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  “Jack, please I don’t want to talk about it,” she said.

  “I’m sorry, but you should have told us, maybe we could have stopped him,” he said, with a frown.

  “Jack, I’m sorry, I know but, I wanted to protect you. As long as he was hurting me he was leaving you two alone.” Tears ran down Jack’s cheek and he threw his arms around her.

  “I love you, Mum,” he wept.

  “I love you, Jack,” she wept back, holding him.

  “Jane,” her voice called from the door. She let go of Jack, and looked at her.

  “Mum,” she cried.

  “Oh thank god, Jane,” she cried, and she threw her arms around her and hugged her so tight.

  “What are you doing here?” she asked, surprised at seeing her mother here.

  “Are you serious?” she barked. “My daughter is almost killed and you ask what I am doing here. Alex had me and Jeff booked on the next flight home, I have been staying with him and the boys at Brooke Manor.”

  “Is there anyone not staying at Brooke Manor?” she said with a happy laugh. She cupped a hand to her face.

  “Jane, why didn’t you ever tell me? I mean I never liked him, you knew that; but I had no idea what he did to you.”

  “Mum, please, I know. I know I should have told people, but I was too scared of losing the boys.” She glanced at Jack, and he smiled at her.

  “Well, I hope that bastard gets what he deserves. Life in prison for what he did to you,” her Mum said, taking her hand and holding it tight.

  “So where’s Jeff?” she asked of her mum’s partner.

  “He had to go back, a couple of days ago, to sort out the bar. He will fly back next week. I have rung him and told him the good news and he sends his love,” she said, with a smile. She smiled back, she liked Jeff, although they had not married, he adored her mum.

  “Jane,” she said, giving her the biggest smile. “Alex is a wonderful man, you have done well there darling. He has been so worried, between you and his mother he has lived at this hospital. He brought Elizabeth home a few days ago, and well she and I have become good friends. She is a lovely lady.”

  “Yes, she is,” she agreed. “Where is Alex?” she asked.

  “Right here, Darling,” he said coming up behind her mother. Her eyes lifted to his, and the love she saw in them for her sent a shock wave right through her body.

  “Well, come on Jack, time to let your mother rest. We will pop back tonight, okay.”

  “Okay, Mum,” she said, giving her a kiss.

  “I love you,” she said.

  “I love you too.”

  “See you later, Mum,” Jack said, giving her a kiss. “I love you,” he whispered.

  “I love you, Jack.”

  Alex said goodbye, and sat on the side of the bed and took up her hand.

  “When can I go home?” she asked.

  “I will ask the doctor and find out.” He let go of her hand, jumped up from the bed and went to find the doctor. Twenty minutes later, he reappeared.

  “One more week,” he said, and she groaned. Alex laughed, and he waggled his finger at her.

  “Now you sound like my mother,” he said.

  “I want to be at home with you,” she said.

  “I know, and you will very soon,” he replied, and he moved along the bed, and pulled her into his arms. “And until then I will stay with you, every minute I am allowed,” he promised.

  “What about work?” she asked.

  “Fuck work,” he replied, and he kissed her.

  Chapter Seventeen

  One week later

  “Seriously, Alex, I can walk,” she laughed, as he lifted her up into his arms, and carried her towards the front door.

  “I do not care, I am going to look after you, and if I want to carry you I will,” he said.

  Before he had a chance to open it, the door flew open, and Elizabeth stood there, smiling at them.

  “Welcome home,” she said, to Jane.

  “Thank you, Elizabeth. I can walk, but he will not let me,” she said embarrassed.

  “And rightly so,” she said, in agreement with Alex. Jane groaned, as she would never win against them both. Still carrying her, Alex followed his mother towards the den. As they stepped in the room, Jane screamed. There was a huge, ‘Welcome home, Mum” banner, along with balloons and bunting strung up everywhere.

  “Claire, Sophie!” she yelled, when she saw a best friends grinning at her. “What are you doing here?” she said.

  “Well, Alex invited us of course,” Sophie, said, wiping a tear from her eye.

  Alex put her down onto the sofa, and Sophie and Claire both flung their arms around her and squeezed her tight.

  “I love you baby, welcome back to the land of the living,” Claire said, and she kissed her cheek.

  “Thank you,” Jane said, and wiping tears from her eyes, she looked at her boys, Elizabeth, her mother, Jeff, Uncle Joe, and Tom. “All of you thank so much,” she said. Alex sat down on the edge of the sofa.

  “Welcome home Princess,” he said and he kissed her lips gently, and lovingly. Jane’s heart pounded, as he was right, this place did feel like home.

  “How long are you staying?” Jane asked Claire as she sipped a cup of tea.

  “We have to go back tomorrow I’m afraid, but we will back for a visit soon,” she said.

  “Good, I miss you girls,” Jane said, smiling at her.

  “We miss you too, Jane. He is nuts about you,” she said. Jane glanced over to Alex, and he was laughing with Michael.

  “I know,” she said, with a smile.

  “He found our number on your phone and rang us, the morning after it happened, he was so distraught. He promised us that he would take care of you, and if we wanted to come and see you after he transferred you to Exeter, he said we were welcome to stay here. We did, too, last weekend, but you still had not woken up.”

  “I’m sorry,” Jane said.

  “Why, it was not your fault, it was that bastard,” she replied, and she gave her another hug.

  Jane gave a nod, and she did not want to think of Sam anymore. She was going to have to face the trial at some point over the next year, but until that day, she did not want to speak of him, as to her, he no longer existed.

  As Jane grew tired, she said goodnight to everyone and Alex carried her upstairs to his bedroom.

  “Would you like me to run you a bath?” he offered, as he laid her onto his bed.

  “Alex, that would be wonderful,” she said. He leaned and kissed her, before going into the ensuite and running the bath. He poured in some bubble bath, and lit a few candles. Jane undressed and wandered into the bathroom.

  “Hey,” he said, “what are you doing?” he scolded, and he immediately took hold of her.

  “Alex, I am fine, I can walk.”

  “Take it easy, that is what the doctor said, bed rest for at least another week, otherwise you go back,” he said, firmly.

  “Okay, okay,” she said, with a giggle, “I give in.”

  “Good, now is that water okay?” he asked. She dipped her hand into the water and gave him a nod.

  “Perfect,” she purred, and he helped her into the bath.

  “If you need me, shout, I will be at my desk,” he said, pointing out of the bathroom.

  “Okay, thank you,” she replied, and she sank down into the hot water. She noticed her toiletry bag was by the side, so she picked it up and opened it. She gave a smile, as there were some razors, so she could do her legs and underarms, moisturisers, cotton wool and other bits and pieces essential for a woman.

  “Your mum,” he shouted, before she had a chance to ask. “She picked up some of your clothes as well, they are in the wardrobe and undies in the chest of drawers,” he added.

  “Oh, thanks,” she yelled back. “Hey how did you know I was going to ask that?” He chortled to himself, stood up and wandered over to the bathroom door. He leaned on the frame, and gazed at her.

&n
bsp; “Because beautiful, I am tuned in to your thoughts?” he said, tapping his head with his index finger.

  “Okay, what am I thinking now?” she asked, with a grin and he grinned back.

  “As much as I want to make love to you, you are not well enough yet.”

  “Oh,” she groaned.

  “How about I give you a massage instead and get those muscles of yours working properly?”

  “Mr Hartley-Stone, that sounds wonderful,” she replied, and she blew him a kiss. He caught it and pushed it to his lips, before returning the kiss back to her.

  Twenty minutes later, he helped her from the bath and she dried herself and put on some knickers.

  “Get into bed, I am going for a quick shower, and after I will give you a massage,” he said, kissing her brow. She slid into the bed and he covered her with a sheet. Alex showered, and put on his boxer shorts. He grabbed the massaging oil he had purchased specifically for this purpose, and walked back into her.

  “Not asleep,” he said, as he sat beside her.

  “No way, I am so looking forward to this and cuddling up to you tonight. I have missed you so much,” she said, and she took hold of him and hugged him. His skin against hers made her body tingle, and she wished so much that she was fit enough to love him properly.

  “I missed you too. Now onto your front,” he said, pulling the sheet back. She did as he asked, and he swept her long hair to one side, and began to massage her gently. Her whole body shuddered in delight.

  “We are going to have to feed you up,” he said, as he ran his hands down the length of her spine. “You have lost a lot of weight,” he added.

  “So you liked my curves?” she asked.

  “I loved your curves,” he replied, and he lowered his mouth and kissed her shoulder. “A few champagne and chocolate picnics are in order,” he said.

  “Ooh, I can’t wait,” she replied.

  He smiled at her, and kissed her some more, before massaging down each of her legs. When he had finished, he snuggled in behind her, and pulled her against his chest. He inhaled her, and sighed.

  “That was a big sigh,” she remarked, glancing over her shoulder at him.

  “I am so happy to be able to hold you again, and I never, ever want to let you go,” he said, and he kissed her neck. Jane smiled, as she never, ever wanted to let him go either.

  Chapter Eighteen

  Two and half weeks later ~ Wednesday

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Hi,” she replied, her heart lifting as she heard his voice on the other end of her phone.

  “I miss you,” he said.

  “I miss you too,” she replied, three days without seeing him seemed like an eternity.

  “I am so sorry I have to be away.”

  “It’s okay, Alex, you don’t have to apologise every time you ring, you have a company to run and I understand, I will see you Friday.”

  “I know you do. So what have you been up to?” he asked.

  “Well, I had swim today, and I am teaching your mum to paint, oh and I’ve been for my check up and the doctor said I am pretty much healed,” she said.

  “Really that’s great,” he said.

  “Yes, Alex, so when you get home we could,” she said, her voice soft and sensual. He went quiet.

  “Alex, are you still there?” she asked.

  “Yes, sorry, I was just thinking of you and me, and well,” he said back.

  “I can’t wait,” she said.

  “Neither can I, hang on Jane,” he said, and she listened as he spoke to someone else.

  “Jane, I have to go, I need to sign a few contracts. I will ring you tonight.”

  “Oh, okay. I love you,” she said.

  “I love you, and I miss you.” He hung up.

  “So that is it,” Alex asked, and he stared at John Marcaine. It had taken six weeks to sort his company out and pull the contracts together, as Alex had to be satisfied that his employees were not going to suffer, as some of them had been with him since the beginning.

  “Yes, once you have signed I will transfer the money and you can walk away.”

  “Right and my staff are protected for one year?” he asked.

  “Yes as per clause 2.5 of our agreement. No staff shall be made redundant or terminated for one year.” Alex re-read the agreement, double checking clause 2.5. He rubbed his hands together, picked up his pen, and signed the document. John grinned, and gave a satisfied nod of his head. The solicitor who sat beside him, picked up the contract, and signed as a witness.

  “Well, Alex, enjoy your early retirement,” he said, and he held out his hand. Alex shook it. “The money will be in the bank by tonight, and my CEO will step into your shoes tomorrow.”

  “Not retirement, John, a change of lifestyle,” he said.

  John gave him a nod.

  “Although we have been rivals, Alex, I still expect an invite to the wedding,” he said with a smile.

  “What wedding?” he asked, as he had not told anyone about his plans.

  “Oh come on, Alex, it’s obvious you are doing all this for her,” he replied. Alex gave him a nod.

  “Yeah, well she has to say yes first.”

  “She’d be mad not too. There are not many men in the world that would do this for a woman. Certainly not me that’s for sure,” he said, and he gave a deep chortle.

  “Yeah, well maybe you haven’t found the right woman yet, John.” John shook his head.

  “No, Alex, I am a selfish, self-centred bastard, and I always will be.” Alex let out a laugh as he watched him and the solicitor leave. He sank down into his chair, and as he looked around his office, he tucked his hands behind his head and smiled. Twenty million, that was a nice retirement fund. He looked at his watch and it was six twenty. He picked up his briefcase, opened it up, and put in a copy of the contract. He took down his crystals, and grabbed a few more personal effects, which he put into a holdall. As he closed his office door for the last time, he took a deep, satisfying breath. He had loved it and he had achieved what he wanted, and now it was time for him to live his life.

  Alex walked over to Jane’s desk, and picked up the photo of her boys. He put it into his holdall, and checked her drawers, but there was nothing of hers in there. He left the office, and got in the lift. As the lift door opened, he walked across the foyer, it was late, and the staff had left for the evening.

  “Goodnight, Sir,” the security guard said as he walked passed.

  “Goodnight,” Alex replied, giving him a nod. All he had to do now was nip back to his flat and pick up his car.

  ***

  Jane sat in the snug, waiting for him to call. She checked her mobile again, in case for some bazaar reason she had missed his call, she had not of course. It was nine forty-five and she was worrying why he had not rung. Her phone rang, she grabbed it, and her heart pounded.

  “Alex,” she said.

  “Hi, Darling,” he said. “Sorry I am so late I got caught up at work.”

  “Oh, that’s okay, I am glad to hear your voice,” she replied.

  “I wish I could give you a hug,” he said, his eyes smiling as he looked at her curled up on the sofa.

  “I wish you could too, and I am desperate for a kiss,” she said.

  “So, how do you fancy cuddling up together tonight,” he asked.

  “What?” she asked confused. He pulled the phone away from his lips and stepped through the door.

  “Well, how about it?” he asked. She spun around and screamed when she saw him standing at the door to the snug.

  “Alex,” she cried, and she jumped up and rushed to him. He dropped his holdall and briefcase and swept her into his arms.

  “Oh my god, what are you doing here?” she cried, but before he could reply she devoured his lips.

  “Well,” Alex said, as she let him go. “I finished everything so I decided to come home,” he said.

  “Are you sure it wasn’t the lure of us being together again,” she teased.


  “Well, that is obviously appealing,” he said, with a grin, but he shook his head. “But not tonight, tonight I just want to hold you.” She fell into his embrace, and inhaled him.

  “And I you,” she replied.

  ***

  Thursday

  “So,” she said, as she swung her hand in his as they walked through the formal gardens midday. “What are we doing?”

  “It is a surprise,” he said, glancing at her and grinning.

  “Alex,” she groaned, and he pulled his arm around her as they walked.

  “We are going to your special place?” she asked, as they approached the entrance to the cave.

  “Yes, come on,” he said, and taking her hand he led her into the darkness and as they emerged on the other side, she gasped.

  “Alex, when did you do all this?” she said, surprised as she stared at the picnic laid out by the edge of the pool, and the bottle of wine sitting in a bucket of ice.

  “That is not important,” he said. “What is important is that you are better and here with me.” They sat down on the rug, and he opened the wine and filled their glasses.

  “Thank you,” she said, taking it from him and having a sip. “Oh, Alex this is so beautiful,” she gushed, looking at the water as it cascaded over the fall.

  He opened the basket and took out some sandwiches. He glanced at her

  “Prawn, of course,” he said, with a smile.

  “Mmm, my favourite,” she replied.

  “I know,” he said. They ate a few, followed by some sweet strawberries, and a couple of chocolates. He jumped up and headed towards the water.

  “Where are you going?” she asked, watching him. He crouched down, and pulled on a piece of string, at the end of which was another bottle. He undid the string and walked back over to her