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  Family Secrets

  MLYN HURN

  MS Reader (LIT) ISBN # 1-84360-319-5

  Mobipocket (PRC) ISBN # 1-84360-320-9

  Other available formats (no ISBNs are assigned):

  Adobe (PDF), Rocketbook (RB), & HTML

  (c) Copyright Mlyn Hurn, 2002.

  All Rights Reserved, Ellora's Cave.

  Ellora's Cave, Inc. USA

  Ellora's Cave Ltd, UK

  This e-book may not be reproduced in whole or in part by email forwarding, copying, fax, or any other mode of communication without author permission.

  Edited by Jennifer Martin

  Cover Art by Darrell King

  Warning:

  The following material contains strong sexual content meant for mature readers. FAMILY SECRETS has been rated HARD R, erotic, by three individual reviewers. We strongly suggest storing this electronic file in a place where young readers not meant to view this ebook are unlikely to happen upon it. That said, enjoy…

  Chapter 1

  “Carissa! Stop fidgeting! Just look at the wrinkles you’re making with your hands.” Marina Evans lightly swatted at her daughter’s knotted fingers. “That dress looks just fine, but you don’t have to take the first one. I’m sure Eugenia has at least one other in your size. Now, I’m going out to talk to Eugenia, and to check on veils.”

  As the heavy curtains fell back into place, Cari turned to look at her reflection. Her hands were still tensely knotted up in the material of the satin white bridal gown. “Damn!” she muttered to herself.

  Cari was not sure what she had been expecting when she saw herself for the first time in the bridal gown. Maybe she had thought it would magically transform her into a tall, slim, beautiful woman instead of the short, slightly overweight woman that she really was. If only she had a nickel for every time she’d heard what a “pretty face” she had. And each time Cari saw it in their eyes, the sympathy, pity, the words unspoken but still crystal clear, “if only she’d lose a little weight.”

  She knew the facts—she was plump and always purchased her clothes in the plus-size section of the store. She hated bathing suits, and had never worn a traditional bikini, or even a more modest two-piece.

  Cari stared at the high-waisted gown. Hearing her mother say they needed the “big-girl” section had only reinforced her self-doubts. Seeing her round face, surrounded by acres of dark brown hair and her rounded body, she wondered what Tony saw in her. It was strange, but she had never before considered what a man like Tony was doing getting engaged to her. Not by any stretch of the imagination could she be considered tall, blonde or slender which described his usual date about town.

  Suddenly, about six months ago, Tony had shown up at her work, ostensibly to buy a book. Cari should have questioned that motive, but the truth was that the unexpected attention had gone straight to her head. She was literally bowled over by the interest and compliments he paid her while he was browsing the shelves.

  "No, Eugenia. Don't send the bill to my house."

  Hearing her mother’s voice, there was something in the tone, rather than the words that suddenly caught her attention. Cari stepped carefully off the small platform and walked over to the curtains, straining her ears to hear what her mother was saying to the shop owner.

  “We want all the bills sent to this address, Eugenia.”

  Cari could hear the rustling of paper, and leaned further towards the dark red velvet curtains that separated the two areas. She frowned as she heard her mother telling the other woman where to send the bill for the dress, and other sundry items for the wedding. She leaned a bit more, straining to hear, as the voices seemed to be moving away.

  "That will not be a problem, Evans."

  Through a small parting of the curtains, Cari watched. Marina Evans was shaking her head, her perfectly coiffed blonde hair not moving a millimeter. Her mother didn't look anywhere near her 45 years of age. Cari was once again surprised at the differences between them. All of her life, Marina had been slender, blonde and was always dressed impeccably, and expensively.

  Cari used to ask her mother how they could afford all the lovely things she wore, and often bought for Cari. Her father was always dressed in threadbare clothes, and she didn’t understand why there was money for her mother and herself, and not for her father. The times she brought the subject up, her mother would answer her shortly.

  “You know your father, dear. He is eccentric and he likes the absent-minded professor style.”

  Cari would watch as her mother would turn up her nose and quickly change the topic. She learned over time to just not bring the subject up.

  Cari strained even harder to hear when her mother answered the shopkeeper.

  "The bills all go to Andretti," Marina answered. “I’ve written the address and phone number on that paper.”

  Cari listened in stunned disbelief. Salvatore Andretti was a constant figure around the house while she was growing up. Her mother had frequently taken Cari to play at “Uncle Sal's” pool while Marina spent time talking with him. Cari enjoyed the many long afternoons and weekends spent at Uncle Sal's place. In fact, she had always called him her uncle. There had always been lots of toys for her to play with when she was small, and then as she grew older there was a new bike, followed by video games, and then a grand piano for her to practice her lessons on.

  His house was very large, and he employed quite a few people. So there was always an adult nearby, watching out for the young girl. Her uncle had never married, so he didn't have any children of his own for her to play with. However, his housekeeper, Maria, had three boys, all around Cari's age, and they had enjoyed playing with the little girl when she came over.

  Eugenia, who was the wedding coordinator as well as shop owner, answered her mother, drawing Cari's thoughts back to the present. "What about the bills I will be encountering as I begin arranging for the music and catering?"

  Cari heard her mother speak again, still keeping her voice soft. "Yes, all the bills go to Andretti, and nothing to our home address. I want to make sure there are no slip-ups either."

  Cari didn't hear the other woman reply as both women walked over towards the register. Cari turned away from the drapes, wondering why her Uncle Sal was receiving the bills for her wedding. She remembered her father asking her mother what this might all cost.

  Marina had laughed quite gaily. “Don’t fret, Edward. I’m being very careful, so there is nothing to worry about. What I can’t do myself, my friends are going to help me with. Everything will be perfect for Carissa’s wedding.”

  Cari frowned, busy with her thoughts. She didn’t realize how close she’d gotten to the curtains. The next moment, she was falling backwards. The curtains did nothing to impede her and she fell out of the dressing room. All around her, Cari heard voices.

  “Oh no!” Eugenia cried out. “I do hope it isn’t torn.”

  “Good Lord, Cari! I thought you had outgrown this klutzy period!” her mother said in a sharp tone.

  A hand appeared to help her up. Cari accepted it, recognizing the shop assistant, Karen, who had helped her into the dress. “Are you all right, Evans?”

  Cari nodded, getting to her feet. “Thank you. I think I’m fine.”

  Eugenia hurried over. “Karen, please help Evans.”

  As Cari turned away, she heard the wedding coordinat
or whisper to Karen. “Make certain they are no rips or tears anywhere.”

  Back inside the dressing room, Cari removed the lovely white satin and lace gown with Karen’s help. There wasn’t a single smudge or tear, the young woman assured her. Cari refused her offer of getting her another gown to try on, complaining of not feeling well. She stripped down to her underwear, removing the pantyhose and shoes her mother had wanted her to bring for trying on the gowns.

  As she pulled on her jeans and sweatshirt, her thoughts were a jumbled mess. Her mother’s words now contradicted everything she’d said to Edward. Cari shoved the shoes and pantyhose back into her shopping bag and pulled her sneakers on over her white socks. None of what she’d heard made much sense. Grabbing her purse, Cari walked towards the counter. Her mother stopped talking as soon as she saw her.

  "Cari, darling, don't you want to try on some more gowns? Don't tell me you fell in love with the very first one that you tried on? I know I mentioned it looked fine, but I thought you would want to try on at least one more. I’m sure if we look hard enough, with a few alterations, we can find a dress to flatter you."

  For the first time, she heard her mother’s words as if she were a stranger. The words were not in the least bit loving or motherly. Cari shook her head slowly. "No, Mother. I'm suddenly not feeling too well. I think I need to go home and rest. Maybe we could come back in a day or two."

  Cari didn’t wait for her mother to agree, which was another first for her. Instead, she thanked Eugenia. Taking advantage of her mother’s surprised and wordless state, she quickly hugged her and left.

  * * * * *

  Cari walked back to her father’s small bookstore where she had worked since she’d graduated from college. Her thoughts were jumbled and her emotions chaotic as she greeted her father. She immediately resumed checking off the newest arrivals against their order. Focusing intently on her work, Cari tried to block out what she’d overheard her mother say in the bridal shop.

  Her father interrupted her about mid-afternoon. "Cari, can you take care of the store and close tonight?"

  Cari looked at her thin, slightly stoop-shouldered, balding, fair-haired father. She loved her father, having always felt more in tune with him than she had with her mother. "Sure Dad. What are you up to tonight?"

  Edward smiled at his daughter. "I'm going to the bank, and then I have a meeting with my book club."

  Cari grinned at her father. "I think you should take me to one of your book club meetings. You know how I love to read just about anything."

  Her father paused for a moment and then slowly shook his head. "You will soon be a married woman, and your husband’ll want all of your attention.”

  Cari hugged her father quickly. Even though they didn’t look alike, they couldn’t have been any closer. Tears filled her eyes as she realized that she’d never felt this same closeness with her mother. The next moment she realized that she didn’t feel anywhere near this close with her fiancé either. She met her father’s blue eyes as he continued speaking.

  “The last thing you need as a newlywed is to be spending time reading dusty old books. And you shouldn’t be discussing them with even dustier old men!"

  Cari laughed as her father walked to the door. He turned in the open doorway, adding, " Hall will be coming by to pick up that book he ordered."

  Cari nodded, waved good-bye and returned to her work. Through out the afternoon and early evening, her thoughts were a mish-mash of everything she’d overheard that day. Despite all her thinking, conjecturing and wondering, she was no closer to understanding why her mother was being deceitful with her father over the costs of her wedding. The one thing that was clear to her was that she didn’t want to see her father hurt. Cari lost track of time and was surprised when she noticed that it was dark and time to close the store.

  She started to lock the door. Suddenly the door was shoved towards her and a man appeared out of the darkness. Cari was so startled the keys fell from her limp fingers to the floor. In the next few seconds, Cari thought about the horror stories concerning women working late, and break-ins. The man stepped sideways and closed the door. Without a word, he bent to retrieve the keys for her.

  "I'm sorry I startled you. I'm running late and took a chance I could catch Edward before he left." The tall man spoke softly, his voice deep and almost melodic. He was probably the most attractive man Cari had ever seen. Next to Anthony, she amended hastily. Her heart pounding in her chest, she looked him over.

  His black hair glistened with a few strands of silver at the sides. His blue-gray eyes were intense and surrounded by the thickest and blackest lashes she had ever seen. Tanned skin, a deep golden-brown that seemed to be asking for her touch, and Cari thought it probably came from hours of play under a tropical sun. When he smiled apologetically, Cari felt her heart skip a beat. Blushing brightly, Cari knew she was acting like a gauche schoolgirl.

  "I'm sorry, but he had to leave early this afternoon. Can I help you?" Cari offered nervously. Her heart was beating so rapidly that she had trouble catching her breath. What was most startling was that it wasn’t because of the fear of a stranger in the empty store. It was the man’s intense masculinity that had Cari unnerved.

  "I've come to pick up a book I ordered. I’m Jake Hall."

  Cari blushed yet again, realizing that this was their wealthiest customer. He had brought a lot of money to her father’s store since he had moved into the area. Hall had quickly learned that her father could obtain many of the antique and rare first editions he wanted to add to his library.

  "Of course, Hall, just a second and I’ll get it. I'm sorry I didn't realize…" Cari’s words trailed away, realizing how foolish she sounded. She stepped away from him, moving behind the counter. Maybe distance, and the counter as a barrier, would help her become the efficient shop assistant again. Bending down, Cari took the large package from the recessed shelf. The package was wrapped in plain brown paper and tied with a simple twine string. She set it on the counter, reaching for the scissors to cut the string.

  "No, you don't need to do that," Jake told her hurriedly. His hand briefly covered hers. Immediately her eyes lifted to meet his. Cari was sure the leap in her heart rate was due to the unexpectedness of the gesture, and nothing more.

  "You don't want to examine it before you leave the premises? We usually have the customer do that when it involves an expensive book—"

  "I don't need to do that for I trust Edward Evans implicitly."

  Cari smiled at the man's obvious affection and respect for her father. "I trust my dad too. He has never tried to cheat anyone. I've often seen him tell someone they are over-paying for an item, and why."

  Jake nodded in agreement. "I didn't realize he was your father, Evans. I didn't recognize you from the photo on your father’s desk."

  Cari flushed even brighter than before. She felt humiliated as she realized Jake Hall had seen the silly picture taken of her when she 12. It was one of her father’s favorite pictures of her, taken one summer at the beach. Typical of girls that age, Cari had braces and was overweight, but still her mother had insisted she wear a ridiculously bright pink bathing suit. Her father had taken the picture on the one and only family vacation they had ever taken. That vacation had been more than 11 years ago, and Cari hoped she had changed some since then.

  "I'm glad you didn't recognize me from that picture. I have tried to get him to exchange it with another, but he really likes that one."

  Jake smiled at her. "Perhaps he can replace it with one from your upcoming wedding."

  Cari blanched at the mention of the wedding. Any thoughts of it made her feel more confused, instead of being reassured at having her future settled. "He told you I was getting married?" A moment later she realized how stupid the question was.

  Jake nodded, leaning against the counter. Cari was unable to turn away from his eyes and that devastating smile. "Yes, indeed. He is quite proud of you and all you have done." A smile curved his lips upwards
and his eyes held hers. His deep voice was cultured and like the rasp of sandpaper. She shivered each time he spoke. Cari didn't know if it was because she was still startled, or if it was just reaction to the man himself.

  Cari shook her head. "I haven't done much of anything really. All I've done is graduate college, and come back here to work. It isn't what I planned…" Cari's voice trailed away, not completely sure at the moment of precisely what she had really wanted to do with her life.

  She pushed the book across the counter, closer to Jake. "Okay then, here you go. I'll let Dad know you picked the book up this evening. He'll be glad to have it out of here and in your hands." She stopped abruptly, realizing that she was talking so fast it was almost garbled.

  "Please remind your father to stop worrying, Evans. I insure all the books from the minute I purchase them." Jake picked up the book, and turned to leave. Cari was surprised when he stopped and looked back at her. "Are you all right? Is something bothering you?" he asked suddenly.

  Cari shook her head quickly, embarrassed that her emotions were so obvious. "No, I'm fine. Probably just a little tired. If you need anything, or find anything wrong with the book, call us."

  Jake nodded, turning to leave the shop. Cari, who’d been staring at his retreating back, jumped when he looked back over his shoulder. For a moment their eyes met. It was just a second, a moment, and then he was gone. Cari locked the door and instead of immediately tallying up the sales, she leaned her back against the door and slid down. Pulling her knees to her chest, Cari was intensely aware of the way her heart was fluttering. Trying to focus, she realized that her breath was unsteady and choppy. Closing her eyes, Jake Hall’s face appeared in front of her. She’d never felt this way before, especially not with Tony.

  Cari lifted her hands and rubbed them over her face. Surprised at the wetness on her forehead, she rubbed her hands on her pants. This was crazy! She was engaged to be married. She had no business lusting…Oh my God! Shock coursed through her body as she acknowledged that she desired Jake Hall. Even more startling was her desire for him to be still here, with her now. Maybe even on the floor!