Waking Up with the Boss

by Sheri WhiteFeather

  Wasn’t it?

  Yes, he told himself. He didn’t want Carol going off with someone else, no matter how scary the prospect of marrying her was to him.

  “I’m getting sleepy,” she said, jarring him back to the moment.

  He looked into her eyes, this woman he was considering as his wife. By now, his heart was thudding in his ears. “I figured you’d want to turn in early.”

  She stood and smoothed her blouse over her tummy. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  He came to his feet, too. “I can walk you to your wing.”

  “That’s all right. I can manage.”

  “I know, but I want to.”

  “Really, it’s okay.”

  “Can I at least say good-night to the baby?”

  “Of course.” She invited him to come closer.

  Immersed in myriad emotions, he put his hand on her stomach, spreading his fingers across the tiny bump that was their child. Then he glanced up and said, “Sleep well,” to Carol.

  “I will. It’s been a nice day, but a long one, too.”

  She ended the connection, and he watched her walk away, the night embracing her just before she disappeared into the house.

  Jake remained by the pool with a life-altering decision on his mind.

  * * *

  Carol got ready for the office, expecting to carpool with Jake. They rode together when their schedules meshed, and today was one of those days. But when she went into the main kitchen to meet up with him, she saw that he hadn’t gotten suited up for work yet. He was a wearing a T-shirt and sweat shorts.

  “Are you going in late?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “I’m not going in at all. I’ve got too much going on in my head.”

  “Did something happen? Is something wrong?” Now that she took a closer look at him, she noticed how frazzled he seemed, as if he’d been up all night. He hadn’t even had his breakfast yet. His protein shake was still in the blender.

  Everything else was in order, though. His state-of-the-art kitchen gleamed, the stainless-steel appliances shining like mirrors. Of course, the cleaning crew was just there yesterday.

  “What’s going on, Jake?”

  He pulled a hand through his hair. “I think you and I should get married.”

  Oh, my God. Carol felt as if the refrigerator had just opened up and sucked her inside, closing off the air to her lungs.

  “What do you think?” he asked.

  Needing to get off her feet, she sat on a bar stool at the center island counter. “Did you say married?” She repeated his strange proposal, making sure she’d heard him correctly.

  “Yeah, you know...” He made walking motions with his fingers, using both hands, mimicking a couple going down the aisle.

  Carol couldn’t have been more confused. “Why?” she asked. “Why do you want to get married all of a sudden?”

  “For our daughter.”

  “That’s the only reason?”

  He frowned at her. “Isn’t that enough?”

  “No.” She couldn’t pretend that it was, no matter how badly she’d always ached to be a wife. “People who get married should be in love.”

  “But we love our child,” he countered. “And she deserves to have both of her parents in the same house, living as a couple.”

  “Just being in the same house with a piece of paper between us isn’t going to make us a family. You know that as much as I do. You and I were both raised by parents who loved each other, as well as their kids. That’s the kind of family I want.”

  “But our baby girl needs us to be together.”

  He wasn’t listening, she thought. “I’m not talking about our daughter. I’m talking about us.”

  “But I don’t want you to marry someone else.”

  She blinked at him. “What?”

  He poured his foamy green shake into a glass and took a swig. “If you don’t marry me, then someday you’ll marry some other dude and our poor kid will be shifted back and forth, between him and me.”

  “So that’s what this is all about? You being jealous of a man who doesn’t even exist yet?”

  “What’s so wrong with that? Me not wanting him to hone in on my child? Or my woman?”

  She narrowed her eyes at him. “I’m not your woman.”

  “You could be, if you married me. I’d give you everything, Carol. You’d want for nothing.”

  “Except love?” Her heart hurt from the thought of it.

  “You’re not in love with me, either, so what difference does that make?”

  “It matters. It’s the dream I’ve always had.”

  “Of being with a guy who is nothing like me? Well, excuse me for offering to marry you and ruining your picture-perfect dream.”

  “That isn’t fair.” Even now, as she gazed into his deep dark eyes, she knew that she was capable of loving him. That maybe she was already well on her way. But God help her, she wasn’t about to say it. Just thinking it could be true, just realizing that it might be happening, made her want to cry.

  “Please, Carol. Say yes.”

  “I can’t.” She couldn’t put herself in a position that might result in her loving a man who might never feel the same way about her. Already she could feel her soul being crushed.

  He persisted. “Just think of how beautiful the wedding could be. We could get married on the beach. And we could have a big, sweeping reception and feed each other cake and do all of the things brides and grooms are supposed to do.”

  Damn him for making it sound so idyllic, for putting those images in her head. “Yes, the ceremony would be beautiful. But that’s just a party. A fancy event.” Something Jake excelled at. “It wouldn’t be our day-to-day lives.”

  “I think having you as my wife would be sexy.” He put down his drink. “I’d carry you to bed right now, if you’d let me.”

  She shook her head, fighting the urges rising inside her. She couldn’t let him tempt her, no matter how hot he made her feel. “It would never work.”

  He stared across the counter at her. “We’d be good together, Carol, and you damn well know it.”

  Good. Bad. Right. Wrong. They would be all of those things. But without the possibility of him loving her, she couldn’t break down and marry him. “My answer is still no.”

  “Refuse all you want, but this isn’t over yet.” With a rough catch in his voice, he stuck to his misguided plan. “I’m the father of your child and come hell or high water, I’m going to be your husband, too.”

  Thirteen

  Jake worked on Carol over the next two weeks, trying to charm her into accepting his proposal. But he struck out.

  He wasn’t discouraged. He was going to keep at it. In fact, he had a ring in his pocket that he hoped would eventually sway her.

  This was the perfect night to present it to her, as they were going to a black-tie charity event for his foundation. Jake was already dressed in his tuxedo.

  He figured that, by now, she was ready, too. He knocked on the main door to her quarters, and she answered his summons.

  “I just need to put on my shoes and grab my purse,” she said. “Then we can go.”

  “No problem. We’ve got time.” He checked her out. She was attired in a classic black gown with a beaded neckline. Her baby bump was evident, and oh-so-sweet. He was glad there was no mistaking it. Her hair, he noticed, was swept up into an elegant twist, the strawberry blond color shimmering beneath the overhead light. “You look gorgeous,” he told her.

  “Thank you.” She stepped into a pair of low-heeled pumps. “You’re rather dapper yourself.”

  “Thanks. I think I look like a groom.”

  She didn’t reply, but he suspected that his comment made an imp
act, just as he’d intended. No doubt, it would cross her mind throughout the night.

  He said, “Before we go, there’s something I want you to have.” He wasn’t going to waste any time in turning the ring over to her. He reached into his pocket and removed the case.

  “Jake.” She started to protest before he even gave it to her. Clearly, she had an inkling as to what it was, based on the box.

  “Just indulge me, okay?” He flipped it open and showed it to her. The gold ring had two hands holding a heart-shaped stone, with a crown at the top. The heart itself was a flawless, six-carat, fancy vivid pink diamond. “I researched Irish rings and read about Claddagh styles, so that’s what this is. I had it custom made. I discussed the specifics with the jeweler, of course, but this is the first time I’ve ever bought a gift on my own, where I didn’t ask my stylist for help.” He paused to collect his thoughts. “Claddagh rings have been around for thousands of years, but jewelry experts disagree about their exact origin, so they’re shrouded in mystery, even today. According to what I uncovered, there is a right and wrong way to wear to them. There are four options—single, in a relationship, engaged and married. If you wear it on your right hand, with the crown pointing toward you it means single, away from you on that hand means you’re in a relationship. If you wear it on the left hand with the crown toward you, it means engaged, away from you shows that you’re married.”

  “Oh, my.” She removed the ring from the box. “The detail is exquisite. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

  “The band is shaped like an eagle feather so that part is different from traditional Claddagh rings. I did that to represent my and our baby’s Choctaw blood. I got the idea from the Kindred Spirits monument and the style of feathers used for that.” He softly added, “I wanted this to be special between us. For now, you can wear it on your right hand with the crown toward you to show that you’re single. Later, when you decide that you want to marry me, you can switch it to show that we’re engaged.”

  She inspected the design, turning it, looking at the band from every angle. “The story behind it is fascinating.”

  Did that mean he was making headway? “I chose a pink diamond because they’re rare. I considered a bigger diamond, but that one complements the shape and size of the ring.”

  “Are you kidding? It’s huge already. It’s absolutely breathtaking.”

  “When we get married, I’m going to have the same type of ring designed for myself. Men can wear them, too. But I won’t put a stone in mine. It will just be made of gold.”

  Her voice cracked a little. “I already told you that I can’t marry you, Jake.”

  He reiterated the point he’d made earlier. “You can wear it in the single position.” He just wanted to make sure the ring was in her possession. “That’s all I’m asking for now.”

  Her breath rushed out. “Okay. I’ll accept it under those conditions.” She placed it on her right hand with the crown pointing toward her. “Thank you for thinking of me and the baby. I’m touched by all of the time and care you put into it. Really, truly, it’s overwhelming.”

  Her praise and appreciation gave him hope. “Just remember that someday you are going to be my wife. I can’t let another man be involved in raising our child.”

  “Don’t talk about that. Let’s just go out and have a nice time.”

  “All right.” He glanced at the glittering jewel on her finger, wishing he could hold her. And kiss her. And make her marry him. But for now, this was a start.

  * * *

  The casino-themed party was being held at a renovated 1930s mansion that Jake owned. Typically, he rented it out for private events, but tonight it was being used for his charity. Carol thought the place was spectacular. Mostly, though, her mind was on the ring he’d given her. The color and clarity of the diamond was stunning. The cultural history associated with the ring was beautiful, too. Problem was, the design included a heart, yet Jake’s proposal didn’t involve loving her. He was still making his case about not wanting her to marry someone else or separate their child from him. In that regard, nothing had changed.

  Nonetheless, she’d accepted the ring. Of course, she was wearing it in a way that defined her as single.

  Painfully single, she thought.

  Even with how hard she’d been trying to fight her feelings, Carol couldn’t deny that she’d fallen in love with Jake. And for her, it didn’t get any worse than that. She’d never envisioned unrequited love as being part of her future. But what woman did? That wasn’t the fairy tale of which dreams were made.

  “Can I get you anything?” Jake asked as they moved deeper into the mansion.

  “No, thanks. I’ll grab something later.” There was plenty of food and drink available; the buffet was overflowing with gourmet goodies. “You don’t have to babysit me. This is your party, and you need to make the rounds.”

  He frowned. “I don’t want to leave you unattended.”

  “Don’t worry. I’ll be fine. I might even play roulette for a while.”

  “Okay. But in case you need to rest, take this.” He pressed a key into her hand. “It’s for one of the private suites. It’s the first door at the top of the stairs.”

  “Thank you. That’s very thoughtful of you.”

  “I just want you to be able to get off your feet. If you’d rather go home early, you can do that, too. You can take the car, and I’ll catch a ride with Garrett. Either way, I know how tired you get these days, and it’s probably going to be a late night.”

  She opened her bag and dropped the key inside. “I’ll use the room if I need to.” She didn’t want to leave the party without him.

  He angled his head. “What do your friends think, Carol?”

  She gave him a perplexed look. “About what?”

  “Me wanting to marry you. You’ve told them, haven’t you?”

  “Yes. And they think I should accept your offer.” She’d hoped that at least one of them would see it her way, but none of them had. “They don’t understand why I would refuse to marry a rich and handsome man who also happens to be the father of my child.”

  His gaze locked on to hers. “So they’re not buying into your love theory, either?”

  “Your billionaire status cancels that out, I guess. Most people are swayed by money.” And once they saw the ring, they would be even more impressed.

  He shrugged. “I’ve gotten used to that. Besides, I’d rather have them on my side, no matter what their reasoning.”

  “You better get going.” He was standing too close for comfort, making her feel too much. “You need to tend to your guests.”

  “Yeah, I suppose I do. I need to find Garrett, too. He’s somewhere around here. I’ll check on you later, okay? I have a key to the room as well, so I can let myself in if you’re up there.”

  She nodded and watched him walk away. He was right about his tuxedo. It did make him look like a groom.

  Carol went in the opposite direction. There were makeshift casinos on both sides of the mansion, with most of the ground floor having been converted into a gambling den.

  She found a roulette table with an open spot. She played badly, but it didn’t matter if she won or lost. All of this was to benefit foster kids. If anyone knew how important that was, it was her and Jake and Garrett. And Max, too, of course, but he was still traveling. He’d been informed about the baby by now, though. Jake had finally called and told him.

  “Well, hello there,” Carol heard a woman say from beside her. She glanced over and saw Lena Kent.

  “Oh, wow,” Carol responded. She hadn’t crossed paths with the pop star since the private island party. Lena looked like the celebrity she was, with her platinum blond hair and feline eyes. She wore a slim gold dress, slit up the front, with a white feather boa draped around her neck.

  “
I heard that you’re having Jake’s baby, and it appears the rumors are true.” Lena grinned at Carol’s belly. “Is that from the Caribbean?”

  “Yes. Your couples-only weekend was the culprit.”

  Lena struck a dramatic pose, giving her feather wrap a quick toss. “So glad I could be part of it.” She was still smiling. “You better make me an honorary relative.”

  “Absolutely. You can be her eccentric aunt.”

  “Her? It’s a girl? Well, that settles it. I’m going to take her shopping and spoil her with all kinds of bling. Speaking of...” Lena gestured to Carol’s ring. “Check out the rock on your finger. Is it from Jake?”

  “He just gave it to me tonight.”

  Lena grabbed her hand to get a closer look. “Damn, that’s nice. It’s so regal with the crown, too. Perfect for you and how classy you are.”

  “Thank you.” Carol explained the meaning behind the ring and why she was wearing it on her right hand. “I’m just not ready to marry him.”

  “I can see why you have your reservations. I never pictured Jake as the marrying kind. But I think it’s kind of cool that he wants to settle down and try to be a husband. I’ll give him points for that.” Lena straightened her boa. “By the way, I’m not with Mark anymore. We stopped seeing each other soon after my birthday.”

  “Oh, I’m sorry. I thought you made a great pair.”

  “It was fun while it lasted. But I have someone new.”

  “Already?”

  Lena laughed. “It’s been a while.”

  Yes, of course. Carol’s pregnancy was proof of that. “Does Mark still work for you?”

  “No. It got too awkward. I hired another dancer to replace him.” Lena nodded toward the other side of the room. “Just to make you aware, there’s a hot brunette over there who’s been staring at us.”

  “Maybe she’s a fan of yours.”

  “I get the feeling it’s you she’s been watching.”

  Carol glanced over her shoulder. A hot brunette indeed, all decked out in red, glitzy from head to toe. “That’s Susanne Monroe. She used to go out with Jake. They broke up right before he took me to the Caribbean.”