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He had no clue just how much of a hold he had over her. Even though Abby prided herself on being independent and strong, she knew she’d crumble at the first sign Cade had indeed turned his feelings toward something more personal, more intimate.
Fifteen minutes later the driver pulled up in front of a two-story white stucco home with vines and greenery darting up each side of the doorway.
Abby loved the fact Cade knew her well enough to pick something so laid-back and simple. Even with his life of leisure and jet-setting, he had never acted like he was too good for anything or anyone.
But even if Cade Stone was a janitor at a high school or earning minimum wage, Abby would still want to spend the rest of her life with him. She’d never had much money, but she didn’t even consider his bank account one of his characteristics.
No, in her mind money was only a small part of Cade’s life. He wouldn’t even have that money if he wasn’t powerful, hardworking, driven to take what he wanted…and Abby could only pray that he’d want her as much as she wanted him.
An elderly woman wearing an apron over her peach button-down dress, a loose bun in her hair and a bright smile greeted them. Once she showed them to their rooms, directly across the hall from one another, she informed them breakfast would be served at precisely 8 a.m. and then she shuffled back down the curved staircase.
Cade glanced at his watch. “Can you be ready in an hour?”
“I can be ready in fifteen minutes.”
“Really?” His brows lifted. “I’ve never known a woman to get ready in fifteen minutes.”
Abby laid a hand on his arm—an arm she wished would wrap around her and lead her toward a bed. “You obviously aren’t dating the right women. But seeing as how you’re used to beautiful women, maybe I should take more time. I’ve just never fussed with my hair or makeup, so I really wouldn’t know what else to do.”
Those charcoal eyes darted down to her hand, then back to her face. “You’ve never been anything less than beautiful. No more fuss is necessary.”
His tone was low, his eyes hot and heavy-lidded. The warmth of his breath tickled her cheek, sending shivers throughout her already heated body.
“I don’t know about beautiful—”
He took her chin between his thumb and index finger, made sure she was focused on him and repeated, “Beautiful.”
Abby swallowed, still looking him in his eyes. “I—I don’t know how to handle compliments.”
“You’re embarrassed?” he asked with a lift of his brows. His hand moved to cup her cheek, his thumb sliding against her skin. “I’ll agree that you don’t wear all the makeup and your hair is simpler than most women’s, but that’s what makes you extraordinary. Why mess with such beauty by covering it up with artificial products?”
The whole time he spoke, his hand caressed her cheek. Abby didn’t know if she wanted him to stop until he figured out his true feelings or if she wanted him to continue, not caring he was engaged to another woman.
God, was she a home wrecker? No. There couldn’t be a home wrecker, when there wasn’t really a home to wreck.
She swallowed hard. “I need to get ready for dinner.”
She spun away from his hand and into her room, closing the door between them. Abby rested against the wood, hand to her heart.
Was Cade just responding to sexual attraction or was he actually wanting her in an intimate, more personal way?
Abby didn’t know, but she wasn’t going to act on her feelings until she was positive that Cade understood where she stood and she was positive he wouldn’t marry another woman. She had to be sure she was the only one in his life.
No way would she make Mona feel like “the other woman.”
And Abby, too, refused to be put in second place.
Eight
Cade didn’t know what the hell kept coming over him when he was alone with Abby. He’d traveled with her before on business and had never felt the urge to drag her back to his room for endless days and nights of love-making.
But his mind kept betraying him and taking him back a week to when she was jerking and gyrating against the back of that mechanical bull. Lucky bull.
But that was purely physical. On a more intimate level, he couldn’t get the image of the hurt in her eyes out of his head. Each time she’d mentioned her mother, a veil of remorse cast over her green eyes.
Maybe dinner was a bad idea. Maybe he shouldn’t be keeping his time all tied up in Abby.
There was just something about her that was niggling at him, though. The more he was around her, the further and further his upcoming wedding was from his mind.
But he had to forget the feeling of dread he got when images of him standing in his tux and Mona in a white gown came to mind. His thoughts had to fast-forward to the business aspect and how prosperous they would be after the nuptials.
