Chapter One

“Bloody hell” cursed Jamie as he drove through the pouring rain and howling winds. He tried to keep his cool but he hadn’t felt this stressed out since he’d been thrown out of Paige’s house 3 years ago. As he steered his way down the winding roads he could still hear the blazing row they’d had before he had been thrown out.

“I can’t believe you went through my things!” he’d bellowed while pacing the room. Paige had been distraught, he could still see the tears running down her face.

“You’re having the nerve to blame me after what you did, stealing from my business account to pay off your debts!”. Jamie had felt the pit drop out of his stomach. Appalled at her accusation he had remained in stunned silence. Once again Paige had gotten hold of the wrong end of the sick and mistaken his stunned silence for guilt. Far from him taking money from her, in fact it had been Paige’s father taking money out of Paige’s business account to pay off his gambling debts. He himself had discovered this when Paige had asked him to look at the books. Upon confronting Paige’s father he had begged him not to tell Paige.

“It was just a small amount, I would have paid her back” Jamie had been appalled by this and said so.

“It was Paige’s money she earns from her business you had no right to take it from her, you’ve given me no choice I have to tell her” but as luck would have it he was called away that afternoon on business and on his return was astonished to find his belongings on the front lawn and Paige throwing wild accusations at him. Jamie had left that evening after the humiliation of being escorted out by security. He remembered as he drove down the driveway seeing her father’s grinning face and knew he must have gotten to Paige first and spun her some story. And that was that, their relationship had ended. He had kept an eye on Paige from a house near by before moving away from the area. He had seen reviews on her restaurants in the local papers, she seemed a success but he had never seen her again.

Suddenly Jamie was distracted by some lights at the edge of the road. Despite the darkness and weather Jamie could still see that it was a car. Pulling over slowly he saw the front of the car was crushed into the cliff face. Reaching across for his anorak Jamie climbed out of his Land Rover and walked toward the wreckage. He was about two paces away when his foot came in contact with something soft. Kneeling down, Jamie felt around on the floor when he felt something smooth and wet touch his hand he took his phone out of his pocket and switched the light on to get a closer look. Suddenly his heart skipped a beat. Lying there with her head against the car, bleeding from the nose and lip and covered in bruises was a woman. It was too dark to see her face properly but Jamie knew if he didn’t get her into the warm and dry soon then she would die. Carefully Jamie lifted the woman’s limp and lifeless body into his car. She was unconscious but still breathing. Making sure she was safely strapped in, he shut the door and ran round to climb into the front. What a mad day, first he had to take an emergency trip into the city to sort out an office problem. What with his business expanding so quickly he had had to take a lot of time away from home to keep things running smoothly. Tonight would be the first night in 3 weeks that he would have been sleeping in his own bed and then this had happened. Jamie knew he wasn’t going to get any sleep tonight, not while she had a risk of concussion. Driving slowly, to avoid another accident Jamie continued down the narrow road that followed the cliff round. The rain hailed down outside as Jamie tried desperately to focus. However he couldn’t help looking into the rear view mirror at the woman who lay in the back. The light wasn’t on so Jamie could barely make her out among the shadows. After about 10 minuets he turned off the road onto a dirt track heading up towards his house. The house was big but not too big, he’d made that one of his necessities when he had moved down here. He did need his space but not so much that he felt lonely. Pulling into the garage Jamie climbed out of the Land Rover and carrying the woman’s limp form in his arms he made his way into the living room. Gently, so he wouldn’t cause her any further pain, Jamie lay the woman down on the sofa. He knew she would have to get out of those wet things but her felt that would be taking advantage. So slowly he removed her shoes and socks placing them on the floor then gingerly he removed her outer coat revealing her face. Jamie could have sworn his heart stopped beating. Lying there with her eyes closed and her face battered and bruised but completely recognisable all the same was the woman he thought he would never see again, Paige. Jamie ran from the room into the kitchen. Sitting at the kitchen counter he poured himself a large whiskey and pondered what he should do. He couldn’t exactly throw Paige out in the street regardless of their history, but all the same her staying here could awaken old feelings for her which had been dormant for so long. Gazing down into his glass Jamie remembered how he had felt that night when he had left Paige’s house. He has sat in a pub until the early hours drowning his sorrows trying to deal with his mixed feelings of anger, heartache and regret. Suddenly Jamie downed the last of his whiskey and walked out of the kitchen. Regardless of his past or even his current feelings for Paige he had to focus on the fact that she was injured and she needed medical attention. Having hung up Paige’s anorak in the all Jamie re-entered the living room with an ice pack and a fresh blanket. Carefully by laying Paige down against the cushions Jamie covered her with the blanket and placed the ice pack on the table beside the sofa. Then he lit a small fire in the grate before taking his seat in the arm chair beside the fire. Desperately trying to avoid looking at her Jamie tried to do his paperwork but despite his immense concentration Jamie couldn’t help looking over in the direction where Paige lay. Her delicate face shimmering in the firelight. Jamie could see the cuts and bruises a lot more clearly than he could back at the crash site. Thinking if the crash Jamie knew he would need to ask her about what had happened on the road. Paige was normally such a good driver from what he’d remembered. All the same, if this had been an accident she would need to remain at his house for a few days to allow time for her wounds to heal. He could tell she wouldn’t like that, Paige had never liked to depend on anyone, her independence was one of her major flaws. Jamie stared at Paige’s shut eyelids behind which he knew were the accusing eyes which had been burned into his skull ever since he’d left her house so many years ago. Turning from Paige Jamie glared into the fire. Unblinking, he thought about what tomorrow and the next few days would bring. He knew if nothing else he needed not to get involved. However even as he thought about it Jamie knew that despite the length of time they’d been apart experience told him that Paige was impossible not to get involved with. She was intoxicating, like a rich aroma that you felt was part of your life, a vital organ, a part of your everyday existence and the last piece of the puzzle of you. Jamie smiled wistfully as he stared into the yellow, red and orange flames which seemed to dance before his eyes tormenting him the way Paige did. Lying there in her peaceful slumber not knowing and quite possibly not caring what was going on. Rising from his chair, Jamie went back into the kitchen to pour himself another whiskey. He stood there for a moment after he had put the bottle away staring out through the kitchen window, out over the dark fields and cliffs. Although it was still dark Jamie could still remember the view he had sat and watched so many times. Turning away he went back into the living room to wait.

Paige opened her eyes slowly, her vision blurred and swam before her before it settled. She was in a room although it was not familiar to her. There was a roaring fire in the grate and she could feel a warm blanket draped over her. Carefully she sat up. She could feel every part of her aching though she didn’t know why. Paige looked around, the room was in semi-darkness apart from the gentle glow of the flickering fire. There was no-one else in the room but Paige saw a narrow beam of light below a door at the far end of the room. Getting to her feet Paige cautiously made her way towards it. Leaning against the door Paige couldn’t hear anything so quickly looking around to make sure there was no-one about she opened the door and crept inside. The room was in semi-darkness apart from a lamp on the desk and slumped over the desk was a figure. It was hard to make out the features of the figure from where she stood so carefully Paige walked forward into the room. As she drew closer to the desk Paige was able to determine that he was male and mid 30s. As she drew level with the desk she put out her hand and tilted the strangers face towards the light and her heart stopped beating, Jamie. She couldn’t believe it, of all the people in all the places Jamie would be the one to find her. Suddenly Jamie’s eyes opened. Paige, in a panic pulled her hand away and fled from the room. Flinging the blanket off her shoulders as she ran. Paige tore across the living room through a doorway on the opposite side of the room. She found herself in a kitchen. Pelting towards a door Paige prayed that it was unlocked. Getting to it Paige heaved at the door handle, it wouldn’t budge. Paige turned to the work surfaces beside the door searching them frantically. “Keys, keys where are the keys?” she muttered desperately pulling open drawers.

            “Going somewhere?” a cold voice drawled from behind her. Paige whirled round to see Jamie silhouetted in the doorway. There was what seemed like an eternity of silence before Jamie walked towards her. Trying desperately to back away Paige refused to look away from him. “It’s ok Paige” he said “I don’t want to hurt you”. Paige looked him dead in the eye, his gaze was level, his eyes not moving from staring straight back into his own, he was telling the truth. Walking away from the door Paige looked around the room.

            “H…how did I get here?” she asked hesitantly, Jamie smiled warmly at her before extending his hand.

            “Come into the living room, you’ll catch your death in here” he said in a friendly but somewhat concerned tone. Paige hesitated before putting her hand into Jamie’s and let him lead her into the living room. Together they walked out of the kitchen, Paige felt for the first time that she wasn’t wearing shoes, the carpet of the living room felt warm and inviting after the cold harsh tiles of the kitchen. Paige was led over to the sofa she’d woken up on, that all seemed so long ago now. Jamie sat down looking up at her. “Please sit down” he said, it wasn’t an order but more him pleading with her to trust him.  Paige carefully sat down trying not to wince in pain, the last thing she needed was his sympathy, she felt bad enough relying on him already. Jamie put his hand on Paige’s arm and in a concerned voice said “I can get you something for the pain.”

Paige cursed under her breath for showing her weakness before smiling up at Jamie she said “I’m fine…really”. Jamie seemed convinced as he returned the smile and sat down beside her.

“I wouldn’t blame you” he said reassuringly as he placed his hand on her knee “that accident…”

“Accident!” Paige repeated as though she could hardly believe what she was hearing.

Jamie nodded “you had an accident and your car collided with the cliff, it must have been the bad weather conditions, the rain was raging pretty heavily last night”. As he said it Jamie could see Paige wasn’t sure just as he wasn’t.

“Yea…” Paige said in an off handed way “must have been the rain”. Jamie could tell by the perplexed expression on Paige’s face that she didn’t mean a word of it. Picking up a decanter of brandy off the side table Jamie poured Paige a glass and offered it to her.

“You look confused” he said as she took the glass from him. Paige didn’t look at him, she swirled the liquid down in the bottom of the glass before putting in on the table beside her. Jamie watched her as she stared into the fire, concentrating immensely. “Something wrong?” Jamie asked intruding on her thoughts. Paige pondered for a moment before shaking her head dismissively.

“It’s nothing” she said tossing her head and looking over towards the window, out at the dark night that lay beyond it. Jamie reached up and taking Paige’s delicate chin in his strong but gentle hand he turned her face to look at him, Paige stared into his eyes as though they seemed to go on forever. The silence would have gone on forever had Jamie not broke it.

“Paige…” he said looking at her with a concerned look “something is wrong…I can see it in your eyes, please…you can trust me”. Paige looked away from him a little, she still wasn’t sure if she could trust him. Jamie took hold of her hand tenderly and she looked back at him. “Paige…” he said softly “please…just trust me”.

Paige thought for a moment then she sighed. “Well…” she began “I remember last night driving down that road, I remember approaching the bend and I knew I had to slow down, but when I tried to apply my breaks nothing happened”.

 Jamie straightened slightly at this but not wanting to interrupt her he moved closer to her, “go on” he said.

Paige ran one hand through her hair as she continued “I realised I couldn’t stop and taking the bend at the speed I was going would have been suicide, I mean you saw the weather last night”.

Jamie nodded understanding “so what did you do next?” he asked. He tried to look at Paige’s face but there were so many small things distracting him, the way her hand moved her hair out of her face, the way she ran her delicate hands over her face neck and shoulders when she was agitated. Jamie blinked hard, he needed to focus. There were more important things to worry about.

Paige looked into the fire as she continued her story “I thought if I swerved into the side and pulled the keys out the engine would stop and I would be ok”. Jamie nodded, it was the most logical thing she could have done in those circumstances. Paige paused for a moment in uncertainty. “That’s what I thought anyway” she said darkly.

 Jamie looked up at her a questioning expression on his face “so what happened?” he persisted, Paige looked up at him thinking for a moment before continuing.

“I took my foot off the accelerator and was about to turn into the siding by the cliff when something swerved around the corner at high speed, it pulled in and trued to swerve inside…to run me off the road and over the cliff. So I did the only thing I could, I swerved quickly to avoid going over the edge and…I hit the cliff.” Jamie turned from Paige and ran his hand over his face in exasperation, he could hardly believe it, I mean he didn’t think Paige was the type of person to get into an accident without just reason for it but this, this was attempted murder.

“That makes sense” he said, looking up at her. Paige frowned in confusion “I mean” he said “I didn’t think you were the type to go around having accidents I mean you were always such a good driver even when we were together”.

Paige ignored his last remark getting up walking over to the fireplace. Staring into the, what was now glowing ashes she continued “I remember opening the door and falling out cause I was afraid of the petrol tank exploding but after that, nothing!” Jamie leant on the side of the sofa, a grim expression on his face. Paige turned to look at him “what is it?” she asked walking over to him.

Jamie looked up at her “maybe that’s how they wanted it” he said darkly.

Paige felt all the colour drain from her face. “You mean…” she said in a voice that shook with fear, “that someone…is trying to…kill me.”

“I’m not jumping to any conclusions just yet” Jamie said. Paige could tell he was trying to calm her but despite the fact that she was still alive thanks to Jamie she still had an uneasy feeling at the back of her mind that she couldn’t put her finger on, and it scared her. Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by Jamie’s voice saying “I’ll get someone to check out your car tomorrow but for tonight we’d better try and get some sleep”. Paige nodded in agreement. Jamie got to his feet “do you want the spare room or will you be comfortable down here?” he asked. Paige thought about accepting the spare room but she knew she was less likely to get her old feelings back for him and also she still didn’t completely trust him.

Smiling politely at him Paige said “I’ll stay down here thank-you”. From the look on his face Paige could tell Jamie was not convinced.

As though he was reading her minds and seeing the doubts she felt Jamie said “you have no reason to fear me Paige I have no intention of locking you up and taking advantage of your innocent nature”.

Paige smiled weakly and sighed. “I’m sorry Jamie…” she said “but it’s just, after all theses years I have a car accident and I just happen to end up in your house, that’s a little too convenient for me”.

Jamie sighed impatiently “Bloody hell Paige” he exploded “most men in my position would have left you to die, my feelings for you died a long time ago its just your situation got to my good nature but it wont happen again I assure you, goodnight” and with that he turned and marched from the room.

Knowing she had offended him, Paige got to her feet and followed him. “Jamie” she called “Jamie, wait”. She eventually caught up with him in the main hallway. “Jamie”, she placed her hand on his shoulder.

Jamie whipped around to face her, “what” he snapped. Paige took a step back, she was quite taken aback by the tone of his voice though she had to admit she did deserve it.

Paige sighed “I’m sorry” she said “I should have known you didn’t mean me any harm. It’s just…” she paused at this point to look up into Jamie’s face. Though his face was hard and his mouth firm and cold his eyes were soft and she knew he was going to be there for her. “well…” she continued “you hear about these things happening but you never think it will happen to you…I was scared.”

Jamie smiled in a friendly way “it’s ok” he said “what you went through was a scary experience but don’t worry, we’ll find out who’s responsible, for now I’d get some sleep”. Jamie turned to go up the stairs.

Paige hesitated, but only for a moment before saying “Jamie…”. She saw Jamie turn around to face him, he had dark circles under his eyes.

Amidst yawning Jamie said “mmm hmm?” Paige paused again before hesitantly saying “I…think I’ll take the offer of the spare room”. Jamie grinned in an incredibly smug way before walking back down the stairs and reached out to take Paige’s hand. Paige paused for a moment before taking Jamie’s hand and let him guide her up the stairs.

“I knew you would accept” he said “a powdered princess like you won’t have slept on anything less than a luxury king sized bed”. Paige pulled her hand out of Jamie’s suddenly stopping on the stairs.

“I’ll have you know” Paige said defensively “I have worked sweat and toil to get my business to where it is today, most nights I fell asleep at my desk so I’ll have less of the mouth”.

Jamie grinned and stepped down towards Paige. Bringing his face up so it was inches from hers he smiled and said in a voice that made Paige melt on the inside “still as feisty as ever”.  Paige stood there absolutely routed to the spot, the two of them seemed frozen in time. Paige was only brought back to reality when Jamie took her hand once more and led her up the last few steps. “Your bedroom is just down there” he said turning right and indicating the second door on the right. Jamie led her up to the door and opened it for her. The room was comfortably furnished with a reasonably large bed against the far wall.

Paige took a step into the room. As Jamie turned to go Paige turned after him. “Jamie…” she called. Jamie turned inquisitively, Paige smiled “thanks…” she said “for everything”.

Jamie smiled in a warm way. “No problem” he said before turning and leaving the room and shutting the door behind him. Paige walked across the room to the bed. Sitting down she removed her shoes and socks. She wondered about sleeping in her clothes but decided against it. Carefully she took off the jacket, blouse and trousers leaving herself in her underwear. Having laid her clothes neatly on the end of the bed Paige pulled back the covers she climbed into the bed. She felt absolutely exhausted, as she lay her head on the pillow she felt her eyelids closing as she fell asleep.

            He sat alone in the semi-darkness staring out of the window over the landscape. Everything had gone according to plan, the woman had crashed her car and was presumably dead so he had done his part of the deal. Suddenly the phone rang distracting him. Gingerly he picked up but before he could say anything the cold voice at the other end of the phone spoke. “You have failed me” he said.

            The man automatically began stuttering “but…sir…I…she…” he said desperately unable to string a sentence together. The voice suddenly interrupted him.

            “Silence!” he snapped “she was rescued from her car by a man, Jamie Saviour to be precise. She will have told him about your truck and about the brakes”. The voice, although snapped was strangely calm and collected and that was what scared him the most.

            The man’s voice shook a little more as he continued speaking “do you think she saw my truck because that could be very risky”. The man ran over in his head the events of that night. He couldn’t even remember why he’d agreed to it, the money he assumed. However, even with the money he was still deeply worried, what if he got caught?

The voice spoke out again interrupting his thoughts, the tone seemed off handed and vague. “I highly doubt she saw anything

Incriminating” he said. The man leaned back in his desk sighing in relief. “However…” said the voice in a cold voice “she must be dealt with along with Mr Saviour”.

            The man faltered “is that really necessary?” he asked, knowing what the answer would be “I mean if she’s told him then they may have informed the authorities already”.

            “They won’t have” the voice interrupted “she will be too upset by what’s happened and he won’t want to do anything to upset her”.

            “What makes you think that?” the man enquired. There was a brief pause before the voice responded in a voice that made the man shiver.

            “Because…” the voice said “I know him, they had a relationship together and now she’s back with him he wouldn’t want anything to jeopardise their friendship or make her think he was taking advantage.

            The man hesitated before going on to say “you seem to know an awful lot about her”.

            There was a long pause before the voice said “yes I do, now make sure nothing else goes wrong…I want her dead” and he hung up.

End of Chapter One