Womanizer (Spoilt) (17 page)

“I have something important to tell you both.”

“Has something happened?” Carol asked with a concerned frown.

“You could say that.” She grinne
d while Jesse gazed at her expectantly. “After the exhibition last night, which was a success by the way, Mitch told me he sold his apartment and bought a new house. He has asked if we would be interested in living there with him so I could go back to my studies. I would like to, but if either of you don’t, then we won’t.”

“Will I h
ave my own room?” Jesse asked, his big blue eyes full of hope.

“Yes.”

“Then I want to. I like Mitch.”

“Me too.”
They exchanged a smile. “Mum?”

“If you’re sure, then it sounds good to me. I’ve never seen you happier and it has given both of us the time and social life we needed. He’s a good man and I couldn’t be happier for you.” Isabelle could see the truth in her words but knew something still troubled her, something she didn’t want to say in front of Jesse.

“Mitch will be coming by shortly to show us the house.”

“Yay!” cried Jesse.

“Your clothes are on the bed, Jesse. Why don’t you go and start getting ready? I’ll help you in a minute,” Carol said. Jesse leapt out of the chair and raced off to their room.

“Does this mean you’ve told him about the letters?” Carol asked, her frown returning.

“Not yet.”

“You need to take this seriously, Isabelle.”

“I know, Mum and I’ll tell him soon but now isn’t the time.”

When Mitch knocked on the door an hour later, he was nervous. What if Jesse was reluctant to move? What if Carol had reservations? Simply because Isabelle had agreed didn’t set it in stone. He knew she could still be swayed if her family weren’t keen on the idea. The door was answered by a beaming and excited Jesse.

“Can we see our new house now?”

Jesse’s greeting alleviated his fears in an instant, and when he watched Isabelle and then Carol walk up behind Jesse with equally eager expressions, he knew they would be packing their bags.

“Yeah, Bud, we can,” Mitch said crouching down to eye level.

“Thanks, Mitch. You’re the best!”

His little arms reached around his ne
ck, reminding him of Isabelle except Jesse’s exuberance almost knocked him from his feet. An excited grin filled his face and he couldn’t remember ever feeling this happy. Mitch stood, bringing Jesse with him, his heart melting for the little boy he knew he was also enamored with. He glanced towards Isabelle and the tears in her eyes echoed his joy.

After they had driven about half an hour, Isabelle started to grow impatient and was about to ask how much further when they pulled up in front of a large cottage-style house overlooking the ocean.

“You can’t be serious,” she whispered as she climbed from the car.

“Sometimes I can.” He grinned. “Your castle awaits, Milady.” A mock bow followed the grin.

The picturesque house was surrounded by a tall decorative fence. A small front porch overlooking the front yard would be
perfect for a garden swing and to watch children at play. They walked up the path through the simple low maintenance garden towards the front door where they found the agent waiting to let them in.

Isabelle strolled into a generous entrance which led into a spacious formal sitting room to the right and what appeared to be the main bedroom to the left. She ventured right and followed the room through to the dining room and large modern kitchen, which was twice the size of the one in their apartment.

The kitchen led into a family room which surrounded the long bench of the kitchen and appeared to link to the hallway and what she assumed were the other three bedrooms. French doors ran along the rear of the house, each containing decorative colored glass that reflected a rainbow of light through the room. Isabelle held her breath as she opened the doors where she discovered a long balcony stretching the length of the house. It had a paneled border and would be wide enough to house several pieces of outdoor furniture.

When she looked out towards the ocean her breath caught again. Isabelle decided she must be dreaming. The waves crashing against the rocky cliffs not only provided a stunning view but a soothing sound, one Isabelle desired to enjoy. A little further down to the right, past the cliffs, was a sandy beach which could be accessed from a path below the house.

“This isn’t a funny joke, Mitchell,” she said, turning to him.

“No joke, babe. It’s all ours.” She sent him a disbelieving look. “Now let’s get you home so you can start packing.”

“Mitch … I … this …” She threw he arms around his neck and sought his lips. “Thank you,” she breathed.

“You’re welcome.”

They located Jesse in one of the bedrooms in the rear of the house where he declared this was his room. Although she was still in shock, her heart swelled for Jesse and for the most generous and wonderful man she’d ever met.

Mitch pitched in with packing at Isabelle’s apartment for the rest of the day before going home and starting on his own. Once Mitch collected the keys in the morning, he was going to deliver all of his boxes and belongings to the house and then would collect them and their possessions. His heart felt light and exhaustion eased him into a deep restful sleep.

Chapter Twenty

Missing

Jesse hindered Isabelle's packing the following morning
, and even though he tried to be helpful, he wasn't succeeding. All of his toys and clothes along with his bed were packed, as were the kitchen items and any other remaining things they would be taking. Their old furniture would be donated to charity as it wouldn't be required. Mitch had everything they needed and of a much better quality than theirs. So, due to Jesse's failed attempted at help, Carol volunteered to take him out shopping for the morning to give Isabelle the space she needed to complete their packing.

Abo
ut half an hour had passed, she heard a knock at the door and Isabelle wondered who it could be. Mitch couldn’t be finished unloading his boxes at the house already. After opening the door, she discovered a familiar looking letter on the doorstep. She picked it up but her reluctance to open it froze her to the spot. With a tentative sigh she opened the letter and gasped at its contents.

Isabelle,

I warned you and you didn't listen. I believed that we would be together and you have ruined my plans, so now I'm going to ruin yours. Jesse will be staying with me until you come to your senses and drop the photographer.

I will contact you tomorrow to find out if you have done as I've asked. Maybe a day without your son will teach you a lesson. Do not contact the police or you will never see Jesse again.

Know this, we will be together.

Still loving you despite your ignorance.

A

Isabelle dived for her mobile phone and dialed Carol's number, to find it switched off. She cursed. How many times had she told her mother to turn her phone on? With frustration, she threw the letter to the floor. Where were they? What was she going to do now?

Her first thought was Anthony and she began scrolling through her phone directory, ready to dial
, but then thought better of it. Anthony wasn't responsible for this. First of all, the letter talked about them being together. He was her brother and this didn't fit. Was he trying to throw her off the scent with the confessions of love or was it someone else altogether? For several moments she went back and forth before deciding the best way to find out was ring. If he wasn't responsible, if he would even confess to such a thing, then he may be able to help.

“Hey
, sis,” he said after answering on the second ring. “I could get used to saying that.” He followed with a small laugh and under normal circumstances Isabelle would have joined him.

“Where’s Jesse?” The direct approach, she decided, was the best approach.

“What do you mean? I haven't met him yet. Why would I know?” The genuine-sounding confusion in his voice gave her both relief and further worry all at once.

“I think someone has kidnapped him.”

“What?”

Isabelle sprinted through the story and he told her he would be right over. She paced out the minutes until Anthony’s arrival twenty minutes later. Seconds after he arrived, the phone rang, startling them both.

“Hello.”

“May I speak with Isabelle Winters please?”

“Speaking.”

“I’m calling from Metro Hospital. Your mother Carol has been brought in with a gunshot wound to the leg. She’s fine but will have to stay in for several days.”

“What about my son Jesse?”

“She was brought in alone, Ma’am.”

“Oh, of course, she was dropping him off at a relative’s house. I’ll be there shortly.”

“What now?” Anthony asked
, once she’d hung up.

Her reply was
a simple, distinct shake and shrug. Shock had her standing rigid to the spot, unable to move or think. What had just happened? The letter was right, this insane man had Jesse. The one thing she could do to have a fighting chance of getting her son back broke her heart.  She would have to do as he asked and call it off with Mitch. Her devastation over Jesse’s abduction suddenly became compounded at the thought of facing it without Mitch. What else could she do?

“I have to pack some things for my mum and go to the hospital,” she finally said, her heart and mind in turmoil.

“Do you want me to stay here, just in case?”

She nodded and went off to pack a bag. As Isabelle threw the last of her mother’s things into an overnight bag there was a knock at the door and her heart sunk. She now had to lie to the man she loved to save her son. After it was all over, and with Jesse back safely with her, she prayed he would forgive her for what she was about to do.

“Do you mind waiting in my room, Anthony? I have to talk to Mitch in private.”

He gave a quick nod and disappeared into her room.

When she opened the door Mitch welcomed her with a smile and a bouquet of roses. The ache in her heart consumed her. It took everything Isabelle had to force back her tears and lie.

“Hi, beautiful.
I’ve unloaded all my stuff and …” He stopped when he saw her expression. “What’s wrong babe?”

“Us is wrong, Mitch. I’m sorry, I’ve made a mistake.”

“What are you saying, Izzy?” His voice wavered, breaking her heart further.

“I’m saying that I should never have gotten involved with you and living together is definitely a bad idea.”

“I don’t understand.” The confused crinkle appeared at his brow and his expression almost broke her resolve.

“I don’t think we should see each other anymore. I have to think about Jesse and I can’t take the chance on you not hurting us. I got caught up in the romance of it all and was not cautious enough.”

“You think I’m going to hurt you?” he asked in disbelief.

“A leopard never changes his spots, Mitch. I’m sorry but I’ve made my decision.”

“Izzy, please, I -” She cut him off.

“Good bye, Mitch.” She closed th
e door as he completed his plea. “Love you.”

Disbelief tore through Mitch and he stood with his head resting against the door, trying to get his thoughts around what had just happened. The pain of her words was unbearable but soon his anger began to rise. Feeling angry was easier than the emptiness. He felt as though she’d reached in and wrenched out his heart. How could she think this about him after everything they had been through, after what he’d done for her, for them?

With a disgusted grunt, he threw the flowers to the ground and stormed out to his car. What now? Solace is what he sought so he drove towards Nathan’s house and hoped he would be working at home today.

“Mitch? What’s wrong?” Nathan asked upon opening the door.

“She dumped me. I bought the house, she wa
s so happy, we all were and now … she’s changed her mind.” He stopped when the lump in his throat broke his words. Where was the resilient Mitch gone? Instead a crushed, heartbroken man had taken over his body. This is what love did. He remembered now why he didn’t get involved. Hindsight was a bitch.

“Come in, tell me what happened.”

Over coffee Mitch relayed the story, and as the words passed over his lips, his anger began to dissipate and was replaced with something more sinister. Despair.

“It could be cold feet or someone said something to her. Don’t give up yet, there could be an explanation. Look at Jared and
Charlotte, they almost didn’t make it because of a break-down in communication. Give her some time and talk to her again.”

“I don’t know,
Nath. I never wanted a relationship for this very reason. Maybe I should have stuck with casual sex after all.”