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“After that kiss? You’re kidding me, right? Right? You spent the night with him, and you still want us to find him a wife?”
More than ever. Before she became any more attached. Last night, this morning, had been a huge tactical error. Not just because he was a client, but because she’d promised herself she would never become besotted with a man the way her mother had. Love had destroyed her mother, and if she wasn’t careful, Hope would fall into the same trap. Rafe had elicited responses she hadn’t known she was capable of. He’d taken her to the edge of orgasm and dangled her over the precipice. Then he’d cared for her, tucked her in, taken care of her cat, seen her to work. It would be too easy to fall in love with him. And far too dangerous.
“Earth to Hope. Come in please?”
She shook her head, aware that Skyler had spoken a couple of times. “Sorry. What?”
“I asked if you’re kidding me. Shouldn’t we tell Mrs. Sterling that we are not able to fulfill this contract?”
“He needs a wife.” To convince herself, Hope brushed her hands together to dislodge invisible crumbs. “I’ll call Hannah and give her some information to see if she’d like to be included on the invitation list. If you’ll confirm today’s details with the International Club, we’ll be fine.”
“Are you sure that you’re sure?” Concern telegraphed across Skyler’s voice. “Like, extra sure, sure?”
“I’m okay.” Resolved, Hope stood, then snatched up the rest of the doughnut.
“Hey, boss?”
Hope paused at the entrance to her office.
“You sure you’re okay? Because I wouldn’t be.”
“Yeah.” The lie left Hope’s mouth dry.
“She’s a beauty, isn’t she?”
Turning, Rafe leashed his impatience. His father hadn’t agreed to see him, but Rafe had flown in regardless. He hadn’t found his father at the oceanfront condominium he’d rented in St. Pete Beach, and in desperation, Rafe had asked Celeste to track his father’s cell phone. At first, she’d refused to help. That wasn’t a service that the Fallon Group offered. But she had numerous employees with dozens of contacts. And because the Theodore situation also affected the Zeta Society, she’d been persuaded.
After discovering Theodore’s location, she’d hazarded a guess that he was on his boat, registered as the Lunar Sea. His dad’s car was in the marina’s parking lot, and Rafe picked the lock on the gate leading to his dad’s boat. Rafe had boarded the yacht and roused his father and Lillibet from bed.
Pacing with impatience, Rafe had returned to the deck. Though the boat was comfortable, he couldn’t imagine it cruising the Atlantic. A few minutes later, Theodore, in bare feet and a robe, had joined Rafe.
“The boat,” Theodore prompted. “She’s a beauty. Can I offer you a cup of coffee? Bloody Mary? Bellini? Mimosa?”
“I won’t be staying.”
Lillibet joined them. Her blonde hair was fluffed around her face, her eyelashes were in place, and her lips were painted bright red. She wore silver platform sandals and a pair of sunglasses that covered more than her bikini did. In her left hand, she had a filled champagne flute, and her ring finger was strategically placed so that the engagement diamond winked in the sun. Rafe wondered how she managed the weight of the rock and the filled glass.
With a great show, she leaned forward, made a cutesy sound, and kissed Theodore on the cheek, leaving behind traces of her lipstick. “Don’t be long, Teddy Bear. I already miss you.” As she moved off, she gave Rafe a little wave that was part hello, part goodbye. “I’ll be in the hot tub, lover, waiting for you.”
One hand on his waist, Theodore watched her go. He stayed where he was, riveted, besotted, as she climbed the stairs, her sleek muscles contracting with each step.
Rafe was a cynic. But even he recognized that Theodore didn’t look at his wife the same way. Had he ever? Maybe he was in love. And so what if he was? Everyone around them was dealing with the repercussions of his behavior. “When are you going to stop this, Dad? You’re needed at home.”
