Page 11 of Obsession: The Unspoken Sin
When Wakefield left, Alice pondered her latest space. When she had a room to herself and the unlimited possibilities in a new project before her, she was at her happiest. For a husband-less, mother who worked, and didn’t have the support of a nursemaid, quiet time for oneself was as rare as the gold at the end of a rainbow.
These precious moments belonged to Alice, and in them, she lost herself in the freedom of her own mind and spirit.
This time, seated at her art table, marked an exception. She stared distractedly at the empty page in her sketchpad. She tapped the pencil tip over and over, drumming it over and over.
The ornate King Louis XIV cartel clock ticked the passing seconds; each beat mocking Alice for the black spot in her head.
She stared at the sheet until her eyes went crossed. Why couldn’t see find something to inspire her?
You know.
Laurence.
“Stop it,” she muttered, forcing herself to begin drawing something,anything. Alice sketched and sketched, and then when she’d finally selected a subject, found herself in front of her blank canvas and painting.
At last, she lost herself.
For a long—but not long enough—moment.
As engrossed as she was, she failed to hear the door open and close and as a person joined her. She felt him before she heard him.
“Alice.”
Her eyes squinting at the white wall, she stiffened and all her nerves came alive.
A tingle traversed her neck and ran along her spine, a sense of heat and awareness. She turned. Not for the first time that day, her breath caught as she looked upon the man who brought her past where it shouldn’t be.
It appeared she’d been wrong. She was destined to meet him again.
And, dangerously, she was so very glad for having a second chance to meet with him.
“Laurence,” she greeted softly.
Chapter 5
“Laurence,” Alice said softly, unlike the occasional peevishness from her tone at their last meeting two hours earlier. This time, her husky, tremulous voice contained a thread of joy.
He recognized it all too easily because he’d heard it so many times before. He knew what made her smile. Painting. Horses. Teasing him and vexing her brother.
And in this instant, she felt joy at his being here.
Would she feel that same way if she were to know what truly brings you here?
Muscling aside an overwhelming sense of guilt, Denbigh forced a crooked smile.
“We meet again.”
A twinkle lit Alice’s breathtaking eyes.
“I’m beginning to believe this is no coincidence. Two run-ins after all this time apart? If I didn’t know better, I’d say you were stalking me, Laurence.”
The grin froze uncomfortably on his face. His muscles felt like they formed something more of a grimace.
Alice’s gaze grew startled.
With a teasing laugh, she swatted his arm. “I’m jesting, Laurence. Have you lost your humor since we last saw one another?”
He had. Not completely, but he definitely laughed less with her gone. Now, the relaxed joy that came from her presence felt undeserved because of his intentions and his absolute determination to get her out of here.
