Ian frowned. “There is something wrong with you.”
Marcus cursed. “Just answer the question. Is it possible to fall in love in a day or a week? I always thought it took a long time.”
“No,” Ian said after some consideration. “I think it’s definitely possible. Yeah, it could happen. Kind of like lightning striking. It doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it knocks you on your arse.”
“What are the odds?” Marcus asked.
“You want a number?”
Marcus leaned back and closed his eyes, turning his face up to the sun. “Yeah. A hundred to one? A thousand to one?”
“I don’t think it makes a difference,” Ian said. “When it happens, it happens. It’s not a science, Marky.”
“I know.” He paused and glanced over at his brother. “I mean, I figured that’s the way it was.”
“So how are you doing with the pact?” Ian asked.
“Fine. Women don’t come swimming out here every day, so I’m safe.”
Ian lowered his voice. “Between you and me, I think Dec might be breaking the vow of celibacy.”
Marcus scoffed at the notion. “He’s got a girl?”
“You know he’s been playing bodyguard to some radio-talk-show lady named Dr. Devine. He says she’s an uptight egghead, but I’ll bet she’s gorgeous. There’s no way he’ll survive guarding a beautiful body without indulging in it at the same time.”
“Dec is pretty tough when he wants to be,” Marcus said.
“Not that tough. No guy is that tough. We all have our weak spots.”
“Maybe we should call off the deal.”
“No way!” Ian cried. “Dec is going to cough up two thousand, and I intend to make him pay. Hell, he’s the one who suggested this-I think we should hold him to it.”
“I thought you were the one who came up with this brilliant idea.”
“Nope, it was Dec.” Ian pushed to his feet. “Let’s go get some lunch. All this hard work has made me hungry. Afterward, we’ll go look for your tape.”
Marcus got up and gathered his tools, then carried them down to the cockpit. He braced his arms on the boom, his gaze coming to rest on the dock. How many times had he caught himself looking for her, hoping that the next time he looked she’d be standing there waiting for him?
“Get a grip,” he muttered to himself. It was over. And if he wanted to fancy himself in love with Eden Ross, then this torture would go on forever. As soon as he and his brothers called an end to this ridiculous pact, he’d go out and find another woman to occupy his mind-and his body.
Ian climbed down into the cockpit and stood next to Marcus, staring over the water to the Ross mansion. “This is the life, huh?”
“It looks like it from the outside, doesn’t it? But it’s not that much different from ours when you strip away all the pretty stuff.”
Ian gave him an odd look, a frown wrinkling his brow. “You’re turning into a bleedin’ philosopher, Marky. I don’t know the cause, but I’m gonna figure it out.”
“There’s nothing wrong with me,” Marcus murmured. “I swear.”
It was easy to say but not so easy to believe. He was determined to forget her and he vowed to do just that. Starting right now.
EDEN STARED OUT THE tinted window of the limousine, watching the familiar scenery of Ocean Avenue pass by. She’d hopped the red-eye last night at LAX and had arrived on schedule in Providence just shortly after noon. The limo had been waiting and whisked her away on the fifty-minute drive home.
“Home,” she murmured. How many homes had she had over the years? Malibu, Newport, her father’s house in Providence, her favorite hotels scattered across the world, even Victorious had been a home. But home was no longer a place, it had become a person. Marcus Quinn was home to her now.
The limo turned off Ocean Avenue and continued along the winding road toward the water. The gates of her father’s house loomed in the distance, and Eden’s nerves began to fray as they approached. She smoothed the skirt of her tidy Armani suit and ran her fingers through her hair.
She’d called her father yesterday afternoon, requesting a meeting with him. To her surprise, he’d agreed and asked her to meet him at the house for a late lunch.
The limo pulled into the circular drive and her father’s chauffeur jumped out and ran to open her door. Eden thanked him and asked him to leave her bag in the foyer.
With a steely resolve, she walked up to the house and rang the bell. A moment later the door flew open. Sarah Corrigan stood on the other side, a smile coloring her cheeks rosy. The housekeeper threw out her arms and gathered Eden into a fierce embrace. “You’re home.” She kissed both of Eden’s cheeks.
“I am,” Eden said. “I’ve missed you.” Tears flooded Eden’s eyes. She’d avoided seeing Sarah during her last visit, knowing that she couldn’t test the housekeeper’s loyalty to her father. In truth, she’d been so ashamed of her behavior she hadn’t been able to face the woman who was like a second mother to her.
But that didn’t seem to matter to Sarah now. “I’ve made all your favorites. The minute your father told me you’d be coming, I started cooking. And your room is made up.”
She took Eden’s hand and led her through the house. “He’s in the study. I took him coffee a few minutes ago and I think he’s a little nervous. He’s pacing.”
Eden stopped in the hallway and grabbed Sarah’s other hand. “Thank you,” she murmured. “And not just for today but for every day that you watched over me and fed me and read me to sleep. I know I’ve never said this, but you were one of the only people that made my childhood tolerable. And I’m sorry if I’ve disappointed you in any way.” Eden sniffled, brushing an errant tear from her cheek. “I just wanted to say that.”
Sarah kissed her again, then pressed her palm to Eden’s cheek. “Go see your father. When you’re finished, you and I will spend some time catching up.”
“I’d like that,” Eden said. She turned to the door of the study and took a deep breath. The rest of her life started today, at this moment. And though she wasn’t sure what the future held, she was finally ready to face it.
Eden knocked softly on the study door, then opened it. Her father looked up from his desk, his reading glasses perched on the end of his nose.
“Hi, Daddy,” she said.
“Come in,” he said. He pointed to one of the leather wing chairs, silently ordering Eden to sit. “Your mother says you’ve run through most of your trust fund. I suppose you’re here to ask for money. Well, I’m not going to give you any more.”
“I realize that,” Eden said. “And that’s not why I came.”
“You went through nearly three million in four years, Eden. I put that money in trust for you so that you would get a good start in life, maybe go to school, find yourself a husband, settle down. I’d be a fool to give you more.”
“I know that, too,” Eden said. “And I’m not here to ask for more. I’m here to tell you that I’ve made some decisions about my life.”
“That’s it?”
“From now on, I think it’s best that you hear these things directly from me. You won’t have to read about them in the tabloids.”
He leaned back in his chair and studied her intently. “That will be a change.”
Eden took another deep breath, attempting to calm her pounding pulse. “First, I should tell you that I’ve fallen in love. You may not approve, but that really doesn’t matter to me. I plan to spend the rest of my life with this man.”
Her father threw his hands up and shook his head. “Who is it this time? I hope he has money so he can finance your lifestyle.”
“Actually, he doesn’t. He works for a living. In fact, he works for you. Marcus Quinn.”
Her father gasped. “How is it possible that you even know Marcus Quinn?”
“It’s possible,” Eden replied. “I’ve come back here to be with him, if he’ll have me. I don’t want to live without him, Daddy. I can’t.”
>
“You’re going to propose to him?” her father asked.
Eden shrugged. “I don’t know. Maybe. I just want to make sure that he and I have a future together and we’re never apart again.”
“Eden, you’re still very young and-”
“Daddy, this is what I want. I know I’ve said that before and you have no reason to believe me this time. But so much has changed for me. I want to have a life with him and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to make that happen.”
“What do you see in this man that you didn’t see in the others?”
Eden smiled. “Oh, Daddy, there’s so much. He’s kind and he’s steady and he watches over me. And when I make mistakes, he helps me to understand what I’ve done wrong, but he doesn’t judge me. He lets me be myself but a better Eden Ross than I’ve ever known.”
“How will you live?”
“That’s why I asked for this meeting,” she said.
“Well, now we get down to business.”
“I don’t want money. I want a job.”
Trevor Ross chuckled. “You’ve never had a job in your life.”
“I know, but it’s time I did something productive. And I was hoping you could find a place for me in your company. It doesn’t have to be anything important. I could work in the mail room or I could do filing. I’d be willing to go back to school to learn what I needed.”
“You’re not serious,” Ross said.
“I am,” Eden replied. “But I’ll understand if you don’t want me working for you. I can’t offer much in the way of references or previous experience. But I promise I’ll work hard.”
He considered her offer for a long time, his face caught in a deep scowl. “All right,” he finally said. “But the first time you screw up, I’ll-”
“I understand,” she said. “And I won’t.”
He stood and held out his hand, then realized what he was doing and pulled it back. He circled his desk and gave her a perfunctory hug. “Report to the Providence office on Monday morning at 9:00 a.m. I’ll have you meet with Human Resources and see what we can find.”
Eden smiled, emotions overwhelming her. The first piece of her plan had fallen so easily into place. “Thank you, Daddy.” She wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a long hug. “I promise I won’t disappoint you.”
He drew back, and for the first time in a long time Trevor Ross smiled at his daughter. “I suppose I have Marcus Quinn to thank for this?”
“Maybe,” Eden said with a smile. “A little bit.”
“Well, why don’t you invite him to lunch with us? He’s down on the boat, finishing up the job I gave him.” Her father paused. “He’s good at what he does, Eden. I like his work. And I like him. You could do a lot worse than Marcus Quinn.”
“But I couldn’t do better,” Eden said. She drew a deep breath and steadied herself. “Wish me luck.”
He reached up and cupped her cheek in his hand. “How could he refuse such a beautiful woman?”
Eden pushed up on her toes and kissed her father’s cheek. “Thank you, Daddy.” She hurried to the door, but her father’s voice stopped her.
“There is one other thing.” He opened the drawer of his desk and pulled out a videocassette, then held it out to her. “I just received this by messenger. I thought you might like to dispose of it yourself.”
“I’ll leave that up to you,” she said with a grateful smile. “And I promise, I’ll do my best to pay you back, Daddy. I’ll make you proud of me.”
He nodded, and Eden hurried out of the study through the main hall. She threw open the wide doors to the terrace and kicked off her shoes. The grass was cool on her feet as she ran down the lawn toward the water. When she reached the dock, Eden shaded her eyes and stared out at Victorious, rocking at anchor.
Her heart began to beat faster again and she couldn’t help but smile. Though it had been only a week, the days had seemed like years since she’d seen Marcus. She felt like a silly schoolgirl, all flushed and nervous.
It was a first date of sorts. From now on, things would be much simpler. She wouldn’t have to always be watching her back, waiting for her past to catch up with her. She had a chance to begin again.
The dinghy was tied up to the swim ladder, and she couldn’t see Marcus anywhere on board. Eden shrugged out of her jacket. She’d made the swim once before, the day they’d met. Making it again would give her time to calm her nerves and prepare her for her proposal.
She finished stripping down to her underwear, then dived neatly off the end of the pier. The water was warm and clear, and as she swam she felt a curious serenity overcome her. For the first time in her life she knew exactly what she wanted, who she wanted, and he was waiting on that boat. She ought to have been afraid or at least a little nervous, but Eden realized that she had nothing to lose. She’d already lost it all and was determined to get back what she couldn’t live without.
Even if he didn’t accept her proposal, she wasn’t about to give up. Now that she’d be living in the area, she’d find a way to convince him that what they had was worth saving. No man had ever touched her the way Marcus had, and in her heart Eden knew they were meant to be together.
By the time she reached the boat, she was breathless, not from the swim but from anticipation. She’d thought about Marcus so many times over the past week, imagined them together, lost in an endless kiss. As Eden climbed the swim ladder, she shivered, the breeze causing goose bumps to rise on her skin. She brushed the wet hair from her eyes, then walked to the hatch for the master suite.
He was there, sitting in the center of the berth, his back to her, tools spread out around him. A tiny smile twitched at Eden’s lips as her gaze slowly took in the broad shoulders and narrow waist. Her fingers clenched and Eden realized that she knew exactly how his skin would feel, how his mouth would taste.
The man had burned himself into her being, and everything about him, from the tiniest detail, now fascinated her. She stood in the hatchway, her arms braced on either side of her, her body still dripping water.
Eden watched as he shifted, then slowly straightened, his back still to her. She held her breath, wondering if he’d sensed her presence. “Hi, Barney,” she said softly.
He tipped his head back and took a deep breath, as if he’d merely imagined her voice. But then he slowly turned. His gaze met hers and Eden felt her limbs go weak.
His blue eyes scanned her body, and Eden shifted, the attraction between them intensifying by degrees. “I missed you,” she said.
He crawled off the bed and crossed the cabin to stand below her. Eden took a step down, and a moment later he grabbed her waist and swung her into the cabin. Without speaking, Marcus cupped her face in his hands and kissed her, frantically, deeply, starved for the taste of her. His hands moved over her body, touching every inch as if he needed to prove that she was real.
When he finally drew back, his fingers skimmed over her face, tracing every feature. “You’re here,” he said.
“I am.”
“I’ve been having these dreams and sometimes I was so sure you were with me. And then, I’d wake up and you wouldn’t be.”
Eden ran her finger along his lower lip, and he kissed her fingertip, holding her hand to his mouth. “I got all the way to California only to realize that we weren’t finished,” Eden said.
“No,” he murmured, kissing her palm. “We aren’t. I’m not sure we’ll ever finish with each other.”
Eden smiled, her gaze searching his. “I’m counting on that. I’m back to stay. I’ve asked my father to give me a job.”
“You’re here for good?” Marcus asked. “Here with me?”
“If you’ll have me.”
Marcus took a deep breath and then shook his head, a smile playing about his mouth. “I don’t know, Princess. You can be a real pain in the ass.”
“I’m working on that,” Eden said solemnly, wanting him to know she meant it. “You have to give me time.”
“I guess I could do that,” Marcus conceded with a twinkle in his eye. He pushed her back toward the bed and then tumbled them both onto it. “But you may have to convince me.”
Eden stared into his handsome face, her fingers smoothing his hair out of his eyes. This was the man she loved, and though she hadn’t said the words yet, she knew it in her heart. “We’ll have to leave that for later. My father wants you to join us for lunch up at the house. I think he wants to talk to the man who has finally tamed his daughter.”
“Oh, I don’t think I want to tame you, sweetheart,” Marcus said. “I like you just the way you are.”
“Well, I suppose I can’t rid myself of all my wild inclinations,” Eden admitted.
“Are you sure I don’t have time to tear your clothes off and make love to you before we eat?”
Eden thought about his offer, then shrugged. “Only if you’re very, very quick about it.”
“Sweetheart, when it comes to making you moan, I’ll do it any way you want.”
Eden giggled and rolled on top of him, tossing aside her bra and shaking out her wet hair. “I bet you won’t last five minutes,” she challenged.
Marcus grinned. “I’ll take that bet.”
Epilogue
MARCUS PULLED THE TRUCK up in front of his parents’ house on a quiet street in Bonnett Harbor. He switched off the ignition and then leaned back in the seat. “Are you worried?” He glanced over at Eden to see her fidgeting in the passenger seat, a plate of brownies on her lap.
It had been two weeks since she’d come back from California and they’d spent nearly every free moment together. She’d started work the Monday before last, and while she was away, Marcus had finished the project on Victorious. At night they’d slept on board, preferring to keep to themselves.
After Eden’s father had bought the video back, there’d been no more speculation about what was on the tape. And though she’d been hounded by the press, with each day that passed, their interest in her dimmed. A former party girl who now worked as a file clerk for her father’s business didn’t hold much interest for the general public. Ian still hadn’t found the other video, and Marcus was beginning to worry about what had become of it.
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