Fated (13 page)

I
welcomed Caden's lawyer's presence on Thursday, his gentle smiling face
greeting me warmly.

"Hi,
Michael. Caden just stepped out but he should be back soon. I don't think he was
expecting you. Aren't you supposed to meet him at the squash court later?"

Michael
kissed me on each cheek. "I need to cancel again. My doctor wants me to be
careful about the old ticker until he runs some more tests."

"Are
you okay?" I was rarely nosy, but I was fond of Michael from the few
interactions we had. I also knew how much Caden cared about him by the way he
treated him. The thought of Michael being sick worried me.

"Oh,
I'm fine." Michael waved his hand dismissively. "He's just trying to
bilk more money from my insurance company. But Millie will have my head if I go
against his orders."

I
wasn't sure how truthful he was being, but I let it go since it was none of my
business. "Would you like some coffee?"

Michael
sat down in the chair in front of my desk. "It's okay, darling. Just sit
down and humor an old man with some conversation while he waits."

I
smiled as I sat down. "You're not old."

He
raised his eyebrows. "Beautiful and kind. That's a potent
combination."

I
felt a little discomfited by his compliment, but I suppressed it. Everything
Michael said rang with sincerity, and I couldn't help wondering what it would
be like to grow up with a father like him.

"Thank
you," I said, trying not to show any discomfort. "Caden's free for
lunch if you want me to make a reservation for you two somewhere."

"I
said conversation, darling." Michael winked at me. "You're off the
clock while I'm here."

I
grinned at him. "What would you like to talk about? Politics? The weather?
Seen any good movies lately?"

He chuckled
as he leaned back in his chair. "What I really want to know is how you're
getting along with Caden."

My
humor vanished and I could feel the anxiety start. What was Michael up to with
his questions?

It
was as if he read my mind when he spoke again. "I know I'm being nosy, but
Caden has been like a son to me all these years. I can't help but be a little
curious."

"Caden
is a good boss." I chose my words carefully. "I can see why Macie has
worked for him for so long. I get the feeling that he doesn't take as much
advantage of having an assistant as he could."

Michael
nodded impatiently. "That's good, but I'm talking on a personal
level."

"Personal
level?" The thought of Michael knowing about what had transpired between
Caden and I mortified me. Surely, Caden hadn't told him about our kiss. Had he?

"I've
known Caden since he was born. And I know what it means when he looks at a
woman in a certain way."

I
should have objected. I should have protested Michael's invasion of privacy and
his presumptuous questions. But he was so gentle and kind. And I was also
hungry for details about Caden beyond his professional life. I had looked him
up online again last week, admitting to myself that I wanted to know more about
him, but besides a few scant articles that mentioned the grisly death of his
parents and some of his publicized relationships, there wasn't much information
to be found.

"How
did you know Caden when he was younger? I'm pretty sure little kids don't have
lawyers." I cocked my head, as I realized I had no real notion of how the
other half lived. "Or do they?"

Michael
grinned. "I was his father's lawyer, but also his best friend." He
hesitated before continuing, his smile vanishing. "Do you know about what
happened with his parents?"

I
nodded, wondering if talking about this with Michael violated the
confidentiality agreement I had signed. I didn't think it counted if the person
I was talking to knew more than I did.

"Macie
mentioned it to me, just in case it came up so I wouldn’t be caught off
guard."

"Macie
is a good assistant. She genuinely cares about Caden's best interests. That's
why she's one of the few people he trusts." Michael sighed heavily.
"I never in a million years thought Charles, his father, would do
something so tragic. He was devoted to Grace, Caden's mother. When he found out
she was cheating on him, I have to believe something in him broke. There's no
other explanation for it. Poor Caden, he was only thirteen. Charles did it
right in front of him. Caden tried to run in between them when Charles was
yelling at his mother, trying to put a stop to it, but his father just pushed
him away and then shot Grace. Then he put the gun to his own head and pulled
the trigger." Michael grimaced, as if he couldn't deal with the memory.
"I'll never forgive Charles. He not only took Grace's life, never mind his
own, but in a way he took Caden's life as well. He's never been the same
since."

Tears
were welled in my eyes as I imagined how horrific it must be for a young boy to
go through something like that. "I can't imagine the pain Caden must have
gone through."

"Caden
was one of the strongest kids I've ever known, but how is anyone supposed to
survive something like that without scars? Charles and Grace had appointed his
aunt as his guardian but I was the trustee to his estate. At least they had the
sense to not entrust his inheritance to his aunt, who could have cared less
about Caden. I fought for guardianship of Caden, but the will was ironclad.
Millie would have been ecstatic to raise Caden, especially since we never had
any children of our own. She loves him as much as I do." Michael shook his
head disgustedly. "His aunt spent most of Caden's childhood traveling
around the world, leaving him with a housekeeper. I tried to be part of Caden's
life as much as possible, but he was angry for so many years and refused to
have much to do with anyone. It was only when he became an adult that we were
able to have a relationship."

My
chest felt tight as I thought about how much Caden had suffered. The scarred
boy had grown up into a fiercely successful and independent man, but I had the
feeling the scars were still there.

"Should
you be telling me all this?" I hadn't expected Michael to divulge so much
about Caden, and I was beginning to realize it was a little inappropriate.
"Caden's a very private man."

"He
is. And sometimes he doesn't know what's good for him. But I do. And I have a
feeling you'd be very good for him."

"Why...why
would you think something like that?"

Michael
smiled, although there was a tinge of sadness to it. "Because he talks
about you. I know that's not much to go on, but he never talks about women with
me."

"But
I'm not one of his women. I'm his assistant. That's totally different."

Michael
shook his head. "He doesn't talk about you like you're his assistant. The
way he talks about you and the way he talks about Macie is like night and day.
He only mentions Macie offhand if it's related to something we're already
discussing. But he brings you up, for the sole purpose of talking about you. He's
curious about you." Michael shrugged. "I know that doesn't sound
significant, but it's more interest than he's shown in any other woman, whether
he was involved with them or not."

"Michael,
I don't think we should be talking about this." My heart was hammering,
but my head was telling me not to be a fool. Caden's lawyer just had a fanciful
notion in his head, probably because he wanted to see Caden paired off with
someone. I needed to stop talking about it before I started actually believing
it.

"I'm
sorry, darling. I didn't mean to make you uncomfortable. I should know better
than to be so nosy."

He
sounded sincerely apologetic, and I knew he meant well.

"It's
okay. I think it's just best if we shelve that topic."

"Why
don't you tell me about yourself," he said brightly, obviously trying to
change the subject. Unfortunately, he didn't realize the subject he was trying
to change to was one I hated talking about as well.

"There's
not much to tell," I said, trying to be polite. "I grew up in
Chicago. That's where I met Macie. We were students at DePaul University."

"Caden
told me that. Is your family still there?"

"No."
I hesitated before continuing. Something about Michael's gentle eyes made me
share more than I normally would. "My parents died in a car accident when
I was eight."

Michael
gave me a sympathetic look. "I'm sorry to hear that. Who raised you?"

I
grimaced. "I didn't have much extended family to begin with, but they
pretty much disappeared when it came to appointing a guardian since my parents had
no will. I ended up in foster care."

Michael's
expression darkened. "Were you treated well? Were you adopted?"

Even
Michael's gentleness couldn't get me to answer his questions truthfully.
"It was fine. Not the ideal childhood, but it could have been much worse.
And no, I was never adopted."

Michael
looked like he wanted to ask more, as if he wasn't satisfied with my answer,
but he was interrupted by Caden striding through the office door. I jumped
guiltily, as if he knew just by looking at me that we had been talking about
him.

"You
again?" Caden said when he saw Michael, but he was smiling. "Why do
you insist on popping up here instead of at the squash courts? And hours
early."

Michael
grinned. "They don't have beautiful women at the squash courts. Just
sweaty old men."

Caden
glanced at me, and I just looked back at him, my face devoid of emotion,
although I was embarrassed by Michael's compliment. I was relieved when he
turned his gaze back to Michael.

"Are
you trying to poach my employee?"

"As
much as I would love having Lauren around, I doubt my secretary would
appreciate it. She's planning on taking her last breath ensconced behind her
desk."

Caden
sat down on the edge of my desk, facing Michael so that I could only see his
profile. The proximity made my pulse quicken, even though he wasn't really that
close.

"Not
to be rude, but why
are
you here? Are you canceling our game again?"

"Unfortunately,
I am. Doctor's orders."

Caden's
teasing expression disappeared. "What's wrong?"

"Nothing,
nothing," he answered dismissively. "It's all just a lot of hoopla
for nothing. The doctor just wants to run some tests on my heart, and doesn't
want me doing anything strenuous in the interim. He just wants to make sure I'm
healthy and taking care of myself."

"Is
that it? There's nothing else?" Caden's expression darkened. "Don't
think I won't call up Millie and ask her for the truth."

Michael
gave him a look of innocence. "That's all it is. A precaution. You can go
ahead and ask Millie yourself, if you don't believe me."

Caden
relaxed, his smile returning. "So are we having lunch then?"

"I'm
counting on it." Michael turned to me. "Why don't you join us,
Lauren?"

"Oh,
that's okay," I said hurriedly, surprised by the invitation. "I have
work to do."

"It
can wait."

I looked
at Caden, surprised that he wanted me to join them. His expression was
enigmatic as he studied my face.

"Well..."
I thought desperately for an excuse. There was no way I was going to eat lunch
with Caden and Michael, especially with everything Michael had just told me. It
would be like sitting under a microscope. "I actually have some personal
errands to run during lunch. Thanks anyways. Maybe next time."

I
smiled brightly, hoping that it didn't look too forced. Caden's eyes narrowed,
but he didn't say anything else to me. It was a relief when they finally left
the office, giving me room to breathe.

Chapter Nine

Caden
seemed to be in good spirits when he returned from lunch. Spending time with
Michael always seemed to lighten his mood, and he smiled at me.

"Did
you get your errands done?"

"Yes,
thanks," I said brightly, hoping it wasn't obvious I was lying. "How
was lunch?"

"Good."
Caden sat down in the chair in front my desk, glancing at the calla lilies. I studiously
avoided following his gaze, not wanting to let on that I knew, although I was
sure he knew I had noticed. I would have to be an idiot not to.

Caden's
gaze returned to me, his amber eyes looking slightly amused. "Have you
given more thought about me photographing you?"

So,
he hadn't given up on the idea. I couldn't help feeling a little thrill. I had
wrestled with the idea since he had suggested it. One day I was certain there
was no way I would let Caden photograph me. The next day, the thought of being
Caden's model excited me, and I was tempted to agree to it. Unfortunately,
Caden caught me on a day when the temptation was almost too much to resist.

"I
have," I replied carefully. "It would be totally up to me? I mean, I
would get to decide how far it would go?"