Both men looked at her, waiting for an answer. She had to think of something fast.
4
THE TENSION FAIRLY crackled in the room, but the creator of the electrical storm merely leant against the doorframe, casual as you like.
“You heard the man,” Cassidy directed this to Anton, choosing a verbal detour to buy time.
Anton replied with a blasé, “Craig, if you don’t mind, I’d like a private meeting with my fiancée.”
Like it was the most normal thing in the world to say. He’d conveniently bypassed making a decent proposal, presenting it to her father as a fait accompli. This must be one of those out-of-body experiences she’d heard about. She should be shouting the rafters down in protest, yet her breath remained steady, her tongue harnessed. If ever someone wanted a definition of hell, this would have to come pretty close.
For his part, Craig remained standing behind the desk, “You’re after my blessing?”
“I don’t need it,” Anton announced.
“Good, because you won’t get it.” Her father said. “I know what you’re getting at, trying to hustle your way into a takeover of my hotels, but it won’t work.”
“It already has.” His green eyes glistened with success.
Something snapped in Cassidy’s brain, “If you two are finished with your pissing contest, we have work to do.”
Finally Anton’s composure cracked, and his face split in a smile. Only for a moment, then he sauntered in and took a seat on the sofa next to her, pulling the coffee table in close to set down his laptop. “That’s why I’m here. Cassie and I need to go through the reports. You can see yourself out.” The last part was directed as her father, although he didn’t look over towards him.
Anton didn’t value his life!
And don’t think I’ve overlooked you calling me Cassie either.
Craig fairly bristled and his neck turned red. The skin on his face reminded her of a rumbling volcano, but to his credit he held his temper in check. “She brought me here to see the reports. To show me where she went wrong.”
If he’d slapped her it couldn’t have hurt more. “Toby –” She started.
“– Did a great job.” Anton cut in. He took her wrist, gently but surely, and guided her down to sit beside him on the sofa so she could view the laptop screen. Their thighs touched all the way from hip to knee. Heat poured through her body at the sweet torture.
“Who’s Toby” Craig leaned over them, but he couldn’t see the screen.
“Toby was the former half-owner of Bistro Vita. I now have his share. Business is in excellent shape.” Anton didn’t look up as he delivered his answer.
He hadn’t said the finances were in excellent shape, because from what he’d told her, they were circling the drain. The business, on the other hand, was exactly as he’d claimed. The place was packed and the tills would ring for the rest of the night.
Which led to the next question. If the place was so popular, where had all the money gone? Only Toby knew for sure, and he obviously wasn’t telling.
“I’ll see myself out,’ Craig Young, patriarch of a hotel empire, turned his back to them and was gone. Not even a goodbye to his daughter.
“Thought he’d never leave.” Anton stopped tapping at the keyboard and turned his full focus on Cassidy.
Eyes that gleamed like emeralds pierced her soul. She thought her shoulders were tense before until they hitched with renewed apprehension. She had to say something. Anything to break the spell. The power he had to take her words away, along with her common sense whenever he came into the room; it was all too much. Her father had walked out, but it still felt crowded in here as she sat, thigh to thigh with Anton, despite the availability of other seating.
“Points for the grand entrance, but don’t think my father’s fooled about us getting married. Not for a minute.”
“Whether he believes it or not, it will happen, or you can kiss the bistro goodbye.”
“You’re blackmailing me?”
“Let’s say I’m securing my investments. Look at the screen, and you’ll see Toby was good. He made double documents. The bank statements were fake. he internet banking website you’ve been using was a big fat fake as well. He set it up to look like the real thing. It even had me fooled for a minute. You had one set of numbers, he had another, and he sucked the life out of Bistro Vita.”
Disgust and anger shot acid into her throat and turning her mute.
Anton kept delivering the bad news. “For the last four months, you’ve been insolvent. If it goes on any longer, the Securities Commission will come down on you hard. The Tax Office wants their money too.”
“But I paid the last quarter’s tax!” Swallowing hard to stop the nausea roiling inside her.
Tenderly, he put his hand on hers, the skin contact warm and sure. His strong fingers caressed her palms and she felt prickly heat behind her eyes. Oh, why did he have to be so nice about this?
“You logged into the fake internet site Toby set up. You even got a receipt number, to make it look legit. But I guarantee you, the Tax Office didn’t get their money.”
It hurt to breathe. “Give me a few minutes to compose myself and then I’ll go and tell the staff they’re out of a job.” With that, she rose and rolled her shoulders.
“Nobody’s going to lose their job.” Anton rose to block her exit.
“Oh really?”
“One word from you and Bistro Vita is back in the black.”
“That’s blackmail.”
“An ugly word,” he said, his voice a deceptive caress to her soul. “And not the one I’m after.”
The look he gave her showed only kindness. It had the power to melt her heart if she held eye contact with him too long. How dare he be so caring and cruel in the one moment.
“So the whole marriage thing is to get back at me and what, publicly humiliate my family? Is that what this is about?”
“Got it in one.”
“You could loan me the money? I’ll turn this place around and pay you back, with interest.”
“What’s in that for me? Marry me and you never have to worry about Cousin Wesley.”
“That will never happen.” Avoiding eye contact, she looked at the ground.
“Cassidy?” His voice was pure seduction, “This is your last chance to be my Valentine.”
“Then it’s nothing.” She lifted her eyes, met his, called his bluff.
“So be it. Go and tell your staff they’re out of a job,” he said with a note of finality.
“How about you go out there and tell them it’s over. You wear the guilt and shame of laying people off.”
“OK then.” He shrugged and turned for the door.
Would he really go through with it? Mouth open in fascinated horror, Cassidy watched him open the office door to stand in the clearing where everyone could see him.
“Ladies and gentlemen, if I may have everyone’s attention. I have an important announcement to make.”
Ice-cold fear poured down her spine, chilling her to the core. He really was going to lay everyone off, in front of patrons. Maybe even in front of her father if he was still in the building. Why was he doing this? Blood roared in her ears. A strange, tingling sensation took over and she felt her soul slip out of her body. As if all of this was happening to someone else, and she was merely along for the ride.
Feet propelled her towards Anton. He was saying something, but she couldn’t hear the words. Could only hear her pulse thumping in her head. Could only feel her heart thrashing against her ribs, her blood moving so sluggishly in her veins. Breathless, the distance closed between them. She wrapped her arm about his waist and felt the shock of heated contact, even through layers of clothing.
Her voice – it must have been her voice although she had no control over it – carried loud and clear across the room.
“Just kidding! Drinks on the house. Anton and I are getting married!”
Absolute silence greeted them f
or a split second. In that time, she registered the shock on everyone’s faces.
The room suddenly erupted with cheers. Men and women stood and applauded. Some wolf-whistled. Others hollered and banged on the tables. The bar staff rang the bell. People raised their glasses and somebody shouted about Cupid’s Arrow.
Blessed relief mixed with terrified anticipation. She had said the words. Had saved their jobs. Had also publicly declared she’d marry Anton. It was one thing to deceive her father and play along. Another thing entirely to lie to an entire room full of witnesses.
The clapping became stamping, as a chorus moved through the crowd in an unstoppable wave. ‘Kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss, kiss.’
Anton felt the air flee his lungs in relief. One second to midnight. She’d left her move so late he’d nearly sacked everyone. He hadn’t wanted to, but he would have gone through with it if she’d forced his hand. If he hadn’t, she would have called his bluff and he wouldn’t have had any leverage left to use against her. His entire plan would have fallen flat.
Remember this. She will push you to the edge. Every time.
Now they stood on the precipice of marriage, and she was exactly where he wanted her. In front of witnesses. Completely in his grasp. In his arms in fact.
It felt better than good. Great. Wonderful.
Success roared in his ears. The crowd bayed for a kiss. Who was he to disappoint? Earlier, he had thought of a quick registry event to get it over with, but crowds and media at their public wedding would be even better.
He would kiss her. Properly. All sense of time slowed. The crowd chanted more as Anton angled his face to Cassidy’s. Her expression unreadable. A sense of serene calm descended on him. Had she resigned to her fate?
Their lips met, sealing the deal with a kiss. The warm touch of her lips on his turned to liquid fire in his veins. Either the crowd roared or his pulse did. A drumbeat filled his ears. Something kicked low in his gut as she returned the kiss, their lips fitting perfectly together, mouths opening on a combined sigh. Her tongue darted along his bottom lip, sending firecrackers to his groin. A low moan came from somewhere when she wrapped her arms around him, one hand descending to his lower back, the other caressing the back of his head, holding them together. His hands, where were they? He felt curves and toned flesh under his palms, his hands so hot they seared at the touch. They were somewhere on her back and waist, but he couldn’t be sure exactly where they were, only that they were on her and it felt so very right. Blood pumped into his groin as he luxuriated in the kiss. His personal victory as she surrendered to his will.
It didn’t seem possible that the crowd could get any louder, shouting and stamping their approval. A deafening chorus of encouragement drowned out everything.
He sensed, rather than knew, she’d pulled away. That didn’t bode well. They’d only started kissing. He wanted more. Felt sure the feeling was mutual.
Wait, she’d pulled him with her. Back into the office.
Good move. Very smart move. Any more of this and they’d be up on charges of public indecency. Screeching whistles filled his ears. Their audience loved it. Believed it. Hell, he would have believed it himself if he didn’t know any better.
With a cry of anguish Cassidy pulled away and dragged her jacket sleeve over her mouth. “Dear God, I can’t believe I just did that.”
“You did, I was there. Now come back and kiss me.” Kissing Cassidy had become his new favourite thing to do, and he’d felt sure – sure as night follows day – that she liked it just as much as he did.
“I will not!”
“You will, and you’ll like it.”
“Go to hell!”
The look on her face brooked no argument, but Anton continued to press his luck.
“I can’t leave right now, we have a wedding to organise.”
Despite the closed door, a muffled cheer made its way through to the office. If he left now, they’d think something was amiss. Although he couldn’t stay in here too long, that would be crass. Then again, it would bolster the illusion if a room full of patrons thought they were at it already.
“You have a wedding to organise,” Cassidy said, straightening her outfit and smoothing down her skirt.
“And you will turn up?”
“Name the date, and I’ll see if I’m free that morning.”
“Oh good. How about Valentine’s Day?”
She scoffed, “Don’t be silly, that’s far too soon.”
“You’re worried about practicalities or legalities? Sounds like you’re taking this seriously.”
He had her there, as she chewed her lip and wrung her hands together. “You’re right, Valentine’s Day is too soon. Don’t want to make it too easy for you to get an anulment.”
She narrowed her eyes at him.
“I know a wedding planner, she’ll do it all.” He reached for his satchel and pulled out the necessary paperwork they’d need to sign to get the wedding in motion.
“Except the dress,” she said, halting as he gave her a pen, “I’m picking out the dress.”
“Absolutely. You’re in charge of the dress.”
Pen in hand, she looked at the papers. Little red temporary stickers showed her where to sign. Would she do it?
“I’ll sign first if you like,” he took out another pen and marked the papers in all the right places.
“And the flowers. I’m not having a bouquet that looks like an exploding meringue,” she said, the pen trembling as she signed.
Laughter percolated. “God help me woman, you’re sounding just like a real bride!”
5
HOW HAD IT come to this?
Cassidy looked at her face in the mirror, looking at the glowing bride beaming back at her. Grinning. The happiest day of her life.
Like a ghost taking solid form, her father appeared on her right, in his dapper tuxedo. He too looked happy. Proud even? It was hard to tell; she’d never seen that particular expression on her father’s face before.
A moment later her mother came into view on the left, weeping delicately into a lace handkerchief, her face obscured behind a mesh fascinator descending from the wide brim of her hat.
The reflection of Cassidy in the mirror vanished, and the glass became a rippling lake surface. A phantom taking form, Anton stepped through the mirror and took her hand.
Then he laughed at her.
When Cassidy looked to the ground she had bare feet.
The rest of her was buck-naked as well.
With a clutch at her chest, Cassidy screamed and woke up into a darkened room, her heart thrashing a tattoo against her ribs. She’d fallen asleep in her office again.
“It’s just a dream, just a dream,” she said the mantra a few times in her head as she teased the tight crick out of her neck. The muscles had set like concrete so she must have been out of it for a while. In the weeks since she and Anton had announced their wedding, her husband-to-be-had come through on his promise. The debts were paid, the bistro could keep trading. Except for the times he insisted on kissing her in front of the staff, they’d been able to work alongside each other in something almost approaching camaraderie.
He’d made some suggestions for the menu but for the most part had been hands off. Probably too busy trading shares all day to be bothered with actually getting his hands dirty with real work.
Despite how ordered her days were, her dreams had become more intense as her marriage date to Anton approached.
She gathered her things and walked haphazardly towards the back exit, through the dining room, yawning all the way. The emptiness of the building at this strange hour felt surreal. In her mind she could see the tables full of people, but now they stood empty, all clean and freshly set for the next day. Even the air felt thin as she heard her footsteps echo on the floorboards.
One day, when she paid Anton back, the bistro would be hers again.
She walked out the back door, straight into a wall of man. All lean muscle and firm chest. She didn
’t even need to look at his face to know who it was.
“Cassie?”
There was nobody around, so why did he call her that?
Warm arms caressed her shoulders, stopping any further thoughts as tendrils of heat coursed through her system. “What are you doing here so early? Hang on, weren’t you wearing that jacket yesterday? Have you been here all night?” Concern laced his words.
“I’m going home,” she said, taking a side step to get around the man.
“ I’ll take you.”
The kindness had to be deliberate. Must be his way of getting through her defences. Because it was working. How could she hate a man who looked after her so well? If she didn’t know any better, she’d think he actually meant some of the things he said.
But it was all a ruse, she knew that. Since she’d made her deal with Anton, he’d let her take control of the bistro and run it the way she saw fit. In the mean time he’d continued to buy up large chunks of her father’s company and had insinuated himself onto the board of directors. The man moved fast, she had to give him that. And she’d do well to remember it too. It had to be some elaborate plot to get at her father’s company, and she was providing him with the key. Otherwise, what was the point of all this? He obviously didn’t really want to marry her.
The sight of Cassidy in her car robbed Anton of rational thought as Mark drove them home. She felt soft and vulnerable, her breath a sigh against his neck.
Something prickled in his chest, but he brushed it away. He had to stay on track with the plan. As much as he disagreed with the entire Young clan and would like nothing better than to see the lot of them in jail, he had to admit they worked damn hard at what they did.
Which meant he’d started to respect them. It flew in the face of everything he’d previously thought about Cassidy and her family, and had him wondering – just for a moment – about whether he should press ahead with his plans.
Be Mine: Valentine Novellas to Warm The Heart Page 74
