There, Charlie grinned. “About that hate thing…”
Groaning, she explained, in shorthand. “Me. Drake. Not so good for his company.”
“So, you either bow to their wishes or you make your own rules. Or, you can come work for me.”
She frowned. “I’m not sure I’d be good on your cash registers.” She winced. “Not good with people.” Or moms and dads or families. Or Drake the Rake. Man, that Drake spell really does a number on me!
Charlie laughed. “I’m talking about the exclusive getaways. Unique. One-of-a-kind. You, real estate developer genius. Me, high-end retailer owner. Put those two together and what do you get?”
“Maybe a hot mess?” Her voice squeaked. “You’re serious?”
“Look, Heather, do you think Alex and I don’t talk? He said he’d hire you in a heartbeat. Now if that isn’t a recommendation from one of the most successful businessmen in Dallas, then I don’t know what is. I trust you to do a great job, the details of which will be determined. I’m not rash—well in business. I know what I want. I only hire the best. And I know what I like. I like you.”
“But Drake.” What would he say if she jumped ship?
“If he loves you, he’ll support you no matter your choice.”
The breath caught in the back of her throat. “That’s just it. I don’t know if he does. Love me, that is.”
“Isn’t it time you found out?”
***
A job offer from King’s—better yet, the owner, Charlie King Royale!
Could she? Did she want to? Working with Drake had been a dream come true. Until this week…
Dare she give it all up, the safety net of Diamond Enterprises? The days with Drake guiding her to be the best—more like, drooling over him—would come to a screeching halt. Then would she be of value to him any longer? That kicked her in the gut, fierce and powerful.
Did she dare fool him into a real marriage and see where the chips fell after that? Wouldn’t that give her the answer she longed for?
Heather chewed the inside of her lip as she watched her friend Lacey, with the bright lights playing on her caramel-color hair, layer the smooth, expensive makeup on the next model. World-renowned and a true artist, Lacey Daniels earned heaps of praise and tons of awards for her makeup and hairstyles in the entertainment industry.
So many statues, so little time… Heather smiled at their motto from boarding school.
Ashely, a supermodel, had more than all of them put together. Ash’s, along with her hundreds or more magazine covers, could plaster their entire Dallas apartment.
Hers, not so much. But she didn’t have an ounce of envy in her bones regarding her best friends’ accomplishments.
It was just like Lacey and Ashley to give up their usual high pay to volunteer for King’s bridal charity event tomorrow night for engaged military couples.
Pride beamed bright. They were the only real family she had and damned if she wasn’t thrilled for them and how far they’d gotten in the world. And they were happy for her, too.
But, she was about to let them down. Their pact to remain single after many heartaches stayed steady and strong. Until now—until Drake.
“Where’s Ash? There’s something I need to tell you both.” How could she break it to her two besties? Even though they shared an apartment, all of them traveled extensively and hardly got to bond lately.
How they managed to avoid each other this week in town was beyond her. So wrapped up in Drake, she didn’t have any concept of what her friends were up to. Except there were hot guys hanging around, like the guy who owned the Westbrooke Museum…
She gulped hard as she noted Drake was nowhere in sight. He’d promised to come to the practices and rehearsal. Work had kept him from attending the last few nights.
“Okay, maybe that’s a good thing, right?” she muttered. Maybe he’d come to his senses and backed out. Of everything. That would make things simpler and make her decision for her. Can’t get married if he doesn’t show up!
Most of her colleagues gave her the cold shoulder the entire week. Some shot her pitiful looks, as if to say your time is limited, just like the others. And they’d given Drake lip. Neither one had experienced that previously. And it stung her while surprising Drake. Once again, Heather was on the outside looking in.
Things had changed drastically.
Her parents phoned her several times a day, even meeting and calling her together, begging her to reconsider. Funny how they’d teamed up to dissuade her from marriage.
She hated to admit they’d lost a couple of contracts with the ensuing scandal. This was not good for business. Thus, this was not good for Drake.
He withdrew, burying himself in work, trying to recoup the losses. And he’d reassigned her to a different project when a client complained about the so-called inappropriate relationship, insinuating it blurred lines.
Conflict of interest, Drake had explained. Many wanted to know how long it had gone on.
There was just something wrong about mixing business and pleasure.
Dread gathered and swirled in her stomach.
That wedding thingy with Gordo didn’t seem like such a great idea after all. Hijack Drake! Ha, no way!
“You can’t force someone to love you,” she murmured, thinking how maddening it had been to watch the love die between her parents. The accusations, all unfounded, hurled in the heat of arguments at her dad had broken something in him. One day, he just gave up.
Swallowing the thick lump in her throat, she pulled back and faced reality. She would not be like her mother: wondering if, waiting for the shoe to drop.
Two solutions came to mind now. One, leave Diamond Enterprises. Or, two, break up with Drake. Publicly.
Somehow, two seemed to meld with one and she’d be out the door no matter what.
Would Drake even want her if she weren’t a part of his business life? He’d never have noticed her otherwise.
Hello, Drake Diamond does not care for you! Not in that way.
A hollow ache dropped in the pit of her stomach. Could she live without him? Did she even want to find out?
Chapter 11
Drake skipped the rehearsal, begging off to take care of more important business. Rico didn’t take it to heart and promised to show him the ropes before the main event.
For charity, he’d gladly shelled out money to extend the time at the event and agreed to surprise the attendees with the fake ceremony, including them in the big day.
Would D.W. buy the elaborate scheme? That thought probed the back of his mind, taunting him. The deal hinged on his accepting the union. Good-natured Grant bought into it already, enthused for Heather and him. Deception, of this magnitude, didn’t sit well, though. Drake did not get to where he was on lies. Charm, yes. Hard work, definitely.
“But who doesn’t get caught up in a wedding, right?” He winced, realizing most of his guy friends were not into tying the knot.
Worse, his employees hated the idea of him marrying Heather. She knew too much about the business, could influence him unduly with her views and opinions. Not like she hadn’t made him see reason before, but now they’d take it the wrong way.
His gut clenched at how things drifted—no, sank—to a black hole this week. He’d met several times with his key people and all encouraged him not to go through with what would surely be a disastrous outcome.
They didn’t have faith in his bride selection.
Not for him. Not for the future of the business.
“Texas. Community property state, Drake,” Sonia had pointed out.
“Drake, you’re a shameless charmer. Our women clients wouldn’t fall for that after this. They’ll revolt and take their business elsewhere,” Eric said.
“And what about the growing tension in the office? You can feel it. People are looking for other jobs already.”
That had stopped him cold.
Heather kept them all on their toes, in a good way. But, once they w
ed, everyone would see things differently. Controlling. Demanding.
“They do now,” he muttered. Panic at losing everything swept over him. His business, built from the ground up, from nothing but a dream, could come crashing down all around him. All because of a beautiful woman.
He’d never let anyone get this close before, never come close to the altar. Marriage hadn’t been in his realm of consideration. So why now?
Chains? Shackles? That meant he’d be tied down. Worse, that meant he could fall hard and fast and break when it all came crashing down around him. “What the hell am I doing?” He swiped at the perspiration dotting his forehead.
Standing all alone, he watched the bustling people at the airport come and go. He searched and waited, praying this would work out. It may have been twenty minutes or more before he saw who he was looking for.
“Dad! Over here,” he called out, rushing to see his old man saunter across the midway, using a cane and holding onto a young flight attendant. Somehow Drake didn’t think his dear old dad needed the extra attention as he seemed to be in better health.
“Drake, my boy!” His dad hugged him back with a strong grip. “Good to see you. So good.”
“It’s been too long, Dad.” He held tight for a minute more, needing to know he still had his father there for him as always, and then clapped him on the shoulder and pulled away, holding him at arm’s length. He’d expertly styled his dark hair and looked sharp in his casual wear. “You look great.” The physical therapy appeared to be helping to build some muscle back after his latest fall.
“Thanks to this beauty. She didn’t mind escorting me through this chaos.”
“No worries, Mr. Diamond.”
Her cute Australian accent would have piqued Drake’s interest a few short weeks ago. Not any longer. A sharp, jarring knowledge swept through him. Drake Diamond was no longer infatuated with charming ladies. Well, none, except Heather Talbert.
And she was not easily charmed.
No, she was practical and funny and sexy as all get-out. She didn’t suffer fools gladly and didn’t beat around the bush. Her reaching out to his dad time and time again over the last year and a half made him fill with awe at how caring and generous she was. She kissed like a dream. Heady. Sweet. Walking on air. And she hurt so deep inside that it took his breath away and he longed to soothe her pain. Because, honestly, her pain was his pain.
No! He couldn’t. Wouldn’t. But it hit him square in the chest, like that linebacker from college again. This time his heart jolted. Wonder crashed down on Drake.
A swift tide of fear followed, rushing up to choke him. He could lose her. Not in his business. In his life! Forever.
His smile broadened. God, he loved that woman! He had for a very long time, too; he just couldn’t admit it until now. “Dad, you ready to go get me hitched?”
Maybe he could turn this around after all. Would she believe him after all the lies?
***
“She’s a peach, as we used to say in my day.” His dad nudged his arm as they sat in the backseat of the limo. “What made you come to your senses?”
“Just a sec, Dad.” He leaned forward. “Wallace,” he said, getting the man’s attention.
His driver’s graying hair, perfectly groomed, filled the rearview mirror until the man shifted to catch a glimpse. “Sir?”
“Can you make a stop at the hotel where the charity’s being held?”
“Can’t.”
The clipped answer took him aback. “What?”
“Orders.” His smile spread.
“From who?” He frowned, looking at Wallace and then his dad. “Do you know anything about this?”
“Don’t look at me, son. I’m just along for the ride.”
“What’s going on?” He planned on seeing Heather, surprising her with his dad’s appearance, and then getting his dad settled in to his guest room.
“Pit stop,” Wallace said, flicking on the signal light before turning toward the highway ramp.
Shaking his head, he asked, “What choice do I have?”
“None.” Wallace, usually cooperative, shot him a big grin.
“Hijacking my night?” A bubble of anxiety crept in.
“Ha, that’s the least of your concerns. See, getting married is like having your life hijacked and your heart.” His father’s always wise words sunk in.
“That bad, huh?” Panic grew and grabbed him by the throat.
“The worst,” he said softly, patting him on the arm.
His dad had taken that chance on his mom and failed miserably. The imprint of that time and his dad’s suffering still haunted Drake. “Why then?”
“Why not? You can’t avoid hurt; it will find you. But would you rather go through it alone?” He shook his head. “I’m venturing out again. I’ve got my eye on someone sweet. But, I don’t regret loving your mom, because it gave me you. Dare to love, son.”
Drake’s life, as he knew it, would never be the same. Worse, his heart would never be the same. Not after loving Heather.
And that scared him. Trusting someone to not hurt him scared the hell out of him.
***
She paced. The borrowed wedding gown dragged and she hefted it up, draping it over her arm.
The heels were too high and she wobbled every few steps.
If Heather had a good mind, she’d leave. Like now. Before Drake arrived.
Why did she feel she had to rush out before her part of the rehearsal in a couture wedding gown? At least it was way better than a shrimp cocktail dress!
Somehow, she had to make this right. For Drake.
The parking lot, jammed with cars, poked fun at her. There were people inside, tons of them. Either this would be an epic hit or epic fail.
Her mouth grew dry. She swallowed hard. It didn’t do a darn thing for her suddenly parched throat.
Why had she done this again?
“Oh, yeah, for Drake.” Her crestfallen voice dragged her down about as much as her doubts did at the moment. That and calling her co-workers to witness what was about to occur. Getting D.W. and Grant to cooperate proved more troublesome. “Public humiliation 101, coming right up!”
Would Drake understand?
An engine broke the still night air. She froze as the arch of lights sliced the dark and turned in to the lot. The limo came to a halt at the sidewalk.
The shaking began in her knees and took over until she shivered uncontrollably. An image of her flopping around as a bobble head doll on someone’s dashboard sprang up. Funny, real funny, Talbert!
“Heather?” Drake threw open the back door and rushed out. “What? I mean, why are you here at the community center? In a wedding dress?”
Her mouth refused to work. Tall and sinful! No, not back to being an awkward, gawking crushing employee again! All she could do was point to the door behind her.
He shucked off his jacket and wrapped it around her.
Warmth seeped in. His scent, heady and all-male, stole over her.
“Let’s get her inside,” the familiar voice said.
“Mr. Diamond.” Tears came and she swiped them away a moment before hugging the older man. She’d miss him, too.
Patting her awkwardly on the shoulder, he sshed her. “I’m no good at this mushy stuff. Black eyes and bruises—now that I can deal with.”
“Come on, Dad. We’ll get you two inside.” Drake reached out, ushering her down the walkway. “Mind telling what’s going on?”
“In there. The big game. That’s what Howie said anyway,” she choked out. The countdown to the finals seemed apropos for what she was about to do.
Once at the door, she sucked in a deep, cleansing breath and jerked on the handle. It came open easily.
A blast of light and noise hit Heather in her face. She marched in, still clutching the length of the gown.
She felt, rather than saw, Drake and his dad walking behind her.
The bleachers were half-filled with Diamond Enterprises emplo
yees and the at-risk teens Drake coached and mentored. Some of the parents were there, too. Other personnel and another team stood by. A smattering of light clapping rippled through the room and then died completely.
“We finally found a taxi,” Lacey said, rushing into the building, dragging Ashley behind her. They both still wore the rehearsal wedding gowns.
Peg soon followed. “Geez Louise, a gym? Get a load of this, Rico!”
He joined her, fanning himself. “Seriously?!” Chuckling, he pointed to each of the friends. “Three brides!”
“Walked into a gym…” Peg snorted. “Now, that’s a beginning of a joke if I ever heard one.”
There was muted laughter nearby.
“I still got it,” Peg said, scratching her pencil on a sheet of paper attached to her clipboard.
“What’s this all about?” D.W. strode from nearby, straightening out the lapels of his coat.
Grant followed. “Heather called. Something about the deal and the truth.”
Watching the shock chase across Drake’s features only made her middle hurt more than it already did. “No,” he said, shaking his head. “You can’t do this.”
Heather reached out to him. She let out a shaky breath when he took her hand. His was warm and strong and gave her courage. She backed up a few steps, bringing him with her, until she found a more central spot.
“Why are we here?” he whispered, but it carried.
Murmurs of curiosity came next from the small crowd.
“I’d like to know that, too,” D.W. agreed.
Trying to ignore the older man’s intimidating presence, she said to Drake, “It’s basketball night, coach. They need you. They’re counting on you.”
“Yeah, I’m going to get that three-pointer tonight,” a boy yelled out. His friends snickered at his boasting.
“Drake and I—well, we’re not, or ever have been, a couple.”
Gasps ricocheted through the gym.
“I knew it! Diamond, you’re finished!” D.W. spat out. “Come on, Grant. We’ll find someone else.”
“Wait! You, Mr. Shipley, would be a fool if you didn’t hire Drake. He’s the best. Even better than you can imagine. Heck, he hasn’t shown you anything yet!”
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