He bypassed the bar and found Mick instead. “Can I speak with you for a moment?”
Mick sipped from a champagne flute. “Sure thing.”
“The partners’ annual retreat is tomorrow, and I want you to remove me from consideration for a partnership.”
Mick’s face dropped. “You’re going to work for Dixon.”
“No.”
Mick’s smile returned.
“But I’ll be giving my two weeks’ notice on Monday.”
His boss frowned. “Why?”
Mick’s dumbfounded tone matched the look in his eyes.
“Cassie is the only reason you’re considering me for a partnership. You admitted you saw me as a worker bee until my engagement. I do work hard. I’m proud of that, though I’ve pretty much had zero life outside of my job until I met Cassie. The truth is that connections are more important to the firm, and I don’t want her to ever believe I’m using her or her father to get ahead in my career. I hope you understand.”
“Haha. Good one.” Mick took another sip of bubbly. “You crack me up. You had me going for a second or two because I never knew you were a jokester.”
“I’m serious.” Troy’s voice remained calm.
He’d finally realized what he needed to do. Not for Cassie, but himself. He didn’t want a promotion with strings and for reasons other than he deserved one. He deserved more.
He’d paid for college himself using scholarships, jobs, and loans. Payments still had to be made, but he’d come this far on his own. He could do it.
Troy raised his chin. “I’m quitting Scorpio Partners on Monday, and I don’t want you wasting retreat time talking about me to the other partners.”
Mick’s gaze narrowed. “You’re serious.”
Troy nodded once.
“Will you sleep on this for a couple of nights?” Mick’s words came out faster than usual. “I know you’ve been working hard. Not taking your vacation days except to help your parents. And I was just kidding about the worker bee.”
Yeah, right. Just like Russ was with the country charm.
“Maybe we can work something out to benefit you and us,” Mick added.
“I’ve made up—”
“Please?”
Troy nodded again. He’d think about it, but there was no reason to change his mind. He’d made the right decision. He only hoped Cassie thought so, too.
♥ ♥ ♥
Standing at the balcony rail, Cassandra wanted to ignore the turmoil raging inside her. She was happy she’d been truthful with her mom, but Cassandra wanted the fog rolling in to dull the knife-edged pain stabbing her heart every time she thought of life without Troy.
Should she have given him a chance? Should she have been more willing to take a chance herself? The questions plagued her.
A door closed. The hair on her nape stood up. She was no longer alone. She didn’t smell her mom’s trademark perfume. Troy. It had to be him.
“Cassandra.”
She didn’t turn—she couldn’t. She clutched the rail. The only sounds were the trickling water from the fountain in the corner, Troy’s footsteps, and her pounding heart.
He stood behind her, too close for her own good. As his warm breath caressed her neck, an arm brushed hers. The brief contact sent a spark shooting through her. She stepped aside.
“Aren’t you cold out here?” he asked.
“No, I was…enjoying the view.”
He turned her around so his gaze met hers. “It’s lovely.”
The intensity of his eyes sent a shiver down her spine. Cassandra had used all her strength and courage to tell Troy she wouldn’t make him happy. That he needed to find someone else. The disappointment in his eyes had ripped her heart in half, but she was doing this for his own good. She couldn’t be the woman he wanted.
“Why are you out here alone?” he asked.
“I’m waiting for my mom, and I, uh, wanted some fresh air.”
“It’s a little stuffy in there.”
“Are you talking about the air or the stuffed shirts?” she half-joked.
“Both.”
His answer surprised her. She ignored the twinge of regret creeping up her spine. Saying goodbye to Troy McKnight was what she needed to do. He needed her to do that, too.
“There’s something I’ve been wondering,” he said.
She didn’t want to hear what he had to say. One word and she might wind up in his arms. She might forget that she wasn’t the woman for him, that he wasn’t the man for her. “What?”
He leaned against the edge of the balcony. “Are you planning on hiring more help at the bookstore?”
Troy wanted to talk about her bookstore? Right now? Puzzled, she drew her eyebrows together. “I can always use help.”
“Good.”
She wrung her hands, fighting her nervousness. “Does someone need a job?”
“Yes. Me.”
“You?” This wasn’t funny. She wet her lips. “You have a job and an offer from my father.”
“Not any longer.”
“Stop playing games, Troy.”
“This isn’t a game.” He held her hand. His warmth seeped into her skin and spread through her. “I thought about what Mick and one of the other partners said. If they can’t see the value of my work without my connection to your dad, then I’m working at the wrong place. It’s time for a career change.”
Her mouth gaped. “Have you been drinking?”
“No, but what you said to me finally makes sense. I’d rather have you than all the money in the world, so I told Mick I’ll be resigning on Monday.”
His words left her stunned. “I don’t understand. Being a partner is what you’ve always wanted. What you’ve been working for.”
“Yes, but this is the right move. I never want you to second guess why I’m with you.”
Her mouth dropped even further. “You gave up everything you wanted…your dreams…for me?”
“Not just for you. For us.”
She should be jumping for joy. Instead, guilt consumed her. “Your dream—”
“Has changed.”
“You’re sure? Because I feel awful right now.”
“Positive. I love you, Cassandra.”
She had no doubt he did. “But what if you regret—”
“I won’t regret anything as long as you’re with me.”
“I’ve been told compromise is the key to a successful relationship,” she said. “You could work for my dad.”
“Or I could work for his daughter. I like books. I’m good with numbers and always have ideas. I have several for Cassandra’s Attic. Did you know I used to be a management consultant?”
Her mind reeled. “No, but you don’t have to decide everything tonight.”
“You’re right, but whatever decision is made, we’ll do it together.”
“I like the sound of that.” Her smile seemed to stretch across her entire face. “I guess this means I need to stop being so black and white about everything.”
He grinned. “That might help.”
“Gray’s not the worst color.”
“It’s not, but I draw the line at yoga.”
“I can live with that.”
“Good, because I don’t want to live without you.” Troy dropped to one knee. “Will you marry me?”
Her nerve endings quivered. Her blood tingled. She struggled for a breath. “For real?”
“For real.” Troy took the ring out of his pocket. “I love you. I want to marry you.”
“Yes.” Tears of happiness welled in her eyes. “I love you.”
Troy slipped the ring on her finger. Standing, he pulled her into his arms and kissed her. “No more nights, weekends, or weeks. I’ll be your fiancé for life.”
“No, you won’t,” she said. “You’ll be my husband for life.”
With that, Cassandra kissed him, long and hard. No more pretend kisses. Only real ones from now on. “I think I’m going to like being engaged
for real.”
“Wait until we’re married, Cassandra.”
Staring at the diamond ring on her finger, she smiled. “Call me Cassie, and I don’t want to wait.”
Epilogue
Waiting months for their wedding day to arrive felt more like years. Cassie had wanted to elope the night of her and Troy’s engagement party. He’d been game, but seeing the disappointment on their mothers’ faces had made them reconsider. Instead of driving to the nearest wedding chapel across the Nevada state line, they’d met both sets of parents for breakfast the next morning to discuss wedding plans.
Surprisingly, both sets of parents had agreed with Cassie and Troy’s wedding wishes:
Only immediate family and Moe would attend.
The ceremony would be held on the beach in Carmel.
Cassie would be allowed to go barefoot.
No maid of honor or best man would stand up with the bride and groom.
Cassie’s parents would both walk her down the aisle.
The reception would be held at her parents’ house.
With those things out of the way, the actual planning of the big day had been relatively easy. They picked a date that coincided with Troy’s youngest siblings’ spring break so they wouldn’t have to miss classes. Her mother hired a caterer, florist, and harpist. Her father found an officiant who wasn’t a shaman, but didn’t mind incorporating the bride and groom’s wishes into the ceremony no matter how non-traditional their requests might be. Cassie ordered the dream “Juliet” gown she’d tried on at the wedding salon she’d visited with her mom.
Amid the wedding planning, Troy started a small-business consulting firm. His first client—Cassandra’s Attic. The changes being made were good ones. Sales were up, a new employee had been hired to be their book concierge, and Brett Matthews, who’d written a bestselling investing guide, would be doing a book signing soon. Next on the list of renovations was the addition of a coffee shop to the “attic” portion of the store.
Working with Troy and being a real couple instead of a pretend one reaffirmed what her heart knew—they belonged with each other. Things might not always go smoothly, but whatever obstacles they faced, they would get through them together. She had no doubt about that.
Today, on her wedding day with a cloudless blue sky overhead and a light breeze blowing off the Pacific Ocean, she couldn’t wait to take the next step toward her future with Troy. Eager to stand next to her groom and exchange vows, Cassie dug her toes into the warm sand.
“It won’t be much longer, sweetheart,” her mother whispered loud enough to be heard over a lovely song being played by the harpist.
Anticipation thrumming through Cassie, she nodded.
“You’re a lovely bride.” Her father squeezed her hand. “That dress is so you.”
Her vision blurred. She blinked away the tears. “Thanks, Dad. For everything.”
The harpist’s song changed.
“It’s time,” her mom announced.
A feeling of contentment settled over Cassie. With her mother on one side and her father on the other, she walked down the aisle to Troy, the love of her life, who stood waiting in a navy tuxedo with a huge smile lighting up his face.
His parents, brothers, sisters, Moe, Emily, and Eric sat in white chairs around a makeshift altar decorated with flowing white sheers and vibrant flowers, but Cassie barely saw anyone else. Her focus was on Troy.
His gaze gleamed with tears, and he rubbed his eyes.
As she reached him, her parents each kissed her cheek. Her father let go of her arm, placed her hand in Troy’s, and then her parents took their seats.
Troy squeezed her hand. “You’re gorgeous.”
“So are you.”
“I love you, Cassie.” Tears filled his eyes again. “You have no idea how much.”
Oh, she had an idea because she felt the same about him. “I love you, too.”
As they faced the officiant, her heart overflowed with love and joy.
That night at the bar, she hadn’t found a fiancé for the night. She’d found a husband for life.
♥ ♥ ♥ ♥ ♥
If you’d like to read investor Brett Matthews’s story, click here. Book 3 and Book 4 are also available. For more information about the series, click here.
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This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are fictitious or have been used fictitiously, and are not to be construed as real in any way. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locales, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
Published By
Latin Goddess Press
Winter Springs, FL 32708
http://millytaiden.com
Dragon Baby
Copyright © 2016 by Milly Taiden
Cover by Willsin Rowe
Edited by: Tina Winograd
All Rights Are Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
Property of Milly Taiden
August 2016
About the Book
Lily Cruz doesn’t want a wolf for a mate. She’s totally not going to follow in her cousin’s footsteps. With one failed marriage behind her, she isn’t really interested in relationships, period. But she would love to have babies. At almost forty, her biological clock is hammering her over her head big time.
Thane Dreki won’t get some random woman pregnant just to stay alive. He isn’t interested in a relationship either. Having seen how a broken heart can destroy someone, the last thing he wants is to give any woman that power over him.
Thane might have to reconsider hi
s stance when he meets Lily and a wild night of sex results in more than either of them bargained for. He’ll do anything to protect his woman and their baby, including killing anyone who threatens their existence. But the biggest problem he faces isn’t an enemy, it’s getting Lily to give their love a chance.
—For my baby girl, Angie
I couldn’t have a bigger fan. I love you!
1
Lily Cruz knew better than to fall for some smooth talking alpha wolf. Her cousins had joined Night and Day Ink and in the process found wolf mates, but not her. Not Lily. She knew better. Her tigress knew better.
She’d just come out of one terrible marriage to a fox who wasn’t her mate and there was no way in hell some alpha wolf would tell her what to do. Not to mention all the Night men were off with their wives and the few who were not mated were nowhere in sight, thank god.
She glanced at the files on her desk and frowned. She was not a secretary, but some asshole by the name of Thane Dreki was determined to send the most annoying errands her way like she had nothing better to do than order pizza for people working late or set up entertainment for a grand opening celebration. That was not her job. She was there to manage buying new property. Not to play personal assistant to some douche that never came into the office.
“Hey, Lily,” Stephanie Day yelled as she approached down the hall. Stephanie Day was married to the Day half of Night and Day Ink. Twin brothers who shared everything, including Stephanie. She didn’t seem to mind, though. She always had a glowing smile at the office and the men doted on her like she was their queen. Something Lily couldn’t relate to since her ex treated her like she was his bank account.
Louis Danitelli came from a crime family, something she hadn’t been aware of at first. No, she’d thought him charming and sweet. He spent all his money on making sure Lily felt loved until they married. Then he took it back from her plus interest.
Vote Then Read: Volume II Page 305