He grinned. “Possessive. I saw it in his eyes. He’s got it bad for you.Realbad.”
Heat infused my cheeks, and I almost denied it—which a fiancée would definitelynotdo. As ridiculous as it was to think of Cade falling for me, that was what we’d been trying to fake this whole time.
Except Cade’s predatory focus toward Fletcher hadn’t felt like an act.
Guilt tore at my stomach at all the lies, but a seed of hope stirred too, because…the Love Olympics hadn’t felt fake either. Unless Cade was secretly some acting savant, there was nothing fake about the way he’d kissed me in the water. How we’d clung to each other. The way he’d smiled at me.
It had all felt almosttooreal.
to the victor go the spoils
. . .
Cade
Mac wasn’t thrilled when I pulled him away from the yacht’s theater to sit sentry outside Fletcher’s cabin for the night, but it needed to be done.
Whiskey, on the other hand, was more than happy to stand guard next to Mac.
I took a longer route through the lounge to get back to the party, giving myself time to calm down while barely resisting the urge to retrace my steps and give Fletcher a matching black eye after the way the asshole had grabbed Ellie.
“Caden?” a deep voice called, stopping me halfway through the lounge. My grandfather sat in an armchair off in the corner—in what he’d designed as a small study. Shelves filled with vacation reads and legal thrillers lined the wall behind him. He lowered the book he’d been reading. “What takes you away from the festivities?”
I changed course with a tight smile. “Fletcher.”
“Ah, let me guess. Archer Montgomery’s boy showed the world what an ass he is once again?” Grandfather asked in feigned disbelief. He removed his reading glasses and patted the armchair beside him. “Sit, sit. I’ve been meaning to talk to you.”
I looked toward the glass doors, where I could just make out hints of people mingling on the deck. Muffled laughter filtered in. I wanted to check on Ellie, but I hadn’t had a chance to really talk to my grandfather since his splash arrival with my mother. So, I took the offered seat.
“That fiancée of yours sure is something,” Grandfather said, tapping his thumb against the book. “I admit I had my doubts when I heard you were engaged, but I’m glad I was wrong.”
Guilt tore through me. “The only reason I didn’t tell you earlier was because we wanted to share the news in person.”
And because it wasn’t real.
“I understand. You’re a lucky bastard, you know,” he added. “I always thought you’d end up with someone as uptight as you, but that girl could outshine the sun.”
My lips twitched. “You think I’m uptight?”
“In a good way. You’re focused. Intelligent. Clever,” he listed. “But I’ve told you before that you need to stop focusing on work so much. Live a little.”
I raised a brow. “I’m here, aren’t I?”
Grandfather let out a sharp bark of laughter.
“I’m still surprised by that but very happy to see it.” He paused to clear his throat before a sly smile curved his lips. “Speaking of work…Do you think you’ll have any trouble convincing Ellie to leave her life in Westport and move to the UK?”
Every muscle in my body locked up as his words sank in. The same dizzying rush I’d felt when Ellie and I jumped off the yacht to win the Love Olympics hit me again, but I needed to be sure. “Don’t play games with me, old man. Are you saying I got the promotion?”
The amusement in his gaze only shone brighter. “You’ve earned it. We just need to work out some details, like how soon you’d like to relocate.”
“Now.” A rush of anticipation thrummed through my veins, and I almost hopped up from my chair. “Tomorrow, as soon as we dock. I’ll call ahead to ready the jet.”
He waved me off with a soft chortle. “Slow down, cowboy. We’ll wait until after the wedding to make it official. Wouldn’t want to uproot your new bride while she’s planning.”
At first, I was too stunned to grasp what he’d said. The satisfaction was overwhelming—followed by a rush of pride so strong it knocked the air from my lungs.
Ellie was the first person I wanted to tell.
