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Prologue, Chapter One, Chapter Two, Chapter Three

He felt himself falling, but there was nothing to hold onto. "Help me," he pleaded as his muscular, young body continued to tumble backward. He could see her face as the cold dark water swallowed him up. He extended his arm, but she wasn't there. "Help me," he cried again, as the suffocating salt water rushed into his lungs. He struggled, but his body was nearly paralyzed by the cold. Then he managed to get his head above water. He gasped for air as the huge waves splashed into his face. He tried to see, but the salt water burned his eyes. He was able to focus, to see the boat, just before the bow slammed into him. The pain was nearly unbearable. He felt himself sinking, his body throbbing from the blow. He thrashed some more, as the water poured into his lungs. He didn't want to die. He was fighting to hold onto life. This couldn't be happening. Then the darkness came.

Chapter One

The house was like nothing she had ever seen. It looked almost out of place, like it belonged in the deep South instead of being nestled among the towering Maine pine trees. Lauren rested against one of the majestic white pillars, just staring, not certain she should go any closer. It was frightening, intimidating for a small town girl. She knew the people inside were not locals, that they were in Dana's Landing only for the summer. She wasn't sure what they would think of her once they got to know her. She was convinced that this was all one big mistake. She didn't belong there.

This was only her second attempt at leaving home. She had lived at home while she went to college. That's where she had met Mark. After the two of them graduated, they moved to a local city, got jobs and started their lives together. But this first attempt at independence had failed miserably when her fiancé had disappeared suddenly, leaving her all alone only six weeks from their wedding date. He had kissed her good-bye and gone to work one morning, never to return. His car had been found on a deserted stretch of road, not a trace of Mark to be found.

She didn't want to believe he had just walked away and left her. But as the months went by, she had to face the truth. He had obviously been afraid of commitment, still needed his freedom. She just wished he had had the courage to face her and tell her the truth. The lack of closure, the not knowing made it too difficult to just put it in the past.

Seacrest Manor was secluded, nestled among the pine trees, and surrounded on two sides by the Atlantic Ocean. She could hear the water, the waves crashing on the rocks behind the house. She had never imagined when she answered the ad for a physical therapist that she would be working in a place like this. Even the salary was beyond her wildest dreams -- more than she ever made before at any of her old positions.

She brushed her dark hair back away from her face and picked up her faded denim backpack. She pressed the doorbell and heard the musical chimes sounding inside. Her heart raced as she waited for someone to open the door.

The door opened slowly and an older man stood before her. He didn't smile, didn't seem the least bit friendly. "Yes?" he demanded, looking her up and down.

She felt more than a little uncomfortable, like he knew she didn't belong there. "I'm Lauren Carver. I think Mr. Robinson is expecting me."

"This way," he said, turning his back and leading her into the house. She closed the door behind her and followed him. It was more like a museum than a home, with marble floors, chandeliers, and a winding staircase. He led her through several large, expensively decorated rooms, then gestured for her to sit on a flowered loveseat. "Wait here."

He disappeared into another room. Lauren wasn't sure she should stay to see Mr. Robinson. She was too out of place, with her faded jeans and t-shirt. But before she could act on her impulse to flee, the older gentleman reappeared. "Mr. Robinson will see you now."

"Thank you," she stammered, as she followed him through the door and into Mr. Robinson's study. He was sitting behind a huge mahogany desk, with the telephone in his hand.

"Come in, Miss Carver. Have a seat," Mr. Robinson said, his voice warm and inviting.

"Thank you, Mr. Robinson."

He put the phone down and came around his desk to sit down next to her on the sofa. He seemed much taller than she remembered from their brief meeting days before. He reminded her of one of those leading men from the old movies -- not quite handsome, at least not in the Tom Cruise sense, but somehow attractive with the tufts of graying hair at his temples and those warm blue eyes.

His handshake was solid, like his muscular physique. John Wayne, that's who he reminded her of -- strong and self-assured, as if he couldn't be intimidated by anyone. But he was more than a little intimidating to her.

"It's very nice to see you again. As I told you during your interview, I was very impressed with you. Your resume, your experience as a private care physical therapist, is exactly what I've been looking for. Also, your attitude, your personality will be perfect. I was hoping to find the right person, someone young and enthusiastic to care for my son, Daniel. You see, I have business meetings that occasionally take me out of the area. Daniel needs companionship, as well as medical attention, someone who can care for more than just his immediate physical needs. Daniel has been very depressed, and very difficult since his injury. He dwells on the past, on the things he is no longer able to do for himself. I am hoping that you will be able to bring him out of the cycle of self-pity, make him see that life still has a lot to offer."

"Well, I'll certainly do my best."

"That's all I ask," he said, taking her hand once again. "I'll show you to the guesthouse, then take you down to Daniel's suite so the two of you can meet."

Lauren felt a little more at ease sitting there with Mr. Robinson. He had seemed like a regular guy at her interview, wasn't dressed in a business suit, and gave no indication that he lived in a place like this. Mr. Robinson stood up, leading the way from his study. "You have a beautiful home," she said, staring at some of the paintings that lined the hallway. She was especially drawn to a portrait of a woman, with blonde hair, a warm smile and the most beautiful gown Lauren had ever seen. She had to stop and admire it.

"That's my late wife, Madelyn," Mr. Robinson explained. "She died a year ago."

"I'm sorry."

"Thank you. Daniel took it very hard, losing his mother, you know. Then of course, it was only a couple of months later when he had his accident. I almost lost him, too."

Lauren could almost feel Mr. Robinson's pain, his grief. He had not had time to grieve for his wife before he had to deal with his son's tragic accident. She wanted to reach out to him, but didn't dare, was afraid it was too soon, that it would seem too familiar. He was her boss after all.

They departed from the huge house and went down a path lined with beautiful flowers -- pink, yellow, white and purple blossoms. The whole backyard smelled like a huge bouquet. Lauren wanted to pause, to admire the flowers, to enjoy the wonderful aroma. Instead she followed Mr. Robinson down the stone path to the cozy little guesthouse out back.

"I'm afraid it's been a while since anyone has stayed here. I seldom entertain. When Madelyn was alive, she used to throw extravagant parties every summer. She was also very involved with an inner city program back in Boston. She would select one young girl every summer to stay here with us. She would take the girl to museums and art exhibits. But Madelyn especially loved the water. She and the girl would spend a great deal of time on our boat. The purpose of the program was to introduce the girl to a different way of life -- to give her hope, inspiration I guess. Then Madelyn would set up a trust for the girl, a kind of scholarship fund. That was her way of giving something back."

"She sounds like a wonderful person."

"She was. She was warm, loving, and cared for everyone around her. She came from around here, you know."

"She did?"

"Yes. I met her one summer, many years ago, when my family and I vacationed here. This estate has been in my family for generations. It's kind of an institution. That's why I still come back here. That's why I thought it would be good for Daniel to be here. As I told you during your interview, if things work out this summer, we may stay through the winter."

"I'm sure everything will go fine."

Mr. Robinson didn't speak. Lauren wondered why he was so doubtful that things would work out between her and the mysterious Daniel. He pushed open the door and stepped back, gesturing for her to enter. She stepped inside and looked around. The guesthouse was more beautiful, more elaborately decorated than most people's homes. The wallpaper was a light blue with a floral design. All the furniture, from the sofa to the end tables, matched perfectly. There was an antique roll-top desk sitting in one corner and an old-fashioned rocking chair in another, right in front of the fireplace.

"The kitchen is off to your left. The bedroom and bathroom are to the right. If you would like to take some time to get settled in, I can take you to meet Daniel later."

"No, now would be fine," Lauren replied, dropping her backpack onto the hardwood floor. "I'll have plenty of time to get settled in. I think Daniel and I should meet now."

"Of course," he said, handing her the key to the guesthouse. "Then if you will just come with me."

Lauren followed Mr. Robinson back up the stone path, past all the flowers. Lauren assumed that Mrs. Robinson had been responsible for the flower-lined path as well. She must have spent a great deal of time planning for the beautiful bouquet that was their backyard. Lauren followed Mr. Robinson into the house through a different entrance than they had gone out of earlier.

"This is a more direct route to Daniel's room," Mr. Robinson explained. "Also, I had an intercom system installed in the guesthouse. Daniel will be able to communicate directly with you, even when you are not in the main house."

"That's a good idea. I was wondering how I would know, in the evening for instance, when he might need something."

"Daniel doesn't ask for much," Mr. Robinson explained. "He is pretty independent. As a matter-of-fact, it is difficult to get him to accept help. He won't ask you to do anything for him. Part of your job will be to anticipate his needs."

"Is he pretty mobile?"

"Pretty much. He is still confined to a wheelchair. As I told you, the doctors believe the physical therapy is necessary in order to keep his muscles strong. They believe Daniel will be able to walk again. There is no apparent physical cause for his paralysis, at least nothing that has shown up on any of the tests they have done up to now. They've labeled it as shock-induced paralysis, caused by impact, possibly with the boat when he fell into the water."

Mr. Robinson paused before a large wooden door. He knocked. "Daniel, Miss Carver is here to meet you." Daniel did not respond, so Mr. Robinson opened the door and led Lauren into another short hallway. There were several doors, two off to the left and three to the right. "This is Daniel's home," he explained. "We had it renovated after he got married, so that he and Tiffany would have a complete unit with kitchen, bathroom, sitting room, bedroom and gym. It's convenient now because everything is on one floor. Daniel can be here by himself, get around, do a lot of the same things he did before."

They entered a carpeted room, with a fireplace. "This is very nice," she said.

"It would be better if Daniel didn't keep the drapes drawn all the time. It's so dark and dismal, no sunshine at all."

"Have a seat," the sexy voice commanded from the far side of the room.

Lauren turned, not expecting to meet such a healthy-looking young man. Daniel had blond hair that fell forward into his bright blue eyes. His tanned chest was covered with a light layer of golden curls. Lauren was almostspeechless, awestruck by her good-looking patient.

"It's nice to meet you," she said, her voice unsteady.

His eyes were so intense, never leaving hers as he approached. "Sit down," he commanded once again.

She dropped down onto the sofa and he wheeled his chair close. "Well, I'll leave the two of you alone to get acquainted. I have a business dinner, so I have to prepare," Mr. Robinson hastily explained.

Daniel didn't speak, just watched as his father left. Then he turned to Lauren. "Let's get something straight right now. I don't need anybody to take care of me. I do for myself, and I like it that way. My father just doesn't understand."

"I think he does," she replied, deciding not to be intimidated by her charge.

Daniel's cheeks flushed. "Don't ever talk back to me. I'm in charge here, and you better not forget it."

This time is was Lauren whose cheeks got hot and turned red. She was getting nowhere with Daniel. Perhaps his father had misjudged her or the situation. It was obvious she wasn't going get through to Daniel. He had already made up his mind.

"So what do you suggest we do?" she asked. "Your father hired me to work with you. I'm a physical therapist, and it's just possible that I might be able to help you. Why don't you give me a chance?"

"I don't need any help. I didn't ask to be here, you know. My father brought me here for my own good, on the advice of my doctors. But I didn't want to come. He doesn't want to be here, either. So he keeps busy with all his meetings and business trips. He hired you so he wouldn't have to feel guilty about leaving me alone all the time."

"So you think you have it all figured out, have all the answers?"

"I know what I know."

"Why did your doctors think you needed to get away?"

"Who said I needed to get away?" he growled. "You're putting words in my mouth."

"They must have had a reason when they told your father it was for your own good."

"Mind your business."

"You are my business," Lauren said, asserting herself with her arrogant charge. "Now why don't you tell me, were you suicidal, or were you just depressed?"

Daniel just stared at her, as though he couldn't believe she was for real.

"If you don't want to tell me, I can read all of those medical records they sent along. I just thought we could save a little time. Maybe you were just obnoxious, totally difficult and impossible to get along with."

"Maybe I was. But I didn't ask anyone to do anything for me. And I don't want anything from you. I can stay alone when my dad goes to his meetings. I don't need anyone hanging around."

"What about the guy who answered the door?"

"Charles? He's just hired help, too. But it's not his job to be my little friend. He does what he has to for me, that's it. We don't have anything to say to each other, and I like it that way."

Lauren couldn't help resenting Daniel's attitude. She was a licensed physical therapist. She could be working anywhere, with patients who wanted treatment. Instead she was here with Daniel Robinson, who made her feel like an insignificant nothing.

She brushed her brown hair back and twirled a strand around her finger, trying to think of something clever to say to her obnoxious patient. But his intrusive gaze was unsettling.

"Don't think you're anything special here," Daniel continued. "I've already been through four others in the last two weeks. So I wouldn't get too comfortable."

His tone was not just irritating. He was issuing a challenge, telling her she could not deal with him, would quit just like all the others.

"Well, it's unfortunate for you, I guess, that I don't have anyplace else to go. So I plan to be here for the summer. You can do therapy or not, I get paid either way. But if you were as smart as you pretend to be, you would understand why the physical therapy is so important."

"Oh yeah? And why is that?"

"Because it's the only way to keep your muscles strong."

"I don't care. Do you think I don't know that I'm never going to walk again?"

"Nobody said that. Your father told me there was no physical cause for your paralysis, that your doctors still think you'll recover."

"It's been eight months. I'm no further ahead now than I was back in September. I would have been better off if I had drowned. At least then it would be over."

"Over for who? It wouldn't have been over for your father. It's obvious he loves you. He just doesn't know how to help you."

Daniel was worse off than she had been told. She wondered if he was getting counseling to deal with his emotions -- his anger, frustration and grief. If he wasn't, then he should be.

"I don't want you here. I don't like strangers, don't want anyone prying into my business."

"Let's see if we can't at least work out something. Like I said, I need this job. I don't have anyplace else to go."

"Why don't you?" he growled. "Is it because you're such a screw-up that you can't get a real job?"

Lauren could feel the tears filling her eyes. She looked away, trying to avoid those eyes. But he would not be ignored. "Where did my father find you, anyway? Did he call some temp agency for losers?"

"You have no right to talk to me that way," she stammered.

"I have every right. This is my home, my life. I didn't invite you into it. Maybe he picked you off the street like my mother used to do when she brought those losers here from Boston. She thought she could make a difference, change a life. But I know better. You can't change anybody. When someone's a born loser, they're always a loser."

The tears trickled down her cheeks. She stood up, intending to run from the room. But he blocked her path.

"What's the matter? Can't handle the truth?"

"You're a terrible person, you're cruel and...and arrogant...self-centered. You don't care about anybody but yourself, do you?"

The tears were streaming down her face now. She was hurt, and angry. "Get out of the way," she demanded.

"Leaving so soon?" he taunted.

Lauren didn't know what she was going to do. He had won this round, had humiliated her, made her cry. She was disgusted with herself for letting him get to her. "No. I'm not leaving. I'm just going to unpack and get settled," she said, pushing past him.

She hurried down the hall, the tears still running down her cheeks. Charles was standing just outside the wooden door, a satisfied look on his face. She didn't know why, but she didn't like him. She just felt like he couldn't be trusted, like he was up to something.

She went into the guesthouse, picked up her backpack and went into the bedroom. She began to put away her things, tears still stinging her eyes. She wondered what she had gotten herself into. She shoved her jeans and shorts into a drawer, then put her blouses and skirts on hangers. She wanted to get settled, feel like she was home, but she was soon drawn to the sounds of the ocean, the incredible view just outside the sliding glass doors.

She stepped outside, drawing in the fresh ocean breeze. She looked out across the sparkling water, noticing the sailboat that hovered not far from shore. She wondered if it belonged to Mr. Robinson. Then she saw the people moving around on the deck, and figured it was just more tourists in Maine for the summer.

She was about to turn and go back into the guesthouse when Mr. Robinson appeared. "I hope Daniel was not too difficult," he said.

"I wish you had told me there were four others before I was hired."

"Daniel is in pain, Miss Carver. He won't admit it. Besides the emotional heartache, he's dealing with his physical limitations."

"Does he have a counselor, someone he can talk to?"

"No. I don't believe it's necessary. Besides, Daniel would not talk to a stranger."

"Is he on medication?"

"He has prescriptions for pain. I'm not sure what exactly. That's really not my area of expertise. But I don't believe he's taking anything."

"But he's gone through four professionals in two weeks. That's what I call significant turnover. I have to be honest, Mr. Robinson. I don't think this is going to work out. Daniel is very hostile."

"Miss Carver, I don't think it's relevant how many others have failed to reach Daniel. I hired you because I think you might succeed."

"Why me? If four others have already tried and failed."

"One was a male nurse. I thought Daniel would find it easier to interact with another young man, to have a male caregiver. He didn't last two days. Then I had an older gentleman, someone who was trained as a physical therapist. Daniel was too much for him, too physical, too demanding. He quit after the first session in the gym. There was an older woman after that, a nurse's aide. She tried to mother Daniel. That just made him angrier, more resentful. The second woman was a nurse. She was used to giving orders, and having them obeyed. So needless to say, she and Daniel could not get along."

"He doesn't want me here, either."

"He doesn't know what he wants. Please, give it some time. Someone has to get through to him."

"Why not you? You are his father."

"Daniel and I have never been close, not like some fathers and sons. You see, I was so busy building my company when he was a boy that I didn't have much time to spend with him. We didn't get to know each other very well. As much as I wish we could turn back the clock, recapture some of the lost time, that's just not possible. Daniel and I will never be able to undo the damage that was done to our relationship when he was just a boy. He was close to his mother, though, had a good relationship with her. That's why losing her, not having her here during this crisis is so emotional, so difficult for him."

"I'll stay and work with Daniel, if you promise to get involved. I think he wants to be closer to you, wants you to be part of his life. Even if you can't go back and recapture what has already been lost, you could have a future together, a closer relationship."

"I'll try. But I do have a business to run. I took a lot of time off over the last few months, and the business has suffered. It needs my attention, if it's to continue growing."

"But you only have one son, Mr. Robinson. He needs you."

"He needs the company, too. That's given him financial security, independence. He's twenty-eight, and he would never have to work a day in his life."

Lauren wondered what that would feel like, to know she had enough money that she never had to work again. But that was something that would never happen to her. She had been born poor. Her father had died when she was a child, and her mother had raised her. The only money she would ever have would be hard-earned -- just like her education.

Mr. Robinson turned and walked away, leaving Lauren to stare out across the water. The sailboat was gone, had moved on down the river. Lauren had grown up on the water, loved boats. But the only boats she had ever been on were working boats, fishing boats. She had never been on a sailboat, though she had often wished she could, just lie on the deck of a sailboat and let the wind take her wherever destiny chose. She wouldn't have to plan, decide -- everything would just happen the way it was supposed to.

She went back into the guesthouse and lay down on the bed. She looked up at the ceiling, thinking about Daniel and how she would cope with him. She had to design a treatment plan, at least try to get him to do some of the exercises she knew would be good for him. She sighed. If only his disposition was as good as his looks. But then, she supposed if she was stuck in a wheelchair, with no real purpose in life, she wouldn't have the best attitude. Maybe she needed to find something for Daniel to do, something to make him feel that life was worthwhile. But to do that, she would have to know him better.

She took a notebook out of her backpack. She started writing down some ideas, things she would attempt with Daniel. The worst thing that could happen was he could refuse. Then she reminded herself, the worst thing that could happen would be for her to burst into tears again. She had to try to control her own emotions, not let him get inside her head. She had to maintain her composure if she was going to call the shots. Otherwise he had all the power.

She hadn't realized she was so tired. But in a few minutes she had fallen asleep. She slept soundly, not awakening until almost eight o'clock. She jumped up off the bed and bumped into a chair on her way out of the bedroom. She had to make one more attempt to talk with Daniel before he went to bed. She needed to accomplish something her first day on the job.

She turned on a small table lamp, then walked out of the guesthouse. She followed the path to the main house and went in. Lauren was relieved that Charles was not around, that she didn't have to deal with his smug attitude on top of Daniel's anger. She knocked, then opened the wooden door. "Daniel, may I come in?"

He didn't speak, but wheeled himself into the hallway. He sat there, just staring for a moment. "Well, what do you want?"

"I thought we could talk."

"Oh wonderful, just what I wanted to do," he growled. "I thought I made myself clear this afternoon. I don't want you here. Just go away."

He turned and headed through the door of another room. Lauren followed him, entering his bedroom for the first time. "Get out!" he bellowed. "No one's allowed in here."

The venom in his voice startled Lauren. Her heart pounded, but she stood her ground. He headed toward her in his chair. "This is my personal space. Get out," he demanded again.

Lauren didn't move, just looked around the darkened room. There was a computer, large-screen television, and stereo system with oversized speakers. On the night stand were photographs, one of Daniel with his mother, the other of Daniel with another woman.

"I want to talk with you," Lauren stammered. "We have to put together a treatment plan. We have to talk about your goals and objectives."

"I don't have any goals and objectives."

"Well, you should have," Lauren insisted. Daniel didn't speak, so Lauren continued. "I think we should start small. I'll observe you in the gym tomorrow, then we can set some goals for you to work toward." She stepped closer, not allowing Daniel to ignore her.

"Fine," he growled. "Have it your way. We can talk in the other room."

Lauren relented, backing from his bedroom and into the hallway. He left his room, pulling the door shut behind him. He led the way into the sitting room. She followed him, taking a seat on the sofa, satisfied that at least she had gotten his attention.

"Why won't you leave me alone? Don't you understand I don't want to be bothered?"

"I think you could walk again, if you really set your mind to it. There's no reason why you can't. Your doctors even believe it enough to say it to your father, so they have to be pretty sure they're right."

"I gave up hope months ago, when they told me the swelling had gone down, that I should regain some function and I saw no real difference. Now I don't want to be bothered. Please," he pleaded.

For the first time, Lauren could see the hurt, the suffering that Daniel was enduring. There was despair in his voice that made her want to put her arms around him. But she knew that would never do.

"Look at it this way, there are only about twelve weeks of summer. You only have to put up with me for about eighty days. If I go, your father will just hire someone else, and someone else after that. So wouldn't it be better if you just played along with me? It would make both our lives a lot easier."

"Why should I? What have I got to gain?"

"What have you got to lose?"

He looked at her, as though he was seriously considering what she had said. "I suppose you're right," he grudgingly admitted.

"Fine, then let's talk."

"Not now. I'm tired. I'd rather just go to bed. Maybe we'll talk in the morning."

He turned away, and Lauren knew there was no point in arguing with him. She had not won this battle; he had given it to her. She would settle for this small step, and consider that she had gotten through the first day.

"Is there anything I can do before I go?"

"No. I'm fine."

"Your father said there's an intercom hooked up between here and the guest house. If you need anything, just let me know."

Daniel didn't speak, just ignored her as she rambled on. Finally she just took the hint and left. She went back to the guesthouse, wondering how she would ever make it through the next eighty days, but she was all the more determined that she would.

Chapter Two

Lauren got up early, but didn't hurry to see her patient. She didn't know whether his attitude had changed overnight, whether she would be faced with the same obstinate, self-centered man she had met the afternoon before, or if he would truly give her a chance. She showered and dressed, then sat down in the rocking chair. She looked out the window, admiring the view and thinking how lucky she was to be there. It was much better than the tiny city apartment she and Mark had shared. It was even better than her old room at home. She was comfortable in the guesthouse, felt like she was home there, right beside the ocean. It was the home she had always dreamed of, except that she was not sharing it with anyone.

The intercom button was only inches from the chair, so she pushed it to see whether there were any sounds, any movement in Daniel's room. If he was up and around, she would have to go into the house and get to work. Instead she heard voices -- loud, angry, booming voices.

"I don't know what I'm supposed to do, Daniel. You're next to impossible to live with."

"Why did you have to bring her here? She reminds me of one of those girls Mom brought home."

"Are you sure it's not your mother she reminds you of? She's strong and confident, sure of herself, just like your mother. Or maybe she reminds you of Tiffany, stirs those feelings in you?"

"No, not Tiffany. Thank God, she's nothing like Tiffany. And how can you even compare her to Mom? But I still don't want her here."

"Lauren is a nice girl. She hasn't had such a good life. One of her references told me her fiancé disappeared only weeks before their wedding. They found his car, deserted by the side of the road. She's had her share of heartache, Daniel. That's why I think she could be good for you, if you would just give her a chance. The two of you could help each other."

"Right, just like the others. Have you ever thought of asking me what I want? She wants to set goals, objectives, even asked me if I was suicidal or just depressed."

"Yeah, she wants to work with you, wants to know what's going on with you. It's hard for anyone to understand why a young man would just give up on life."

"She tries to get inside my head. I can see it, the way she looks at me, and I don't like it. The last thing I need is someone trying to analyze me."

Lauren smiled. She hadn't known she was so obvious, or that the difficult Daniel was reading her so well. Maybe there was hope; maybe they really did understand each other. She sat back and listened, wondering what other insights Daniel had about her, about their relationship.

"She's staying, Daniel, at least for as long as she can stand you. You can make it a pleasant experience, or you can make it difficult. It's your decision. But I would think you would want a little company, someone to talk to once in a while."

"That's what you're here for, isn't it? I know you're not here because you want to be. You said you wouldn't come back here without Mom, that it wouldn't be the same. But then, there are a lot of things you said you wouldn't do after Mom."

Lauren felt strange about eavesdropping on this very personal conversation between a father and his son. But at the same time, she needed to know as much as possible about Daniel. She needed to know why he was so angry, so hostile, and so defeated.

"That's enough, Daniel. You've got no right to speak to me that way. Your mother wouldn't want us to stop living, either one of us. She lived life to its fullest, did what she believed in."

"Yeah, right, so that's why you're taking in this woman who has no place to go, no life outside of here, because of Mom? Or maybe it's because you've got an ulterior motive, want more from this physical therapist than just care for your poor wheelchair-bound son. Maybe you want some physical therapy of your own."

"That's enough," Mr. Robinson bellowed. Then she heard the sound of flesh striking flesh. Lauren couldn't believe Mr. Robinson had struck his son. But that's what it sounded like. Neither man spoke. Then there was the sound of a slamming door.

Lauren didn't know if she should go up to the house, or stay out of whatever had just occurred. She waited for a couple of minutes, then walked slowly up the path. She opened the door and entered the house, not sure she belonged.

Mr. Robinson was standing outside the wooden door, clearly upset. He looked at her, but didn't speak. She wanted to reach out to him, to reassure him that everything would be all right. But she didn't know how. Mr. Robinson was just not an easy man to approach. Then he turned and walked away, as though she wasn't even there.

Lauren didn't knock, just crept inside Daniel's suite. His bedroom door was open and there was movement inside. She crept closer. He was sitting with his back to the door. "Good morning," she said softly, not letting on that she had heard everything that had just happened.

"Go away," he growled.

She didn't say anything else, just stepped into his room. He turned, anger flashing in his eyes. "I said go away!"

His right cheek was glowing bright red with the imprint of his father's hand and there were tears in his eyes. "Why don't you understand? I don't want you here." He turned away once again, trying to shut her out of his life. "We have work to do. We need to get started," she said, ignoring his emotional state. "Let's go over to the gym."

"I'm not going," he growled, retreating further into his room.

She approached him, resting her hand on his shoulder. "I thought we had an understanding, that we were going to try to get along? I thought you were going to give me a chance?"

"A chance to what? Make a few bucks off my old man? Maybe you think he's looking for a little something on the side, that he could be your sugar-daddy. I'm sure you'd take it wherever you could get it after your fiancé dumped you."

Lauren could feel the tears coming to her eyes. She didn't want to let Daniel make her cry again. She took a deep breath and turned away from him. But once again he sensed that he had the upper hand. He was relentless, forcing her to face him. Instead of letting herself cry, Lauren felt the anger growing deep inside her. She faced him, staring into those blue eyes.

She almost hated him for his taunting, for his arrogance, his obvious desire to make her life miserable. Who did he think he was talking to her like that? She had had difficult patients before, especially in the nursing home where she used to work. But she couldn't understand with Daniel. One moment they were able to put their differences aside, almost agree, and the next they were at war, in total opposition.

"I know you're really hurt. You lost your mother, then you had this terrible accident. You're angry and resentful. Anyone would be. But not everyone would be a quitter, just give up and sit alone in their room day after day. I've seen little children with more courage than you've got," she spat. "You're not a man. You're a coward."

This time it was his turn to look shocked. He had not expected her to react this way. He wanted her to burst into tears and run away. But Lauren was all the more determined not to let him win another round. She was the professional, had to take charge of the situation, otherwise Daniel would always be in control, calling all the shots.

He turned away from her, but she would not allow him to escape now that she had him on the run. She circled around him. "The truth hurts, doesn't it? It's so easy for you to sit here and attack everyone around you. But you can't handle it when someone confronts you, forces you to face the truth."

"Go away."

"I'm afraid not. I'm not going anywhere. You're stuck with me. Now, let's get over to the gym and get to work," she demanded, making it clear she would not take no for an answer.

Daniel looked up at her, then sighed. He didn't argue, just wheeled himself to the door and across the hall. She followed him, satisfied that she had won some small measure of respect from her difficult patient.

She sat on the bench, facing Daniel. "So tell me, what would you like to accomplish?"

"Oh I'd like to run the Boston Marathon next year," he grumbled.

"Well, how about we start a little smaller for the short term. The Boston Marathon can be our long-term goal," she said, playing on his sarcasm.

"Yeah, right."

"Yeah, right," she said. "You will walk again. If you want it bad enough."

"It's not up to me," he argued. "That was decided the day of the accident."

"No, not according to your doctors or your medical records. You've got more hope than most people in your situation. If you've got the guts to make it happen."

Daniel looked angry, and his anger was directed at her. There was hate in his eyes as he grabbed hold of the bars and pulled himself to his feet. He had incredible upper body strength, had obviously been lifting weights both before and after the accident. He easily guided himself along the bars, his biceps bulging as he dragged his lifeless legs along the carpeted floor.

"See?" he growled.

"Put some weight on your legs, that's the whole point of using the bars for support. You can't expect them to hold you the first time, but you have to at least try."

"I can't."

Lauren stood up and approached Daniel. She rested one hand on the small of his back, and the other on his right leg. "Straighten your leg."

"I can't."

"Yes, you can," she reassured. She used her hand to help him straighten his right leg, then did the same with the left. "Now, put some weight on them. Ease off with your arms just a little."

He made one half-hearted attempt, then dropped down into his chair.

"Well, that wasn't much. We've got a lot of work to do."

"What do you care? Like you said yesterday, you get paid whether I do any therapy or not."

"I want to see you walk again. Not every patient has that potential. Sometimes the best you can hope for is to get them used to living with their chair. With you, there could be so much more."

Daniel didn't respond, so Lauren went on talking. "Why do you want to give up, just settle for the chair when you could have your life back?"

"I don't want to talk about it."

"You need to talk to someone, share your feelings. I'm here, and I'm willing to listen."

"Why?"

"Because I'm interested. Besides, it's better than dwelling on my own problems."

"I'm not ready to talk," he said, turning away once again.

Lauren decided not to push it. At least he had engaged in some dialogue with her. "How about if you show me around then?"

"I suppose. Come on. If you're going to be here, you might as well know your way around."

He led her out of the gym, and through the wooden door. He wheeled his way down the long corridor back to the part of the house where Lauren had been the day before. He didn't even look up at he went by the portrait of his mother. Lauren wanted to say something, but decided not to pry. He was being civil, making nice with her, and she didn't want to undo what little progress she had made.

"This is the library," Daniel said, guiding her into a large room. There were wall-to-wall books, more impressive than the small town library where Lauren had spent so much of her time when she was in high school. "If you ever get restless, can't sleep, this is the place to go."

"Does that mean I'll be staying long enough to get restless?" she teased.

He looked up at her and smiled. "You don't have anyplace else to go, do you?"

Lauren was so drawn to Daniel, could easily have gotten lost in those blue eyes. She had been alone for almost a year, had not acknowledged her own needs and desires for so long.

"Not at the moment," she replied, turning away so that he would not see her blush. She was undeniably attracted to her patient. Her pulse was racing and the familiar tingle of excitement swept through her. He was so sexy, shirtless with those skimpy shorts that left very little to the imagination.

"So, do you want to see the rest?"

"Of course. The house is so huge, I might even need a map," she stammered, forcing herself to stop thinking about Daniel and the powerful throbbing between her thighs. Still, she wondered if he was even slightly attracted to her, whether she stirred any feelings in him -- other than anger and resentment of course.

"Yeah, we wouldn't want you to get lost, be wandering around this big house," he teased, rolling by her and into the hallway.

"The library is really impressive."

"Thanks. It was always one of my favorite places when we came up here for the summer. It was my mother's pride and joy, that and her flower gardens."

"Your mother was quite a woman, wasn't she?"

"Yes, she was," he said, his voice soft. "She seemed to be good at everything."

"What's in here?" Lauren asked, as they past a closed door.

"That used to be my mom's room. She slept down here whenever my father was away. The rest of the time, she called it her quiet room. She used it for her meditation, for her painting, whenever she needed some time alone, I guess."

Lauren turned the knob and pushed the door open. The room wasn't decorated as elaborately as the rest of the house. The wallpaper was lavender, the curtains white lace, the carpet a deeper shade of purple. There was a canopy bed, a white dresser and a night stand off to the left. On the right side of the room was an artist's easel and tubes of paint. There was a partially-completed seascape, abandoned by an artist who would never return to her work.

"Close it, please."

"I'm sorry."

"It's just...nobody goes in there anymore. It's kind of the way she left it, you know?"

"Yeah, I understand."

Daniel was quiet as he wheeled his way down the hallway. "This is the formal dining room, then beyond that is the kitchen. The laundry room and pantry are next. Down from there are the servants' quarters. My father's study is off to the left, along with the Jacuzzi, then upstairs there are six bedrooms each with private bathrooms. The master bedroom is upstairs, too."

"What happened to her, Daniel?"

"She was murdered. She was back in Boston, all alone as usual. My father was out of town on business and Tiffany and I were living in Cambridge. They think she walked in on a burglar."

"But you don't think so?"

"No. I think it had something to do with her projects, those camperships and scholarships, or something else that had to do with money. She had her own assets, separate from my dad, and she handled them in her own way. I think someone got pissed off and went after her."

"Someone who didn't get what they wanted?"

"Or someone who did, then decided to thank her by robbing her. I'm convinced it was someone she knew, that she allowed someone into the house."

"What makes you think so?"

"It's just a feeling. She didn't seem like herself the last time we talked. It was like she wanted to say something, but just couldn't. I thought she wanted to talk about Tiffany and me again. My mom was really worried about me, about my marriage to Tiffany. I told her I was too busy to talk, that we would have to get together sometime for lunch. I just didn't want to hear it again, about Tiffany and how she was no good for me. But maybe she would have told me what was going on. I mean, if I hadn't blown her off."

Daniel looked so sad, so full of regret and guilt. Lauren knew that was not making his recovery any easier.

"Do you think she was scared?"

"No. But then, she always expected the best from people. She trusted everyone."

"Nothing like her son, huh?"

Daniel gave Lauren a strange look, then turned away. "Anyway, that's about all there is. I'm kind of tired. I think I'll lie down for a while."

"Okay. But this afternoon I'd like to go outside with you. We can wander around the estate, maybe just sit and look out onto the water. You definitely need some sun."

"I don't go out."

There was such finality in his voice that Lauren didn't challenge him. They had made headway, were establishing a working relationship. She didn't want to make him angry all over again by insisting he do something he didn't want to do. She followed him back to his room, but he didn't speak, just quietly dismissed her. So she headed back down to the guesthouse, taking time to stop and admire the flowers.

The sun was shining and there was a light breeze as Lauren returned to her new home. She stood on the steps for a few minutes before going inside. Then she picked up a notebook and jotted down some notes from their conversation. She would have to have something to show the doctor when he came to town to follow up on Daniel. When she finished, she stepped out onto the grass and looked down across the water. It was such a beautiful day, she wished Daniel would share it with her. But it was clear he was unwilling to leave his safe little world.

The sailboat was right off shore again. Lauren thought it was strange that a sailboat should be there in the little cove. Only an inexperienced captain would repeatedly enter such a sheltered area. But then, sometimes summer visitors had their own ideas about things, wanted to experience Maine in their own way. Lauren dismissed it and went back inside.

She went into the kitchen and put some water on for tea, then looked into the refrigerator. It was stocked with enough food to last her several weeks. She picked up her notebook one more time and jotted down some goals and activities she would work on with Daniel. Then she sat down in the rocking chair and stared out the window. The rocking chair was so comfortable, she almost hated to get up when the tea kettle whistled. She reluctantly went back into the kitchen, thinking about Daniel, his mother, his accident. He was a man who had everything, then he lost his mother, nearly drowned, and was stuck in a wheelchair when according to all his doctors he should be up walking around. It seemed that everything had been taken from him, that he had nothing to live for anymore. That was the first thing she had to remedy, and his father would have to help with that.

Instead of returning to Daniel's suite, she went directly to Mr. Robinson's study. She knocked, then entered without being invited in. Mr. Robinson looked up from his paperwork, seeming more than a little annoyed. "What is it Miss Carver?"

"I want to talk to you about Daniel. He needs something to do with himself, to feel useful, productive again. I was wondering if you might have some ideas."

"I've already tried to get Daniel to come back to work. But he doesn't want to hear it."

"You said you had a business dinner tonight."

"Yes, but Daniel never attends."

"Is it here in the house?"

"Yes, even one of Daniel's old friends will be there. I would certainly be pleased if Daniel would join us. But I can't force him, and I don't have the time to argue with him."

"But you would have something for Daniel to do, something productive that would make him feel better about himself, if I could convince him to attend the dinner?"

"Of course. I would be happy to have Daniel back at my side. He's always had a lot of business sense, made valuable contributions to the company. I haven't enjoyed working without him. But you won't be able to convince him to come, I've tried everything."

"We'll see," Lauren said, smiling to herself as she turned to leave.

"Miss Carver..."

"Yes?"

"Don't be too discouraged, if he won't come. Daniel will come around eventually, he just needs time."

"You can't be too easy on Daniel, Mr. Robinson. As long as you feel sorry for Daniel, he will feel sorry for himself."

Mr. Robinson didn't say anything else as Lauren left his office. She headed down the corridor, passing Charles as she made her way to Daniel's suite. She didn't let his smug expression get to her as she approached the wooden door.

She didn't bother to knock, just sought Daniel out in the sitting room. He was holding a book in his hand, as she entered the room.

"Daniel?"

He looked up, none of the earlier warmth in his expression. "What?"

"Do you have any plans for dinner?"

"I'm having dinner here in my room, just like always."

"Tonight you need to eat dinner in the dining room with your father."

"I don't think so. He's having a business dinner."

"That's the point. You have to be there. He needs you."

"He did fine without me for years, and he's done fine the last few months."

"No, he hasn't."

"Look, I don't need them staring at me, feeling sorry for me."

"I'll make a deal with you, make it worth your while, Daniel. If you have dinner with your father and his business associates, I won't nag you about going to the gym for a couple of days. I'll give you a break. I'll even stay out of here for two days."

Daniel stared at her, his eyes cold and calculating. "Two days? That's not good enough. But I might be willing to negotiate."

"What do you want?"

"A week. Seven whole days. You do nothing, you don't even show your face down here."

Lauren was reluctant to give Daniel a week off when they hadn't even started his physical therapy. But if things worked out at dinner, that might do more for Daniel than all the physical therapy in the world.

"Okay, a week. But you have to participate tonight, get involved in what's going on, or it's no deal."

"I suppose. But you have to be there too."

"It's not my company."

"I won't go without my companion. That's what you're supposed to be, right?"

"I'm your physical therapist."

"Tonight you're my dinner companion."

Lauren was reluctant to have dinner with her wealthy employer and his business associates. She felt out of place already, but she wanted Daniel to be there, to get involved in life again. "All right, I will."

"Good, don't forget you have to dress for dinner. So you better start now," he said, looking her up and down.

Lauren didn't know how to respond to Daniel's obvious criticism, especially when she didn't know what she would wear, how she would manage to fit in. But she pulled herself together, not letting his intrusive gaze keep her on the defensive.

"How about we do some exercises?"

"I don't feel like it. We did the gym this morning."

"This won't require you to do much of anything. I thought we could work on some stationary exercises. If you'll lie down, either on the floor or on your bed, we'll give your leg muscles a little workout."

"Why don't you let it go? Just give up? It's not like anybody cares."

"I care."

He looked doubtful, then wheeled his chair toward the door. "Well, come on. I'm not going to get down on the floor."

She followed him into his bedroom and watched as he hoisted himself from the chair to the bed. He lay back on the bed as she approached him. "Now what?" he demanded.

Lauren picked up his right leg and began to manipulate it, bending it at the knee, then straightening it. Then she rested his foot against her shoulder. "Try to push."

"I can't. It's no use."

"Just try."

She could feel some muscle response as he attempted to push. She knew he would walk again; she just had to make him believe he could. Once again she bent his knee, then straightened his leg. "Do you have any sensation in your leg?"

"Not much."

"But there is some?"

"Sometimes. It's not constant."

She crawled up onto the bed to get to his left leg. She lifted it as she had done to his right, bending and straightening his muscular limb. "You know, if you don't keep exercising, your going to lose all this muscle."

"I know. I had a therapist down in Boston. But he was too annoying for words. I was really glad to get away from him."

"But he helped you keep in shape over the last few months."

"I guess he did a little for me. But he was just in it for the money. He was on salary, but my father told him there was a bonus in it for him if he made any real progress with me. Have you got something like that going with my old man?"

"No. I'm just supposed to be here. I get paid whether I get results or not. So I guess I could just kick back and not do anything, let you wallow here in your self-pity all summer. But I'm not going to."

Lauren looked into his eyes. She could see that he was trying to make up his mind about her, whether she could be trusted or not. Then he reached for her, wrapping his arms around her and pulling her down on top of him. In an instant his lips were clamped over hers, his tongue demanding entrance to her mouth. She didn't struggle, just allowed him to kiss her. Then his hand dropped lower, tracing a path along her curves. She could feel his maleness pressing against her, knew he was as hungry for physical contact as she was.

Her head was spinning, as he released his hold on her. He didn't speak, just continued to stare at her. She knew her cheeks were flushed. He smiled, seeming pleased with himself.

"See? Some parts still work."

She crawled off the bed. "I think we've done enough exercising for today. I'll see you at dinner."

She couldn't face him, couldn't bear to look into those intense eyes. It was like he could see right through her, knew her every thought, every emotion. It was too unsettling. She ran from his room, her feelings suddenly overwhelming. Tears began to stream down her cheeks. No one had ever touched her like that, igniting such a raging fire inside her.

She let the door slam shut behind her and ran down the path. She didn't pause to admire the flowers, just wanted to be alone. Once she was back in her own room, she threw herself down on the bed and let her tears flow. Why had Mark deserted her? They had planned a life together, talked about forever, and living happily ever after. If he hadn't left her behind, she wouldn't be here, struggling to get on with her life and dealing with the arrogant Daniel Robinson.

She just lay there, not wanting to get up. She stared at the ceiling, wondering if she should just pack her bag and go home. But she knew she couldn't. Her mother had been patient and understanding when she had come home before. But this time she had no excuse. She had a good paying job, a nice place to live. She wasn't a child, and she couldn't just run away.

Lauren rolled off the bed and opened the closet door. She didn't know what to wear, didn't have anything that formal. She finally settled on a pink camisole and a black skirt. Then she went into the bathroom and turned on the water in the huge tub. She poured in some bubble bath and pulled her t-shirt off over her head. Lauren looked into the mirror as the steam filled the air. She didn't know what she would say to any of these business people, what they would think of her.

She stripped off the remainder of her clothing and sunk into the soothing, soapy water. She rested back, closing her eyes. She thought about the tragedies that had plagued Daniel's life. They were not unlike the heartaches that had disrupted her own life. She understood his pain, could sympathize with his grief. But she could not let him give up. Despite everything that she had been through, she had never given up. But there were times she had wanted to, wished she had the courage to end it all.

Now she had a purpose, had found her way back from tragedy. She had to share that with Daniel, bring him back from his despair. She finished washing herself and stepped out of the tub, wrapping a towel around her body. She dried off, then played with her hair, trying to make it look better, more sophisticated. But when she pulled it up, it looked so phony, so presumptuous, and nothing like her.

She sighed and let her damp hair fall down across her shoulders, then stepped out into the bedroom. She dressed, feeling uncomfortable, then looked over at the clock. It was nearly six o'clock. She put on her shoes and walked purposefully to Daniel's suite.

He was in his room when she went in. "All set?"

"I suppose," he said, turning toward her. His eyes widened as he checked her out. He looked so handsome in his dark suit, that she knew she must be staring as well.

"You look good," he admitted, still looking her up and down.

"You don't look so bad yourself," she said. "So how about heading out to the dining room?"

"Yeah, yeah, let's go," he agreed.

Lauren followed him down the corridor and into the dining room. There were three men sitting at the table with Mr. Robinson. Daniel paused, staring at a young, blond-haired man.

"Daniel, buddy, it's so good to see you again," the young man said, getting up from the table and approaching Daniel.

"What's he doing here?" Daniel demanded.

"Philip is helping out," Mr. Robinson explained.

"Doing what?"

"He's working in the finance office."

"Yeah, Dannie-boy, I'm the interim CFO for Robinson-Maitland Company."

"You gave him my job?" Daniel bellowed.

Lauren stood back, not sure what to say, how to relieve the tension in the room.

"I had to have a CFO. You can't run a company without a finance person. And you sure as hell weren't doing your job."

The anger flashed in Daniel's eyes and Lauren was relieved that it wasn't directed at her for once. "Fine, you did what you had to," Daniel relented, suddenly, unexpectedly. "It's none of my business. Let's just have dinner."

Lauren was speechless, couldn't believe Daniel had surrendered, put his anger aside so quickly. Even Mr. Robinson seemed surprised. He just stood at the head of the table, watching his son.

Philip pulled out a chair, right next to his seat. "And who is this beautiful creature?" he said, his eyes focused on Lauren's breasts.

"Lauren Carver, Daniel's physical therapist, this is Philip Strickland," Mr. Robinson said.

Philip slipped his arm around Lauren's waist. "It's certainly nice to meet you, Lauren. Daniel's a lucky man to have you all to himself."

"Leave her alone," Daniel growled, pushing between Lauren and Philip.

"I can't blame you for being possessive, Dannie-boy. She's a pretty little thing."

"Keep your hands off her," Daniel growled, pushing Philip aside.

"Daniel, what do you think you're doing?" his father demanded. "This is a business meeting. You either conduct yourself accordingly, or get out."

"Fine, that can be arranged," Daniel bellowed, turning and wheeling himself from the dining room.

Lauren followed him down the corridor and into his suite. "I can't believe Philip's working for my father. He's incompetent, not fit to manage. He can't be trusted. I should know. I went to school with him, got stabbed in the back more than once. Now he has my job, has the power to destroy Robinson-Maitland Company."

"Why don't you talk to your father?"

"What's the use? He doesn't listen."

There was a loud knock on the door, then it was pushed open. "What's the matter with you, Daniel? You've never behaved so inappropriately in a business meeting, made such a spectacle of yourself."

"Dad, he can't be trusted."

"Look, I'm working on a new project, trying to hammer out a merger agreement. Philip has done some projections, says it will work. Tonight is important, and you nearly turned it upside down."

"How did you think I would react when I found out you gave Philip my job, made him CFO of our company?"

"You weren't there. What was I suppose to do, let the company stagnate until it went bankrupt? Is that what you want?"

"I want to see those projections, want to know what you're ready to jump into on Philip's say-so."

"Why? You want to second-guess it? Philip has been in on all the discussions, meetings, knows all the details."

"It's my company, too. I own half the shares."

"You haven't acted like it. It's been up to me to keep the company going while you've been hiding in your room. I made excuses for you for as long as I could, then I had to take care of business."

"Well, I want to see those projections anyway. I know Philip better than you do," Daniel snarled.

"Fine, you can look at them tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I have a meeting. Are you coming back out?"

"No. I don't think I can sit at the same dinner table with Philip. But you and I can talk tomorrow before you sign anything."

"All right. I'll have Charles bring dinner down to you."

Mr. Robinson looked at Lauren and smiled, then headed out the door.

"Well, I guess I should go, too."

"Why?"

"We had a deal, remember? I said I wouldn't show my face down here for a week."

"Well, maybe we don't have to go that far. If you hadn't nagged me about going to dinner, I wouldn't have known what was going on with the company. Even though my dad and I had problems on a personal level, we always worked well together."

"So I can stay for dinner?"

"Yeah, I suppose," Daniel said, taking off his jacket and tie and unbuttoning the top buttons on his shirt.

Lauren relaxed, taking a seat on the sofa. It wasn't long before Charles appeared with a tray. He didn't speak, only set the tray down on the table and left the room. Lauren served Daniel, then picked up her own plate.

"Maybe I shouldn't have said anything. It's not like I'm ready to take my old job back. My dad does need someone."

"It doesn't sound like Philip is it. Maybe you should go, be in on that meeting, Daniel. Maybe you could make a difference."

Daniel thought for a moment. "You know, maybe you're right. But after that scene?"

"It's your home, your company, and it's your first day back on the job. You're entitled to make a scene, if you want to."

Daniel picked up his jacket and tie and wheeled himself toward the door. "Are you sure you don't mind eating alone?"

"I'm fine. I'll see you later."

In seconds, Daniel had returned to the dining room. Lauren picked at her food, them decided to explore the house on her own. She walked up the corridor, passing Mrs. Robinson's room. She hesitated outside the door, wanting to go inside and look around. Mrs. Robinson was such a fascinating woman, and that painting was so good.

Lauren was just about to open the door when Charles appeared. "What do you think you are doing?"

"I was just going to the library," Lauren lied.

"That's the next door down," Charles growled, glaring at Lauren.

"Thank you," she stammered, heading back down the hallway. She could feel Charles staring at her as she approached the library. She sat down in one of the comfortable chairs and kicked off her shoes. She took a book from the shelf, and began to read. It was a love story, more like a fairytale than anything that would ever happen in real life. She was so absorbed in the story, the characters and the action were so real, that Lauren lost track of time. It was hours later when she returned the book to the shelf.

She scanned the shelf one more time, thinking she would find a book to take back to the guesthouse. It would be nice to have something to read before she went to sleep. She picked The Prophet, and flipped through a few pages, stopping when she came to a faded newspaper clipping. She unfolded it and looked at the picture. Daniel's arms were wrapped around the slender blonde from the bedside photograph. Lauren read through the announcement, looking for any information she could find on Daniel Robinson. His fiancée's name was Tiffany Scott, and according to the announcement, she and Daniel had been married three years ago. Lauren wondered what had become of Mrs. Daniel Robinson. Without Daniel's mother around, she would be the lady of the manor. It seemed like a role made for the woman in the photograph. She was sleek and sophisticated, obviously a lady of leisure. Lauren couldn't imagine why she wouldn't be around, helping her husband during this difficult time. It didn't make sense that his father would have to hire someone to take care of him, to be his companion.

Lauren folded the clipping and returned it to its place in the book, then flipped through the pages to see what other treasures it held. Near the back was another clipping, this one much more ominous. It told of Daniel's nearly fatal accident. Lauren read through the article, fascinated by the story. Daniel had been boating with his wife when he was thrown overboard. According to her statement, she had searched for him for hours, but couldn't find him. Finally she had called in the Coast Guard.

Apparently Daniel had been rescued from the cold ocean water by a small fishing boat. He was taken to a local hospital, then airlifted to Boston for emergency medical care.

Lauren couldn't help wondering what part Mrs. Robinson had played in her husband's accident. If she hadn't been involved, then she would she be there with him. It was no wonder Daniel was so angry, so hostile.

Then Lauren dismissed her theory. If Tiffany Scott-Robinson had been involved in her husband's accident, she would have been arrested. There would have been a trial. Surely she would have heard about it. The near-drowning of Daniel Robinson had been in the news, all over the front page of the local paper. Lauren had heard about it, though she was more focused on her own crisis over Mark's disappearance at the time.

She folded the paper and put it away, then returned the book to its place. She was checking out the titles of some other books on that shelf when she heard the footsteps outside the door. She didn't know who would be in the hallway. It didn't sound like Charles. The shoes were too noisy, clicked when the person walked, almost like high heels. But Lauren knew there were no other women in the house.

She crept toward the door, and slowly opened it. She peered around the corner, just in time to see the door to Mrs. Robinson's room creak slowly shut. Lauren stepped into the hallway, intent on finding out who had entered the sacred room. But before she could do so, Charles appeared in the hallway.

"Where do you think you're going now?"

"I was just looking around," she said. "Since I'm staying here for the summer, I think I should know my way around."

"Well, nothing up here is of any concern to you. Your attention should be limited to Mr. Daniel's suite."

"I thought I heard someone in the hallway."

"There's no one in this part of the house but me."

Lauren knew Charles was lying. She had heard the strange footsteps, seen the door shut. But she was afraid to just stand there and argue with him. She was outnumbered. So she turned and headed back down the corridor.

But instead of just going back to her cozy new home, she turned and went through the door to Daniel's suite. She didn't bother to knock, just let herself in. Daniel heard her and came out into the hallway. "May I come in?" she asked.

"Yeah, come on in."

Lauren entered his sitting room and took her customary position on the sofa. She didn't know what to say to him, but she wanted company, didn't want to be alone in the guesthouse -- not after what had just happened with Charles. She didn't feel very safe anymore. There was something strange going on in Seacrest Manor, and Lauren wanted to know what it was, didn't want to be taken by surprise. She had been through enough turmoil in her life.

"How did the meeting go?"

"Fine. I listened, then I had my say. Philip and the others left, and Dad's down in his study."

"Good for you."

Daniel just sat there and stared at her for a moment. "Lauren."

Lauren looked into his eyes. It was the first time he had called her by her name. "Look, I wanted to apologize for what happened earlier. I had no right," Daniel said softly. "I didn't mean to make you cry. Philip being such a jerk just reminded me. I wasn't any better."

Lauren wondered for a moment how he knew she had cried. She had been careful not to burst into tears in front of him. Then she remembered the intercom system. He could eavesdrop on her as easily as she had listened in on the conversation between Daniel and his father.

"It's not your fault. I've got issues of my own, you know."

Lauren could hear the difference in Daniel's voice. The anger, the venom was gone from it. He had apparently come to some conclusion about her, decided that perhaps he should give her a chance.

"I know. My father told me about your fiancé disappearing. What really happened there?"

"I don't know. He left one morning, said he was going to work. That was the last time I saw him. They found his car on a deserted road, no sign of him anywhere."

"You weren't fighting or anything? I mean, he wasn't just pissed off?"

"No. We were getting along fine, as far as I knew. We were planning our wedding."

Lauren was uncomfortable reliving details of Mark's disappearance. But she knew she had to open up to Daniel, trust him a little, if she wanted him to trust her.

"That's pretty rough. I know," Daniel said softly. But he didn't offer any details. Lauren decided to push just a little, wanted to know more about Daniel. "She left you?" Lauren asked, gesturing toward the picture on the nightstand.

Daniel stared down at the floor. "Tiffany was my wife. After my accident, she left me. She told everyone she couldn't deal with me, that I was too difficult."

"I guess I'd be difficult too, I mean, if I were in your situation."

"Maybe she just didn't want to be here anymore, and this was as good an excuse as any. I wasn't as bad back then, you know," he said, his eyes meeting hers. There was almost a smile on his face as he joked about his negative attitude. But Lauren knew he was in pain, was suffering from the desertion, just like she was.

"She was with you when you had your accident?"

"Yeah, it was our last day before we left for Boston. She insisted she wanted to spend the day on the water. I keep wondering, you know, how things might have been different if we had done what I wanted to do that day."

"What was that?"

"You probably wouldn't believe me if I told you."

"Sure I would. Come on, what?" she coaxed.

"I wanted to go to the fair. I hadn't been in years but I wanted to see the stunt cars, listen to the music, maybe even go on some of the rides. My mom used to take me when I was a kid. We always made a day of it."

"I used to love the fairs. My brother, Ricky, and I would go on all the rides. It was so much fun. The first time I went with Mark I thought it would be so cool, just like in the movies. I thought Mark would win me a teddy bear playing one of those silly games, then we would go on some of the rides. I thought it could be one of those romantic couple things. But he was never into that. He thought it was a rip-off, a waste of money. So we didn't really do anything that night except walk around, and we never went again."

"So he never won you a teddy bear?"

"No. But I did play one of those games and I won myself a little doll. It made me feel better somehow. I guess I learned that night that I could do for myself, didn't need to wait for Mark to give me what I wanted."

"That's too bad. The fair could be a lot of fun. And sometimes it's nice to have someone else do for you. Of course, Tiffany thought it was beneath her -- for country folks. She was too sophisticated to enjoy anything like that."

Lauren could see the innocent little boy behind Daniel's blue eyes. Despite his attitude, he still had hope, a zest for life and having fun. She just had to help him recapture that.

"Well, I know it's a while until the fair's in town. But there is a carnival that's happening in a few weeks. Maybe you would like to go."

Daniel retreated. Lauren could see the distance between them increasing before he even spoke. "I don't think so," was his only reply. Lauren decided not to push, hoping Daniel would change his mind on his own.

Neither of them spoke for a while, just sat together keeping each other company. Lauren could tell that Daniel was lonely too. He had been hurt, didn't trust anyone. He had plenty of reason to be angry, to be hostile. Lauren could sympathize, was beginning to understand Daniel.

"Well, I suppose I should go. It is getting late. You need your rest, because tomorrow we are really going to go to work in that gym. You've got to exercise those muscles, keep them in shape, that is, unless you plan to hold me to our little agreement."

Daniel didn't even acknowledge what she had said. "You don't have to go," he said. "You could stay a while longer."

"Well, maybe just for a little while. Tell me, what do you do with yourself all day?"

"I go online, play around with my computer, watch movies."

"Do you ever have visitors?"

"No. I don't know anyone around here. Besides, I'm not very good company."

"Oh, you're not that bad. You have your moments."

Daniel smiled. "Maybe we can do the gym thing tomorrow. But I have to go over those projections first. I have to figure out what Philip is up to."

"What's the story with Charles? Has he been with your family for very long?"

"He was hired a few years ago. I'm not sure where my father found him."

"Doesn't sound like you're real impressed."

"He's okay, I guess. Just he and I never hit it off very well. But when we only had to see each other for a few weeks every summer, we could coexist."

"Does he work for your father the rest of the year, or is this a seasonal type position?"

"He works for him back in Boston, too. He's kind of dad's man-Friday. He does whatever's necessary, even if it means waiting on me. And believe me, he really hates that."

"So why does he stay?"

"I guess for the money, the security. I don't know. But he always seemed to like Tiffany. He seemed to enjoy doing for her, you know, waiting on her, answering her every want. And believe me, she had plenty of wants."

Lauren only smiled, knowing any comment she made about his wife would be inappropriate. "So where is Tiffany now?"

"I don't know. She didn't even hang around long enough to get a divorce."

"That must be kind of strange, being married to someone who is not even around."

"It is. But then, Tiffany and I weren't together that much anyway. She traveled, had her own ideas about things. I guess you could say we lived together, separately."

"Were you in love with her?"

Lauren looked at Daniel. His blue eyes were clouded with tears. Then he turned away. "I guess we should be calling it a night," he said softly, his voice faltering slightly.

Lauren took the cue and got up from the sofa. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to pry, to say the wrong thing."

"It's okay. I just don't want to talk about it."

Lauren went back to the guesthouse, still feeling a little frightened by the uninvited visitors and the mysterious Charles. She didn't even turn on a light, not wanting to be visible to anyone outside. She crept into the bedroom, undressed and crawled between the cool sheets. Tomorrow was another day, and she would try to figure out what to do, make a plan. She was only beginning to know Daniel, but she had decided he was not the arrogant, self-centered man she had thought when she first met him. He was just someone who was frightened and alone -- just like she was.

Chapter Three

It was early the next morning when Mr. Robinson knocked on the guesthouse door. Lauren got up, pulled on a robe and went to the door.

"Good morning, Miss Carver. I just wanted to thank you. I couldn't get Daniel to come to dinner, couldn't get him involved in the business. How did you convince him?"

"Well, I guess you could say I made him an offer he couldn't refuse. I told him I wouldn't hassle him about the gym, wouldn't nag him for a week, if he would go to dinner and participate. I just thought his mental heath was as important as his physical health, that it was an even trade."

"It worked. That's all that matters."

"Daniel certainly reacted to Philip."

"Yes, I don't know what's going on there. Daniel and Philip were friends at one time. Philip is bright and capable. I think he could make a valuable contribution to the company."

"I don't think Daniel would agree."

"He may not. But if he comes back to work, he can make that decision. The finance department belongs to him. In the meantime, Philip is in charge. He can't make any decisions without my say-so, of course, but I generally follow his recommendations. He has the accounting/business education. I can only work from my own experiences and what makes logical sense to me. I took over the company from my father, and I hope that Daniel will do the same, eventually passing it along to the next generation."

"I think he'll come around. Last night was only the beginning."

"I hope you're right. In the meantime, I have a meeting. So, if you will excuse me."

Mr. Robinson headed down the pathway to the house and Lauren went into the kitchen to make herself some breakfast. She put the water on for tea, then went into the bedroom to get dressed. She had just pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweatshirt when there was more knocking on her front door.

Lauren opened the door, surprised to see Philip standing on the steps. "Laurie, honey, I thought we got off on the wrong foot last night. I wanted to talk to you, see if I could make things right."

"Look, Philip, I have work to do."

"I know, I know, sweetheart. You're Daniel's little helper. But you need to have a life. How about we go out, have a little dinner?"

"I don't think so."

"Oh come on, don't be so uptight. Loosen up a little. We'll go out and I'll show you a good time."

Philip seemed intent on having his own way. He stood in the doorway, holding the door open with his foot, while his green eyes focused on Lauren's curvaceous form. "You're a beautiful woman, Laurie. You shouldn't be wasting your life."

"Lauren, Lauren, are you there?" Daniel's voice boomed over the intercom.

"I have to go," Lauren said, turning away and going to the intercom. Philip stepped into the guesthouse.

"After my meeting, I'll look for you to see if you want to go out then."

Lauren didn't acknowledge him, just pushed the button on the intercom. "Daniel, what do you need?"

"Come in the house."

"Okay, I'll be there in a minute."

"Laurie, I'm not such a bad guy. You've got the wrong idea," Philip said, taking her by the arm.

"I have to get to work. Daniel's waiting."

"Daniel can wait. It's not like he can satisfy a woman like you. If he could, he'd still be with Tiffany."

"Mr. Strickland, I insist that you leave right away. Mr. Robinson would not like it that you're interfering with my work."

"Now, now, there's no need to get the boss involved."

"The boss will be involved, if you don't back off. Now, Daniel is waiting for me. You need to leave."

Philip just stared at her for a moment, the anger apparent in his eyes. "You don't know what's good for you," he snarled. "You're like Daniel, hiding away, denying your feelings."

Then he turned and walked out of the guesthouse, slamming the door behind him. Lauren peeked out the window to see if Philip was really gone, then went outside. She walked slowly up the path and entered Daniel's suite.

"Daniel?"

"I'm in here," he replied, calling from his bedroom.

Lauren stepped into the room. Daniel was sitting in front of the window, peeking between the drapes. "What can I do for you?"

"Nothing. I thought I should rescue you from Philip. He's a real jerk, but he thinks the women love him."

"Well, thank you. He was a little intimidating. I told him I would have to have a talk with your father, if he didn't stop interfering with my work."

"Don't let him get to you. He's not dangerous or anything; he's just an idiot."

"But you said he stabbed you in the back before."

"He did, when we were in school together. But he did it to cover his own ass."

"That doesn't excuse it."

"I know. But he doesn't worry me. I've always been able to handle Philip, and now is no exception. I'll take care of him, so he won't be bothering you any more."

"Thank you."

"You can hang around here if you want to. I'm going to go over the file, the projections and all the backup."

"I think I will, thanks."

Lauren was glad to see that Daniel had some feeling for her, was at least treating her like a person. She just hoped she could nurture their relationship, so that she could really make a difference in his life. She needed success, as much as Daniel did.

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