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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 filtered 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.
