The Rented Bride (Highland Billionaires Book 1) (16 page)

Trent took a left. “When you return on Sunday, we’ll go into town.”

“I’d like that.” But then where was he taking her tonight?

A few minutes later, Trent drove past the Eagle County Airport sign.

“The airport?”

Trent smiled as he drove through the facility to general aviation. A helicopter came into view up ahead near a small hanger.

Cassie whipped her gaze onto Trent. “Trent…what’s going on?”

He brought the Range Rover to a halt twenty feet from the helicopter, left the engine running, and got out of the car. A man emerged from the helicopter as Trent hurried around to her side of the car. He opened the door and held her hand as she got out of the vehicle.

Trent closed the door. “Our ride.”

“You can’t be serious.”

“Why not?” He led her across the tarmac to the waiting pilot.

“Mr. Weston.” The pilot looked at Cassie. “Ma’am. Beautiful night for a flight.”

“Liam.” Trent nodded and helped Cassie into the helicopter.

As they took their seats and buckled in, the pilot waved to another gentleman who took possession of the SUV and drove away. A moment later, Liam sat in front of them, strapped into his restraints and powered up the helicopter. The whirl of the blades vibrated through the cabin.

“Prepare for lift off,” he said.

Cassie swallowed hard and tensed. Trent slipped his right palm beneath her left and laced their fingers.

“I’ve never been on a helicopter,” she said.

“I think you’ll love it,” he said.

They ascended higher. Her stomach swooped when they banked right, then propelled forward.

Trent pointed toward his window. “Brettonwood.”

Cassie had to lean into him to look out his window. Light from the setting sun reflected off patches of snow on the mountainside. Light illuminated the windows of the castle. “Wow,” she breathed. “I’d always thought Miami was the most beautiful place in the world. But I can see Brettonwood is every bit as magical.” She leaned back into her seat and smiled. “If it weren’t so cold, I’d say you have Miami beat.”

After a few minutes, Cassie began to enjoy the flight. The speed of the rotors became a rhythmic hum. As they cut through the sky, the horizon darkened to blend with the darkness below them. She became intimately aware of their entwined fingers, and the rings on her finger, the gold band that said she belonged to him—worked for him.

Finally, as if breaking through a sea of black, a valley opened up and a million multi-colored lights twinkled beneath them.

“Denver,” he whispered.

The helicopter skimmed over the city’s outskirts, headed for the skyscrapers buildings of downtown.

“We’re cleared for landing,” Liam said.

Cassie peered through the window as the pilot maneuvered over the city, finally hovering over one of the mammoth buildings, and set down on the lighted helipad.

The pilot powered down the helicopter and a moment later Trent’s door opened. He stepped down then helped her from the cabin.

Even if she stood upright, the slowly rotating rotors wouldn’t have touched her head, but she still felt inclined to hunch over until they cleared the blades. A sharp whip of cold wind cut through her jacket. Trent pulled her into his warmth until they reached the safety of the building. He led her to an elevator located to the left.

Trent pressed the elevator button and the doors dinged opened a moment later. They descended one floor to the rooftop restaurant.

“Mr. Weston,” the maître d’ approached. “Your table is ready. May I take your coats?”

Trent assisted Cassie with her coat, handed it to the man, then slipped off his coat and gave it to him. The maître d’ then handed both coats to a young woman who waited at a respectful distance.

“Your table is this way.”

Trent rested his hand on her lower back as the maître d’ escorted them through the restaurant. As an event planner, Cassie had been in some beautiful restaurants and hotels, but nothing compared to being thirty-five stories up, surrounded by glass and overlooking the Mile-High City with live piano music softly playing. Candlelight made each linen-draped table feel secluded and private. Artwork graced the walls and lush green palms created the illusion of sectioned off areas.

The maître d’ halted at a private table overlooking the mountains to the west. “Our best,” he said. “Jaxon will be your waiter tonight.”

Trent held the chair for Cassie.

“A wine list.” The maître d’ set the wine list next to Trent, then held the chair for him as Trent sat down.

Trent handed back the wine menu. “Gaja Barbaresco.”

“Of course, the 2007?”

“Perfect.”

The maître d’ excused himself.

Cassie stared across the city at the unobstructed view of the mountains. “You must come here often.” They knew his name and seemed to know he’d demand the best. And he’d just ordered an expensive wine, raspberry notes and highly coveted.

He leaned forward and smiled. “A few times.”

“It’s lovely.”

***

But not as lovely as her. She was strong yet, at the same time, made him feel strong, protective, and damn, he’d never felt more desirable.

Jaxon arrived with the wine and their menus. Trent had dined here a few times, but tonight his intention was to impress Cassie, to show her he wasn’t just the asshole who had fired her and then manipulated her into a fake marriage.

Once they’d ordered and the wine was poured, Trent said, “Tell me about your family.”

She sipped her wine then set the glass aside. “Typical family, I suppose. Well, if you’re Catholic. I have two sisters and four brothers—and never mind the cousins and nieces and nephews.” She laughed. “Mom and Dad have been married thirty-five years.” She took another drink of wine and Trent’s gaze snagged on her lips.

“What about you?” she asked.

“Nothing like your family,” he said. “A few distant relatives. Aside from Granddad, no one I’m close to.”

“No one?” she asked.

“I’m close with Tomas and I’ve known Celina since seventh grade.”

Their salads arrived and he waited until the waiter left and they’d begun eating their salads before asking, “So where do you fall into the family mix?” He wanted her to continue talking so he could watch her lips shape the words.

“In the middle. My oldest brother Danny is a veterinarian. He’s married, has kids. Well, technically I’m the only one who doesn’t have kids.” She chuckled. “My youngest brother, Bobby, Robert actually, married a woman a few years older. He doesn’t have any children of his own, but he’s raising her twin girls. They are adorable. Almost four, blond hair, and they chatter incessantly. When it’s Auntie Cassie’s turn to baby-sit, I make sure to have plenty to keep them busy.” She talked about all her siblings, growing animated as she mimicked her sisters.

Trent took another bite of salad. “Your house must be crazy during holidays.”

She nodded while she chewed. “Crazy in a good way. I can’t imagine not having a big family.”

“You’re lucky,” he said.

Jaxon removed their salad plates and their entrees arrived seconds later. The waiter placed the salmon fillet and steamed fresh vegetables in front of Cassie and served Trent the Beef Wellington and savory garlic potatoes.

“I am lucky,” she said, and finished her wine. Trent refilled her glass as she continued. “But my family is far from well-off. We knew if we wanted to go to college, scholarships and student loans were the only way that was going to happen. I guess that’s why I work so hard for Daley Enterprises. I want something of my own.” She took a bite of salmon. “Oh my, this is amazing. You should try it.”

Trent paused while cutting his meat and looked at her. She smiled, innocent, sweet and without reservation. He set down his knife, extended his fork across the small, intimate table and stabbed a flakey morsel of salmon.

She watched while he ate the fish, then said, “Isn’t it fantastic?”

“Delicious,” he agreed. Trent sliced his beef, stabbed a portion, and lifted it toward her mouth, inviting her to take the sample from his fork.

She curled her fingers around his hand and guided the fork to her mouth. Her lips closed over the morsel and he pulled the fork from her mouth. Heat surged through his groin and his heartbeat spiked as he hungered for more than a good meal.

“Oh my God,” she said. “No wonder Gordon Ramsay makes Beef Wellington a signature dish.”

Her remark reminded him that this was just dinner. “You’ve dined at one of his restaurants?”

She laughed. “No, I watch reality television. A weakness of mine. That and puppies. Since I don’t have time for a pet, I give in to my other vice.” She smiled. “So Mr. Weston, what are your secret vices?”

“You mean like hard liquor and fast women?” He stared at her over the rim of his glass.

“Marriage is going to cramp your playboy lifestyle.”

“Playboy lifestyle.” He shook his head. “I’ve spent my life trying to make my grandfather proud.” He twirled the wine in his glass. “Now I’ve waited too long.”

“Waited too long for what?”

For someone like her. For someone to make his house a home, to give meaning to the wealth and the success. Brettonwood was built for family, for generations to leave their stories within its walls. He’d neglected everything but business.

“I guess we all have regrets,” he said.

“But you can’t let them define you. We all make choices that in hindsight we wish had been handled differently. You have to know how proud your grandfather is of you. I’ve only been with you a few days and I can see how deep his devotion is to you and yours is to him. That’s what family is supposed to be. What you have is special.” She glanced into her lap. When she lifted her gaze, moisture glistened in her eyes. “I’m just so sorry you’re going to lose him.”

Trent swallowed hard and gave a slight nod. Once his grandfather was gone, she would be too and then he’d truly know what loneliness meant. Whereas Cassie would go back to her family. At that moment, he understood just what money couldn’t buy.

“In the end, we only regret the chances we didn’t take,” he murmured.

She broke into a bright smile. “Lewis Carol.”

Trent stared. “I shouldn’t be surprised you’ve read him.”

“In the end we only regret the chances we didn’t take, the relationships we were afraid to have and the decisions we waited….” Her smile vanished.

“The decisions we waited too long to make,” he finished.

“Oh my God, I’m so sorry,” she blurted. “I didn’t—”

“I opened the door, Cassie. All you did was walk through. It’s all right.” She still looked as if she would cry. “Grandfather will die happy,” he said. “You’ve seen to that. See, I can learn. I took a chance with you.”

She laughed and the tension in his shoulders eased a fraction. “You were desperate, you mean,” she said. “I chased an iguana into your grandfather’s room and you snagged me because I was the only available woman.”

He shrugged. “Trust me when I say I wouldn’t have done that with just anyone. I have a good sense about people. I gambled on you, and won.”

Moisture glistened in her eyes. “I’m glad I could help. James is a good man—so are you, by the way.”

“So I’m not just the asshole who fired you then coerced you into marriage?”

A twinkle of mischief lit her eyes. “I’d say there’s a little more to you.”

He laughed and they lapsed into casual conversation. Their plates were removed and they finished the bottle of wine. Trent signaled the waiter for another.

“Dessert?” Trent asked.

“I shouldn’t.”

“Their specialty is New York cheesecake.”

“Sounds heavenly, but I couldn’t possibly eat a slice.” Her lip curled at the corner and her brow arched. “Can I just have a bite of yours?”

“When you look at me like that, you can have whatever you want.”

Cassie blushed and Trent ordered the cheesecake.

He couldn’t remember when he’d enjoyed conversation more. As they shared the cheesecake, Trent laughed at the stories she told of growing up in a big family. He talked about his different businesses. The cities he most enjoyed, including Miami. He told her of his office and his home on the beach in the Keys.

“You have an office in Miami?” she asked.

Trent nodded. “That’s how I heard about Daley Enterprises.”

“Oh, I didn’t consider how you had heard of us. But you spend most of your time in Colorado?”

“Not always,” he replied. We have
smaller offices in Las Angeles and New York. Recently I’ve been debating on opening offices across the pond.”

She nodded. “Scotland.”

“London,” he corrected. “I would love to return to Scotland, but London is a smarter move for an office in the UK.”

“James must be disappointed.”

“He understands the difference between a personal and a business decision,” Trent said. “Does Daley have other offices?”

She laughed. “No. We’re very small compared to your corporation.”