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The Tough Love Groom

Page 12

by Taylor Hart


  “Kade, I’m nervous!” she admitted as they got to the helo.

  He tossed the bags to someone in the back and yanked the front door open for her. “You’re the adrenaline junkie! I thought you’d go crazy for this!”

  The wind was making his hair swoosh all over, and hers too. “You’re crazy!” she yelled back, loving being with him way too much.

  He grinned and made a crazy face, pointing to the passenger seat. “Get in!”

  She laughingly complied.

  He put a headset on her, then dashed around the helicopter and shook hands with the guy who had landed it. They fell into a rapid discussion about the flight plan.

  Was this for real? Was she actually going to fly on a helicopter with Kade piloting it? She’d seen him doing this on clips, but this was insane.

  He got in the pilot seat and began punching buttons. “You ready?”

  “This will take us to your grandma’s house?” She let out giggles of anticipation, but held tightly to the arms of the chair as if they would save her if it all went wrong.

  Letting out a whoop of a holler, Kade said, “This is the only way to access Grandma’s house!”

  The helicopter tugged off the ground with a jolt and then went forward and up. He flashed a smile at her as he zoomed into the sky. She marveled at how, at this moment, he looked exactly as he did on the big screen during games: completely competent and intent on what he was doing.

  She was horrible with direction and didn’t know where exactly they were going, but she saw that they were flying over Houston and then Galveston. “Where does your grandma live?” she half spoke, half shouted into the speaker.

  “You’ll see, Song. Be patient.” He winked at her before turning all of his focus to flying.

  Less than an hour from when they had taken off, they descended toward an island. Felicity was astounded even more that the island had what looked to be a castle on it. Kade landed on a strip next to the castle and turned off the chopper, and two guys emerged from the castle and strode toward them.

  Kade smiled at her, taking off his headset. “What do you think?”

  Dumbfounded, she shook her head. “I think I’m way out of my league.”

  Reaching over, he gently tugged off her headset and scoffed. “Whatever. It’s time to play on Mt. Olympus.”

  A dumb grin washed over her face, and she pushed his shoulder, not sure if she liked how he was using her references to the gods as his own now. “So you really do think you’re Zeus?” she hollered as he hopped out of the helicopter, then came around the side to help her out.

  “Well, if you want me to be.” He gently picked up a strand of her hair.

  She let out a laugh. “How come I feel like you’ve managed me when I’m the one who’s supposed to be handling you?”

  Gently, he leaned forward, kissing her.

  She loved the feel of him, the smell of him. She couldn’t get enough of him and would be lying if she said she didn’t love the way he so clearly adored her.

  He grinned and pulled back. “You ready for the tour?”

  She nodded, and they started walking toward the grand structure hand in hand. “Has your family always owned this?” She looked around in wonder.

  “Grandma has lived here since I was little.” He shrugged. “My mother’s mother. She’s tough, introverted, never thought my father was good enough for Mother. I think that’s partly why Dad had to become a billionaire—to prove to himself and Grandmother he was good enough.”

  Felicity tilted her head back, overwhelmed by the massiveness of the castle walls. “How does the press not know about this?”

  “Oh, they do. Some. My father, as you know, works hard to control our images and to keep certain things private. We’ve never done stories from here or anything.”

  When they got to the very old doors, two men pulled them open. Felicity, who expected it to be antiquated, was surprised to see it looked new and well kept. Yes, it felt Old English style, but this courtyard had a fountain and flowers and wasn’t too big.

  As we walked on cobblestone, Kade explained the castle’s history. “This was owned by royalty, of course. It was taken back in possession by the Spaniards when they were colonizing the new world. About a hundred years ago, my great-great-grandfather on my mother’s side won it in a round of cards with some pirates. My grandfather came here and revived it. He was a pirate too.”

  “Are you making this up?”

  He laughed and put his arm around her. “Nope.”

  She marveled at the story, and the scenery, unable to believe how the flowers smelled, how she felt like she was in a fairy tale.

  Kade pointed to one half of the castle. “That wing is in total disrepair, and we don’t use it.” He led her into the other wing through another door with ivy and roses around it.

  Coats of armor decorated the walls. She had never been to Europe, but she’d watched plenty of documentaries on castles. This place was textbook.

  Kade grinned and took her to a wall boasting a coat of arms. “This is my family’s crest.” It was a cross with a circle around it and a rose at the top. “My grandfather had to sell a lot of the Spanish treasure to keep this place going, but he never sold the island or any of the really important stuff.”

  Felicity collected her scattered thoughts. “Earlier today I started to feel like maybe Kade Kincaid is a normal guy. Then he helicopters me off to an island and explains his family owns it and a castle. To top it off, it was built with pirate money, and by the way, here’s the family crest.”

  Kade lifted a shoulder like he was trying to be humble. “I don’t like to oversell.”

  Smarting, she wondered what Kade’s childhood must have been like. Insane. Tutors, trips all over the world. A castle.

  He took her hand. “I’m just me.”

  Without thinking, she stood on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. He pulled her closer, and butterflies invaded her stomach. She held on to Kade, giving him her lips, getting lost in his touch, his scent, the way his facial hair was softer than she had imagined.

  He pulled back and grinned. “Dang, Song, you just can’t stay away from me.”

  Pushing him, she laughed. He quickly pulled her back in, surprising her by dipping her back. It was like a scene at the end of a dance, and they were both laughing as he pulled her up.

  When they parted, she searched his face, feeling so much for this man. “You really are Prince Charming, with a castle and everything.” Her voice was wistful.

  “I’m whatever you want me to be, Song,” he said, and kissed her gently.

  She wasn’t sure how long they had been making out before he ripped away from her and guided her hand down the hall. “We have to get you through the castle.”

  They began walking down a hall with amazing art on the walls featuring different people. He started pointing. “My great-great-grandfather.”

  She stopped and searched the walls. The man was blond. “I thought he was a Spaniard.”

  “Yep.” He pointed to the woman next to him. A redhead. “Don’t read into it, Song. Keep walking.” He went down the family tree and got to his dad and his mother, a brunette whose eyes were just like Kade’s, deep blue pools. Felicity smiled.

  “What?” he asked as she studied his mother.

  “You have the same eyes. She’s beautiful.”

  Kade regarded her picture. “She is beautiful,” he agreed.

  There was a portrait of his father in the same majestic style as the rest of the castle pictures. It didn’t boast the usual Texas gallon hat that the press constantly showed him wearing, nor the mustache.

  “No Texas belt buckle. He always said he wants to add it someday.” Kade tugged her along until they reached a large ornate door. “Are you ready?”

  “No.”

  He laughed and pushed the door open to a bedroom, which was more modern than the hallways. It was still in the same style, but the carpet was plush. There was more art on the walls, and there were v
ery expensive-looking tables and mirrors and a humongous canopy bed.

  “Kade.” The woman lying on the bed smiled up at them. She wasn’t as old as Felicity would have imagined. Her face was soft, kind. She reached her hand out, and he took it gently.

  He leaned in and kissed the side of her cheek. “Grandma.”

  She held his hand, and Felicity saw tears fall down her cheeks.

  Kade gestured to her. “This is Felicity Song, a girl I’m dating.”

  If his grandmother hadn’t been there, she would have smacked him in the shoulder. Part of her was in denial. Considering all the kissing, though, she couldn’t really deny it. Yeah, they were dating.

  His grandmother’s face lit up, and she put her hand out to Felicity. Felicity noted its fragility, but when she touched it, it felt so soft. It was like one of those old, rare books that should be kept in libraries and only handled in a controlled-temperature environment with the right bulbs. Her hand felt like it could go to ashes in seconds.

  “Hello … dear.” Kade’s grandmother looked like every bit of speaking took all the strength she had. She smiled again and swallowed painfully. “You’re the first girl he’s brought here, dearie. You must be special.”

  Felicity liked the sound of that.

  His grandmother’s hand began to shake, and she carefully pulled it back. “So nice to meet you.”

  Kade began talking to her, telling her things going on with football. “Would you believe X and Ace are actually dating? They both found girls at that bachelor auction I told you about last time.”

  “Looks like you did too,” she said.

  Without being asked to, Felicity backed up. “Uh, Kade, would you mind if I use the restroom?”

  “I’ll show you where it is.”

  “No.” She waved him off. “Go visit with her. Just tell me where.”

  He pointed down the hall. “Go where we came from and turn right. Afterwards, you can go toward the ocean and you’ll find the kitchen. I’ll meet you back there.”

  The bathroom was very modern, which surprised her. When she left, she went toward the ocean and turned south, smelling the kitchen before she actually saw it. The scent was heavenly. When she entered, she was a bit startled to see a somewhat elderly man working.

  He introduced himself as Henry, the caretaker of the mistress, the cook, and whatever other role was necessary. She felt at ease with him, and only a couple of minutes passed before Kade walked in. It took her by surprise when he hugged Henry.

  Henry laughed lightly, and as they pulled back, he gently touched Kade’s cheek. “How are ya, young chap?”

  With a sly grin, Kade motioned to Felicity. “I’m great.”

  Henry smiled. “You two go get dressed for dinner.”

  When Kade knocked on her door later, she was nervous. She’d only brought one nice, formal dress, a swimsuit, and some play clothes as she’d been directed.

  Kade wore a white shirt that made him look even more tan. He wore brown casual pants and clean white shoes.

  It amused her that he always looked like a model from a magazine. His facial hair was perfect. Those eyes, sharp and clear, focused on her now.

  “Hi.” His eyes swept up and down her, taking in the green dress. “It sets off your eyes beautifully.” He took her hand, and together they walked down the ornate hallway.

  “I can’t tell if I’m in an episode of Downton Abbey or if it’s a Beauty and the Beast kind of thing.”

  His eyes twinkled, and they moved out into the courtyard of the castle, then down a deck path out to a pier on the ocean. It was all lit up by tiki torches. “Do you like the Beast?”

  “I like what the Beast turns into,” she said without thinking.

  A vulnerable grin swept over his features. “Maybe you could like what I could turn into.”

  They got to the beautifully set table with a yellow tablecloth and fine place settings. She met his gaze, and her heart beat wildly. It was so fast she wondered if she would faint just being near him.

  The moment went sticky and slow, and she didn’t know how she’d ended up here, on a private island, with a man she’d been pretty sure she would definitely hate forever after their first meeting.

  Carefully, slowly, he bent and brushed his lips to hers. “That’s for coming tonight. I would have been … well, I wouldn’t have come if you hadn’t come tonight.”

  Her heart beat wildly again.

  Poignantly, he reached down and pulled her chair out for her, then sat himself. One of the guys who had been on the helicopter with them appeared with a tray of food. Kade waved a hand, signaling for him to put the food on the plates. “Thank you, Hale.”

  She watched as he placed fish, rice, veggies, and a side dish of a chocolate mousse on the table, and then Hale was gone in a flash. She shook her head.

  “What?” He grabbed her hand.

  “Is this the way life has always been for you, Kade?”

  “You know it hasn’t. We lived in the suburbs of Dallas until my junior year of high school.”

  It was true. She knew most of his history, but she had missed this. “But you summered here?” she asked.

  “When we weren’t at football camps, my brother and I were here.” He pointed to an outbuilding. “Tomorrow, if you’re game, we’ll do some snorkeling, paddle boarding, and sand-castle-building. Anything you want.”

  Letting out another giggle, she shook her head. “Life as the rich and famous, huh?”

  His gaze held hers. “No. Life with a beautiful woman who I want to be part of my life, even though she’s not sure she wants that yet.”

  Part of her wanted to argue that wasn’t possible, and part of her only wanted it to be possible.

  He put his hand over hers. “It’s okay, Felicity.”

  Feeling more lost than she’d ever felt, she stared at their hands and shook her head. “This has to be a fairy tale, because this isn’t my life.”

  He grinned back at her. “For me too. This is the first time I’ve ever felt like I might want the role of Prince Charming.”

  Chapter 22

  When Kade woke the next morning, the haze cleared quickly from his brain, and he remembered where he was. He threw off his covers, literally jumping out of bed, feeling like a little kid. He had Felicity on the island. He thought of the first day on the island when he was little with his brother. They were always thrilled to dust off their sand toys. He threw on his swimsuit and flip-flops and rushed out of his room.

  The night before, Felicity had seemed almost dazed. It had been a huge thing for him to bring her here. His grandmother had been right—he didn’t bring women here. He hesitated before knocking at her door, a million questions running though his mind. Why was she different? Why had it been so important to bring her?

  He remembered them walking on the beach last night under a bright moon, her hand in his, their bare feet lightly pushing into the sand. Her red hair was a stark contrast to the white loveliness of her skin as he kissed her again and held her. He wanted to be with her more than he’d ever wanted anything else. She was different. From the start, he’d known she was different, but now, it was like every complication in her life only left him liking her even more.

  He could sense that she held back because of her heart condition. It was like she thought if she touched him or got close to him she would hurt him. He didn’t like it. So what? Technology was improving all the time, right? And look at her—she seemed so healthy.

  He’d dated lots of women in the past. It’d been fun, and it had worked better to date lots of women than it had ever worked to get serious with one. He found most women bored him.

  What would Felicity say if he actually told her that? She would probably glare daggers at him. He grinned and knocked on her door, entertaining the thought of risking it anyway, but there was no answer.

  He knocked again. Still, he couldn’t hear anything. Slowly, he pried the door open and looked around. Nothing. Worry coursed into him. Where was s
he? He looked at a clock on the wall—only seven in the morning. He rushed from her room and to the kitchen, but there was only Henry.

  “Boss.” Henry pointed out the window.

  He saw her outside, standing on a paddleboard. With a rush of glee, he sprinted out to the dock, thinking it was funny she was just balancing on the ground without being in the water.

  Her simple one-piece swimsuit with a red halter-top hugged her figure lovingly. The wind teased her red curls and she gripped a paddle in one hand, bracing herself as though she was out on the water.

  Her head came up, and their eyes met at the same time. She laughed. “Go away, Kincaid. I wanted to practice first.”

  “What are you talking about?” He couldn’t stop himself from putting his arms around her and kissing her. She gave in, pressing herself against him.

  Everything about him wanted this woman in so many ways, on so many levels. His relationship with her was new, but felt so much deeper than any he’d had before.

  A bit reluctantly, she pulled back with a chuckle.

  “What are you laughing at?” He picked her up and put her over his shoulder, leaping off the dock. They fell in together, splashing in the warm water.

  She giggled and popped up, pushing back her hair. “You can’t manhandle me.”

  He was already next to her, pulling her into him again, kissing her. “I think I can.”

  As their lips met, life felt complete. It was just like the moment when he was releasing a perfect spiral and he knew in his gut that X or Ace would catch it. This was the moment between certainty and the perfection of the end zone.

  “Wait.” She stopped kissing him and tugged back.

  “What?” He loved the feel of his arms around her. He loved how she fit perfectly with him, not too tall, but not short. She was fun, feisty. He—it hit him like a ton of bricks—he really did love this woman? It rocked him.

  Softly, she pressed her lips to his neck, then pulled back and searched his face. “I just had to do that.”

 

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