A/N: Thanks for the reviews and to all those who put this on their Favorites List…another corner is turned…the story is far from over…I look forward to your comments…more when I can…glad you are still enjoying this story…take care…Kathy
The music was softly flowing through the opened doors of the oversized banquet hall adjacent to the library building.
Billowing silken canopies of shimmering ivory suspended below the skylights in the cathedral ceiling created an open-air effect that was breathtaking.
Muted lighting along the edges of the dance floor was highlighted by tastefully-fashioned garden flower arrangements.
What caused the most surprise for the room's occupants, however, was the introduction of hundreds of butterflies among the large potted plant life that lined the interior walls.
And for one attendee, the sight was almost her undoing.
"A rainforest," Sara whispered as her feet seemed to work without her knowledge.
"Oh, Sarabelle…it's beautiful…does it really look this incredible in person?" Philip gushed, his hand tightening around her waist as his eyes continued to take in their surroundings.
If it hadn't been for his firm grip holding her to his side, Sara surely would have bolted.
They moved slowly into the expanding crowd as she couldn't help but look skyward at the amazingly clear view of the northeast sunset occurring outside this fantasyland.
Philip strutted proudly into the room; his dream of someday arriving with this remarkable woman on his arm was finally coming true.
Nodding and smiling to well-recognized faces, his chest puffed out a bit as he held Sara to him a bit possessively.
She, however, was already planning her escape.
Couples were dancing to the nine-piece band as some were milling about from table to table engaging in handshakes and hugs.
The doors to the library had been left wide -opened, and Sara couldn't help but recall the many hours of sanctuary she had spent in those walls.
Philip led them to a table which thankfully had not been claimed as of yet.
"Sarabelle, can I get you something to drink?"
Ian's warnings suddenly flashed across her mind, and the thoughts of Gil's concerned gaze following his admonition caused Sara's throat to tighten.
Feeling as if she no longer had anything left to lose, however, her head nodded as she locked eyes with Philip and said, "Double scotch."
The smile fell from his face, but her gaze was firm.
Nodding slightly, he muttered, "As you wish," before heading towards the bar area.
Sitting was making her nervous, so Sara stood to walk closer to the small indoor pond complete with rippling waterfall.
The sense of smell can provoke strong memories, and the hint of perfume from the floating gardenia blossoms caused a tear to spring up in Sara's saddened eyes.
She recalled standing alongside the ponding water under the large waterfall near their base camp as the night sky was mirrored in the shimmering coolness collecting below the powerful cascades.
For a second, her breath hitched as she suddenly felt a strong arm encircle her waist from behind.
Could it be?
The next second, however, she was feeling another hand slipping past her waist to garishly try to separate her legs, gripping one high up on her thigh.
She struggled in the shadows against this intruder, but her movements ceased as a hot breath taunted in her ear, "Miss me?"
Somewhere from deep within, training overshadowed her shock, and Sara placed an elbow against the sternum of this monster, causing him to retract his hold on her.
Spinning around, she raised her hand to land a hard slap across this arrogant face.
She was no match for his strength, and soon Sara found her hands both held prisoner behind her back as she was pressed full front against this bully.
"C'mon, Sara. You know you always liked it rough."
Despite her attempts to dissuade him, his lips latched onto hers roughly.
When she felt his tongue forcing its way inside her mouth, she knew she was in trouble.
Suddenly, her body nearly fell backwards as she was released unceremoniously while her ears heard the low growl of her savior.
"What the hell do you think you are doing?"
"Well, well, well…brother dear…finally developing a backbone, are we?"
Ken Fuller was pulling on his cuffs to straighten his appearance, almost laughing at the pitiable sight of Philip's stunned expression.
"Broth-…" Sara spoke in a whisper, shaking her head in denial as her gaze moved from Ken to Philip.
Philip reached for her, but Sara backed away as her brow furrowed and she glared at him.
Pushing at his chest in much the same way as street gangs do when fighting for dominance in a situation, Ken regained his brother's attention as he continued to ridicule his gentler sibling.
"I see you've managed to procure some…entertainment…for me tonight, Phil. But then, you were always really good at that," he smirked, his eyes turning to devour Sara's lanky form.
Shaking her head, Sara was sure this must be another nightmare.
The feel of Ken's hand gripping her upper arm soon led her to understand she would not be waking up from this horror anytime soon.
The appearance of two towering hulks surprised the trio, effectively blocking Ken from further engaging Sara in his grasp.
Sara's hand flew to her mouth as she saw each bodyguard latch onto and separate the two men nearest to her to reveal the last person she expected to encounter here this evening.
Walking up to Ken, Heather's firm hand made contact with his stunned countenance.
"You…will not do this here…" she spoke with a glare before Ken turned his head down in submission, his hand rubbing the cheek still stinging from his sister's fury.
"This night we are here to honor the memory of our father. And I will not have you or anyone tarnish this tribute to him. Do I make myself clear?" she seethed at Ken.
Turning to Philip, her look seemed to soften slightly before she stated, "Is this understood?"
Sara's eyes widened as both men spoke humbly in unison, "Yes."
Heather's slight tilt of her head signaled the bodyguards to retreat and within seconds the four of them stood alone in the privacy of the shadowy cove.
Before Sara could thank Heather for her rescue, the dominatrix turned on her and spoke in tones that held her unmistakable loathing.
"I see you continue to create problems wherever you go, Sara," her words delivered with a particularly venomous tone.
"I had thought that once you had experienced the horrors out in the desert, you would have learned that lesson and…just disappeared."
Moving into Sara's personal space, Heather continued coolly, "And yet, you returned and made him feel sorry for you. Again. So sorry, in fact, that you guilted him into marrying you."
The words struck a chord with Sara, as she still carried that specter of regret for being the cause of Gil giving up his illustrious career to follow her to the rainforest.
Shaking her head in a pitying gesture, Heather's haughty laugh was almost Sara's undoing.
"And after all that – you run off to be with Philip."
Turning a scathing glance at the man, Heather smiled deviously, "Well, you two are certainly well-suited for each other. After all, Sara, could you do any better than a live-in shrink? How utterly cosmic!"
Philip began to protest, but was silenced by Heather's menacing glare.
Also stunned into silence, Sara could only wait as Heather yielded the final blow.
"Do you really think Gil will just leave his home and follow you now, Sara? Do you really think he even cares where you are now?"
As Sara's eyes fell, Heather positioned herself directly before her and dove in for the kill.
"Leave, Sara. Take your little bag and grab a taxi and just get the hell away from us. We don't want you here. We don't need you here."
Reaching out to force her chin upwards, Heather glared at Sara whose tears had begun streaming down her flushed cheeks.
"Leave now, Sara, and don't look back. No one wants you here, Sara. You only cause trouble and heartache for the people who care for you. Who would possibly want you and all your baggage around to complicate their life?"
The ensuing silence lasted a mere second before behind them came the reply.
"I suppose that would be me."