Ali felt complete.

Ali felt happy.

Ali felt.

As she gently stroked Sam's hair, her troubles seemed miles away. As long as she didn't think about them. And Sam had done a great job of distracting.

They had moved from the limo to her hotel room. And hadn't left it for a day and a half. Rediscovering each other, enjoying each other, sleeping in each other's arms. It was the best night's sleep Ali had since landing in California. It felt like they were living in their bubble again, the way it had been back in his little apartment when they first met. The outside world didn't exist.

Except this time, they could order room service when they needed to refuel.

In a few hours, Sam would be leaving again. Back to New York for some important meeting. The reprieve was ending. Ali would have to face her mother. She had texted her, avoiding any real contact. Gave the facts, Sam was in town and she would not be visiting her father until this afternoon. After Sam left.

As if her fiancé sensed her thoughts, he shifted in his sleep, his grasp on her waist tightening. Ali shimmied closer, happy for the warmth he offered.

"Ali," he moaned.

"Right here, my love."

"What time is it?"

She knew he didn't want to leave her. Had felt it all weekend. But this last round had been intense. There had been a ferocity to his lovemaking. As if Sam was trying to fill up a reserve to last while they were apart. Tasting, touching, taking everything over and over until neither of them had anything left to give.

"Not time yet."

Soft kisses assaulted her stomach causing ripples of pleasure to skip across her skin. And settling in her heart. Her sore muscles flexed in response to Sam's advances across her body. As his hands translated his intentions, Ali bit her lip. Trying to decide between giving into desire or dealing with the weight hanging over her head.

Time was running short. She knew she had to tell Sam about Jack. The last thing Ali wanted was to have the conversation at the airport. It had to be here. In the bubble. Where she could hold him. Make him understand.

"Sam,"

An unintelligible sound emitted from Sam as he edged closer to his favourite spot - his point of no return.

"We need to talk."

Hands halted. Lips left. Green eyes met hers, searching for meaning. Apprehension tainted his features. They must have read the serious intent in her expression. Sam backed away. As his warmth receded, Ali chased after him, pulling herself into a sitting position.

"Okay," was all he said, leaving the rest up to Ali.

She licked her lips to stall for time. How to start? Where to start?

Taking his hand in hers, she entwined their fingers. The cold metal of the platinum engagement ring she gave him pressed into her skin. Taking a deep breath and releasing it, Ali reminded herself it would be okay. Sam trusted her.

"Remember when I told you I had a fight with my mother."

Sam nodded.

"I didn't tell you the whole story. The reason I couldn't stay with her... " Ali swallowed, "...When I got to the house I discovered Jack living there."

Sam's eyes widened in what Ali hoped was only surprise. "Jack bought your parent's house?"

"No. He's living with my mother." Even though it had been a reality for her for quite some time, saying it out loud, telling Sam, it seemed more preposterous. Ali hadn't realized she had been squeezing Sam's hand until he was wrenching it out of her grasp.

"You saw him?"

Ali's heart bled as the little crinkle in Sam's forehead appeared. She hated seeing it there. Ali nodded. She was in it now. Best to rip the band-aid off. Get it all out. Quickly. "There's more."

Before she could continue, Sam was off the bed, pulling on his jeans. "Whatever he's threatening you with, we'll fight it."

It was hard to keep her lips from turning upwards at Sam's words. His first concern was her. Her safety. Then her brain kicked in. Sam was worried Jack was blackmailing her again. The last time he thought that he had set off to rearrange Jack's face and a few limbs.

"It's not like that," she blurted out.

Sam stopped in his tracks, throwing a confused glance her way. "But he's why you were upset the other night?"

Making her way off the bed and grabbing a bathrobe, she wrapped the material around her and stood before Sam. "I was supposed to have dinner with him-" The look on Sam's face stole the words from her throat.

"Dinner?" Sam growled. "You were going to eat with that man?"

Ali moved towards Sam. "I had to talk to him." It was the wrong words. Sam's face flushed with anger before he turned away from her. The sight of his back was worse than anything Sam could have said. She would have preferred he yelled at her. Not that Sam ever yelled.

"Sam. Please, listen to me." His broad shoulder rose and fell. Then slowly he turned back to face her. The hurt she saw there almost stopped her from continuing. Almost.

"While I've been in New York Jack's been making moves to take over my family's company. My father's illness played into his hands perfectly. He's manipulating my mother, moving in with her to ... control her." Sam's features softened, perhaps at the panic in her voice. "And she's letting him."

Sam sank into a chair, his head in his hands. "Always about control," he muttered.

"They held a board meeting. My mother purposely excluded me." Ali dropped to her knees before Sam, not quite touching him but wanting to. "All so they could give Jack control of the company. He's running it into the ground. I saw the contracts. He's planning on bankrupting it to sell off the assets."

That made Sam look up.

"I have to stop him." Ali thought she saw understanding in his jade irises. She reached out to touch him but Sam held up a hand and sat back. She froze. Confused. Sam had never denied her touch before. Panic of a kind she had never known crept into her heart, replacing the pleasure that had settled there only moments before.

She didn't know what to expect next, but it certainly wasn't Sam pulling his phone out of his pocket. Turning it on, he started typing on the screen. Ali's mouth fell open. Now was not the time to send a text.

"Sam-" she started. But that hand was up again, asking her to wait. She tried. Each tap on the screen chipping away at her nerves. When he paused, scrolling through screens instead, Ali could not take it anymore.

"What are you doing?"

Sam didn't take his eyes off the small device. But he did answer. "Changing my flight."

"No," she reached for the phone. "You don't have to do that."

Snatching the phone out of her reach, Sam grabbed her hand. Relief washed over Ali at his touch. He brought her hand to his chest. "I'm not leaving you here with ...him."

"Sam. Your meeting...," her voice faded. She didn't want him to shirk his responsibilities for her. She wished he could stay. His support meant the world.

"I'll call in. They'll deal with it."

Shaking her head, Ali placed her cheek on his knee and waited patiently until he finished rearranging everything. After a few moments, she felt him stroking her hair.

"I didn't mean to keep it from you. I ... I knew you would worry about Jack and there was nothing you could do from New York." Lifting her head, she placed her chin on his thigh, looking up at him. "You have so much going on there. I wanted you to be able to concentrate on your responsibilities."

Sam stroked her cheek.

"Because of you, I'm stronger now. I can handle Jack on my own."

"I know you can." His words were soft but confident. She almost believed him. "But I don't want you to have to handle him on your own. You're not alone."

"No, I'm not."

"We're a team."

Ali nodded, not quite capable of forming words. A rush of love and gratitude bloomed inside her chest. Once again, she thanked her lucky stars, the fates or whatever out there was responsible for bringing Sam Harrington into her life.

Now that it was out, Ali felt better. Freer. There was nothing between them now.

"Ali, I have to tell you something."

The base of her neck prickled. She knew something was wrong in all those phone calls. He had been holding back too. She took solace in the fact it couldn't be worse than her keeping Jack from him.

It was worse.