"Yes, I know you don't. But you have no option. Not unless you want to cause a scene." His eyebrows raised.
Melo glanced out at the wedding guests, some of whom were watching their exchange with great interest. Her bottom lip pouted, then she plastered on a false smile. "You win." She pushed back the chair and walked around the table to join him, reluctantly allowing him to pull her into his arms.
She was so tense her body was stiff and unyielding. Cade rested his hand on the small of her back and tugged her closer.
Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened and closed as if she wanted to say something but had decided against it. Cade breathed in her perfume. Her breasts were pushed up against the hardness of his chest, and her feet moved automatically, matching his steps perfectly. Her smooth cheek was flushed with faint pink, and she was biting on her bottom lip with her small white teeth.
One disagreement wasn't enough to toss what they had aside. She needed to listen to him. He wasn't going to stop until she did listen to him.
"I saw you talking to your father earlier," he muttered softly. "Were you having an argument?"
"My father is determined I put up no barriers to you buying Paradise Beach," she muttered. "He's angry with me for daring to voice my opinion. He's talked my mother around too. Thanks to you, I'm getting the silent treatment."
"I'm sorry." Cade smoothed the back of her dress, feeling her body's warmth.
"Like hell you are." Melo tilted her head up to his. There was a veil of shimmering tears threatening her expressive eyes. She was so involved with her family, being put under pressure was upsetting her.
Cade's arm tightened.
"Don't hate me for something that's not my fault," Cade said. He'd already told her he didn't know of her claim, and wasn't about to repeat it. There were only so many times a man could try to make amends, and he'd exceeded his lifetime quota. "Your parents will cool down. Once the lawyer has judged the veracity of your claim, this matter of your rebellion will be water under the bridge."
"Until then I've got to live with their disapproval. It would be easier with Rosa here; at least she is on my side. But once she goes on honeymoon … "
Cade wanted to run his lips down the smooth curve of Melo's neck. He wanted to kiss her, make her admit the attraction that had her trembling in his arms. The hairs on the back of his neck stood up. The eyes of the room were on them. It would be impossible to relax here on the island after the wedding. With Marco pressuring Melo and everyone watching their every move. Now was the time to make his move.
Cade's heart swelled with satisfaction. She'd walked right into the trap he'd set for her, and he'd bet she hadn't even seen it coming.
"That's why after your meeting with the lawyer tomorrow we're flying to Canada. While Rosa and Adam are on their honeymoon, and the lawyer checks the facts, you and I will take advantage of the time available, and I will show you first hand why a West Hotel is the best option for Isola dei Fiori."
Chapter Ten
"How are you holding up? We can stop for the night at the Le Château Frontenac, or take another flight and be in my hotel after an hour more flying." Cade rolled his shoulders and bent his head to the left, stretching out the muscles of his neck. "Even these first class seats are too small."
Melo pulled the light caramel fleece blanket up. They had been flying for hours. First the helicopter flight to Rome, then the never-ending flight to Quebec. When she finally fell into bed, she wanted to sleep forever. The thought of climbing aboard another plane after a scant few hours rest held no appeal whatsoever.
"I just want to get there." She slanted a peek at Cade. How could he still look so good when she was sure her rumpled hair and creased clothes made her look like a bag-lady? "Will there be much of a wait between flights?"
"I have a light aircraft on standby. It's a private flight, so we can be on our way again within the hour after landing." He glanced at his watch. "Which should be happening soon."
A disembodied voice over the intercom told everyone to put on their seatbelts, confirming his guess.
"We'll keep traveling then." Cade leaned closer and gazed out of the window, so close Melo could almost reach out and brush his stubbled cheek with her fingertips. She breathed in his familiar scent, and closed her eyes for a moment.
He'd been such a perfect gentleman, her irritation had dissolved like coffee grounds in boiling water, and somewhere over the ocean she'd finally weakened and let excitement at their trip take her over. In the hours in the air, he'd relented and told her more about the hotel they were visiting, deep in the Rocky Mountains, and her curiosity was piqued-it sounded so different.
By the time they returned to Isola dei Fiori, they'd have an answer one way or the other about Paradise Beach, but right now exhaustion draped over Melo like a cloak, and all she wanted to do was sleep.
****
"Hi Pierre." Cade strode toward the lanky driver waiting next to the limousine and shook his hand. "Long time, no see."
"Good to see you, Cade." Pierre opened the door for Melo, then stowed their luggage.
"I thought we were going on to your hotel?" Melo asked. She must be tired but she didn't look it as she glanced out of the window at the unfamiliar surroundings.
Cade felt his eyeballs had been rolled in sand, and his body ached from the close confines of the cabin.
"We are." He poured two glasses of champagne from the limousine's bar, and handed her one. "We're on our way to the seaport where the sea-plane is waiting."
"We'll be taking off from the water?" Melo's eyes sparkled, and her radiant smile was like the sun coming out on a dark winter day.
Cade nodded.
"That's amazing!" she said, her voice high and breathy.
Cade's gaze fixed on the curve of Melo's smile. Traveling for him was just a means to an end. A necessary evil to be tolerated in the quest to get to his properties around the world. It took Melo's delight in every minuscule aspect of this trip to reveal how jaded he'd become.
He reached for her hand. "We land on the water too."
Flying over the majestic mountains and finally catching a glimpse of the perfect silver circle of water was the most perfect introduction to The Hidden Lake Hotel, his first and most private West hotel. Somewhere along the way, he'd let the wonder bleed away, but Melo's enthusiasm infected him like a particularly virulent virus, and he felt the leap of anticipation drive his tiredness away. He should despise her for putting her family's future in jeopardy. When his father had gambled away his home, he'd been devastated, but now faced with a woman who had recklessly gambled with her family's future he couldn't even summon up disgust. He was under Melo's influence, dazzled by her. And it annoyed the hell out of him.
They pulled up to the dock where the tiny plane bobbed on the water, and waited while Pierre transferred the luggage, and chatted to the pilot.
"It's very small." Melo bit at her bottom lip and a tiny crease appeared between her eyebrows as she gazed at the plane.
"A lot bigger than the helicopter," Cade answered. She'd been fine on the flight to Rome; it must just be the novelty that had her crossing her arms around her torso and eyeing the plane with nervousness. "Don't worry, I'll be right there with you."
"I'm not worried." Melo's chin lifted and when her gaze collided with his their blue depths were tinged with a seriousness that stunned him. "Thank you," she whispered.
"For what?"
"For this trip; for getting me away from the family. I couldn't have taken one more minute of my parents' disapproval." Melo's gaze fell, and she twisted her hands together.
With one sweep of his fingers, Cade tilted her chin up, and brushed his lips across hers lightly. "You're more than welcome," he replied, feeling her stiffen before he pulled back. "Now let's board."
Melo's jaw was clenched tight as the tiny craft set off from the water. Her hands were clasped in her lap, and she angled her knees away from Cade. Every molecule of her body rejected him in a potent non-verbal "hands off." Her shoulders were tense, and she gazed out of the tiny window and gasped aloud as the plane lifted into the clear blue sky. He wanted to hold her hand and reassure her, but after her response to his kiss, didn't dare. The peace between them was so tenuous he was loathe to shatter it, and one move too far would be all it would take.