry god, bent on vengeance.

      Sara stood it as long as she could, then she fled inside and locked the door behind her, not to keep him out but to remind herself that she must stay in. His arms were not the safe haven she sought.

      There was no safe place, she realized, until the past could be exposed, then decently buried for all time.