Two
Fray Cassel
“So, everything’s set for tonight?” I asked my brother, Luke, for the third time in an hour.
“Jesus, Fray!” Luke ran his hand through his hair and sighed. “Yes. Everything’s set. Your trap has been sprung on this poor, unsuspecting girl, okay?”
“It’s not a trap,” I argued. “It’s romantic.”
“It’s creepy.”
“Shut your face.” I rolled my eyes at him. “An all-expenses-paid, luxury cruise is not creepy.”
I mean, I’d had to give the security company she works for a huge recommendation in order to bring them in on my plan, but they were highly regarded and on the list of candidates for the new hotel project anyway, so it was good. I’d get the girl and network for my family’s company. That wasn’t creepy.
“It is when it’s a front to get a girl to fall in love with you.” Luke leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I still don’t get what’s up with you and this chick.”
“I don’t know how else to explain it to you,” I said. “The minute I saw her, I knew we were meant to be together. My entire future played out in front of me, and she was there every step of the way. Love at first sight and all that. It was fate that took us to that club that night.”
“It was happy hour that took us to that club that night,” he reminded me. “And she was at an engagement party for a girl who didn’t seem all that enthused to be getting married.”
“Huh,” I said. “I didn’t notice anyone but Emerson.”
“I remember.”
Luke was right; it had been the beer special that had gotten us to decide on Bradford’s that night. We’d just closed a massive deal to win the construction of a new hotel, and my brothers and I were out to celebrate. Our contracting firm was one of the best in the state, but a lot of developers had been pulling in talent from outside the area, so we’d been a little nervous about this one.
But it had all been for nothing. The owner had loved that we’re a family-run business, and our portfolio was impeccable. So we’d closed with signatures and handshakes, then all five of us Cassel men had taken to the club to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
We hadn’t been inside Bradford’s for more than five minutes when I’d seen Emerson. My gaze had been drawn to her like a magnet, and I was a goner. Her dark, sable locks had moved in time with the sway of her hips to the music. She was laughing at something someone had said to her, and the curve of her lips instantly made my pants uncomfortably tight across my crotch.
I’d walked directly to her. I’d had no clue what I’d say, but I’d known without a doubt I had to talk to her. I had to know the name I’d someday yell out in ecstasy.
She’d seen me approaching, and I’d taken it as a good sign when she’d stood her ground, waiting for me, interest akin to mine lighting her eyes. Had she walked off the dance floor, I wasn’t sure if I would have followed her. I didn’t want to come across predatory.
But I’d known she was mine, so maybe, I would have pursued.
“Hi,” she said, turning that radiant smile up at me.
“Hi.” I held out my hand. “Fraser Cassel.”
“Emerson Blake.” Lightning arced through me as she slid her palm against mine.
“Can I get you a drink?” I asked.
“Have one.” She held up her glass.
“Right.” I carded my fingers through my hair and looked around. I spotted a hallway that obviously contained VIP rooms, and an idea hatched. “My brothers and I have a lounge.” I pointed toward the hallway. “Would you like to join us for some champagne?”
“Champagne?” she laughed. “Are you celebrating, or are you really that smooth?”
“Oh, we’re celebrating.” I pulled out my phone and shot an urgent text to my brother, Bennett, telling him to get us one of those rooms immediately. “Our firm closed a big deal today.”
“That’s nice,” she said. “Well, I’m here with my friends, so I really should get back to them. But thank you for the offer.”
My heart pounded. I couldn’t let her escape.
“Well, obviously, they’re invited,” I said quickly. “I wouldn’t dream of asking you to accompany me alone to a roomful of strange men.”
“So you agree you’re strange?” she asked. Her voice held a note of teasing.
“Not me,” I explained. “My brothers, though? Yeah. They’re all weird. Best to bring your friends along.”
“One drink,” she warned. “We have tickets to a show soon, and we fly out in the morning.”
“Of course,” I agreed.
Emerson corralled her four friends, and the ten of us made our way to the room Bennett had procured. Looking back, it had been crazy to drop five thousand dollars to get a few more minutes with Emerson, but she was worth it. I would have paid ten times that amount. Or more.
I’d been disappointed when she’d stuck to the one drink agreement, though. All I’d been able to learn about her was that she lived in Chicago and had a quick and wicked sense of humor.
The rest of her friends had been nice, and they’d all seemed to get on with my brothers, but that was about all I’d noticed in regard to them. My attention had been glued to Emerson. And when she’d left, she’d taken a piece of my heart with her.
Now, I was about to get hers in return.
“So she accepted the cruise offer,” I said, running back through my ingenious plan with Luke. “Which is good. When I started setting this up, I hadn’t realized it would be over Christmas. That could have been a disaster. She’ll be assigned to the suite, which will be decorated for the holiday and have a big Christmas tree in it. Once I’m sure she’s settled, I’ll show up and let her know the accommodations are actually for two. For us. She’ll find it incredibly endearing that I’ve tracked her down, she’ll fall into my arms, then into my bed, and we’ll live happily ever after. And on Christmas morning, she’ll wake up to tons of gifts under the tree, including one small, very special velvet box.”
“Boy, you’ve thought this all out, haven’t you?” Luke asked, his tone obviously amused. “You’re like Father Christmas. Or stalker boyfriend.”
“I’m not a stalker,” I scoffed. “I told you. It’s terribly romantic.”
“If you say so, but okay, fine. Let’s say it’s romantic. What are you gonna do if she doesn’t remember you?”
“We’re going to get married,” I said. “How could she forget me?”
“Who are you and what did you do with my shark of a brother who strikes fear into competitors?”
“Right here.”
“Um,” he muttered, eyeing me in disbelief. “Well… You are the idiot who paid five grand to spend ten minutes in a room with her. That’s probably pretty hard to forget. I still don’t get what’s gotten into you.”
I glared at him. “Shut up. Look, there’s no way she forgot me. I’m telling you, when our eyes met across that dance floor, we both knew we were destined to be. It was fate.”
“Whatever you say,” Luke acquiesced, still sounding as he he might sneak me into the psych ward. He wasn’t wrong, though. This was out of character for me, but he’d understand when he met his woman, just like all the stories we’d been told about our older relatives. One look and…lightning.
“Okay, the ship departs tonight at three p.m.,” he sighed. “The jet’s ready, so you should probably get going, so you can get to JFK. You know Midtown traffic will be a bitch.”
I opened my credenza drawer and pulled out the engagement ring I’d purchased the day after that night at Bradford’s . Slipping it into my pocket, I grabbed my briefcase and stepped around the desk.
“My bags are on the plane?” I asked. My brother rolled his eyes, probably annoyed I’d ask him and not my assistant.
Luke stood, rather than giving me shit, and intercepted me on the way to the door. He straightened my tie while he shook his head. “Yes, everything is set, your staff took care of it hours ago. Though I still have no clue why you had the crew contact me, instead of you.”
“I was in a last minute meeting with Brothers Construction about the solar installation for the Grammer and Brixton condos.”
He shook his head. ”You’re a crazy person. We have people for that.”
“I’m in love, man,” I replied, rather than address my perceived insanity. My gaze pleaded with him to empathize with my plight. “You’ll understand it someday. When you meet your one , you just know. Emerson is it for me. I knew it in a moment.”
“Well, I hope you can convince her of that,” Luke said.
“Christmas miracles happen, Luke,” I told him. “I’ll call you from the ship to check in on things.” I wasn’t exactly running off to woo my woman at an optimal time, but in our business an optimal time didn’t exist.
“Yeah, yeah. That’s the least of what you need to worry about.” He slapped me on the back. “I’ve got things covered. Go get her, champ.”
* * * *
I made it to the ship with plenty of time to spare, which was both good and bad. I definitely didn’t want Emerson to see me until we were already out to sea. Not that I was worried she’d be unhappy about my arrival. But I figured it would be more romantic to have the ocean on all sides while we enjoyed champagne on the balcony and celebrated our good fortune to be reunited.
At least, that was the story I was sticking to. In all honesty, part of me was nervous she’d be angry I’d foisted this surprise on her. For that the reason, I’d insisted on dual beds in the room. I wasn’t interested in forcing her into bed with me, to sleep or for any other reason. That wasn’t how I operated.
I’d earn her trust first. Which could be tricky. I’d been a little hasty in the details of the trip, so the subterfuge might work against me at first. But I was convinced the ends justified the means in this case. She’d see reason once she realized she was in love with me, too.
My future on my mind, I killed time at one of the bars, nursing a scotch to calm my nerves. Once the noise level from the on-deck bon voyage party subsided and people started wandering inside again, I figured it was my chance to reveal my presence and my plan to Emerson.
My bags had already been taken to the room, so if Emerson had done any exploring, it was possible she was already aware something was amiss. My heart pounded as I made my way toward the door to our cabin. I couldn’t hear anything on the other side, so I steeled myself, pressed the keycard to the reader, and when the lock disengaged, I pushed open the door.
Emerson stood in front of the flowers I’d sent. The Christmas tree was behind her, positioned right in front of the wall of windows facing the ocean. The sight took my breath away. I couldn’t have arranged a more perfect reunion than the scene before me.
“Emerson,” I said, meeting her stunned gaze.
“Fraser?” Her chest heaved as she visibly struggled to catch her breath. “What the hell are you doing in my room?”