Chapter 28

Twenty-Eight

SARA

So much for packing.We barely made it back into his room before he stripped off my bathrobe. The man had an insatiable appetite for sex, but I wasn’t complaining. He could give me all the orgasms he wanted. I would never grow tired of his body, especially when his chest felt like the safest place in the world.

Afterward, I lay in bed, curled into him, watching as the minutes ticked down on his clock to the moment I’d have to leave. The thought of separating from him twisted a knot in my stomach.

“What’s his name?” he asked out of nowhere.

I pushed up on my elbow and looked at him with a furrowed brow. “Who?”

“The guy who hurt you.”

I looked away and rolled out of bed. “Why do you need to know his name?”

“Just curious, I guess.”

I found my clothes and dressed. “Not good enough.” I tried to sound playful, but dread lurked behind those words. Tom had been so open about his past, yet I still couldn’t bring myself up to talk about mine. I was such a hypocrite and I hated myself for it.

Tom rolled over on his side, resting his head on one hand. He was so breathtakingly handsome with his just-had-sex hair, his lion eyes still swimming with pleasure, and those lips swollen with heated blood. It hurt to look at him. I would never be able to resist the way his eyes sparkled when he smiled at me. I simply didn’t deserve such adoration.

“Well, what’s his name?” he pressed, a mischievous shadow crossing his eyes.

“You’re not serious, are you?”

“Yeah, I’m serious. I want to know his name. I think you owe me as much.”

He had a point.

“Josh.”

“Josh…” he repeated contemplatively, then he rolled onto his back, tucking his arms behind his head and staring at the ceiling fan spinning above.

I finished putting on my silver flats and combed my hair with my fingers. “What are you thinking?”

“Nothing.”

I put my hands on my hips. “Don’t tell me nothing. I saw a thought cross your face.”

“Oh, you can see thoughts?”

“I can see when you’re thinking, so spill it.”

“I don’t like him. I don’t know him, and I don’t like him.” There was stillness about his voice that sent a cold shiver down my spine.

“He’s in the past, Tom. And not a big deal anymore.”

“I don’t like the idea of anyone hurting you.”

I smiled. “He can’t hurt me anymore.” I turned and walked toward the bathroom.

Josh was hundreds of miles away on another continent, in jungles and savannas, hunting wildlife with his camera. He was completely out of my life. Had been for a while. Perhaps, it was time to let go.

I peered up at the vanity mirror, and as I dotted pink gloss on my lips, thoughts of a past long gone bled through, and in the mirror, I saw Josh’s face staring back at me. I hadn’t thought about him, at least not like this, in a very long time. I shut my eyes, trying to erase his icy blue eyes and pale blond, curly hair. The image wouldn’t dissolve. His face still glowed with the sun’s rays, highlighting a dust of freckles on each cheek. His smile had always been so radiant.

I took a deep breath and exhaled his memory from my mind. This time, the images faded back to the dark corners of my past.

Where they needed to stay.

Permanently.

* * *

We made it to the airport with only forty minutes to spare before my scheduled flight. Before take-off, I dialed Jen.

After two rings, she picked up. “Hey, Ms. California. When are you returning to the world of the common folk?”

“My plane is going to start taxiing soon. I just wanted to tell you my flight is on schedule, so hopefully, I should be arriving on time.”

“I’ll pick you up.”

“It’s okay. Tom’s got a car service already scheduled to pick me up.”

“Of course, he does. I’ll be waiting for you at home then, with your favorite cup of joe.”

“I’ll need it.”

“You can stay awake by telling me about your trip. I’m anxious to hear everything. By the way, did you talk to Lisa?”

“Josh’s sister? Why would I be talking to her?”

“She called me asking for you. I told her you were in Santa Monica and she got all excited. She asked for your number, something about wanting to talk to you about work. She lives in L.A., so she figured you guys would meet up or something.”

“That explains the missed unknown call on my phone. Look, I gotta go. Tell you all about my trip when I see you.”

“Can’t wait.”

“And, Jen. Make sure we’re stocked on ice cream.”

“Ooh…bad news binge or good news gorge?”

“Tons of good news gorge. Bye…” I crooned sweetly.