Secrets of the Tycoon's Bride / The Executive's Surprise Baby. Catherine Mann
You need to approve the advertisement for my assistant.” “No need to advertise. Your predecessor is eager to come back to work. She’s discovered she needs a break from full-time diaper duty.”
Tension squeezed Lauryn’s throat like an invisible strangler’s hand. Silently, she collected her purse and the marriage agreement and followed Adam out of the building.
“Did your attorney look at the contract?” he asked.
“I don’t have an attorney here and there wasn’t time to find one.”
Adam grasped her elbow and stopped her on the sidewalk. He met her gaze head-on. “I won’t cheat you. The settlement is fair.”
“I know. I read it.” Five times. Pages of emotionless words promising twenty-four months of her life to a virtual stranger. A year to get Adam elected and then a year to keep him in office until he’d proven he could do the job.
Would she be able to remain as detached when she shared a home and a life with this man? Would she be able to walk away as if the marriage had never happened? Her reaction to Adam’s stimulating touch said the time wouldn’t pass without leaving its mark.
But she could control her body. Couldn’t she?
She had to.
She turned, pulling free of his hand, and looked past him, but she didn’t see his BMW by the curb. A dark blue Lexus sat in Adam’s usual spot. It wasn’t the first time someone had ignored the sign marking his reserved parking place. She scanned the street, but didn’t see Adam’s convertible in any of the other spaces, and the valet wouldn’t arrive until later this evening. That meant a hike to the parking deck, which was one of the reasons—besides the prohibitive cost of parking—Lauryn always rode the bus. Thank goodness for her preference for flat-heeled shoes.
Adam reached into his pocket, withdrew a key ring and hit a button. The Lexus’s lights flashed. He dangled the keys in front of her. “You wear a lot of blue. I hope that means you like it.”
“What?” She gaped at the small SUV and then at him. “You’re kidding, right?”
“No. You’re driving.” When she didn’t reach for the keys he caught her hand, pressed them into her palm and closed her fingers around them.
She didn’t know which startled her more. The pricey car or the contact with Adam. She’d have to work harder at reining in this taboo attraction. “I have a decent car.”
“Now you have a better one. Keep the old one or sell it. I don’t care.”
“But…”
“Appearances, Lauryn. It’s all about appearances.” He checked traffic and then opened the driver’s door for her. “Let’s go. Brandon’s staying after hours for us.”
She slid into the buttery soft leather seat, filled her lungs with that new-car smell and checked out the tinted sunroof. Compared to her four-year-old economy sedan, this car’s dashboard looked like something NASA built. GPS and satellite radio. Who knew what the other gizmos were? Her hand trembled as she slipped the key into the ignition and started the engine.
Adam climbed into the passenger seat. “You’ve delivered documents to Brandon for me before. Remember where his office is?”
“Yes.” She wasn’t looking forward to maneuvering a brand-new luxury vehicle through rush-hour traffic.
Adam gave her perhaps five minutes to get accustomed to the way the car handled before speaking again. “Bahamas law requires us to be in the country twenty-four hours before we can apply for a marriage license. We’ll leave tomorrow morning, get married Thursday evening and then come home Monday morning and move our stuff into the house.”
Thursday? She gulped. “So soon?”
“Waiting wastes time.”
“You’re willing to leave Estate that long?”
“The staff will survive without me, and Sandy will fill in for you.”
He had it all figured out. “Sandy’s my predecessor?”
“Yes.”
“I won’t have time for the makeover you requested by tomorrow.”
She kept her eyes on traffic but caught his shrug out of the corner of her eye. “Do it on the island. Cassie’s well put-together. She can tell you where to go.”
All too soon they reached the high-rise housing Washington & Associates. Because so many of the building’s workers were making the evening exodus, Lauryn easily found a spot near the entrance. She parked and climbed from the car. The knot between her shoulders from driving the unfamiliar vehicle sank to her stomach and expanded with each step she took beside Adam toward their destination.
He ushered her into the elevator and up to the law offices of Washington & Associates. A woman Lauryn guessed to be in her sixties waited for them by the reception desk with a big smile lined on her face. On past visits Lauryn had always left packages with the receptionist, who wasn’t behind her desk.
“What is this I hear about an engagement? Both of your brothers, then Brandon and now you. Have the men in Miami suddenly become smarter?”
“Hello Rachel.” Adam pulled the diminutive woman into a hug and then released her and extended his hand toward Lauryn. “This is Lauryn Lowes, my fiancée. Lauryn, this is Rachel Suarez.”
Lauryn reluctantly put her left hand in Adam’s and let him tug her forward. The shocking heat of his touch seeped up her arm and then oozed down deep inside her, but the woman thankfully broke the spell by enfolding Lauryn’s right hand in both of hers.
“He’ll be a good husband as long as you keep him on a short leash,” she whispered.
Wide-eyed, Lauryn darted a quick glance at Adam to see if he’d heard, but his face remained impassive.
“Thanks for that tip,” she replied and received a wink in return.
Movement down the hall drew Lauryn’s attention. Brandon Washington strolled toward them. He was Adam’s height, attractive and African-American. Lauryn had spoken with him on numerous occasions when he stopped by Estate.
The men shook hands and clapped shoulders before Brandon greeted her with a nod. Lauryn nodded back and tried to smile.
Adam indicated Mrs. Suarez. “Is she still running this place?”
“She likes to think so,” Brandon replied. The warmth in his eyes belied his firm voice. “Let’s step into my office.” Brandon turned to Mrs. Suarez. “Give us five minutes and then join us, please.”
Lauryn’s mouth dried. The deal was all but done. Her feet felt weighted as she followed the men across the carpet. The point of no return lay directly ahead.
But if she walked away what would she have learned about her mother? Not enough. Not nearly enough. And she’d probably lose her job, too, for leading Adam on and then reneging.
The door closed behind them, sealing them into Brandon’s office. He faced them across his desk and waited until they were seated before asking Adam, “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I’m sure.”
Dark brown eyes lasered in on Lauryn’s. “Are you?”
“I—” She covered her flash of panic by clearing her throat and handing over the folder. “I am.”
Brandon accepted it and withdrew the prenuptial agreement and marriage contract. “Did you have any questions, Lauryn? Is there anything that requires clarification?”
Is there another way? “No.”
“She didn’t have a lawyer read the agreements,” Adam said.
Brandon stilled. “Would you like me to have one of my associates come in