A sterile, stark white environment was not what Tamera wanted for her father’s last days. Thankfully, the hospice nurse wasn’t lying when she said the hospice facility was comfortable, less like a hospital and more like a home.
The private quarters were carpeted, and had small kitchens, beds and sitting chairs. Small chests of drawers and coffee tables with televisions completed the décor. Patients were free to bring personal items to feel more comfortable.
Regardless of the coziness, signing the papers to have her father put into strangers’ care was one of the hardest things Tamera had ever done. Removing him from the home he’d made with her mother at the start of their marriage and placing him into hospice seemed like giving up.
But Tamera had to face reality. He wasn’t going to get better so she may as well make his last days as comfortable as possible.
His cancer had spread throughout his body and there was no more the doctors could do. Some days his mind wasn’t working as well as other days. He still knew who everyone was, but he would forget simple things like if the nurse had drawn his blood that morning or why he wasn’t at home.
Nothing about this situation was easy and she had a dreadful feeling it was only going to get worse from here.
Tamera went from the nurses’ station to her father’s room to check on him one last time before she left for the night. Exhaustion had long since set in since she’d been back and forth all day bringing things from the house and making sure his room was set up to his liking. She’d do everything in her power to make him happy.
Thankfully he was asleep. Tamera clicked off the television and stood in the silence staring at the man who’d once made billionaire tycoons quake with fear. Now a pale, frail man, Tamera had a hard time believing this was her father.
Her throat clogged with tears. She’d give up all the money, houses, cars, yachts, everything in the Stevens dynasty if the cancer would just disappear.
After covering her father with his brown throw from his own bed at home, Tamera smoothed his thin hair from his forehead, kissed him and shut off the lamp.
This would be a good night. His medicine was strong enough to allow him the much-needed rest he deserved. These were the nights when Tamera caught up on her sleep as well. God knew she needed it now that she was dealing with Cole and Victor. She honestly didn’t know which man scared her more.
Oh, who was she kidding? There was no contest.
With her hospice folder loaded with all her copies of the paperwork and her purse, Tamera waved goodbye to the nurses and stepped out into the unusual chill of the April evening. The somewhat crisp breeze seeped through her silky blouse, sending shivers all over.
She hated these odd Miami days. They were few and far between, but she’d stick with the days that were either hot or hotter. The folks up north could have this chill.
Tamera settled in her car, giving her body a moment to recover from the bitter wind she hadn’t expected from Miami in April. As soon as she got home, she vowed, she’d change into her favorite lounge pants and long-sleeved T-shirt.
Driving through the streets toward her condo, she longed for home and a good book. All she needed was a steamy romance and a corner of her sofa where she could hopefully sweep her mind into a fictional life and leave the troubles of hers behind for a few minutes.
Unfortunately, as she pulled up, she saw one of her main issues sitting in his flashy, luxury car in her driveway. How many cars did the man have?
The sleek, black Lincoln could either belong to an FBI agent or a powerful CEO. She’d rather face the FBI.
Cole exited when she raised her garage door and pulled in. This was not what she wanted or needed. The last thing she could think about right now was the Lawson project or the fact that Cole had blatantly stated he wanted to sleep with her.
Tonight was not the night for her to give in and call him on his threats. She didn’t have the energy or the will to fight right now.
When Cole opened her door, Tamera gave in to the inevitable and gathered her folder and purse. He wouldn’t leave until he came to say whatever was on his mind, so she may as well get this over with.
Tamera was shocked when she stepped from her car. Cole at least had a gentleman’s knowledge to move back and allow her to ease out without brushing against him. Minor kudos to him.
He closed the door. “I called the office and they said you took the day off.”
“Yes.” Tamera stepped into her house through the door attached to her garage and slapped the button to close the garage door. She punched the six digit code to turn off the alarm. “I tend to do that at times.”
Cole followed her inside, obviously intending to stay. “At a crucial time like this? I don’t know about you, but I intend to work around the clock until this is perfected and turned in before Victor wants it. We need to put up a united front—”
“I had personal business,” Tamera yelled, slapping her folder onto the central stone island in her kitchen. “Did you come here to criticize my work ethic or did you have a point you needed to make?”
Cole’s eyes darted down to the folder and Tamera rushed to cover it with her purse. Too late.
“Who’s in hospice?”
An exhausted sigh escaped her. “What do you want, Cole?”
His eyes darted back to hers. “Your father’s in hospice.”
Of course he’d guess. Cole wasn’t stupid and her silence only validated what he’d surmised.
“I suspected something was wrong, but I had no idea.” He took a step closer. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
“And I should’ve told you why? You care? Or so you could use it against my company in the future?”
Too disgusted to look him in the eye, Tamera turned and marched through the open living space into her den. Habit had her settling into her wide window seat, grabbing a beaded throw and holding it to her chest, as if to hold in the pain, the hurt so Cole couldn’t see.
She didn’t want him here. Why couldn’t he see that?
“You’d be surprised what I care about.” Cole followed her into the cozy room and stood in front of her. “No matter how things ended between us, I don’t want to see you hurt.”
Bitterness over his soft words had her jerking her gaze up to his. “Then you better leave.”
Six
If her bottom lip had quivered, if she had unshed tears, Cole would’ve left her to her emotional breakdown. But the fact that she tilted her chin in a defiant manner and the shadows under her eyes confirmed how exhausted she was, he couldn’t leave her. Not like this. Not when she was on the verge of breaking and barely holding herself together.
Damn, he was always a sucker for distressed damsels, especially sexy, vulnerable ones. And as much as Cole hated Walter, he didn’t want Tam this upset…about anything.
Cole eased down beside her on the window seat and fisted his hands in his lap when she turned to look out onto the lush, floral gardens.
When he’d called the office to get together to collaborate again on the rough sketches, he’d nearly gone into shock when her assistant said Tamera had taken a personal day.
But now he didn’t know what he was more shocked at—the fact that her father was dying or that she’d done such a stellar job of hiding his condition from the world around him. Even Cole’s assistant hadn’t been able to uncover the reasoning behind Walter’s untimely absence.
“How much longer does he have?”
“Not long.”
At least she answered him, even if she wouldn’t look at him. “And you’re taking care of everything yourself, right? Including keeping his terminal illness a secret from associates and staff? Pulling long hours just to make sure the clientele doesn’t catch on and to keep everything at the firm running smoothly?”
She swallowed and shook her head, sending a lone tear sliding down her cheek. He reached up and swiped her damp skin with the pad of his thumb, cupping her jaw with his palm.
Much to his surprise, she le
aned into him.
How long had she been keeping this secret? How long had this burden been wearing her down and did her father ask her to go to all this trouble? Did he want her to bear the weight of such a large dynasty on top of the secrecy of his illness?
Walter Stevens’ condition changed everything. Miami society in general would not be the same. This was news Zach and Kayla needed to know about as soon as possible. If any other bids came through the office, he needed them to keep an eye out. No way would he allow The Stevens Group to get ahead of him. Not now. Not when he could so easily take them over during this weak period.
If other contractors knew Walter Stevens was no longer running The Stevens Group, they would certainly think twice before submitting bids, no matter how formidable Tamera and her crew were.
Which begged another question: Just how long had Tamera been running the company? Obviously, she’d been doing a fine job, or there would’ve already been talk, but people in this business didn’t like change and they didn’t like being kept in the dark.
But once Walter died, how long would Tamera be able to keep this going? Perhaps buying The Stevens Group should be next on Cole’s priority list.
Yes. Most definitely. Zach and Kayla would surely be on board with that plan.
“I hate this,” she whispered, pulling back from his hand. “I hate my father being so fragile. I hate being in charge of his final days. And I hate that you came by tonight.”
“I’m glad I did.”
And he was. This useful piece of information would go a long way in boosting Cole and his firm beyond anything Tam’s father could’ve fathomed.
“Is it so bad to lean on me for a bit?” He rubbed the tips of his fingers against his palm.
“I learned long ago not to lean on people.”
The steel behind her emotions came through her tear-clogged voice. He didn’t ask what time period she referred to. He’d let her down once and she wasn’t so trusting anymore. He not only understood her point of view, he respected it. She was on her guard, which was probably safest for her in this case.
If she really knew that everything he was doing was because of the project and he was using that advantage to get her into his bed, she’d kick him so far from her home, he’d never see her in a personal setting again.
And now that he’d made the discovery about Walter, well, he needed to remain extra close to be ready to take over The Stevens Group when opportunity struck.
She needed to believe that selling was the only way…and that it was her own idea.
Speaking of what she needed, she needed to get out and enjoy all that Miami had to offer. A club near her condo in South Beach would be perfect. Perhaps a few drinks would relax her a bit and she could concentrate on herself and her needs.
She swiped her cheeks and Cole didn’t hesitate to reach out, pulling her back against his chest.
“Relax,” he crooned when she stiffened. “Don’t read anything more into this than a friend helping you through a rough day.”
“You’re not my friend.”
She may have protested with words, but her body slowly relaxed against his. Cole actually felt the tension leave her, starting with her shoulders, her back.
“Why are you doing this?” she whispered into the dimly lit room.
“You’re hurting, Tam. Do you think I’m that cold-hearted?”
Silence stretched through the room for several minutes, but Cole didn’t care, not when Tam felt so good against him. Her warm body only heated his that much more.
Her head tilted to the side, resting firmly against his heart. Her breathing slowed. She’d fallen asleep.
Cole smiled, settled his arms firmly around hers, which were wrapped around her abdomen. Having Tamera sleeping in his arms was sweeter than anything he could’ve planned. Dying or not, if old man Stevens could see them now, well, that would definitely do him in.
Eleven years ago he’d purposely hurt her to make her keep her distance. She’d cried then, too, but in that steely, I-hate-you way.
But, seriously, what did he expect when he’d delivered the “it’s not you, it’s me” speech? In reality, though, it had been him. If he’d come from money he wouldn’t have had to worry about those blasted scholarships. Not only that, he’d had to worry about Zach’s and Kayla’s as well. He couldn’t disrupt his whole family because of her father.
A moment which plagued every day of his life since. Not only did he not stand up for the woman he loved and what they shared, he didn’t stand up for himself.
Pathetic. Cole hated thinking about how weak and powerless he’d been.
Now, there was no reason for Tam not to see him for the man he’d become. Holding her like this only made him want her more. He wanted to explore that sexual pull he knew still existed between them. Granted, her father may have sucked the romance and love right out of anything Cole knew, but the man couldn’t change the fact that Tamera was sexier now than ever and Cole intended to have her.
Tamera stirred against his chest and sighed. When she woke, he’d discuss her needs and subtly force his way into her personal life. He needed to gain her trust once again if he was going to persuade her to sell the company. But he knew this plan teetered on a fine line. Tamera was a strong, confident businesswoman. Convincing her to sell would be quite a challenge.
Cole’s eyes scanned her den. The spacious room with all its little accessories and knickknacks was so Tamera, but Cole also got a sense for the woman she’d become.
The beaded lampshades and Persian rug were no surprise, but the small certificate hanging behind her desk did catch him off guard. She was a member of the “Make-A-Wish Foundation.” Hanging next to the certificate was a card, obviously made by a child’s creative hand. It depicted a smiley face at the end of a rainbow. Drawn on pink construction paper, the word “thanks” was written in all caps with a backward k.
His eyes scanned over to her selection of CDs, again giving him a glimpse as to the woman Tam was today. Back in the day she enjoyed country music and was ready to let her hair down. He only saw one country CD, Faith Hill. The others were a mix of jazz and light rock.
What had she done in those eleven years they’d been apart? Had she fallen in and out of love again? Had her father meddled in her personal affairs? All questions he wanted answers to, but knew he wouldn’t get and didn’t deserve. And, he asked himself, why did he care at this point?
Tamera stirred once again and started to sit up. “Cole?” she asked, her voice groggy. “What time is it?”
He glanced at her desk clock illuminated by a small Tiffany lamp. “Midnight.”
She eased up, brushing her hair from her face. “I didn’t mean to fall asleep on you.”
“You needed the rest.” When she tried to ease away, Cole tightened his hold around her waist. “Are you okay now?”
She nodded, looking him in the eye. “Why didn’t you leave? You could’ve left me lying in the window. I have taken quite a few naps here.”
He smiled. “Wishing on stars?”
Tamera’s gaze moved to the window. “Something like that.”
“Sneaking out is for cowards. I face complications head-on.”
She looked back at him, questions, hurt swirling in her eyes. “This isn’t right, Cole. You really shouldn’t be here.”
“Because of what we’re feeling? What isn’t right about it?”
Her delicate hand came up to her forehead as she closed her eyes. “We’re business associates, nothing more. I can’t concentrate on my father, this project and you all at the same time.”
“Then don’t.” He took her hand from her face and held it. “Concentrate on this.”
In a possessive manner he took her mouth. Every fiber of his being wanted to claim her, take her in a fast, frenzied manner, but she needed to ease into this. She needed comfort and he would be the one to offer it.
Her lips parted beneath his and Cole knew everything they’d shared before was nothing co
mpared to the intensity of this moment. In her den, her own territory, Cole knew Tamera could relax. The dim light, the hour, all worked together in his favor. No phone would ring, no one would disturb them.
This moment was all about giving in to the inevitable.
Cole released her hand and brought his up to frame her face as he changed the angle of the kiss. Tamera twisted her body so they were more in line, then slid her arms around his neck.
Tamera’s need must’ve taken over because Cole’s control slipped from his grasp and easily into hers. A controlling woman in an intimate setting was sexy personified.
The familiar taste and touch only added to the need swelling inside him. Tamera was the only woman who’d ever been able to pull that desire he’d kept so hidden to the surface.
Cole had to tamp a portion of that desire back down. All he had to give Tamera was here, now. He had nothing else to offer, and even if he did, their souls were too battered from the first encounter. Lust was all this was, all it could be. And he was fine with that. Actually, right now, he was feeling pretty damn good.
“No.” Tamera eased back shaking her head.
“What’s wrong?” Cole asked, though he knew that was a dumb question.
“This,” she gestured between their faces. “I won’t do this with you again.”
“Tam, I’m not taking anything you aren’t offering. Anything beyond this moment doesn’t matter.”
She looked him dead in the eye. “Everything beyond this point matters. You crushed me once. It won’t happen again.”
When she sprang to her feet, turning her back on him, Cole didn’t stop her.
“Why can’t you just go with what you’re feeling?” Cole came to stand behind her, but didn’t invade her personal space by touching her again. “I’m not looking for anything beyond right now.”
A small, sarcastic laugh escaped her. “That almost makes it worse,” she whispered. “Just go.”
Those were the two words he’d been both waiting for and dreading to hear. Cole was torn between wanting to stay to comfort her and giving in to her request.
From Boardroom to Wedding Bed? Page 5
