by Cate Beauman
Gwen started running toward the tarmac as the plane completed its taxi, then came to a stop. She pushed through the emergency doors—her quickest access to get outside—setting off the alarms, not caring.
Seconds later, the plane door opened, and Cade stepped out to a round of applause from the emergency personnel.
“Cade!” She picked up her pace, sprinting now, launching herself into his arms, laughing and crying her relief as she locked her legs around his waist, breathing him in. “Cade.”
He wrapped her up, holding on just as tightly. “I’m okay,” he said next to her ear. “Everything’s okay.”
“Oh God, Cade.” She struggled to keep her trembling at bay as she cradled his cheeks in her hands, staring into his eyes. “You’re here.”
He grinned. “I’m here.”
She sniffled. “I love you. I was so afraid I wasn’t going to get a chance to tell you how much.”
His smile returned as he pressed a kiss to her lips. “I love you, too.”
She closed her eyes, savoring the warmth of his mouth—his taste. Easing back, stroking his skin, she studied him as her heart rate began to settle. “You’re really all right?”
He nodded. “That was the longest flight of my life, but I’m here with you, and you happen to love me, so things are looking up.”
“Cade,” she whispered, resting her forehead against his. “Never do that again, okay?”
He laughed. “I’ll try my best.” He kissed her again. “What do you say we get things squared away around here? I want to go home—to hug Kaitlyn.”
She nodded, reluctantly letting him go long enough to gain her feet and wrap her arm around his waist, realizing all over again how close she’d come to losing the man who meant everything to her.
Gwen lit the candles on the mantle in the main bedroom, listening to the wind whipping and whirling as the waves roared, crashing violently against the shore. She set down the butane lighter, smiling as she touched the picture of herself and her baby girl moments after Kaitlyn had been born.
“Hey,” Cade said quietly, walking up behind her after his shower, kissing the top of her head, wrapping his arms around her waist.
“Hey.” She smiled again, leaning back against him, wearing one of his Paxton Enterprises T-shirts. “You smell good—like soap.”
“Like shampoo, too?”
She nodded. “You do.”
“I would say mission accomplished, then.”
She rested her palms on his forearms, certain she would never take having him close for granted again.
He pressed another kiss to the top of her head. “What are you up to over here?”
She shrugged. “I figure we’ll lose power before too much longer, so we might as well be ready.” She touched the picture again. “I was also reminiscing, thinking about the last storm we had. It’s hard to believe that this was happening.”
“That was a big night.”
“The biggest.” Her smile was back as she stared at the sweaty, exhausted, new-mother version of herself in the frame. “It was so intense—so fast. Two and a half hours. Brad checked me at three centimeters, and then I was pushing.”
Cade made a sound in his throat. “I’m sorry I missed it. I would have loved to have been there for you—and Kaitlyn.”
She nestled closer against the warmth of his naked chest, wondering what it would have been like to have had Cade’s support from the beginning. Eight months ago, he’d been a stranger—a developer who’d flown to the island by a twist of fate. So much had changed in such a short amount of time.
“I thought I had everything I needed. I had my baby girl, my family, a fresh shot at working with my mom in the job I’d always wanted.” She turned in his arms, staring into his gaze. “But I didn’t have you. You were here in Sanderson, but you weren’t mine—you weren’t ours.”
He shook his head, tucking her hair behind her ear. “Not yet.”
“I didn’t want to want you, Cade. I certainly fought my attraction to you. But you’re so gorgeous and sweet. And that accent of yours… God, I was so annoyed by that accent.”
He smiled. “Not a big fan of the Aussies, are you?”
Her eyes grew huge as he spoke—as all traces of the native Australian vanished from his voice. He sounded entirely different—completely American. “What is that?”
He shrugged. “Would you have preferred if I sounded like this?”
She adamantly shook her head. “No. I want you to be you—to sound like you. I was annoyed because your accent makes you that much more irresistible.” She stood on her tiptoes, kissing him. “Be you, Cade. Talk like you.”
He grinned. “So, more like this?”
It was her turn to grin when the Aussie was back. “Yes.” Staring into his eyes, her smile faded.
He frowned. “What just happened?”
She shook her head, blinking back a rush of tears. “I keep thinking about today—about how differently everything could have turned out, and it makes me sick to my stomach.”
After Cade had gotten things straightened out at the airport, they’d all come home, eaten dinner as a family, and then played games. But despite the fun and laughter of an evening shared with the people she loved, the reality of what could have been had never been far from her mind.
He kissed her forehead. “You were all I thought of—making it back to you and Kaitlyn. Two years ago, I don’t know that I would have cared if I had landed on the runway or in the sea, but it mattered today. When I touched down and saw you running to me, I’ve never seen anything better.”
She smiled as she sniffled. “I’m so glad you’re here, Cade.”
“I’m not going anywhere.” He kissed her, letting the meeting of their mouths spin out—gentle, tender. Cupping her cheeks, he took them both deeper as the wind blew hard, and the electricity finally gave up. “There goes the lights.”
She nodded, staring at him in the candlelight, sliding her palms down his pecs and abs. “I want to be with you.”
He glanced toward Kaitlyn sleeping in the portable crib. “She’ll be okay?”
Gwen smiled, tugging his towel away. “She’s exhausted. Between the excitement of having Winston around, plus you and her uncles, she might sleep for days. Every last one of you roughhoused with her.”
Chuckling, he shrugged, walking her backward to the bed. “It must be in the Y-chromosome or something.”
She lifted her arms as he pulled the T-shirt off her. “Or maybe it’s because you’re all big kids.”
He made quick work of ridding her of her panties, then her night bra. “That could be.” He grew serious as he kissed her lips, then her jaw as he eased her back to the mattress. “But I think we should talk about something different.”
She smiled up at him as her hands wandered over his back. “Like what?”
“Like how much I want you.” He moved to her neck. “Like how beautiful you are.” He kissed her collarbones next. “You’re so beautiful, Gwen.”
She brought his mouth back to hers, forever grateful that they were here like this—that his glorious body lay pressed against hers on a stormy night when everything could have gone so wrong. “Be with me, Cade. I want to be with you right now.”
He moved to open her legs wider, sliding himself inside of her, both of them moaning as he held her gaze.
Mouths met again, neither of them in any hurry while he lazily thrust, lacing their fingers, pushing her hands over her head—like he had the first time they were together. “I love you, Gwen. I’m so glad I finally get to tell you how much.”
She grinned as he did. “I love you, too.”
He picked up his pace, pushing deeper as another gust of wind battered the house.
She tipped her head back, whimpering, starting her glorious climb, trembling, tensing, waiting. “Cade,” she whispered, holding his gaze again.
He captured her mouth, kissing her, swallowing her quiet cries as she let herself go. He followed seconds lat
er, resting his forehead against hers as he erupted, groaning, filling her full.
Chapter 26
Gwen sipped her favorite herbal tea blend while she sat next to Callie and Molly at the kitchen table. Setting down her mug, she touched two of the ribbon options Molly was considering for her bridal bouquet. “I like this pale sage. It pairs well with just about anything.”
Molly nodded. “I think so, too. I’m pretty sure that’s the one I’m going with.”
Another gust of wind blew against the house as the rain poured down in sheets—the final remnants of the summer storm. Kaitlyn took her late-morning nap in the portable crib close by—the perfect opportunity for the three of them to sit down and finalize the last few details for Brad and Molly’s upcoming nuptials.
The worst of the weather had passed during the night, leaving minimal damage and minor flooding around the island. By the time everyone had strolled downstairs for breakfast, the power had been back on. Not long after an enormous family-style meal, Nate and Brad had left to check on Sanderson’s most vulnerable residents, while everyone else hung out at Carter House.
Molly pulled a document from her wedding binder. “Especially since these are the flowers we’re officially going with.”
“Oh, my gosh, I love this.” Callie beamed, studying the fancy mash-up of flowers Leah Sanderson had generated on an eight-by-eleven sheet. Orange calla lilies, red and peach roses, green berries, and tiny hints of purple filler flowers. “Your bouquets and table flowers are going to be amazing.”
Molly smiled smugly. “It pays to have an event planner as your soon-to-be mother-in-law—even if she’s in Europe during the entire planning process. Leah has all kinds of software that’s made pulling this thing together a hundred times easier.”
“Which is great since we’re doing most of this ourselves,” Callie added. The Sanderson/Carter wedding could have been a huge society affair—the event of the year—but they were keeping things small and intimate in their attempt to avoid the press after the Sandersons’ scandal. This would be the first Carter/Sanderson gathering since the fallout, minus Brad’s father and two uncles. Earlier in the year, Thomas had been transferred to prison to serve his sentence, and Matthew and Evan still made their home in Toronto. For everyone’s sake, it had been decided that they would keep their distance.
Gwen studied the mix of flowers on the sheet, sighing her happiness, reaching for her sister’s hand, already imagining Molly and Brad’s perfect day: Annie and Cletus’ inn decorated simply yet elegantly in the bride and groom’s colors; the warm, romantic glow of candlelight; plus the big white tent and fantastic ocean views. “This is going to be absolutely beautiful, Molly.”
“Thank you.” Molly squeezed her fingers. “I think the flowers pull everything together: the darker sage of your dresses, the white of mine, the beige of the guys’ suits. Then you have these gorgeous pops of color.”
Gwen and Callie nodded.
“But what about the cake?” Callie wanted to know. “Are you sure we can’t peek at the design?”
Molly shook her head. “You know it’s a surprise—even if you ask me a million times.” But she bit her bottom lip as she rolled her eyes. “Oh, all right. I’ll show you two because I can’t take it anymore. I need for someone to see it.” She pulled the mock-up from another folder, revealing a four-tiered circular masterpiece decorated with her famous buttercream, with intricate paste flowers trailing around the cake in elegant sweeps.
“Oh, Molly,” Callie whispered.
Gwen pressed her hand to her heart as her eyes filled. “Molly, this is stunning. Perfect.”
Molly nodded, blinking away her own tears. “It’s going to be a chocolate sponge with chocolate mousse between the layers. Brad’s favorite. He hasn’t seen this yet. It’s my gift to him.”
Gwen smiled. “He’s going to love it.”
Molly sniffled. “I think he’s writing me a song.”
Gwen leaned to her side, wrapping her arms around her sister because Molly rarely cried.
Molly hugged her back. “I’ve caught him hurrying to put his guitar away a couple of times.” She swiped at a tear. “I love him so much.”
Gwen kissed her cheek. “You two are going to have the most amazing life.”
“We really are.” Molly drew away, wiping at her face a second time. “But enough with this mushy stuff.” Clearing her throat, all business again, Molly hurried the mock-up back into the folder.
Gwen rolled her eyes. “Yes. Because who wants ‘mushy’ when they’re talking about their wedding?”
Laughing, Callie picked up her mug. “I think every last bit of this is great—fantastic. You’re going to have such a special day.”
Molly grabbed up one of the chocolate chip cookies on the plate in the center of the table. “I’d say we’re mostly set. Everything’s in place. And Leah’s insisting on ordering the flowers herself when she and Mini get home in a couple of weeks. She wants them bought at that fancy warehouse over in Boston.”
“So, let her handle it.” Deciding she liked Molly’s idea, Gwen broke off a piece of cookie to enjoy. “We’ll take care of everything once it gets here. You know Mom’s salivating to play with the flowers.”
Molly’s left eyebrow winged up. “And you’re not?”
“I didn’t say that.” Gwen smiled, batting her lashes at her sister. Her smile turned into a grin when Cade walked into the room, looking delicious in a pair of athletic shorts and a tank top that showed off his powerful arms. “Hey, you.”
He moved her way, pressing a kiss to the top of her head. “Hey. It looks like you ladies are still talking about the wedding. Pretty flowers,” he said, pointing to the picture still out.
Molly picked it up, tucking it away. “Thanks.”
“I got my suit taken care of—gave my tailor out in L.A. the information you gave me. He said he’d have everything sent out here with plenty of time to spare.”
Molly smiled. “Thanks for taking care of that.”
“Thanks for including me in your big day. I’m looking forward to standing up with Brad and Nate.”
“We wouldn’t want to do it without you.” Molly stacked everything together. “I think we’re finished.”
Cade nodded. “Good timing, then. Can I steal you for a minute?” he said to Gwen.
Her brow furrowed at his serious tone—at the intensity in his eyes. Despite his casual appearance, Cade was in billionaire businessman mode—something she didn’t often see. “Sure.” Shrugging to Molly and Callie, she followed him down the hall to the den, where he’d been hanging out for most of the morning, talking on his phone. “Is everything okay?”
He moved to the coffee table, picking up a small stack of papers. “Everything’s fine.”
She crossed her arms, watching him as he grabbed a pen because everything didn’t seem fine. Something was definitely up. “Did they find out what happened to the plane?”
He shook his head, sitting on the couch. “We won’t know that for a while.”
“Oh.”
He patted the cushion next to him. “Do you mind taking a seat?”
She sat because he was making her nervous—because she wanted him to say whatever it was that he needed to say. “What’s up, Cade?”
“I have a couple of documents for you—one I need you to sign. I figure Brad and Callie can be your witnesses.”
Her frown was back as she took the papers. “Why do I need witnesses?” She scanned the first couple of papers—a bunch of legal jargon—then the next, her eyes going huge as she saw the sum of money on the last page. “Cade, what is this?”
“They’re legal documents that give you access to my assets. My attorneys just drew them up.”
She swallowed. “Cade—”
He held out the pen to her. “I’m making you my power of attorney, so you can get to my bank accounts if you need to. The last couple of pages are for you to hang on to—for safekeeping. I’m making you and Kaitlyn the bene
ficiaries of my funds.”
She rushed to her feet. “But this says three hundred and fifty million dollars.”
He nodded. “If something happens to me, I need to know that you and Kaitlyn are taken care of. The power of attorney takes care of you if I’m incapacitated. The will if I’m dead.”
She paced now, shaking her head, loathing this conversation. “Nothing’s going to happen to you.”
He stood. “Something almost did. Yesterday was a hell of a close call, Gwen.”
She didn’t want to think about how close she’d come to losing him—or hearing him admit it. It still made her sick to remember the emergency personnel lined up along the runway—the endless waiting to hear of his fate. “Cadence is watching over you. I know that. I can feel that.”
He nodded. “I can feel that, too, but when your time is up, it’s up. There’s nothing she can do about that.”
Gwen moved faster now as she blinked back tears. “I hate when you say that—so matter-of-fact.”
He shrugged. “It’s true.”
She shook her head again. “I don’t want to talk about this.”
He moved to stand in her way, so she had no choice but to stop in front of him. “We need to. I’m helping you with the nanny expenses and the legal fees. All of that goes away if I’m not here—if we don’t have something in place.”
“Cade—”
He took her hand, squeezing her fingers. “I’ve already talked to my parents about this. They understand that these are my wishes. They’ll keep my shares of company stocks, but you and Kaitlyn get my money.”
She yanked away. “I don’t want your money.”
“It’s yours, anyway.”
“God, Cade.” She pressed her fingers to her temple, huffing out a humorless laugh, afraid she would cry otherwise. This was too much. All of this was too damn much. “I can only imagine what your parents are thinking right now—what they must think of me.”
He reached for her but dropped his hand when she evaded him. “They think I’m crazy about you. They know that I love you. That I love Kaitlyn. That you love me. They get a kick out of the videos and pictures I send to them all the time.”
