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“No.” Heshook his head firmly. “They are going to have to sort it outbetween themselves,” He turned her to face him, a gentle smiletouching his lips. “When you were coming after me, did you atany time feel the need to give up?”
Tilting her head tothe side, she let her gaze wander over his face. He took her breathaway. It didn’t matter. Their relationship wasn’t new,and they’d had a son. They were also business partners. She’dhung up her bikinis and quit the modeling scene. Now she was arestaurateur, and it thrilled her.
“You were apain in the ass, but I could do nothing less than love you.”She touched his chin.
“For thefirst time in my life, I wasn’t in control. No matter howdespicable you behaved, I couldn’t stop loving you. So, no, Icouldn’t have given up.”
He lifted theirjoined hands and kissed her knuckles. Very soon, he was going toshake off the worry about his cousin and make love to her. Shesteadied him and made him wild with longing at the same time. It wasfascinating and puzzling.
“To my eternalgratitude.” He heaved out a sigh. “I could get myinvestigative team to track him down, but knowing Kenji, he isn’tgoing to make it easy.”
“We shouldleave him be. He’s an adult, and we can’t make him dosomething he doesn’t want to do. That poor girl.”
“Yes.”Shaking his head, he drew her to him. “Now it’s time toconcentrate on my wife.”
“About time.”She murmured.
*****
He knew! The momentshe stepped into his office, she realized she hadn’t beenspared the second humiliation of her employer finding out about herone-time fling with his cousin. He tried to hide it, but she couldsee it in the sympathetic way he was looking at her.
She wanted to hidesomewhere. She’d spent last night crying herself to sleep andengaging in ‘what ifs’ and ‘if only.’ She’dwoken up this morning and resolved to put it all behind her.
“The Mastertonwedding as well as the Thanksgiving Day extravaganza. The mask themeis highly appealing and is generating a lot of interest.” Shehanded him the folders.
“We’rebooked solid until next March.” She had to keep herself busyand hoped he wouldn’t bring up any personal matters. Just stickto the salient points, which meant business- only business.
“Thanksgivingis the day after tomorrow.” He reached for the files.
“We’vetaken the children into consideration. There’ll be tricks andtreats in the small lounging area. We originally wanted to keep itoutdoors in one of the gazebos, but the temperature is going to be aproblem.”
“Umm-Hmm.”He scanned the pages in the folder, admiring her attention to detail.He didn’t want to notice the fact that she looked drawn andsad, and it was due to his own flesh and blood. Kenji hadn’teven sent him a text saying he’d arrived at his destination.
“Very precise.”He looked up at her. “I also see that the cancer society willbe meeting here for lunch on Saturday.” He smiled slightly. “Mywife’s a member, and it’s usually kept at one of herrestaurants. There’s going to be hell to pay when she finds outit won’t be this time around.”
“She’llget over it.” As soon as the words were out of her mouth, sheclamped her lips shut and stared at the man seated behind the massivedesk.
He stared at her fora few pulsing seconds before inclining his head. “Well said.”
“I'm sorry-“
“Please don’tspoil it now.” A ghost of a smile touched his lips. “Kellyand I enjoy a healthy and vigorous rivalry in business, one that hasnever interfered with our personal life or what we feel for eachother. Nothing could ever accomplish that.”
Chantelle felt envyand longing coursing through her body at the confidence of thatstatement. What it must be like to know that someone loved you somuch and that you’re loved in return.
“That’sgood.” She busied herself with the device on her lap, her tonebrisk and business-like. “If that’s all-“
“He’sgone.”
She went still,fingers tightening on the iPad. “Pardon?”
“Kenji.”His intense dark eyes settled on her face and reminded her so much ofthe man who’d turned her world upside down and left that shefelt her insides dissolving.
“Okay.”She was struggling to appear calm and nonchalant. “That’snice.”
“Chantelle- “
She popped out of thechair so fast that her device thudded to the carpeted floor. “Ihave some calls to make-“ She picked up the iPad and fought tocontrol her urge to cry. “If you would excuse me.” Shebolted out of the room and slammed the doors shut behind her.
