“To be fair, so was mine. Good schools, supportive family, even if they did make it clear what path I was to follow. Not all was rosy, of course.”
“Is that why you’ve put off marriage so long?”
He shot her a sideways glance and navigated the junction of one freeway to the next. “When I joined the family business, all was not well. My father did the best he could, but the economy and technology were changing and business had to change with it. The last twenty years have involved long hours, hundreds of thousands of miles of travel, more e-mails and phone conferences than I can ever hope to count, and as little sleep as I ever got in college. Things have turned around now and business has grown. I can make time for the important things in life.”
Shan reached for her hand and she let him take it. He rested her hand on his knee, his over hers, keeping his options for grabbing the steering wheel open if needed. His thumb stroked the ring he’d placed on her hand a week ago. The two carat diamond was hefty without being garish. Elegant. A classic solitaire set in platinum.
“I hope you’re not disappointed with the plain setting.”
“It’s classy without being ostentatious. I’m not a high maintenance woman.”
Shan smiled. “I’m a man who likes simple things.”
She gave him a look of disbelief. The Aston Martin, the Breitling watch on his wrist, the suit and shoes custom made in Hong Kong were not the simple possessions of a simple man.
“Sure you do.”
Shan picked up on her slightly sarcastic tone with a brief smile. “Quality has everything to do with simplicity. The higher the quality, the easier life is.” His hand tightened over hers. “Which is why when I see you working too hard, I’ll step in. Your first job is our marriage. My business will fund our life together. If your business draws too much of your energy, I will put my foot down. However, until we have children you should be able to handle your new duties easily enough.”
Meilin swallowed deeply. “I see.” A hint of ice shimmered in the air, not that Shan seemed to notice.
“I’ve been over your financials. You do all right, but you’re not raking in a large profit. Barely enough to cover your expenses and make your payroll. The apartment you live in is barely acceptable. It’s small and middle class, sliding downward in value every year. The building needs many improvements, and with the seniors populating it, the owner is hampered. He can’t charge enough rent to keep up the maintenance, much less take on renovations.”
Meilin stiffened and tried to withdraw her hand, but he tightened his grip. Not painfully so, but enough she couldn’t pull away without violently protesting. “You’ve been investigating me?” she asked, the disbelief quite clear in her voice, her heart jolting in an unpleasant way before the rushing of blood partially dimmed her hearing.
“It’s how business works. I always know who I’m brokering a deal with.”
Employing great self control, she forced her breathing to remain calm. Serene. Her mind raced, seeking to process his words. True, their marriage was arranged. They hadn’t even dated. This counted as their first official date. But still. Didn’t leave much room for the heart to have a say.
Surprised to find her voice calm, she said, “Marriage shouldn’t be all about business, Shan. Is your heart engaged at all?”
He squeezed her hand. “Is yours? There hasn’t been time, so I expect not. I hope today will change that. I like you. You’re a beautiful woman with a kind heart. Over the past few years I’ve watched how you interact with family. I’ve watched you as your client. Some of my clients are the same as yours. Everyone has kind things to say about you, your character, the integrity with which you run your business. You’re known for your good works with the Museum of Modern Art, as well as the Make A Wish Foundation. All things I’ve personally observed. These are good qualities in a wife.”
“What about good qualities for a husband? What do you see as your best features to bring to marriage?” This ought to be good.
“I’m considerate. I have an excellent income, an expansive portfolio, so I’m a top notch provider. The household budget will be generous, and I’ll leave you to sort out the household issues as you wish. I ask for clean laundry in the closet, a tidy, tranquil home, dinner on the table when we’re not eating out. The children will require much more of your management than I will.”
Obviously he’d thought things over far more than she had. “And you have a housekeeper and assistant at work to do these things for you now.”
“Mrs. Chan, as you know, comes in everyday and sees to the laundry, gets the dry cleaning sent out, the groceries purchased, and dinner is usually made and in the oven or fridge waiting for me when I get home. My secretary, Julie Wong, you also know, keeps her apprised of my schedule.”
She got along well with both women. “Will Mrs. Chan stay on after our marriage?”
“Yes, but it will be up to you to coordinate with her, which will take some of the burden off Julie. She will keep you notified of social events I’m obligated to attend for business. It will be up to you to handle our personal social scheduling, so you’ll need to talk with her often.”
“I should send her a gift then. Something to make her continue to think kindly of me.”
Shan grinned and squeezed her hand again. “Great idea. She loves chocolate and trips to the spa. In fact, I will be grateful to turn such gifts of gratitude over to your care. I never know what to give her when the occasion calls for recognition of a job well done.”
Not that she had much experience. Her own assistant received much verbal praise, but few gifts outside of holidays or her birthday. And those gifts tended to be small items, a jade figurine, a crystal vase, a small bunch of flowers. Nothing ostentatious. As for client gifts, her assistant usually handled those.
“By the end of the coming week I’ll have a credit card for you for just such expenses. Business gifts as appropriate, family gifts such as Jack’s graduation. Something for both of our parents to show our appreciation. Gifts for the wedding party.”
“All right.” At least he didn’t expect her to pay out of her pocket, as thin as he knew it to be.
“You may also use the card for your current household expenses.”
Tempted to mutter, “Big of you,” she stuck to a simple thank you. At least she was seeing some of the arrogance she’d expected. The question was, could she live with it and his plans to change her?
Chapter 8
Drew looked out the front door to check for any last minute arrivals. He straightened the pale pink silk tie that matched his sister’s bridesmaid dress. At least the linen suit that matched his father’s was cooler than the wool tails they’d worn at the first wedding. The jacket and tie would disappear the moment the wedding photographer was done. Or when Randi said he could dump them.
He took one last look around, although he didn’t expect anyone else. Jack had texted about his own plans falling through, but he wasn’t expected to arrive for another hour at least because he was having lunch with his parents first.
A dark gray Aston Martin pulled into the court and circled around to stop in front of the pair of valets hired for the afternoon. Many of the neighbors had offered their driveways for overflow parking, as they’d walk to the party, but all those spots were taken, and there were only a few left at the curb. Soon, the valets would be parking cars around the corner and down the street, then dashing back to take care of the next arrivals. He didn’t envy them or their job today. While rain would be the worst possible scenario, the intense sun combined with lack of breeze was probably the next worst.
He held up a hand for Martin, his father’s butler, who fussed at RJ standing nearby waiting for the moment to escort Randi from the house, past the pool, and onto the lawn where chairs held the guests. More would arrive starting in an hour for the next part of the party. “One more arrival and then we should be good,” he told the men.
Martin merely huffed an
d hustled over to mutter something to the DJ standing just outside the rear door ready to change the music for the procession. Birdie stood beside the chair where their grandmother waited for Drew to escort her to her seat.
Looking back to the street, he watched as the valet closest to the curb opened the passenger door and a female leg emerged. A slender, delicate leg in demure pumps, unlike some of the platforms he’d seen mincing across the grass out back.
Curious, he stood taller in the shadows of the doorway. The woman who stood from the car took his breath away when she faced the house. Meilin. Here. Arriving in a James Bond style car. The man from the driver’s seat was obviously Asian, dressed in a light colored linen suit. He glanced around the neighborhood as he came around the car to offer his arm to the woman Drew hadn’t been able to get out of his mind for the last week. And a day.
Meilin looked elegant in a sleeveless dress of golden lace that hugged her slim curves from neck to knee. The sun glanced off a spot on her hand. A huge diamond. That was new. As she took the arm of her date, the refraction of light was like a laser straight to his heart. This man must be the fiancé. Slightly older, a little stocky. They looked like a paired set. Which, in fact, they were. Both of them with pearl pale skin, black hair, and the features that indicated their Asian roots.
They came up the walk together, and the moment Meilin’s gaze found his, her step faltered a little, causing her date to look at her with concern. She smiled and kept coming.
Drew cleared his throat. “Welcome. You’re just in time. We have two seats left on the groom’s side.” He held out his hand to the man first. “Drew Robinson.”
“Shan Lin and my fiancée, Meilin Wu.”
“Mr. Lin. Please, come and be seated. As it is, we’re running a couple minutes late, and the father of the bride is getting anxious.” He turned to grin at RJ as he teased the older man.
“Lin,” RJ greeted the couple as they traversed the foyer. “Didn’t know you’d be here. Want to chat with you later about a new vineyard putting out some fine reds, but you’d better let the boy direct you to your seats. The wedding director is about to have kittens.”
“Hush you.” Randi spoke from the side hall leading to the master bedroom. Martin glared from his position near the back door. “The ceremony begins when I’m ready and not a moment before.” Randi turned to smile at the new arrivals. “Meilin! I’m so pleased to see you here. And this must be Shan.” She extended a hand and Lin bowed over it to press his lips to her knuckles. “Court has told me a little about you. What a small world we live in.”
Lin rose from slobbering over Randi’s hand. “So pleased to receive an invite. We were excited to be able to make it for the vows portion when a family event fell through at the last moment. An uncle was sent off to the hospital with heat stroke after the graduation this morning.”
Okay, so the man didn’t actually slobber, but Drew didn’t like seeing the man so close to Meilin, or his mother.
Randi placed a hand over her heart. “Oh! That was your family? We saw the ambulance but didn’t know the cause. I hope he’s not too ill.”
Meilin smiled. “Oh, he’ll be fine. He does this at least once a summer. The sun is too bright for him. Congratulations, Randi. I didn’t realize this was your event.”
Randi blushed. “I’m still giddy with the rush of love. It’s a long story and I’ll tell you over cake and champagne. For now…Drew?” She turned to him. “Be a doll, seat them, then escort your grandmother to her seat, and get up by your father. We’ll have this ceremony and then I’ll introduce you properly.”
“Of course, Mum.” He bent down and kissed her cheek. “You’re beautiful. See you at the altar.”
He extended his arm for Meilin and spoke to her escort. “If you’ll follow me?”
It was the strangest thing pretending he didn’t know her. As she’d given no indication of their acquaintance, he followed her lead and pretended ignorance. But he couldn’t ignore the tingle of awareness that came with the linking of her arm through his.
He saw them to their seats in the last row of the groom’s side of the aisle, barely covered by the shade of the open tent overhead, reluctantly releasing Meilin to sidle over to her chair and make room for Lin. The bride’s side was so full it had overflowed to the right. It didn’t really matter, he supposed. As long as there were butts in the seats, to put it in Birdie’s words.
He returned to the house and tucked his grandmother’s hand around his arm. The imperious old woman stuck her nose in the air without comment and took her time walking up the aisle to her seat. At last, taking his place beside his father, he noted the old man was as fidgety as he’d been at the original ceremony over spring break. “What’s got you worried now?” he asked his father as the music switched to the prelude before the bridal march.
“Not a thing. Just getting hot out here, despite the tent. Thinking about grabbing my bride and jumping into the pool.”
Drew looked down to hide his grin as Birdie, wearing a pale pink dress, sauntered up the silk runner that covered the grass to form the aisle. Bet the bride and groom jumping into the cool water would go over well. Randi might laugh over it, but Bird would probably lay a few eggs in distress.
Once Birdie reached the end of the runner, the music switched to Randi’s chosen processional. The guests rose and turned to watch her approach on her father’s arm. The scene was every bit as moving as it had been only a few months ago in the village church.
“She’s more beautiful now than she’s ever been.” His father actually sighed after making the quiet comment.
Drew glanced at his father then concentrated on Randi slowly walking in time to the music, wearing a short ivory linen sheath and ballet style flats. She looked young with the sun glinting off her hair picking out strands of gold from the red. Lifted off her neck, her hair was adorned with only a large creamy magnolia flower instead of the short veil she’d worn before. She held a giant, pink blossom as a simple bouquet. “You picked a winner. Never seen you so happy as you’ve been since Christmas.”
“I’ve had a few days that pretty much equal this one. The next time I’m this happy will be the day you wed. Choose well.”
“Since you’ve already taken the best woman ever born for a Robinson man to marry, I’m not eager to be looking for one of my own. Randi broke the mold.”
His father snorted. “She’s a tad old for you.”
Drew’s gaze slipped from Randi to Meilin, who watched the procession with a soft smile. “I don’t mind older women. When she’s the right one, she’s the right one. Age doesn’t matter a whit.”
There was no time for an answer as Randi and her father completed the short walk, and the ceremony began when Tuck cleared his throat. As the officiate, he led them through their custom written vows, much differently worded, but making the same promises as the standard wedding service. The vows were spoken with great feeling, and more than a few people wiped their eyes as Randi and Court squeezed each other’s hands tightly. Even Tuck seemed to forget he was a lawyer conducting a ceremony and had to use his handkerchief before they were done.
Finally, he had the final word. “Let no man put asunder what the Kingdom of England and the State of California have granted as a legal state of wedlock. I assure you, the legal mess would be horrendous to separate them, but as in love as these two are, and have always been, it’s not an issue.” Chuckles replaced the sniffs of sentiment. “Courtland Robinson, you may now kiss your bride.”
Cheers erupted as Drew’s father bent his bride over his arm and laid one on her. Birdie met Drew’s gaze and they both rolled their eyes, even as they grinned. Double sealed, they were a family now for all time.
* * * *
Meilin dug into her purse for a tissue. Shan’s left hand appeared in her blurred line of sight holding a square of folded linen while his right arm circled her shoulders.
“Thank you,” she murmured and gently patted und
er her eyes with his handkerchief.
He bent his head to kiss her cheek. “Do you always cry at weddings? What about funerals?”
“Not always,” she sniffed. “The vows were so beautiful, and beautifully spoken. Those two are very much in love and not afraid to show it.” Much like she wanted for her own wedding, she realized. How had she ever thought she could have a business arrangement for a marriage?
“I’ll be sure to tuck an extra hanky or two in my pockets for our wedding.” The softly spoken words stirred a stray lock of hair that had escaped her careful style.
Was it possible their wedding could be as emotionally joyful as this one? Unable to help herself, she looked up into Shan’s gaze. He smiled back at her, seemingly sincere enough, but she wasn’t sure she saw love. Of course, it was far too soon, they didn’t know each other well enough for it to be love. Still, she wondered if it could happen for them. The spark she’d felt only a week ago with a much younger man was lacking with Shan. Was it because they’d known of each other most of their lives, their circles touching, crossing, although they’d personally never circled close enough to touch more than a casual handshake? They were familiar rather than intimate. Was it Drew’s difference, his youth, his foreign origins that sparked with her?
Unbidden, her gaze strayed toward the much taller man who stood out like a sunbeam. The touch of his gaze as they’d approached the house had been as mesmerizing as the first finger of dawn rising above the horizon. Even now, the blue of his eyes reached over the heads of the guests, seeking her out, locking on her for one scorching moment. Breathless, she made herself look away.
“Warm?” Shan asked, his arm slipping around her waist.
“Yes. I’m ready for something cold to drink.” It was a good excuse.
“Hey everyone!” the young woman in pink she recognized as Courtney, yelled out. “Since the next part of this party is the graduation celebration, Mom’s going to toss her bouquet now, so all single ladies please gather in the aisle while the men move the chairs aside.”
Her Unexpected Affair (The Robinsons) Page 9