Ultimately, keeping quiet wasn't in my nature. I had to grab this bull by the horns and face it head on, no matter how much it hurt.

"Why?" I whispered. "Why me? Of all the girls you could have your pick of, you choose an awkward, clumsy, eighteen-year-old. Why? And don't give me the same crap you did before about my scent being the sweetest you've come across in centuries or whatever."

He squeezed his eyes shut and drew in a deep breath. "Don't go down this road, Caitlyn. Please. It won't end well for either of us."

The conversation I'd had with Gordon ran rife in my head. I couldn't let this go. I had to know what he meant. "I'm already on this road, Marcus, whether you like it or not. Tell me."

Letting out a deep breath, he opened his eyes and said, "You really want to know why I came up to the café that day? The first day we ever saw each other?"

I nodded. My heart pounded against my ribs. It was too late now. I'd committed us both to whatever happened next but that didn't mean I would like what came out of his mouth.

"I could smell you from four miles away. That lured me in. Then when I saw you..." He scrubbed his hands over his face "...you're her spitting image. I knew it meant something."

My heart somersaulted several times. This would really hurt. "Someone important to you?"

He pressed his lips together and said, "Yes."

That single word hit me with the force of a thousand punches, right in the heart. I felt almost breathless. "Why did you come into the café that day? If you hadn't, none of this would have happened. None of it. We wouldn't have met."

"I...I was curious. I wanted to meet the person who reminded me so much of..." he stalled, seeming to choke on his words "...of her."

"Who was she?" I couldn't deny that curiosity and jealousy were fighting an ugly war inside me. I had a feeling I knew the answer to my question already.

Tears glazed over his eyes as he whispered, "My mother."

That shocked me. I had been expecting an ex-wife or psychotic ex-lover or something. I couldn't really grasp how I felt about our relationship being based on his unresolved feelings for his mother. Was this some weird incestuous thing he had going on? I thought back to the oil painting in his house. The only resemblance between me and his mum, to me, was our red curly hair.

"So you're attracted to me because I look like your mum?" I shivered. "I'm sorry but I find that very...creepy. To say the least."

"No, no, no. Nothing like that. You're her doppelganger. And you turned up right here in Whitby, our home. This means something and I think you're the key for me to find her."

Doppelganger? All I knew about them was what I'd seen in fictional TV shows. Did the reality carry a different truth? At the moment though, my heart ached with pain and my pride had taken a severe dent. I knew from the beginning Marcus had been too good to be true.

"If you wanted help finding her, you could have just asked. Not faked a relationship along the way." I fought back tears and shook my head. "I kept telling myself you were too good to be true."

He knelt down and grabbed my hand, squeezing it tight. "Everything I feel for you is real, Caitlyn. Don't let what brought us together be an issue."

I tore my hand from his. "But it is an issue because it means everything was a lie, Marcus. You've had ulterior motives from the second you laid eyes on me. How am I supposed to trust anything about this entire situation? How am I supposed to trust you?"

"You know you can trust me," he said, taking my hand back.

I ripped it away from him. "Stop touching me." I sucked in a deep breath and blinked away my tears before looking him square in the eye. "How am I supposed to help you find your mother anyway?"

He pursed his lips. "Your dreams..."

I gasped, my hand flying to my mouth. I vividly remembered the red-haired woman from my dreams. "Mirabelle? That's your mum?"

He nodded. "Your dreams are flashbacks of her actual life. You two are connected on a spiritual level, a cosmic level. Now you're here, in her home, it's like history repeating itself except you're able to see it, experience it, live through what she has."

My entire head started spinning. All the pieces of the puzzle were slowly clicking into place. "Is that why you left me when I had dreams?"

He sighed. "You talked about where you were so I went there, looking for clues."

I felt like someone had just stuck a million pins in me and deflated me in an instant. I'd been nothing more than a pawn this entire time. What a fool I'd been. I glanced down at the floor, skimming my fingers over the fine silk dress I wore.

That's a beautiful dress. Very...vintage.

I grabbed a handful of the gorgeous material and looked back up at Marcus. "Why did Gordon comment on this dress?"

Marcus' skin paled ten shades. "What do you mean?"

"He said it was beautiful and very vintage, but he emphasised the word vintage. Does this dress really belong to your sister or is it your mothers?"

He closed his eyes and his lips moved as he muttered something under his breath. "I hate that piece of shi—"

"Marcus."

When he opened his eyes, they were full of fear and remorse. "It belongs to neither of them."

My breath hitched in my throat. More secrets? "Dare I ask?"

"She...her name was Tatiana."

I shivered as he said her name, the exotic tilt he gave to it as he pronounced it made her sound like someone unattainable, someone to fear, someone to worship.

"We...were engaged," he continued. "When she discovered what I was, she wanted me to turn her so we could be together forever."

I gasped. "She was human? This...this dress was hers?"

He cringed, visibly winced in pain. "I...I can explain—"

I held my hand up. "Don't. Just don't." Hot tears sprung up in my eyes as a wave of nausea rolled around in my stomach. "I can't believe you lied to me. What...why did you even let me wear it? Was this some sort of sick trip down memory lane for you? Or was it an experiment to see who wore the dress better?"

The memory of the passionate kiss we'd shared before we came here suddenly became tainted with something nasty and dark. Had he been picturing his ex in this dress when he kissed me with such fervour? When we danced moments ago, the moment I realised I was falling in love with him, had he been picturing Tatiana?

"No, Caitlyn, no. Nothing like that." He sighed and scrubbed his hands over his face. "Please, Caitlyn. You have to believe me."

I looked up into his beautiful sapphire eyes and felt my heart crumble in an instant. "I don't have to do anything." I shook my head and said, "I'm leaving. I can't do this."

Standing up, I gathered up my dress and ran out of the fire exit doors behind the table like Cinderella. My heels clattered against the patio paving as I ran around the side of the grand hotel. Tears blurred my vision but not enough that I couldn't ignore his athletic frame blocking my way to the car park. A waist high brick wall surrounded the patio area, except for a narrow walkway to access it.

"Get out of my way, Marcus," I said, trying to push him out of the way. It was like trying to move a block of concrete.

"No."

"Marcus, please. Get out of my way." I tried in vain to barge past him, but my efforts were fruitless.

"How are you going to get home?"

"I'll walk if I have to."

"Don't be ridiculous. Caitlyn, just calm down for a minute and think this over. You're being irrational."

I snapped then, completely losing my temper. "Don't tell me what I am and am not being! I'm not being ridiculous. You're being ridiculous...expecting me to find your missing mother and giving me your ex's clothing to wear in some sort of sick joke. I have feelings, Marcus. I might only be human, but I still have feelings!"

Tears streamed down my cheeks. My mascara clumped together, creating blobs in my vision. I bet I looked a right state.

"Shhh," he said, putting his hands on my shoulders. "Calm down. You're making a scene. People are coming outside."

"I don't care!" I yelled, hoping getting hysterical would make him get out of the way.

He wrapped his hand around my forearm and led me towards the car park. I was halfway to freedom. "Let me take you home," he said, his voice low and calm.

"No," I replied, yanking my arm away from him. "I told you not to touch me. I don't want to be anywhere near you."

I fumbled with my clutch bag, pulling out my phone. I couldn't call Dad. Not after what had happened earlier on. He needed rest and his space. One name flooded my mind and I couldn't shake it. Someone I knew without doubt would come and pick me up in my desperate time of need. My finger hovered over his name.

"Don't you dare," Marcus said, his voice low and laced with authority. "Don't you dare ring him."

That was like a red rag to a bull. I wouldn't stand for him telling me what to do at a time like this, when I wanted nothing more than for him to leave me alone. I pressed Luke's name and glared up at Marcus with all the defiance I could muster.

He let out a shout of frustration as I held the phone to my ear.

"Hey, Caitlyn," Luke said, answering on the first ring, sounding as bright and cheery as ever. "You ok?"

"Hey, I...I...err...need a favour. I'm really sorry to call this late but I wouldn't be ringing if I wasn't desperate."

He chuckled. "So you only call me when you're desperate? That's nice."

I let out a small giggle, my tears fading away. "That's not what I meant. I just...can you come and pick me up please?" I heard a load of rustling and the jingle of keys in the background.

"I'm already in the truck. Where are you?"

I felt like crying all over again but this time in relief. I told him where to find me and ended the call. My time with Marcus had now been limited to a little over fifteen minutes. Luke drove fast on a normal day.

"I can't believe of all the people, you had to ring him. Why him?"

"I didn't want to disturb my dad just because my boyfriend is being an asshole."

He clenched his jaw, a muscle in his cheek twitching. "I think you're overreacting, Caitlyn."

"Do you?" I said, frowning. "Because it's quite funny that I actually disagree."

"Stop being difficult and talk to me like an adult."

"I am talking to you and I'm telling you I want to leave. Why can't you respect my decision?"

"Because it's a stupid decision, Caitlyn."

I gawped at his audacity. "So now I'm stupid? Wow, you really know how to make a girl feel special."

He stepped towards me, making me scuttle back three paces. "That's not what I meant, Caitlyn. You're twisting this all out of proportion."

"Go back to your party, Marcus. Leave me alone."

He came towards me, his hands clasped together but his eyes were cold and hard. "Caitlyn, please. You're embarrassing me."

That little comment had me seething in an instant. "You embarrassed me," I said, all but hissing. "How many of those people in there didn't know about Tatiana? You think I didn't notice the way they all looked at me, the private conversations they were all having? The ones my human ears couldn't pick up on. Or maybe they were whispering about the fact I'm basically your mum dressed in your ex fiancé's clothes."

He pursed his lips and glanced at the floor. "They're my family and oldest friends. Of course they know about her and my mum."

"So you just humiliated me in front of two hundred people for the hell of it?"

He growled. "I can see I'm getting nowhere with you whilst you're in such a stubborn mood. Fine. Run off with Luke. I'll speak to you tomorrow."

Determined to make it obvious that I was still calling the shots, I replied, "I'll speak to you when I'm damn good and ready."

I turned my back on him and stomped off across the car park, heading towards a small courtyard that sat just off the driveway. I'd seen a picnic bench next to the tennis court there. It would serve a perfect purpose whilst I waited for Luke.

Sitting down on the cold, damp wood, I let out a sigh. I looked up into the clear night sky above me, stars twinkling against the black velvet like little gems. How had my life gotten so complicated? Only weeks ago, I'd moved up here to enjoy the last of my father's life with him and now I was caught up in some love affair with a supernatural creature who belonged in an entirely different world to me.

I realised I needed to sort my life and my priorities out, despite what Dad kept encouraging me to do. Marcus needed to take a back seat and appreciate that he wasn't my priority, he wasn't the focus of my life. He should be supporting me, not distracting me, taking me away from the important things.

The quiet chatter of people sounded behind me and I turned my head to see a group of six or seven men and women having cigarettes, completely oblivious to the world that had just fallen apart right in front of them. It struck me then, how lives interact and collide so often, yet one could fall apart without so much as affecting the others. Life was nothing but cruel.

Needing some relief, I slipped my shoes off my feet and groaned in pleasure. I massaged the bottom and sides of my feet, enjoying the bliss it brought. A flash of light bounced through the trees lining the driveway. A wave of relief washed over me as I realised Luke was here already. I tapped the screen on my phone, checking the time. Twelve minutes. Wow. It was a fourteen-mile journey here. I dreaded to think of the speeds he'd driven at just to come to my rescue.

Tyres squealed as the big black Dodge Ram careered around the corner of the narrow drive, zooming down towards me. It came to a stop parallel to me, about twenty feet away from where I was sat on the picnic bench. The huge vehicle had barely stopped rocking from its abrupt stop before Luke jumped out, striding towards me.

"You ok?" he asked.

I nodded and stood up. "Yeah. Thanks so much for coming to get me." I choked back a fresh bout of tears. "I really appreciate it."

"Don't be silly. It's nothing." He reached out and gently tilted my chin up with the back of his fingers. "Your streaky makeup would suggest you're not ok."

My cheeks burned and I automatically put my hands to my face to cover the mess I knew it would be. Unfortunately, I also forgot about the strappy sandals hanging off my fingers and clouted myself in the chin with them.

"Ow," I said, laughing the pain away.

Luke chuckled and held his hand out. "Give me your shoes before you impale yourself somehow."

I handed them over, rubbing at my chin. I went to step off the raised concrete patch to head towards the truck when Luke stopped me.

"You're going to walk in the dark across tarmac in bare feet?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Well give me my shoes back then."

"Or I could just carry you."

I opened my mouth to reply but didn't really know what to say. It felt highly inappropriate given the situation.

"It's twenty feet, Cat."

I sighed. "Ok. You win." I held my arms out like a three-year-old. "Take me to my carriage, Prince Charming."

He laughed and scooped me up in his strong arms. Ambling back over to his truck, I almost had a heart attack when I saw Marcus stood in front of one of the headlights, completely blocking out the strong beam of light.

"Oh no," I said. "I thought he'd gone back inside."

"It's ok. I can handle whatever he's got."

I winced. I had a funny feeling Luke would be rethinking that statement if he knew the truth about Marcus.

"Was that really necessary?" Marcus said, his eyes filled with fury. "Or was that for my benefit?"

Luke walked right around him to the passenger side of the car, wordless, opened the door and then slid me into the leather seat. He passed me my shoes, shut the door, and walked back to Marcus.

"I'm an innocent party here," he said, holding his hands up. "Don't start. I'm merely doing what I was asked."

"With a great amount of glee."

"Rescuing a damsel in distress?" Luke shrugged his shoulders. "Kinda my thing lately."

Marcus visibly tensed. Under the moonlight, I could see his shoulders stiffen and his glare at Luke intensified with pure hatred. "You lay one finger on her and I swear—"

Luke held up both hands and wiggled his fingers. "I think, technically speaking, I've just had all of my fingers on her."

I gasped and giggled at the same time. Luke's comment was funny but if he knew Marcus' capabilities, he wouldn't have dared been so bold.

The two burly men stared each other out for several seconds. Then, without a further word being spoken, Luke backed away and climbed into the truck. Marcus turned to face me, looking me straight in the eye for a brief second, before retreating back into the hall.

"That's going to be one interesting conversation tomorrow," Luke said, flashing me a grin.

I snorted. "I don't think so. I won't be talking to him for several days."

"You might feel differently after a sleep, when all the emotions have worn away."

"If you knew what had happened to get me to this point, you wouldn't be saying that."

"Indulge me then."

As we headed back towards Whitby at the legal speed limits, I filled Luke in on the details, obviously skipping over the supernatural elements to the story.

"Ouch," he said, when I'd finished. "So he thinks you're some younger version of his mum, then gave you one of his ex's dresses to wear to his family ball?" He let out a low whistle. "That is a real new level to douchebag."

"Tell me about it," I replied, sighing. "I don't even know how I'm going to get past this."

"I'm sure you will."

I stared into the distance, at the empty road ahead. "Hey, Luke, could I ask another favour please?"

He grinned at me, his brown eyes twinkling with joy. "You want my spare bed?"

Stunned, I said, "Yeah...how did you...?"

"I know your dad wanted space for the weekend. Don't worry," he said, taking his hand off the gearstick and wiggling his fingers. "I'll keep my fingers to myself."

I laughed at him.

"What are your plans for tomorrow?" he asked.

"Sleeping away my pain and humiliation."

He chuckled. "You'll be right as rain in the morning, back in love with Mr Davenport again."

I snorted. "I doubt that." Something pieced together in my mind then. "Oh no! All my clothes for the weekend are at Marcus'." I rested my head back against the seat and sighed. "Bloody hell."

"Don't worry. I'll sort it out."

"You know he's going to go mental about me staying with you?"

"Might be a good lesson for him," Luke said, smirking. "Leave him to stew in his own mess."

I looked down and pulled at the dress, a violent shudder running right through me. "Urgh, I just want to get this horrible thing off me."

"Don't hate me for saying this but you do look absolutely amazing in it. Streaky makeup included."

"Stop it," I said, giggling. I wiped at my cheeks, even though I knew my efforts would be futile without soap and water. "You're making me paranoid that I look like some sort of clown."

"I think clowns have neater makeup."

"Hey," I said, swatting at his arm. "Be nice. I'm delicate right now."

"I'm sorry," he said, drawing a cross over his chest. "Promise I'll behave now."

I grinned stupidly to myself as Luke guided his truck down towards his farm. "People will start talking you know, if you keep staying at mine."

"It's only the second time. Not like it's a frequent thing or a regular night."

"Yet."

I playfully punched his arm. I couldn't believe how quickly my mood had changed just being around him. Without fail, he always made me laugh and made me feel good, even in the most upsetting of circumstances, like tonight.

He pulled the truck up outside his huge old farmhouse. Its faded red bricks and white windows making me feel all warm and cosy inside. I could see smoke coming from the chimney, telling me he had his open fire burning away.

"I'll carry you into the house," he said.

I looked at his driveway, a mixture of dried mud and gravel, and nodded. I didn't want to put my shoes on again.

"Then I'll keep my fingers to myself. Promise."

I giggled. He jumped out of his seat and came around to my side. Just as he opened the door, my phone pinged with a message. I knew it would be Marcus. I woke my phone up and dared to read the message, hesitant whether it would be nice or nasty.

Marcus: I'm so sorry, Caitlyn. Everything I feel for you is real.

"Everything ok?" Luke asked.

I turned my phone screen around and let him see it. He raised his eyebrows and said, "Stalking much?"

"What am I supposed to reply to that?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Nothing. He doesn't know you're not asleep."

"Of course he does."

"He's not psychic, Cat."

I smirked. "He might be." A horrible thought struck me then. "What if he comes here?"

Luke barked with laughter. "He won't come here."

"You sound awfully confident."

"Because I am."

"How do you know he won't come here?"

"I just do," he replied, smirking. "Trust me. Now, leap into my arms so I can whisk you to your bed."

Smiling like an idiot, I gladly obliged.