Still no answer. He sat on the top step, held up one finger to tell his driver to wait for him, and decided he needed backup. He fished out his phone and dialed the one person who could help. The second his sister answered, he didn’t even say hello.
"Catherine, where is Tess?”
The seconds it took her to answer made his heart shrivel. She knew. He lowered his head. "She is not happy with you. Why did you have me help buy her a ring if you don't love her?"
He deserved to dance on hot coals in eternity as a punishment for hurting Tess. "Catherine, I made a mistake. I need to find her and tell her how I feel."
"Do you love her?"
Tess should hear it first. He tugged at his collar. Catherine wouldn't help him without an answer. "Yeah."
"She was home ten minutes ago."
"She's not answering the door. I've been knocking for a few minutes."
"One second. The app is opening." Then Catherine said, "Huh. I knew she was leaving town, but I didn't know it was this fast. The app reads unavailable. That's usually what happens when we board an airplane.”
His pulse raced. Tess ran away and it was all his fault. "What do you mean?"
"She's not available on the tracking. She said she was leaving town."
That wasn’t possible. She loved her family enough to say no to a world tour and settle here. He'd not take what she valued. He had to fix this. He stood and stared at his car. "Where?"
"All she said was a beach out of town.”
If she flew, she'd have gone to the airport. He'd have to try. He walked down the stairs, wondering where he could get her flight information. "Okay. Call me if you find out anything."
"Good luck."
As he hung up, he climbed back into the car and told the driver to go to Miami International. A moment later, his phone rang. He looked at it, hoping to see Tess or Catherine’s name, disappointed when he saw Galen’s.
He picked it up. "Galen? I can't talk now. I need to find Tess."
"Why?" His brother asked the one word question in a calm tone.
"I messed up and need to apologize.”
"She's flying to Grand Cayman on the Morgan jet."
His heart slowed. An island wasn't that big and he could find her there. He narrowed his gaze. "How do you know?"
"I saw her at the airport a few minutes ago. It’s why I called you.”
If she was still there, perhaps he had time. Hope inflated his chest. "Can you stop her?"
"No. The plane took off already."
All the air left his lungs. "Galen..."
"I'll get you a ticket.”
"Thank you. I'll be there as fast as I can." At least he had a plan now and there weren’t that many five-star hotels. He’d search every beach until he found her.
"Good luck."
"Bye."
He knew her destination. Now he had to hope she'd speak to him once he arrived.
27
The moment they stepped inside the swanky white hotel that was on the beach, there was a small line of people waiting to check in. Clutching her pocketbook, Tess stood behind Caro and Kara, Caro’s wedding planner. She tried to be rational. Mitch had taken the time to pick out a ring for her. Wondering what it looked like, she fished it out of the bag. She hadn't even glanced at it the moment he handed it to her.
How stupid are you? the voice in her head stated loudly.
She opened the box and the diamond nearly blinded her. She touched the tip of the solitaire and realized that, while simple, the ring stated that she belonged to Mitch. Her heart wanted that to be true.
Caro finished speaking with the clerk, then turned to stare at her. "What are you doing?"
"Nothing." She closed the box and put it back in her pocketbook. This trip was a huge mistake. She winced as she went through a checklist in her mind of all the things she had done wrong.
"Let's go to the room then."
She walked a few feet, then stopped. Her shoulders slumped. "Caro, I don't know if I should have come. The longer I quiet my doubts, the more I wonder if I should head back to Miami and find Mitch. If I stay, I’ll just be sad."
"What made you change your mind?"
She couldn't lie to her best friend. She kept her voice low so no strangers could hear. "The ring is beautiful. Every time I think about what I did, I keep saying to myself that I made a horrible mistake. I pushed. He wasn't ready, and I wasn't being reasonable."
Caro pointed to the elevators. "Well, come upstairs and we'll make some calls while you decide what you want to do."
If she could find a way to go home right now, she might have a chance to knock on Mitch's door and tell him she was sorry.
The elevator brought them to their floor and Caro opened the door of the penthouse. They stepped inside a room that could double as a greenhouse for roses. There were red and pink flowers everywhere. The hotel staff was still putting vases down as they closed the door behind them, knocked over by the rose fragrance.
Caro's fiancé clearly loved her. Tess looked around. "Wow, Caro. These are beautiful."
Caro shook her head. "Luke wouldn't do this. I don't think this is for me." She reached for the card on one of the vases, glanced at it, smiled, and handed the note to her. “It’s for you.”
Mitch couldn't know she’d left this fast, could he? She blinked as her hands clutched the paper. "What?"
Caro looked at the wedding planner. "Kara, I think you'll be helping Tess plan a celebration soon."
Mitch wouldn't do this. "These can't be for me."
"Read the note."
Her pulse raced, but she opened the small note. Tears sprung in her eyes and her hand pressed against her heart as she read.
Tess, these flowers are nothing compared to you. I hope you can forgive me.
Caro spoke to one of the hotel staff. "Is that chocolate?"
"Yes, ma'am."
She took a piece off the tray. "Tess, I think you made a mistake."
Her skin broke out in goose bumps. She swallowed, but her throat was constricted. "I asked him how he felt about me."
"Maybe he needed a few minutes to get his thoughts together."
Caro's statement echoed what she had been thinking for hours. Her body heated. She had to find him and apologize.
Kara, the wedding planner, asked the staff member, "Wait. Is that a dress?"
"Yes, ma'am." The staff was clearly top-notch.
Tess gazed at the red dress. Kara rushed across the room. "Let me get the card for you."
"Thanks, Kara."
Tess glanced around. Mitch knew she was here. With all of this, he clearly hadn't given up on her. She sucked in her bottom lip. If he was close, she had to see him.
Kara handed her the card. She tore it open.
Tess, I'm coming to meet you. Please have dinner with me. I will remember forever to ensure you always eat. The staff has arranged a special place. All I need is for you to say yes.
She would say that and so much more. She placed the paper over her heart.
Caro came to stand beside her. "What does it say?"
She twirled around. Everything was perfect. He’d followed her. She tucked the card into her pocketbook so she could keep it forever. "He wants me to meet him for dinner."
Caro counted with her fingers. "Flowers, chocolate, dress, dinner..."
The last member of the staff who was about to leave said, "There are jewels, as well, ma'am. Check the box on the vanity."
The door closed. Tess raced to the vanity and picked up the box. Inside was another diamond necklace that cost more than her previous salary.
Caro called out, "Luke is not this romantic with presents."
Smiling, Tess fastened the earrings in her ears, then snapped the necklace around her neck. A second later, she walked over to show Caro.
"It's beautiful." Her friend fingered the necklace. "Tess, what do you plan to do?"
Stay married and be with Mitch. She loved him. In time, she had to believe he'd t
ell her those same words. "I'm going to dinner with my husband."
"Yeah!" Caro cheered, and Kara clapped.
A few hours later, Tess followed the directions and walked toward the beach patio. It was roped off and said Private Party. Tiki torches lit her way, and the rose petals on the ground guided her. The red dress was soft, sensual against her body with every step she took. The light breeze lessened the heat. Waves crashed on the shoreline, so she held her shawl tighter and glanced around.
She saw Mitch standing at a corner table hidden by palm trees. She lowered her shawl and made her way toward him. The second she got close, she smelled cedar and that unique manly scent that made her weak.
"Tess."
She took off the shawl and twirled slowly. "Mitch, the dress is beautiful."
His nearness breathed desire into her body.
"Not half as beautiful as you."
Fire ignited in her soul. With trembling fingers, she placed her shawl over a chair and brushed her hands against the massive wall of muscles along his chest. She prayed her cheeks weren't flushed and she lowered her eyes. "Don't. I'm nervous."
He placed his hand on her shoulder. "Don't be. First, let me apologize."
The tropical air now tasted like him. She gazed into his blue eyes and sighed. "I was crazy for demanding you make a grand statement at that moment. I'm sorry."
He took her hands in his and kissed her knuckles. "You weren't crazy. Everything that happened between us so far was fast and unexpected."
This was all her fault. She blinked. "You're right, though. I can give you time."
"I don't need time."
Her breath hitched. "Why am I here then?"
He slid his arms around her waist and leaned closer. "Because I love you. The moment you kicked me out of your apartment, I stopped breathing. I don't want a divorce. I want you in my life."
Tears grew in her eyes again and she whispered, "Mitch..."
"You're crying."
He wiped her cheeks and brought her arms around his neck. "All you had to do was show up. I love you, too, which I hope is still true and I didn’t screw everything up."
This was it. She had her happily ever after. She nodded. "Yes. I love you."
"Then you'll stay with me?"
Forever. She reached for her pocketbook to take out the ring and suddenly realized she’d left it in her room. "Wait."
"What?"
She turned and contemplated jogging to her room. “I have the ring in my bag upstairs."
He squeezed her shoulder tenderly. "We'll get it tomorrow."
She nodded and pressed closer to him. "Mitch, it's beautiful. I didn’t tell you that and I should have."
"Right now, I just want you with me.”
They would be together forever. Nothing else mattered. They had a shot at happiness. She loved him, and he loved her.
* * *
<<<<>>>>
Also by Victoria Pinder
Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)
The House of Morgan
Secret Crush
Secret Baby
Secret Bet
Secret Wish
Secret Dad
Secret Heir
Secret Tryst (Coming Soon)
A Frosted Game of Hearts
Winter Peril
Stormy Peril
The Collins Brothers
Chaperoning Paris
Borrowing the Doctor
Electing Love
Keeping the Spy
Keeping the Captain
The Marshall Family Saga
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Mistake
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Sin
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Scandal
Princes of Avce
Forbidden Crown
Forbidden Prince
Forbidden Royal
The Hawke Fortune
Tempting Gabe
Tempting James
Tempting Conner
Tempting Harry
Tempting Navid
* * *
Then if you also like Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance
Hidden Dragon Series
Call of the Dragon
Dance of the Dragon (Coming Soon)
The Queen Gene
Whispers of a Throne
Storm of the Throne (coming soon)
Earthseekers Mission
Makeup May Change Your Life
The Zoastra Affair
Ancient Greek Heroes
Mything You
Mything the Throne
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.
Visit my website and download a free novel
www.victoriapinder.com
[email protected]
Secret Heir Page 16