Yesterday's Sins

Yesterday’s Sins.

By

Shirley Wine

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http://shirleywine.com

First Published as Catriona/Kate in New Zealand

By KiwiGold Publishing

Publisher: Shirley Wine 2012

©2012 Shirley Wine

Cover design © Shirley Wine 2012

Cover Photograph: dreamstimes.com

ISBN:978-0-473-20850-9
   
kindle edition

All rights reserved
. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, scanning to a computer disc, or by any other informational storage and retrieval system without express permission in writing from the author and publisher. This works is protected under the statutes of the copyright act.

Disclaimer:

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination. Any resemblance to person or persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Any places used are used as a backdrop and bear no resemblance to events or happenings in that town.

About this book:

“Where my family comes from we believe in an eye for an eye—a life for a life—” these words changed Catriona’s life forever.
 

After years of running from a past she cannot bear to remember, a bouquet of flowers, unlooked for and unwanted, makes Kate Audley look over her shoulder in trepidation.
 

For eight years, the successful real estate agent has lived under an assumed name in the tiny South Auckland village of Clevedon after fleeing Australia and the man who threw her life into chaos.

Eight years in which Kate has had time in plenty to regret the impulsive decision that saw her visit Alexandros Korda in a bid to clear her name.

Now he has found her.

Yesterday’s Sins is the captivating story of a woman’s attempt to resist the man she loves to hate and Alex’s equally determined commitment that she won’t succeed.

On her eighteenth birthday a freak accident that killed his nephew, brought Alexandros Korda into Catriona’s life.
 

Seven years later, she is trying to forget the horror that followed and the daughter they has together.

Can she succeed?

Dedication

To Martin.

Forever and for always.

My number one cheerleader.

Chapter One

T
he doorbell shattered the early morning quiet, reverberating through the sparsely furnished rooms. Kate's hands stilled as she combed her short, ink-black hair. The bell pealed, longer and more insistently. As she walked toward the front door, it pealed again.

"
Hold your horses, I'm coming.
"
Shoulders squared beneath the boxy black jacket, she picked a piece of lint off her black skirt as she opened the door.
"
Yes?
"

A profusion of flowers almost obscured the delivery man as he thrust them at her. "Ms. Audley? Flower delivery."

"For me?"

"You Ms. Audley?
"
He tapped a finger on the cellophane and she nodded.
"
Then these are for you.
"

He dumped them in her hands and strode down the path, whistling and Kate's already dark mood, deepened.

Retreating indoors, she put the flowers on the kitchen table, the only place in her cottage that would hold something this size.
 

She inhaled a shaken breath.
 

And the sweet, cloying smell of lilies and stephanotis sent goose-bumps dancing across her skin, the potent scent evoked equally powerful memories…

He escorted her into another room darkened by heavy curtains and illuminated by candles; scores of dark eyes watched as he handed her a candle. She lit it from a taper and carried it to the bier, setting it among other candles burning there.
 

In the white coffin lay a dark haired child, silent and still, his skin marbled with death.

Tears gathered as she looked at that serene, innocent face.

Devastated and wracked with guilt, she knelt and laid her flowers amid other scented white blooms as she offered up a prayer for forgiveness…

Sucking in a harsh breath, Kate backed away from the flowers as she rubbed her hands up suddenly chilled arms.

Am I finally going crazy?

Nestled among the flowers she saw a white envelope. Sick with trepidation, she opened it and extracted an embossed card.

Happy Birthday, Catriona.

Her harsh, indrawn breath was loud in the silence.

Few people knew it was her birthday. Fewer still, knew Kate was shortened from Catriona in her new identity.
 

Panic clawed and ripped at her self-control.
Who the hell has sent me these flowers?

She touched a perfect carnation with a shaky finger, whispering, "Happy birthday, Chris."

A broken laugh escaped.

Eight years ago Chris and her father died in a fiery car smash.

And nothing filled the empty place her twin left in her life. Embedded with their memory was one of the grey eyed man who'd taken her ordinary life and thrown it into chaos.

Trembling, she stared at the slashing black script.

Where my family comes from, we believe in an eye for an eye, a life for a life,
his deep voice ghosted through her memory.
 

A shudder ripped at Kate. Feverish questions bombarded her from all sides. She'd only seen his handwriting once and, at the time, had been too dazed to do more than register he held a pen.

Had he found her?

The phone shrilled. Another shudder shook her. Loath to pick it up, she let it ring several times.

"
Kate?
"

"
Paula.
"
The relief at hearing her friend's voice loosened Kate's tongue. "Thank you for the flowers. They made my morning."

The beat of silence lasted a moment too long. Kate's hand was suddenly slippery on the phone.

"What flowers?"

"For my birthday."

Kate could almost see Paula, blue eyes alive with curiosity in her vivid face, framed with bouncing red curls.
 

"
It's your birthday?
"

"
Didn't you know?
"
Kate rushed to fill the silence.
Omigod. Now I've put my foot in it.

"
You know you've never shared that minor detail with me. I'm sorry to burst your bubble, but I never sent you flowers.
"

The echo of hurt had guilt hitting Kate upside of the head.
"
It's never been a particularly happy day for me.
"

Paula's soft sigh echoed through the receiver.
"
So you have an admirer? Do tell."

"What can I say?
"
Kate fought down panic,
if not Paula then who?

"Describe them to me.
"
Paula's curiosity was obviously piqued.
"
I'll pop around.
"

"
No, I'm about to leave for work.
"
The last thing she wanted to deal with was Paula's curiosity. "Whoever sent them has very expensive tastes.
"

"
Now I am intrigued." Paula laughed. "Do you know anyone with expensive tastes?
"

I know one alright, I'm just praying to any God prepared to listen that I'm wrong.

"
Not a clue. But the truth will out. Who keeps secrets?"

"Not me that's for sure. Just ask Brett." Paula's self-mockery lightened
the tension. "Will you come for dinner tonight? We've invited a few friends for casual finger foods. And for once you can celebrate your birthday in style."

Kate closed her eyes on a shaft of pain. Celebrate without Chris?

Relieved to evade Paula's questions, she answered without thinking.
"I'd love to."