“Not far.” He crossed over to where she stood and took her hand, leading her to the front door. She looked back at her parents, but their expressions didn’t give anything away.
Would he hold her hand—and in front of her parents—if he was about to tell her something awful? Or did he think it would soften the blow?
He opened the passenger door for her and she slid into the soft leather seat. He walked around and got in the driver’s side, saying, as he started the engine, “Buckle up.”
He waited until she was fastened in, then put the car into gear. It felt a little weird being in a car with him while he was actually behind the wheel. In the past it was always Reece driving. Not that she expected him to be a terrible driver. It was just…different.
“How many cars do you own?” she asked as he made a left onto the road.
“Just the three.”
They drove about a half a mile, then Adam made a sharp left and pulled up the road to the abandoned horse farm next door.
“What are we doing here?”
“I’ll explain,” he said cryptically.
The house and stables were in disrepair and the property overgrown, but it used to be a beautiful piece of land. And had the potential to be again someday. Her dad had talked about buying it, and she’d been disappointed when he changed his mind. Though she had never admitted it to anyone, she had even considered purchasing it. She had enough for a down payment in the bank. She just didn’t like the idea of living alone.
Adam parked in a clearing by the stable and they got out. The sun was just beginning to set and there was a chill in the air.
“Are you warm enough?” he asked.
She nodded. He took her hand again and they walked slowly toward the stables. “Does this mean you’re staying for my appointment tomorrow?”
The question seemed to surprise him. “Of course. Why would I drive all this way and not go?”
She shrugged.
“What do you think of this land?” he asked her.
“It’s nice. Perfect for a small horse farm.”
“What would you think if I said I bought it?”
She stopped in her tracks. “What? Why?”
He grinned. “So I could build a house here. And probably a new stable.”
“You’re serious?”
“Yep.”
Well, if the baby was hers, and he was going to be visiting a lot, didn’t it make sense that he had somewhere to stay? But they weren’t even sure yet.
They started walking again, past the stables and along the corral fence, the overgrown grass and weeds grabbing at her pant legs. “I think that sounds like a good investment.”
“So you wouldn’t mind living here?”
Living here? He was going to build a house for her? Did he know something she didn’t? Had the lab sent him a letter, too, and had he read it? After they agreed they would look at the results together.
“Adam, what’s going on?”
They stopped where the corral turned, near an apple tree that had probably been there longer than the house. “This should do,” Adam said.
“Do for what?”
“There are a few things I have to tell you, Katy.”
She swallowed hard, bracing for the worst, her hands clammy she was so nervous.
“We had to launch an investigation into the accident at the refinery, and as soon as it’s resolved, I’m leaving Western Oil.”
For a full ten seconds she was too dumbfounded to speak. And when she found her voice, it was uncharacteristically high-pitched. “Leaving? As in quitting?”
“I’ll still be on the board, but I’m stepping down as CEO.”
“W-why?”
“It’s time. I want to be around to see my child grow up.”
“That’s wonderful,” she said, wondering what that meant for her, if it meant anything at all.
“Remember the other night, when you said you love me?”
She cringed, still mortified that she had actually done something so stupid. “I thought we agreed not to talk about that.”
“You issued an order, and I didn’t agree to anything.”
It was obvious he wasn’t willing to let it go. He was going to torture her. “Okay, what about it?”
“I’ll admit I was a little stunned—”
“You were way more than stunned. And I don’t blame you, Adam. It was wrong of me to put you on the spot like that.”
He took a deep breath and exhaled. “Can I finish?”
She nodded, even though she knew she wasn’t going to like what he had to say.
“I was in a hurry to leave, but if I’d had more than thirty seconds to think about it, I would have told you that I love you, too.”
He heart climbed up into her throat. She had never expected him to admit it, to say it out loud.
“Aren’t you going to say anything?” he asked.
“I…I don’t know what to say.”
“You could say that you love me, too.”
Unable to look in his eyes, and see the sincerity there, she looked down at the ground instead. “You already know that.”
“I need you, Katy.”
For now. But what about a month from now? He didn’t want to get married, and she couldn’t accept any less than that.
She wanted forever.
Adam bent down on one knee in the weeds. She thought he was going to pick something up off the ground, then she saw that he already had something in his hand.
“What are you doing?”
“Something I should have done months ago.” He opened his hand and sitting on his palm was a black velvet box. It actually took her several seconds to figure out what was happening. Then she started to tremble so hard she wasn’t even sure her legs would hold her up.
Adam opened the box to reveal a stunning diamond solitaire ring. He looked up at her and grinned. “Marry me, Katy?”
“You’re serious?”
“I’ve never been more sure of anything in my life.”
“But…Becca—”
“Is gone. Becca was my wife, and I loved her, but I didn’t need her the way I need you. You’re my soul mate. I don’t want to go another day, another minute, knowing you aren’t going to be mine forever.”
She’d imagined this moment so many times in her head, but none of her fantasies compared to the real thing, and she’d be damned if she was going to give him even a second to change his mind.
She threw herself in his arms so hard that they lost their balance and tumbled backward in the weeds.
He laughed and said, “Should I take that as a yes?”
“Definitely yes,” she said, kissing him, wondering if this was a dream. Was it even possible to be this happy?
Adam sat them up and pulled her into his lap. “Would you like this now?” he asked, holding up the ring box.
She’d almost forgotten! “Will you put it on me?”
He took it from the box and slid it on her finger. It was a perfect fit. “I have huge fingers. How did you guess the size?”
“I didn’t. I asked your mom.”
“When?”
“Sunday morning.”
Katy’s mouth fell open. “She’s known about this since Sunday?”
“I didn’t tell her why I needed it, but I think she had a pretty good idea.”
Suddenly it made sense why he was sitting there with her parents when she walked in, and why her dad shook his hand. “Oh, my gosh, did you ask my parents’ permission?”
“I thought it would be a nice touch, since I kind of missed that step last time. I figured they deserved it.”
She threw her arms around his neck and hugged him, the baby pressed between them. That’s when she remembered the letter in her pocket. They were together now, and no matter whose baby it was, she would be raising it. But he deserved to know the truth.
“I have to show you something,” she said, pulling the letter out. “This came in today’s mail.”
“The DNA results?”
She nodded.
He took the letter from her, and for a minute he just looked at it, then he looked up at her, shrugged and said, “I don’t care.”
“You don’t care?”
He took her hands. “What difference do genetics make? This is our baby, Katy. Yours and mine. Either way, it’s a miracle. So unless you really need to know—”
“I don’t,” she said. “Though I tried to be impartial, and not get attached, I’ve felt like this baby has been mine pretty much from the day it was conceived.”
With a smile on his face, Adam ripped the envelope in two, then into fourths, then he kept on ripping until there was nothing left but scraps, then he tossed them in the air.
Katie couldn’t help wondering, though…would she ever be curious? Someday would she want to know?
But the following spring, when Amanda Rebecca Blair was born—a healthy eight pounds seven ounces—and Katy held her daughter for the first time, she knew without a doubt that it would never matter.
* * * * *
HONOR-BOUND GROOM
Yvonne Lindsay
New Zealand born, to Dutch immigrant parents, USA TODAY bestselling author Yvonne Lindsay became an avid romance reader at the age of thirteen. Now, married to her “blind date” and with two children, she remains a firm believer in the power of romance. Yvonne feels privileged to bring to her readers the stories of her heart. In her spare time, when not writing, she can be found reading a book, reliving the power of love in all walks of life. She can be contacted via her website: yvonnelindsay.com.
Look for more books from Yvonne Lindsay in Harlequin Desire—the ultimate destination for powerful, passionate romance! There are six new Harlequin Desire titles available every month. Check one out today!
This book is dedicated to all my
wonderful readers, who make it
possible for me to keep writing books.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
Prologue
Isla Sagrado, three months ago…
“Abuelo is losing his marbles. He talked again of the curse today.”
Alexander del Castillo leaned back in the deep and comfortable dark leather chair and gave his brother, Reynard, a chastising look.
“Our grandfather is not going mad, he is merely growing old. And he worries—for all of us.” Alex’s gaze encompassed his youngest brother, Benedict, also. “We have to do something about it—something drastic—and soon. This negative publicity about the curse is not just affecting him, it’s affecting business, too.”
“That’s true. Revenue at the winery is down this quarter. More than anticipated,” Benedict agreed, reaching for his glass of del Castillo Tempranillo and taking a sip. “It certainly isn’t the quality of the wine that’s doing it, if I say so myself.”
“Put your ego back where it belongs and focus, would you?” Alex growled. “This is serious. Reynard, you’re our head of publicity, what can we do for the family as a whole that will see talk about this stupid curse laid to rest once and for all?”
Reynard cast him a look of disbelief. “You actually want to lend credence to the curse?”
“If it means we can get things on an even keel again. We owe it to Abuelo, if not to ourselves. If we’d been more traditional in our ways then the issue would probably not have arisen.”
“The del Castillos have never been renowned for their traditional outlook, mi hermano,” Reynard pointed out with a deprecating grin.
“And look where that has put us,” Alex argued. “Three hundred years and the governess’s curse would still appear to be upon us. Whether you believe in it or not, according to the legend, we’re it—the last generation. If we don’t get things right, the entire nation—including our grandfather—believes it will be the end of the del Castillo family. Do you want that on your conscience?” He stared his younger brother down before flicking his gaze to Benedict. “Do you?”
Reynard shook his head slightly, as if in disbelief. He seemed stunned that his eldest brother had joined their grandfather in the crazy belief that an age-old legend could be based in truth. And more, that it could be responsible for affecting their prosperity, indeed, threatening their very lives today.
Alex understood Reynard’s skepticism. But what choice did they have? As long as the locals believed in the curse, bad publicity would affect the way the del Castillo family could do business. And as long as Abuelo believed, the paths he and his brothers chose could make or break the happiness of the man who had raised them all.
“No, Alex.” Reynard sighed. “I do not want to be responsible for our family’s demise any more than you do.”
“So what do we do about it?” Benedict challenged with a humorless laugh. “It’s not as if we can suddenly drum up loving brides so we can marry and live happily ever after.”
“That’s it!” Reynard declared with a shouted laugh and pushed himself up and out of his seat.
His abrupt movement and shout unsettled the dogs sleeping in front of the fire, sending them barking around his feet. A clipped command from Alex made them slink back to their rug and assume their drowsing state.
“That’s what we need to do. It’ll be a publicity exercise such as Isla Sagrado has never seen before.”
“And you think Abuelo is losing his marbles?” Benedict asked and took another sip of his wine.
“No,” Alex said, excitement beginning to build in his chest. “He’s right. That’s exactly what we must do. Remember the curse. If the ninth generation does not live by our family motto of honor, truth and love, in life and in marriage, the del Castillo name will die out forever. If we each marry and have families, well, for a start that will show the curse for the falsehood it is. People will put their trust in our name again rather than in fear and superstition.”
Reynard sat back down. “You’re serious,” he said flatly.
“Never more so,” Alex answered.
Whether he’d been kidding around or not, Reynard had hit on the very thing that would not only settle their grandfather’s concerns but would be a massive boost to the del Castillo name. Its ongoing effect on the people of Isla Sagrado would increase prosperity across the entire island nation.
While Isla Sagrado was a minor republic in the Mediterranean, the del Castillo family had long held a large amount of influence on the island’s affairs, whether commercial or political. As the family had prospered so, by natural process, did the people of Isla Sagrado.
Unfortunately, the reverse was also true.
“You expect each of us to simply marry the right woman and start families and then, hey, presto, all will be well?” Reynard’s voice was saturated with disbelief.
“Exactly. How hard can it be?” Alex got up and patted him on the shoulder. “You’re a good-looking guy. I’m sure you have plenty of candidates.”
Benedict snorted. “Not the kind he’d bring home to Abuelo, I’d wager.”
“You can talk,” Reynard retorted. “You’re too busy racing that new Aston Martin of yours along the cliff road to slow down long enough for a woman to catch you.”
Alex walked over to the fireplace and leaned against the massive stone mantel that framed it. Carved from island rock, the hearth had seen generation after generation of his family sprawl in front of its warmth. He and his brothers would not be the last to do so. Not if he had anything to do with it.
“All joking aside, are you willing to at least try?” he asked, his eyes flicking from one brother to the next.
Of the two, Benedict looked most like him. In fact some days he felt as if he was looking into a mirror when he saw his brother’s black hair and black-brown eyes. Reynard took after their French mother. Finer featured, perhaps more dramatic with his dark coloring because of it. Female attention had never been an issue for any of them, even from before they’d hit puberty. In fact, with only three years in total separating the brothers, they’d been pretty darn competitive in their playbo
y bachelorhood. They were all in their early thirties now and had mostly left that phase behind but the reputation still lingered, and it was that very lifestyle that had brought them to this current conundrum.
“It’s all right for you, you’re already engaged to your childhood sweetheart,” Benedict teased him with a smirk, clearly still not prepared to take the matter seriously on any level.
“Hardly my sweetheart since she was only a baby when we were betrothed.”
Twenty-five years ago their father had saved his best friend, Francois Dubois, from drowning after the latter had accepted a dare from their father to swim off Isla Sagrado’s most dangerous beach below the castillo. In gratitude, Dubois had promised the hand of his infant daughter, Loren, to Raphael del Castillo’s eldest son. In a modern society no one but the two men had ever really given any credence to the pledge. But the two men were old-school all the way back down their ancestral lines and they’d taken the matter very seriously indeed.
Alex had barely paid any attention at the time, despite the fact that, virtually from the day she could walk, Loren had followed him around like a faithful puppy. He’d been grateful when her parents had divorced and her mother had taken her away to New Zealand, clear on the other side of the world, when Loren had been fifteen. Twenty-three years old at the time, he’d found it unsettling to have a gangling, underdeveloped teenager telling his girlfriends that she was his fiancée.
Since then, the engagement had been a convenient excuse to avoid the state of matrimony. Until now, he hadn’t even considered marriage, and certainly not in the context of Francois Dubois’s promise to Raphael del Castillo. But what better way to continue to uphold his family’s honor and position on Isla Sagrado than to fulfill the terms of the spoken contract between two best friends? He could see the headlines already. It would be a media coup that would not only benefit the del Castillo business empire, but the whole of Isla Sagrado, as well.
He thought briefly of the dalliance he’d begun with his personal assistant. He didn’t normally choose to mix business with pleasure, especially from within his own immediate work environment. But Giselle’s persistent attempts to seduce him had been entertaining and—once he’d given in—very satisfying.
The Tycoon's Charm: The Tycoon's Paternity AgendaHonor-Bound Groom Page 16