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

attemptsknocked down enough skittles to win a small white rabbit with blue eyes.
    ‘Do you think Grandma would like this?’ she asked, as they eventually began trudging home.
    ‘That’s a nice thought. I’m sure she’ll love it.’
    ‘That’s for me?’ said Margaret with delight when Davy handed it over. ‘And you won it? Thank you so much, darling. What’s his name?’
    Davy gave Sarah a wide, wicked grin. ‘How about Jake?’
    Sarah gave her a kindling look and despatched her off for a bath. ‘You reek of doughnuts, young lady.’
    ‘So does this rabbit,’ observed Margaret, when Davy was out of earshot. ‘Why Jake?’
    Sarah explained their chance encounter with Jake Hogan. ‘She told me she likes him more than Boring Brian.’
    Margaret gave a reluctant laugh. ‘Oh, dear. “Out of the mouth of babes”, and all that.’
    Sarah gave her a narrowed look. ‘Are you telling me you agree with her? Yet you wanted me to marry Brian.’
    Her grandmother passed a hand over her immaculate hair, looking defensive. ‘I just want security for you, Sarah.’
    ‘ If I ever marry, which is unlikely in my particular circumstances, I’m fool enough to want a whole lot more than mere security.’ Sarah yawned suddenly. ‘Sorry. I need to scrub the reek of fast food from my person.’
     
    When Davy was safely delivered back to Roedale next day the entire process was a lot happier than usual for Sarah, with the prospect of Jake’s company to look forward to. Right from Davy’s first day at Roedale Sarahhad made a habit of taking herself to bed early on Sundays to get the evening over with.
    But tonight, she thought jubilantly, I’ll be with Jake—and slammed on the mental brakes again when the thought triggered off alarm bells. Careful, she warned herself.
    But when Sarah turned into Campden Road she saw Jake leaning against the bonnet of his car, waiting for her, and knew that the alarm bells had rung too late. It would be all too easy to fall madly in love with Jake Hogan. She was halfway there already, if she were honest with herself. And because this particular form of madness had never troubled her before the early-warning signs had gone unnoticed.
    Almost before she’d stopped the car Jake opened her door to help her out. ‘At last. I made the mistake of turning up early. I was getting impatient.’
    ‘Hi,’ she said, smiling. ‘Come in for a minute.’
    Jake followed her through the front door, closed it behind him, then glanced at the stairs. ‘Is your grandmother in?’
    ‘No. Why?’
    He took her in his arms very carefully and, when she didn’t resist, let out a deep breath and held her close. ‘Because I’ve been wanting this since I left you on Friday night,’ he whispered. ‘But don’t worry, I won’t kiss you unless you ask me nicely. Even though I wanted to kiss you when we met yesterday, too. Could you tell?’
    She flushed. ‘No, of course not.’
    ‘Were you pleased to see me?’
    ‘Yes. So pleased I forgot to thank you for the flowers,’ she said breathlessly.
    He grinned down at her. ‘Or were you too chicken to mention them because Davy was with you?’
    ‘Not at all.’ She smiled. ‘But you don’t have to keep sending me flowers, Jake.’
    ‘Why not?’ he said casually, and released her, his eyes alight with something which made Sarah back away.
    ‘If we’re going walking we’d better get moving,’ she said hurriedly. ‘So read the Sunday papers for a minute, Jake, while I park the car.’
    ‘Where?’
    ‘There’s a garage at the bottom of the garden.’
    ‘Give me your keys and I’ll do it.’
    Sarah gave instructions about the lane running behind Campden Road, told Jake to come back through the garden, and while he was gone rushed to add a few touches to the face which glowed at her from the mirror. She changed her school-visit linen skirt and leather sling-backs for pink cotton jeans and powder-blue suede loafers, then hurried to the back door just as Jake