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The bubble of hope expanded.
‘Are you sure?’ she asked again. ‘It won’t feel awkward? Given that you said yourself you and Brandon are business rivals?’
She had no idea what that actually meant, seeing as she’d never taken any interest in her brother-in-law’s business, but she didn’t want to put Roman on the spot—or Brandon, for that matter. And she’d got the distinct impression from the way he’d reacted to the mention of her brother-in-law’s name last week there might be more to their rivalry than she knew about. What if they had gone after the same media property, and had some kind of billionaire face-off over it? Perhaps the fact Roman’s company had offered Lacey a job when Brandon and Lacey had first married had rankled, although that seemed a bit far-fetched. Would that be enough to make things difficult if he came to the christening?
Roman’s cheek tensed, but he barely blinked before saying, ‘I’ve never actually met your brother-in-law face to face. There’s not a lot of cross-over between our two organisations—Cade Inc specialises in hard news, while Garner Media is all about entertainment and celebrity journalism. We’re only really business rivals insofar as we run in the same general field.’ He grasped her hand, threaded his fingers through hers again and lifted them to his lips. ‘But if you think they might object to me attending, I can always just come get you when you’re ready to leave.’
She smiled, flattered—and hopelessly encouraged—by the tension in his jaw as he waited for her answer.
He wanted to meet her relatives, but he was also being sensitive to her needs. How wonderful was that?
‘No, don’t be silly.’ This answer was at least easy. While Brandon and Lacey would no doubt be astonished when she turned up with Roman Garner, no way would they make things uncomfortable for her or him. Because they loved her. ‘Brandon is always adamant about making sure his business interests don’t interfere with his family time. And I’m sure Lacey will want to meet you, once I tell her what I’ve been doing for the last fortnight!’ she continued, her confidence building.
She wasn’t getting ahead of herself. This was still just an exciting fling. Neither of them had committed to more than that, and she was good with that. But getting to spend two more weeks enjoying their time together—in New York, no less—and getting more time to paint, and discover more about this fascinating man, this time with her family’s approval, was surely worth the risk? Plus, one thing her time with Roman had also proved was that she needed to make the leap now and start investing more in her career goals. She could take him up on his suggestion of approaching the galleries in New York with her portfolio to see if she could get a showing. And then she wouldn’t need to return to her jobs in Genoa, when this ended...Ifit ended, her heart whispered.
‘Great, so it’s a date,’ Roman said as he stood and dragged her out of her chair.
He wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her against him, so she could feel how much he wanted her.
Her exhilaration surged as she wriggled her hips against the ridge in his pants—to tease and tempt and make him want her more.
‘If you don’t stop that... I may have to make you beg again, all night,’ he murmured, dropping his forehead to hers and sinking his hands beneath the waistband of her shorts, to caress her bottom. ‘And then you’ll be walking funny when I meet your sister.’
Laughing, she grasped his shoulders and jumped into his arms.
He caught her instinctively—the provocative look in his eyes as captivating as the confidence swelling in her chest.
‘Give it your best shot,’ she said, nibbling kisses across his chin, his cheek, his jaw, and settling on the pulse point under his earlobe she knew was particularly sensitive. ‘But by Saturday, I’m betting you’ll be the one walking funny, not me.’
He marched with her into their bedroom, chuckling now too.
‘Challenge accepted!’ he declared, tossing her onto the bed.
CHAPTER EIGHT
WHATWEREYOUTHINKING, coming here?
Roman’s insides clenched, the sick feeling in his gut threatening to push into his throat, as the Garner helicopter approached the sprawling Wiltshire estate that had once belonged to Alfred Cade, aka the sperm donor. And now belonged to Brandon Cade, the half-brother who had disowned him.
The Palladian mansion where the Cade family had lived for five generations came into view over the rolling downs, its formal gardens like a canvas framing the imposing sixty-room building of pale stone and antique glass.
‘We have permission to land, Mr Garner,’ the pilot’s voice barked over the headset.
‘Thanks, Brian,’ he answered.
Milly grinned opposite him, wearing the same borrowed designer gown he remembered from their first night on his boat.
‘I told you Lacey would arrange it,’ she shouted over the sound of the bird’s blades.
The glittery fabric clung to her perfect breasts. And the hunger, which was never sated, went some way to obliterating the needy, angry tension that had been cramping his stomach muscles ever since he’d overheard her on the phone to her sister that morning in his London penthouse. He’d heard the excitement in her voice, seen the anticipation in her eyes, when she’d been updating Lacey Cade on the ‘date’ she was bringing to Arthur Cade’s christening this afternoon—which was threatening to be the biggest social event of the season—and Roman had felt like a total fraud.
Because she didn’t know why he’d really wanted to come here. With her.
But as the chopper settled on the large H cut into the lawn on the far side of the mansion, the truth was he wasn’t even sure himself why he’d suggested it two days ago on Estiva any more.
Part of it had been panic, because he’d known for at least a week he wasn’t ready to let Milly go, had already envisioned all the things he wanted to do with her in New York. When she’d mentioned the event, it had given him pause for a moment. Brandon Cade was a part of his past he did not want to dwell on any more. And was certainly a complication when it came to his liaison with Milly. But he’d never been good at subterfuge, and as soon as he’d thought of inviting himself to the event, it had seemed like a good solution.
Why not present him and Milly to Cade as afait accompli? What could the guy say anyway? Seeing as Cade had never acknowledged their connection, he could hardly make an issue of it now. And he was unlikely to do it in front of his wife and family, because Roman was, and had always been, the Cade family’s dirty secret. And these days he was more than happy for it to stay that way. Although Cade didn’t need to know that. The thought of having the opportunity to shove his success and influence in the man’s face, to let him know he was dating his sister-in-law and there wasn’t one damn thing he could do about it, had felt cathartic and right in that moment. And afterwards, he’d made love to Milly and believed he was staking a claim, not just to her body, but her affection, too.
