The Billionaire Playboy’s Secret Family
Chapter 66

"Ed, you know you might just be chasing a ghost. I, mean, it's been six years." "I am aware."

I sighed as I looked out the plane window. It was night and so there wasn't much of a view. Somewhere below us were farms and swampland and I could just make out the lights of our destination: New Orleans. I knew it was probably a wild goose chase but I couldn't help it. This was the closest I'd ever been to finding the woman who flitted through my thoughts like a ghost. A ghost. How ironic was that?

Jacob didn't know the half of it.

I still remembered the day I met her in the gambler's den. She was desperately trying to get justice for her friend who had been killed and ironically it was at the behest of that friend's ghost, not that I believed in spirits. Yet the more time I spent with her the more I was willing to believe in things unseen. Unbelievably I fell in love with her and her crazy American ways and colloquial expressions. There was just something about her and I was certain she felt it too. When we made love it was like our souls were joined as one. I never thought it was even possible.

And then she was gone. When I woke up the next morning she was gone as if she never existed. A tea kettle sat on the stovetop still warm and a mug lay shattered on the floor as the news played on the television, but there was no other sign she had ever been there. She was just gone. How? Why?

I didn't know what to make of it until I heard my name and turned my attention to the television screen. On it played a recording of my engagement announcement and my heart sank. Did she see that? Damn it!

Damn my grandmother for insisting upon it!

She was desperate for me to provide an heir. As the next in line it was my duty but I hated the idea of being married off. And now, now I only wanted Rosemary. She was all I could think about, all I could dream about. I needed her like I needed air to breathe. I wouldn't be complete until I found her again.

Where did she go?

***

Sarah sipped her tea as she read over the last chapter she wrote. Fans the world over were bombarding her with questions about Edward and what happened after Rosemary left him. The last few books hadn't mentioned him at all since they centered on Rosemary raising her daughter and continuing her work solving mysteries and helping the departed crossover.

In the following books she had revealed Rosemary's helpful ghost, Harold, was in fact the wandering spirit of her own father. He had abandoned her and her mother in life but was trying to make up for it by watching over her and Daisy in the afterlife. In unraveling Harold's secrets Rosemary had also discovered a half-brother.

Though her brother was a die-hard skeptic when it came to spirits his knowledge of computers proved a huge asset to her on various occasions. The siblings now shared a tepid relationship that fascinated readers but that didn't stop them from wanting more about Edward. Where was he? Would he ever find Rosemary again? What would he do if he found out about little Daisy?

It had taken her awhile to approach the idea of bringing Edward back into the story. Over the years she allowed herself to become separated from her character but she still wanted Rosemary to have a chance at the happiness she was currently enjoying so it was time to reintroduce Edward but she was having a hard time figuring out how they might meet again.

With a sigh she let her gaze drift to the large bay window that faced the backyard. Idly she wondered how the talk was going between Ulima and her daughters. She really hoped Regina wouldn't do anything rash. Sarah felt a kinship with her and her sudden desire to move to Texas for a so-called fresh start. It seemed like Regina was running away not unlike Sarah who had run to New Orleans.

If there was one thing Sarah knew it was that running never solved the problem. Certainly it made it easier to ignore the issue but it didn't solve anything. Problems tended to fester if they were not dealt with and she hoped Regina would come to rely on her family more. She didn't have to do everything on her own.

Her phone vibrated alerting her to an incoming message. Normally she would have ignored it as she was in the middle of a chapter, but this time she decided it was time for a break. Surprisingly it was from Lucas. Just giving you a heads up you'll be having some company soon.

Sarah raised an eyebrow and glanced at the backdoor. Technically she had company now. Surely he couldn't know about that. She decided to test the waters by sending a reply: And who should I expect? Marcus. He's decided to pearl dive after all.

What?

Never mind. He needs to speak to Ulima and her daughter. Assuming they are there?

Yes as it happens. Thanks for the heads-up.

Of course. See you tonight, beautiful. Love you.

Love you too.

Sarah couldn't help but smile at his goodbye. Lucas never wasted a moment to tell her those simple words. Sometimes it was all he would text and each time she ended up with a foolish grin on her face. But that was all right. She could just imagine the silly grin he had when he read her replies.

Not long after she set her phone down to focus there was a knock on the door. Thanks to Lucas's warning she wasn't as startled by it as she would have been otherwise. She made her way toward the entry and opened the door to see a nervous-looking Marcus. "... Um...I know this is weird but...is Regina here? Please, it's important."

"Lucas said you were on your way," Sarah nodded.

"He did?" Marcus let out a sigh. "What else did he tell you?"

"That you were pearl diving. Whatever that means."

Marcus snorted back a laugh bowing his head as he felt his face warm. Why did Lucas have to tell her that?

"Apparently I'm going to have to ask him to explain that," Sarah raised a brow at his reaction.

She couldn't wait to hear Lucas's excuse. Now that she thought about it Silas seemed to know exactly what he meant the first time she heard him bring it up. Was it some sort of shared joke? Ava didn't seem to know any more than she did. "Well, Regina, her mother and sister are in the back with the kids," Sarah said after a moment.

He followed her mutely but there was no disguising his anxiety. There was something definitely on his mind. She led him to the backdoor opening it and letting the sounds beyond reach them. Marcus hesitated listening to the conversation going on outside. "It was safer." "Safer? What are you talking about?"

"I'm talking about that bitch fiancée of his. Who do you think called CPS? Can you imagine what she would have done if she knew the kids were his? Not telling was the only way to keep them and all of you safe!"

Unable to stand it any longer he stepped out saying, "Well, that's not entirely true."

The trio at the table immediately jerked to attention. Ulima and Renata stared at him in disbelief as if he had suddenly materialized from their words. Regina was pale as a ghost as she stood and stared at him. Sarah wasn't a hundred percent certain but she thought Ulima might have actually crossed herself.

"W-what are you doing here?" Regina stuttered. This was the last thing she expected.

"I went to your apartment but you weren't there. Your neighbor told me where you went. I rang Lucas for the address."

Regina trembled. Of course Marcus would know the Stantons. All of these families knew each other. She was a fool for coming here.

"We have nothing to discuss so..."

Before she could finish her protest Marcus closed the distance between them and pressed his lips to hers. Regina stiffened in surprise and would have stumbled backward if not for his arm encircling her waist and his other hand cupping the back of her head. How long had he waited for this moment? To have her body against his, to taste her. His lips teased hers coaxing them until they became pliable and soft. He held her close as she trembled like a leaf.

Slowly he eased back waiting until he was certain she would remain on her feet. Her cheeks were deep red clearly embarrassed given their audience but he didn't care who was watching. In fact the more witnesses the better as far as he was concerned. "For five years a woman has been haunting me. A woman who is warm and beautiful and full of passion. She didn't ask for anything. She didn't make demands. She didn't even give me her name. She just slipped away without a word. But I never forgot her. And not knowing her name nearly drove me crazy."

Marcus paused wiping her tears away. She was still trembling but at least she wasn't trying to push him away.

"I had no idea if I'd even recognize her when I saw her again. And I certainly didn't expect to find her raising our children on her own," Marcus sighed. "You don't have to do that anymore, Regina. I'm here."

Regina tried to collect her thoughts but his sudden appearance had thrown her and scattered them out of her reach. And that kiss. It had been so gentle and tantalizing. Her heart was still racing but she had to be firm. This wouldn't work. "This...is a mistake," she shook her head. "It was all a mistake."

"Maybe," Marcus shrugged, "but so what? Some of the best moments in life aren't planned. So why not this?"

"We...it's...we are just too different. I'm not...and you're...it just won't work."

"Why? Because you don't come from a big, important family? So what? Neither did Macey. Neither did Aubrey. Neither did Sarah," Marcus glanced over his shoulder to where Sarah watched from the door.

She shrugged. Though the Tomlinsons were hardly paupers, they were not a prominent family. She could relate to Regina's fear and self-consciousness at the disparity between her and Marcus's background. It was a daunting obstacle certainly but not as insurmountable as Regina seemed to believe. Sarah desperately wished Aubrey were present. If there was one person who could talk to Regina and make her see the truth it was Aubrey, the ultimate cheerleader.

"So why not?" Marcus insisted. "I've been a coward about a lot of things but not this. I want you and I want our kids. I want us to be a family."

"What about...Elizabeth?" Regina gritted out the horrid woman's name like a curse.

"I couldn't care less about her. I never did," Marcus shook his head. "She is nothing to me."

"Then why are you marrying her?"

"I'm not!" Marcus snapped before reining in his frustration. "I never...I never even proposed to her. As many times as I told her no she kept pushing like she could wear me down. But she can't. I only want you."