His light hair, expertly cut, was in deep contrast to the tan on his chiseled-from-stone face.
The rugged persona seemed at odds with his expensive Italian suit. Armani, she guessed, although she wasn’t an expert. He carried a black leather Burberry briefcase, which he set on the floor.
She ogled not so much the luxurious Armani, which was impeccably designed and perfectly fitted, but the body beneath the suit. His body looked hard, muscled, cut.
He must work out, she mused. A lot.
She’d like to see him in jeans and a T-shirt. She loved the way a nice cut of jeans could hug a man’s ass—and even better, his manhood. And God, what would he look like in a swimsuit? She let a picture of him on the beach in nothing but a pair of swim trunks linger in her mind. Maybe she would grow bold enough to shimmy up to his swimsuited self and strip him down to the flesh.
“Excuse me? Miss Burke?” he asked.
Cadence was physically taken aback by his voice. So strong. So commanding. Her hand fluttered to her chest. She swallowed hard. The way his eyes bored into hers, she could almost swear he knew her naughty thoughts.
She could feel the power coiled within him as he leaned over her to shake her hand. A whisper of his aftershave caressed her senses. Spice, sandalwood and definitely man.
“Um…yes,” she stammered. She sprang to her feet so he wouldn’t have to look down at her. “I am Cadence Burke.”
“Preston Night.” His dazzling smile showed off perfectly straight, white teeth.
Cadence gripped his hand, returning his smile, feeling a flush creep its way up her neck and over her cheeks.
One, two, three…
His grip was strong and her hand, which was by no means petite, looked tiny in comparison to his. She couldn’t believe this turn in luck. He wasn’t a fantasy, a fashion model who’d just stepped out of magazine, and he was a lawyer, her lawyer. God, if he knew what she’d been thinking…
Without fail, her eyes trailed to his crotch before she quickly whipped them back to his face.
He smiled, which only made her face feel hotter. “Please sit down, Miss Burke.”
He released her and the blood surged back into her fingers. It was the strangest sensation to have for a man she’d just met.
He held a chair for her, a gesture she found terribly old-fashioned and yet she loved his consideration. She sat down, her heart beating wildly.
She smiled to hide her nerves and smoothed her riotous hair. Wouldn’t you know it—the day she met the man of her dreams, she looked like she’d been electrocuted.
“We’ve met before,” he said, taking a seat next to her. He crossed his legs and a hint of a smile lifted his lips.
Cadence searched the rest of his face, trying to remember. Where had she seen that face before?
“The receptionist told me you’re Mrs. Night’s son.”
“I am.”
“Now I remember. You’re all grown up.” She’d like to cringe, she sounded so lame. Obviously, he was grown up.
“We both are.”
Cadence couldn’t have felt more awkward.
He picked up his briefcase and set it on the table in front of them. Without exchanging any polite chatter, such as how have you been or what have you been up to all these years, he opened his case and took out a thick manila file.
“Thanks for seeing me on such short notice,” she said, “although I was expecting to talk with your mother.”
He cocked a brow. “Didn’t Muriel explain?”
“Yes, she told me your mother was in court this morning.”
“Unfortunately, she is. She asked me to help you.”
Cadence realized she’d given the wrong impression. “I’m sure your mother left my case in good hands.” Yikes! Could she be more obvious?
“Night and Night is at your service.”
What a perfectly nice thing to say. She took a moment to compose her thoughts so she didn’t sound like a complete ditz.
“I remember your mother. She was always very nice to me. How is she?”
“Doing well.”
Cadence met his gaze. “Good.”
Those green eyes lingered on her face and then he shifted his gaze to his briefcase. “I had a chance to speak with her before she left. She had a file on your family.”
She gulped. “You have a file?”
“My mother took care of your mother’s trust. I assumed you knew.”
“I did. I became co-trustee when I turned twenty-one. We always used one of my father’s attorneys.”
“This firm’s involvement is outside of the trust.”
Hot damn! Her mother had provided for her. She was close to jumping in his lap and giving him a hug.
“Miss Burke…”
“Please call me Cadence. Your mom was practically family once.” She offered him a smile.
He didn’t return it. He was strictly business and to the point. “Okay, Cadence, then I insist that you call me Preston.”
“Deal,” she said, feeling more at ease and stifling, with difficulty, the growing heat within her. He was quite possibly the most attractive man she had ever met. She hadn’t realized men like him actually existed.
“So why don’t you explain why you called me,” he said, bluntly.
She started to speak, she’d a speech rehearsed, but her mouth had gone terribly dry.
“Would you like a drink?” he asked.
“Water with lemon would be fine,” she said, rasping her words.
He jumped to his feet and went to the open door. “Muriel, two waters with lemon, please.”
He unbuttoned his jacket and sat down again. He opened the manila file and began reading while they waited.
The receptionist appeared carrying two glasses. She set them on the table.
Cadence couldn’t help but notice, with a totally ridiculous feeling of possessiveness, how the receptionist stared at Preston more than necessary.
And why am I jealous? I just met this man.
Muriel left without a word.
Cadence picked up the cold glass and gulped down some water.
Preston stood and went to his desk. He opened a drawer and took out a pad of yellow paper and a pen. He motioned for her to start.
Her composure restored along with some self-control, she got back to business.
“You know my mother was at the World Trade Center on 9/11?” she said. Her story always seemed to start with that day in September.
“Yes.” There was a flash of emotion in his eyes, of caring, of sadness, maybe even pity. She’d seen them all before.
“The mayor, my father, remarried a widow with two children.”
“I’ve seen their pictures in the newspapers,” he said, taking the chair beside her.
“I’ve been living in New Haven for the last couple of years, working on my PhD in art history. I don’t come into the city very often, especially since my father remarried.”
Preston scribbled on the pad. He gave nothing away in his expression. Bet he plays a good game of poker, she mused.
“I turn twenty-six in June. I was expecting my share of Father’s estate as was stipulated in his will.” She opened her handbag and took out the manila envelope Victoria had given her. She handed it to him.
He turned the pages of the documents. “You are to inherit when you turn twenty-six?”
“So I believed. I just graduated yesterday and my stepmother had a party for friends and family to celebrate.” She reflected on that as she watched the condensation run down the glass. Victoria had used the occasion to showcase what a devoted mother she was while sticking a knife in Cadence’s throat the second the last guest left.
Cadence left this bit out of her narrative. It felt unnatural to confess family squabbles to a stranger. And unwise. Being the daughter of a politician had taught her to be wary about what she said and to whom, and to always wear a smile.
Hadn’t her father always warned her to show a happy face to the public no
matter what?
“That’s when I found out the mayor wrote a second will and I’d been cut out.” She looked up and smiled but it took a great deal of effort. Preston Night didn’t even flicker an eyelid. What was up with him?
She gave him a minute to read.
When he looked up, his mouth was set in a thin line. His gaze was gentle, reassuring.
He gave her confidence that Victoria wouldn’t get away with this.
“My stepmother claims I’m to be left with nothing, which is news to me,” she continued, wanting him to know how badly she’d been blindsided. “Father didn’t have much money of his own. At least I don’t think so.” Cadence shook her head. “I’m finding out, Mr. Night, that there are a great many things I don’t know about my father’s finances.”
“I understand.”
Cadence was happy he was on her side and she had him to confide in.
“Mother’s family was a success in the rag trade and he inherited a fortune when she died. Victoria, my stepmom, had been the mayor’s press secretary and a very good one as far as anybody could tell. Naturally, it caused a stir when they married so soon after my mother died.”
At this, Preston nodded and Cadence realized that was when his mother had left as an employee. Or had she been dismissed?
Preston’s expression remained blank. Did he know this part of the story? Would he tell her why his mother no longer worked for the Burke trust?
She pressed on. “I was sent off to boarding school when Victoria and the evil twins moved in.” Cadence checked his reaction. He remained attentive but neutral. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called them that.”
“You were being honest.”
“I was. Just, I should’ve kept quiet.”
“I’m your lawyer. You should tell me everything. I’m bound by law to keep anything you tell me confidential.”
“I know but that’ll take some doing. I don’t like talking about my private life.”
“How can I help you if I don’t know what you’re up against?”
Even though confiding went contrary to what she’d been taught, it did feel good to talk. Mother had entrusted Night and Night, International with her welfare. Cadence would too.
“Well, as soon as the graduation party was over—I won’t get into how oddly Victoria and my stepsiblings Sybil and Cyrus acted or pretend that we’re a close, loving family—Victoria handed me that envelope. As I mentioned, it contains legal documents that I had never seen before.” She paused to take a deep breath and another sip of her water.
His eyes focused on her, causing Cadence’s breath to catch in her throat. She didn’t look away. She couldn’t.
“I’ll look these documents over more closely,” he said.
“Thank you. If you find so much as a ‘T’ hasn’t been crossed, I want whatever powers you attorneys have to have the new will voided.”
Preston narrowed his eyes. “I’ll do what I can. I’ll need a copy of the first will.”
“Of course. I have it in my safety deposit box at school. You’ll see I’m named a beneficiary along with Victoria and her kids.”
“This new will excludes you completely.”
“It can’t be legitimate. My father wouldn’t have taken me out of his will. Kind of convenient for Victoria, wouldn’t you say, to inherit everything?”
Preston smiled for the first time. Her heart did a little tap dance.
“Your mother was a very smart woman, Miss…Cadence.” He opened the folder he’d taken out of his briefcase. “She must have known this was going to happen. She asked my mother to handle her affairs. I didn’t have the privilege of talking with her myself because, at the time, I was away at school.”
“Do you think I have a case?”
“Don’t worry, we will make sure that everything gets straightened out. But I don’t want to keep you in suspense too long. Let me explain your mother’s final wishes.”
Cadence nodded.
“Your mother had a penchant for lost causes and to be frank, Victoria Hahn was one of them.” At this, he paused and waited for Cadence’s response.
Why was he telling her what she already knew? She squirmed. Any talk about Victoria was torture.
“I know my mother did a great number of charitable works. She put Victoria through school and was the reason the woman became so successful and eventually came to work for my father. Why are you giving me a recap?”
If only Mother had known then the kind of woman Victoria would turn out to be. Cadence crossed her arms.
“I didn’t mean to offend you but in my file it says that I have to make sure you completely understand the history. Please accept my apologies.” His expression showed he was sincere and not just saying meaningless words.
She appreciated he understood the agony her stepmom had caused.
“Before your mother died, she had suspicions about your father and Victoria.”
Cadence met his gaze. She didn’t want to hear what Preston had to say. “What kind of suspicions?”
“She had reason to believe Victoria and your father were romantically involved.”
Cadence shook her head. “Father loved my mother.”
“Your mother wanted you to know. Things she kept from you because you were too young to understand.”
“Please continue.” She straightened. There was no reason to candy coat anything for her. What she’d been through in the last decade had strengthened her hard as steel.
Preston set the papers she’d given him on the table. He looked so serious, she braced herself for the bad news.
“Your father and Victoria had an affair while your parents were married,” Preston said gently.
She pressed her hands to her temples. “People make this stuff up. Enemies, you know. My father was a powerful man. I’ve heard plenty of sleazy rumors growing up. All of them false. Do you know I’ve been engaged fourteen times according to the papers? Married at least five?”
“I don’t think this is a rumor,” he said. “Your mother didn’t either.”
“How do you know what my mother believed?”
“She confided in my mother.”
Cadence turned and looked out the window. “No lie?”
“No lie,” Preston replied solemnly.
“I’d no idea. My parents seemed like such a loving couple. I guess the only thing they had in common was me.”
“Appears that way.” There was a softness in his gaze.
“This whole deal stinks,” she said, looking away. She didn’t want to be comforted.
“That’s why your mother went to her broker’s office in the WTC that morning in September. She wanted an account set up for you with my mother as the trustee until you came of age.”
Cadence turned and faced him.
“Your mother suspected Victoria wouldn’t do right by you if Mayor Burke died.”
“She was right.” Cadence knew full well Victoria had influenced her father.
“What I can’t believe is Father and Victoria had an affair while he was in office. He was always so careful about his public image.”
Victoria had seduced her father. He had been easy prey, a man with a gigantic ego. The self-serving bitch. That the woman could be so conniving, so manipulating, sent Cadence’s blood pressure soaring.
Cadence sighed. She couldn’t help it. Victoria had screwed everyone in her family.
“Your mother took steps to make sure you were protected from the pair in case she died. She created a trust.”
“Mother never told me about another trust.”
“She never got the chance,” Preston said.
Cadence began to understand. Mother had fought back in the only way she’d known how. She’d squirreled some money into an account no one but Night and Night knew about.
“Why didn’t your firm let me know before now?” she asked, petulant.
“It was your mother’s idea. She wanted to keep these family secrets from you as long as possible. She
left instructions that you should be told everything when you came to Night and Night for help with Victoria.”
Cadence rose and went to the window. What he’d told her would take time to digest. Her mother had insisted on secrecy and her plan had worked.
The morning sun glinted off the tallest building in Manhattan.
“You know I’ve lived in the city most of my life and I’ve never been to the top of the Empire State Building?” she said.
“It’s a sight nobody should miss,” he said.
“Yeah. I’ve heard.”
“Sit down, Cadence. There’s more I need to tell you.”
“More? What else is there?”
One look and she saw how serious he was. Obediently, she sat down.
“I’m sorry. I know this isn’t easy for you,” Preston said. There was a kindness to him she hadn’t expected.
Cadence shrugged. Victoria and the mayor? She hadn’t had a clue. What other gems did Preston have to tell her?
Preston had taken this client because he’d thought it would be textbook trust law and because he’d wanted to see Cadence Burke again, maybe get to know her now that she was no longer the mayor’s daughter and he was no longer a shy, skinny kid from the wrong side of town.
It’d been a mistake. He shouldn’t have stepped in for his mother, who had worked the trust and intimately knew the details. Mother was so much better at managing clients with emotional baggage. There was nothing he could do to make this easy for Cadence.
As Preston had watched Cadence’s reaction to the news her father was a cheat, how the man had omitted her from collecting her share of his estate, how a stepmother had cunningly manipulated the Burkes for her own gain, he had seen how close Cadence was to collapsing.
She looked fearful, even vulnerable, and his instincts to protect her kicked in big-time.
Unfortunately, so did his male hormones. He’d seen the way she looked at him when he arrived. She looked ready to jump his bones and fuck him into next week—until he’d introduced himself. Then she’d clammed up tight.
Cadence was gorgeous, stellar, every bit the beauty he’d remembered. He hid a raging hard-on, with the folders containing her files placed strategically in his lap.
He hadn’t expected his reaction to her to be so strong. All those years ago he’d wanted her but he’d given up. Now, having her next to him, smelling her perfume, he was bitten bad. He wanted to pick her up, set her ass on the table, spread her legs and show her exactly what he’d seen in her gaze earlier—blazing hot desire, need, pleasure.
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