"So come on who is he?" Steph asked "Who?" Sarah asked as she was filing papers away at her desk. "Who is he? What's his name? I know there is a man now Rachel told me. Who is he? Is he cute?" Steph pestered on. "Steph first of all never listen to Rachel, secondly I'm very busy, and since the convention last month we've been very busy with all kinds of things here. I have to run I'll talk to ya later" Sarah said hanging up. What was she to say there was simply too much to tell, Wes would fly in before he had to go to on another business trip; he stopped by after his trip also. They would have dinner together; sit on the deck and talk. Boat rides became a habit. They enjoyed each other's company. But Sarah didn't have time for all this, she was getting ready. She had found an old hotel and was looking to buy and make it her own. Sure she could have gone to her father, but she was determined to get this done her way. "Have I told you I found the Hotel" Sarah said as they were having dinner on the deck. "Really? Have you found anyone it finance your new project?" he said looking over at her. "I said I found one, I didn't say I figured everything out yet, I'm getting there. I'm going to start working on my proposal on Monday, so by the end of the week I should have something finished" "Let me do it" Wes said. It was the way he said it that it sounded more like a demand. "No, Wes I wouldn't do that. Actually I won't have it," Sarah said. "I'm not really giving you an option, let me and my partners help, I insist, and I won't let you turn me down. This is an opportunity of a life time and if it's the mixing of business and us, well I'm looking at it from an investor's standpoint. I know you'll bring this Hotel to the top. So no really isn't the answer" "Why won't you listen to." Sarah said. "Listen to me, the only answer is yes. If you try to send your proposal out to other investors, I'll simply run them down," Wes smiled. Sarah looked at him for a moment. "You don't give up do you," she smiled. "No I don't"

The plane landed and Wes got off. He was spending a lot of time on this damned island. Why is it I always come to her he thought as he pulled up to the hotel, why hasn't she been the one to come to New York with me? Cause I'm the one who can't stop thinking about her and besides today was special he answered himself. He stepped into the lobby and stopped. Sarah was standing at the front desk. Every time he saw her, he would just stop dead in his tracks; his heart would skip a beat. "Come with me" he whispered in her ear as he walked up behind her. Sarah smiled, "Where to?" she asked. "You know it being your birthday and all we're going out," he said taking her hand. "I never told you it was my birthday" she smiled. "Please honey I know everything," he smiled as he pulled her to the waiting limo. They went to a restaurant that was about twenty minutes from the island. He sat watching her the whole time, "What's on your mind?" she asked. "Well all right here's how it goes. I'm going to straight forward with you, I have here in my pocket a ring, a very special ring and I was wondering if you'd be interested in wearing it" Sarah stopped for a moment and watched him. "Wes, it wouldn't be fair for you, right now. All my attention, all that I have is going to that hotel, its good business that way and I don't see how fair that would be if you got put to the side. So I can't, at least not at this point in my life," she said. Wes looked down for a moment, "And I understand, I'm a very patient man, and that's why I also have his for you" he pulled out a box and opened it. Inside was the most beautiful diamond necklace she had ever seen in her life. "Wes, it's beautiful, thank you," she said as he got up and put it on her.

"There's one more thing, tonight come on" Sarah had no idea what to expect, he was certainly pulling out the unexpected tonight. They went back to the hotel and things seemed oddly quiet. They walked into the large dining hall. "Surprise" Sarah was taken back for a moment. "Happy Birthday" he whispered to her. There were people from all over that she hadn't seen in awhile. "Happy Birthday Sweetie" Vince said hugging her. "Thank You Dad", she cried she was about to introduce them to Wes but he walked off giving them privacy. "I can't believe your all here," Sarah said. "When Rachel called and told us what she was planning, we told her we wouldn't miss it for the world" Linda said. "You guys are the greatest" Sarah said hugging her. After they all talked for a bit, Shane, Vince and Paul went off to get drinks. "All right spill it who is he?" Marissa asked. "Who is this he, you and Steph keep referring to?" Sarah said trying to play it off. "Yeah, Duh" Steph laughed "The man you walked in with we all saw him" Linda smiled "And I'm guessing the man who put that gorgeous necklace around your neck, holy shit that absolutely gorgeous," Steph added looking more closely at it. Sarah laughed, "Wes is just a friend of mine" "Are you sleeping with him?" Steph asked. "Stephanie!" Linda remarked. "What, I want to know what kind of friends they are, if she's getting a necklace like that. Hello I want friends like that," Steph laughed. Sarah laughed, "Wouldn't everyone, right and to answer your question no were not sleeping together" "Then how come I don't have friends like that, Paul doesn't even buy me jewelry that nice, it's not fair" Steph smiled. "Please the only person who gets treatment like that is Linda here, cause Vince would do anything for her" Marissa added "Don't blame me" Linda smiled. "What about Vince?" he asked walking up to the table. "We were talking about how only you and Wes know how to give fine jewelry. And mom get things just because," Steph said. "Well that's because I love your mother more than anything else in this world" he said leaning down and kissing her. "That is a nice necklace, who'd you say gave that to you?" Vince said looking at it. "A friend" Sarah said "Yeah a friend without benefits" Steph and Marissa laughed. "What?" Vince asked not catching what they said. "Nothing, you don't want to know" Linda smiled, "So where's Shane and Paul" she asked. "Um, Shane recognized someone, a top investor or something. They started talking, I mean I've heard of him, I just don't really know who he is, Courier, um I don't know his first name" Vince said trying to think of it. "Its Wes dad" Sarah added involuntary. "Wes, that's it, Wes Courier, thank you" Vince paused for a moment "What a second didn't you say a Wes gave you that necklace, and that's the same guy you walked in with to come to think of it. I'm may be old but I'm not that old." Vince turned around and looked back and Shane and Wes talking and then back at Sarah. "I didn't say that, you said it" Sarah said. "No, I remember now, Steph said earlier Wes, when referring to that necklace and that is the man you walked in with" he said. "No, Wes and I are a friend we work together that's all" Sarah said. "I'm going to find out what kind of work, you two are doing together" Vince said. Vince looked over and Shane and signaled for him and Wes to come on over. "Exactly how much older than you is he?" Vince asked before they reached the table. "How about them Yankee's, George is really over paying Jeter these days," Sarah said trying to change the whole thing around. "Don't avoid my question," Vince said sternly. "I don't know what you're talking about, I think your trying to make things out to be more then they really are." Sarah said. "I agree with you," Steph said trying to help. They reached the table, "Sit down, we're about to eat" Vince said. Shane sat next to Marissa and Paul with Steph. And Wes sat next to Sarah. "Dad. This is Wes, Wes meet my Father" Sarah said. "It's finally nice to meet you, I've heard so much about you and your family, you must be very proud of you daughter" Wes said. "I am very proud of my family, but please call me Vince, and this is my wife Linda, You've met my son Shane, This is Marissa his wife. And my other daughter Stephanie and her husband Paul" Vince said introducing the rest of the table. "Nice to meet you all, as I've said I've heard so much about you all and it is an honor to meet you I must say" Wes said. "Its nice to meet you also," Linda smiled "Yes well. So you're an investor, and I'm guessing a pretty damn good one, if your able to put a necklace like that around my daughters neck" Vince said. Wes was getting the feeling he wasn't really liked by Vince. It aggravated him since he was never really given a chance here and Vince was ready to beat the hell out of him. "I do very well, but it's a special necklace for a very special person" Wes said. "I see so let me ask have you two been seeing each other for very long? Maybe you're the reason she spends all her time here and never takes a moment for her family," Vince asked. "Oh for the love of god dad, you're so ridicules, do you hate me?" Sarah said from across the table. "Hey I was just wondering who the man is that's screwing my daughter" "No you did not just say that, you have got to be kidding me" Sarah said shocked that he would actually say that. "Truth be told Vince, what goes on between us, is not the business of you. Now would you excuse me for a moment?" Wes said getting up and walking from the table. "He's damn wrong if he thinks its not my business" "You're an ass, you want me to jump off a roof or something don't you? What? What is the deal?" Sarah said. "I have to use the men's room, excuse me," Paul said. "Excuse me?" Vince said angrily "What's your problem" Sarah asked pissed to all hell. "He's not right for you, I think he's too old for you, you're out of his league" Vince simply said. "Are you for real? I mean your kidding me right? That's why your giving him a hard time, you feel he's to old for me and who are you to say who's too old and who's old enough I do believe that my call and not anyone else," Sarah said raising her voice. "You will not use that tone with me, I believe as your father I have some right on who you see. I mean look he is almost as old as I am Sarah" Vince protested "He's about ten years younger then you are and it doesn't really matter. You of all people should not talk about healthy relationships" Sarah said. "That was low" Vince said. "Well what can I say" Sarah said. "It does matter. I'm looking out for you. He just one of those old guys looking for a young woman, that's all" Vince stated. "You're a bastard for this, and I hate you" Sarah said. "Vince now is the time in which I believe we need to talk" Linda said getting up, and from the tone of her voice he could tell she wasn't too thrilled with him. "All right" he said. Wes walked up behind Sarah and placed his hands on her shoulders. "Come on let's dance" They went out onto the dance floor and mixed in with the various couples. "I'm going to leave, it would be best, I know how much your family means to you and I don not want to be the one to disturb that." he said. "Wes, I'm not going to let you leave. My father is taking this too far and he knows it. He can't control the things I do" "If you father does not want me to be with you, then I'll walk away, before I fall in even more love with you." "Wes please don't go, I'm begging you, don't. For me please stay" she cried holding onto him "This is for you"

Vince and Linda had returned and Linda was not speaking to him. "He's going to leave tonight" Paul said sitting down. "What? Who? Have you been drinking?" Steph asked? "Wes, He's going to leave tonight. I was talking to him and he said Sarah loves her family so much and he doesn't want to get in the way of it." Paul said. Linda looked at Vince who just looked down but was not about to change his mind. "He also said, that if you don't want him to be around her anymore, that he'll walk, before he falls in even more love with her, he respects you far too much as her father to interfere with this family" "He loves her?" Steph asked. "So he says," Paul said. "I believe it," Marissa said who was sitting there with Shane. Vince looked back at Sarah and Wes dancing. "He's to old for her, he's not. " Vince said. He's not what Vince? Not good enough? Not worthy of her? Who is? You never liked anyone she brought home in school. You've done this with Stephanie also. So let me ask you who is good enough for her? Cause if it were up to you she would have no one." Linda said "Vince, your failing to see that he loves her, he said he loves her so much it hurts to be away. You're making the man physically ill." Paul said putting his arm on the back of Steph's chair. "Then why is he so willing to walk away? Why would he leave without a fight? Anyone can say they love someone and not mean it." Vince asked. "Vince don't be dumb. He does not want to come between you and Sarah. He loves her so much that he would walk away from it all so that you can have her. And from my stand point he really is the better man for not stepping in between her and her family." Linda said. "And for your information Wes and Sarah are not sleeping together, so that also makes you look like an ass, going on the way you were, embarrassed them both" Vince sat silently. "I agree with mom and everyone else" Shane said. Who was sitting there listening to everyone's argument. "Your wrong about this one dad. I backed you when it was Steph and Paul, but not this time I won't" "Now you know your wrong" Steph said to Vince.

"My Plane leaves in forty-five minutes, I have to go" Wes said breaking apart. "You own the plane; it doesn't need to leave now" "Yes it does, before I'm in so deep that I can't get out. I love you Sarah, and there is nothing I can do about that." "Wes, Please don't go" Sarah said grabbing hold of his hand. "I have to, it's for you, I would do anything for you and if that means walking away to keep you with your family then so be it," he said walking away feeling as if his chest had been crushed with rocks, the truth is he might prefer that to what he has to do now. But he had to do what was right by her family. Sarah walked back to the table and leaned her head on Linda's shoulder. "What's wrong?" she asked, "He left" Sarah cried. "Where's dad? Cause I'm sure he's so friggin happy" "I don't know I stopped talking to him and he just got up and left a few minutes ago, don't worry things will be all right, I'm sure of it" Linda said. "I never wanted this; I told myself that Wes and I would only be business friends" "What happened to that?" Steph asked. "He had to go and fall in love with me, what the hell's wrong with him? But then to make matters worse I had to go and love him too. There's something wrong with me," she smiled weakly.

Wes opened the door to his limo, when a hand from behind him shut it. "What the hell's your." He said turning around. "You can't go" Vince said from behind. "I have to Vince, I'm not going to get between you and Sarah and you made it obvious you don't want me around your daughter and I will respect that." "I'll admit I was being an ass, but it does bother me how much older you are, that's my little girl in there and she'll always be that to me. But I see now how much you really do care about her and I can respect that. That's why you can't go. Actually I won't let you go. And I can't have her hating me, I lost her once when she was young and I can't risk it again." "Vince it's more then just care for her, I do love her and I'm not just saying that because I can, I'm saying it because it's true."

"Come Dance with me here for a minute" Vince said walking by Sarah and grabbing her hand. "I don't really feel like dancing, and I hate you" Sarah said when they got out there. "Just give me a minute," Vince said, "Here it is. I may not like the fact that he is older then you, I may never like the fact. It seems that I can't ignore that he does love you. I learned once when I drove Steph away cause I didn't like the idea of her and Paul. I don't want to make the same mistake twice. So if you wish to carry on seeing Wes, I'll respect that" "It's a little to late now" Sarah said. "It's never to late" Wes said from behind. Sarah turned around and found herself in his arms "I thought you were leaving?" She asked. "I thought I was to. But someone stopped me" Wes smiled. "I'm glad they did" "Me too," he said as he leaned to kiss her.

"Vince you did the right thing" Linda said standing next to him. "Oh so your talking to me now, I see" Vince said dancing with her. "As long as your not stubborn on some of your stupid ways, we could talk all through the night" "We'll be up all through the night not just talking" Vince smiled. "I won't argue" Linda laughed. The party came to a close and everyone carried on to their rooms, Steph, Paul, Marissa and Shane were leaving in the morning. And Vince and Linda were going to stay for a few more days. "I'm really glad you didn't go" Sarah said as they stepped into the elevator. "I am to, honestly I don't think I would really be able to go on with out you" Wes said putting his arms around her. "As it turns out you really do balance out my life, your what I've been missing all this time." By the time they got the room door open, she had already slipped off his jacket and was throwing his tie to the floor. She leaned against the door as he kissed down her neck and she unbuttoned his shirt. Wes reached behind her and unzipped her dress. He picked her up and carried her over to the bed. The dress fell to the ground followed shortly after with his pants. He stopped before he did anything else, and looked her in her eyes. "I have to tell you now" he said "I know, I love you too", Sarah smiled, "I really do" he smiled He lowered his head and kissed like it was the first time they met. Sarah ran her hands up his chest. Wes kissed down her neck as he ran his hand down her body. "Wes" Sarah moaned. Grabbing hold of him. "Don't worry, we have all night," He whispered