B00CQUPUKW EBOK (21 page)

He wanted more.

Michael and Lauren had left no letter of explanation for any of their decisions, but their actions, whether planned or accidental, had brought Bryce and Kaya together.  Lauren had accomplished in death what she couldn’t accomplish in life. 

Bryce crossed his arms as he recalled various conversations where Michael had told him that there were no coincidences in life, and that every person we meet comes across our paths for specific and mutual reasons.  Michael’s reason for meeting Bryce had already been revealed when Bryce pulled him from the frozen pond.  Now Bryce’s reason for befriending Michael was unfolding before his very eyes.

If Bryce believed in predestination, he’d have to say that this was the best-laid plan he’d ever seen.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

“They’re all asleep?  Even Alyssa?” Kaya asked into the phone.

“Yes, Mrs. Fontaine,” Haley replied.

“Alyssa didn’t even ask for me?”

“Well, she did ask a couple times, but Jason and Precious always managed to get her engrossed in something else.”

The fact that Alyssa had gone to sleep without her auntie Kaya’s arms around her for the first time in weeks, made Kaya wonder if
she
was the one who’d grown dependent on the little girl’s love.  Tonight was the first night they’d been separated, and even though Kaya was happy that Alyssa was adjusting well to her new family, she couldn’t help but feel a little despondent.  Gone was her excitement when she’d stolen away from the crowd at the dinner table and snuck upstairs to check on her babies.

“The children are fine, Mrs. Fontaine.  There’s no need to worry about them.”

 
I’m worried about myself
, Kaya thought, fully realizing another dimension of love.  Love wasn’t merely about you loving someone unconditionally, but the joy of knowing that that someone needs you.  “Thanks, Haley,” she said with a tremor in her voice.  “But if Alyssa wakes up during the night and cries for me, I don’t care what time it is, you call me, okay?”

“Yes, I will call you if Alyssa wakes up.”

“Goodnight, Haley.”

“Good night, Mrs. Fontaine.” 

Mrs. Fontaine
.  What a crock, Kaya thought as she hung up the phone.

From the balcony, she stared down at the lively conversation still going on between her husband of four weeks and their dinner guests—Steven and Libby, the newlyweds, Erik and Michelle Lacrosse who’d recently returned from their honeymoon, and Adam Andreas.

For the past few hours, Kaya had been listening to the newlyweds and honeymooners recount their stories of loving moments under tropical suns and moons.  Although she too was a newlywed, the only stories she could have contributed were tales of how well the children were doing.  Since there was only so much of that topic she could talk about, she’d taken the opportunity to silently observe her circle of new friends.

From their interactions with each other, Kaya could tell that Erik and Michelle wished they were still in the Seychelles Islands totally enthralled with each other, although Michelle had said that she missed her kids—Erik’s eight-year-old daughter, Precious, from his first marriage, and their own absolutely adorable nine-month-old son, Little Erik.  Michelle’s elated announcement earlier that she was three months pregnant with their third child made Kaya wonder if she and Bryce would ever experience their kind of marital bliss.

Kaya smiled as Adam began talking about his trip to Africa with his cousin Massimo who’d remained on the mother continent to venture out on a lone safari.  Adam owned
Hotel Andreas,
and
Andreas-
an exclusive restaurant chain.  It was so élite that patrons made reservations with sizable, non-refundable deposits months in advance.  There were no walk-ins at
Andreas
.

“I hope Massimo is more careful this time.  We don’t want a repeat of the last solitary trip he took,” Bryce said.  “I have a new wife and family now and don’t have time to run Andretti Industries for him.” 

Kaya had no idea what Bryce meant by that remark, but the high level of concern in his voice indicated that it was something really serious.

“You know Massimo.  I advised him to take along a guide, but he will do what he pleases,” Adam said, knocking back a swallow of liquor.

“Don’t we all?” Erik interjected.  “It’s what makes us who we are.”

Amen to that
, Kaya thought.

Libby had told Kaya that Bryce, Erik, Adam, and Massimo had known each other since high school and it was then that they started the Granite Falls Billionaire Bachelor’s Club and sworn their loyalty to each other.  Bryce was the anomaly.  He was an outsider and the only one of the four who was not born into wealth.  It was only after he graduated college and began working at Andretti Industries under the tutelage of Massimo’s father that he began making his mark in the world.  And what a mark he’d made.  He was just as wealthy as the other men who now sat at his table.

The Billionaire Bachelor’s Club became simply the Billionaire’s Club after Erik, and then Bryce were married.  It was coincidental that they both lost their first wives to tragedy.  Erik’s to a hit-and-run driver, and Bryce’s—well, she was yet to learn how Pilar had died.  She’d been tempted to Google it, but out of respect and loyalty to her husband, Kaya had opted not to probe into his past.  She wanted to hear about it from him, and hoped that at some point he would feel comfortable enough to trust her with his innermost fears and hurts.  

Kaya turned her gaze to her husband seated at the head of the dining table, clearly enjoying the company of his most treasured friends—all of whom had welcomed her into their exclusive circle with open arms.

The club met once a month.  There was no talk of business during these get-togethers, just rich gourmet meals, lots of expensive liquor, and adult fun.  Michelle and Erik, who live on the other side of Crystal Lake, had hosted the last party.  That was a solemn gathering since much of the conversation had been centered on Michael and Lauren’s deaths.  They’d held back on the liquor, but had enjoyed some rich gourmet food prepared by Mrs. Hayes, Michelle’s housekeeper—a sweet old lady who reminded Kaya of her last foster mother.

Kaya was hosting her first party tonight, and she’d prepared a four-course meal that began with crab-stuffed mushrooms, followed by a green salad with jicama and goat cheese, topped with vinaigrette.  The main course was baked lobster tails with a side of grilled asparagus, and smashed garlic potatoes sprinkled with fresh rosemary.  And for dessert, she’d served individual molten chocolate cakes with warm black cherry sauce. 

She’d been receiving compliments all night—especially from Adam, who’d jokingly offered her a job in his kitchen.  Bryce had also been generous with his praise, and his pride in having a wife who knew her way around the kitchen was evident in his voice each time he complimented her.

As Kaya started down the stairs to rejoin her guests, she recalled Bryce’s surprise the first time he’d joined her and the kids for dinner.  He’d enjoyed several servings of her chicken and quinoa chili, and homemade sourdough rolls, and had even taken some leftovers to his penthouse.  “Marrying you was the best business decision I’ve made in a long time,” he’d said later when the two of them were cleaning up the kitchen.  His cutting remark had reminded Kaya that their marriage was one of convenience.

“Are the kids okay?” Libby asked as she approached the table.

“They are.  I’m a little let down because Alyssa went to bed without me.  I’m so used to her falling asleep in my arms.”

“You’ll get used to it.”  Michelle chuckled.  “It was a relief when Little Erik started sleeping through the night.  It was nice to make love without having one ear cocked, ready to bolt.  Soon you and Bryce will be able to enjoy each other without the fear of interruption.”

Kaya felt heat rising to the surface of her skin.  She took a sip of red wine and stared across the table at Bryce as he popped the cork on a bottle of whiskey and began refilling his friends’ glasses while they argued about sports.  It was three New Englanders against the New Yorker.

“They’ll be wasted and completely stupid by the end of the evening,” Libby whispered in her ear.

“I figured as much.  Why make us dress up in fancy clothes and have a gourmet meal, just so they can ignore us and drink themselves into a stupor when they could have gone out to a bar or pizza parlor?”

“I guess we need to educate her about the sanctity of the clubs, tell her why our husbands have these special gatherings,” Michelle said to Libby.

“Steven isn’t even a member.  They pay him well to attend these parties.  His job is to keep them in check and see them safely home at the end of the night.  That’s why he’s been nursing one drink all night.  I’m only here because I’m his wife.”

 “Well, you’re as important a member of the Billionaires’ Brides Club, as Kaya and me, so you—”  

“Wait a minute,” Kaya exclaimed, throwing her hands up, her eyes darting between Michelle and Libby.  “There’s a Billionaires’ Brides Club?  Why don’t I know I’m a member?  And what’s the reason for it?”

The room got deathly quiet, and Kay could feel all eyes trained on her.  
Damn
, she hadn’t meant to be so loud, but she’d been shocked to learn she was a member of a club she didn’t even know existed.  Was she unsuspectingly inducted into a cult?  Were these people swingers?  She knew of couples that indulged in such dalliances.  Is that way Bryce had insisted that Haley and the kids spend the night at the LaCrosse’s?  
Dear Lord
.  Kaya took a deep breath and raised her lids to meet the intense, dark eyes of her husband.

He stared at her for endless moments then cleared his throat.  “Yes, my lovely, reluctant bride.  There is a Billionaires’ Brides Club and you became a member when you promised to love, honor, and cherish me four weeks ago.  The reason for the club is for you ladies to support each other, and help each other become quintessential wives and mothers.”

 “Speaking of quintessential wives,” Adam said, looking at Bryce.  “Why are you still in my penthouse suite when you have such a gorgeous creature in your house?  If Kaya were my wife—”

“She’s not your wife, Adam,” Bryce threatened in a low, steady voice.  His eyes continued to burn into Kaya’s.  “And the reason I’m still living in your hotel is not open for discussion.”

“Are you kidding me?” Adam planted his elbows on the table.  “Since when is discussing your love life off the menu?”

“Since he got married,” Erik said, sending Michelle a dazzling smile.  “It’s one thing to share stories about our lovers, but once a man takes a wife, the rules change.”

“That’s my man,” Michelle murmured on a chuckle.

“I don’t like that rule.  It’s stupid and unfair.”  Adam downed the contents of his glass again and held it out for a refill from the fifty-year-old bottle of scotch Bryce had fetched from his underground cellar.

“Maybe you should take a wife and level the playing field,” Erik suggested.  “Think of the advantages.”  He winked at Michelle.

“If it’s one thing I know I don’t need, it’s a wife.  I’m my own man.”

“Your loss.”  Steven raised his glass to the women then placed it back on the table.

Relieved that they weren’t swingers or member of some type of scary cult, Kaya watched in disbelief as the men continued to argue about rules of the games and wives and lovers as they emptied one liquor bottle after the other.  One proposed that they make some new rules and commissioned Steven to record them on one of her white linen napkins.

She turned to Michelle.  “Do they always get like this during these gatherings?”

“I’m afraid so.”  Michelle ran her fingers through her short black hair.  “You understand now why the kids can’t be around these events?”

Kaya nodded, happy it wasn’t for the reason she’d thought.  “But why?  What’s the point?”

“It’s an agreement they concocted to protect themselves.” Libby responded.

“From what?”

Libby swallowed a bite of her cake.  “They are powerful men who come from powerful families, Kaya.  They have seen what public inebriation can do to men like themselves.”

Kaya had no idea what Libby was talking about.  She’d seen some of her wealthy powerful clients make fools of themselves in public, but by the next day, their lives returned to normal.

“When Massimo and Adam were teenagers,” Libby continued, “both their fathers got wasted at a business convention and inadvertently spilled the details of a highly secretive joint business deal.  By the next morning, both Andretti Industries and Andreas International were in jeopardy.”

“So these men made a pact never to become intoxicated in public,” Kaya murmured, nodding with understanding.

“They trust each other with their lives,” Michelle added.  “They get wasted only once a month, and only with each other.  It’s a time for them to forget the stress of their professional lives, let their guards down and just be…
boys
.  And for additional protection, they added the “no business talk” clause.”

“Wow.”  Kaya stared at the men, laughing, arguing, and slapping each other on the shoulders as they filled and emptied their glasses.  There was no mistaking the depth of their friendship.

Steven pushed back his chair and stood up.  “Who’s up for some pool?”  He took control like a parent at a birthday party who wanted to move the fun along.

“I second that.”  Adam staggered to his feet and swatted strands of his extremely long black hair from his face with impatient swipes of his wrist.  He blew at the stubborn strands that adhered to his cheeks and mouth.

Kaya chuckled at the comical picture he made, and of the others trying to steady themselves as they vacated their chairs.

“You need a haircut.”  Erik tried to help Adam with the errant strands of hair.  “Men shouldn’t have long hair.  Don’t you think?”  He gazed cross-eyed at Steven and Bryce.

“Leave the man alone.  It’s his hair.  He can wear them— uh, it— any way he wants.  I think you have beautiful hair,” Bryce said on Adam’s behalf.