Read Online Sarah's Secret by Catherine George - Free Book Online Page B

prevailing mood of deep depression made the next day so much harder to bear than usual that her colleagues even asked if she were coming down with something. To demonstrate that she wasn’t she drove herself so hard that in addition to her usual work she finished most of the day’s correspondence during office hours, then stayed on late to finish the rest.
    When Sarah emerged into rain pouring down from a sky as dark as her mood, she trudged along under an umbrella, wondering why on earth she’d polished off the mail in the office when there was a whole evening yawning ahead of her with nothing to do. She was sunk so deep in gloom she jumped yards at a touch on her arm, and whirled round to come face to face with Jake Hogan. He looked tall and unfamiliar in a belted raincoat, a dripping hat pulled down over eyes that held none of their usual smiling warmth.
    ‘You worked late today,’ he said, without greeting.
    ‘Hello, Jake,’ Sarah retorted pointedly, to disguise how utterly delighted she was to see him. ‘What are you doing here?’
    ‘Waiting for you, and getting drenched for my pains. I’ll drive you home.’ Without waiting for consent he took her arm to hurry her to the car waiting at the kerb, but said nothing about his reason for waiting for her. They were halfway to Campden Road before Sarah could bring herself to break the silence between them.
    ‘I’m sorry about last night,’ she said at last, staring at the rain sluicing down the windscreen.
    ‘So am I.’ He slanted a baffled look at her. ‘What the hell did I do ?’
    ‘You said you like the truth,’ she said after a while.
    ‘Normally, yes,’ agreed Jake heavily. ‘This time, probably not.’
    Spit it out, Sarah told herself. Get it over with. ‘You said you wanted to be part of my life in whatever way I chose.’
    He nodded, his face sombre. ‘I did. And I meant it.’ He parked the car outside the house, took off the hat, tossed it into the back seat, then turned to look at her. ‘I still mean it.’
    Sarah returned the look steadily. ‘Jake, how long did your association with the advertising lady last?’
    His eyes narrowed. ‘Not very long at all. Three—no, four—weekends. Probably no more than ten days or so, all told.’
    ‘But right from the start you were sleeping together?’
    Jake’s eyes lit with sudden comprehension. ‘Yes. I went to stay in her flat, and she took it for granted I’d share her bed.’ He shrugged. ‘It’s common enough practice, Sarah.’
    ‘So common that bed was the plan you had for me last night, too?’
    Jake stared at her in brooding silence for so long Sarah was on the point of getting out of the car when he finally spoke.
    ‘You mean you can’t bear the thought of that, Sarah? With me?’
    ‘No,’ she admitted, flushing. ‘I don’t mean that at all. But it’s not going to happen just the same, Jake. No bed. Just friendship.’
    He took her hand. ‘You might change your mind as you get to know me better.’
    ‘I wouldn’t count on it.’ Sarah looked away. ‘I enjoy your company, but that’s as far as it goes, Jake.’
    He put a finger under her chin and brought her round to look at him, the hard planes of his face softened a little. ‘Is it a case of once bitten, twice shy, Sarah?’
    She nodded mutely, taking refuge in an explanation he could accept.
    Jake took her hand in a firm, warm clasp. ‘I still want to spend time with you, Sarah.’
    ‘I want that, too,’ she assured him.
    He relaxed visibly. ‘So what are you doing tonight?’
    ‘Nothing much.’
    The brooding look disappeared, replaced by the sudden familiar smile which breached every defence she possessed. ‘There’s a Clint Eastwood film on at the Regal. If I promise—Scouts’ honour—just to hold your hand, will you come?’
    Sarah’s smile matched Jake’s, her dark mood suddenly vanished. ‘An offer I can’t resist. Will you throw in popcorn?’
    ‘Ice-cream, too, if you’re