The Rented Bride (Highland Billionaires Book 1) (17 page)

“It’s not about the size of the business, Cassie. It’s about how well it’s run.”

She grinned. “I happen to agree.
I have a small bungalow. It’s a couple blocks off the beach, but it’s close to Daley’s offices and close to the hotels. The next time you’re in town, let me know. Just because we won’t stay married doesn’t mean we can’t remain friends.” She laughed. “I’ve heard many couples remain friends after divorce. Or in our case, annulment.”

The soft light reflected off her dark hair. Her smile was genuine. Everything about her was genuine. Women were always trying to impress, to land the billionaire husband. This time, he found himself wanting to impress.

“Will you dance with me?”

She hesitated and his heart hammered. What if she said no? What if she said yes?

“Okay.”

Trent stood, held her chair, then led her to the small hardwood floor where a few other couples swayed under the subtle lighting. He grasped her left hand with his right and Cassie placed a hand on his shoulder. He pulled her close. Damn, was that a small tremble in her body? Desire rocketed to his cock. In a slow slide, he shifted his hand higher on her back, but kept a space between them so he could stare into her eyes.

She looked at him and smiled. “You’re a good dancer.”

“That’s three years of ballroom dancing talking,” he said.

Her brows rose. “No way.”

Trent chuckled. “Granddad insisted. He said a man learns respect for a woman on the dance floor.”

Her mouth parted in surprise.

He fought an urge to kiss her.

“He is a very special man, isn’t he?” she asked.

His heart warmed. “Yes, he is.”

She sighed. “How I wish I could get to know him better.”

What had Lindsey said when Trent told her his grandfather was dying? “
Baby, I’m so sorry. It’ll be all right.”
He’d thought it so sensitive of her when she’d held him close, then let him make love to her. But Cassie’s response demonstrated compassion, as Lindsey’s had only seemed to. But instead of offering empty hope, Cassie had recognized that the world would be a poorer place without his grandfather. Disgust filled him with the realization that Lindsey had done nothing more than use her most powerful weapon—her body—against him.

His disgust was as much for himself as it was for her. How had he been so easily and completely fooled? She wasn’t the first woman who’d wanted him for his money. He’d believed that her success meant that she had no lust for his money. Cassie, on the other hand, had him over a barrel, but hadn’t used his desperation to milk more money out of him. In fact, she hadn’t asked for a single thing. Now, she danced close to him without artifice. No
accidental
rubbing of her body against his chest, no looking up at him through her lashes.

And last night…last night he’d lain awake until the wee hours of the morning, his cock hard and throbbing. Cassie, however, immediately fell asleep. Her soft, even breathing had nearly driven him insane. He couldn’t remember a single time he’d gotten into bed with Lindsey where she’d simply fallen asleep.

“Trent.”

Her voice pulled him from his thoughts.

“The music has stopped,” she said.

Her lips glistened in the light. From the corner of his eye, he spotted who else, but Tomas. Had he seen them? Tomas looked up. Yep, he’d seen them.

“I’m going to kiss you,” he told her.

She blinked. “What?”

“Tomas and his wife have just been seated behind me. We can’t have them thinking we’re anything but happy newlyweds.”

Her eyes narrowed and he braced for a hard ‘no’ or even a slap. She shifted her hands to his shoulder and pulled his mouth to hers. The first touch of her lips set him on fire. Splaying his fingers wide across the small of her back, he crushed her to him and devoured her mouth. Tongues glided together as they shifted, melding their mouths and their bodies. Tasting, touching, and barely dancing. In his imagination, he drove her back against the wall and—She pulled away so hard he felt like a rubber band.

She arched one brow, then whispered, “Play with fire, Mr. Weston, and you get burned.”

Trent blinked, then threw his head back and laughed.

Cassie startled awake as the helicopter landed in Vail. She blinked, trying to get her bearings, embarrassed that she’d actually fallen asleep snuggled in Trent’s arms.

“Almost home,” Trent said as he helped her from the helicopter.

The Range Rover sat where they’d left it. Two minutes later, they were exiting the airport and on their way to Brettonwood.

Trent shifted his gaze to her and smiled.

God help her, the flutter in her belly when he looked at her sent a shiver straight to her sex. He kissed as if he were making love to her mouth. Now she couldn’t stop wondering what it would be like to have his hands on her body, his weight on top of her, his hips between her thighs and her legs wrapped around him.

Oh god. I want sex with my husband.

She rested her head against the headrest and closed her eyes.

“We’ll have you in bed in fifteen minutes.”

Cassie snapped her eyes open and swung her gaze onto Trent. Had she spoken aloud?

“I know you have an early flight in the morning,” he said.

She nodded. “It’s a long flight, I’ll get some sleep on the plane.”

“I’ll have Ace make an early breakfast.”

“Oh no, I already hate that I’m going to inconvenience Henry. I’ll grab a coffee at the airport.”

“Cassie, nothing you require is an inconvenience. Ace is always on site early and Henry lives at Brettonwood. Both are paid well for their services.” He signaled and made a left. “In fact, both are probably thrilled to have something to do. The last few months have been quiet around Brettonwood. My grandfather needs rest, not visitors underfoot.” He reached over and covered her hand with his. “You are neither visitor nor underfoot. We need you at Brettonwood.”

“Okay, coffee—and maybe a croissant—nothing more.” Maybe she would have an opportunity to see James before she left.

A few minutes later, Trent pulled the SUV into the courtyard. She unclasped the seatbelt and Trent was out the door as she reached for the door handle. He rounded the car and grasped her hand when she stepped from the car.

“I can walk on my own,” she said.

“We keep the walkway salted, but even a little bit of moisture can turn slick when the sun goes down,” he said.

Cassie recalled her near fall on the night of the party and couldn’t argue. He kept a firm hold on her arm until they entered the foyer.

The house was quiet as they made their way to the rear stairs and up to the second then third level to their bedroom. Suddenly shy, she couldn’t say the words on her mind. After last night, the sleeping arrangements weren’t going to work. But he was too damn sexy, too beautiful and charming. His smile practically melted her panties. Oh, yeah, too much wine and dine. It was time to get back to Miami.

He slipped off his coat and tossed it onto the corner chair. His fingers worked the buttons of his shirt. Muscles flexed and moved beneath the fabric. Was the room getting warmer? She slipped out of her jacket, crossed to the closet and hung it up.

Her clothes. Should she pack or leave everything? She assumed she’d be back Sunday, but what if…. No, she had to stay positive.

“Cassie?”

“What?” She turned from the closet to face Trent.

“I was asking if you wanted to use the bathroom first.” He held a pair of flannel pants in his hand.

“Oh no, go ahead. I was just thinking of what I should take with me tomorrow. Should I leave my clothes?”

“I hope you still plan to return.” He smiled. “We do have a contract.”

“I haven’t forgotten.” She took a deep breath. “I’ll leave my clothes. That’s what your grandfather would expect.”

Trent went into the bathroom and she inventoried her options. She hadn’t packed with the intention of sharing a room with her husband. She’d only brought one pair of pajamas. Why did she care? So she would wear the same clothes two nights in a row. Trent wasn’t going to be sharing her bed.

“Oh god,” she said quietly. “What am I doing?”

The door opened. “You’re talking to yourself.” He crossed to the bed, grabbed a pillow and tossed it onto the floor.

“I am. But they say that is a sign of intelligence.” And she was smart enough to leave the room before she said something stupid. She went into the bathroom, changed into her pj’s, combed out her hair and brushed her teeth. When she returned, Trent sat in a chair, but he’d spread a blanket on the floor.

Her gaze shifted from the blanket to his bare chest to his dark eyes. She wasn’t just saying stupid; she was going to act stupid. “You don’t have to sleep on the floor. Do you want to sleep with me?”

His brow cocked.

“I mean, we can share the bed. We’re adults. We can sleep beside each other without doing anything.”

His mouth quirked.

“Never mind. You can sleep out there in the hall.” She climbed into the bed and curled up under the covers. “I don’t really care if you wake up with a stiff neck and back.”

Closing her eyes tightly, she listened to Trent’s soft footfalls as he crossed the room and turned off the light. Fabric rustled. Breathing. Hers. Or was it his? Her chest tightened and then the bed dipped as he slid in beside her. He groaned and stretched out.

“Thanks,” he whispered into the darkness. “Sleeping with you is much more appealing than the floor. But I’ll still wake up stiff.”

She didn’t know how to respond. Her throat tightened and her mouth grew moist. Trent shifted, getting comfortable, and she was afraid to move. Finally, he settled and she released the breath she hadn’t realized she was holding. Her mind whirled, recalling their date. The helicopter, the dinner, the dancing and the kiss. And now she lay in bed with Trent Weston.

***

Cassie startled awake. For a moment, she forgot where she was. A strong arm draped her hip and a hard body aligned with hers. She was warm and rested. She stretched and arched her back. The masculine arm tightened around her, his hips flexed and the solid ridge of his erection pressed into the curve of her ass.

In her sleepy state, Cassie traced her fingers through the sprinkling of dark hair on his forearm. Then she remembered where she was and who she slept with.

She glanced at the glowing red alarm clock numbers. 9:12. She blinked. Those numbers couldn’t be right. She blinked again and lifted her head. “Oh my god.” She scrambled out from Trent’s arms. “Shit. Shit. Shit.”

Trent stretched and leaned up on one elbow.

Her stomach did a somersault. He was even sexier in the morning. Whiskers shadowed his jaw. His mouth was relaxed and his eyes soft and engaging, without the usual piercing intensity. This was no time to catalog the finer parts of Trent Weston, including the erect cock she’d felt against her backside.

“It’s after nine.” Tears filled her eyes. Why hadn’t she set the alarm?

“Shit.” Trent slid from the bed. “Nine? Are you sure?”

“Trent, it’s been years since I’ve slept in. I don’t sleep in.”

“Neither do I.” He jumped from bed and hurried to the bureau where he grabbed a pair of jeans from a drawer and began putting them on.

She sat on the edge of the bed. “There’s no way I’m going to make my flight.” She shook her head. Another screw-up to add to her growing list. “Maybe I can book a later flight.”

He grabbed a t-shirt from a drawer and pulled it over his head. “Isn’t that going to put you behind schedule?”

“Yes, but I’ll figure it out.” She always did.

***

Trent left Cassie to dress and hurried downstairs to the kitchen where Doris sat at the counter sipping her usual morning coffee.

“Good morning, Doris,” he said, and grabbed a cup from those sitting near the coffee pot.

“Late morning for you,” she said.

“I know. I can’t remember the last time I slept so well.” He filled his cup. “Can you please get Meg for me?”

“Certainly, Sir.” She dried her hands on a dishtowel as she stepped from the kitchen. A few minutes later she returned with Meg.

“Hi Trent, I expected to see you in your office early.” She winked and refilled her coffee cup.

“I know. We overslept and Cassie missed her flight. How soon can Liam have the jet ready?”

“Where to?”

“Miami. Cassie needs to get back as soon as possible.”

“You got it.” She took her coffee and left.

He leaned against the counter and took a sip of coffee. “Now I just have to convince Cassie to let me fly her home.”

“She should be grateful you have a plane. Not many people have such a convenient luxury,” Doris said.

“No, I’m grateful to her. It’s my fault we overslept. We were out too late.”

“But you had a nice time?”

He nodded. “Yes, I did.”

“You like her.” Doris winked. “Good, because we all like her too. Especially your grandfather. He can talk of nothing else.” She gave him a gentle smile. “You’re doing a good thing.”

He smiled, but wasn’t so sure. He was lying to his grandfather. Worse, he was mixing business with pleasure. The last twenty-four hours with Cassie felt far too real. In eight months with Lindsey, he’d flown her all over the world, taken her to exotic private paradises and showered her with gifts. But never once had he slept late. Business never left his mind. Yesterday, while he was with Cassie, he hadn’t once thought of work. And he could have spent today in bed with her, and they hadn’t done more than sleep.

“It’s Cassie’s fault,” he murmured.

“Oh god, what have I done now?” She entered the kitchen with her small bag in hand.

Trent’s breath caught. She’d left her hair down and she was beautiful. Cassie set her bag against the wall and crossed to the coffee pot, which stood on the counter beside him. She filled a cup.

“What am I being blamed for so early in the morning?” she asked.

“Everything. That my grandfather is happy. That my staff is laughing for the first time in months. That I slept in,” he finished in a whisper.

Her head snapped up and she met his gaze. She stared for a heartbeat, then returned her attention to her coffee as Doris quietly slipped from the room. A tendril of her hair fell across her cheek. Trent tucked the hair behind her ear. Little green stones sparkled in her delicate lobes.

She stilled. “Trent, this is dangerous.”

He gave a low laugh. She wasn’t kidding.

He allowed his hand to drop back to his side. “You talk in your sleep, you know.”

She looked at him, lips parted. “I do not.”

What would she do if he kissed her again? Last night, he’d gotten lucky when Tomas showed up at the restaurant. After all, she couldn’t refuse to play the part of his wife in public. Now, however, they were alone.

“I’m going to head out and see if I can catch a flight on standby.”

Trent slipped his hands into his pockets. He’d known from their first encounter that she was practical and professional. Why was he losing perspective?

“Liam is preparing the jet.”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Yes,” he countered, and smiled. “It’s my fault for keeping you out so late last night.” She might want to keep it professional. He wanted more.

She sipped her coffee and nodded. “Probably, but I’ll take the standby.”

“Please,” he said. “There is no reason to sit around the airport all day hoping to get on a flight.”

She pulled her bottom lip between her teeth.

“You need to get back. The jet has a bedroom. You can sleep.”

“I’m not tired.” Her shoulders drooped. “I actually slept great. I can handle a standby flight.”

“Let me do this for you.”

“Fine. How soon can I leave?”

The tone of her voice hit him like a punch to the gut. “Twenty minutes. You have time to finish your coffee.”

Twenty minutes later, Trent stood in the doorway and watched Henry open the car door for Cassie. When the limo disappeared from view, Trent went up to visit his grandfather.

“He’s resting,” Annie said. “He had a rough night.”

Trent approached the bed. A hollow feeling settled over him. “What am I going to do without him?”

Annie rested her hand on his arm. “He’s doing okay. He complains, but I think he just likes to fuss. Eventually, he does what I ask.” She smiled. “Mostly.”

“I’m grateful for the care you give him.”

Annie returned to her little television in the corner, and Trent headed to his bedroom. After a shower, he’d throw himself into work and forget about the last few days. He entered his bedroom and stopped short. The bed was already made and the room immaculate, just like the rest of his carefully organized life. But the blouse Cassie had worn last night lay draped over the back of the corner chair. He should hang it up. Out of sight, out of mind. Instead, he stared at the damned thing another full minute before turning away. 

What the hell was wrong with him? He had work that wouldn’t complete itself. Trent closed the door, irritated with himself for getting hooked on a woman who was a temporary solution to an unforeseen situation.