FullDisclosure by Nikki Soarde Page B

you be horribly upset if I skipped the movie?”
    “Oh I think I could live through it.” He touched her cheek. “If it’s something that will make you this happy. Why, what have you got planned?”
    “It’s actually a retreat. I’ll be gone the entire weekend.”
    That did surprise him. “A retreat? With Noah?”
    “Yes. He was booked to go already, and apparently there’s still room for a few more, so he invited me. Isn’t that wonderful?”
    “Where is this retreat?”
    “It’s at a retreat center a few hours north of the city. In the Muskokas. It sounds lovely, don’t you think?”
    “Definitely. The Muskokas are beautiful. But they’re also far away. If you run into trouble, or just feel uncomfortable or want to come back, it’s not like I can hop in the car and be there in twenty minutes.”
    “Don’t be ridiculous, Dad. I’ll be fine. Noah would never do anything to hurt me.”
    Actually it wasn’t physical harm that worried Evan. From what he knew of the Wellesley Chapel it was a completely respectable group of people and Evan had absolute trust in their ability to care for Rachel and respect her boundaries. But his daughter could be in for some brand new experiences—experiences that she wasn’t necessarily prepared for. Not that he was complaining. She needed these kinds of experiences. The only question was, how would she react to them?
    “Okay, well as long as you understand that. I certainly have no intention of standing in your way.”
    “Wonderful! Thanks, Dad.” She pulled him down to give him a huge smacking kiss on the cheek. “Now I’ve gotta go pack. Noah is picking me up in the lobby in a half an hour.” She was already out of sight on her way to her room.
    Evan looked after her and sighed, shaking his head in wonder at the energy and exuberance of youth. Not to mention the unexpected twists and turns that a young life could take. But the surprises were what made life worth living.
    Then he glanced at the pot of sauce bubbling on the stove. His stomach was growling and a really good Italian meal would certainly fit the bill. But then he reconsidered. He’d see Sadie soon enough. There was someone else he needed to talk to first.
    He picked up the phone and dialed a very old but very familiar number.

    Jake watched as Sadie took a long, slow sniff of her Chianti and then sampled it carefully. He loved watching the way she moved, the way her fingers cradled the glass, the elegant lines of her jaw and the way the muscles of her throat worked as she swallowed. He’d thought she was pretty before, but when she’d stepped out of his bedroom in her new dress and new hairdo…he’d been absolutely stunned by her beauty. And here, illuminated by the gentle glow of candlelight, with violin music playing softly in the background and the spicy aromas of authentic Italian home cooking as a backdrop she was positively radiant. That was the word. Radiant.
    He didn’t know if he’d ever been so absolutely captivated by a woman before, and it wasn’t because he felt sympathy for her situation, or because he felt protective of her. At first he’d told himself that was all it was, but now he knew there was more to it. There was a…genuineness about her. She was still a bit shy, and yet strangely completely unguarded. She had this sense of wonder about her. This wide-eyed way of looking at the world and appreciating every moment she was given.
    No doubt that was all thanks to her experiences over the past few years. But spending time in prison could just as easily lead someone to feel bitter and angry, and as if the world owed them something. But instead Sadie had chosen to savor her freedom and make the most of it. Perhaps she didn’t have a lot right now, but instead of feeling victimized by her situation she’d chosen to grab life with both hands, turn it upside down and shake it until the change fell out of its pockets. And damn, but he found that refreshing. Not to mention