Once Upon a Marriage

But he hadn’t.

Because she’d been sober. And thought she’d met someone real. The gu

y had checked out. And Elliott had been dealing with an attraction of his own that he couldn’t pursue.

He acted out of emotion. Commiseration.

His neck tensed.

“And I only need you for a few hours. Next Saturday night. A week from tomorrow. I land at five-thirty and fly out again at eleven.”

His two-week anniversary. He’d planned on spending it at home with his wife. Still planned to. But...

“What’s going on?”

“Turns out the guy’s a bit of a stalker. Not anything I can press charges against. He just gives me the creeps. And won’t give up. I’ve blocked his number, he found me on Twitter. I have to be on social media for the magazine. He also found me on Facebook, Pinterest, Tumbler and Instagram. I blocked him where I could. Then last week, he showed up at a charity dinner I was attending. He’s got money, Elliott. He’s a charmer, well-known and well liked. He can get whatever invitations he wants.”

He got the picture. “I’m not really sure what I can do to help.”

“Just hear me out a second, and I’ll tell you,” she said. He figured, considering the circumstances, that he owed her that much. He’d been preoccupied the last time Ms. Harcourt was in Denver. Hadn’t done his best night’s work.

He’d kept her safe. She’d never been out of his sight after she left the nightclub that night. But he’d let her get into a car that wasn’t driven by him.

He passed beneath the sign that indicated his exit. Five miles ahead. He had a ways to go yet.

“I made some really stupid mistakes when I first became an adult. And earned a reputation I’m not proud of. This past year, with my work at the magazine, I’ve managed, slowly and in one small circle at a time, to gain some respect. There are those who probably won’t ever forget little Sailor Harcourt and her drug use and antics, but I’m a different woman, Elliott. I can’t afford another scandal.”

Four miles until his exit.

“This guy, Metcalf, as soon as he found out who I really was, he figured I’d be up for a fun time. I’ve done all I can do to convince him I’m not that girl anymore. He’s not taking me seriously.”

He didn’t like where this was going.

“I’ve asked around about him quietly. He’s got a really good reputation. I don’t think he goes around preying on helpless women. I think he got the wrong impression about me. I mean, I lied to him the first night I met him about who I was. He thinks he’s all part of my game. He also thinks I was traveling without a bodyguard. That I’ve got this whole other life that he wants in on.”

Three miles. And he really didn’t like where this was going.

“I’ve been invited to a fund-raiser at the police commissioner’s mansion in Denver,” she said. “It’s to benefit victims of domestic violence, which is the cause I’ve chosen to donate my energy and money to...”

He wondered why. Didn’t ask. Didn’t want to get that close.

“The commissioner knows my father, of course, and I know that’s why I was invited. But Dad’s not going to be there.”

“Let me guess, Metcalf is.”

“Yes. And so is everyone who is anyone in this fight. Political advocates, monetary support advocates and famous spokespeople, as well. They’ve invited me to be one of three speakers. I’m representing the magazine, explaining the different ways we are a benefit to the cause. I have to be there, Elliott, or look like I’m full of expensive air. I want to show everyone I can put my money where my mouth is.”

One mile. And he knew what was coming.

“I don’t want anyone, including my father, to know how stupid I was three months ago in Denver. And it was stupid, pretending to be someone I’m not. I just...”

“It’s okay, Sailor. You stayed sober.” A big reason why he’d given her the respect of choosing which car she rode in.

“I’ve been sober since that last time you escorted me in Denver two years ago. I can’t remember much about that night, but I remembered how disgusted you looked when I sat in the back of your car, ready to get sick.”

She was probably working him on that one. He didn’t need this.

“You’re the only one who knows about my night with Terrence the last time I was in Denver, other than him, and he’s not going to tell anyone that he picked me up in that club thinking I was a nobody. He might be decent, but he’s not dumb. He has people to impress who look down their noses at such things. Right or not. And you’ve seen him. You’ll be able to pick him out instantly just by his build.”