For Business...Or Marriage? by Jules Bennett Page B

louder than she’d thought.
    “Fine,” she assured him, lying through her teeth. “Just ran into a snag with a minor detail for the reception.”
    His cocky, devilish smile fell. “I appreciate the extra work you’re putting in. There’s no way I could’ve done this without you.”
    “You could’ve had a simple ceremony like your brother.” Shut up, Abby. “He got married on the beach, right?”
    Cade shrugged. “He was in love and wanted that intimate setting. I want everyone to know about the merging of two dynasties.”
    Abby’s heart actually hurt. Not for her, though, but for Cade who really, truly thought this was his only option in life.
    “I don’t mind the extra work.” She lowered the screen on her laptop, silently indicating she wanted to talk. “I needed the extra income and you needed my help. It’s a win/win situation.”
    His dark eyes seemed to study her for a second. “You make a pretty good living, Abby. What on earth do you need more money for? You have no children, no spouse. As far as I can tell, you never goout on shopping sprees and I’ve seen your apartment building, so I know it’s not too expensive.” He stopped, seeming to catch himself. “Sorry,” he said, raising his hands. “Your finances are none of my concern.”
    Abby swallowed, sorry that she’d unknowingly chosen this particular path to travel down. The last thing she wanted from anyone, least of all Cade, was pity.
    “I have several medical bills.”
    He eased forward in his seat. “Were you sick?”
    “My mother was.”
    No. No, she couldn’t cry. The unwanted tears burned her eyes anyway and Abby looked out the window at the puffy white clouds below.
    “How long ago did she pass away?”
    Blinking back the moisture, Abby looked back. “A little over a year ago.”
    “Just before you came to work for the company?”
    She nodded, unable to speak further.
    Cade unbuckled his seat belt, and, dear God, he moved to sit right next to her. He removed the computer from her lap and set it on the table in front of them. Then, in a move that shocked, moved and touched her, he took her trembling hands in his.
    “Just before my father died?”
    “Yes,” she whispered, caught in the moment of being held by Cade and looking into his caring eyes.
    His thumb stroked over the back of her hand. “You never said anything.”
    “What was there to say? I didn’t know you all, I was there to do a job, not get sympathy.”
    A ghost of a smile flirted around the corners of his mouth. “You’re one of the strongest women I know. You dealt with your mother’s death and then after my father died, you consoled me and Brady.”
    Embarrassed, Abby looked away. “I didn’t console you.”
    “Maybe not with hugs and reassuring words, but you ran everything in that office and kept us going through the toughest time in our lives. I’ll never forget that.”
    With a shrug, she looked back up. “I was just doing my job. No big deal.”
    “It was certainly a big deal to me, and to Brady. How did your mother pass?”
    “Cancer.” One tear trickled down her cheek. “She fought ’til her last breath. If I’m strong, I get it from her.”
    Cade wiped her cheek with the pad of his thumb. “I’m sure she was amazing. Her daughter is.”
    Abby’s breath caught. Between the endearing words and his hand now resting on the side of her face, Abby could hardly think.
    And as much as she craved the strong arms of someone to hold her, she didn’t want to get Cade’s attention, or affection, out of pity.
    “I really need to get back to work,” she told him. “My boss is a slave driver.”
    She chewed on her bottom lip, waiting for him to reply, but his eyes were on her mouth.
    “The last thing the boss is thinking about right now is work.”
    Abby closed her eyes, and, God help her, she leaned into his hand. “Cade, you can’t say things like that to me.”
    He stroked her cheek. “I can’t help what I think