“You love me?” asked Candasee with shock at his sudden admission. She knew they liked each other but neither had gone as far to say the important three words as yet!
“Yes I do and I needed to say that before we go to the hotel. It is very likely that you will run into him there, and I need you to know that this thing between us is very real and very important to me. We have been dating for five months now and I know have not pressured you for a decision on us being exclusive. But I have already been doing that since we started seeing each other. It’s just not been officially given a title or label yet. I want you in my life and I am not prepared to share you with anyone else, not even your ex!” he said passionately.
“Nathan, my relationship with Darius has been over for two years, we have not even been in contact for more than a year!” Candasee explained, wondering silently why mentioning his name was still setting off mini electrical storm waves all through her body. Wouldn’t she ever be able to forget him?” she fumed inwardly. God only knew how much she did!
Maybe being with Nathan was the key to getting herself to finally forget him and to purge him out of her system forever. Obviously he had successfully purged her out of his! Never once since she walked out did he ask her to come back or tried to convince her he’d made a mistake or even tried to apologize. Why didn’t he call her? Why if he’d really loved her did he just sign the divorce papers without contest? She wanted a fight and she never even got one. Just thinking about it made her want to throw things around and to scream until her throat was raw.
Any thought of this trip being neutral territory to convince Candasee to deepen their relationship was now pretty much over! Damn! thought Nathan as he observed how conflicted she was. Everything about taking this intensive regional was a risk from day one, but that was the only way to expand. Business was no longer a local thing but opportunities now crossed borders and even hemispheres.
If the academy could establish more branches assisted by the exposure he would get from the travel show that too would be the fulfilment of one of his biggest dreams. A lot was now riding on the success of this trip for him and for his family. He envisioned himself returning home not just with another successfully completed arts and media intensive but also hopefully with a fiancée as his thoughts drifted to the black velvet box nestled in the inner pocket of his travel bag.
“Candasee, I know this is going to seem abrupt to you but the delegates are being asked to share rooms to cut down on expenses. I want us to share a room while we are at the Hilton, it will give us a chance to be together in a way we’ve not been able to before and you won’t have to worry about being there alone,” he said.
“Nathan, you know that I can’t do that, not in that hotel and certainly not with all the Academy staff there with us! I don’t think I’m ready for that step as yet!” said Candasee feeling overwhelmed by the far reaching implications of his suggestion.
“They already know that we are dating, Candasee and so does my family. Look nothing has to happen between us that you don’t want. But it is economical to do it considering the changes in the hotel rates. All of the delegates and instructors will be sharing rooms to cut the costs for the stay now,” he explained hoping to convince her.
“Look Nathan, I appreciate your concern about me but if it is a problem with money, I can pay for my own room, this does not have to come out of the academy’s funding!” said Candasee firmly, knowing that she was financially sound after the divorce settlement. Nathan did not know it and she had no need to brag about having more than one hundred million of her ex-husband’s money in her own bank accounts. It was a scandalous amount which Darius insisted she receive and she did not even need to work at all. Her career existed purely because she loved to dance. Just the monthly interest payments from her account were more than her entire annual salary and the academy’s intensive budget combined. She did not spend it though, preferring to live as independently as she could even if it meant living on less.
“Candasee, look okay, let me be honest here, I just wanted this trip to be an opportunity for us to take our relationship to the next level. We are away from home on neutral ground, whatever that means,” Nathan replied turning more to face Candasee so that he held both of her hands in his. “Almost two years is a long time to be divorced and look you are moving on with your life. Maybe this is a good way for you to finally prove to yourself that you have made some new and positive decisions for yourself! It shouldn’t be a problem that we are staying there surely?” he prodded.
“Nathan, the Derrien Island Hilton is hardly neutral ground for me. My husband, I mean ex- husband has a suite in that very hotel which he probably lives in more than our home in Willercrest Heights!” replied Candasee with despair. “I just don’t think I am ready to face him yet!”
All the excitement Nathan felt about moving to the Hilton was draining away quickly with the realization that he would be entering a battle zone for Candasee. He did not know how Darius felt about his ex-wife but he knew that he’d also planned this time away with Candasee to truly win her love. With all the flooding on the island he knew Solange would have selected the accommodations with a lot of thought and the Hilton would be their home away from home for the next eight days. Changing that again would be almost impossible!
Okay he had to be optimistic here; after all he seriously doubted that Darius could erase the pain of a two year separation in a week. Besides where would Darius find the time even if he was interested in rekindling his relationship with Candasee. The intensive’s demanding schedule would ensure that Candasee spent most of her moments with him anyway.
“Okay, I won’t push the issue about the room right now, but know that the invitation is open to you and I am serious about all the other things I said. I want an exclusive relationship with you! Is that what you want too?” he asked, waiting for a response from her.
Candasee looked into Nathan’s dark eyes set in his handsome, face. He had such warm dark brown eyes and chocolate brown skin and his full beard was always well trimmed and shaved low to the skin on his face. She could see the sincerity and love for her shining in his eyes and once again being with him made her feel calmer, like she could make it through this time if he was with her. He was a safe haven for her while every thought of Darius was the very embodiment of chaos. Maybe if she finally moved further in Nathan’s direction she could finally let go of these maddening feelings she still felt for Darius. Maybe that was the key! She wasn’t trying hard enough to resist this madness and Nathan was right. Two years was a long time to still be pining over anyone!
“Yes, I want us to be exclusive!” she said leaning forward, offering her lips to him as a sign that she wanted what he wanted and closed her eyes awaiting the feeling of his warm lips as they touched hers.
Nathan threaded his hands along the nape of Candasee’s neck and covered her mouth with his own as he poured out all the feeling he could into this one kiss. He could now go to the hotel with confidence that they both agreed that this was no longer just a casual dating relationship but Candasee was now officially his girlfriend and that to him was only a small step away from being his fiancée and finally his wife.
Chapter 3
As Darius prepared to leave his room for the evening to get some dinner in the restaurant downstairs, his phone rang again! It was a long day and after the meeting and last minute negotiations, the last thing he wanted to do was talk some more.
Picking it up he looked at the screen hoping it wasn’t more bad news.
“Hello?” he answered a little impatiently.
“Good evening Mr. Brogan, its Eloise Graham here in reservations. I thought you would want to know this bit of information before you left for the evening! Ms. Hassell from the Meridian Hotel faxed over the list of the names of the delegates and...”
“Eloise, you did not need to tell me exactly who would be coming, just grant the concessions that I discussed with Solange!” interrupted Darius tersely now hearing his s
tomach begin to growl.
“But sir, you don’t understand, I am trying to tell you that Candasee is on the guest list!”
“What?” bellowed Darius with shock.
“Yes sir exactly, so I wondered if you wanted her to have any special accommodations or should I just let her bunk with everyone else?” asked Eloise pointedly.
Eloise had been a part of the hotel staff from the inception and she had always loved both Candasee and Darius just like her own children. She hated the fact that their marriage had ended in divorce so quickly! Darius Brogan was a proud man but she always noted with interest, the possessive admiration that always filled his eyes whenever he was with his wife in those days. Now that had been replaced by a cool, impenetrable wall most of the time and she wanted to see his happiness return.
“Uh, wow!” said Darius finally sinking into his desk chair completely taken aback by the news!” Candasee was here on Derrien Island and would be here for the next eight days? It was a good thing he didn’t finalize his plans to travel to Barbados next month. He was by no means a simpleton and could see when a second chance was being delivered to him. He did not want to blow it just yet and he knew he couldn’t just approach her without a plan in mind. After all, they weren’t even currently on speaking terms.
“Darius, are you still there? Eloise asked, noting the long silence with interest.
“Uh yes, I am still here. Make sure she has a room on the seventh floor,” he said thoughtfully, remembering just how much she’d always loved the decorative theme on that floor. “Aside from that don’t do anything else, let me think about this for a little while, and thanks for calling Eloise,” finished Darius.
“You are more than welcome, you know that!” replied Eloise with a smile before hanging up the phone.
Eight days with Candasee staying right here at the hotel! This was too good to be true. Feeling suddenly spontaneous and unlike his usually stoic nature he spun the chair in a circle as he rested his head back against it and allowed himself to laugh at his good fortune. As the chair completed the circle bringing him face to face with his desk he picked up one of the framed photographs he still had of her on his desk. In this one her hair was flying free in the breeze as she leaned back and smiled at him while he took her picture on their honeymoon in Bali.
Becoming serious for a moment he allowed himself to feel just how much he missed her and how much he wished he could show her just how much she still, in fact always meant to him. He was never great at showing his vulnerabilities and that was great for business but far too often he neglected to shut it off when he dealt with his wife over the years. He’d treated her like traded stocks and shares sometimes when all she’d ever wanted was his unconditional love!
The past two years gave him time to think a lot through and he was sure now about what he really wanted. He wanted to show Candasee that he could be worthy of her again, that she could trust him to take care of her, not just financially but to take care of what mattered most, her heart!
It was six-thirty in the evening before Nathan and Candasee arrived by taxi at the Derrien Hilton. The sun had already gone below the horizon and the first stars were appearing in the sky now that many of the heavy dark rain clouds were gone. She almost expected to see Darius waiting for her in the lobby to tell her that she was not welcome there, but from all appearances he was not even around at all.
Before she left the airport she made sure to comb her hair and to brush her teeth and to apply some light makeup just in case she saw him. She wanted him to know that she was strong and still looking good even after his stinging rejection. She saw Nathan’s eyes narrow at her slight improvement in appearance when she finally emerged, but she pretended that she did not really notice.
“You look beautiful honey, but you did not have to do all of that for me,” he said half-jokingly.
“I just spruced up a little!” Candasee replied simply.
“Hmmm!” was Nathan’s only reply as he fought the thought that came to his mind about her trying to look her best for her ex. As the hours passed he’d tried to ignore the few slip-ups she’d made when she referred to Darius as her ‘husband’ and the house they’d lived in as ‘our home’. He could see she was putting up a good front but inside she was a nervous wreck and that could only mean one thing, she was not over him yet! His stomach churned at the idea that all of this could be over for him in a few short days if those two got a chance to reconnect and somehow repair the damage that was caused. He scanned the lobby for the sign that Darius was there waiting for them but thankfully there was no sign of him as yet!
Every time Candasee saw this hotel, she was simply swept away by the sheer beauty and simplicity of the white marble floors that were always polished to a shine, the thick comfortable white and gold furniture and the accentuating plants and fountains that gave the lobby the feel of a sheikh’s desert kingdom.
This was not just an upgrade from the Meridian Hotel but they had moved up two whole stars and more. The fact that Darius agreed to this generous exchange more than piqued her curiosity, after all he made it clear to her he was first a business man and then a human with a heart of stone second, she thought bitterly. But then again, he would still be the one benefiting most wouldn’t he?
As they walked up to the front desk in the exquisite reception area, she immediately recognized Eloise one of the hotel’s most trusted employees.
“Welcome back Mrs. Brogan!” said Eloise purposefully using her married surname, while maintaining a welcoming smile. “I was so glad to see your name on the guest list; we have all missed you around here!”
Candasee returned the smile and inwardly groaned at hearing her former surname.
“Oh thanks Eloise, and by the way my name is Candasee Maxwell now!” she said.
“Oh yes! You are right dear, it’s just force of habit you see! You and Mr. Brogan were always such a wonderful couple,” she explained with her eyes twinkling. “Seeing you just now just brought all of that back!”
“Yes, I’m sure we were,” replied Candasee flatly.”How is your family?” she then asked in an attempt to switch the subject. Only two seconds in the hotel and already she was being reminded of what she was trying to forget.
“Everyone is well! Both of my sons are now working in Antigua but they come home to look for their mother occasionally,” replied Eloise with a smile.
Nathan watched the open gleam of joy and admiration in the other woman’s eyes and certainly did not miss her deliberate use of the name Brogan. It was obvious that she still held Candasee in very high esteem and still considered her the mistress of the estate. But, that name was now her past and he would do anything to make sure it stayed that way. So, to fight the sudden irritation he was experiencing at their conversation, he silently rehearsed what her name would sound like as Candasee Maxwell- Carthswright. It was a bit of a mouthful he noted but he would leave the option up to her whether she would hyphenate her name after they were married.
“And you sir, welcome to the Derrien Hilton,” said Eloise turning her bespectacled gaze on him.
Nathan replied to the greeting and quietly laughed to himself about the intensity of the direction of his inner thoughts. He was getting ahead of himself there but he did not care. A man needed to be clear on what he wanted if he was going to have any chance at having it.
Eloise completed the check in process and handed them their room information and pass keys.
“Okay Mr. Carthswright, here you are, your room is on the fifth floor and is number 510. We managed to house all of your delegates on that floor as well so I hope you find that convenient?” asked Eloise. “You will not be sharing a room because we thought that as CEO that would go against protocol!”
“Yes, thank you!” he said accepting the key.
“Oh we are pleased to serve you! You will find a welcome drink and refreshments in your room as a token gift from the hotel to you,” replied Eloise politely.
“Thank you!” Nathan r
eplied again, quietly impressed by the hospitality so far.
“Okay now Mrs. Brogan, you will be staying on the seventh floor in room 746,” said Eloise ignoring Candasee’s instructions about her surname.
“Pardon?” spluttered Candasee, “Why am I not staying on the fifth floor with everyone else?”
“I’m sorry but that floor is full, unless of course you wish to share a room?” inquired Eloise with an arched brow. “The only available room is Mr. Carthswright’s and I am sure that you would not want to do that!” she said in a slightly motherly and disapproving tone!
“Yes, you are right, I don’t want to share a room,” replied Candasee meaningfully, speaking quickly before Nathan could suggest his earlier solution to her again! The last thing she needed now was to further disappoint Eloise. She was such a good friend to her when she lived here. Also sharing Nathan’s room was bound to start tongues wagging about how close their relationship was getting and she did not need the publicity.
“Eloise, are you sure that there are no other rooms available on the fifth floor with the delegation?” asked Nathan realizing that Candasee would be alone on that floor, away from him and also open to Darius should he make a move to contact her. That thought did not leave him with a sense of peace at all.
“I am certain sir, besides you have no need to worry, you will be able to connect up with each other at anytime, won’t you?” asked Eloise innocently.
“Well, yes I guess you are right!” he replied reluctantly not wanting to cause a scene here at the front desk.
Knowing that he did not want to be two entire floors away from Candasee, Nathan attempted to ask for a room change to the seventh floor, but Eloise promptly and apologetically informed him that all of the rooms on the seventh floor were also either occupied or reserved for other hotel guests arriving during the two-week time period.
Hidden Love (Derrien Island Trilogy) Page 4