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now his everything was Parris Simmons.

Chapter 4
     
    P arris did not remember the day the swelling in her face went away or when the bruises faded. She had lived with Martin for two weeks and in that time she looked forward to sharing breakfast with him before he left for his office. He usually left the house at seven so that meant she had to wake up early, shower and get dressed by six.
    Her breakfast was pureed fruits with wheat germ and a multivitamin while Martin filled his plate with any fresh fruit that was in season, a bowl of Grape Nuts and a cup coffee. On the weekend his menu varied to eggs, with a choice of bacon, ham or sausage or whole wheat or buttermilk pancakes.
    Dinners were very different, and what she didn’t know was that Martin left the office before five to be with her.
    No one at ColeDiz said anything, at least not to his face, but rumors were circulating about who was she that had him rushing through the front doors before quitting time. His unusual behavior even had Joan Shaw wondering if the rumors were right this time. Wagers were taken that Martin would announce his engagement before Christmas.
    Parris heard the sound of Martin’s car and opened the front door at the same time the automatic garage door slid up.
    She had never been outside of the West Palm Beach self-contained community of two and three-bedroom town house condominiums but knew everyone entering or leaving the development had to pass through a security checkpoint.
    The beautifully landscaped community had its own swimming pools—two for children and two for adults, tennis courts and health club. A recreation hall was available for anyone who wanted to use the facility for any event larger than an intimate dinner party or for family or holiday celebrations.
    Martin’s two-bedroom unit contained an expansive living-dining room, a large modern kitchen with a pantry, two full bathrooms, one half-bath, a laundry room, a family room and a patio spanning the length of the rear of the house. Sliding glass and screened doors from each bedroom led out onto a second-story balcony.
    Martin explained that he had moved in in March, but hadn’t had time to decorate his home because of the time he spent traveling.
    She made suggestions, communicating with him by using the laptop computer he had brought home from his office. They’d sit together “talking” for what seemed like hours until her fingers tired from punching keys on the small power notebook.
    Ruby Johnson no longer slept over, but came every day before Martin left in the morning and stayed until he returned in the evening. He still had not felt comfortable leaving her home alone until she could talk.
    Dr. Lopez made house calls every other day and examined Parris’s face. His gentle hands moved lightly over the delicate bones along her jaw, pleased that she was healing quickly. His prognosis cheered and saddened her at the same time. She wanted to be able to talk normally and eat solid foods, but she also didn’t want to leave Martin.
    She was astonished at the sense of fulfillment he offered her. He had saved her life, protected her and had asked for nothing in return.
    Martin saw Parris in the doorway. It was the first time she had ever waited for him to come home, and the sight should’ve pleasedhim yet it didn’t. The typed report the private investigator gave him during lunch lessened his enthusiasm. There were questions he had to ask Parris and he wanted answers to those questions.
    The garage door closed quietly behind him as he turned and walked toward Parris. He halted, staring down at her upturned face, taking in the pinpoints of green in her clear brown eyes. It was the first time he noticed the green lights in her eyes since he was introduced to her.
    His gaze swept quickly over her face, her shampooed hair and her slender body under one of his T-shirts she had paired with her own well-worn faded jeans. Even though he had gone to her apartment and picked up