Chapter 15
The furor came sooner than they expected or were prepared for it.
He insisted that they go out for dinner.
“I can cook us a meal right here.”
“No.”
He came back, shaking his head.
“I want us to get out there.
I want to wine and dine you.
I would suggest us going to Paris or Italy or even Spain, but I know you’re not going to want to leave just now.”
He cupped her face between his hands, his eyes piercing.
“I am putting you on notice darling.
I have money.
Not just what I inherited, but what I earned, and I intend to lavish it on you.”
His fingers tightened when she made to move away.
“You’re the love of my life and soon, you will be my wife.
I know there will have to be adjustments, but I want to travel with you.
Take you places, see you draped in brilliant stones, wearing designer threads.”
Her eyes glittered.
“In other words, you want to show me off, make me so that I fit into your world.”
His eyes flashed.
“No.
I don’t give a damn if you drape yourself in sackcloth.
It’s entirely up to you.”
He bit off an impatient sigh.
“Stop trying to read something in every goddamn thing I say.
I love you and want to take care of you.”
“I don’t need…”
“Taking care of.”
His expression was grim.
‘You’re independent and can do it on your own.
I get that.
But it so happens that I a multi-billionaire and like it or not, I am going to spend money on you.
Crazy amount of money.
I am going to take you places, exotic places.
I have houses all over the world and we will be going to them.
You have been working hard all your life, and I want to show you a good time.
Is anything wrong with that?”
She drew in a ragged breath.
She had thought of the consequences of being with someone like him and was fighting the panic.
She had had enough drama in her life and had specifically come here to get away from all of it.
Now she was with a man whose face was plastered all over the world.
“I love you.”
He was watching the play of expressions over her face and knew her well enough to know what she was thinking.
“That’s handy, because I love you too.”
He waited while she struggled some more.
Biting her lip, she stepped back and paced, wandering back and forth from the large bay window to the bed, where he was sitting.
The power was back on, and the calls had started coming in.
Next week was fully booked.
He had moved out of the suite of rooms he occupied into hers.
“I will handle this.”
She sounded as if she was convincing herself.
“It’s just that people are going to start booking because I am with you.”
He stayed where he was.
“Would you say you had success up to this point? That people booked this place, come to this town because of its reputation for friendliness and charm?”
“Yes. So?”
“And that’s going to change.”
She lifted her shoulders restlessly.
“I want it to be about the place.”
“And not about me.”
She turned to look at him and felt the familiar stirring of her heart and soul.
He was embedded deep, so deep he was etched there.
He had become the most important part of her life, God! He had become her life.
And she was not certain that was a good thing.
Or one she was equipped to handle.
“I don’t know what I am saying.”
“Come here, baby.”
He murmured.
She went to him, not resisting when he drew her down next to him.
“You’re worrying too much.”
“I can’t help it.
I hate change.”
She admitted in such a disgruntled tone that it had him laughing and drawing her into his arms.
“I know.
You’re a tidy sort, wanting everything in its place.”
He stroked her back and the coils of her hair.
“Sometimes change is good.”
“Sometimes they are not.”
Shifting slightly, he tugged her chin up, blue eyes holding hers.
“Answer me this honestly.
Despite the changes, do you regret any of them? Do you regret us?”
“No.”
She answered immediately.
“No.
I love you.” She bit her lip and had heat moving around inside him.
“I really do, and it scares me.
I can admit to it.” She took a deep breath. “Everything is going to change.”
“Yes.”
She eyed him for a moment and blew out a breath.
“Screw that.”
Moving in, she seized his lips and had his brain blowing through the top of his head.
*****
“Relax.”
“People are staring at us.”
He looked around the small, intimate space and brought his gaze back to her.
She looked like a deer caught in the headlights.
And she was adorable, so much so that he wanted to suggest they skipped the meal entirely and go back home where he could ravish her.
The dress she had on was a plum-colored jersey type that molded her curves lovingly.
She had done something to her hair that had it neat at the front and cascading down her back.
Her lips were coated in the same color as her dress, and he was finding it rather difficult to keep from hauling her across the table and taking a bite.
“Not more than usual.”
He was amused at the way she fidgeted with the utensils and her glass of water.
“You know these people.”
“Yes.
Marty and Sue have been here for years and they are nice people.
I think someone took a picture.”
“And?”
Reaching across the table, he took her hands, prying her fingers loose.
“We will be in the papers.”
“Okay.”
She gave him a frustrated look.
“It’s easy for you.”
“Not really.”
Lifting her hands, he kissed her knuckles.
“I happen to like my privacy.” Her tapered brows lifted and made him laugh.
“Especially now that I am having dinner with my favorite girl.”
“I am not a girl.”
She muttered.
She had spoken to William, and he had taken the news about her and Bryce pretty well, which told her that he had not been invested as she thought.
That stung a little.
“Baby, what’s bothering you?”
“My mother.”
“She called?”
“No.
But she will.”
Her fingers curled into his.
They had finished the meal and had decided to skip dessert.
“She always makes me feel inferior.
I was never good enough, never pretty enough.
Always on me to try and lose weight.
Exercise.
Eat right. God!”
She blew out a breath.
“I am a grown ass woman, and I can still hear her nagging in my ear.”
“It never really goes away.”
His quiet voice had her staring at him, and she sighed.
“And you can relate.”
This time, she was the one who made the contact.
Lifting his hand, she placed it on her left cheek.
“I’m sorry.”
“With you, I am whole.
With you, it does not matter.
None of it.”
“I love you.”
His eyes flared.
“I never get tired of hearing it.
I think we’re done here.”
“Are we?”
“Hmm.
I want you more than my next breath.”
She sucked in air.
“In that case, let’s go.”
*****
They made the papers, and the reporters swarmed on the small town en mass.
Splashed on the covers of all the major magazines and the internet, there was no hiding anymore.
The inn was inundated by calls and not to mention the ones from her mother and his parents.
Some enterprising reporter had dug up their connections from the past and was calling it ‘a storybook love story’.
One of Hollywood’s hottest male star had hooked up with a woman from his past, it was major news and people were salivating.
It was even worse than she had anticipated and in a fit of frustration, Zahra took the phone off the hook.
Bryce watched as she went from frustrated to angry and then back again.
She was not saying anything to him, but he knew she was seething.
On top of all of it, his press secretary, assistant, and agent were pressuring him to make a statement.
“If you don’t, they won’t stop bothering you.
And that quaint little town is the perfect place for it.”
Cynthia told him.
His mother had called.
“Tell me what they’re saying isn’t true?”
She demanded in her usual forthright manner.
“And what are they saying?”
He marveled that for the first time in his life, he could have a conversation with her and not feel as if he was drowning.
“You’re with that - that woman.
She’s not your type and she owns a little inn? Is it just a diversion?”
“You’re talking about my future wife and if you and dad want to be invited to the wedding, you’d better play nice or we’re eloping to some obscure chapel in Las Vegas.”
There was a pause, and he assumed she was assimilating the shocking news.
He grinned and wished he could see her face.
Perhaps he should face time her.
“You cannot be serious.”
“As a heart attack.
Get on board, mother, this is happening.”
His good mood fled when he faced the stony silence of his fiancée.
He had commissioned a ring for her and the courier would be here this afternoon.
Things were progressing rapidly.
The inn was full, and people were curiously staring at them.
It did not bother him in the least, but it bothered her. He could see it.
“She’s on a tear.”
Jessica muttered as she hurried past him with the refreshments.
“I can see that.”
He stopped inside the doorway and watched as she slammed the oven door shut with enough force to tear it off the hinges.
And she was pounding dough as if she planned on murdering it.
Taking a deep breath, he decided it was safer to stay where he was.
“I am busy.”
“I can see that.
Anything I can help with?”
“You can tell your damn staff to get these people out of my hair.
I am sick to death of reporters asking me how we ended up together.”
Her dark eyes flashed.
Pulling out drawers, she slammed them shut before finding what she was looking for.
“We’re going to have to make a statement.”
He stifled a sigh as she slid him a look that could melt stone.
“Baby, it’s the only way…”
“You make the damn statement and tell them anything.
I am not leaving this inn until they get tired and go away.”
He wished he did not have to tell her the rest.
“My parents are arriving tomorrow.”
That stopped her and for a few seconds, he wondered if she was going to throw the knife she was holding.
“I see.”
Putting it down carefully, she coated the dough with honey and cinnamon and slid it into the oven.
He did not trust the switch from fury to calm.
But he might as well get everything out at the same time.
“Your mother is also coming.”
He called himself a coward, for taking a step back.
He was a man who mostly did action flicks and not all of the stunts were by stunt doubles.
He was experienced in the art of fighting, street and otherwise, but he felt a shimmer of fear as she turned to face him.
“You spoke to my mother? When?”
His palms were sweating.
“Just now.
She was trying to reach you.”
He gestured to her phone on the countertop.
“You were not picking up.”
“You invited her here, along with your parents without consulting me?”
“Baby…”
“Don’t!”
She cut him off sharply.
“You did this.
You have turned my life upside down and I told you that this was too much.” Whirling towards the fridge, she grabbed a bottle of wine and to his amazement, wrenched the cork off and guzzled as if it was water.
“Get out of my kitchen!”
“Zahra…”
“I don’t want to see you until I have calmed down.”
Realizing it was useless to argue, he turned on his heels and left.
“Would you like something sent to your room?”
Jessica’s sympathetic look had his anger burning.
“No, I am going for a ride.”
Zahra looked up when Jessica came into the kitchen and put the tray down.
“Don’t start.”
“You knew what you were getting into.”
“I never thought it would be so much.
My privacy is gone.
I have reporters crawling up my ass.”
The older woman grinned at the image.
“I sent a couple of them packing just a few minutes ago.”
Zahra sighed and removed her apron.
“It’s not your job.”
“Are you kidding me? I love the excitement and very soon they will find something else to go on to.”
She touched Zahra’s arm briefly.
“This is a happy time for the both of you.
Don’t allow anything or anyone to spoil it.”
“My mother and his parents are coming.”
Even saying it caused dread to settle in her stomach.
“Stand together and find a way to deal with all of it.
I have seen the two of you together and it’s clear as day that you love each other.”
She sighed and rubbed her fingers over her temple.
“Where is he?”
“Gone for a drive.”
*****
He took the scenic route and mused that all of it was scenic.
Like a picture-perfect Norman Rockwell painting.
Lights were beaming at windows, and the breeze was swaying the leaves of the trees.
He passed open taverns and the sounds of laughter, free and unforced drifting out.
Several reporters asked him if this was where he was going to settle, and he had not responded.
But he was going to settle wherever she wanted to.
It was that simple.
He had let the top down and relished the cold wind biting through his clothing.
She was mad and he could not blame her.
She was not accustomed to all of this publicity, the invasion of her privacy and what they were saying in the magazines and on the internet.
They were puzzled at ‘his choice’ as they called it.
Could not see out of all the beautiful women he had been with, why had chosen someone like her.
He smiled grimly, realizing that they would never get it, but he did not give a damn.
He loved her so much that he wakes up in a cold sweat each morning, wondering if she was going to change her mind.
She was his soul mate, as corny as that sounded.
His life was nothing without her and he would give up his career to be with her.
Damn her for making him so bloody angry.
They were going to have it out once and for all.
And she was going to be by his side when they make that statement.
*****
She could clearly see him through the transparent glass of her shower and had to admit that the view was amazing.
He had come upstairs without checking in with her.
After serving dessert, she realized he was not coming back down and had left the cleaning up to Jessica and her two other staff.
Heat settled and climbed steadily as she continued to stare at him.
His muscles bunched and flexed as he slapped his palms on the blue-green tiles and ducked his head under the spray.
He had a well-toned body and was tanned all over.
Her eyes drifted over the tapered back to the taut buttocks and powerful legs covered with dense dark hairs.
He was a magnificent creature, and he was all hers.
She had the sudden urge to bite him all over.
Doing the next best thing, she stripped naked and stepped in behind him.
“Let me.”
She saw when he stiffened, but did not turn around as she took the sponge and started soaping his back.
He remained silent, fighting the instant response to her touch.
“I was mad.”
He grunted, fingers curling into fists.
Her hands slipped around his front.
His fingers dug into his palms as she played the sponge over his abs and drifted lower.
“I know I went off earlier, but I was just venting.”
Her hands drifted lower, and he felt as if his head was about to burst.
“But I am over it now.”
“Is that right?”
His voice was rusty as if something was lodged in his throat.
“Yes.”
She dipped lower and hummed inside her throat as she felt his response.
“And I am asking for your forgiveness.
It seems I don’t have to ask.”
“Is that so?”
He was repeating himself, but his mind was blown to bits.
“Hmm.”
Dropping the sponge, she used her very capable hands that had the power to drive him completely insane.
When he could not take it anymore, he turned abruptly and hauled her against him, his lips crushing on hers hotly.
*****
They had the meeting in the elegant little green and gold salon just next to the library.
Zahra had had enough time to get herself settled before they came and last night.
Bryce had assured her that he was right there with her.
She had dressed for the part, deciding on a brand-new aquamarine sweater that was not too tight and paired it with a tan dress pants.
Her hair was partially tamed and twisted into a heavy knot at the nape of her neck.
Gold earrings dangled at her lobes, and she was wearing the exquisite pearl and sapphire engagement ring, Bryce had given her to seal their engagement.
His hand was draped around her shoulders and there was a combative gleam in his eyes.
Blaine and Maxine Whitlock were seated on a tan leather sofa next to the window.
Catherine, wearing a stunning mint green silk pants suit, completely unsuitable for the occasion was perched on a deep cushioned sofa next to the fireplace.
“So, it’s true then.”
Maxine balanced the cup and saucer in her elegant hands, blue eyes taking in the closeness of the couple seated across from them.
“You’re getting married.”
“We are, yes.”
Bryce drew her closer to him and pressed a kiss on her temple.
“December.”
She turned her head to give him a swift glance that had him lifting his brows.
“I don’t see any reason to wait.”
“Why the rush?”
Blaine asked icily, his eyes drifting to her stomach.
“Unless there’s a reason for the haste.”
His son gave him a mild look and shook his head.
“She’s not pregnant, yet.
But we want to get the legalities out of the way.”
Zahra nudged his ribs.
“Mr.
& Mrs.
Whitlock, I know this comes as a surprise…”
“Try shock.”
Holding onto her temper, Zahra gave the woman a level stare.
“Bryce and I are in love…”
“You barely know each other.”
“I don’t see what that has to do with anything.”
Catherine was smiling charmingly.
“We’re going to be a family.
I think that’s wonderful.”
“You would.”
Blaine swung his cold gaze towards her.
“Just don’t think that this gives you leave to ask for any favors.”
“How dare…”
“Enough.”
Bryce’s voice was low but had the power to silence all of them.
“We did you all the courtesy of telling you, but if you don’t want to be at the wedding, then so be it.” He sent his parents an icy look.
“We’re both adults and do not need your approval.
We would love your blessing, but if that’s not forthcoming, we can certainly live without it.
Another thing…”
he held their gaze with his unflinching one, “if I hear one negative word about the woman I am in love with, all bets are off.
Is that understood?”
“You’re making a damn mistake,”
his father muttered.
“Then it’s mine to make, isn’t it? Play nice or we do this wedding without you.”
“I cannot believe you’re really doing this.”
Maxine put away her cup and saucer with a clatter.
“You’re my son and we just want what’s best for you.”
“Since bloody when? All my life you’ve never been there for me.
I was left on my own since I can remember.”
He took a deep breath.
“This is not the time to air old grievances.” Using his free hand, he linked his fingers with Zahra’s.
“I am in love with this wonderful and amazing woman right here.
For the first time in my life, I am happy, and nothing is going to change that. Now,”
he rose, “this darling woman of mine prepared rooms for you even at the short notice.
If you’re ready, we can show you to them or if you like we can take a walk outside and you see for yourself why this is called a place of paradise.”