Caitlyn let the tears fall and climbed the stairs. Love didn’t matter. She’d messed up any chances she had with Roy and nothing could change all her lies. She’d not take a dime from her marriage which meant she was starting from zero. As soon as she found a job and a small place to live, she’d get out of this madhouse too. She didn’t need much.
Roy Bentley walked the halls of his high-rise office building that employed over a thousand legal minds. This was his business and he was back in control. Now that all charges were dropped against him, he could legally retake his rightful place.
Casework increased overnight it seemed as word that his family was dismissed of all charges spread over the Internet like bees returning to their nest.
Everything about today was supposed to shine, but his soul stirred and his gut felt like he’d been kicked in the private parts.
Watching Caitlyn leave twisted him up inside. He’d refused to tell her goodbye when she’d left though she’d looked for him.
The last thing he needed was for her to pity him and in that moment, he’d been weak.
As he walked through the sleek glass building with black floors and shiny walls that glimmered from the Miami sun, his staff waved and smiled at him. When he passed his desk, his secretary, the young brunette who always had a ponytail, Stephanie Wilson, stood and said, “We’re glad you’re back at work, sir.”
Stephanie made great coffee and was pretty, but her smile was nothing compared to Caitlyn’s brilliance. Caitlyn had made his ordeal enjoyable. He faked a smile. “Thanks. It’s good to be back. I’ll need all those filings done by the end of the workday.”
She gave a curt nod and hopped back to her desk. “We’re on it.”
Stephanie, no doubt, was at the top of her game and truly handling everything for him behind the scenes.
He closed his office door and turned on his work computer.
Stephanie sent him about a hundred reports she must have been running. He opened the summary report and caught up to speed.
His eyes blurred despite the retina advances to the view screen.
The sun was already past it’s midpoint and people would probably start going home soom. Roy rubbed his temples , needing another coffee, when someone knocked on the door. He glanced up and saw his brother, Logan, who let himself in as he asked, “Roy?”
“Talk to me.” Roy stood, closing the screen.
Logan chose the leather office chair opposite the desk without being asked as if it were his throne. “You’re back at work.”
And his brother was running his investment firm again. They all were back to normal, almost. Roy retook his seat. “Absolutely. Been here most of the day.”
Logan scooted closer and his tone was accusatory when he said, “Caitlyn’s gone.”
“I know.” Roy felt the squeeze inside his chest.
Going home, alone, didn’t appeal to him. He would never see her again. His body craved her, but more important was how she’d left this huge crater in his heart.
Logan pressed his hand against the black glass desk. “And you’re okay with it?”
Had she given him options? No. He refused to make himself sick over Caitlyn’s departure. “She didn’t leave me much choice.”
Logan leaned back and stared at him like he was still the older brother teaching Roy how to play baseball. “Seems to me you were falling in love with her.”
Love. His heart fluttered. He stood. “Close the door.”
Logan rose and reached it first. He shut the door and Roy’s adrenaline pumped faster. “Who were you speaking to about this?”
“No one.” Logan sank back into his chair. “Why does it bother you if I spoke about it?”
His racing heart and sweaty palms hadn’t happened since some law professor made him feel stupid for his opening statement. He ignored the feeling and sat, elbows on the desk, while he denied everything. “It doesn’t.”
Logan’s gaze narrowed. “Because you can admit that you love Caitlyn?”
His brother made it seem like he had magical powers where he saw the truth that Roy didn’t want him to see. Roy pressed his heels into the floor like he did whenever he needed to focus and shook his head. “I don’t know about that.”
Logan stared at him like he’d judged him and the verdict wasn’t in Roy’s favor. “You don’t? I thought it was obvious. Last night you were so concerned about her.”
His face heated. This wasn’t good at all. Roy held the armrests of his chair and hoped his unease wasn’t obvious. “Anyone would have been. She was hurt because of me, and I can’t force her to stay.”
Leaning closer, Logan said, “You could have told her how you feel.”
And risk being stupider than he already was? It was better to let emotions die. “Feelings don’t matter.”
Logan got to his feet and made a proclamation. “That’s where you’re wrong, little brother. I love Hannah and she loves me.”
“I’m happy for you.”
“And Caitlyn made you happier than I’ve seen you, even when we were all growing up at home.”
True. But in the end none of this mattered. The pounding in his chest didn’t change anything—she wanted a divorce.
“Go get the woman you love before it’s too late.” His brother left without another word, and Roy went back to work, pushing aside Logan’s advice.
With the increase in casework from today, he anticipated returning to where he’d left off by the end of the month.
Stephanie had done her job very effectively. He clicked the approval button more times than he could count, but nothing kept his focus for long.
Every few seconds, the image of Caitlyn walking out of the condo with her suitcase behind her replayed in his head.
Over and over again and jaw clenched. As the hours ticked past, Roy became uneasy. Finally at four o’clock he adjusted his tie and jacket and headed out the door. He stopped at Stephanie’s desk. “I have to go.”
She stood and held out four file folders. “Sir, we need your signature on these new clients. Can you check them out before you go?”
He took the files, weighing the need to leave with doing his job, something he’d missed terribly. “I’ll review them now.”
Roy hurried back into his office and flipped through the papers, picking up his pen from the holder. Everything was fine. He signed where Stephanie put the flags and closed the folders. Now he was free and didn’t have anything to hold him here. He walked out of the office again and handed the folders to her. “Finished. Please send me the report at the end of the day.”
She hugged the folders to her chest, clearly happy to be running things again as she said, “Glad to have you back, sir.”
He waved at her and intended to give her a giant raise. “Thanks.”
Outside, the humidity of Miami beat down on his head until he slid into the cool air conditioning of his limo.
Once he was inside, he rolled down the partition with a push of a button. “Driver, please take me to where you dropped off Caitlyn.”
The driver kept his gaze on the street ahead. “We’ll go to her parents’ house then.”
The dinner had been scheduled for tonight. Surely, they’d canceled? The drive through Miami took more time than he wished. His skin felt jittery and at last they stopped in front of a house in Sunrise.
The party must have continued though as cars were all over the side street and in the driveway. Roy stepped onto the well-cut grass, toward the walkway.
His knock on the door echoed, but he stood still until Caitlyn’s father opened the door. The bright sun and the humidity in the air made this moment heavy. Roy stilled as he said, “Good afternoon, sir. I was hoping to see Caitlyn.”
Her father held the door wide and a blast of air conditioning hit him. “She wasn’t expecting you.”
Fair enough. Her father should protect her. Roy never should have let her leave. He lowered his head. “I know. I was hoping she’d see me anyway.”
; Her father stepped to the side and waved for him to enter the Cooper home. “Please, go right on out to the back patio.”
Roy checked to see that her father wore his shoes, so Roy kept his on. The house was full of people and he scanned the laughing folks but didn’t see Caitlyn, though many people smiled and said hello.
He weaved through the unfamiliar house and found the back patio.
At first he didn’t see her, but then he saw a bright red dress that clung to all her glorious curves. Instantly his body became aware of her which hadn’t happened to him since he was 14. He stepped behind her and asked over her shoulder, “Caitlyn, what on earth are you wearing?”
Her face turned bright red as she glanced over her shoulder and her body tensed when she met his gaze. “Oh, goodness. It’s that bad. I thought so.”
The view of her chest as she turned toward him was sweet torture. He breathed in her rose scent and awareness of her grew as he said, “No, not at all. You’re beautiful. I’m just used to seeing you in more flowing dresses.”
She pivoted fully toward him, and kept her arms crossed but that only pressed her breasts higher. The blush on her cheek was the only thing that seemed natural. In his house, Caitlyn hadn’t worn much makeup, but today she was completely put together and looked so different. She took his breath away—but she didn’t seem real. “My mother insisted I wear this. What are you doing here?”
Somehow, he needed to convince her to come home with him and never leave. He hoped she agreed to his argument that he started with a simple, “I missed you.”
Her mother floated over with a peach-colored beverage in her hand. “Oh Caitlyn, your husband returned for our party. Excellent.”
Her mother continued her flight toward her friends next to them.
Caitlyn’s face flooded with color. “Oh no. She probably thinks we’re getting back together.”
He brushed his hand against her shoulder. She didn’t back away and the openness in her clear gaze made him ache to hold her again. His voice was deeper in tone than he usually spoke but he said, “I’d like for you to come home with me.”
Guests buzzed around like they were listening in on her conversation as her entire body pulsated with energy. She wished they were alone as her hands clenched her sides and her body stilled as she asked, “Why?”
His pulse beat faster than he thought possible. No arguments, debates, or anger at the past clouded his judgment. His brain screamed this fact was dangerous but his heart pounded that it was the absolute truth. “Because I love you.”
A huge smile grew on her face. Caitlyn took his hand and tugged for him to go with her as she said, “Come with me.” She set a fast pace as they ran through the house and up the stairs. He barely had time to notice the family photos except they were all staged in studios. They made it to a bedroom that looked like a teenage girl still lived here with all the pink and gold glitter, but she closed the door and said, “Now that we’re alone, please say that again.”
He ignored the surroundings and focused on his wife. He squeezed her hands and stepped closer to her as he said, “Caitlyn, come home.”
“Because?” She swung their arms like she was excited.
He caressed the soft skin of her cheek and held her tight. “I love you. Going home without you feels lonely.”
“This is amazing.” Without a word she slipped out of his arms and bounced to her closet as she said fast, “Let me get my bag.”
Confusion raced through him and his mind was cloudy. “You’re coming with me?”
“I love you too.” She made a huge bang when she took the luggage off a shelf and it landed on the ground. She didn’t even blink as she then said, “I hadn’t unpacked so we’re set now.”
His heart was lighter. She loved him. He took her bag from her and they walked downstairs together, hand-in-hand. As they made it to the bottom step, her mother in her cocktail dress stood next to her father in his linen slacks and flowing organic cotton shirt and both of them stood between the last step and the door as her mother asked, “Caitlyn, Roy, where are you both going?”
Roy followed Caitlyn as she directed them to go around her parents toward the door. Caitlyn said, “Home, Mother. Sorry I darkened your doorstep this morning.”
“Glad everything worked out for you dear.” Her mother said and waved at one of her friends, clearly done with her now.
Caitlyn sneezed, but she hugged both of her parents. He shook her mother and father’s hands and waited until they were outside where Caitlyn again sneezed, her blue eyes watering. “Are you sick?” They could make a stop at the drug store and pick up cold medicine.
She shook her head. “It’s my mother’s perfume. I think I’m allergic.”
Roy didn’t blame Caitlyn as her step held more bounce the farther they went from the front door, across the lawn and into the safety of his waiting limo.
His lips tingled for a kiss—without an audience.
Caitlyn dug through her purse for a packet of tissues and some lotion and started to remove the makeup off her face like it itched. Her sweet face had bruises from yesterday and his gut twisted. On the other hand, her natural beauty shone through. They arrived at the building and he led her through the lobby fast so no one else saw her in that red dress that he longed to unwrap off her body.
Finally they made it up the elevator and once inside the condo he closed the door. Caitlyn slipped off her shoes, bare feet against the tile, dress fitted to her hips. [he feels what, because she is home?]. “Your mother has no idea that curves are sexy.”
Roye wrapped his arms around her as they entered the living room and she snuggled against him. “You forgive me for lying?”
“I was angry because you didn’t tell me sooner.” He flinched, afraid he’d taken a pin and popped the balloon she’d been sailing on. “But Caitlyn, the truth is I would have done the same. You were trying to help the police because of Hannah, who is like a sister to you.”
“Really?” Her soft voice held a hint of hope.
He led her toward the couch and waited for her to sit. She walked a little slower as if she expected something negative. He took the cushion next to her and held out his hand, which she accepted. “If one of my brothers or my sister decided to do something stupid, I’d have worked with the authorities. And marrying a man you don’t know qualifies.”
Her eyes watered and some leftover mascara washed down her cheeks. He picked up a tissue from the table behind them and handed it to her. She wiped her face and said, “Roy…”
Whatever she was going to say remained unsaid. He gently squeezed her hand and asked, “Yes?”
She balled the tissue in her hand, her gaze focused on his. “Any word about Officer Baxter or Sam Zandi?”
His gut twisted. He personally wanted to face off against Sam for those bruises she’d hidden under makeup today. He carefully traced her cheekbone and jaw as his heart beat differently and his lips reminded him with a pulse that he wanted nothing more than to kiss her. He tilted his head. “No, but I don’t want to talk about any of them tonight. I want to celebrate being with you.”
A smile tugged at her mouth and bloomed. She put her legs over his lap and scooted closer, wrapping her arms around his neck. “Sounds perfect. If you hadn’t come to the party, I intended to find you later to tell you how I feel.”
Her lips parted and her eyes closed as he said “For the record.”
Her eyes opened and she asked, “I’m the court?”
Roy massaged her lower back. “You’re the only court that matters to me and I just want it stated for the record that I said it first. I love you, Caitlyn and want only you as my wife.”
Her lids lowered and he kissed her. She tasted like apples and strawberries and everything sweet. He never wanted to let her go, ever again. She was his.
Caitlyn stretched her arms and snuggled into the soft sheets and blankets in Roy’s bedroom which was now theirs. She thought the green décor was perfect.
The
other room could serve as a second bedroom or an office—she didn’t care because she had no intention of moving back into it.
She slowly turned to her side when she heard Roy get out of the shower. She sat as he strolled out with a wicked smile. His cell phone rang, and he stopped to answer it, pulled into business rather than bed.
Oh, well. She threw on a blue dress made of cotton that had pockets on the sides, then went to get them breakfast but Roy held out his phone for her. “Caitlyn, Ollie wants to talk to you.”
“Me?” Her eyes widened.
She hadn’t actually spoken one on one to Oliver since she fainted and he checked on her but that hadn’t been about work. She took the phone and said, “Hello?”
Ollie sounded like he was in a busy place with lots of background noise when he said, “Caitlyn, my practice is in need of a nurse. Can you work here with me?”
Her heart leapt, and she met Roy’s gaze as she nodded though only Roy could see. “I wanted to ask you if there might be a position open.”
“So that’s a yes?” Ollie asked.
Roy dropped his white towel and quickly dressed in green boxer shorts and gray pants with a white shirt.
True. Oliver couldn’t see her. Her hands trembled with excitement. “Yes, sounds good.”
Oliver spoke to someone else and then said, “Perfect. I’ll send the application over today and you can start first thing tomorrow.”
Roy finished dressing with the suit jacket and his tie.
“Thank you, Ollie,” she said and ended the call.
She spun on her heels and handed Roy back his phone, throwing her arms around him as she said, “Your brother just offered me a job.”
He kissed her nose as he hugged her. “You wanted to work there.”
She’d worked as a nurse in the ER and it had been brutal. Now she had the job she wanted, working with pregnant women, and it was a dream come true. She released Roy and he straightened his tie as she said, “I did. I thought I’d have to beg.”
Roy adjusted his suit jacket as well and then placed his hand on her lower back as they walked out of the bedroom. “You worked well together and he saw how you cared for our mother. Ollie’s practice could use you.”
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