“I’m not—” I stopped then cleared my throat and said, “If Riley is happy and my mother feels safe, it doesn’t really matter how I feel.”
He smiled. “Would you believe Dominic said the same thing to me yesterday before they arrived? You’re more alike than I would have guessed was possible.” He held up a hand and said, “Hang on, it’s my wife.”
He lowered his head and rubbed a hand over his temple. “No, I wasn’t informed of that. Yes, I remember you saying you had to pick up something for Dominic. Something—you didn’t say someone.” Marc glanced at me then said, “You thought this was a good idea? Now?” After another pause, he said, “I understand. We’re parked at the entrance closest to Kal’s suite. I planned to bring him in now. Okay. We’ll meet you inside.”
Marc’s mood had changed enough for me to be concerned. “Something wrong?”
He opened his door. As he got out, he said, “I hope not. I don’t miss much, but I didn’t see this one coming.”
That didn’t sound good. I scrambled out of my side of the vehicle. “I don’t understand. Who is here who shouldn’t be? Why are they a problem?”
“Follow me.” Shaking his head, Marc motioned for me to follow. When we came to a glass door, he swiped a card to open it. “And I didn’t say they’re a problem. That’s for you to decide.”
I followed Marc into the hotel “Me?” Even as I voiced the question, I froze. Before I had visual confirmation, I knew. Then she stepped into the hallway in a tight little dress that knocked my breath clear out of me. “Jade,” I said in a hoarse voice.
From her styled hair down to her high heels, she was dressed to impress, and it was hot. There wasn’t an inch of her I didn’t know intimately, and not an inch I didn’t crave exploring all over again. Holy hell.
Her smile was uncertain, and her stride unsteady as she walked toward me waving. “Surprise.”
I forced my legs into motion and met her halfway. “What are you doing here?” I groaned inwardly. That wasn’t what I should have led with.
“I wanted to be there for you—here for you—I thought you might need—”
I pulled her into my arms and let my kiss say everything I couldn’t articulate. It was passionate, unbridled, and full of wonder. When I raised my head, she looked as shaken as I felt. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” Her voice was delightfully breathless. Our eyes remained locked on each other as she raised a hand to caress my cheek. “You’re sure it’s okay that I’m here?”
“More than okay. It’s right that you are.”
Her happiness shone from her eyes. “That’s how the decision to come here felt—right.”
I couldn’t resist the next kiss I gave her, or the one after that.
In the background I heard Marc say, “Okay, okay, he seems fine with this. Let’s get out of here.”
Between kisses, I murmured, “I’m so fine with this.”
She smiled beneath my kisses. “I’m glad.” When I lifted my head, she said, “We each have our own suite, but if you’d like—”
“I’d like.” After pulling her to my chest for a hug, I said, “Lead the way.”
“I believe they’re identical, both with views of the ocean.”
I stepped back and took her hand in mine. “You’re the only view I need.”
That made her laugh. “Oh, you’ve been working on your game, huh?”
I caught and held her gaze. “None of this is a game to me, Jade. I’m glad you’re here.” She went to hug me and tripped. I caught her, steadying her against my side. “I knew you were falling for me, but . . .”
Her cheeks flushed. “Sorry. I’ve never worn heels this high.” She glanced down. “Or a dress this tight.”
I looked her up and down. “You look amazing in that, but you were also stunning in shorts and a T-shirt.”
She used her free hand to reference her dress. “Alethea—have you met her, by the way?”
“I have.”
“She took me shopping on the way here. This dress is supposed to make you forget you didn’t actually invite me.”
I dropped my backpack and placed my hands on her hips, turning her to face me fully. “It only took one kiss to do that.” She was so damn earnest. I’d grown used to people interacting with me on a superficial level. They’d seen my act and wanted a taste of the fantasy. Jade looked deeper and whatever the hell she saw in me . . . I didn’t want to ever disappoint her again. “Consider yourself formally invited to join me on whatever adventure life presents.”
She brought her hands up, flat on my chest. “You mean that.”
I rested my forehead briefly on hers. “I do.”
“Kal, I won’t be offended if you don’t want to introduce me to your family. I just wanted—”
“My mom will want to feed you. My sister will ask you a thousand questions, but she loves everyone so it’s not to pass judgement. She just really wants to know.” I raised my head. “They’ll love you.” Because they’ll see all the reasons I do. I kept that last part to myself.
“I hope so. I know this sounds ridiculous, but I’m nervous. I wasn’t when I agreed to come, but when Alethea told me the kind of people who are here . . . I didn’t want to embarrass you.” She glanced down at her feet. “I should have brought some of my low heels, but I didn’t own anything nice enough for this weekend.”
I tipped her chin upward, so our gazes met. “Everything you own is good enough or neither of us belong here.” I nodded toward my backpack on the floor beside me. “I packed slacks and a button-down shirt. It’s an important day for my sister, so I’ll wear something nice, but I’d rather wear an ill-fitting wetsuit than a tux.”
“That’s quite an image,” she said with a smile. “Somehow I bet you’d look good in both.”
I wiggled my eyebrows at her. “Why don’t we go change you into something more comfortable.”
“I’m all for that,” she said with a sexy smile. “But just so you know, all I have with me is more of this. I’m grateful to Alethea. She was so excited to dress me I didn’t know how to tell her none of it was my style.”
I could see how a pleaser like Jade would be swayed by Alethea’s enthusiasm and confidence. I picked up my backpack. “Let’s go to my room for a minute.”
“Just a minute? That’s fast,” she said cheekily, and I sucked in a breath as we exchanged a heated look. It would have been easy to carry her into either of our rooms and forget about everything else. My body was clamoring to get her alone, but my heart wanted her to meet my family as herself, not uncomfortable and dressed by someone else. The problem was I was still cash poor. If I combined a few of my bank accounts . . .
A man interrupted my thoughts by saying, “Excuse me, Mr. Ragsdale?”
I reluctantly turned to greet him. “Yes.”
The man was tall, proud, immaculately dressed, and probably ten years older than I was. “My name is Paul. I’ll be your butler for the weekend. Is there any luggage you’d like me to take in?”