Thanks to the internet, independent publishers were springing up all over the place. Most started and disappeared within a span of a few months—just long enough to fulfill and then crush would-be writers’ dreams. But a few started small and built a strong list of writers and grew into houses with good reputations and steady sales.
Micah’s gaze shifted to Kelly. She was bent over, helping Jacob’s older brothers and a girl from down the street apply layers of black paint to plywood. The curve of her behind drew his gaze unerringly, and Micah had to look away for his own sanity.
He started paying attention again just in time.
“So,” Sam was saying, “I thought you might want to fly out for the weekend. Take a break from small-town life and visit with an old friend.”
It sounded like a great idea to Micah. He’d been here in Banner for more than two months and he could do with a good dose of city life. Plush hotel, room service, noise, people...
“Sold,” he said abruptly, then looked at Kelly again. She tossed her ponytail and laughed as Jacob’s big brothers started painting each other. Looking at her wide smile, he could only think about getting her away from her home ground. Into some plush, luxurious life where he could seduce her nonstop. “But I won’t be coming alone.”
“Yeah?” He actually heard the intrigued smile in Sam’s voice.
“Thought I’d bring my fiancée with me.” He grinned, anticipating Sam’s reaction. He wasn’t disappointed.
A couple of long seconds filled with stunned silence ticked past before Sam sputtered, “Your what?”
“Can’t get into it right now. I’ll explain when I see you,” Micah said, and had to admit he was enjoying leaving Sam hanging on the information front. “Where do you want to meet?”
“I’m staying at the Monarch Beach Resort in Dana Point, and who is this fiancée and when did this happen?”
“Got it,” Micah said, ignoring the questions. “When’s your meeting?”
“I’m flying in early Friday for a meeting that afternoon. But I’ll be staying until Sunday.”
“Okay.” Micah did some fast figuring. It was Tuesday now—he had plenty of time to arrange for a suite at the hotel and a private jet to get him and Kelly to Orange County. All he had to do was convince her to leave town for a few days. He had confidence in his ability there. “I’ll see you then.”
“You are not going to leave me hanging with no information,” Sam complained. “Do you know what’ll happen if I go home with this news and no details? Jenny will hound me.”
Micah laughed. “Sounds perfect.”
“You’re gonna pay for this—”
Micah hung up and enjoyed it. Sure, Sam would find a way to get revenge, he told himself. But that’s what good friends were for, right?
His gaze locked on Kelly. She must have felt him staring, and something inside him turned when she met his gaze and smiled at him. Her eyes were shining, the curve of her delicious mouth was tempting and when she turned back to the kids and bent down, his gaze locked on her behind again. The woman really had a world-class butt.
His body went tight and hard in an instant. Yeah. A few days away from here. No work interfering for either of them. Just relaxing and enjoying each other. What could be better?
Going online, Micah went to the hotel’s website and reserved the Presidential Ocean Suite. He stayed there whenever he was in Southern California and he knew that Kelly would love it. The hotel was top-of-the-line, and this room in particular was damn impressive, with a private balcony that offered sweeping views of the Pacific. Micah smiled to himself as he imagined her on that terrace, the wind in her hair, moonlight making her bare breasts seem to glow. Naked with only the sky, the stars and the sea as witnesses. That’s how he wanted her.
All he had to do now was find a way to convince her to take a break from her many responsibilities.
* * *
Kelly was flabbergasted.
One of her grandmother’s favorite words, it was the only one that fit this situation, Kelly told herself. In fact, she was so stunned she couldn’t think of a thing to say. And that was so unusual for her, she couldn’t remember the last time it had happened.
Micah’s invitation had come out of the blue and she’d instantly agreed. True, she had to rearrange the jobs she had lined up, but the chance to get away with Micah was one she didn’t want to miss. Being with him was so important to her she was already worrying about what it would be like when he eventually left. But, until then, she wanted to be with him every minute she could be.
She and Terry had made an emergency shopping run to Salt Lake City. It had taken them hours, since Terry had insisted on hitting every single boutique and dress shop in the city, but it had been worth the trip. In her suitcase now, Kelly had clothes suited to a five-star resort.
As soon as Micah told her about the Monarch Bay Resort, Kelly had looked it up online so she’d have some idea of where she’d be staying. The hotel was lovely, elegant. And completely intimidating.
First there had been the limo ride to the airport, then they had been ushered to a private concourse and escorted onto the jet Micah had chartered. Kelly had felt like a queen, lounging in the supple blue leather chairs set into conversation areas. So much better than flying like a sardine in an overcrowded can.
She and Micah had sipped champagne and nibbled on strawberries during the short flight. The limo ride to the hotel hadn’t flustered her and she’d idly wondered if she was already getting accustomed to being spoiled. But walking into this hotel, where the staff called Micah by name and rushed to do his bidding, and then this spectacular suite... Kelly was simply overwhelmed.
The Presidential Ocean Suite was breathtaking. There was a fireplace, several overstuffed couches and chairs in soft pastels. The carpet was thick and the color of sand. There were vases filled with fresh yellow roses, and there were French doors leading to the private terrace.
The bedroom was huge, with its own fireplace and another set of French doors leading to the balcony they shared with no one. There were crystal chandeliers over the dining table and the bathroom was bigger than her whole cottage back home, with a tub wide and deep enough to swim in and a shower built for a cozy party of five or six, with built-in benches that made Kelly think of any number of things she and Micah could do on them.
And when had she become so interested in sex?
Answer, of course—the first time Micah kissed her. He’d created a monster. Smiling to herself, Kelly said simply, “Micah, this is just...amazing. The whole day has been—” She broke off, at a loss for words for the first time in forever. “I wouldn’t have missed this for anything.”
She walked toward the open terrace doors and caught the shimmer of sunlight on the deep blue of the ocean as it stretched out into eternity. A soft sea breeze danced into the room, ruffling the sheer white curtains.
“I’m glad you came,” he said.
“So am I.”
Kelly turned to him. He wore black slacks, a dark red dress shirt with the collar open and a black sports coat. He looked comfortable in his surroundings and she realized that this was how he lived all the time. He’d told her that he moved from hotel to hotel when he was working, but somehow, even knowing he was rich and famous, she hadn’t considered that the hotels he was talking about were really more like palaces.
Kelly tried to imagine living in a place like this and just couldn’t do it. The thought of trying to fit into this kind of lifestyle on a daily basis was exhausting. For Kelly, this was an aberration. A step outside her own reality. Okay, more than a step. A leap. But the reality was this: as gorgeous as this place was, as glad as she was that she’d come away with Micah, Kelly felt like an interloper here. But, for the next few days, she was going to pretend that she did belong, because there was nowhere else she’d rather be.
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His gaze locked on her. “Did I tell you before we left that you look beautiful today?”
Kelly flushed, relishing the heat that always raced through her when Micah was near. And now she was doubly glad she and Terry had done so much shopping. Her new black slacks, white silk blouse and deep green brocade vest looked good on her, she knew. And she didn’t want to look as out of place here as she felt. “You did tell me. Thank you.”
He walked across the room to her, took her hand and then led her to the French doors. Stepping onto the terrace, she took a quick look around at the earth-toned tile floor, the table and chairs in one corner and the pair of lounge chairs complete with deep blue cushions and red pillows.
“It just keeps getting better and better,” she murmured, and, letting go of his hand, walked to the iron railing and looked out at the sea. The ocean was a deep blue with gold glints of sunlight shining on its surface. Boats with jewel-toned sails skimmed along the waves while surfers closer to shore rode their boards with a grace she envied.
A soft breeze tossed her hair across her eyes. She plucked it free and sighed. “It’s like a fairy tale.”
“I’ve pictured you here,” he said, and when she turned to look at him, she found his gaze locked on her. “Standing just there, the wind in your hair, a smile on that incredible mouth.”
Her heartbeat skittered. “And is the reality as good?”
“Almost,” he said, moving in close.
“Only almost?” Her eyebrows lifted and she laughed softly.
“Well, when I pictured you standing there, I was seeing you naked in the moonlight,” he admitted, pulling her up against him.
A curl of damp heat settled at her core, and Kelly lifted her head to meet his gaze. Hunger shone in his eyes as he slid his hands down to cup her bottom and hold her tight to his erection. What was it about this man that turned her into a puddle of desires she’d never known before? Why was it he could touch her and send her up in flames? How could one smile from him turn her heart upside down?
She was very much afraid she knew the answers to all of those questions. But now wasn’t the time to explore it. The next few days were just for them. To be together. To revel in each other. She didn’t want to waste a minute of it.
“Well,” she said, when she could breathe past the knot in her throat, “it’s important to make dreams come true. So tonight...”
He hissed in a breath through gritted teeth and held her even tighter to him. “That’s a date,” he promised, then deliberately took a step back, groaning. “But if I want to show you anything of California, we’d better get going. How about we go down, pick up the car I’ve got waiting and drive up the coast?”
At that moment, she would have gone with him anywhere.
Eight
Micah took her up the coast to Laguna where they parked the car and walked along Pacific Coast Highway. They popped into art galleries, bought ice cream from a vendor and swayed in time to a street performer’s smooth, slow saxophone performance.
Early October in California meant it was still warm, and with the sun shining down on them, the day couldn’t have been more perfect. Then he spotted something in a shop window.
“Come with me,” he said, taking Kelly’s hand and pulling her into the cool quiet of the jewelry shop. The interior of the shop was cool and dimly lit so that the jewels in the glass display cases could shine like stars in the night beneath lights fixed to the underside of the cabinets. There was a dark red rug on the wood-plank floor, and a grandfather clock ticked loudly into the hushed quiet.
“Micah, what’re you doing?”
“I saw something I want to get.” He signaled an older man behind the gleaming glass cases filled with diamonds and gemstones.
“May I help you?” He wore round, wire-rimmed glasses. His gray hair was expertly trimmed, and his pin-striped suit complete with vest made him look as though he’d stepped out of the nineteen forties.
“Yeah.” Micah glanced at Kelly as she wandered down the glass cases, admiring everything within. Turning back to the man in front of him, he said, “The emerald necklace in the window.”
The man brightened. His eyes sparkled and a tiny smile curved his mouth. “One of our finest pieces, sir. One moment.”
Kelly wandered back to Micah and leaned into him. “What’re you buying?”
“A gift for someone,” he said, leaving it at that as the man came back, laid the emerald necklace out on a black velvet tray and waited for their admiration.
“Oh, my, that’s gorgeous,” Kelly whispered, as if she were in church.
“It is, isn’t it?” Micah liked the look of it himself, but he was more glad that Kelly approved of it, too. Square cut, the emerald was as big as his first thumb joint. The setting was simple, with platinum wire at the gemstone’s corners and twin diamonds on either side of it, the stone hung on a delicate platinum chain. And the emerald itself, he thought, was exactly the color of Kelly’s eyes. That’s what had caught his attention in the first place. “Okay, I’ll take it.”
The older man’s eyebrows lifted but, otherwise, he remained cool and polite. “Of course. Would you like it gift wrapped?
“Not necessary,” Micah said, reaching for his wallet and then his credit card. He didn’t bother to ask the price. It didn’t matter, anyway.
“I’ll take care of it straight away,” the man said, then looked at Kelly. “I hope you enjoy it.” Then he scurried away to ring up the sale, clearly wanting the business done before Kelly talked Micah out of the purchase.
“Oh,” she said to the man’s back as he left, “it’s not for me...”
Her voice trailed off as Micah lifted the necklace from the black velvet and turned to her.
Eyes wide, Kelly looked horrified as she took a step back. “Micah, no.”
Again, she surprised him. She hadn’t even considered the possibility that the necklace was for her. “You said you liked it.”
“Well,” she said, “I’d have to be blind and stupid to not like it. That’s not the point.”
“You’re right,” he said, pushing past her reservations. “The point is, I want you to have it.” He stepped behind her, laid the jewel at the base of her neck and ordered, “Lift your hair.”
She did, but all the while she was shaking her head. “You can’t just buy me something like this out of the blue—”
“Well,” he said, voice low and teasing, “you did tell your grandmother that we were going to New York for a ring, so...”
“Micah.” She turned her head to look at him, and he smiled at her to ease the worried look in her eyes.
When the necklace was secured around her neck, he moved to stand in front of her. The emerald shone like green fire on her skin and he felt a swift tug of satisfaction seeing her wearing it. “It looks perfect.”
“It would look perfect on a three-legged troll,” Kelly argued, but her fingers reached up to touch the stone and her gaze slipped to a mirror on the counter to admire it. “It’s beautiful, Micah. Seriously. But you don’t have to do this. Buy me things, I mean.”
No, she wouldn’t expect that from him and he found that...refreshing. Most of the women he’d ever been with had anticipated trinkets like this. They’d oohed and aahed over jewelry-store windows or even, on occasion, dragged him inside to let him know in no uncertain terms which piece they’d most like to have. But Kelly didn’t want anything from him. Didn’t demand anything. She was happy just being with him, and that had never happened before.
And maybe that was why Micah had felt compelled to buy her that damn necklace. He wanted her to have something to remember him by. In a few months, he’d be gone from her life, but every time she looked at that necklace, she’d remember today and she’d...what? Miss him? Had anyone, anywhere ever missed him? Had he ever wanted the
m to? Questions for another time, another place, he told himself.
“I wanted you to have it,” he said simply. “It’s the same color as your eyes.”
“Oh, Micah...” Those big beautiful green eyes filled with tears and, just for a second, he panicked. But Kelly blinked the moisture back and lifted her chin. “You don’t want to make me cry. I look hideous when I cry. I’m a sobber. I don’t do delicate weeping.”
Of course she wouldn’t cry. He chuckled—how could he not? Kelly was one in a million at everything. “Good to know. I’ll make a note. No making Kelly cry.”
A wry smile curved her mouth briefly, then her shoulders slumped and a defeated sigh escaped her. “I can’t stop you from doing this, can I?” she asked, still touching the cold, green stone.
“Already done, so no.”
Nodding, she took a breath, let it out again and said, “Fine. Am I allowed to thank you?”
“Only briefly,” he told her warily.
“Thank you, Micah,” she said, going up on her toes to lay a soft, slow kiss on his mouth. “I’ve never owned anything more lovely. Whenever I wear it, I’ll think of you.”
His heart jolted. It was just what he’d wanted, yet hearing her say it he could almost hear the “goodbye” in her voice. He hadn’t thought it would bother him, but it did. For the first time in his adult life, he wasn’t looking forward to moving on. Frowning, he told himself he would. He had to. Eventually. But Micah didn’t want to think about endings today.
Looking at her, the pleasure in her eyes, an emerald at her throat and a smile on that fabulous mouth of hers, all he could say was, “I’ll think of you, too.”
And he knew he’d never meant anything more.
* * *
Later that night, Kelly did a quick spin in place on her three-inch heels, sending the skirt of her new black dress flying. Then she stopped and looked up at Micah. “Today was so lovely. Thank you, Micah.”
Fiancé in Name Only Page 11
