For Business...Or Marriage? (10 page)

“H
e
what?
”

Abby watched as Sam’s hand froze halfway to her mouth to sink into yet another bite of caramel-filled chocolate. They relaxed on lounge chairs overlooking the ocean, gossiping like teens and old gal pals.

Abby cringed, hating the words. “He asked me to plan his wedding.”

“Jerk.”

Sam bit into the chocolate, then just popped the whole thing into her mouth. Abby really felt she deserved some kind of award for sitting through the agony of not only watching Sam eat her weight in chocolate, but also for rehashing the nightmare of planning the wedding for Cade and Mona.

“Well, I can’t say too much,” Abby amended. “I
kind of manipulated the situation to get closer to him.”

A smirk crossed Sam’s face. “I knew you wouldn’t let him go without a fight. I want all the details.”

Could this conversation be any more juvenile?

But, she really needed a female opinion, so Abby trudged on.

“Well, at first I refused to travel with him, but then I told him I needed to look into honeymoon destinations and he needed to accompany me.”

Sam’s face lit up. “I love it. Go on.”

“I told him this would be the perfect opportunity to look into resorts that were floundering due to the economy.”

With a hoot of laughter, Sam clapped. “Beautiful. You obviously know him well enough to know you needed to discuss business. Keep going.”

“The first night in Cancún I had a dinner set up on the beach with a harpist playing in the background.”

Sam ran a perfectly polished fingertip over the row of chocolates in her box and finally chose another. “I love this. Romance, the cat-and-mouse game and eating chocolates. Don’t stop.”

Abby smiled and settled into the chaise lounge. This was a nice recap.

“We walked a bit and he nearly kissed me, but his phone rang. It was Mona.”

Sam cringed. “Oh, no.”

“Yeah.” Abby reached for her own piece of chocolate. What the hell. “But that night was not
totally a wash because he was looking at me like he never had before so I knew I was getting somewhere. And he kissed me.”

“He what?” Sam all but shouted.

Abby chewed on her lip. “But it was an angry kiss.”

Sam smiled. “Oh, the best kind. Keep going.”

“He actually apologized and I was so hurt, I just left the room.”

The other woman closed her eyes and groaned. “Idiot. Him, not you. What happened next?”

“At our next stop in Puerto Vallarta, he booked a bed-and-breakfast for us and arranged a quiet dinner around a small pond and tropical plants. I couldn’t believe it.”

“He’s a romantic at heart whether he knows it or not,” Sam said. “Then what?”

“Our next stop was Cozumel and I requested the Honeymoon Suite so he could see the amenities they offered. Of course I booked another room in my name so there was no pressure, but he didn’t know that.”

Sam extended her tan legs and crossed her ankles. “I love blindsiding a man.”

“As soon as we arrived two ladies came to give us our couples’ massage. Once they were gone, he did kiss me. And I can’t even describe that to you, because I’ve never been able to find words.”

Sam glanced over, patted her stomach and smiled. “I understand.”

Yeah, she would.

“The next morning we went snorkeling,” Abby
went on, shoving her sunglasses up onto her head so she didn’t have white lines around her eyes. “When we got back, I passed out. Heat combined with no breakfast was not a smart move, but we, um…”

Sam darted up in her seat, which was not an easy feat considering the added midsection. “You…did? Oh, Abby. You really do love him, don’t you? There’s no way he’ll marry Mona. No matter what’s at stake.”

Abby’s heart leaped in her chest. “What makes you so sure he won’t change his mind?”

“Cade isn’t like that.” All joking now gone. “I’ve only known him a short time, but I know Brady and those men aren’t the type to play with a woman’s heart. Cade may not realize that he loves you, but he does. He wouldn’t put billions of dollars at risk by sleeping with you if he didn’t.”

Abby sighed. “That’s what I thought, what I’ve prayed for, but hearing someone else say it eases my mind a bit. But then I think of Mona. Have you seen her?”

“Mona Tremane? Once or twice.”

“She’s beautiful.”

Sam nodded. “She is. But do you think she’s the only beautiful woman in the world? You do look in a mirror for your daily grooming, right? You’ve got that simplicity that Mona doesn’t. There’s something wholesome and…angelic about you.”

“That doesn’t make me sound like a catch. It makes me sound like a Sunday School teacher.”

Sam reached over, patted Abby’s leg. “Listen. Cade
has dated actresses, models and gorgeous women from all over. But I’ve never seen him so relaxed, so at peace with himself, as when I saw the two of you in the lobby. He was beaming just as much as you were.”

Did she dare hope? “Really?”

“You two seemed like just another honeymooning couple to onlookers.”

Abby looked back to the turquoise water and the white caps rushing to shore. “I don’t want to just portray the image. I want to actually be that couple.”

Cade escorted Abby back to her room after they’d dined with Sam and Brady. The bellboy had taken their luggage to the honeymoon suite, where they’d changed for dinner, but the sleeping arrangements were still unclear. She wasn’t sure if they were sharing a room or if they were keeping things simple.

Simple? Nothing about this whole situation was simple. She was sleeping with her boss who was recently engaged to someone else.

Abby cringed. Her mother would be so disappointed.

The elevator dinged at the Penthouse and Cade gestured her ahead of him once the doors opened. There was only one room on the top floor so no keycard was required since they’d needed it to get on this particular elevator.

She stopped in front of the door and turned to tell him good-night, but was taken by surprise when he
pushed her against the wall and ravaged her mouth, her neck, tugging at her off-the-shoulder blouse.

Abby arched into him, her greedy body wanting, demanding more.

“I’ve been dying to do this all day,” he murmured against her heated, moist skin.

As his lips continued to torture the tops of her breasts, now nearly spilling from her top, his hands went to work on doing a little torture of their own.

He lifted her skirt and slid his fingertips along the edge of her bikini panties.

Needing no more coercion than that, Abby started undoing his trousers. With a quick flick of the hook and eye closure and a careful tug on the zipper, Abby sent Cade’s pants to his ankles, but not before his quick reaction pulled a condom from his pocket.

He lifted his head, smiled and jerked her panties down, easing back just enough for her to get one foot out of them.

“We’re still in the hallway,” she reminded him.

His cocky smile widened as he lifted her. “I know.”

Instinctively, she wrapped her legs around his waist and forgot about being in the hallway. Well, she hadn’t entirely forgotten as the penthouse door was at her back, but at the moment she didn’t care.

Cade covered himself with the condom as Abby tilted her hips and welcomed him in.

Too much. Too fast.

“Cade.”

She didn’t know what she was begging for, but her
whole body tightened as he captured her mouth once again. Tongues tangled, bodies moved in a quick, frantic rhythm.

Abby’s release swept through her body as she tightened her hold on Cade. His shoulders, his hips, she curved her body around him like a well-tailored suit as she crested.

Before she could come up for air, Cade released her mouth and let out a low, sultry groan as he found his own release.

Once all tremors had ceased, Abby unlocked her legs and slid down Cade’s body. Limp, sated and more than shocked at their current locale, Abby smiled.

“We’re still wearing clothes.”

He pulled up his pants, not bothering to fasten them and reached around her to open the door. “I’m sorry, but I couldn’t wait another second to be with you.”

Horror spread through Abby. “Please tell me your family doesn’t have security cameras installed on this floor.”

Cade’s rich laughter mocked her as he ushered her into the suite and closed the door. “This is the honeymoon suite, Abby. Everything that goes on on this floor is private and between the couple. Your reputation as a good girl remains intact.”

Was she supposed to take that as a compliment? Did men actually like “good girls”? Hey, so long as Cade was happy with a good girl, she didn’t care.

She took in her surroundings and sighed. A perfect suite in a perfect resort. Everything about Kauai drew
her in. Even inside, the tropical theme of the island carried throughout.

The canopy bed with white sheers draped around the mattress sat in the corner on what she considered a stage. Two small steps led up to the romantic bunker and Abby got chills all over again just thinking about lying there with Cade.

Would he want to sleep in that bed all night with her? Would he make love to her again?

Double doors led out onto a balcony overlooking the gorgeous crystal blue water and mountain peaks in the distance.

She turned to Cade. “If you ever open a Kauai office, please, I’m begging you, let me run it.”

“Deal.”

Barefoot, Abby padded from the open living area, bedroom and small galley kitchen and found her way into the bathroom. And holy cow, what a bathroom.

Dark green tile covered the floor. Miniature mirrored tiles formed a shower so large, she figured at least ten people could wash at once. Showerheads from all directions pointed toward the middle.

She couldn’t wait to explore that with Cade.

A huge garden tub sat off in the distance just under a skylight.

“Never mind the office,” she told him when he came in behind her. “I’d like to make this my apartment.”

Cade chuckled, slipping his arms around her waist. “You deserve this.”

His soft words combined with his warm breath on her cheek only added to the multiple goose bumps she had.

Could this be for real? Could she really believe that he would choose her over Mona and a multi-billion-dollar business deal?

Sam seemed to think so. Besides, everything in Abby’s heart told her not to give up.

Unless, of course, he did end up choosing the business over her. No matter how much she loved him, she would not play second to anyone or anything. She deserved better.

“I feel as if I should apologize again for attacking you in the hallway,” he told her. “I really wanted to bring you up here and relax and talk. We don’t talk enough.”

Abby smiled, turning in his arms. “That’s because we’re either working or having sex.”

Oh, Lord. When the words came out and hovered in the open they didn’t sound so good. Was that all this…relationship consisted of?

“I can’t seem to get enough of you, Abby.”

She knew the feeling. So, when Cade slowly undressed her and kissed her as they made their way to the king of all showers, Abby realized that talking was definitely overrated.

C
ade stripped his clothes and slipped back into bed, thankful that Abby was still sleeping. He took just a moment, as he had when he’d had to leave her an hour ago, to admire the simplicity, the beauty.

Flawless. She was magnificent in every way. Creamy skin, soft, subtle blond waves spread over the stark white pillow, full pink lips parted just so. Yes, it had been difficult to leave her this morning, but he’d had another important call to make and he’d had to make sure his package arrived.

Lying on his side, Cade propped his head in his hand and trailed the strand of pearls between her breasts, which were uncovered because the sheet had slipped to pool at her waist.

She moaned, shifting beneath the pearls.

Cade smiled. She was just as amazing to watch asleep as she was awake. The subtle way the corners of her mouth kicked up as she stirred, the sexy way her eyelashes fluttered against her cheek…

God, had he ever noticed these things about a woman before?

No, because he’d never lingered in a woman’s bed. Never wanted to until now.

And that solidified the decision that he’d made earlier—hence the important phone call to Mona’s father this morning.

He slid the strand of pearls back down, then up again, pleased when her eyes opened and focused on him.

She smiled and stretched her arms. “Good morning.”

“Yes, it is,” he agreed, now roaming the pearls around each breast.

“What’s this?”

“They’re yours.” He held up the necklace for her to see. “They are flawless, much like the woman who used to own them and like the woman I’d like to wear them.”

Abby’s eyes widened. “These are…these…were…”

“My father’s mother’s pearls.” He sat up, tugging her with him to fasten them around her neck. “Perfect. I knew they’d suit you.”

Instinctively her hand came up to feel the pearls. “Do you just travel with these in the hopes of giving them away on a whim?”

Her bluntness never ceased to amuse him. “No. These were in my safe back home. I asked my housekeeper, whom I trust with everything I own, to have them sent here.”

Abby’s hand froze on the pearls. Her green eyes darted to his. “When did you do this?”

“Yesterday morning before we boarded the plane.”

She studied his face for a moment without saying a word. Speechless? He’d never known her to be. But what shocked him more was when tears gathered in her eyes and she threw her arms around his neck and nearly knocked him backwards off the bed.

Realization must’ve dawned on her. He didn’t want her to think he took her gift of love lightly. And just because he wasn’t ready to say the words, didn’t mean he couldn’t show her in other ways how much he cared.

Warm tears fell onto his bare shoulders, but he felt her emotions all the way into his heart.

His hold on her tightened. “I take it you like them.”

“I love them.” She sat back, wiping her eyes. “Sorry. I don’t mean to cry. I’m a hideous crier.”

He took her face in his hands, stroking her damp cheeks with his thumbs. “You’re beautiful no matter what you do.”

She fingered the strand again and smiled. “My mother had a set of pearls. Nothing this expensive or perfect, but they were her favorite piece of jewelry.”

Cade eased her back into his embrace and laid down, drawing the light sheet over them. He wanted her to talk, wanted to hear about her life before him. Wanted to help ease the hurt she still carried for her mother. He knew all too well the pain of losing a parent.

“I battled with myself,” she went on. “When it came time for me to choose her funeral attire, I held those pearls in my hands and cried for hours. I wanted to keep them, to keep her. But I wanted everyone who came to say goodbye to be able to see her looking like she’d want.

“It was hard to let go of anything that belonged to my mother, but I knew she’d want me to move on and be happy.”

Cade kissed the top of her head. “And are you?”

She turned her head, resting her chin on his chest. “Happy is when you ace an exam in college or when Santa leaves you the present you asked for all year. I can’t even define what I feel when I’m with you. Happy doesn’t even skim the surface.”

Cade looked down into the face of the woman who’d come into his life not once, but twice. The first time as his assistant. And the second, just two weeks ago as the woman he found himself falling in love with.

And it was so easy to see the emotion now. Strange how he’d had a hard time putting a name to his feelings before.

Business mergers never made him this happy. Ever. And even if he didn’t count his own happiness,
the elation on Abby’s face was worth the decision he made.

There was no turning back now.

Lounging on the beach during the day with Sam was a nice change. Abby knew in her heart this would be a lifelong friend and someone she could confide in, which was good because she didn’t have a female figure in her life anymore and, coincidentally, neither did Sam. Her mother had died at a young age in a car crash.

Now, though, Abby sat alone soaking up the sun. Sam’s doctor had told her too much sun could cause her to overheat and bring on false contractions. Abby had had to force Sam inside for a nap or just to rest with the threat of calling Brady—who had probably already hired at least three resort employees to keep a watch over his wife.

Would Cade be that protective if she carried his baby? Would he always be making sure she was safe, guarded?

Of course. This was Cade. He would do anything for the people he cared about. Hadn’t he gotten engaged to a woman he didn’t love all for the sake of making his brother happy and honoring his father’s legacy?

Everything he did, he did out of love for others.

How could she not love him with her whole heart?

Granted, he hadn’t spoken any more of the “business arrangement” with Mona, but he’d told her not
to worry about it, so she wasn’t. After all, Abby was the one wearing his grandmother’s pearls and waking beside him the past few days.

But she really wished he’d just tell her what was going on. She didn’t want to ask, but in all honesty, Abby felt as if she had a right to know.

She absolutely refused to believe he would throw her aside for business, no matter the amount of money involved. If Cade wanted to make Stone Enterprises a bigger name, he’d find another way to make it work.

Abby blindly reached to the side of her lounge chair and picked up her water bottle. She misted her legs and stomach and tossed the bottle back down.

There was nothing more relaxing than soaking up sun on the most gorgeous beach she’d ever seen, all the while thinking of the man she loved.

I’m happy, Mom. I’m really, truly happy. She hoped her mother was looking down smiling.

A cell phone rang in the distance, which reminded Abby she hadn’t checked hers in a few days. On a sigh, she leaned over, reached into her mesh tote and pulled out her BlackBerry.

She refused to check the e-mails, but she did listen to the two voicemails.

The first one was from her landlady letting her know her one-year lease was coming up and needing to know if she was going to sign another one.

“Hopefully not,” she muttered as she skipped to the next message waiting.

“Hey, Abby.” Mona’s perky, yet sweet, voice fil
tered through the phone. Abby sat up, jerked off her sunglasses and listened. “I know I said I didn’t want in on any of the details for the wedding, but I did end up picking out a dress, and I had it shipped to Cade’s office so you could see it. I figured you’d be able to tell me if the style would go with everything you’ve chosen so far. Let me know if you have any questions. Bye.”

A chill came over Abby so fierce, so hard, that even in the ninety-five-degree heat, she trembled.

Questions? Yeah, she had some. Why was Mona sending a dress to the office? Why did just the sound of her voice make Abby feel inadequate and less of a woman?

And why hadn’t Cade called off that wedding?

Hurt and anger fought to be the top emotion flooding through Abby’s body. Unfortunately, there was a tie.

Once she’d gathered her belongings, pulled on her terry cloth cover-up and slipped into her white flip-flops, Abby was battling a war with herself.

Surely there was some explanation as to why he hadn’t called Mona. There had to be. He’d made love to Abby numerous times in the past week. He’d held her and listened to her go on and on about her mother.

He’d given her his grandmother’s pearls, for crying out loud.

As she stomped up the beach, Abby didn’t know if she wanted to barge into Brady’s office where he and Cade were discussing business or if she wanted
to wait and discuss the situation in the calm serenity of their suite.

Considering she was fighting for the man she loved, there was only one option.

She marched her way through the open, airy lobby and down the hallway of executive offices she’d seen Brady and Cade go yesterday morning. Once she found Brady’s nameplate, she didn’t hesitate. Anger fueled her every decision.

Both men jerked in their seats as Abby, without knocking, opened the door to Brady’s office.

“I would apologize for interrupting, but I wouldn’t mean it.”

She walked over, plopped her bag in the only vacant club chair and waved both men to stay seated. “No need to get up.”

“Is something wrong?” Cade asked, ignoring her request and coming to his feet to study her face.

Abby laughed, propping her hands on her hips. “Wrong? Well, I don’t know, Cade. You tell me.”

Brady now came to his feet. “I think I’ll—”

“Sit back down,” Abby finished without taking her eyes off Cade. “This will only take a minute and you two can get back to your business.”

“Abby. What the hell happened?” Cade demanded. “I’ve never seen you this worked up.”

She didn’t hesitate. There was only one question she needed answered. “Did you tell Mona the wedding was off?”

“I—”

Holding up a hand, Abby repeated, “Did you?”

“No.”

Abby had to give herself credit for not crumbling to the floor—or slugging him in the gut, like he deserved.

She ignored the burning in her eyes. She’d be damned if she’d let him see her cry. And she’d be damned if she’d play the other woman for one more second.

“Consider this my resignation from the office.” She picked up her bag, slung it over her slightly burnt shoulder and added, “Oh, and you’ll need to find another wedding planner.”