“What do you mean?”
Clouds covering the moon drifted away, brightening the entire area. He made out the frown on her beautiful face as she looked up at him. Looking into the big brown eyes took his breath away. He resisted the urge to stroke her cheek and enjoy the soft cocoa brown skin.
Richard had paid for her to have her hair done. He thought it looked nice, hanging in a silky black sheet on both sides of her sweet face. But he’d liked it natural as well, before the perm.
She must think he pretended he didn’t understand what she was getting at. He wouldn’t assume, so he pushed for her to elaborate.
“You know what I mean. Don’t play dumb. From what I hear, Azalie has been spending more time here at the mansion than at her own house. All these years I’ve been gone, she’s been spending the night.”
He opened his mouth to speak, but a chorus of laughter broke out nearby. Someone else had left the party and was headed their way. Zaid took Novette’s arm and led her deeper into the maze. He knew the landscape well and was sure she did too. They wouldn’t get lost even if not much light illuminated the path.
At the next turn, they found a bench, and he led her to it to sit down. Sure enough, the laughter and voices faded as the group headed in a different direction. They were alone again.
“No one can tell Azalie what to do. Her mother can’t seem to control her, and your father gives her nearly the same freedoms as he gives you.”
“Freedoms? You’ve got to be joking.”
“I mean having the run of his home.”
“Hmm.”
“Is something worrying you about her?” He could guess, but he continued to push her to speak her thoughts.
“Other than…no never mind that.” She chewed her lip, and he guessed she had curtailed one line of thinking to follow another. “I’m just going to say it. Is Azalie having an affair with my dad? Tell me the truth.”
He widened his eyes. “What?”
“You heard my question. Azalie is a ho and everyone knows it.”
He winced, and she laughed.
“She is. Every other day she has a new boyfriend. She’s never been faithful to any one of them. She can’t help herself. That woman loves being admired and spoiled. The more she can get it, the better. It would be the ultimate for her if she gets my dad to eat out of her hand.”
“You have a dim view of your friend.”
“Oh, I’ve never had illusions about Azalie. If I met her after we grew up, I probably wouldn’t have given her the time of day. Because I knew her when she was sweeter, I take the good and the bad. I hoped she would mature and change while I was gone, but I can see she hasn’t. Still, she had lines she wouldn’t cross back then. If she’s seeing my dad... Oh God, it makes me ill to think about.”
“I don’t believe they’re intimate. Not for want of trying on her part, I’m sure.”
He kept his expression impassive but was sure she couldn’t see him well enough to know if he was lying. Of course, he spoke the truth as he knew it.
“You’ve lived here all this time. You’re trying to tell me you haven’t noticed anything?”
“I’m not your dad’s bodyguard. That means I’m not around him twenty-four hours a day. My duties often take me out of the house and away from his office. If they were trying to hide an affair, both of them are clever enough to keep everyone out of the loop. Especially your dad.”
“You’ve got a point. Wait, oh God…”
“What is it? Are you going to be sick? I’ll look for a trash can.” He started to rise, but she laid a hand on his arm. The memory of holding her and kissing her stirred inside him. He pushed the thoughts away.
“I’m not going to be sick. You said you’re not Beau’s dad, right?”
“I’m not.” A sudden urge came over him to impress upon her that there wasn’t any chance he could be Beau’s father. “I’ve never slept with her. Ever.”
She chuckled. “Wow, you sound serious.”
“I’m very serious.”
“That makes me feel good.”
They were back to the question of a relationship between the two of them. He rushed to ask, “So what upset you just now?”
“Oh yeah. I was thinking my dad could be Beau’s father. Can you imagine that sweet girl being my little sister? I can’t wrap my head around it.”
“If Beau was your dad’s daughter, Azalie would live here with her. She would have a trust fund already in place for the little girl, and she would have a monthly allowance.”
“You’re right.” Novette laughed. “Nobody loves the finer things in life more than Azalie. Well, that’s one relief, but it doesn’t answer the question of whether they’re lovers. Will you help me find out?”
“I…” He hesitated. Other matters he needed to investigate took precedence. He didn’t really care whether Mr. Kagen took a woman young enough to be his daughter to bed. On the other hand, he figured it would hurt Novette if they were having an affair.
He could learn the truth fairly quickly, but then he would be faced with whether or not to tell Novette if it was true. As he wrestled with the decision, she brought up another subject. The woman’s mind operated at the speed of light.
“Have you found out who was behind that kidnapping attempt?”
“Don’t worry about it. Your dad and I will take care of everything.”
“Don’t give me that!” She jumped to her feet and faced him. “Zaid, you’ve never treated me like I shouldn’t worry my head about the complicated stuff. I don’t appreciate you brushing me off now. My dad does that, and I can’t stand it.”
He stood. Temptation washed over him to run his hands along her arms. Every nerve in his body strained to pull her closer, but he resisted. “I apologize, but I just don’t want you to be afraid.”
“I am afraid.”
She stepped into his arms, and he wrapped his around her. God, why did she feel like she belonged there? He knew better. She was the daughter of his boss, and he could imagine how it would go over if he talked to Richard about marrying her.
Wait, marrying her?
He shook his head, trying to come to his senses. If he focused on the subject at hand, he could let go of the temptation she presented. Never mind that she stood with her head against his chest, giving him notions of keeping her there forever. Now he was being ridiculous.
She looked up at him. “I missed you so much, Zaid.”
His sense of reason abandoned him. He forgot how to breathe, and words stuck in his throat. She overwhelmed every sense, from the fear and sadness in those big brown eyes to the scent of coconut in her hair to the sweet longing in the tone of her voice.
“Novette, we shouldn’t…” He tried to tell her she should back off, that he wasn’t interested. The lie died on his tongue. And it was a bald faced lie, one he could never utter. Not want her? Preposterous. They had been on the verge of an affair before she left. Neither had admitted it, but he saw it coming.
“Don’t tell me that, Zaid.” She pressed tighter to him, awakening every inch of his body. “My dad bullied me before I left, trying so hard to decide what I do and who I see. I caved when I was twenty-one, but I’m not the woman I was back then. I won’t give in to him.”
“And what if it’s not what I want?”
She froze, obviously shocked. “My mistake. I shouldn’t have assumed.”
It took all of his will not to reach for her as she moved out of his hold. She walked along the path, her heels clicking on the cement. When she was just about to turn the corner out of sight, he called after her.
“I’ll look into what you asked me, the possibility of an affair.”
“Of course you will. I never doubted you would help me.”
Chapter 13
Novette shoved the covers aside and climbed out of bed. There was absolutely no sense in trying to sleep with her mind restless. She threw a robe on over her nightgown and walked downstairs. A midnight snack might settle her nerves. M
aybe a hot chocolate with some marshmallows and chocolate syrup would do the trick.
In the kitchen, she set the ingredients for her drink on the table and warmed some milk. One of the maids had baked a snicker doodle cake with cinnamon swirls inside and brown sugar buttercream frosting on top. Novette cut a generous slice.
“Mm,” she moaned. “This is going to be good. Maybe I can put myself into a sugar coma and forget everything.”
“Novette, what are you doing up so late?”
She jumped at her dad’s voice. “I can ask you the same thing. I’m having cake and hot chocolate.”
Her dad walked farther into the kitchen and pulled a chair out for himself. She noticed him looking around as if he expected one of the staff to serve him. Novette wondered how often he had cracked the kitchen door open.
“You want some, Daddy?”
“I can ring for someone.”
“Don’t be so spoiled.” She shook her head. “We’re strong enough to serve ourselves a midnight snack. Do you want some or not? I don’t want to brag, but I make a mean hot chocolate.”
“I suppose so.” His agreement was reluctant. “Whatever you did while you were gone is over, Novette. I saw the callouses on your hands and the dry skin. Those clothes you wore…” He shuddered. “The hardship is over. Just give me a little bit more time, and I’ll secure everything.”
“What do you mean ‘secure’? Daddy, you aren’t back to trying to choose my husband, are you?”
“It’s my duty to make sure you’re settled. “
“I knew that party was a lie.” She folded her arms across her chest. “Tell me something. Did you have people on standby, waiting until you found me? What were you going to do, line them all up and bully someone into making me an offer?”
He frowned. “Why would I ever have to bully anyone?”
“Never mind.”
“You’re wrong. I planned to talk to you and convince you of the importance of securing your future. Yes, I invited every eligible bachelor that I could, but I fully intended to allow you to choose whoever you wanted, when you wanted.”
“‘Allow?’ Wow, thanks.”
“Don’t be sarcastic, Novette. It’s not attractive.”
She rolled her eyes, but he wasn’t looking at her. He focused on her hands as she made the chocolate and cut him a slice of cake.
“You’re right,” he said. “I’ve changed my mind. If I wait for you to come around, there’s no telling what will happen.”
“I don’t understand you, Daddy.”
“Never mind, dear. I’ll take care of everything.”
She ground her teeth in frustration.
“Tomorrow over brunch, you’ll meet the two candidates I favor most.”
“No.”
“I’ve prepared a dossier on both of them, family background, connections, net worth, et cetera.” He spoke as if she hadn’t just refused his plans.
She slammed the knife down on the counter. “I said no! I’m not going for your plans, nor will I be bullied into accepting whatever you say. Five years ago, I was weaker and afraid to go against you. That’s not happening now. Besides…”
Her bravado faded a bit in the face of the fury emanating from him. Richard Kagen wasn’t used to being defied. Then again, he should be. She’d been mouthy for years. It was funny. She’d once heard a maid tell another staff member that when Novette hit eleven, the guard fell off her mouth and the attitude went into overdrive. It was a puberty thing, the woman had said.
Novette never won an argument with her dad. He was smarter and held all the cards. Even when she was stubborn and determined to have her own way, he managed to pressure her into giving up. Manipulating people was what he did for a living, and he was excellent at his job.
Her dad leaned back in his chair as she placed a piece of cake and a mug of hot chocolate before him. He folded his arms much as she had done and narrowed angry blue eyes at her. “Besides, what, Novette?”
“I’m already interested in someone.”
His eyes widened. “Who?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
“It matters very much. I won’t have you involved with someone inappropriate. No, let me rephrase. If you want to have a little fun, I don’t care. Enjoy yourself. As long as you use protection and your head, it’s fine. For something more serious, he needs to be vetted by me.”
“God, you’re impossible. What are you going to do, hire a private investigator to look into his background? Well, forget it.”
He frowned in distaste at this idea. “No, I’ve had more than enough of that group.”
“What do you mean?”
To her surprise, he took hold of her hands and drew her nearer to him. She hoped he wasn’t about to pull her onto his lap. The last time she sat there she was nine, and she told him in no uncertain terms she was too old for that mess. He’d laughed and allowed her space.
This time, he only held her hands, and the expression on his face looked something like love. “Novette, I hired every private investigator I could to find you. When those with the best reputations couldn’t get it done, I confess I threw away money on fools. I was desperate to find my daughter.”
Her heart constricted. “Because you couldn’t stand losing the one person you hadn’t forced to cave to your will.”
“You’re my daughter. I love you. I want to make sure you’re safe and taken care of.”
“Sometimes I’m not so sure.”
A light of genuine pain crossed his features. “When have I made you think I don’t love you?”
She didn’t want to give in to him, but her words held little heat. “Do I have to spell it out? I figure you love me in your own way, Daddy. I’m trying to get it through to you that I’m my own woman. I’ve got to live my life my way. Please, just back off with the marriage thing, and I promise to stay close. How’s that?”
He dropped her hands, and the anger returned. “In other words, you’re threatening your father with running away again? You think those are the actions of an adult? You’re still a child, Novette.”
She cursed under her breath. There was no winning with him.
He stood, leaving the cake and chocolate untouched. “Be ready at ten.”
“Daddy!”
He stopped at the kitchen door but didn’t turn around.
“Are you involved with anyone right now?”
“What?” He spun around, taken off guard with her question from the look on his face. “I’m not sure why you’re asking me that. I’ve had several arrangements since my wife died.”
“I know, but I was just wondering.” She didn’t expect him to blurt out that he was seeing Azalie. “If you want to know about my love life, how about you share information about yours?”
He chuckled. “That won’t be necessary. It doesn’t matter.”
With those words, he left her alone. Either he was so confident in his plans for her—and he felt they would go through without a hitch—or he was sure his activity wouldn’t be scrutinized by anyone. The man drove her mad.
As she pondered what to do about tomorrow, the kitchen door opened again. She expected to see a maid wandering in to see if she needed anything. Her dad had made her so mad, she raised her voice too loud a few times. Hopefully, she hadn’t disturbed anyone.
Zaid stood there in a pair of black slacks and a white shirt that was unbuttoned almost to the waist. This was the first time she recalled seeing him less than put together. The wrinkled shirt looked slept in, and his dark hair was a tangled mess about his head. God, he was beautiful.
“Zaid,” she breathed.
“I heard voices.”
“I’m sorry I woke you. I was arguing with my dad—as usual.”
He eyed the abandoned cake, and she picked up the plate to walk it over to him. Her heart beat out of control as she breathed him in and watched as he sampled the cake with his fingers. A few crumbs landed beside his mouth, and she forgot to resist brushing them away.
“Did you settle things?” He sounded so calm, whereas she shook like a leaf.
“No, we didn’t.”
“I’m sorry.”
She reached up again to touch his face. Not that there were any crumbs this time. He presented too much of a temptation to resist. He caught her fingers and drew them away. Her heart sank, but he didn’t release her hand. Instead, he held it in his at their side.
“You don’t have to be sorry. I know a way you can make me feel better.”
“Really?”
She drew in an unsteady breath. “Yes, you can marry me.”
Chapter 14
Marry her? She must be absolutely crazy. What in the world made her blurt out that crazy proposal? And in such a casual way like she was asking him out to a movie, for pete’s sake.
After the words left her fool head, she zipped across the kitchen, dumped all the dishes into the sink, unfinished cake and all. Then she scurried around Zaid and ran up to her room. The whole time Zaid didn’t move or speak. She knew he was in shock, but by the time it wore off she’d be alone and suffering embarrassment by herself.
Groaning, she threw herself onto her bed and stuffed a pillow over her face. Her stomach twisted and turned as the marriage proposal played repeatedly in her mind. She smacked the heel of her hand against her forehead.
Stop thinking about it, idiot!
One kiss led to this madness. It had to be the stress of coming home and finding her dad still plotting. That must be the problem. Plus eating like an animal since she was back. The extra nutrients flooded her brain, making her batty.
She laughed at the ideas rolling around up there. At least they interfered with memories of her humiliation. She reached for her phone. A quick text would put things right, and Zaid wouldn’t worry about her momentary weakness.
A soft tap on the door stopped her from finishing the text. Her mouth dried. “W-who is it?”
The door opened without an answer, and Zaid stepped inside. He shut them in together, and her room shrank in an instant. Her mouth fell open.
“I was just about to text you that I was just being—”
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