Sweet Sacrifice          Grandmothers Incorporated          Sin

Sin’s eyes fluttered open as the early morning sunlight filtered through the skylight onto his face. It took a moment for him to gather his senses and to remember where he was—burrowed on the luxuriously plush carpet on the floor of the huge master bathroom in their home. A sleeping Nedra lay in his arms.

He shifted carefully, trying not to disturb her. He felt absolutely great. The love he and Nedra had made last night had reached levels he hadn’t known possible. If someone had told him that making love to the same woman after four years of marriage could get better he wouldn’t have believed it, but it was true. Completely satisfied, that’s what he was feeling. Could it get any better than this?

He and Nedra had come home around two in the morning, giggling like a couple of teenagers as they stole up the stairs. They took care not to awaken the household.

As soon as the bedroom door was closed and locked behind them Sin took Nedra into his arms. They made love propped against the door, not willing to wait any longer to extinguish the smothering embers that had threatened to ignite out of control all evening. The sensuous salsa dancing had sparked a fire that had been doused not only against the door, but on the sitting room sofa, in the shower and eventually on the bathroom floor where they now lay.

Sighing, Sin closed his eyes, enjoying the feel of Nedra’s moist body against his own. How many times had he marveled at his good fortune? Being the object of this woman’s love was something about which he had daydreamed, but never expected in his life. He had never done anything to earn such devotion. Much of his earlier life had been spent engaged in endeavors less noble. He had confessed all and she still loved him.

Nedra—forever the preacher—had called their union a blessing. She gave all credit for their good fortune to God. Personally, he had never believed in anything he couldn’t see.

Orphaned when he was ten, bounced from one foster home to another he had no reason to believe in any invisible force about which he had seen no credible evidence in his life. Living by his wits, he had learned to believe in very little other than his own ability to survive. He hadn’t expected to become the wealthy, respected businessman he had become. Actually, he hadn’t expected to live long enough to achieve any level of success. Some of the activities in which he had engaged as a young man nearly guaranteed his early demise. Sin touched the scar on his chest that was a permanent reminder as to how close he had come to death. No, he had never expected to live long enough to marry or to become a father, but Nedra’s presence in his life had changed everything. She brought with her love, hope, caring, loyalty and even a degree of faith.

He had been slow to respond to the latter, refusing to go inside a church except to be married and that was only because that was what Nedra wanted. The ceremony was small and private, held in her mother’s church and performed by her. Their closest friends and the boys were the only ones in attendance. It was the happiest day of his life.

It was a feeling that only intensified after their marriage. The good fortune that reigned on the Reasoner family was abundant. The finalization of the boys’ adoption and later Gillian coming into their lives were the highlights. The foundation he initially funded prospered and his import business grew by leaps and bounds. His net worth was considerable, but it wasn’t the latter that mattered. It was the looks of adoration that he saw in the eyes of his wife and children that meant more to him than anything else in the world. He wondered at such good fortune everyday.

Carrying his sleeping wife to their bed, he planted butterfly kisses on her face in an attempt to awaken her. As tired as he was he was still willing to go for another round of lovemaking, but despite his efforts, Nedra barely responded and rolled onto her stomach in her favorite position when he placed her in the bed. It was obvious that she was down for the count. Covering her with the down comforter, he began the task of preparing for bed.

Slipping into a robe, he exited the room and went to check on the children. With that accomplished, Sin returned to the bedroom where evidence of their amorous evening was scattered from the door to the bathroom. Sin followed the trail of clothes and under garments retrieving some for deposit in the dirty laundry and others for padded hangers. He had finished that task and was headed for bed when he spotted the suit jacket he had worn yesterday. It was draped neatly across the back of a chair. Without thought, he snatched it up and headed for the closet, but was stopped by an envelope that fell from the inside pocket to the floor. Picking it up, he glanced at it briefly and placed it on a table. He would open it tomorrow.

After hanging up the jacket, Sin dragged his exhausted body across the room and crawled into bed next to Nedra. Folding her in his arms, he cuddled against her and instantly drifted to sleep. The couple slept soundly as the sun crept higher in the dawn sky. Neither was aware that it was to be the last peaceful sleep that they would enjoy for quite sometime.

When a former high school classmates dies, three “sixty-something” widows are determined to prove that the cause was nothing less than foul play. Certain that they know the culprit, the ladies turn the lives of everyone around them upside down in their hilarious quest for justice.

In the balcony tables were placed close to the railing so that occupants could easily see the floor below. There weren’t many people up there and none that she recognized, but she continued walking around until she ended up in a section of the balcony just left of the stage. There were no tables in this darkened corner. She was alone, so she stopped to listen to the music. Another band had replaced the previous one and was just about to play. She leaned on the balcony railing to watch as the couples spilled onto the dance floor below as the band struck up a tune.

“It would be a shame to let that great music go to waste.”

Bea froze at the sound of the familiar voice.

“Care to dance?”

Slowly she turned to face the only person whose voice could make her quiver inside. In the muted shadows of this deserted area of the balcony she could barely discern the handsome features of the man’s coca brown face, but she knew every line and plane. She took her time as she raised her eyes to the wide shoulders that filled his tuxedo perfectly, up pass the slightly dimpled chin to the still dazzling smile.

Frank Shaffer still possessed all of the animal magnetism that Bea remembered. Oh, there were changes. Slight age lines teased the corners of his eyes. His wavy hair was generously sprinkled with gray, as was his mustache. He wasn’t quite as muscular as he had been in high school but it was obvious by his long, lean physique that he worked out to keep his body in the best possible shape. She noticed that his mouth still titled up at the corners when he smiled which he did now as she stood flustered by his sudden appearance.

Bea exhaled. She opened her mouth to answer this question but nothing came out. She was glad because to shout out “Damn, you look good!” would have left her completely mortified.

Frank chuckled. “I’ll take it that the answer to my question is yes.” With that he took her hand and in one smooth movement pulled her gently into his arms.

They swayed rhythmically to the band’s melodious tones. The section of the balcony where they stood blocked the view of the ballroom’s famous ceiling. Gracefully, Frank led them to a more open area where they danced beneath the crescent moon and glittering stars. Bea glanced up at the domed ceiling and was transported back to a time when she was a young girl dancing with the handsomest boy in school. She stopped herself from laying her head on Frank’s shoulder, reminding herself that he had not only been the love of her life but he was the man who had practically left her at the alter. This is also the man who was married to Charlie Mae Crenshaw! The last thought sobered her like a slap in the face.

As the last notes of the brass section faded she firmly extracted herself from Frank’s embrace and took a step backward. His eyes scorched her from her head to her feet.

“How are you, Bea? You look beautiful. You have no idea how great it is to see you again.”

“It’s good to see you, too, Frank.” She was formal. “Thank you for the compliment. You’re looking pretty good yourself.”

An awkward silence followed but his smile continued to warm her. Bea could feel her face become flush. She dropped her eyes, no longer able to hold his gaze. Frank spoke.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to stare but I can’t get over how little you’ve changed. The same eyes.” He brushed a fingertip down her cheek. “The same soft, lovely skin.”

To cover her discomfort, Bea changed the subject. “I’ve heard through the grapevine that you’re doing fine. Your realty company is thriving. The talk here is that you and Charlie Mae are very happy and doing well.”

“Really?” He looked surprised. “That’s interesting, but let’s not talk about me. I heard about your husband’s death years ago. I wanted to call with my condolences, then thought it best that I didn’t.” He paused, knowing that she understood the reason why, and she did. He continued. “I trust that your children are doing well.”

“Bryant is doing quite well. He’s a police officer here in Indianapolis.” Bea hesitated, then added, “My son, James Jr., died about three years ago.”

“Your son? Dead? I had no idea! I’m sorry. Charmaine and I never had children so I can’t imagine what it must be like to lose one.”

Frank took both her hands in his. His look of sympathy was so sincere that Bea had to resist bursting into tears.

“Thank you Frank.” Struggling to maintain control of her emotions she cleared her throat and once again changed the subject. “You know, for a second there I had no idea who the woman named Charmaine was. I mean Charlie Mae.”

“Okay, Bea, don’t start.” Frank gave her a warning look.

She feigned innocence. “What? I’m trying to be nice and dispel what they say about a woman scorned.”

“Scorned?” Frank was incredulous. “You’re saying that’s what happened?” He shook his head. “ I know about women scorned, but ones with selective memories are a different matter.”

Bea was taken aback. Selective memory! She ought to knock his lights out.

Taking advantage of the limo having stopped at a red light, Sash reached for the door handle. Once again, Brandon made a move to stop her, but this time his tactic was different. Grabbing her by the shoulders, he turned her around, pulled her to him and stopped her actions with a kiss.

Sash stiffened, shocked and surprised by the sudden contact. Clamping her lips together tightly, she refused him entrance; but Brandon was persistent. His insistent tongue toyed with her determined lips. Slowly, steadily her eyes drifted close and her lips allowed him entrance. Once inside Brandon took control. His tongue teased and taunted Sash with a kiss so thoroughly erotic that it left her weak. Then as suddenly as it had begun, the kiss was over. Brandon pulled away.

Dazed, Sash's eyes fluttered open. She looked up at Brandon, stunned. He sat back in his seat looking much too pleased with himself, waiting for her reaction. She wiped the kiss from her lips with the back of her hand as her anger flared anew. "You had no right to do that!"

"Yes, you're right, I didn't. But you liked it."

Brandon's reply was delivered with so much arrogance that Sash wanted to slap him. Instead, she fought fire with fire. "So did you."

Brandon blinked, caught off guard by her perspective comeback. "You think so, do you?"

Sash looked at him with a confidence so absolute that it left Brandon feeling unsteady, much as their kiss had. Sash was much too sure of herself. He was a man whose wealth and power had made grown men tremble. In some situations he could snap his fingers and have people jump to his command, but Sash didn't seem to be intimidated by him in any way. All day she had challenged him, defied him, affected and, yes, attracted him in ways that left him feeling uneasy. He had known Sash Adams less than twenty-four hours and during this time she had left his body hot and bothered, his mind muddled and confused. She threatened to invade forbidden places inside his heart and he couldn't allow that. So he lied.

"Nope, I didn't like it." His tone was frosty. "I just took advantage of an opportunity. Sort of like what you're doing with me."

Overlooking his veiled insult, once again Sash called his bluff. "You're lying and you know it." To emphasize her point she glanced down briefly at the telltale bulge in his pants, then back up at him. She smiled knowingly.

Brandon turned away from her, and stared out of the window not wanting her to see the truth in his eyes. This woman was conceited...incorrigible... He had been a happy man this morning-young successful, rich and in control of his world. He hadn't asked for Sash Adams to enter his life and make him feel guilty about her brother, make him feel... What? Her voice snapped him out of his reverie.

"I'm still getting out of this limo if you called the police. So don't think that some little smooch is going to change that." Sash frowned. "So, did you call them or not?"

"No," Brandon answered half listening as his eyes stayed riveted to the driver's exterior rearview mirror. Suddenly, he leaned forward and pressed the intercom.

"Driver, hit the next exit and don't signal when you exit." Brandon leaned back in his seat. He was tense. Sash sat straight up.

"What's going on?" She looked out the back window to see what had caught his attention.

"I think we're being followed."

In the distance she could see the headlights behind them. Sash closed her eyes and prepared herself for what was to come next. It looked as though there would be no peace for either of them tonight.

The driver took the exit as instructed, then a sharp right turn that had the tires squealing and set Sash's heart beating like a tom-tom. Brandon continued to rattle off directions while she kept watch out the back window. The headlights disappeared for a few seconds, then reappeared without warning.

"I'm not sure but I think that they're still behind us," Sash's voice was strong, determined, unwavering.

Brandon took a quick look over his shoulder to observe two tiny points of light in motion. "It could be, but..." He returned his attention to what lay ahead. They were coming to a four-way intersection where a yellow light was turning red. There were no other cars on the street. "Driver, keep going until you get to the Monterey airport. Park anywhere there for fifteen minutes, then drive back to the garage."

When the limo stopped, without warning Sash found herself being jerked from the limo and running unceremoniously through the city streets. The sound of their heavy breathing and the click clack of her high heels beating against the sidewalk echoed loudly in the quiet night. Along the way, she shed the heels, giving her a better running advantage. Gripping the shoes in one hand and Brandon's large hand with the other, she kept pace as he pulled her through the well-lit streets until they took a detour into a dark alleyway.

"Where are we going?" Her breath came in painful gasps as Sash silently berated herself for having abandoned her workout routine.

"Through here." Brandon was noncommittal as he tried to find his bearings. He really wasn't sure where they were or where they were going, but an instinct for survival was compelling him to go forward.

"My mother was a junkie." These startling words are Reverend Nedra Davis' introduction to the handsome, mysterious stranger named Sinclair Reasoner, who goes by the name, Sin. It is a name that will prove to be prophetic.

When he turns to the Reverend Nedra Davis with a request for help with two boys abandoned by their mother, it becomes obvious that more than charity could forge a bond between them. But a dangerous secret lurks behind Sin's seductive smile-a secret that threatens to destroy not only their fledging relationship, but could cost Nedra her life. Unknown to her, or anyone else, Sinclair Reasoner launders money for the biggest drug dealer in Oakland.

To order SIN go to www.amazon.com and type in my name, Crystal Rhodes. At Amazon.com you can read an excerpt and after you read the book, don't forget to go back to Amazon.com and write a review.

You can also order SIN by going to the Publisher's website at www.genesis-press.com or contact them by e-mail at books@genesis-press.com