Out of the corner of his eye, he saw his sister looking at him suspiciously. “Nice wedding,” he said.
“I hope you like it,” she replied. “It’s my last one.”
“I don’t know,” he teased. “Seems a shame to stop. You’re just getting the hang of it. This was so much better than the first one.”
“Very funny. But it’s your turn next.”
He laughed. “I don’t think so.”
They were quiet for a moment as he continued to watch his brother dance with Lessa. What the hell were they whispering in each other’s ears?
“She’s a beautiful woman,” Susan said.
“What? Oh, yes. Attractive.”
“She certainly caught Russell’s eye.”
“So it appears.”
The music changed tempo, slowing down considerably. But instead of leaving the dance floor, Russell pulled Lessa close and rested his cheek against hers.
“Just a coworker, huh?” Susan said, motioning toward Rick’s fists.
What was he doing? He relaxed his fists. He had no reason to be jealous. Lessa Lawrence was not his and never would be. “More than just a coworker. She’s chairman of Lawrence Enterprises.”
“Hmm,” Susan said, smiling.
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“It sounds like you’ve got a Hepburn-Tracy thing going on. An office love affair.”
“You’re wrong.”
“I know you. And I can see the way you’re looking at her. You can’t stop thinking about her, right? And I assume you’ve…held hands, so to speak.”
“Look,” he said. “I can guarantee this relationship is not going to go anyplace. She’s arranged to give me half her stock in the company once this takeover threat is aborted. What she doesn’t know is that I’ll then own more than her.”
“So you’re going to fire her?” Susan asked. There was no mistaking the horror in her voice.
He paused. That was what he was going to do, right? “Yes.”
“Rick,” she said, shaking her head, “it’s Christmas.”
“Look, if there was any other way… But there’s not.” He had gone over it every which way. The truth of the matter was that he had no choice.
“But you care about her. I can see it in your eyes. Why can’t you work together?”
“It’s complicated.” He didn’t want to discuss it anymore.
“This is so typical of you. Dating someone that you think is safe. You only like relationships that come with automatic brakes. Did it ever occur to you to get rid of the brakes? Maybe you could have the ride of your life.”
“I think you better lay off the champagne,” Rick said.
She rolled her eyes and shook her head, frustrated. After a pause, she asked, “Are you going to Mom and Dad’s for Christmas?” Every year his sister attempted to get him to come home.
“I don’t think so,” Rick said, sitting at the table. “You know how I feel about Christmas.”
“It would mean so much to everyone if you were there. I thought that perhaps this year things might be different.”
“Nothing’s changed,” he said, his eyes drifting back to Lessa. With relief. he noticed that they had stopped dancing and were making their way back to the table. “You know what I say-”
“Christmas is for families and kids. Yes, I know what you say. But you’re part of our family. And we would love it if you came.”
“Hey, Susan,” Russell said as Lessa sat down next to Rick, “Lessa doesn’t have any plans for Christmas. I told her that she and her aunt should come to our house.”
She was going to his parents’ house?
“It might be better if I didn’t,” Lessa said, meeting Rick’s eye. “After all, Rick and I work together…”
“He’s never there on Christmas anyway. And the more the merrier. Besides,” Russell said gleefully, “if the tennis club is open you promised to hit some balls to me.” He looked at Rick and shook his head with disbelief. “You didn’t tell me she beat Korupova. I saw that match on ESPN2.”
“Good for you,” Rick said stiffly to his brother. He turned toward Lessa and said, “I know my mother would love to have you.”
“Russell, come with me,” Susan said. “I need to show you something.”
“What?” Russell asked. “What’s so important?”
“Now, Russell.”
“My brother’s a great kid, isn’t he?” Rick asked after Russell and Susan had left.
“Kid? He’s a year older than me.”
“He seemed to really like you.” Rick hesitated and then asked, “So are you going?”
“Going where?”
“Christmas at my parents. He asked you, didn’t he?”
“It didn’t seem like you wanted me to accept his invitation.”
“As they said, I won’t be there. I don’t care what you do. Outside of the office, that is.”
She became quiet. Right away he regretted what he’d said. How could he tell her that he did care? That he didn’t want her going near his brother or any other man? That she belonged to him.
She raised her hands. “What do you want from me? To not talk to anyone? That’s why you’re upset, isn’t it?”
“Don’t be ridiculous,” he said gruffly.
At that moment, a team of waiters began serving, and the table soon filled with fellow guests. As he attempted to enjoy his meal, Rick found himself looking at Lessa. Seemingly relaxed and happy, she regaled the table with stories of her tennis exploits. Several times, she glanced at him and smiled, causing warmth to spread through him.
He poured her champagne and picked up his glass as they toasted the happy couple. He found himself wondering if he would ever walk down this road. It wasn’t that he had completely written off the idea of marriage. It was just something distant, out there, that he felt he would address when it hit him.
Lessa, however, was the type of woman who would not stay single for long. Some man, some lucky man, would find her, and when he did, he would never let her go.
What the hell was happening to him? They had shared one night. One damn night. Yet the vision of her was seared into his mind. He couldn’t forget the way she had felt in his arms, the smell of her, the feel. He had only one option. He would go to Florida with her as agreed. And then he would stay the hell away.
Eleven
Located on the Gulf of Mexico, Mara del Ray had been built in the 1970s and had immediately become a leading resort, frequented by the rich and famous. But in the 1990s its allure had faded. Although still open for business, the present owner had done little in terms of upkeep and renovation. It was almost dark when Lessa and Rick arrived, but even in the dim light, it was obvious that the buildings were in need of paint and repairs. Some still had visible hurricane damage. But, as Lessa discovered, the property, although overgrown, was still lovely. A white sandy beach ringed with palm trees offered a spectacular view of the Gulf of Mexico.
“You have to use your imagination,” she said after the owner had given them a tour.
Rick could see immediately why Lessa was interested. Although the buildings would need to be completely refurbished, the setting was one of the most romantic he had seen. But an Antigua, it was not.
He turned toward the owner. “Could we have a moment alone, please?” After the man stepped back, Rick said, “I don’t think this property is going to work.”
“Why not?”
“Because it’s going to take a lot of money to get this place up to our standards. And where are we going to get the start-up capital?”
“From Antigua.”
“I don’t want to risk a known quantity on this.”