Marrying Cade (8 page)

“Bring the stuff up here,” she’d called.

He’d followed, laid down his burden, and then sank onto the sand next to her. Her legs were tucked up to her chest, and her whole body vibrated with happiness.

“Told you it was worth it.” Her mouth tilted up at the corners, flooding him with warmth. “This, Cade is paradise. Paradise Beach.”

He’d let his eyes drift closed and leaned back on the warm sand. He even remembered his response. “It certainly is.”

Cade blinked and forced his mind back to the present. “Stay there.” He took a few strides away, then focused the camera on Melo’s face. The sun bounced chestnut glints off her hair, and her blue eyes echoed her smile. The little mole above her mouth twitched as her mouth curved. He clicked the shutter.

With Melo’s face captured for posterity, Cade glanced down to fit on the lens cap. A flash of silvery blue caught his eye, and he bent to pick a perfect circle of shell from the detritus. It was slightly smudged with sand, and a thin seaweed remnant, but the inside was pure silvery pink, with iridescent lights. A beautiful memento. Cade slipped it into his pocket.

“I’ve got to go.” Melo reached up quickly and kissed Cade on the mouth. “I have to talk to Papa.” She avoided his gaze. “About arrangements, and stuff.”

“Okay.” He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “I guess I better go and make sure the bridegroom is up. I’ll see you later.” Her mouth opened under his as they kissed, and her arms wrapped around his neck. And for the first time in his life, Cade wished he didn’t have to think about work.

****

Back at the house, Melo fortified herself with a strong black cup of coffee, then went in to see her father.

“Papa. We need to talk about options.” She steeled her heart against her father’s frail appearance, and sat down on the bed next to him. “We don’t have the money for the new tanks. We have to cancel them.” It was a tough decision, one she’d struggled with. “Adam ordered the new equipment; he should be the one to cancel. We need to bring Adam and Rosa in and explain the situation.”

Marco’s head shook in vehement denial. “No. Melo. You must do it. The wedding is tomorrow. After it, I will talk to him. I cannot spoil their wedding. I will not.” Marco’s eyes flashed, he clenched his teeth and stared Melo down. “It isn’t fair to your sister.”

It isn’t fair to me.
Melo bit back the words. “Papa…”

“No. Melo. You must act as my proxy and deal with this. If it must be done now then you must do it. I shall talk to Adam after the wedding.”

Marco glanced away, effectively ending the conversation. Melo turned on her heel, and strode out of the room. She went into the office, and locked the door, leaning against it and breathing hard. Her father hadn’t sought her advice, and now expected her to sort out the mess. The suppliers would be upset and angry, and while Rosa was enjoying the sunshine, she would have to deal with all the unpleasantness.

She gritted her teeth and moved around the desk. Pulled out the pile of orders, sat down, and picked up the phone.

****

Cade found Adam at a table outside the hotel, having a leisurely breakfast.

“There you are!” Adam waved toward a chair. He caught the waitress’s eye, and through a complex series of hand gestures indicated he’d like a second breakfast brought out.

Adam slathered butter and strawberry jam on a croissant, and slipped a morsel into his mouth. The flaky pastry disintegrated into a flurry of little flakes, and he swiped them off his top lip, then dampened a finger, and chased them around the plate. His gaze flickered to Cade, then away.

“So, what happened to you last night?” His tone was light and casual, as if he couldn’t care less about the answer.

“Melo and I decided to leave.” Cade’s mouth tightened.

“And?” Adam pulled off another fragment of croissant which started the whole procedure up again.

Cade’s fingers itched with irritation. “And we came back here.”

Adam’s eyebrows rose. His hands stilled, and his earnest gaze held Cade’s. “Oh.” He waited, obviously expecting more details.

Cade pulled in a deep breath.

“Coffee?” The waitress slid a cup before Cade, and put down a fresh cafetiere.

“
Grazie
.” Cade beamed at her. Coffee, and a respite from all this questioning. She was a definite lifesaver.

“Your breakfast will be here in a minute.” She blushed prettily, and disappeared.

“Well?” Adam asked.

“Your imagination can fill in the blanks.” Talking about the night before held no attraction for Cade. What was between him and Melo was private. Not something to share with anyone, not even his best friend. The silence stretched between them. Cade swallowed a mouthful of coffee, and changed the subject. “So what’s on the agenda for you today?”

Adam mercifully took the hint. “Well, after I read your speech, I’m going up the villa to see Rosa. I reckon we’ll just hang out at the pool. It’s an easy day today; everyone is doing their own thing. You have everything ready for tomorrow?”

Cade was in charge of the suits, the rings, and the tickets for the honeymoon. He had everything ready. “Yes. I’ll come to the villa with you.”

The hotel owner came out into the sunshine. “Mr. Adam, I have a telephone call for you.”

Adam frowned. He glanced at Cade, who shrugged.

“Back in a minute.” Adam strode inside.

Cade ate his croissant slowly. Stared out at the sea. Things hadn’t gone as planned, last night. His lofty ideals of keeping things cool between himself and Melo had faltered the moment he saw her curves showcased in her amazing dress, and gone up in flames when he’d seen the Italian playboy flirting with her. By the time they made it onto the dance floor, the die was cast.

His fingers tightened on the cup. Her body had been so soft, her whispered groans so incendiary his body reacted at the mere memory. He’d somehow thought making love might have lessened his desire, but in fact the complete opposite was true. He burned to have her in his arms again, trail his lips over her long expanse of creamy throat.

When she told him she’d been fantasizing about him when she was a teenager, he hadn’t known how to respond. She’d been his
friend
, back then. The friend he told everything to. He’d even told her about the date he’d gone on with a girl from the village.

Cade groaned. It must have been difficult to hear. But she’d smiled and listened, never once revealing she’d like to be the girl he was kissing. And he’d had no idea she was such a romantic back then.
Probably still was
. His head started to ache, and he rubbed at his temples.

She was exactly the sort of girl he should stay away from. Last night showed that more clearly than ever, but he’d been totally unable to resist her, despite his misgivings. His sisters looked to him for guidance for everything. As did his mother. In his private life, he always sought out independent women who knew the score, understood he wasn’t interested in love and happy ever after. One shattered engagement had taught him the folly of that path when his fiancée proved herself to be just like all the other women in his life. Looking for a man to lean on. And Melo’s family was in trouble. When she’d started to confide in him the night before, a warning bell sounded loud in his head. She was probably hoping some white knight would ride in with a suitcase full of money, and sort out her father’s problems.

Cade swallowed his coffee in one gulp, and shifted on the chair. There was still the matter of Marco to be addressed. And the hotel.

“Cade.” Adam’s voice slammed him back to the present. He turned to where Adam stood in the doorway, alarm rising at the thunderous expression on Adam’s face.

“What is it?”

His heart jumped into his throat. Had Rosa called off the wedding?

“There’s a problem.” Adam’s tone was terse. “Get your stuff. We need to get to the villa.
Now.
”

Chapter Eight

“You need to talk to me, Adam. What the hell’s going on?” Cade had to suffer in silence in the car on the way to the villa, as Adam muttered that he didn’t want to talk about it in front of the driver, but that excuse was old now they were out of the car striding into the villa.

Adam’s jaw was set. “I need to talk to Melo.”

Melo?
Cade reached out and grasped Adam’s arm.

Adam shrugged it off angrily.

“Leave it, Cade.” A clenched muscle flickered in Adam’s jaw, his shoulders were pushed back and his hands were curled into fists. He looked like he wanted to hit someone.

“What’s going on?” Cade stepped forward, mirroring Adam’s stance. There was no way Adam was talking to Melo in this state, whatever he thought she’d done.

Rosa strolled out of the front door, and stopped in surprise. “Darling, you’re here.” She hurried over, her gaze flickering to both of them in turn. Her smile faded, and her mouth gaped.

“Where’s Melo?” Adam ground out.

“In…in the office.” Rosa waved a hand toward the door, clicking after Adam with little rapid steps in her high-heeled sandals.

Adam was at the office before Cade could reach him.

Melo looked up from the desk in shock as the door crashed opened. Her mouth opened and closed.

“You want to explain why you cancelled my order?” Adam questioned, stepping closer.

Cade tensed, and stepped in front of Melo, shielding her from Adam. He put a hand on Adam’s arm. “Calm down.” Adam might be angry but he had no right to talk to her in such a fashion.

Melo’s face was white. She was shaking. Her chin tilted up and her mouth set in a thin, white line.

Cade pushed Adam down into the chair opposite the desk. “Sit down. There’s no need to loom over her.” He reached for Melo’s hand. Searched her eyes.

Adam stayed on the seat but aggression flowed from him toward Melo. He hadn’t got his answer, yet.

“Melo?” Cade squeezed her hand. Her shoulders relaxed. Her hand fluttered to her mouth, then dropped. She pulled in a deep breath.

“I had to. Marco told me to.” She spoke so quietly Cade had to strain to hear the words. Her gaze flickered between Adam and Rosa, and she blinked rapidly. “He wouldn’t let me talk to you…”

Rosa stepped forward and placed a hand on her fiancé’s shoulder.

“What do you mean; Papa wouldn’t let you talk to Adam?” Her voice was high and shrill. She glared at Melo as though Melo was to blame.

What the hell was the matter with this family? Couldn’t they see Melo was upset? Cade stood shoulder to shoulder, and stared Rosa down.

“I think it’s time we took this question to Marco,” Cade suggested. Out of the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Melo’s rapid nod. “And I think you two better back off.” He slipped an arm around Melo’s shoulders and pulled her close. Whatever was going on here wasn’t her fault. And he wasn’t standing around to watch her being bullied.

Marco was sitting up in bed, with Mary at his side when they walked into his bedroom. His eyes flickered to Melo.

“Good morning,” Mary started, then stopped, realizing this was not a social visit. “What’s the matter?” Her hand reached for Marco’s. Gripped it tightly.

“I’ve just heard from the company making the replacement tanks,” Adam said. “They tell me Melo has cancelled my order.”

Mary stared at Melo. “What on earth would make you do such a thing?” She stood. “Melo. Explain this.”

“I had to.” Melo’s voice was low and she clenched Cade’s hand fiercely. “Papa knows.”

Her mother’s gaze turned back to her husband, and her eyebrows rose in query. Marco flushed. His hands picked at the bedcovers. “I asked Melo to cancel the order. It was necessary. His voice wavered. “I hoped we could delay this discussion until after tomorrow. I asked Melo to be discreet.”

He glared at Melo, as if it were somehow her fault the supplier had taken matters into his own hands and called Adam.

“I think you better tell us what’s going on.” Mary waved to the chairs around the corners of the room. “Sit down, everyone.”

Cade felt Melo tremble through their tangled fingers as they sat around the bedside. He squeezed gently, trying to pass an unspoken message of support to her.

All eyes were on her, and her throat moved discreetly as she swallowed before starting to speak. “The business is in jeopardy, through imprudent investments.”

Melo’s face colored and she avoided the shocked faces before her. No wonder, as an investment specialist she must be horribly embarrassed and ashamed of giving the family bad advice.

A mass of voices rent the air, all speaking at once, questioning how this could have happened. Through it all Melo said nothing. Eventually, Marco cleared his throat and the room fell quiet.

“How we came here is not important,” he said slowly in a voice brooking no further discussion. “What is important is we now face an impossible situation. One where Melo had to cancel the new orders.”

Cade gripped Melo’s fingers tightly. He waited for Marco to reveal the fact he’d talked to Cade about buying land, but Marco stayed silent.

“I didn’t want to ruin your wedding day, Rosa.” Marco held out a hand to his daughter, grooves deepening in his forehead. “I knew it would be a disappointment. Cast worry into what should be only a happy occasion.”

Cade’s heart clenched. How could Melo have gambled so recklessly with her family’s future? He glanced at her pale face, half hidden by the veil of her chestnut hair. He should feel anger, disgust. Instead, he felt pity for her obvious pain.

“I’ve looked through the figures; the only option was to cancel the improvements. We can’t pay for them.” Melo’s tone wavered. She turned to Adam. “I told Papa we should talk to you about it. You made the order; you should have been the one to cancel it.”

“I’ve been brought in as new Managing Director of this Company, it’s unforgivable that I haven’t been informed of this,” Adam said.

“You mustn’t upset Papa,” Rosa urged, resting her hand on her husband-to-be’s arm. There must be something we can do,” Rosa pleaded, still in denial about the severity of the situation.

“We have only one option, Rosa.” Marco’s gaze held Cade’s. “We can sell some land.”

****

Why was her father looking at Cade?

Melo’s heart clenched. She shivered feeling sudden chills as she gazed up at the profile of the man she’d spent the previous night with.

He held Marco’s gaze steadily, then his chin moved down slightly then back up, in a subtle nod. She pulled her hand out of his, and wrapped it around her own body, holding in the feelings of panic that shuddered through her.

“I have spoken to Cade.”

With her father’s words, something inside Melo shattered. She scrunched her eyes up tight, and clenched her knees together. It couldn’t be true. White noise thundered in her ears, and she swallowed, desperate for composure.

“Cade is interested in building a hotel on the island,” Marco said, his thin voice wavering.

Melo’s eyes shot open, she stared at her father in shocked disbelief.

“Is this true, Cade?” Adam demanded, frowning at Cade.

So, this was news to Adam too.

Cade nodded. “Marco swore me to secrecy.”

Cade was staring at Melo with something strange in his eyes, a plea for forgiveness perhaps?

Melo avoided his gaze. She pulled in a breath, and tried to steady herself as the true import of his betrayal stung.

Marco elaborated. “It could be the perfect solution. Cade wishes to extend his hotel empire into Europe, and we have property we are not using. We can renew the order, purchase the tanks and the winery will prosper.” A tight smile stretched Marco’s mouth.

“But what land?” Mary asked the unspoken question that burned in Melo’s mind. “There is the land around the villa, and the mountain land…” Her mother’s voice trailed off.

“And the beach. The family also owns Paradise Beach, and the land surrounding it.” Marco crossed his arms over his chest. “We must sell it in order to secure the future of The Bellucci Winery.”

Melo’s jaw dropped. Her father was talking as if Paradise Beach was his. To do with what he wished, rather than hers. Willed to her by her grandmother.

Marco stared into her eyes, as if willing her to stay silent. Be, once again, the dutiful daughter and discard her claim.

She shook her head.

He opened his mouth, and she stood, holding up a hand to silence whatever order he was going to give. This was too much. A straw too far. He wasn’t getting away with it.

“Surely that is my decision, Papa.” To her relief she sounded strong, when inside she felt like shredded tissue. “Paradise Beach is not an asset of our family’s. Paradise Beach belongs to me. My grandmother owned it, and left it to me in her will. It has always been mine, Papa. You know it, and so does everyone else. I intend to build a house there someday. Everyone knows that.”

The room was so quiet she could have been alone, but for the heavy tension hanging in the air, causing her muscles to twitch. Her eyes flickered to Cade.

He looked shocked.

He should be, she was so shocked by his duplicity her heart filled with hate. He’d taken her to bed, planning to build a hotel on her beach. Had he known the beach was hers? She searched her memory, trying to recall if she’d ever told him the story of how her grandmother left it to her. She brought a hand to her temples, rubbed at the burning pain that bloomed there. It had been a conspiracy. Between the man she’d always thought she loved and her father. Neither of them cared about her at all. They both just wanted her land.

“It looks like you were bargaining with the wrong Bellucci, Cade.” She turned and walked out of the villa. Climbed into the car, and drove away.

****

“What did she mean?”

Cade frowned. Melo’s bombshell had come as a total shock. There’d been no hint the land wasn’t Marco’s to do with what he wished. The old man had placed him in an impossible situation by stating he’d decided to buy the land. As if Cade was the driving force behind the sale, rather than just a buyer invited to the table.

Nothing was decided. He hadn’t agreed to purchase it, although the thought of Felix Mezzuti building one of his overblown eyesores on Paradise Beach stung and burned in his gut. If he turned Marco down, Mezzuti would win by default. The mere thought was enough to force ice into Cade’s veins. The nightmare scenario of Mezzuti owning the land would be harsh punishment for Melo’s mistake. So harsh it would destroy her.

“A misunderstanding.” Marco shrugged.

“No!” Rosa sprung up from the chair, shaking her head in vehement refusal. “Nonna left the beach to Melo! We all knew it. What are you saying Papa?” She pulled in a deep breath, quivering at her father’s words.

“Yes, Marco. Rosa is right.” Mary nodded. “It was her legacy to Melo. She put it in her will. We don’t have the right to sell.” She clenched her hands together and stared at her husband, shock in her eyes.

Unused to open rebellion in his family, Marco frowned. “The beach was not my mother’s to give. Her husband always told her it was her beach, but never transferred title. Everything my father owned came to me, as his heir.” His jaw clenched tight. “It is unfortunate Melo feels the property is hers, but under the law it is mine to do with what I wish. And I wish to sell.”

Marco’s mouth set in a determined line.

Crunch point.
Cade pushed a hand through his hair. The money Marco wanted for the beach would be easily raised. After all, the West Hotel empire was so profitable it had made him millions. Cade could buy the beach from his personal funds to keep it safe while he considered his options. It would give the family a vital breathing space—and see off the threat from Mezzuti once and for all.

Melo had looked stricken, devastated. His whole body reverberated with the echoes of the hurt she felt when her father shattered her dreams, and yet Marco hadn’t flinched, hadn’t reacted at all. And even now the wily old man waited for Cade’s reaction like a fat spider sitting in a web. Cade was under no illusions. If he refused, Marco would be on the phone to Mezzuti before the day was out.

But there was more at stake now. There had been shock, horror, and disillusionment in Melo’s eyes. Cade’s hands curled into fists. Despite the legal situation, the beach patently belonged to Melo. Her mother and sister were as shocked as she was at her father’s words. He needed to find her.

Cade had a reputation for ruthless negotiation, but he had no stomach for this. “I shall buy the land, but first I need Melo’s blessing,” Cade said.

Marco’s mouth opened, and then closed at the resolve in Cade’s eyes.

Cade glanced at Rosa. “Where will she be?”

****

She couldn’t run forever. The wedding was tomorrow. The day she’d spent so long planning, making sure everything was perfect. The events of today had shattered that; ruined everything. Melo drove up the winding road, higher into the forest. Away from civilization; away from Cade. She couldn’t even feel sorry Rosa’s day wouldn’t be as happy as she planned. For Rosa, this latest upset was about money. That was all. She still had her fiancée, and tomorrow she would be a bride. Secure in the love of her new husband, with her whole life stretching out ahead of her.

Melo turned off the main road down the track leading to the little restaurant hidden under the Cork Oak trees. The black stripes of stripped bark gave the trees a surreal appearance, and she breathed in deeply as she pulled over and stopped. The restaurant was closed, this time of day, but she could still get a drink. She strode out of the car and made her way inside. Greeting the restaurant’s owner Antonio, by name, she ordered a freshly squeezed orange juice with plenty of ice, and took it to a table under the trees.

They’d come here as a family when she was younger. For birthdays and other celebrations. She’d sat at this same table with her grandparents, the air filled with the excited chatter of her happy family. The memories were painful, and for a moment she regretted her decision to drive here. But everywhere else Cade knew about. Everywhere else, he could find her. She swallowed a mouthful of the cold orange, appreciating the citrus zing after the heat of the car.