"Hello," she said into the phone as Johns fingers tripped over her shoulder."Anna, its Isabel."Anna rolled her eyes and wanted to end the call now. She mouthed Isabel's name to John and he flopped back on the bed with a groan. "What do you want Isabel?" Anna said with a sigh as she grabbed Johns hand and gave it a kiss. " We told you we would let you know when we were available." "Listen Anna I'm not sure what game you are playing or what's gotten into you but your display this morning was ridiculous." Anna felt her blood boil as she sat up. She had spent her whole life letting her get away with everything and she was not going to let it continue. She was not going to let Isabel ruin her life. She had a funny feeling that Isabel was more involved in what happened than even the conversation this morning she'd overheard suggested. She wanted this marriage and Isabel was not going to stand in her way. "Isabel listen..." Anna began about to give her a piece of her mind but John grab
"So are we going to talk about what happened or not?" Isabel asked quietly as she inched closer trying to avoid John hearing. Anna glared at Isabel in disbelief. "She's got some nerve asking me that." Anna thought in amazement, but she guessed she shouldn't be surprised."The part where you were a bitch. Or the part where you undermined my marriage?" Isabel stuttered at Anna clearly flustered. Her blonde hair was out of place and her eyes looked wary. Anna leaned against the door frame and stared her down. She could almost read Isabel's expression like a book, she was clearly worried. Anna liked the idea that she was worried for a change."I… I… don't know what's going on with you but you are acting crazy." Isabel said in a hiss stepping closer. "Completely unlike yourself and I don't like it." "You mean unwilling to take crap from you and do what you say?" "NO! Of course not."Anna slammed the door shut on the moving truck and leaned against it. She crossed her arms and tucked
Her head spun with the knowledge that her cousin had sent those men to kills her. Anna couldn't prove it but all the pieces fell into place and made complete sense. Isabel helping her escape, Isabel suggesting the city she should move to and even which apartments she should consider. "God I was so blind" she chastised herself as she walked back toward the car and got in. She cringed as she remembered that the house Isabel lived in now was a small guest house on John's family estate. How am I going to get rid of her now? "Hey, Earth to Princess!"Anna rolled her eyes at John and stuck out her tongue at him. He reached over and tried to grab it. Anna pulled back and blew a raspberry at him. "What space cadet?" "Where were you just now? You were a million miles away, did Isabel say something to you?"Anna wanted to say something, she wanted to tell him everything but how could she? The conversation she'd heard outside the door and the realization that Isabel was probably behind her d
"Hello Melissa." Anna said in a sweet tone as her eyes met Melissa's. "If your son would not keep distracting me I could get more done."What..?" Melissa sputtered as she stood stock still in the light pouring out of the dining room. The light softened the lines around her eyes but the last year had aged her. Green eyes, identical to her son's, were bracketed with lines that had only gotten harsher and her once black hair was now striped with grey. The cruel twist to her mouth did nothing to soften the harsh look. "Anna…" John choked and covered it with a laugh "didn't you want breakfast? I thought you were hungry." "I'm starving." She said as she ran her fingers down his arm and gave him a wicked smile. Anna put her hand around his arm and tucked herself into John's side as he growled at her with fire in his eyes. Melissa gurgled and turned in a huff heading into the dining room. "Well I'm not sure there is much left as you took so long." "I can make do with anything, especia
"So you convinced him to keep you around?" Melissa asked venomously as she sat back and stared at Anna as if she were a piece of crap on her designer shoe. "Probably just spread her legs for him, John is pretty susceptible to that." May chimed in as she slurped her coffee. She leaned back and her Ann Klein blouse pulled up revealing her midriff. She smiled at Anna and put her leg over the edge of her chair getting comfortable. "That is none of your business, either or you." "And anyway whether John and I have sex and where is our business." Anna said with all the patience she could muster. This was so typical of them. Go for the throat the minute John's back was turned. "But It is our business, "Melissa said cattily as she sat with her fingers steepled as she examined Anna as if she were a bug under a microscope "We can't have any gold diggers in our family and you my dear are a gold digger."One, Two, Three, Four Anna counted to herself as she tried not to let go on them. Althoug
"Of course not!" Anna tapped her foot and looked him in the eye waiting for him to continue. All the years of snide remarks from his family had finally pushed her to the breaking point. "Then tell me," she paused as her hands clenched and unclenched at her hips, "why it feels like I'm defending myself again? I believed you last night when you said Erin was all over you and now you don't believe me when I tell you something?" Anna's hand raked through her red hair and she pinched the bridge of her nose praying for patience. She'd thought everything was better after they talked last night, but now it seems like they were falling right back into one of their most dangerous habits. His mother and sister had been a sore spot between them for years and now she knew he was still as blind as ever. "Anna, No!" he shouted loudly coming to stand in front of her. He put his hands on her arms and pulled her against his chest. "I know you and I believe you, but you and my mother have never seen
Anna watched him go knowing this was not going to be an easy conversation. Unfortunately it was one that they needed to have. John needed to stand up for them like he'd done since the beginning. Anna remembered the first day they'd met so clearly it was as if it were yesterday. Clarence Creek North Carolina, a small town about 30 minutes outside of Asheville was not a forgiving one. Growing up the child of a single mother made it so much worse. She'd gone to school that first day knowing it was not going to be pleasant. Clarence Creek Elementary First day of Kindergarten Anna bit her nails and watched the children run around the classroom. No one had noticed her and those who had noticed her whispered about her hiding behind their hands. Most of the kids lived around her but weren't allowed to play with her because she didn't have a daddy and her mommy went to heaven in a car accident. Anna had never felt so sad. She tried not to cry but tears slipped down her cheeks and soaked th
John sighed when he saw her and opened his arms wide. He knew that look and it broke his heart. She ran to him and wrapped her arms tight around him as her heart expanded. "I'm so sorry you had to go through that." He said as he stroked her hair. "I made it clear that if they didn't accept you that they didn't accept me as we are a package deal. " "And?" "They apologized and said that they understood" "Seriously?" Anna said incredulously pulling back to look at him in shock. "Yep, I told them that if they made you miserable that they had to move out." "What made you change your mind? "Usually you come up with reasons that let them off the hook." "I realized that you were more important to me."Anna smiled brightly. "I am so proud of you." "I just wish I had done it earlier." "Me too." She said softly as she nibbled the corners of his mouth. "It's hard always being the bad guy.""I know and I'm sorry," John said as he captured her lips in a kiss that scorched her to her toe