Forbidden Earl

by Victoria Pinder

  “That’s a lot,” he said. “Though all I really wanted was for your hair to be pulled back from your face. I missed actually seeing you.” He brought his seat closer. “I also don’t believe you need those glasses. You always saw right through me.”

  Her red glasses fogged slightly, and the heat in her cheeks causing this was from how to respond. She swallowed. “Umm, tomorrow. I’ll come home without glasses, AFTER my hair fixes.”

  He sat back in his chair as if this was a business meeting. “Good. Fari said your car needs a lot of work.”

  Another topic? So far nothing explained the red streak on his forehead that he got when upset. She crossed her legs and took a deep breath. “I was afraid of that.”

  His brown eyes made her feel like he saw straight through her, so she stilled. “I want to demolish it for parts and you can either keep the Mercedes or tell me what car you want and we’ll get that.”

  She and Reynoldo had history, but the old junker wouldn’t fit into Bei Giardini Manor. They both knew it and she didn’t need to fight with him over everything. She nodded. “Okay. I’ll keep the Mercedes.”

  His eyes widened but he sat back again. “I thought you’d argue with me.”

  She wanted to and her heart sped up as she controlled the urge. She looked up beneath the brim of her cap. “Lady Sky is very different than Lady Cassidy. I’m trying to be agreeable.”

  He scooted closer to her and goosebumps grew on her arms. “Good, except you denied my request.”

  Seriously? She held his gaze but couldn’t figure out what he meant. She shook her head. “What are you talking about? I’m doing everything you asked of me.”

  He took out two folded pieces of paper and handed them to her. “This.”

  She flipped open the paper and froze once she recognized her computer report. One of her bosses had to have given this to him today while she was getting her hair cut. Cassidy focused her thoughts and then handed him back the papers. “There is a glitch in the software. I started writing the code when we were twelve because I watched too many romantic comedies. There is no way this is right when it comes to you and me.”

  He dropped the print-outs on the side table and scooted next to her. She felt the room get smaller. “Why would you assume that it is right for everyone else but wrong about us?”

  She adjusted the hat and leaned closer, taking his hands. He needed to understand and not take this too seriously, but she’d never tell him how she wrote the code as a teenage girl with a slight crush on him, until the bear almost ate her alive. “I don’t think my computer can be used to strip bare data about me. It knows too much nonsense and besides you’re probably the last man who would be my true love.”

  His gaze narrowed. She could feel warmth radiating off his skin. “Why?”

  A small laugh wanted to rumble out of her throat, but she held back. His closeness made parts of her wake up and rumble they were alive. She swallowed and stared at his lips. “Because we don’t make logical sense. You’re way too into appearances! And your title and wealth.”

  He lifted her chin, but otherwise stayed close. Her heart began to race, in a new way. “You’ve said that twice and it’s untrue.”

  Right. “I-” This was her chance to speak, but her voice was lower and more breathy than normal. She cleared her throat and tried to sound like herself. “Yeah, okay. Even though appearances are all we’ve talked about since I moved in. Anyhow, you and I would be like fire and ice trying to live in the same biosphere without wanting to destroy each other.”

  He brushed his fingers against her arm and left a trail of desire that she’d never thought possible, not with him. “Am I the fire or the ice?”

  This was getting out of hand. The boy she knew would pull something on her now. She tried to count her heartbeats, but she couldn’t keep track of anything other than how her skin felt like it melted into him with his proximity. “The fire. You’re the one who cut my hair when we were nine and are demanding I cut my hair again now.”

  He stared into her eyes as if he saw her soul and all her secrets. “Seeing your face is not a hardship. Are you afraid of me?”

  The opposite. She probably should be wary, but as he held her elbow, she felt like she was his and vice versa. She shook her head. “No, you’re the last person I’d ever be afraid of.”

  He massaged her arms and her stomach flip-flopped. “Tomorrow, we’re going to Blackwell and Donna’s wedding. I need you to seem happy we’re getting married too.”

  Those words were why he couldn’t be her match. She swallowed and hoped whatever interest he’d sparked in her body left. “Exactly why the program is wrong.”

  He stood and guided her to follow. “Come here. There is nothing wrong with looking nice and it doesn’t make me vain.”

  “If you say so.” His arms wrapped around her waist and hips. Awareness shot through her. He smelled like the fresh clean air of the California beach where it met the forest.

  No man made her feel this much, not that she’d tried to find a guy. Nobody bothered her after Alex which had been the purpose of her shaggy hair and glasses. He inched closer and leaned down. “Cassidy, I am going to kiss you unless you tell me no.”

  She’d melt away if he brought his mouth to hers. She held his shoulders. “Why?”

  He took off her glasses and tossed them on his chair. “Because we should. You’re about to be my wife.”

  This had to be some kind of joke, or for him to get his way. He’d always gotten underneath her skin. “What are you trying to prove?”

  His fingers traced her arms and back. “That we’re not children anymore.”

  Her heart pounded, and her lips tingled with anticipation. She was about to discover what she’d always wondered about—Remy’s kiss. “Fine.”

  He tugged her hat off and Cassidy didn’t dare move. “Close your eyes.”

  She did and her face turned up, toward his. “Okay, now what?”

  “Stop talking.” He pressed his mouth gently against hers. Questioning, sipping, tasting.

  Every part of her was lost and she became someone completely new. She kissed him back and couldn’t tell where her lips or his were. He tasted like heaven itself. As she wrapped her arms around his neck to keep him close, she told herself that this was only for one minute. Tomorrow he’d be who he always was. But for now, she was truly his.

  Chapter 8

  Remy ignored the impulse to go and find Cassidy in her room as he took a seat in his grandmother’s sick room. Cassidy’s kiss had set off a firestorm of desire inside him. For now, he needed distance to recover. She was the last person on earth he thought would kiss like that. She must have felt something because she ran to her room faster than he’d ever seen her run. He took the seat opposite Grannie and patted her hand.

  However, Cassidy surprised him and opened the door a minute later to take her seat in Grannie’s room beside him. She’d lost the baseball cap and her sweet face had a brightness he’d never noticed.

  Grannie held out her hands. “Cassidy, I like your haircut.”

  She blushed and glanced at the floor, but then gave Grannie a hug. “This is only part one,” she admitted. “Tomorrow we do more.”

  As long as she didn’t change too much. Cassidy was the only woman he’d ever met that looked better without spending hours in the bathroom, putting on silly makeup. Her skin radiated good health and her smiles were genuine.

  Grannie waved her thin arm to get his attention. “Remy, sweetheart, I was telling Cassidy that her hair is nice.”

  Now his face felt hot. He hadn’t actually spoken his complimentary thoughts. He turned toward his grandmother. “She’ll be a fine wife, Grannie.”

  Her wise gaze narrowed. He turned and saw Cassidy’s blush had deepened.

  Grannie sat up straighter in her bed. “What’s going on between you two?”

  “Nothing.” Cassidy and he said at the same time.

  The doorbell rang, and Cassidy jumped out of he
r chair. “I’ll go find out who it is and give you a few minutes so that you can talk to Gigi alone.”

  He leaned closer and told his Grannie. “I found out who my “true love” is according to the palace’s IT Department.”

  Her face looked crestfallen. “But what about Cassidy?”

  “It was Cassidy’s name.” He showed her the print-out.

  A huge smile grew on her face and she patted his cheek while tears formed in her eyes. She nodded, “I knew all along you two were meant to be.”

  A knock sounded on the sitting room door and he stood. Cassidy’s face was white but she motioned for him to come out to the hall. “Sorry to interrupt, but one of the visitors is here to see you.”

  Grannie waved at him that he should go so he followed without question. But in the hallway, once she closed the door, he asked, “Who is it?”

  Her lips were pursed and she seemed cool as she pointed ahead of them, past the main room in the opposite direction. “Lucinda and my sister. I sent Lucinda to the library for you to talk to her.”

  His eyes widened. This was unexpected. He placed his hand on Cassidy’s back. “Why is she here?”

  She walked ahead and dropped his arm, but she when she entered the main room, she turned and stared at him like he was the devil himself. “I’ve no idea. You need to go and find out why your ex-girlfriend has a suitcase on the front step.”

  Suitcase? No. This was too much. He stiffened, but then leaned closer to Cassidy ignoring the distance she’d created. “Be right back. Wait. Don’t go anywhere on me while I’m talking to Lucinda.”

  She crossed her arms. “Is that all that’s going to happen?”

  He placed his hand on his heart and the other in the air, like he was swearing in as the President of the United States on a bible. “Absolutely.”

  Color returned to her face as she let out a puff of air and nodded. “Okay, I’ll talk to my sister and check in on Gigi.”

  He watched Cassidy float toward a small study down the hall. Her hips swayed, and he knew without question that in bed, she’d be delicious to possess. But he shook the thought out of his head the second she disappeared, and he threw open the library door. “Lucinda, what’s going on?”

  The tall, blonde, blue-eyed model sashayed over to him and gave him that wicked smile of hers that tempted even an honest minister. She placed her hand on his chest like she used to and said, “I missed you, baby.”

  He stepped away from her touch. Cassidy’s integrity made her ten times more appealing than the girl who probably appeared on countless posters across the globe. “You stormed out of my house and called me a monster.”

  She fixed her loose pink bra strap under her red dress and pouted to show off her lipstick. “The pre-nup was extreme, baby, but I see now you just needed to protect yourself. I came to forgive you.”

  Tension built in his shoulders. The pre-nup he’d offered protected 100% of his assets from her and had clauses to ensure she never put his name in financial harm. Lucinda was many things. Beautiful, though only skin-deep on the outside, and inside, she was a shark always on the hunt to get her way. With his money, he’d have to keep her name off everything in order to protect himself.

  Cassidy, however, was the opposite and was about to restructure her estate which had become a burden she’d been forced to carry alone. He’d help her see the benefits and it wasn’t just money. Unlike Lucinda, Cassidy never changed who she was to fit in. The choice he’d made seemed even clearer as he crossed his arms. “I’ve moved on, Lucinda.”

  Her nose wrinkled. “You can’t be serious, not with that nerdy little thing that answered the door.”

  This conversation was over. He inched toward the door but glared at his ex. “Lucinda, she’s important to me. Don’t talk about her like that.”

  Her hands were on her heart now and tears formed in her eyes. “And I wasn’t?”

  Truthfully, he never gave a thought about her when she wasn’t in the room. And even if she was in the room, it was to show that his money mattered. Cassidy had called him on that one. He dropped his arms to his sides, and lowered his voice to be nice. “You were good for me at the time, but I’m getting married in two days.”

  She came toward him, rolling her hips with each step. “You can still change your mind and marry me. I’ll sign the pre-nup now.”

  Her timing was impeccable. He narrowed his gaze and widened his stance. “Why did you show up with Cassidy’s sister?”

  She tugged on a diamond in her ear. “Chelsea gave me a ride.”

  Cassidy was edgy about appearances. Her sister would know her. All at once why they were here, now, hit him. He turned to leave. “Or you’re both here to stop the wedding. Lucinda, it’s time for you to go.”

  “Don’t make assumptions.” She grabbed his arm. “Why would you taint your family lineage when she’s nowhere near as beautiful as either of us?”

  “It’s time to leave. Wait in Chelsea’s car.” He brushed her hand off and opened the door. “I’m going to find Cassidy.”

  Lucinda followed behind him and her stilettos echoed on his wooden floors. “Why? What does that nothing-special girl have to offer you that I don’t?”

  He turned around. He tried to hold his tongue like a gentleman, but she wasn’t leaving him alone. He felt the vein in his forehead throb. “Honesty. It’s embedded in her blood. She’s never lied to me.”

  Her eyes widened. “I never lied-”

  He pointed to the front door, and one of his staff opened it for him. “Your being here now is full of them.”

  He stormed off in the direction Cassidy had gone but the room was silent and cold which meant they hadn’t been here in a while.

  He searched around the bottom floor. As he passed through the main room, his servant directed him upstairs. Good. At least Cassidy was still here.

  Every muscle in his body tensed as he saw Chelsea blocking Cassidy’s door. Remy heard footsteps moving in her chamber and tried to step around her sister. He knocked on the frame. “Cassidy?”

  Chelsea looked at him like he was an ant she’d like to crush under her powder blue shoe that matched her knee length skirt. “My sister doesn’t want to talk to you right now.”

  Cassidy couldn’t believe he’d do anything with Lucinda. He motioned for her sister to move as he said, “Get out of the way, Chelsea.”

  She lifted her chest and didn’t budge. “I showed her the photos from the other day.”

  What photos? His heart sped up and he thought back to day before yesterday. Seriously? It was a bad joke that Chelsea had played on his friend. “When you sent prostitutes to Blackwell’s house? That was extremely childish.”

  She pouted.

  Cassidy at last opened her bedroom door wide and stood behind her sister. “Chelsea, go. Remy and I need to talk.”

  Her sister hugged her waist and looked down. “You don’t need him, sis.”

  Cassidy walked to the door, pushing him to the side in the hallway. “Go. If I change my mind, you’ll know. Give Mom and Dad my best.”

  “I can stay.” Chelsea turned toward her sister.

  Cassidy stayed close to him and pointed to the stairs. “No, please go home, Chelsea.”

  Her sister passed him, gave him a scowl and continued down the stairs. He kept silent in the hall until he heard the front door downstairs open and close.

  Both women were gone now. He followed Cassidy into the Countess’ bedroom. Everything looked the same, except for Cassidy, who paced back and forth by the huge bay window. He walked closer to her, ignoring the white bed and white sheets that were perfectly made. The inviting sea foam green comforter. He reached for her shoulder. “Cassidy, what’s wrong?”

  She continued to pace back and forth as she hugged her waist, her phone in her palm. “You swore you’d not humiliate me and yet you took a selfie, Remy, with all of those naked women. Grinning. It’s all over the news.”

  “What?” He accepted her offered smartphone and watc
hed the news clip about the house party he and Blackwell walked in on. Finished, he handed it back and met her questioning gaze. “This is clearly a set-up by Lucinda and Chelsea to stop our wedding.”

  She stopped pacing, her skin paling to white as she dropped her phone to the nightstand. “Look, I said I’d marry you. I’ll keep my word—but no more kissing or touching.”

  His skin felt like it melted off the bones. Another kiss might prove their chemistry—he’d felt something, and so had she—he understood women. He kept his voice soft. “You enjoyed yourself.”

  Her eye roll was extreme and it made him feel small. “It was all a deception,” she said, “so that you could get your way.”

  He reached out and took both of her hands in his. “Cassidy, I want to marry you because I trust you. I thought you trusted me. I didn’t touch one of the women your sister sent over to Blackwell’s. Don’t let her stop us, not now.”

  Her eyes began to tear up, but she held his hands. “Why would she do that?”

  Cassidy was so busy taking care of everyone, she never thought about the fact she was an heir in her own right. His heart beat in a different way, near her. He could help her. He lowered his head to stare directly in her face. “If you don’t get married before you’re thirty, she becomes the heir, not you. Same goes for women as men. And the earldom your father now is supposed to run, that you actually do, would all fall to her. You must have realized that.”

  She blinked and stared at him blankly. Clearly she never thought about any of that. Finally she swallowed, dropped his hands, turned away from him and began to pace again. “You still took a photo with naked women.”

  He reached for her shoulder. “We’ll deal with it together, and stop the gossip by getting married. Then nobody else will have power over us.”

  She turned toward him, but her lips were still pursed, which was always her way of not saying he was right. “That’s all you have to say for yourself?”

  Oh. She never let him get away with anything. Now his cheeks felt hot. He lowered his head and put his hands in his back pockets. “I didn’t think you’d care and Blackwell was embarrassed. The selfie was a bad idea on my part and I’m sorry.”