by Dawn Brower
“I’m sorry I’m late,” Lily rushed into the room. “Brianne had a crisis with one of her dresses and was in a fit of tears. Sometimes I wonder how she could possibly be my daughter. If I hadn’t given birth to her, I’d think someone was playing a trick on me.”
Pearla glanced at Lily and laughed lightly. Her friend and been through a lot. They all had. After the birth of her son, William, Lily had been afraid she would never get pregnant again. She and Rand had tried to no avail. Pearla was so happy for them when they’d been blissfully surprised to be expecting again. Brianne was the blessing Lily never thought she’d receive. Although, she often remarked that her blessing was as opposite from her as she could get. Lily lamented often how her niece was more like her than her own daughter.
Gemma hugged her and laughed. “Where is she now?”
“She was trying to coerce William to play dolls with her. He tried to tell her he is a grown man now and doesn’t play with dolls.” Lily shook her head. “She’s ten years old and doesn’t understand why her big brother would rather do anything but play with her.”
“She’ll grow out of it, and he’ll be an overprotective brother before long.” Pearla turned toward Lily and asked, “Now that we’re gathered tell me what we have left to do before your parents arrive?”
Lily was probably a general in a previous life. She barked orders and devised plans that would put some to shame. She lifted her hand and started checking off items on the list on her fingers. “Rubina is dealing with the menus and has the staff doing last minute decorations. Everyone that was invited, except my parents, is here. Noah and Liam arranged for them to arrive later this afternoon.”
“It sounds like you have everything covered.”
She grinned. “Planning has always been one of my strong suits.”
“That’s putting things mildly,” her husband Rand said as he walked into the room. He pulled her into his arms and placed a quick kiss on her lips. “What do you need me to do?”
“Go rescue our son from Brianne. I’m afraid he might murder her if left with her too long.”
He laughed. “Consider it done.” He strolled out of the room, leaving the ladies to wrap up the festivities.
“Why did I get out of bed again?” Pearla asked. “I was rather warm and content there.”
“I bet you were,” Lily laughed. “Quit thinking of your husband and keep your mind on task.”
“Why should I?” Pearla pouted. “You haven’t given me anything to do.”
They all enjoyed their husband’s attentions. It was one of the things they discussed when they had nothing better to do. There were no blushes between them anymore. They were all well loved by the men in their lives.
“They’re here,” Rubina exclaimed as she rushed into the room. “They’re early. I gave those two men one task and they seemed to have bungled it.”
Pearla tilted her head and studied Rubina. She appeared to be stressed out about something. Who had arrived?
“No,” Lily muttered. “Leave it to them to come early. I should have known they’d do something like this.”
“Who’s here?” Pearla asked.
She really should go back to bed. Her brain couldn’t think past the pleasure of Damian’s arms. It didn’t seem as if they needed her help either way. Why not enjoy her day in other ways? The viscount and viscountess weren’t supposed…she mentally groaned. How could she be so dense?
“I hear you’re having a party for us,” Thor bellowed as he entered the room. “When is it supposed to start?”
Pearla jumped from the boom of his voice. She’d met Viscount Torrington on several occasions. It was hard not to when she was so close to his children. He seemed sincere, but a small part of her remained terrified of him. He had been a pirate, after all. An endeavor that surely taught him how to give off a dangerous allure as natural as breathing.
Lily threw her arms up in the air. “I don’t even know why I try. No one gets anything by him ever since I ran away and married Rand. Now he has spies watching us all the time.”
“Princess, if I don’t who will?” Lily’s father kissed her forehead.
“You do have a valid point.” Lily grinned up at her father.
Pia, Lily’s mother, rolled her eyes. “Don’t encourage him. He’s already difficult to live with.”
Thor, Viscount Torrington, glanced down at his wife; a hint of wickedness gleamed within his eyes. “You love every minute of it.”
Pia, Lady Torrington, actually blushed from the heat of her husband’s stare. Pearla didn’t think it was possible to make the other woman’s cheeks tinge with red.
“Grandfather, I thought I was your princess,” a little girl asked as she tugged on his sleeve.
Rand followed behind her. He looked at Lily and shrugged, as if to say nothing could’ve stopped her. Brianne was a force to be reckoned with—much like her mother. That was the only thing they apparently had in common. Headstrong and determined to get their way.
Lily sighed. Pearla could relate. Her own daughters could be terrors on two feet.
“You’re my other princess.” He picked her up into his arms and hugged her. “Your mommy was the first princess to capture my heart. I think I have room for both of you.”
“Will you play with me?” She pushed her bottom lip out. “William says he’s too old to play with dolls.”
“Did he?” her grandfather asked. “Don’t worry I will have a talk with him later. Why don’t you show me these dolls of yours? Are they as pretty as you are?”
“Of course not,” she replied and pushed her chin out. “I’m much prettier. Daddy told me so.”
Viscount Torrington glanced over at Brianne’s father.
“Well she is,” Rand replied.
Thor laughed and escorted his granddaughter out of the room. Pearla thought she heard him say, “This once I’ll have to agree with your daddy. I didn’t usually do it on principle.” Pearla’s heart melted watching them. She wished her own father had been this way with her. At least her children had Damian’s father to dote on them. They didn’t miss out the way she had growing up.
Damian, Noah, and Liam entered the room. Liam stared at his mother and shrugged. He too appeared to accept the inevitable and wasn’t surprised to see his parents. Noah headed toward Rubina, and Liam joined Gemma. Damian strolled to her side and stood behind her, wrapping his arms around her. Pearla leaned into him and watched their friends and family. They were so blessed to have each other. As chaotic as their lives were, she wouldn’t trade it for anything.
“Any regrets?” Damian asked.
It was a question he asked often. His way of checking to make sure she was happy with their life together. They didn’t keep anything from each other. Their open communication was a gift they had received the hard way—at the hands of Camellia Fonte. One they never thanked her for, or intended to. It was a harsh way for them to begin to open up to each other fully. That night, after they made love for the first time, Damian finally told her everything that he endured on the island. She shuddered whenever she thought about what he had been through, but she kept his secrets close to her heart. If he wanted to share them, it was up to him. It was his past and his to keep to himself.
“Never.” And she meant it. There was no reason to regret the choices they made. They had so many good memories already and many more they would make.
“I love you, cara.”
“I love you too.”
Words that had become easier to say the more she uttered them. Her heart overflowed with happiness. Damian and their family was all she needed. The rest were just details. They could survive anything as long as they had each other. Damian would always hold her heart, and she trusted him to keep it safe always.
He kissed the top of her head. All her doubts were left in the past where they belonged. This was the life they were meant to have. One day their children would arrange such an event to celebrate their love and marriage. Their future was bright, and th
ey had so much to look forward to. More importantly, they had all the blessings in the world to keep them content at that moment and for years to come. She’d once said nothing was forever. Now she knew better. Her luck had changed when she met Damian. It might have taken them a while to find their way to each other, but the struggle had only strengthened their bond.
Their love was all encompassing.
It was all she could ever ask for…
**Read further for an excerpt from Saved by My Blackguard, part of my new Linked Across Time series.**
Saved by My Blackguard 1
New York, August 18, 1987
Paul Dewitt tapped his fingers on the arm of the chair. The starkness of the doctor’s office was blinding and he couldn’t focus on any one thing. The waiting was driving him insane. As the hands on the clock ticked by he could hear parts of his life fall out of existence. What was wrong with him? Why had he passed out? He needed answers and the damned doctor better come and give them to him soon. He wasn’t ready to die. There was so much he had yet to accomplish.
The doctor rushed in, sat behind his desk and laid a manila folder on it. He studied Paul with his fingers steepled together in concentration. After a long drawn out silence he sighed and opened the file. He pulled out a sheet of paper and handed it to Paul.
“We’ve run all the necessary tests and we’ve come to one conclusion.” The doctor paused and stared into Paul’s eyes. “You’re working yourself to an early grave. If you don’t slow down you won’t see your thirtieth birthday.”
“What is wrong with me?” Paul glanced at the sheet of paper, but it was all gibberish to him. “Explain what all these numbers mean.”
“The short answer is you are too stressed. Your heart is working too hard and you don’t sleep enough. Your body is exhausted and fighting itself. It gave in when you wanted to push it past its limits.” The doctor grabbed the paper and put it back in the file and closed it. “Despite what you believe, Paul, you’re not limitless. You need to take better care of yourself. The best advice I can give you is to take a vacation. Delegate some of your duties and take a step back from your business. From your own admission you work over 80 hours a week. At that pace, you won’t live to do anything with the money you’re accumulating. Medically speaking, I can only do so much for you.”
The good doctor could stick his advice someplace rather unpleasant and twist it like a sharp blade. He couldn’t afford a vacation. His company was on the brink of a major takeover of a computer software firm. They held the necessary patents he needed to launch his personal computers on the market. His product would be more affordable to the average family and all the market research showed they would be a high profit margin for his company. Being sick wasn’t something he could afford at such a critical time in his family’s company. He was the only one who could make sure the takeover went through. His brother was a dismal failure at business and preferred to party rather than taking any responsibility. If he didn’t handle everything who would?
“I can’t take a vacation.” He snorted. “The very idea is ludicrous.”
The doctor shrugged. “Ultimately it is your decision. What is more important to you? Your company or your health? I can’t make those decisions for you. My job is to point out to you the ramifications of those decisions.”
Paul hated to admit the doctor was right. Exhaustion swept through him leaving him drained. He rubbed his eyes, hoping it would help keep him focused. If only he could make it through the next month to see the takeover through… They had to slowly buy up stock using a few different dummy corporations before they could seize control. It would be bad to have the SEC on their backs. He could do some of the work from home if needed. The office and day-to-day business could get by on its own. That was why he had an administrative assistant for. And she was damned good at her job.
“How long?”
“Pardon?” The doctor raised an eyebrow. “How long for what?”
“How long of a vacation do you recommend I take?”
“A month—”
“Is too long,” Paul interrupted him. “There’s no way I could take a month off from the company. I would end up destitute leaving it for that long.”
The doctor shook his head and sighed. “I doubt it would come to that. A week then. Do you think you could manage that?”
Paul tilted his head and considered it. He might be able to manage a week. He could leave detailed instructions with Christy. She knew how he liked things handled and he could depend on her to keep the machine running while he frolicked on the beach. He almost snorted at the absurdity of him lounging on the sand while waves crashed to shore. It wouldn’t take him but a day to go mad with boredom. Maybe the doctor was right and he needed to slow down, but to do nothing? That was a fate worse than death. He didn’t know how to live a carefree life. It wasn’t in his genetic makeup.
“I might be able to take a week, if I have a week to prepare the company for my departure.”
The doctor frowned, and then said. “That might be detrimental. Do you need a whole week?”
“Yes,” he said, emphatically. “I handle a lot of the details of the company every day. I need time to prepare them for my absence. I know you believe I need this vacation, and you know I disagree. I can’t in good conscience leave without doing my due diligence as CEO.”
“Fine, but I want you to come by my office in a few days for a stress test. I’m afraid if you push too hard you will have a heart attack before the end of the week.”
Was his heart really that overworked? He was tired, but surely the doctor was overreacting. He’d only passed out the once…
“I will have my assistant set up an appointment. I’m not sure when I have a time open.”
The doctor nodded. “It really is for the best. When you get back from your vacation I also suggest you cut your work hours by at least a third. Find something else to fill your time with.”
“What could I possibly do other than work?” Paul rolled his eyes. “I don’t like people and I have no hobbies. Work is all I know.”
“I don’t know—try dating, find someone to love. Get married, have a family.”
Paul almost snorted at his words. He may have been his doctor since he was a small boy, but that didn’t mean he had to follow his relationship advice. Women were only good for one thing, and he didn’t need one in his life full time to get that. He had no desire to find love. It wasn’t in the cards for him and he was all right with that fate. As far as kids, his sister had a couple that could inherit the company. He didn’t need any progeny to pass it down to.
“Thanks, but I will have to pass on your sage advice. A family is the last thing I need. You already said I’m stressed, what do you think a wife and kids would do to me?”
“Just slow down. The rest of your life will fall in place once you do. Enjoy your vacation.”
Enjoy? Somehow he believed that was the last thing he would do. It didn’t matter. If he had to sleep in and be lazy for a week to help heal his heart he would do it. The rest of the doctor’s advice wasn’t even an option. He didn’t need or want someone to nag him for the rest of his life. He was perfectly content the way things were.
“I suppose I can try to anyway. Do you have any recommendations for a vacation spot?”
The doctor shook his head. “No and it doesn’t matter as long as you relax wherever it is. You can stay home if you like, just don’t go into the office.”
“Right.” He doubted he would be able to resist the urge to go into the office if he stayed home. So an island getaway it was. He’d have his assistant book his vacation for him. It didn’t matter where as long as it was nice and relaxing just as the doctor ordered. “I suppose I will be going. Thanks for the advice.”
Paul stood up and left the doctor’s office. He had to get back to Dewitt Enterprises and start the plans necessary for his impromptu vacation.
***
Port Royal, August 28, 1987
The h
eat of the sun poured over Paul as he lounged on the beach, and the waves crashed on the shore. He pulled his sunglasses off his face and wiped the sweat off his forehead. The forced vacation was already driving him mad.
Sure, Port Royal was amazing and beautiful. There were plenty of stunning sights around him, including the sexy brunette who kept giving him come-hither looks as she strolled down the beach in her tiny white bikini. He couldn’t even muster the smallest amount of interest in her—even if she was sexy. The desire wasn’t there for him. He’d been on the island two days and he was going stir crazy. He had to do something more than lounge on the beach staring into the sea-green water. At least, he could be thankful he didn’t take the doctor’s original advice for a month long vacation. That would have been torture he never would have survived through.
Paul sighed. He glanced over his shoulder and an idea took root. There was a lot on this island to see and maybe it was time he started to explore it. The hotel was nice and had every luxury known to man, but he wasn’t used to taking advantage of it. His father made sure he understood what was important. The family fortune rested squarely on his shoulders. It was his responsibility to ensure the rest of them lived in the style they’d become accustomed to. The Dewitts came from old money, well as old as an American could come from money anyway. They founded their business early on in the history of the country and managed to hold onto their fortune by sheer will and grit.
If only dad had instilled the same values in his worthless brother and debutante sister.
Paul stood up and headed toward the lush vegetation on the island. A hike along the mountain ridge might be what he needed to loosen up. Sitting around and being lazy didn’t suit him, but he could get behind some good old-fashioned exercise. He put his sunglasses back on and started the long trek up the Blue Mountains of Jamaica. He’d meander up a bit, check them out and then head back to the hotel for dinner.
After a short while he stopped at the edge of a cave and looked out at the ocean. It was quite a view. Overhead he saw some cloud formations that had an angry gray appearance. A storm must be heading toward the island. He should head back toward the hotel before he got caught up in a torrential downfall. He started to walk back when he saw a shadow out of the corner of his eye. He turned, startled, as a woman raced ahead of him. Her dress was something from another time. He’d seen enough old pictures to know it wasn’t normal to see a woman prancing around in clothing straight out of the eighteenth century. She had long golden blonde hair that fell down her back in waves. Paul was instantly intrigued.