Chapter 14
He wore her down. He liked to think that he had finally gotten under her defenses, the many doubts and fears as well as the insecurities and got her to agree to start seeing him socially. The first thing they did was run it by their daughter.
Zoe had lots of questions, of course, but she was so excited that she now had a mom and a dad, she was ready to burst and tell everyone at school, starting with her best friend Melissa.
As soon as Cade got the go ahead, he set things in motion. He took her to meet his family.
"I don't think it's time--"
"As soon as we start going out together, it's going to be all out there. I would not want them to find out second hand. I already met your family." He pointed out in a reasonable tone.
He was so reasonable and calm about everything, taking over. She was not used to that. She had become accustomed to running her own life.
But he was determined to prove to her that he had changed, that he wanted her in his life.
He showered her with attention, popping up at the bookstore just to say hi and taking her sandwiches, the loaded subs she told him she liked.
He sent her flowers, her favorites, daisies and daffodils, and a few red roses in the mix.
He was courting her and everyone knew it. They started to call him 'her gorgeous young man'. He spent several minutes charming an old wealthy widow into purchasing an entire first edition of Shakespearean work.
He was attentive to Zoe, who loved having 'her daddy' around. He did not miss a recital or a meeting at the school. He was firmly worming himself into the fabric of their lives.
She refused to have him staying the night.
"I want to set a good example for Zoe." She told him firmly.
"So, come to my place."
"You live with your parents." She pointed out.
"My suite is private and we have to find a middle ground."
So, she was spending nights with him. He would come over and read to his daughter and get her dressed and ready for bed. One night, she walked in on them playing Scrabble and making a big deal out of it.
They both had a penchant for languages and loved reading. Zoe no longer wanted her mother to read to her every night. She would give her grandparents a couple nights, but she mostly wanted her daddy.
One night, Abby stood just inside Zoe's doorway and stared at the two heads bent together as they did their coloring. When they both looked up, she felt her heart banging against her ribs. They both looked so alike, that it was uncanny.
Zoe was doted on by his family. They adored her.
As soon as they started going out, their first date was to a gallery opening at one of Jackson Colby's galleries, the press went wild. The next day, their pictures were in the papers. The story of their affair five years ago came out and the fact that they had a child together.
At first Abby was upset about it.
"They're going to hound Zoe. That's what I was running from."
"I'll make sure she's protected."
That had not assured her, in fact it only made her aware that Zoe was the daughter of a multi-billionaire and had potentially become a target.
"I also want her to have my name."
"This is happening too quickly." He had dropped by her office with a sandwich for her and to firm up a date for Friday. It was difficult to believe that they were now a couple.
They both had demanding careers and penciling in their daughter was another aspect. She felt as if she was running on fumes.
"What are you saying, Abigail?" It always gave her a jolt to hear her name in his deep voice. He was the only one who did not call her by the shortened version.
"I'm scared." she admitted.
"Of me?"
"Of this coming to an end and I'll have to deal with it all by myself."
Anger propelled him forward. Gripping her arms, he hauled her out of the chair.
"What the hell do I have to do to prove myself to you?" he shook her slightly. "I need you to believe that I am utterly and completely in love with you."
"I'm trying." She closed her eyes briefly and walked into his arms.
He held her, expression bleak. She still had not said the words, and he was trying to tell himself it didn't matter and he could wait. December had bled into January, the bitter cold increasing.
He was hoping she would accept him enough for him to propose. And he was impatient to be with her and his daughter. He was getting tired of running from one place to the other.
He wanted them with him.
Forcing a smile to his lips, he eased her back to cover her mouth with his.
"Give me something. I want Zoe to have my name."
"All right." She conceded. "It's only fair, seeing as you're her dad." Her hand went to his cheek, expression dreamy.
She did love him but had told Jillian she was afraid to commit.
"I'm scared. What I felt for him that night is nothing compared to what I feel for him now. He could break me into pieces if he left."
"I've seen the way that man is around you and Zoe, honey, and can guarantee he's not going anywhere."
"About tonight."
His narrowed eyes had her shaking her head.
"I'm not trying to wiggle my way out of going to dinner. It's just that we had some inventory in today and a new theme I'm trying to fine tune." She pressed her lips on his. "How about we have dinner here?"
His expression lightened.
"That's actually a very good idea. I will finish up at the publishing house and swing by to tuck Zoe in before coming here."
She leaned into him, inhaling his expensive scent. "I love that you're in her life."
He rubbed a hand up and down her back. "And I'm staying. Nothing short of death could make me leave."
Lifting her head, she studied his face. "I'm holding you to it." The insistent ringing of her phone had her reaching for the instrument.
He loved watching her expression change to the brisk take-charge one that had her clipping orders to whoever she was talking to. It was strangely arousing. He enjoyed watching her work and was proud of her. She was innovative and always thinking up ways to bring another element to the business.
"I'm sorry. Crisis with a shipment." She kissed him long and deep and had his juices flowing.
"Christ!" He whispered against her mouth. "Now you're making it harder to walk out of here."
"Later." Her mahogany eyes promised things that had heat flowing through his body.
"I'll hold you to it." Planting a rough kiss on her lips, he put her away.
*****
"Would you like some hot chocolate?"
He had come back downstairs after tucking his daughter in.
He had also weakened by reading her two stories instead of the required one.
She, like all females, especially the very beautiful ones, knew how to twist people around their little fingers.
He decided wryly that his daughter had learned early.
Just managing not to glance at his watch, he nodded and followed Abigail's mother inside the pristine kitchen with its acre of cheerful green and blue counter.
"Zoe as well as Abby loves my hot chocolate." She glanced up as he took his seat around the counter, objectively noticing the lock of hair on his forehead and the way the teal blue of his sweater brought out the blue of his eyes.
His beauty troubled her. As well as his reputation in the past. He was spending time with both of her babies and the last thing she wanted was to see them hurt.
"The secret is in the type of milk and of course the cinnamon." She selected two thick mugs and poured. "My granddaughter inveigled you to read her another story."
He looked so charmingly sheepish, she felt her heart melting as she handed him the cup.
"She knows how to get around me." He admitted. Picking up the cup, he blew away steam and sipped, eyes widening. "This is the best hot chocolate I ever tasted, and I've been around the world."
She beamed at him and sat.
"I don't want to start with the usual."
One thick brow lifted as he studied her face. Abigail looked so much like her that it was uncanny. "You want to know my intentions toward your daughter."
Arlene circled her finger around the rim of the cup. "She was hurt by you."
He tried not to wince at that. "Yes."
"I would hate to see that repeated. It's not only her, but also Zoe as well."
His mouth tightened and he wanted to tell her that it was between him and Abigail but held his tongue. "I can assure you that there won't be a repeat. I have no intention of hurting either of them. I happen to be in love with your daughter, and my little girl means the world to me."
Arlene nodded. "Did she tell you she almost died giving birth?"
His fingers tightened around the mug, and he felt the shame and guilt coursing through him.
"She mentioned it but didn't elaborate. Can you tell me what happened?" he asked quietly.
Arlene hesitated briefly, wondering if she should allow her daughter to have this conversation.
"She went into labor three weeks before her due date. She had started working at the bookstore by then and was determined to show us that even though she had gotten pregnant and in her words had disappointed us, she was going to follow her dreams. It didn't matter what we said to her."
A smile curved Arlene's lips. "She was stubborn. She arrived before everyone and stayed well after everyone had left. She wanted to know everything about the business and had some ideas she wanted to implement. She worked tirelessly.
We saw to it that she ate right and got to her doctor's appointments of course, but she would not slow down." She paused, memories assailing her. "It was early spring and the night before we had been surprised by a light snow storm.
As usual, she had stayed late at the bookstore trying to rush through a project she'd started. She slipped on a patch of ice out in the parking lot. And stayed there for almost half an hour. She managed to crawl toward her purse and took out her phone to dial 911."
Cade's beverage had gone lukewarm, his insides like ice as he stared at the woman across from him.
"She was alone."