Cassidy looked down. “I don’t know why Chelsea chose to believe Lucinda about me. She should know better.”
His being felt off kilter, like he needed to make sure that Cassidy understood why they’d gone through the ceremony by proxy. “Her reasons sounded logical.”
She blinked and stared at him with a blank expression. “What could they possibly be?”
There was a buzz in his skin as he reached out and took her hand. “That you believe in love and happily-ever-afters and that’s all you ever wanted in your own life. Creating the computer program should have convinced us all of that.”
She rolled her eyes at him like she thought he was a fool. It was that look of hers that she often gave him as she said, “That’s part of me, sure, but I’m also practical and logical. When we get back, I’m curious about your plans to revitalize the property without enriching my father.”
Cassidy was not interested in being in love with him. A chill raced through him as he released her hand and tried to understand how they’d live together in peace. He wasn’t sure what he wanted from her either right now. “Tomorrow or the next day. First you need to rest and Grannie told me to tell you she’s feeling up for a walk in the gardens.”
“I miss her.” She met his gaze, her eyes shimmering with emotion.
“We’ll be home soon.” He lowered his head as the limo came to a stop. His gut ticked that something was wrong and he needed to fix the situation. But his mind wasn’t clear on the answer. The limo driver opened his door and he slid out and waited for Cassidy.
She joined him on the tarmac and they moved toward his white jet with the family seal painted on the back. She walked up the stairs with him and went to a small couch where she sat. She took his hand and pulled him next to her. “Remy, thank you for coming for me. I was so scared when I woke up in the back seat of Lucinda’s SUV.”
“Don’t thank me.” He leaned closer to her. “This was all my fault. You were right about me all along. I cared about looks more than quality and that almost got you killed—Lucinda told me her reasons for kidnapping you.” A beautiful pair, she’d said. To make beautiful heirs.
Cassidy placed her hand on his cheek. “I’m fine.”
Nothing would move him from this spot. His forehead met hers. “It’s still all my fault.”
“Lucinda said she had cameras in your bedroom,” Cassidy said.
He sat straight and his spine became like iron. “What? I’ll search every corner and clean the room.”
She kicked off her tennis shoes and rested one sock-covered foot on the couch as the pilot started the engine. “We. I’ll help. We both said we’d create an heir to our houses and I’d like to know that no one is watching me, well, except you.”
Cold raced through him. Now even his ears buzzed that something was off that he needed to fix but he couldn’t figure it out. Remy ignored the sensation and patted her hand. “Cassidy, your grape grower was right about me. I am a lucky man. I just don’t want to hurt you.”
She brought her knee up to her chin, wrapping her arm around her shin. “Continue being honest with me and we’re good Remy. We’ve always been good.”
He needed to voice the buzz in his veins. “I want more than what we had. Cassidy, don’t close off on me like you are, being all polite.”
She reached out and brushed his cheek again. “I’m not. Remy, I’m happy we’re together. I’m just sad I missed our wedding.”
A huge sigh of relief escaped his throat. Of course. She wanted a wedding with the white dress and to walk down the aisle. Their wedding ceremony by proxy had been awful, but a do-over was already being planned. He smiled at her. “Gigi is planning a repeat next week, where you’ll be the bride. We can make it as big or as small as you want.”
She nodded, her eyes wide. “I’d like for everyone to see that I chose to marry you and this wasn’t because of a business deal, like Lucinda and everyone thinks, where you are stuck marrying the nerdy girl who works at the palace.”
He relaxed and traced her leg now wearing his gray gym shorts that lay between them, and noticed the goosebumps in his trail while her face turned pink. “Fair enough, but only if you kiss me.”
She lowered her leg to his lap and scooted closer to him. “Remy, I’ll be kissing you for the rest of your life.”
“Starting right now.”
Her lips then met his and he forgot everything else. She was here and in his arms, right where she was supposed to be.
Chapter 18
Cassidy saw the well-painted gate of her new home and closed her eyes. She was right where she belonged and would stay for the rest of her life. Remy was her husband and he’d try to be the best he could be. Despite his pranks, they’d always been friends.
The limo stopped at the front step and Fari opened her door. She waited for Remy to walk beside her and they entered the house, as one. They went straight into the blue room.
Gigi stood from the couch she sat on with Chelsea beside her and immediately said, “Cassidy, we’re glad you’re back.”
Gigi’s cheeks were flushed and her hair done. Even her face was brighter and she looked ten years younger than when Cassidy first moved in. Cassidy went to her and hugged her. “Gigi, you look amazing. We thought we were going to lose you—but no longer.”
Gigi ended the hug and pointed to Chelsea beside her and the spread of coffee, tea and cakes. “Your sister helped us with the desserts. She wants to speak to you.”
Chelsea seemed subdued, so Cassidy waved her into the library and her sister followed. She held the door for her and once her sister passed, Cassidy closed the door. “Chelsea? How could you?”
Chelsea hugged her waist as she glanced up and met her gaze. “Cassidy. Look, I’m really sorry I believed Lucinda’s lies. I had no idea she’d hurt you. You and I might not get along always, but I’d never let anyone hurt you if I had a say.”
Cassidy let out a huge breath. Chelsea was vain like their mother, but not vicious, so Cassidy hugged her with forgiveness. “Chelsea, you’re being mature. What changed?”
Chelsea’s eyes welled as they stepped out of the hug. “That you were kidnapped and I believed the wrong person.”
“It’s okay,” Cassidy insisted. She’d not always been the best sister as she ran away to college or work, leaving her sister to deal with their parents. She motioned for them to sit on chairs. “I haven’t always been there for you.”
Chelsea smoothed her powder blue skirt as they took their seats across from each other. “Are you joking? You’re the best—working to make sure we all have a roof over our heads. I’m the bad one.”
Cassidy reached over and brushed her sister’s arm. “Don’t. No one is bad or good in our family.”
“What about Dad?”
“He means well. He has an addiction problem, but we all know he loves us.”
Chelsea rolled her eyes and stared at the white ceiling with the high crystal chandelier. Each glass drop glittered brightly. “I thought I could be like Mom and help our family by marrying well—and in the process I became spiteful toward the only sister I have.”
Perhaps they needed to work together and learn to trust each other again. It had been years since they’d tried to be friends. Chelsea was one of the most fashionable women she’d ever met, like their mother. What career might interest her? Cassidy didn’t voice her question and instead asked, “Maybe you can help us plan the repeat wedding next week? I actually want to say I do so no one thinks I was forced into anything.”
Chelsea’s beautiful face brightened as she smiled. “I’ll plan the best wedding possible. Mom will help too. We talked to Gigi already and she said it would okay as long as you agreed. I didn’t think you’d ask me, but I’d love to truly help.”
Her mother had zero sense when it came to money, and two weddings were expensive. She’d have to talk to Remy about this and really think hard. She probably didn’t need the wedding. They were married already, but she wanted people to see th
at this was her choice, her life. She stood. “Well, let me sleep on the budget, okay? Don’t sign any contract without running the numbers by me first.”
Chelsea stood and adjusted her white shirt to ensure no sign of sitting was on either of them. “Fair enough. Mom and Dad are the opposite of frugal, but I swear my checking account has never been negative. I saw how hard you’ve worked.”
Cassidy laughed. At least Chelsea saw the issues within their family as they were. “Good. Neither one of us should be like them.”
The door opened. Chelsea walked with her. “Agreed. Your husband is peeking in the door. Please tell him I didn’t put a knife in your back.”
“Remy is just protective.” Cassidy reached for the door and walked right into Remy’s waiting arms. He smelled familiar and good. The fly in the ointment was that he’d never be in love with her.
Chelsea smiled as she walked past them and said, “Like I should have been. Remy, please make my sister happy with you. She deserves love like she’s always wanted.”
Cassidy froze. She never should have told anyone her silly dreams. She had to be an adult. She let go of Remy and walked her sister to the door. Chelsea took her keys to her shiny, clean but at least ten years old Mercedes and left. Cassidy waved, “Bye Chelsea.”
Once her sister drove off the property, she returned inside and found Remy in the blue room. This time he was alone, so Gigi must have gone to her sunroom. He launched out of his chair and asked, “How are you?”
Remy was the most handsome man she’d ever laid eyes on. If only her heart didn’t hurt when he touched her. She knew he’d treat her right, but she felt prickles in her eyes. She swallowed and pointed toward the garden in the back even though it was night and all she’d have was the moonlight out there. “Good. Glad to be home. Would you mind if I go walking in the gardens alone for a few minutes? I want to breathe, if that makes any sense.”
He put his hands in his pockets and acted like he had something to say. However he nodded and said, “Gigi does the same thing. You must be hungry still, so I’ll have a small dinner set up for when you return.”
“Sounds perfect.” She just had to get her head on straight and not let her feelings get in the way. They were legally married and her property was now entwined with his. Their future looked bright so she needed to be happy about all of this.
She stepped into the rose gardens she’d helped plant years ago and tried to remain calm. This was her home now. She was safe here. Tears fell.
She wiped her eyes and hugged her shoulders. She had no right to be sad. Everything was good, but the positive thoughts didn’t help. More tears washed down her face, so she kept her head bowed and continued walking, refusing to go near the house until she stopped.
From behind her on the gravel path she heard Remy’s voice like a low rumble. “Cassidy, don’t cry on me.”
Goodness. He’d seen her. She wiped her tears with her fingers and turned with a sniff. “It’s nothing to worry about, Remy.”
He walked over to her and brushed her hair back from her cheek. “If you’re unhappy, then tell me what I can do.”
Another tear leaked out of her eye and she turned. Right now she’d sound stupid if she tried to explain. She kicked at a small round pebble. “That’s just it. Nothing. You can’t do anything. This is all in my head.”
“What?” He turned her toward him and cupped her face.
Despite the emptiness inside, she had to tell the truth. She swallowed. “Chelsea was right that I’ve always wanted love. I hid the results of my program from you for years because I know there’s no way someone as wonderful as you could ever love someone like me.”
A laugh escaped his throat and Remy slowly traced her back until his hands rested on her hips. The empty parts started to fill when he said, “I can’t love the smartest, funniest, most easy-going woman I’ve ever met? A woman who also happens to get me like no one else ever really did. Now, yes, you can see through me, which always made me feel weaker because you saw the truth that no one else could see, that I was a spoiled boy who didn’t appreciate his life.”
“But that’s not true. You always gave back to those you loved.” The tears stopped and she no longer felt like she choked on her own sorrows. She brushed her hair out of her eyes and stared at Remington Burke, the most handsome man she’d ever met. She took a deep breath. “Guess growing up together ruined any chance for falling in love.”
His hands tightened on her hips, in a gentle, protective fashion. “You’re wrong. When I almost lost you, I couldn’t breathe. You have always been in my life—I can’t live without you.”
There was nothing she could do to change their situation, and now he was being a gentleman, because he understood that too. She pressed her palm to his shirt. “You don’t have to, Remy.”
He held her hand there and she felt his heart beat. “Listen to me, Cassidy for once. I’m trying to tell you I love you.”
The moon seemed brighter in the evening sky and the roses from the garden smelled so wonderful, but she could hardly believe her own ears. “Wait. What? That’s impossible.”
He kissed her knuckles. “No, no it’s not. There was never room in my heart for anyone else but you, Cassidy. My heart and soul are yours and always have been.”
A huge choir of angels sung in her heart. She wrapped her arms around him. “Remy, I love you too.”
Then his lips met hers and nothing else mattered. Remington Burke loved her. Everything in her life was exactly what she’d always dreamed. They had their chance at happily-ever-after. The spark of his kiss made her believe him.
Chapter 19
Cassidy kissed Remy’s cheek as he still slept and rolled out of their wooden sleigh bed—king-sized oak with gold leaf inlays—flipping the white sheets and white comforter off her naked body.
She rushed into the bathroom a little faster than normal and let the shower take away all her muscle aches.
Soon, she was ready to face the day. She dressed and saw that Remy hadn’t moved from his pillow.
Even as a boy, he’d slept like the dead. She smiled with satisfaction—they’d stayed up late and he probably needed to regain his strength. Cassidy left and walked downstairs, and headed right toward Gigi’s room. She knocked and saw the gray-haired older woman she loved sitting on a chair, reading a book. She made a sound to let her presence be known, and then asked, “Gigi, care to take that walk in the gardens with me this morning?”
Gigi closed her book and left it on the table beside her as she stood on her own. She walked without a cane and said, “You’re glowing, my dear.”
“I’m happy. You look great.” Cassidy answered, unsure what else she could say. Gigi’s cheeks were pink again and her eyes clear. She offered her arm and Gigi accepted.
Gigi patted her elbow as they neared the back patio door. “The doctors think I’m making a full recovery now.”
“I’m not at all surprised.” Cassidy hugged Gigi tighter than before and almost picked her up. “That’s amazing.”
Gigi laughed as Cassidy let her go and directed them outside, toward her prized rose garden. “When you didn’t come to your wedding, I knew we had to find you. You’re the closest thing I ever had to a daughter, y’know.”
Her heart melted. Gigi was her only grandmother, really. She’d clipped her hair back this morning, but a gentle breeze freed a strand. “What about Remy’s mother?”
Gigi walked with her, but they paused at a large pink rose bush where Gigi inhaled a fragrant blossom. “She wasn’t married to my son long enough to really get to know her well. She was sweet though.”
“Thank you for everything.” Cassidy stared at Gigi’s slightly wrinkled face. “You’ve always been in my corner. I don’t know what I’d do without you.”
Gigi let her arm go and bent toward a vibrant purple orchard. “Take care of my Remington. He doesn’t see the blessings in his own character.”
“I agree.” Remy still saw himself as someone fun-
loving and looking the part of being Lord Sky when he had a serious side that he hid, like taking care of his people.
Gigi straightened and they continued down the path.
From the end of the walkway, they both saw Remington, fully dressed in gray slacks and a blue shirt waving from the patio. They meandered over as he came toward them and soon, he stood in front of them and kissed both their cheeks. “Grannie, I need to steal Cassidy away. We have to start revitalizing her tenants—it will be fun.”
He took Cassidy’s hand and a thrill raced through her. Remy loved her. She never thought it possible, but now she smiled and met his warm gaze. “I’m ready.”
Gigi waved them off and he walked her around the house toward his Ferrari, opening her door for her.
Every day for the rest of her life, she would wake up next to Remy. Nothing could be better than this.
He drove her toward her parents’ property though technically it would be hers one day. She settled in her seat and didn’t ask anything until he stopped in a small village of maybe ten homes in the area. She opened her own car door, not waiting for him, and asked, “How is this fun?”
He read a sheet of paper he pulled out of his pocket, then left it in the car, walked around and took her hand, guiding her toward the first house. “Come. You’ll see.”
She kicked a rock near her feet but stayed still. “Remy, I have never visited this village—I don’t know these folks.” It had been hard enough taking care of those living on her estate.
He massaged her lower back. “It’s part of your estate, bordering my property. I figured we’d start close and work our way through the villages and towns. It’s important to bring hope to our people.”
Okay. She could do this. She followed him as he walked to the first wooden cottage with a blue wooden door. A variety of wild flowers in pots added color. Remy tapped his knuckles against the frame. Her breath caught in her throat. “You just knock?”
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