by Nina Singh
Cabe paced the length of the room and tried to get his pulse in check. It didn’t help. All the confusion and frustration of the past two days formed into a barreling rage inside his chest. He turned with a vicious curse and landed a swift, hard kick to the parlor table in the center of his office. It landed with a thud so loud it must have resonated to the floor below. But he barely heard the noise over the roaring in his ears.
* * *
Cabe’s administrative assistant knocked on his door again. This was probably the fourth or fifth time this morning. She’d been doing that, checking in on him, ever since the incident a few days back when he’d kicked the table over and caused such a loud ruckus. Apparently she wasn’t buying Cabe’s story that he’d tripped and toppled it accidentally. The interruptions were getting annoying. Not that he’d actually been focusing enough to get anything done. He hadn’t been able to focus on anything since Jenna had left his office three days ago.
“Betty. I really am fine,” he began. “You don’t have to—” He stopped when he realized there was someone in the reception area behind her.
“Actually, Mr. Jordan. Your father is here to see you.”
Cabe put down the spreadsheet he held in his hand. James was here? Now what? Then it occurred to him—his parents had no doubt heard about Jenna leaving their employ.
Cabe had some explaining to do.
Standing, he nodded at her. “Show him in.”
James entered wearing jeans and a blue checked shirt, no tie. His father had a sharp head for business, but had never been interested in dressing the part.
“Father. I’ve been meaning to set up a time to talk to you. And Tricia.”
“I figured I’d come by while you were in town. I probably should have called first.”
Did he always have to sound so overly polite with him? “It’s technically your company.”
His father pulled out the chair opposite the desk and sat. “You run it. Although that’s what I came to talk to you about. I hear we may be losing a valuable member of the Jordan team.”
He should have seen this coming, Cabe thought. Very little happened within the business that James wasn’t swiftly made aware of. He made it a point to know everything that went on with the company he started, regardless of who actually ran it.
“Jenna Townsend was on location to help me with the Caribbean expansion when things got a little...complicated.”
“So I gathered. Was there more than one complication? In addition to the missing jewelry?”
At Cabe’s puzzled expression, James continued. “Your reputation as a ladies’ man somewhat precedes you, son. Jenna’s a very attractive woman.”
Cabe grunted. Despite ditching the photographer back at the island, it looked like the gossip mill still churned out its story.
“I’ll squelch the rumors. This isn’t a long-term concern.”
James held up a hand. “That’s not why I’m asking, not because of the business.”
“It’s not?”
James shook his head. “Your mom and I, we’ve known Jenna since she was a little girl. She hasn’t had the easiest life.”
Cabe barely suppressed a groan. “Don’t I know it?”
His father’s eyebrows lifted. “She confided in you?”
He hadn’t really thought about it that way, but now that his father mentioned it... “I guess she did.”
“That’s surprising. She tends to keep that stuff about her family close to her chest.”
“We had a few opportunities to talk.” He looked his father square in the eye. “I sort of confided in her, too. I know we don’t normally talk about it with anyone, but I told her the truth.”
“The truth?”
“That I’m not really your son.”
His father sucked in a breath. “Is that how you put it? When you told her?”
“More or less.”
“That’s how you see yourself, then. As not really my son.”
How in the world had this conversation veered in this direction? They were supposed to be talking about Jenna and what it would mean to their business if she left the company.
“It’s not like I don’t realize how lucky I am. I owe everything to you and Tricia.”
James nodded slowly. “You’re not really my son and you owe us for bringing you up.”
Well, when he phrased it that way... But, as off-putting as it sounded, it was essentially the truth.
“As parents, you did everything you could,” Cabe reassured him.
“If that’s the impression you have of us, we clearly needed to do more.” He looked off to the side, summoning the words. “Listen, Cabe, your mother and I probably should have waited before adopting another baby. Tricia couldn’t handle her grief, and I wasn’t strong enough to help her. I was barely containing my own. But that doesn’t mean you weren’t wanted. Or loved.”
James may as well have sucker punched him. A lump formed at the base of Cabe’s throat. “Thank you for saying that.”
“I should have said it years ago. And more.” He swallowed visibly. “But I never found the right times. And frankly, I never found the courage. Until now. Better late than never, right?” James chuckled, thought it sounded false and the smile didn’t reach his eyes.
“Truth be told,” his father went on, “not only have you earned our respect repeatedly over the years, you’ve been a constant source of both joy and love in our lives, more so than we could have hoped that first day we brought you home. And I’m ashamed to admit that I didn’t tell you that or show you nearly as often as I should have.”
Or at all, Cabe thought. James’s words were beyond unexpected. He’d never so much as uttered an affectionate word to him over the years.
The James Jordan sitting opposite him right now bore little resemblance to the distant and distracted man Cabe had grown up with.
Was Cabe mistaken or were his father’s eyes actually shimmering with moisture? James was the strongest man he had ever known. Never once in his life had he seen him so much as shed a tear. He’d just appeared perpetually sad.
When James spoke again, his voice was thick. “You are and have always been my son.”
Cabe had to remind himself to breathe.
The words hung powerfully in the air. Both men stared uncomfortably at each other for several moments. For the life of him, Cabe couldn’t come up with a single thing to say.
Finally, James cleared his throat. “Now, where exactly do we stand with Jenna?”
Cabe blinked at the sudden question. His father was clearly ready to change the subject. Pushing his hair off his forehead, Cabe searched for a way to answer. How to describe where he stood with Jenna? “She’s unlike anyone I’ve ever met. She’s got an incomparable business sense, yet she’s sensitive and so aware of the needs of others. She can be infuriatingly stubborn but somehow knows when to compromise. She can make me angry as a hornet one minute, and then make me laugh the next. I’ve never been with anyone like her.”
“I see.” James studied the carpet, didn’t look up when he asked the next question. “Does she know?”
“Know what?”
His father looked at him as if he should be wearing a dunce cap. Maybe he was right. But he was still trying to process the overwhelming conversation of a few minutes ago. “I mean, did you ever actually come out and tell her any of this?”
“Uh. No.”
James shifted in his chair, uncomfortable again. “Listen, Cabe. Your mother and I haven’t exactly been the most open or, God forgive me, the most willing, when it came to demonstrating affection. I’ve known that in my gut. But I guess what we just talked about drove it all home.”
Another shocking admission. His father was making all sorts of confessions here.
“Maybe we’re
not the best examples to follow.”
Cabe hadn’t realized that he’d been following anyone’s example. But he had to acknowledge James’s point. In his last few conversations with Jenna, he’d been totally focused on her complete willingness to set aside her own needs for the sake of her family. He’d been trying to point out to her how wrong that was.
It was Cabe who was wrong; James had just shown him that. No, that wasn’t correct. Jenna had been the one to show him. James had merely just confirmed her point.
Up until today, Cabe had been too blind to see what was so clear all along. He’d always had the love of his parents. They really did value and cherish him. They just had no idea how to show it.
At least Jenna had the courage to accept the family she had and to love them anyway. She was right to call him a hypocrite.
“What I’m trying to say is,” James continued, “you’ve been a fighter your whole life. This is something worth fighting for. Jenna’s not the type of woman you want to lose once you have her.”
Clearly, James was no longer referring to the company.
CHAPTER TEN
JENNA TENSED WHEN her doorbell rang. She just couldn’t bring herself to entertain the possibility that it might be the police. She had no clue what she would say to them if they were already here for her. Though it would have to count for something that the bracelet had been returned. Taking a fortifying breath, she yanked open her door. Then did a double take when she saw who her visitor was.
“Cabe? I thought you would have returned to Manhattan by now.”
“Not yet. I had some agenda items to finish.”
Her heart plummeted. He was here on some kind of business.
“I wanted to come by and tell you that you can relax. No one’s going to press charges against your mother.”
Could she have heard that right? “I don’t understand.”
“Roger, my head of security, is former Boston PD. He’s still got a lot of connections. He’ll make sure the authorities know you had nothing to do with the robbery. And he can put in a word on your mom’s behalf, make sure she gets a break. They’ll be easier to convince now that the item is back in its rightful place. And because she’s seeking help for her addictions.”
Jenna’s relief almost had her knees buckling beneath her. That was an unexpected turn. She didn’t want to look a gift horse in the mouth but the development begged a question. “But why would your security head do that?”
“Because I asked him to.”
He had? Her mouth fell open. “I don’t know what to say. Except that I can’t thank you enough. Really, Cabe, that was above and beyond. You don’t know how much I appreciate it.”
But it still didn’t explain why he was here, at her door. He could have called with the info. Or had his secretary do it even.
He surprised her further by asking, “Can I come in?”
Stepping aside, she motioned him inside and shut the door. His eyes grew wide when he saw her packed airline bag against the wall.
“Are you going somewhere?”
She nodded. “I have some interviews lined up. Out of state.”
His lips thinned into a slim line. “I apologize. I should have called first.”
Suddenly he was serious, matter-of-fact. His mouth didn’t hold a hint of a smile. Still, all she could think about was how good it was to see him, just to have him in the same room. It didn’t seem possible that fate had given her a chance to see him one more time. Taking a moment to study his face, she thought how haggard he looked now. Dark circles framed his weary bloodshot eyes. He clearly had not bothered to shave this morning.
“It’s okay,” she assured him. “I have some time.” Though the truth was she’d actually be cutting it really close if she delayed any longer, barely giving herself enough time to get to the airport and check in. But she couldn’t bear to send him away just yet. She missed him! She’d been walking around zombielike these past few days, barely able to function, the features of Cabe’s face etched in her mind. The feel of his touch imprinted onto her skin. “Can I get you anything? Coffee?”
“Sure, that’d be great.”
Jenna went to the still-warm coffeepot, half full. She was glad she hadn’t had a chance to empty and rinse the carafe. When she returned, Cabe was sitting on her sofa, with her sketchbook lying open on the coffee table in front of him. He pointed to the page she’d been working on. “These are really good. Did you do them?”
She ducked her head at the compliment. “I try some designing in my spare time. Mostly necklaces.”
He picked up the book and studied it. “I had no idea you designed jewelry.”
Jenna set the coffee cup down, hoping he didn’t notice the trembling in her hands. This conversation was so awkward. All she wanted to do was wrap her arms around his neck and feel his lips on hers. Instead, she was racking her brain trying to come up with what to say next.
“I don’t know if it’s any good,” she replied with genuine doubt. No one had ever actually seen any of her sketches until now.
“You’re full of surprises, Jenna.”
Another awkward pause settled between them.
He inhaled a deep breath. “Jenna, you’re unlike any woman I’ve ever met. You design jewelry. You have an amazing head for business. You charm everyone you meet. And you’ve done an amazing job of managing your severely troubled parent while raising yourself and a brother.” He stood to face her, ran a finger down her cheek. A hot tingle ran up her spine at his touch, and the smell of his aftershave teased her senses. “You’re one of the bravest people I know, man or woman.”
Whoa. Jenna gave her head a shake. “Brave? How in the world am I brave in any way?”
“You really don’t see it, do you? The way you put your mom first, despite what it’s cost you. That takes the kind of rare courage few people possess. You actually confronted a known criminal to rectify what she’d done.” He visibly shuddered. “Please don’t do anything like that ever again, by the way.”
She sniffled on a laugh. “I won’t—I promise.”
He motioned toward her suitcase. “I know I have no right—but cancel those interviews. Say you’ll stay, Jenna.”
“You want me to stay at Jordan’s Fine Jewelry?”
Cabe shook his head. “Not exactly.”
She swallowed down the hope that had blossomed in her chest. How foolish of her. Of course she’d misunderstood him. Until she heard his next words.
“I want more than that. I want you to stay with me.”
He grasped her hand in his. Jenna couldn’t seem to make her brain work. Thoughts scrambled around in her head like fallen leaves during a windstorm. It was hard enough to wrap her mind around the fact that he was here, in her home. She couldn’t process what he was telling her. It was simply too good to be true. “Cabe, what are you saying?”
“I’m saying that watching you walk out of my office that day nearly broke me. I haven’t been able to sleep. I keep thinking about the way you felt in my arms, the way we were together on the island. I can’t lose that, Jenna.” He inhaled deeply. “I know I have a lot to work on. To make myself the kind of man you deserve. I just need you to be patient.”
That settled it. She’d obviously awoken to some alternate reality. The world had turned upside down. Cabe Jordan was pleading with her to be patient with him. Asking her to understand that he would work hard to become the right man for her.
“I know it’s a lot to ask,” Cabe continued. “You’ve obviously had the patience of a saint over the years. You’ve raised yourself and your brother on your own, made sure your mother didn’t completely self-destruct. It’s unfair to ask you to extend yourself any more for my sake.”
Tears sprang into her eyes. She reached for him, clasped his unshaven chin in her hand. “As far as
courage goes, you have it in spades, Cabe Jordan.”
It was his turn to look shocked. So she explained, “You’ve done your utter best all your life to try and make your parents happy. Even knowing that it may never be enough. That’s the definition of loyalty. Of bravery. You’re everything anyone could ever hope for in a son.”
He turned his face in her cupped palm, exactly as he had that day at the waterfall. “Then why? Why did you feel the need to leave at first?”
She choked down on a sob. “How can you ask that? I could barely face you. By then you meant so much to me. How was I supposed to ask you to accept the fact that my own mother had stolen from you?”
“You beautiful, silly fool. You have no idea how you impressed me.”
She was definitely hearing things. “Impressed you?”
He nodded. “You could have surrendered Amanda to the authorities. Then gone back to your job and lived your life. No one would have blamed you for doing so. Instead, you quit the job you loved and hired an attorney for her. You might not realize what kind of a person that makes you, but I do.”
“Is that really how you see me?”
“It’s exactly how I see you. I just didn’t know how to tell you any of that.”
Just those simple words, and somehow the steel bands around her heart snapped open. Cabe didn’t judge her on who her mother was or where she came from. He saw her strengths and judged her on her actions. He saw Jenna for who she was.
Maybe he could help her see it, too.
He pulled her to him then, kissing her deeply and holding her tight against his frame. “Besides, by then I’d already fallen in love with you. You could have asked me anything.”
Her heart had not only just sprung free but Jenna was certain it would burst any moment now. “You love me?” she stammered, her mind on the verge of going numb.
He didn’t need to use any words when he answered her.
* * *
“You look beautiful, Jenna.”
Jenna turned away from the boutique mirror to face the two ladies helping her get ready. “Do you really think so, Seema?”