Perfect Specimen by Kate Donovan Page A

okay?”
    Sara was already tightening the sash around her waist. “Lying would be better than invading my privacy again. After stealing my diary? I’m beginning to think you’re the one with issues.”
    Clay caught her by the waist just as she reached the door. “I needed to know if you were married. But I knew it would upset you, and for that I’m sorry.”
    “Is that supposed to be an apology?” she demanded, trying for a haughty tone, but to her dismay, her bottom lip was quivering.
    Clay noticed it right away and pulled her close. “Hey, I’m sorry. Really. Don’t cry.”
    She glared through her tears. “If I’m crying—which I’m not—it’s because you won’t listen. You never listen.”
    “Huh?”
    “You want to rescue me. But from what?” Her tone grew mournful. “You’re so sure you know what’s best. But it’s my life. If you really loved me—which you don’t!—you’d do what I ask instead of what you think I need.”
    He was staring at her, his expression blank, and she didn’t blame him. She wasn’t making sense, and even if she were, it didn’t matter.
    Pulling free of his arms, she stormed out of the room, upset but also grateful for this unexpected chance to be legitimately angry with him. She needed to be convincing when she told Ga’rag it was over between her and Clay.
    And this was definitely going to help.
     
    * * * *
     
    “So? You two are pretty quiet. Lovers’ quarrel?”
    Clay scowled. “It’s none of your business. We’re just working something through.”
    “Another lie,” Sara drawled. “In fact, Mark, this is definitely your business. Did you know Clay hired a detective to snoop into my past? It wasn’t enough to steal my diary. He had to violate my privacy twice in the same day.”
    Mark quirked an eyebrow at Clay, who shrugged. “I didn’t hire him. He already works for me. And he didn’t snoop. He just looked at some public records. Marriage records. Birth certificates. That sort of thing.”
    “Even looking at public records can feel violative under these circumstances,” Mark chided him. Then he turned to Sara. “You told us you were married. And you said you had three children. Why did you feel the need to lie?”
    She took a deep breath. This was it. The moment of un-truth. She needed to pull this off—to lie more expertly than she had ever lied before.
    Remember, you’re not doing it for Ga’rag. Or even for the girls. You’re doing it for Clay and his brothers. To save their lives.
    “I was a minor when I got pregnant, so we never had an official marriage. Just a common-law one. And I had the babies at home. So there’s no record. And we homeschool them.”
    “I don’t believe you,” Clay said quietly.
    “I don’t care,” she said, shrugging her shoulders. “I like you, Clay, but you’re so convinced you’re something special. You’re not. I’ve had five or six of these flings over the years. It’s a safety valve for my marriage. Nothing more.”
    “Five or six?”
    His tone was innocent, but she reminded herself that he was a lawyer. A litigator. Probably trying to entrap her.
    She decided to play it close to the vest. “At least five. Counting you.”
    “But according to your diary, you’ve only had sex with three guys. Some premature ejaculator in high school, then Daniel Arroyo, then me.”
    Sara glared. “You’re confusing fact and fiction, Counselor. The girl in the novel only had three lovers. But the real Sara—me—has had a few more. Do you want names and dates? Or has your detective already supplied them?”
    “That’s enough, you two,” Mark said sternly. “Sara? Clay said you wanted to talk to me. I’m all ears, so let’s hear it.”
    “Actually . . .” She stared down at the table, summoning her talents. “I wanted to set the record straight. Because I could tell this morning that you thought my—well, my issues were all about sex. And I guess that was true once, but not now. My husband isn’t