Chapter Fifteen
Cash
I COULDN’T TAKE MY EYES off Sabrina as she stepped onto the platform in the middle of her parents’ great room, wearing her bridesmaid gown. The seamstress had brought in the platform specifically for the occasion. This wedding had to be costing a fortune. Callie fussed over her daughter, making Sabrina smile as she turned for her mom like she was once again a little girl. She was anything but a girl now. She was a vision in dark-green silk that wrapped around every curve of her body, showing off the undeniable fact she was all woman. Lexi had made an excellent choice going with sleeveless bridesmaids’ gowns. Sabrina’s smooth skin and the straight line of her collarbone made me want to take her in my arms and kiss every inch of her. Not that she would let me. I was just glad for what she had allowed me. Kissing her again was a privilege I didn’t deserve, yet I relished every touch, knowing it would all end too soon.
“I used to have a perky butt like that.” Nana Rose smacked my backside, interrupting the sweet torture that was Sabrina.
I turned to face the cantankerous old woman with a mischievous grin who had been my constant companion since we’d arrived. “I’m sure it was lovely.”
“You have no idea.” She nudged me with her hip.
I laughed at her spunk.
“I see my granddaughter has decided to give you another chance. It makes me wonder what you will do with it?” she asked mysteriously, as if she knew something she shouldn’t.
“I plan to cherish it.” It was true. Unfortunately, it would be short lived, and Sabrina would probably hate me more than she already did when I disappeared again.
“Make sure you do. Sabrina has never been one to give her heart away carelessly—she’s always been a sensible girl. Not like this one over here.” She pointed at Lexi, who was laughing loudly with a group of her friends near the two-story stone fireplace in the middle of the floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a picturesque view of the lake. The Belles’ house was everything Sabrina had painted it to be: inviting and luxurious without being ostentatious. It was much like Sabrina in that way.
I knew Sabrina’s sensibility, which no doubt made this situation even harder for her. If only her sister had Sabrina’s sense, I wouldn’t be here. Selfishly, I was grateful fate had placed me in Sabrina’s path again, even though I hated the danger she was in. “Perhaps Lexi will grow,” I offered.
Nana Rose cackled. “Honey, I love that child, but she always puts the cart in front of the horse, if you know what I mean.”
I got the drift. Lexi wasn’t the smartest girl, obviously. Not to say Izan hadn’t done his best to fool her, but maybe he was truly in love with Lexi. After all, she was beautiful and young, and she probably stroked his ego. Unfortunately, a man like Izan loved himself more than anyone. Sabrina probably thought the same of me, but little did she know I loathed myself as much as she did.
“Lucky for Lexi, Sabrina has always been there to right the cart,” Nana Rose added.
She had no idea how fortunate Lexi was and how much Sabrina was “righting” the cart. “She’s very lucky to have Sabrina in her life. We all are.”
Nana Rose eyed me carefully. “You best always remember that. And if you ever leave her again, don’t come back. Ya hear?”
“Yes, ma’am,” I said loud and clear. I would never put Sabrina through this again.
“I’m glad we’re on the same page. Now get your tux on. I can’t wait to see you in it.”
I chuckled at her, but it was a good reminder that Callie had invited me to the dress fitting not to ogle her daughter but to be fitted for my groomsman tux. Hopefully it would be the first and last time I had to wear it. But I feared that with the wedding only five days away, I was running out of time to find those diamonds.
Sabrina stepped off the platform after the seamstress had deemed her dress a perfect fit. She wasn’t wrong. Playing the part of girlfriend, Sabrina made her way to me.
I used the opportunity to take her hand and spin her around, admiring her in the dress. “You’re stunning.”
She blushed but smiled. “Thank you.”
“Go get your man dressed. Nana needs a little eye candy this morning.”
“Nana,” Sabrina faux scolded.
“What? I’m still alive and have eyes. Now go on.”
Sabrina shook her head at Nana’s antics. “Follow me, Cash.”
Don’t mind if I do. Did she ever look good. It made me regret never taking her anywhere in Bordeaux that required her to wear an evening gown.
Sabrina led me down a hall, her heels clicking against the wood floor.
I paused to look at some of the family photos lining the walls. Family photos seemed like such a novel concept to me, never having had a family to take pictures with. “How old were you here?” I pointed at a picture of Sabrina proudly displaying a blue ribbon at what looked like a county fair.
“Twelve.” She smiled. “Look at those braces. My teeth needed a lot of work.”
Her orthodontist had done an excellent job, based on her now-dazzling smile.
“It was my first blue ribbon. I made a peach crumble Bundt cake that I was told made one of the judges cry for being so overcome by happiness.”
“I have no doubt.” I had been the recipient of her desserts, and though they were amazing—as was she—I learned very early in my life there was no use in crying. Crying only meant a harsher punishment. I took my time looking at more photos of the happy family. They showcased beach vacations, graduations, and holidays. I got lost in them, and for the first time in years, a sense of loss washed over me. When I was a child, I used to look at other kids at school and wish for what they had, but as I grew older, I convinced myself families were nothing but people faking love for each other. The entire concept was based on a lie, as far as I was concerned. But looking at the photos on the wall and watching Sabrina sacrifice for her sister put a large crack in my theory. A theory I was too afraid to test out—that families weren’t just a charade.
Sabrina tilted her head. “Is this hard for you?” She was maddeningly intuitive. “I mean, I can’t imagine growing up without a family. You never talked about it much. You know, when we were together, or whatever we were,” she whispered.
“We were together.”
“Hmm.” She seemed to disagree.
“Sabrina, I told you earlier that those two months were real. I meant that.”
“Okay. We should get you changed,” she said, flustered. “I wouldn’t want to deprive Nana of checking you out and possibly groping you.”
I chuckled, thankful for the change of subject. The last thing I needed was to open the door to my childhood. My feelings for Sabrina were already clouding my judgment.
Izan unexpectedly came out of one of the bedroom doors down the hall. He looked as surprised to see us as we were to see him.
Sabrina took my hand. I wasn’t sure if she was playing her part or if his presence just scared her. Either way, I gladly interlaced my fingers with hers.
“Soren,” Sabrina said breathily. “Hello.”
Izan’s eyes fixed on our clasped hands. “You’re together again?” he questioned.
“Yes,” Sabrina said convincingly.
I kissed the top of her head to reinforce her declaration.
Izan’s brow creased, as if this didn’t please him. How odd.
Thankfully, Sabrina did exactly the right thing. “Listen, I feel like we got off on the wrong foot. It’s just that I worry about my baby sister. She’s dated the biggest losers over the years, so I’m automatically suspicious of anyone she brings home. And I wasn’t expecting this guy to be here.” She patted my arm. “So, I think I came off a little coldly. I apologize. But I can see you and my sister are happy and in love, and Cash and I would really love to get to know you better. I mean, we are all going to be family, after all.”
“You two are getting married?” he said in his phony accent.
“No,” Sabrina nervously laughed. “I was speaking hypothetically.”
“How about horseback riding?” I tossed out, trying to help Sabrina.
“Yes. Yes,” Sabrina agreed. “Lexi loves to ride. Do you?” Sabrina asked Izan.
“Lexi loves what?” Lexi’s voice carried down the hall.
We all turned to see her prancing toward Izan.
“I said you love to ride horses,” Sabrina informed her, “because we were just wondering if you and Soren would like to go on a double date with us. Maybe horseback riding with s’mores by a campfire.”
Lexi sidled up to Izan, snuggling right into him. He put a protective arm around her, eyeing us as if we were the enemy here.
Lexi grinned at us. “I knew you two would get back together, but I still need the underwear for proof you completed the dare.”
“Why? Do want to frame them?” Sabrina deadpanned.
“Uh, no.” Lexi sounded offended.
“So do you want to go horseback riding with us?” Sabrina was trying not to sound impatient.
“Why do you want to go on a date with us?” Lexi sounded suspicious. “You’ve never wanted to do anything like that with me before.”
The way Izan’s jaw twitched made me nervous. Was he onto us?
“Well, last night you got me thinking that maybe I’m not as fun as I should be, and I’m realizing we aren’t as close as I would like us to be. I love you, Lexi,” Sabrina said with meaning. She was pure genius.
Izan seemed to relax.
Lexi went doe eyed and ran to her big sister, throwing her arms around her. “I love you too. Oh my gosh, yes, we would love to go on a double date with you. Should we do it tonight?”
“Tonight would be great.” Sabrina held her sister extra tight.
That left Izan and me to stare uncomfortably at each other and execute the bro-nod thing.
“Mi amor,” Izan’s Spanish accent bled through his words. “We are going to be late picking up your ring.”
“Don’t you just love the way he says mi amor?” Lexi gushed. “Soren is so well traveled. And guess what?”
“What?” Sabrina faked her anticipation well.
“We had to get my ring resized, and as a surprise, Soren had a special diamond cut just for me to replace the one I originally picked out. It’s huuuge,” she exaggerated.
“Really?” Sabrina pressed her lips together. “I can’t wait to see it.”
“I can’t wait to show you.” Lexi kissed Sabrina’s cheek. “We’ll see you later. I’ll call the stables to set everything up.”
“Perfect. I look forward to it,” Sabrina said.
Together, Sabrina and I watched them go.
As soon as they rounded the corner, Sabrina wrapped her arms around my neck, surprising me. She was really getting into playing my girlfriend—I liked it. I leaned in to kiss her, but she turned her cheek and whispered in my ear, “Nice try.”
That’s what I thought.
“I just don’t want anyone to hear me.” Her warm breath tickled my ear, driving me mad.
It was a pipe dream, but I hoped she would nip my earlobe like she used to before she would trail butterfly kisses down my neck.
“Do you think the diamond he used for Lexi’s ring is from, you know?”
Taking advantage of the situation, I brushed her silky hair back, letting my fingers get lost in her luxurious strands. Gripping the back of her head, I gently commanded it, giving my lips ample freedom to kiss their way across her creamy cheek to her ear, where I could respond quietly.
The way she gasped and tightened her hold on my neck told me she wasn’t immune to my touch.
Pleased with her response, I whispered, “Possibly. He would have to find a lapidarist. India, China, New York, or Amsterdam would be the most likely places to find one. But reputable lapidarists are cautious. They don’t want to be associated with conflict diamonds. Granted, anyone he’s dealing with probably isn’t an upstanding citizen of any nation. This could give us a good lead to go on. I’ll have my people look into it.”
“What kind of people is that?”
“People like me—shadows and ghosts.”
She leaned away and peered into my eyes. “Are you trying to make me believe in ghosts?”
“No. Just me.”