by Jenna Harte
There weren’t many people in the world Drake felt completely comfortable with. He could count on two fingers the number of people he trusted, and the outspoken, reliable, elegant, Marla Hines was one of them.
“I want to hear about your trip.” She thrust a bottle of Glenlivet at him.
“I’m ahead of you.” He held up his glass. “But come on in anyway.”
“Has Oliver become a teetotaler?” She made her way to his bar.
“He’s on a special diet.”
She winced. “Oh, right. I’m sorry, Drake. It’s difficult to imagine the old man is really sick.”
“It’s not so hard when you see him.”
Marla poured herself a drink. “You were on the terrace. It’s a nice night for it.”
Drake followed her out. She sat in one of the cushiony chairs. He sat across from her.
“It’s bad then?”
“He has a couple of months. Maybe less.”
Marla shook her head. “I guess I should visit him. Do you think he’d like that?”
“He’d tell you to get out, but I think he’d like it.”
She sipped the amber liquid. “It sounds like I need to go soon.”
“I’ve got a plane heading down tomorrow or Sunday.” Drake wondered what Marla would think of Lexie and vice versa.
“I thought you had a board meeting on Monday? Why are you going back?”
“It’s not for me. It’s for his nurse.”
“His nurse?”
“She gets weekends off and Oliver said he wanted her to have an extravagance on him.” Drake hoped his voice sounded indifferent.
“She must be some nurse. But you sound like you don’t think that was Oliver’s reason?”
Drake shifted. He didn’t want to talk about Lexie, especially to someone like Marla, who could read him too easily. Like Lexie could.
“It’s just a test.” Drake left it at that.
“Test? What kind of test?”
“He’s testing to see how committed I am to the company.”
Marla stared at him for a long minute. “You’re leaving bits out, Drake. I can make the connections, but this would go so much faster if you’d just explain yourself.”
Drake sighed. “He thinks his nurse can distract me from the business. He keeps talking about how there’s more to life than business. I should find love and live life and all the stuff he always said was total crap.”
Marla sat back. “Could she?”
“Could she what?”
“Could she distract you from the business?”
“No.” He finished his drink. Then because Marla’s scrutinizing gaze unnerved him, he got up to refill his drink.
“Oliver’s thinking isn’t totally out in left field, though, is it?” Marla’d risen from her seat and stood in the terrace doorway.
“Now you’re the one who needs to speak clearly.” He stood at the bar, trying to decide if he should switch to water, or just keep drinking.
“There’s something between you and his nurse.”
“No.” He could feel Marla studying him even though he wasn’t facing her. He hated he couldn’t face her. He poured another drink.
A knowing smile curved on her lips. “You slept with her.”
“I don’t want to talk about my sex life with you, Marla.” He drained his glass and poured more, despite knowing it would be one too many.
Marla approached him. “You’re in love with her.”
“No.” Drake scoffed and cursed as he spilled his drink.
“Okay, maybe not in love, but you have feelings.” She reached out and touched his arm.
“Have you been talking to Oliver? I’ve already settled this with him and Lexie.”
“Lexie. Is that her name?”
Drake pushed past Marla to the terrace. He returned to his seat and wished for the night to end.
“Can you tell me about her?”
“She’s like a spark plug—”
“That’s not very romantic.”
“It’s not meant to be, dammit.” He drew in a calming breath. “She’s tiny but full of energy. She says exactly what’s on her mind and isn’t easily intimidated by Oliver or me.”
“Oh, I like her already.” Marla had too much delight in her voice.
“If she were paid by the amount of patience she has, Lexie would be the richest woman in the world. You should see how she deals with Oliver.”
“So, what’s the problem?”
“Problem?”
“Why is it wrong for you to love her?”
“I don’t love her!” Good God, how long is this going to go on? Drake pinched the bridge of his nose. “It wouldn’t matter anyway. She knows exactly what kind of man I am.”
Marla frowned. “You mean kind, caring, loyal, and attractive?”
“No.”
“What did you do?”
“Marla, really. Why are you harping on this?”
“Because test or no test, Oliver is on to something. There is more to life than business, Drake. And if this Lexie can make you happy, you’d be a fool to let her get away.”
“I don’t want her.”
“Liar!”
Drake swore and walked to the edge of the terrace.
“Why wouldn’t it matter?”
“I accused her of conspiring against me and …” Drake couldn’t bring himself to tell Marla all that he’d done to Lexie.
“And?”
“She was sick on the plane, and I thought it was morning sickness.”
“Ah,” Marla said in the way the suggested all the pieces of the puzzle had fallen into place. “Like Sharon all over again.”
“She’s nothing like Sharon.” Drake turned toward Marla. “She’s not naive or delicate, but she’s not experienced in the ways the Carmichaels live. We’re ruthless, tactless, and self-centered. She’s a nice woman who didn’t deserve what I did.”
“So fix it.”
That’s how it was with Marla. If something is broken, just fix it. But Drake could still picture the revulsion and hurt in Lexie’s green eyes. He couldn’t imagine any type of apology could make up for the things he said to her.
He shook his head. “No. It’s better for everyone, especially Lexie, if we never see each other again.”
Marla went to him. “Drake, I’m not saying you have to marry this girl. You do have to apologize or this guilt will eat you alive. You might be ruthless, tactless, and self-centered, but you’ve got what your grandfather and brother don’t have: a conscience.”
Drake groaned.
“It’s not a bad thing.” Marla laughed. “I know Oliver raised you to believe caring and compassion are weaknesses, but they’re not. While they aren’t valued in business, don’t think for one moment your team at Carmichael Corporation or the employees at the stores Derrick wants to close aren’t appreciative of what you do.”
“Appreciation won’t save their jobs.”
“No. But I believe in karma. You’ll be rewarded for your good heart, Drake. Maybe you already have.”
The last time Lexie spent all day and night in bed was when Bobby Lee told her Kelly was pregnant and he was going to marry her instead. It didn’t matter he’d cried when he told her and that he wished he could take back the night he slept with Kelly. She was pregnant and he needed to do the right thing by her. Lexie believed him, but it didn’t change what he’d done. He’d betrayed her. The pain manifested deep in her soul. She was normally a strong woman, able to bounce back, but something like what Bobby Lee did, what Drake did, stole the wind from her sails. She’d rebound. Eventually.
She woke up on the couch, where she’d finally fallen asleep after a good cry. She was considering getting in the shower when there was a knock at the door.
She peeked through the peephole. Drake. The last person in the world she wanted to see.
“I know you’re in there, Lexie. I need to talk to you.”
“You said I wouldn’t have to see you ever
again after yesterday.” Just the sound of his voice tore at her. Why couldn’t he just leave her alone like he promised? She was vulnerable to him and hated him for making her that way.
“I have something to say and then, if you still want me gone, I’ll go.”
Lexie opened the door but left the chain lock on, as if the scrap of metal would protect her heart. “Have you arranged my trip home?”
“Can I come in?” He leaned his head on the hand he placed on the door frame, peeking through the gap of the door. He looked like she felt: emotionally wrought. Good.
But she’d had enough. All she wanted was for him to leave her alone. “No.”
“Come on, Lexie. I don’t want to hurt you. I just need to talk to you.”
“Too late.” She shut the door, almost catching his hand in it as she did.
He banged on the door, raising his voice as he spoke to her. “Lexie, it’s taking every bit of nerve I have to do this. The least you can do is let me in so I can speak to you face to face.”
She stood for a moment, but apparently, her resolve was weak where it concerned him. Reluctantly, she unhooked the chain and opened the door but walked back to the couch, annoyed he’d see her so bedraggled. Not that she wanted to impress him, but she didn’t need him knowing just how much he’d hurt her.
“You didn’t go out yesterday.” Concern laced his voice.
“I didn’t feel like it.” She narrowed her gaze. “Were you spying on me?”
“No. I asked the concierge and front desk. You didn’t order room service for lunch or dinner. Or breakfast this morning.”
“What are you? The meal police?” She was pouting, but what did he care anyway? Unless he was going to accuse her of being pregnant again.
He sat on the coffee table in front of her. His eyes were soft and remorseful. “I’m sorry.”
She hoped her face remained impassive because the hurt grew and tears welled again.
“I’m sorry I said those things on the plane. I know you wouldn’t have slept with me because Oliver wanted to test me.”
He took her hands in his. Her instinct was to pull away and yet, she couldn’t.
“I know, Lexie, you’d never do that. Oliver could see how affected I was by you, and he started challenging me. I knew he’d asked you to get me out of the house, and I carried my assumptions too far.”
“No kidding. Why did you even care?”
“What do you mean?”
“I have no illusions, Drake. I know winning Carmichael Corporation is the most important thing in the world to you. What does it matter what I do?”
He released her hands and stood to pace the room.
Lexie could only watch, curious of his strange behavior.
Finally, he whirled around. “Because when I’m with you, I can’t think of the business or my plans.”
Huh.
“I’ve always had a laser focus on my goals. And then I met you and…and…my life is…God, I can’t even explain it.” It was the first time he’d ever looked vulnerable, and Lexie could feel her heart soften.
“I said those things because I was angry at myself for letting you distract me—”
“I didn’t do anything.”
“You don’t get it. You don’t have to do anything. I just look at you, hell, even when I think of you, everything else is forgotten.”
“Oh.”
“Jesus.” He sat in a chair opposite her and raked his hands through his hair.
Was this the first time he’d ever shared vulnerable feelings with anyone?
He lifted his head. “I hurt you, and I’m very, very sorry.”
The truth of his words shone in his eyes. She wanted to forgive him, but couldn’t quite manage it. It wasn’t just the heinous accusations he’d made on the plane that made it hard to forgive. She knew that once she gave in to him, she’d be vulnerable again. In the few weeks they’d been together, Drake’s temper had been unfairly directed at her several times. Enough to know it would only be a matter of time before it happened again, unless she ended it now.
“It must be exhausting to always go against your nature. Or maybe you’ve been doing it so long you don’t know who you are anymore.”
There was the look again. The one suggesting he had no idea what to make of her. “I just apologized to you and that’s what you have to say?”
“Yeah. I’m not sure which is really you. I want to believe you’re this nice Drake and your attempt to be a ruthless businessman makes you mean. But maybe it’s the opposite. Maybe you’re just mean—”
“I have no reason to be nice if I’m just mean.”
“It must give you whiplash to have to go back and forth between hard-ass and good guy.”
He let out a long sigh. “I am what I am, Lexie.”
“Was it hard for you to come here this morning?”
“Yes. But not because I have trouble apologizing. It was hard because I knew it would hurt you to see me. And, because I know the things I said are beyond forgivable. But you need to know how much I regret those words. I’m ashamed. You have been nothing but patient, kind, and generous. Oliver is right, you deserve to have something special in your life, because you give and give, with very little thought of yourself.”
She inhaled a ragged breath as forgiveness welled inside her. “Thank you. I appreciate that and…I forgive you.”
He let out a breath. “I know I don’t deserve it, so thank you.”
She nodded and hoped he’d leave now he’d told her what he’d come to say. She could forgive him, but she couldn’t allow herself to get caught up in him again.
“I know you want to go home, but maybe you’d let me take you to breakfast first.”
That wasn’t a good idea. Now was the time to cut her losses. Say good-bye to him forever and go home.
As if he knew what she were thinking, he said, “It’s just breakfast. You need to eat.”
“Just breakfast?” She inwardly cursed herself at her inability to maintain her resolve around him.
“Yes. Consider it my penance.” He reached out, curled his index finger with hers, and gave a small shake.
“That would take more than breakfast, but okay.”
He smiled one of those rare wonderful smiles. “Good. Get dressed. I have a surprise.”
Chapter Twenty
Because Drake planned a surprise, Lexie wasn’t sure what to wear. He was in jeans and a blue-stripped button shirt with a white T-shirt underneath. She supposed it was casual, but nothing on Drake looked casual. Even when he was naked, he wasn’t casual. She opted for a light green, sleeveless summer dress and hoped wherever they were going wasn’t too formal.
Drake was quiet during the car ride, but that was alright with Lexie. She was overwhelmed by everything. She wished her visit had started out differently so she could enjoy all the sights and sounds of New York, visit all the crowded tourist spots, and find the local haunts off the beaten track. Maybe another time.
She was pretty sure, though, this would be her only trip. She had a modest life and no job once her work with Oliver was done, so chances were slim she’d ever return. But she couldn’t complain about the circumstances of her life. Drake had the city at his feet and seemed miserable. She might not have money and fancy shops, but she had family and friends who were always there for her.
“This is our stop.” Drake stepped out of the car and helped her onto the sidewalk. “This way.” His hand lightly held her elbow as he guided her up a pier.
“Mr. Carmichael.” A man stepped down from a sailboat.
“Are we going sailing?” Lexie asked.
“Yes.” Drake helped her up the steps.
Lexie had been on fishing boats and ski boats, but she’d never seen anything like this. It was like a sleek yacht with sails. “Is that a hot tub?”
“Yes. You’re welcome to try it. There are extra swimsuits onboard.”
“We’re having breakfast here?”
“I hope that’s
alright.” His brows pulled together in concern. “Do you get seasick?”
“I haven’t in the past, but I’ve never been on a boat like this.”
“There are two bathrooms. Or you can be sick over the side.”
She laughed. “I’ll keep that in mind.”
Drake gave the crew instructions and then guided Lexie to a sitting area.
“The sun is hot today, so we’ll sit in the covered section.” Drake guided her toward the back of the boat. There was a cushioned couch and chairs sitting in the sun, but he guided her to a covered area with an 8-person dining table and two long teak couches with white cushions. It was like a living room and patio, only on a boat.
“If you sit on this side, you can see the city.”
Lexie felt a little dazed as she sat. The whole situation was surreal. She knew there were people who lived like Drake, but she never thought she’d be able to experience it upfront and personal. The boat was gorgeous and probably had more living space than the house she grew up in. The city sparkled in the morning sun. The blue sky felt like it had been painted just for her.
The crewman brought them orange juice. Drake took both glasses, handing one to Lexie. “We’ll take a tour of the city by boat. Cruise by the Statue of Liberty and have some breakfast.”
She tried to stay mad, or at least indifferent, but it was hard. She’d never been one to hide her feelings, and Drake had made a real effort to give her a special treat. He could have ordered room service or taken her to a New York diner for breakfast, but he’d gone above and beyond by arranging a sail around the New York harbor.
Even in the covered area, she could feel the wind on her cheeks and see the New York skyline in a way she’d only seen on TV.
“Great day, Drake, this is so beautiful.” She wouldn’t have been able to stop her grin even if she wanted to.
“Yes, it is beautiful.” His eyes pierced hers as they gazed at her over the rim of his orange juice.
“I’m glad I let you talk me into this.”
His hand twitched and, for a minute, she thought he was going to touch her. “I wasn’t sure you’d come.”