She reached for the orange juice and bit into a crisp biscotti. She should be thinking of a plan to save the vineyard, but her mind rebelled. Let the rest of them do it. Antonio was right; she was always the one losing sleep over the family's problems. Problems not of her making. She crunched the biscotti savagely. And not hers to solve, either. Her father seemed sure his claim on her beach was legitimate, but that wasn't the end of it. When the wedding was over, she'd get her own lawyers on it. At the very least, she'd tie up Cade and her father with legal counterclaims for months.
Melo rested her hands on her stomach. Yes, she'd been naïve, but the scales had fallen from her eyes, and now she saw things clearly. She wouldn't be browbeaten or emotionally blackmailed any more. The fresh mountain air expanded her lungs. She blew it out slowly, then breathed in again, feeling power infuse her body with the inhalation.
Her relationship with Cade had been shrouded in insubstantial dreams. She hadn't seen the real man through her infatuated prism, but there was nothing but clear air between them now. When she got back to the villa, everyone would want to talk. They'd lobby her to give up her claim, and smooth things over with her father for the sake of the wedding.
Paradise was hers, and she'd see Cade in hell before she let him steal it.
Chapter Nine
Of course, she'd be here.
Cade pulled in a deep breath as he pulled in next to the Mercedes parked in front of the old stone church, next to a small van. She might not want to talk to him.
Rosa had glared at him when he'd asked where she might go, and shrugged her shoulders eloquently. "Leave her alone," she warned before striding away, not looking back.
Adam's response hadn't been much better. "You blew it." He'd glanced at Cade with his mouth set in a hard line before following his fiancée.
Cade knew he'd blown it. He didn't need it spelled out to him, but he'd lost the right to reply the minute it had been revealed he'd known about the financial problems and hadn't told his best friend about it. Everyone was feeling raw, and the wedding was tomorrow. He'd asked Adam to hear him out, later at the hotel, and Adam reluctantly agreed.
He spent the afternoon looking for her. Paradise Beach was deserted, nothing but the occasional sea bird's cry breaking the silence. He'd walked on the beach, imagined a hotel facing the sea, and wondered where the hell she could have gone.
The wedding was tomorrow. There were still things to do. Melo would be doing them. There was no way she'd just walk away, she was so conscientious, she'd never let her sister down; it wasn't in her nature. His heart swelled with reluctant admiration.
Cade climbed out of the car, and walked into the tiny church. Hoping against hope she'd listen to what he had to say.
She wasn't alone. A tall, dark haired woman was with her. They were tying bunches of flowers at the ends of the church pews. Getting ready for tomorrow.
"I've been looking for you." She didn't look up, holding the posy in place with one hand while she threaded the white satin ribbon through the carved ends. "Melo, I'm talking to you."
"I'm aware of that." Her gaze flickered to his. "I'm busy."
Cade stuck his hands in his pockets. His jaw jutted. "I'm not going away until you've heard what I have to say."
"In that case, you can make yourself useful. Hold this." She pointed to the decoration she was trying to secure. He reached for it. Their hands brushed, and she pulled hers away as if burned. "Just hold it in position while I tie it." She squatted, fastening the posy and finishing with an elaborate bow that matched the row of completed pews. Another woman was doing the other side, her attention completely on what she was doing.
Melo straightened. "All right, I'm listening." She crossed her arms over her chest, her body language telegraphing loudly she didn't want him here.
"I didn't know about the beach," Cade said.
Melo's eyebrows rose, but she stayed silent.
A trickle of sweat slid slowly down between Cade's shoulder blades. This was going to be difficult. He tried again. "I didn't." He stepped closer, It would take more than words to convince her.
Melo raised a hand, palm out, to stop him. "Stay right there."
There was no anger in her gaze. He couldn't read anything in her impassive face. Cade shoved his hands in his pockets. "I told your father I wouldn't go ahead with the negotiations until you agreed, until I had your blessing."
She snorted a harsh laugh, and her gaze flickered away. "It'll be a cold day in hell before you have my blessing, Cade."
"Melo." He reached out to grasp her arm, and she stared at it, her forehead pleated in a frown. "You need to listen to me, Melo. I … " What could he say? He'd lied by omission. Taken her to bed and listened to her worries about the family crisis, never once even hinting he knew about it. That he had been approached to provide a solution, for God's sake. He'd even suspected her of wanting his money; he'd obviously been completely wrong there.
"You what?" She stared at him coldly. "You came to the island ready to buy land for a luxurious hotel that will ruin the island. You made me think you cared about me, when all the time you were making sure I'd be amenable to whatever schemes you and my father cooked up?"
"I told you I didn't know about your claim to the beach." Frustration burned a hole in Cade's stomach. He'd told her, but she stubbornly refused to believe him. What the hell else was he supposed to do? "But to be honest, your family needs my money. I don't see any others lining up to help you. Although that could change. What do you think your father will do if I refuse to buy Paradise Beach, do you think for one moment he will shelve the idea?"
Her mouth gaped. She blinked rapidly, obviously she hadn't considered the alternatives.
"No, Melo. He won't. If I don't buy Paradise Beach, your father will sell it to the highest bidder. Another hotelier who doesn't have the same connection to the island I have. One who doesn't care if the hotel is an eyesore on the landscape. You won't have a say in it. You won't even get to see the plans."
All the color leached out of Melo's face. She swallowed, and her voice came out as a weak whisper. "God, Cade. When did you get so … hard?"
"I'm just telling it as it is," Cade replied.
He softened his tone. "Look, I understand this has all been a shock. It didn't happen the way I planned. I didn't foresee our relationship."
He thought the words, I didn't want to hurt you but didn't say them. Melo wouldn't understand if he told her he planned to buy the beach to safeguard it. She'd think he was a fool, or he was trying to reverse her mistake in investing unwisely. She was so stubborn, she'd probably throw up all sorts of obstacles to save her blasted pride. And put the beach into the hands of a hostile, heartless developer in doing so. He needed to persuade her to sell to him, and if it took bending the truth to do so, he would.
He swallowed, and took a deep breath. "I assure you the hotel I build on Paradise Beach will add to the beach's beauty, rather than take from it. In the process, it will provide the funds the Bellucci Winery needs for its upgrades, and provide for the future. And there'll be no waiting for the money either. The moment the papers are signed, I'll arrange payment."
Melo's mouth tightened. "I'm taking legal advice. I have a copy of my grandmother's will, and I intend to fight this sale, all the way." She turned away, picked up another bunch of flowers, and walked to the next pew.
Cade followed. "It'll take time to assess the claim. Until you have the results, I have no intention of proceeding with my talks with your father."
She nodded, clutching the small bunch of flowers in front of her like a wedding bouquet. The evening sun shone through the stained glass, painting her hair and body with brightly colored lights. "I've got a lot to do." She glanced at her watch pointedly. Dismissing him.
He didn't try to touch her again. Didn't try to brush his lips across hers. But he did smile, even though she didn't smile back. Tomorrow was the wedding. And after that he'd talk to her again. Make her see his point of view.
"Ciao, Bella." He caught the flicker of confusion in her eyes as she turned away. She wasn't as indifferent to him as she pretended, and where a spark remained, a fire could be coaxed back into life.