Marrying Cade (9 page)

He’d stared at her in the house. His hand had reached out to her before dropping to his side at the look in her eyes. He wouldn’t leave it, in fact she was pretty sure right about now he’d be on his way to her beach to talk to her. To seduce her with his caring attitude, his sexy smile. Her hand tightened on the glass. He must think she was a complete idiot, and of course, he had every right to his opinion didn’t he? She’d set right out to seduce him the moment he arrived on the island. Had fallen right into his arms. He hadn’t even had to work to get her into bed, and all the time…

Her stomach clenched with the totality of his deceit. All the time, he’d been talking to Marco, making plans for her land. Her heart sank. She’d revealed all her worries about the family business to him, confided her deepest secrets. But he knew them all the time, didn’t he?

Black despair took hold as another possibility formed and solidified in her mind. Marco must have told him about her claim to the beach. He’d taken her to bed, anyway. What for her had been a culmination of a teenage dream, the longed for moment when she and Cade finally made love, had been a cynical ploy by Cade to tip the balance in his favor.

He’d looked furious when Adam confronted her. In panic, she’d held Cade’s hand, let his strength infuse her, and almost melted when he told Adam and Rosa to back off. She’d thought he was angry because they were shouting at her. Melo rested her head in her hands as the true awfulness felled her. Cade was angry his secret was about to come out. It was all about the land, none of his anger was about her. Nothing was about her, she’d been a fool.

“Is everything okay, Melo?” Antonio stood by the table, his expression full of concern. They’d been in school together, and he’d always known the restaurant would be his. It was his inheritance. His destiny. Just as the beach had been hers.

“Just overwhelmed with all the things to do for the wedding.” Melo smiled weakly.

Antonio nodded. “I know how hard you’ve been working with all the preparations. My sister tells me every time she’s seen you since you’ve been back, you’ve been in your car, driving people around.”

Antonio’s sister was doing the flowers for the wedding. Melo had been in and out of the shop constantly, organizing last minute details.

He patted her shoulder. “You need time for yourself. Time to relax.” He picked up her empty glass, and his gentle, warm smile soothed her. He gestured toward a hammock stretched between two ancient cork oaks. “Go. Lie down. I’ll bring you another drink, and some biscotti.”

“No, Antonio, I…”

“Take some time to rest. You’re always the one in charge. The one who fixes everything, but you’re exhausted.”

Melo felt the threatening prick of tears. He was right. She always put everyone else first. She was a total doormat, and where had it got her?

“I’ll put the orange and biscotti on the table there.” He pointed. “You’ll be able to reach them from lying down, no need to even sit up for them.” His teeth flashed white in his tanned face. “I should know—I’ve spent many an hour lazing under the trees.” He pulled her to her feet, and patted her back. “Don’t worry; I’ll wake you if you fall asleep.”

“
Grazie
, Antonio.”

Melo walked to the hammock and sank down into it. She gazed up into the green canopy and let the stress leach out of her aching shoulders. A breeze rustled the leaves above as she breathed in the heated air, redolent with the scent of the sage growing wild under the trees. The canvas swung slowly as she shifted her weight, curved around her body as Cade’s had done.

For a moment, she forced the bittersweet memories away. Then closed her eyes, and surrendered to them. His smile as he pushed her back onto the crisp sheets, the way his body had trembled as his lips trailed over her neck, and his hands cupped her breasts. The wonder of their lovemaking had been everything she’d dreamed of.

But she’d been in love with a ghost. A boy who captured her youthful imagination. That boy didn’t exist. Maybe he never had. She’d made love with a shadow, a shadow of her own imagining. The real Cade was someone different. Her body flushed with his remembered caresses as her mind struggled with the truth. She’d given herself to a man she barely knew. A man with a wallet where his heart should be. And really, she had no one to blame but herself. These moments thinking of Cade would be the last ones. A final morbid wallow in the memories of a dead dream.

She reached for the orange juice and bit into a crisp biscotti. She should be thinking of a plan to save the vineyard, but her mind rebelled. Let the rest of them do it. Antonio was right; she was always the one losing sleep over the family’s problems. Problems not of her making. She crunched the biscotti savagely. And not hers to solve, either. Her father seemed sure his claim on her beach was legitimate, but that wasn’t the end of it. When the wedding was over, she’d get her own lawyers on it. At the very least, she’d tie up Cade and her father with legal counterclaims for months.

Melo rested her hands on her stomach. Yes, she’d been naïve, but the scales had fallen from her eyes, and now she saw things clearly. She wouldn’t be browbeaten or emotionally blackmailed any more. The fresh mountain air expanded her lungs. She blew it out slowly, then breathed in again, feeling power infuse her body with the inhalation.

Her relationship with Cade had been shrouded in insubstantial dreams. She hadn’t seen the real man through her infatuated prism, but there was nothing but clear air between them now. When she got back to the villa, everyone would want to talk. They’d lobby her to give up her claim, and smooth things over with her father for the sake of the wedding.

Paradise was hers, and she’d see Cade in hell before she let him steal it.

Chapter Nine

Of course, she’d be here.

Cade pulled in a deep breath as he pulled in next to the Mercedes parked in front of the old stone church, next to a small van. She might not want to talk to him.

Rosa had glared at him when he’d asked where she might go, and shrugged her shoulders eloquently. “Leave her alone,” she warned before striding away, not looking back.

Adam’s response hadn’t been much better. “You blew it.” He’d glanced at Cade with his mouth set in a hard line before following his fiancée.

Cade knew he’d blown it. He didn’t need it spelled out to him, but he’d lost the right to reply the minute it had been revealed he’d known about the financial problems and hadn’t told his best friend about it. Everyone was feeling raw, and the wedding was tomorrow. He’d asked Adam to hear him out, later at the hotel, and Adam reluctantly agreed.

He spent the afternoon looking for her. Paradise Beach was deserted, nothing but the occasional sea bird’s cry breaking the silence. He’d walked on the beach, imagined a hotel facing the sea, and wondered where the hell she could have gone.

The wedding was tomorrow. There were still things to do. Melo would be doing them. There was no way she’d just walk away, she was so conscientious, she’d never let her sister down; it wasn’t in her nature. His heart swelled with reluctant admiration.

Cade climbed out of the car, and walked into the tiny church. Hoping against hope she’d listen to what he had to say.

She wasn’t alone. A tall, dark haired woman was with her. They were tying bunches of flowers at the ends of the church pews. Getting ready for tomorrow.

“I’ve been looking for you.” She didn’t look up, holding the posy in place with one hand while she threaded the white satin ribbon through the carved ends. “Melo, I’m talking to you.”

“I’m aware of that.” Her gaze flickered to his. “I’m busy.”

Cade stuck his hands in his pockets. His jaw jutted. “I’m not going away until you’ve heard what I have to say.”

“In that case, you can make yourself useful. Hold this.” She pointed to the decoration she was trying to secure. He reached for it. Their hands brushed, and she pulled hers away as if burned. “Just hold it in position while I tie it.” She squatted, fastening the posy and finishing with an elaborate bow that matched the row of completed pews. Another woman was doing the other side, her attention completely on what she was doing.

Melo straightened. “All right, I’m listening.” She crossed her arms over her chest, her body language telegraphing loudly she didn’t want him here.

“I didn’t know about the beach,” Cade said.

Melo’s eyebrows rose, but she stayed silent.

A trickle of sweat slid slowly down between Cade’s shoulder blades. This was going to be difficult. He tried again. “I didn’t.” He stepped closer, It would take more than words to convince her.

Melo raised a hand, palm out, to stop him. “Stay right there.”

There was no anger in her gaze. He couldn’t read anything in her impassive face. Cade shoved his hands in his pockets. “I told your father I wouldn’t go ahead with the negotiations until you agreed, until I had your blessing.”

She snorted a harsh laugh, and her gaze flickered away. “It’ll be a cold day in hell before you have my blessing, Cade.”

“Melo.” He reached out to grasp her arm, and she stared at it, her forehead pleated in a frown. “You need to listen to me, Melo. I…” What could he say? He’d lied by omission. Taken her to bed and listened to her worries about the family crisis, never once even hinting he knew about it. That he had been approached to provide a solution, for God’s sake. He’d even suspected her of wanting his money; he’d obviously been completely wrong there.

“You what?” She stared at him coldly. “You came to the island ready to buy land for a luxurious hotel that will ruin the island. You made me think you cared about me, when all the time you were making sure I’d be amenable to whatever schemes you and my father cooked up?”

“I told you I didn’t know about your claim to the beach.” Frustration burned a hole in Cade’s stomach. He’d told her, but she stubbornly refused to believe him. What the hell else was he supposed to do? “But to be honest, your family needs my money. I don’t see any others lining up to help you. Although that could change. What do you think your father will do if I refuse to buy Paradise Beach, do you think for one moment he will shelve the idea?”

Her mouth gaped. She blinked rapidly, obviously she hadn’t considered the alternatives.

“No, Melo. He won’t. If I don’t buy Paradise Beach, your father will sell it to the highest bidder. Another hotelier who doesn’t have the same connection to the island I have. One who doesn’t care if the hotel is an eyesore on the landscape. You won’t have a say in it. You won’t even get to see the plans.”

All the color leached out of Melo’s face. She swallowed, and her voice came out as a weak whisper. “God, Cade. When did you get so…hard?”

“I’m just telling it as it is,” Cade replied.

He softened his tone. “Look, I understand this has all been a shock. It didn’t happen the way I planned. I didn’t foresee our relationship.”

He thought the words,
I didn’t want to hurt you
but didn’t say them. Melo wouldn’t understand if he told her he planned to buy the beach to safeguard it. She’d think he was a fool, or he was trying to reverse her mistake in investing unwisely. She was so stubborn, she’d probably throw up all sorts of obstacles to save her blasted pride. And put the beach into the hands of a hostile, heartless developer in doing so. He needed to persuade her to sell to him, and if it took bending the truth to do so, he would.

He swallowed, and took a deep breath. “I assure you the hotel I build on Paradise Beach will add to the beach’s beauty, rather than take from it. In the process, it will provide the funds the Bellucci Winery needs for its upgrades, and provide for the future. And there’ll be no waiting for the money either. The moment the papers are signed, I’ll arrange payment.”

Melo’s mouth tightened. “I’m taking legal advice. I have a copy of my grandmother’s will, and I intend to fight this sale, all the way.” She turned away, picked up another bunch of flowers, and walked to the next pew.

Cade followed. “It’ll take time to assess the claim. Until you have the results, I have no intention of proceeding with my talks with your father.”

She nodded, clutching the small bunch of flowers in front of her like a wedding bouquet. The evening sun shone through the stained glass, painting her hair and body with brightly colored lights. “I’ve got a lot to do.” She glanced at her watch pointedly. Dismissing him.

He didn’t try to touch her again. Didn’t try to brush his lips across hers. But he did smile, even though she didn’t smile back. Tomorrow was the wedding. And after that he’d talk to her again. Make her see his point of view.

“
Ciao
, Bella.” He caught the flicker of confusion in her eyes as she turned away. She wasn’t as indifferent to him as she pretended, and where a spark remained, a fire could be coaxed back into life.

And he was determined to add fuel to the embers.

****

Looking good is the best revenge. But apparently two could play at that game. Melo glanced up the red carpet in the centre of the polished wooden floor and swallowed hard. Her sister, a vision in white, glided up the aisle on their father’s arm.

Adam stared at Rosa, his love shining unguarded in his eyes, and next to him, Cade watched
her
with equal intensity.

One foot, then the other. How difficult could it be to walk? Melo faced forward, imagining a book balancing on her head. Determined not to drop her gaze under the heat of his. Her eyes flickered sideways watching the eager faces tracking their progress. She forced a tight smile and tried to ignore the tingling in her body as they neared the altar.

She stepped to the side, as her father handed his daughter over to the man who would love her for the rest of her life. And couldn’t resist a quick glance at Cade.

He was still staring. In a way that would leave no one in the church in any doubt as to his interest in her.

She frowned and her mouth tightened at his rudeness.

A dark light of attraction burned in his eyes as his gaze fell to her lips, and she pulled in a shuddering breath as waves of attraction broke over her. He had lied to her, used her, yet her traitorous body somehow missed the message. She wanted his hands on her shoulders. On her back. His mouth on her neck. His big body pressed up against hers. She’d dreamed of standing at the altar with Cade, but this was a cruel parody of her dream. A harsh reality of two people tied together by lust, not love.

The priest was speaking.

Melo clenched her eyes tight to block Cade out, then opened them to focus her gaze on her sister. At least someone was happy today.

As was tradition, she had to walk down the aisle on Cade’s arm.

His body heat suffused through his black Armani tuxedo, and he pressed her captured hand tight against his ribs.

Thank God they didn’t need to talk, and she didn’t have to look at him, instead smiling at the familiar faces that beamed at her from the aisles. The whole day she’d have to play the part of happy bridesmaid, and of course, the best man was part of the whole darned package. But once they got to the end of the aisle, and walked out into the sunshine, she could unfasten her body from his, and put well needed distance between her and the man who’d managed to break her heart.

The bells were ringing as they walked out into the sunshine.

Melo tugged, but Cade didn’t release her. She couldn’t make a scene. Not with so many curious eyes tracking her every move. “Let go,” she hissed from the corner of her mouth.

“Nope.”

Could a man be more irritating?
“Cade, let me go.” She faced him, trying to ignore the deliciously subtle scent of aftershave and Cade, and surreptitiously tugged again.

“If I let go, will you make another run for it?” His eyebrows rose, and his lips curved in a sardonic got-you smile.

“Damn right.”

“Well, there’s your answer.” His arm tightened. “You look…” his eyes swept her head to toe, heat in them scorching, “edible.”

“Edible?” It came out as a squeak. Not the impression she was trying to give at all.

Cade nodded. “Definitely.” His voice lowered to a deep rumble that vibrated through her, setting her alight. “I could eat you all day.”

Melo’s mouth opened and closed like a goldfish. She stared into Cade’s eyes, noting a strange new emotion flickering in their depths. It almost looked like desperation.

Then his lips twitched at the corners and the strange light disappeared.

“Honestly.” She shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.”

“Come on, Melo. I can’t stand you being so angry with me.” His fingers traced a smooth track over her arm, and every traitorous hair stood to attention. “We had problems before in the past, remember? We always were able to overcome them.”

“We had fights when you ate all the sandwiches. This hardly compares.”

“Give me another chance.”

Melo searched his face for any sign of deceit, but there was none. He was so still it was as though he’d stopped breathing. She pulled in a deep breath and straightened her shoulders. “I’m not giving up on my claim. You should be aware of that.”

“I wouldn’t expect you to.” He smiled a tight smile. “In fact, I’ve made an appointment for you to meet with a lawyer tomorrow. I’m having him flown in from Rome; he’s the leading man when it comes to these things.” He mentioned the prestigious firm, and Melo’s heart thumped in her chest. With the family in such trouble financially she couldn’t possibly afford to retain such high profile legal advice.

“I’ll pay, of course.” Cade walked smoothly, pulling her along with him. “While he’s working on verifying your claim, we can spend time together and get over this.”

The bride and groom were climbing into the vintage Rolls Royce, and the crowd pushed forward, breaking Cade’s link on Melo’s arm.

Cade greeted Adam through the wave of people, then walked around to kiss Rosa through the window. Her sister beamed at him, and touched the hair that fell forward as he leaned in.

Everyone had forgiven him. They knew how manipulative Marco had been. Melo did too, if she was honest with herself. She breathed in deep, released the tension from her shoulders and forced a smile. It was Rosa’s big day, and her sister was happy, and that was what Melo wanted after all, wasn’t it?

****

The long top table was covered in white linen and silver. And flowers. At every place setting a small crystal vase of flowers was just above the place setting. Cade wouldn’t have ever thought of putting flowers on a table, after all there were plenty growing outside the open French windows, but the effect was stunning.

Melo had effortlessly known how to make everything perfect. She had a wonderful eye. He pulled the chair for Rosa, helping her to settle into her seat.

Cade looked out into the chatting throngs of brightly colored guests, searching for Adam’s mother. Adam’s parents had arrived late last night, and he, Adam and Rosa had buried their differences, taking them to dinner and making sure they’d settled in and had everything they needed. In the hours forced together the atmosphere had eased, and when they’d finally got back to the hotel he and Adam had spent an hour sitting under the plane trees, drinking and baring their souls. His gaze darted to Melo, smiling at Adam’s father as she sat next to him.

“Sylvia.” He took Adam’s mother’s arm, and guided her to her seat.

“Thank you, dear.”

Her smile lit up the room. She’d always loved Rosa, and by the look of her, was truly loving the day. “Wasn’t it just
perfect
? And everything looks so beautiful. Rosa and her mother have been so busy.”

“And Melo. She organized everything.”

“Did she? I didn’t realize. I thought they must have employed a wedding planner. Everything came off without a hitch, I felt sure a professional must have been involved.”

“She did a great job.” Cade couldn’t see Melo from his position at the table. “She’s always been well organized.”