She took little consolation in the notion that in Beth’s twisted mind, she’d believed she was protecting Lauren. They were family. But when she looked at the devastating consequences, it didn’t seem enough anymore.

“You’re good to go, Ms. Perkins,” the paramedic said.

Lauren nodded. “Thanks.”

She stepped to the edge of the ambulance. Outside, reality awaited her. The burning house, police interrogation and prying eyes.

She drew a deep breath and stepped into the cold night air. It had been too much to hope she wouldn’t have to face anyone. The entire Corwin clan had gathered around Jason.

With her house surrounded by police and firemen, she had nowhere to go in order to escape.

“Lauren, there you are!” Clara’s voice sounded first as she broke through the crowd and headed Lauren’s way.

Her red wool coat stood out from the rest of the group in dark jackets and she ran to Lauren, pulling her into a warm embrace.

At the motherly hug, tears Lauren hadn’t known she was holding back began to flow.

“There, there,” Clara said, sensing the extent of her turmoil. Clara patted Lauren on the back, comforting her in a way she’d never experienced.

She couldn’t even remember her own parents hugging her when she was upset. They subscribed to the pick yourself up and get back on the horse theory. At the memory, Lauren’s tears fell harder as the events of the night came back to her all over again.

“Honey, do you want to come back to my house?” Clara asked.

Lauren stepped back, dabbing her damp eyes on her sleeve and probably smearing what was left of her makeup. “Thanks for the offer but I don’t think Edward would appreciate my company.” She forced a smile.

“You might have a point, but he’s getting there,” Clara said, reassuring her.

Lauren glanced around. “Is he here with the rest of the family?”

Clara shook her head. To the other woman’s credit, she didn’t try to explain away or excuse his absence.

Lauren didn’t want Clara to feel badly so she pulled herself together, standing up straighter.

Amber and Gabrielle swarmed her next, greeting Lauren with warm hugs.

“I’m so glad you’re okay,” Gabrielle said, looking her over.

“Why aren’t you at your book signing?” Lauren asked.

Gabrielle shook her head. “We heard about the fire and turned right around! Family’s more important.”

“She’s right,” Amber said. “We came to make sure you and Jason were okay.” She peered at Lauren. “You are okay, right?”

“Other than the smeared makeup, I’m fine. Just a little shaky.” Lauren forced another smile, comforted by the outpouring of support offered by these women.

The men joined their wives, checking on Lauren’s welfare and expressing their sympathy about the house before stepping away, leaving her with breathing room and time to think.

“Did you happen to hear what happened to…the accomplice?” Lauren asked them.

She hadn’t had a chance to find out if Brody Pittman had survived the fire.

“I heard the firemen rescued a man who was unconscious but breathing-they took him to the hospital,” Amber said.

“And they think he’ll survive,” Derek added.

“Don’t stress yourself out about it, okay?” This from Mike, the cop cousin.

Lauren nodded. “Thanks.”

To her relief, they’d let her avoid the subject of her sister and her role in the fire, and for that Lauren was grateful. She’d never accept or understand her sister’s actions. Nothing was worth hurting other people, especially not money or power. Or diamonds. All she could see in her sister’s eyes was greed. And that made Lauren sad.

She glanced at Jason’s family, grateful they’d let the topic go. She lacked the will to defend Beth, and she definitely didn’t have any reserve energy to cope with Perkins bashing.

Which was too bad, since Thomas started to walk toward them. Lauren looked around for Jason. He stood at the end of the driveway talking to the police who’d remained after her sister had been taken away.

She steeled herself to face the older Corwin man alone.

“Lauren, I’m so glad you’re okay,” Thomas said.

“Thank you,” she said to Jason’s father.

“I heard it was quite an ordeal,” he said diplomatically.

She nodded. “At least no one was badly hurt.”

Reaching out, he pulled her into a brief hug and released her just as quickly, leaving her speechless.

Pleased, but speechless.

“Thomas!” Hank Corwin rushed up to them. “I heard the cops say that they’ll push for maximum security for the Perkins broad this time!” There was glee in his voice.

Nausea rose in Lauren’s throat. Before she could stand up for herself and inform Hank of how inappropriate and thoughtless his comments were, the rest of his family surrounded him.

Gabrielle and Derek, Amber and Mike, and Thomas faced him. “Shut up!” they all said at the same time.

Hank looked confused. “I was just telling you what I heard.”

“Just think before you speak,” Thomas said. “She may be simply a Perkins to you, but she’s Lauren’s sister and you’re hurting her every time you open that big mouth!”

Lauren’s own mouth opened but she couldn’t manage a word. She wanted to thank Jason’s father, but she was stunned and suddenly too exhausted to even stand.

Almost miraculously Jason appeared. He came up behind her and wrapped his arm around her waist, supporting her at a time when she needed it most.

JASON TUCKED Lauren into his bed back home, in the barn behind his uncle’s house. She’d managed to shrug off her coat, kick off her shoes, and shed her pants and top before crawling into bed and passing out.

He undressed and climbed in beside her, pulling her warm body close to his. Cocooned like this, he could almost forget the rest of the world existed. And for the remainder of the night, that’s exactly what he did. Attuned to her every movement, he slept when Lauren slept, awoke when she tossed and turned, and basically kept an eye on her all night long.

The next morning arrived too soon. To Jason, sunrise brought with it the beginning of the end.

As the sun peeked between the blinds, Lauren rolled over, propped on one arm. “Hi.”

“Hi, yourself.” He reached over and brushed a few strands of hair from her cheek, revealing a crease mark in her skin. “Sleep well?” he asked.

“All things considered, I guess so.” She seemed to pause in thought and he waited, letting her take the lead. She’d talk about whatever subject she was ready to tackle. He wouldn’t push.

“It’s over,” she said at last.

His stomach plummeted. Even knowing what was to come didn’t make the blow any easier.

“I don’t have anything left to put into the house,” she said, elaborating further.

Obviously his mind had been elsewhere and he scrambled to catch up with her conversation and ignore his rapidly beating heart.

“Before you jump to any big decisions, we don’t know the extent of last night’s damage or whether insurance would cover another incident. You might get lucky.”

Lauren drew a deep breath and shook her head. “You don’t understand. I’m finished. Done. I can’t deal with the house anymore and frankly I don’t want to. Besides, at this point the chances of me completing the project to buyer’s specifications on time are slim to none.”

He wanted to argue, if for no other reason than to lift her mood and give her hope, but in his heart he knew she was right. “What will you do?”

“I haven’t had time to think, but my gut tells me to just cut my losses and sell it as is. Hopefully someone will want a fixer-upper,” she said.

“Smart.”

She’d come to the only conclusion she could. From a business and monetary standpoint, the damage from the first fire had been extensive enough to put her deadline in jeopardy. Last night’s fire had merely compounded the cost and time involved, bringing her to the breaking point. And most importantly, from an emotional perspective, Lauren was obviously drained.

“Despite everything, I meant what I said last night.” Lauren’s voice softened as she changed the subject. Her beautiful eyes focused on him.

There was no mistaking what she meant.

“I love you, Jason.” She said the words anyway.

His heart swelled and broke at the same time.

They were the words he’d wanted to hear and she deserved to know he felt the same. “I love you, too.”

She reached for him and he came over her, his lips settling on hers, kissing her deeply, knowing in his heart they’d never have this moment again.

He paused only to grab a condom in the nightstand. Then they connected and he savored every moment, holding her, joining his body with hers.

They loved each other. And for this brief time, it was enough.

AN HOUR LATER, Lauren had showered and met Jason in his kitchen for breakfast. He’d run out for coffee and doughnuts. Since they’d never eaten dinner last night, she was starving.

Although she was emotionally drained, her body still tingled from making love with Jason. And that’s what they’d done. For the first time they’d made love with no emotional barriers between them. She’d felt it in every fiber of her being. Felt him.

Just as she felt his regard on her now. “What?” she asked, focusing on his steady stare.

“I was just wondering what’s got you so distracted?”

While showering, she’d been thinking about where they could go from here, and she spoke before she could chicken out. “Come with me,” she said to him.

“What?”

“Come with me to Paris,” she said, her excitement building now that she’d let herself say the words aloud.

Stunned, he slowly lowered his cup to the table. “And then what?” he asked, his enthusiasm nowhere in sight.

Panic enveloped her, hammering away at the heart she’d just given to him so openly. “Well, you could be with me when my designs debut. We could see Paris together. And then…” Her voice trailed off.

He reached out and placed his warm, strong hands over hers. “And then I come to New York and do what while you soar to the top of your profession and achieve your dreams?” he asked gently.

“We’ll figure it out together.” But even as she spoke, she saw the light in his eyes dim.

“I know what it’s like to have goals and a dream. And without those things now, I’m lost.” He spread his hands in front of him. “Before you showed up, I was grumpy and nobody wanted to be near me. I thought I’d pushed past it, but lately I’ve been forced to admit…I don’t know who I am or what I want. But I do know I can’t live off your money and your success. I need to define my own.” His tone implored her to understand.

“I get it. And I respect what you’re saying, but-”

She’d learned at a young age not to push people for more than they were able to give.

Bracing her hands on the table, she rose to her feet. “I feel sorry for you, because you don’t know what you’re missing.” She wrapped her pride tightly around her and strode from the room.

It was so ironic. There had been too many people in her life who’d found her lacking, and now here was Jason, the love of her life, telling her she was too much for him. She couldn’t take it. Because though his reasons were different from her sister’s and her parents’, he was still doing the same thing. Rejecting her, who she was and what she offered him.

To hell with all of them. She couldn’t get out of this town fast enough.

LAUREN SPENT the rest of the day in a frenzy of activity. She called Sharon, who picked her up at Jason’s. Together they ran errands in town while Jason headed to the house to meet up with his crew.

First Lauren called on the real estate agent who’d arranged the original sale. The woman agreed to contact the buyers, explain the situation and ultimately refund their escrow money. Then once the insurance company inspected the new damage, Lauren arranged to relist the house-as is. On Sharon’s recommendation, Lauren hired a service to clean out the house, box the remainder of her grandmother and sister’s items, and give them to the Salvation Army.

A whirlwind morning and she’d accomplished more than she’d thought possible. In fact, she could get away from this town and its memories by nightfall.

Sharon accompanied her back to the house so she could fill Jason in.

“Are you sure you want to rush out of here?” Sharon asked, not for the first time this afternoon.

Lauren nodded as they walked up the front walk together. The acrid stench of smoke filled the air, reminding her of everything painful. “I’m sure. And I’m not rushing. If anything, I gave everything and everyone here plenty of chances. It’s past time for me to leave.”

Using her key, Lauren unlocked the front door and stepped back, letting Sharon precede her inside.