Fortune (38 page)

“No, I don't. Tell me.” He said nothing and she looked away, hurting, she thought, as much as the day she had awakened and found him gone. She snatched up her panties from the floor. “It was nothing, right? Just one of many other lays, though I'm one of the better ones. Well, thank you very much, asshole!”

“No, dammit!” He jumped to his feet, grabbed his sweats and yanked them on. “What I'm trying to tell you is, I have nothing to offer you. My business is crumbling around me. I've lost almost every client I acquired in the last six months. I had to let my assistant go yesterday. What do you want from me? As you've told me many times before, Griffen can give you everything. He's offered you everything, the world, you said. Take it, Skye. Take it and get the hell out!”

She yanked on her leggings, the task almost impossible because she shook so badly. “I guess what Griffen told me about you was true.”

“Yeah? And what was that?”

“That you're jealous of him. That you want to be him.”

Chance looked as if she had struck him. “Griffen said that?”

“That's right. He also said you were so fixated on your desire, you would stoop to stealing his woman. That you had before.”

“Steal his woman,” Chance repeated, furious. “Baby, I'm not the one who showed up at your door, practically begging to be fuc—”

“Don't you say it, you son of a bitch!” She snatched one of the beer cans from the coffee table and threw it at him. He ducked and it sailed past his head and hit the wall. “That's not what happened and you know it!”

“Tell me, Skye, why would I even think you needed a ‘mercy fuck,' as you so delicately phrased it? You have Griffen. I would imagine he keeps you pretty well satisfied.”

She felt as if he had slapped her. Compared to all else that had passed between them, that hurt the most. Without even looking at him, she gathered together the rest of her things and stalked to the door.

Once there, she stopped and looked back at him. “I haven't slept with Griffen,” she said softly. “But now that you bring it up, I don't know why I've been waiting.”

G
riffen was going to ask her to marry him. Tonight. Skye was certain of it.

Two days ago he had called and invited her out for tonight. He had a surprise for her, he'd said. Something really special. Now, here they were, at the Ritz Carlton dining room, champagne chilling, soft music playing, a single, exquisite red rose laid across her plate.

If only she knew what her answer would be.

The maître d' eased the table away from the banquette and Skye slid onto the upholstered bench, looking questioningly at Griffen. He had been acting strangely lately, warm and demonstrative one moment, cool and withdrawn the next. It was almost as if he were two different people.

She picked up the rose and held it to her nose. She had wondered if it hadn't been him at all, but her, a reflection of her own confused feelings toward him. She wanted Griffen, she wanted the love and security he offered; she wanted a family and stability. And she knew, with her head if not her heart, that he was right for her.

But she couldn't stop thinking about Chance. She couldn't stop remembering the way her body had come alive at his touch, or the way she had felt afterward. Like the world was hers.

He'd gotten her, now he didn't want her anymore.

She lowered her gaze to her lap. She had been such a fool. What was wrong with her? Chance had nearly destroyed her once, why was she so intent on giving him the opportunity to do it again?

“Skye, sweetheart. To us.”

She jumped, startled, then laughed self-consciously and brought her glass to his. “To us,” she mimicked, then sipped.

“You looked a million miles away a few seconds ago. Anything you want to talk about?”

“No,” she murmured, forcing a smile. She indicated his bandaged hand, changing the subject. “How's your hand? Still aching?”

He glanced at it, then back at her. “It's fine, almost as good as new.”

She shuddered. “Fifty-two stitches, I can't imagine how much that hurt. It's hard to believe a broken glass could do so much damage.”

He shrugged. “I was distracted, not paying attention to what I was doing.” He smiled slightly. “I was lost in space, I guess. Just as you were a moment ago.”

“Me?”

“Mmm. Thinking about Terri and her cute little daughter. Don't try to deny it. I know how much their leaving hurt you. I know you miss them.”

Something about his expression when he spoke seemed off, inconsistent with his words and tone. She sensed a kind of amusement. Or pleasure.

Skye searched his gaze, but whatever she had thought she'd seen was gone. He was the picture of loving concern. She took another sip of the wine, scolding herself for her thoughts. How could she even think such a thing about Griffen? He had been very supportive of her feelings, very understanding.

She cleared her throat. “I have thought about them a lot, but I wasn't just then.”

“How are they?”

“Doing well. Settling in.”

“Such a shame, that thing that happened to them. There are so many sick people in the world.”

“Yes.”

He brought his wine to his lips, drank, then set down the glass. “And how's Moo doing? No more near-death experiences, I hope?”

She shook her head. “No.”

“Ever find the guy who poisoned him?”

She looked away, uncomfortable. “He's still out there.”

“That's frightening,” Griffen murmured. “He could do it again.”

Skye's hand began to shake, and she put down her champagne, afraid she might spill it. “I'm being more careful. I never let him out alone.”

“That's good.” He reached across the table and caught her hand, using his left instead of right because of his injury. “Your hand's so cold.” He curled his fingers around hers. “Darling, I haven't upset you, have I?”

“No, of course not.”

He rubbed his fingers along hers, gently massaging. “What you've been going through has really made me think about life and what's important. One minute you can have everything, the next nothing. But family is always there. When you're part of a family, you're never alone. Family never leaves you behind.”

She thought of her mother and tears sprang to her eyes.

“They don't, Skye,” he said, as if reading her mind. “Not when they love you. Your mother didn't deserve that title. She didn't deserve your love. And neither did Chance.”

This time, she couldn't hide her distress. A tear rolled down her cheek, despite how she fought it.

“Now I have upset you. I'm sorry, sweetheart, I wanted tonight to be special.”

“You're right, though. That's the thing.” She swiped at a second tear, then a third. “I don't have anybody, Griffen. I'm all alone.”

“You have me.” When she made a move to pull her hand away, he tightened his fingers over hers. “No, you do. Skye, you know how I feel about you. I haven't made a secret of it.”

She met his eyes, her heart in her throat, knowing what was coming next and wishing she knew what her answer would be.

“I want to take care of you, sweetheart. I want to love and cherish you, I want us to be side by side forever. Skye, I want you to be my wife. Will you marry me?”

Skye gazed at him, choked, thinking of Chance. Thinking of his magic hands and how he could make her body sing. She cursed her thoughts. She cursed him.

“Before you answer, consider this. You'll never have to be alone again. I promise to give you everything you ever dreamed of, love, a real home, a family. Granddad and Dorothy love you, too. We need you. Monarch's needs you.” His voice deepened. “I need you.”

She began to shake. She didn't know what to say. He was offering her everything she had ever wanted, and yet she couldn't seem to get “yes” to form on her lips.

She brought a hand to her temple, her head beginning to hurt. “This is such a big step,” she murmured. “I'm stunned. And flattered.”

His lips curved into a triumphant smile. He dipped his hand into his suit-coat pocket and pulled out a violet-colored velvet ring box. He set it on the table in front of her.

When she only stared at it, he laughed softly. “Go ahead, Skye. Open it.”

With trembling fingers, she snapped open the lid. Her breath caught as she saw the magnificent diamond solitaire inside. It caught the light and winked at her. “Oh, my God.”

She brought a hand to her throat. It was the most beautiful diamond she had ever seen: oval-cut, full of fire, huge. At least five carats. “It's too much.”

“Not for the woman I adore. Try it on.” He slipped the ring from its satin nest and held it out for her fourth finger. She lifted her hand; he slid the ring on. It fit perfectly.

“We know everything about each other, Skye. We have everything in common, more than you even know. We would have a perfect life together. Imagine, rich, powerful, beautiful. Side by side, we'll run Monarch's and raise a new batch of little Monarchs. We'll be unstoppable, Skye.”

What about passion?
she wondered.
What about love?

That wasn't fair. He loved her, he had told her so, many times. And she…she loved him. She did.

Just not the way she loved…Chance.

Tears flooded her eyes. She blinked against them, horrified. With her thoughts, with the truth. She was in love with Chance. She had been since they were children.

No. She couldn't love Chance. She couldn't. He didn't love her. He had left her behind once, he would most certainly do it again.

But she did love him—the way she wished she loved Griffen.

“Hey.” Griffen tipped her face up to his. “I hope those are tears of happiness.”

“They are,” she lied, feeling awful. “I'm overwhelmed. I—”

“Is that a yes?”

She struggled for the right thing to say, the best thing. “Griffen, I don't…this isn't a good time…”

He stiffened and dropped his hand, two bright spots of angry color staining his cheeks. “So, is it a no?”

“Absolutely not.” She caught his hand. “I need some time. I'm just not…I'm not ready.”

“Well, I am ready,” he said stiffly. “It seems pretty simple to me, Skye. Either you want to marry me or you don't.”

“I wish I could be like you, Griffen, so certain of my every step. But this is forever. And that's scary. I've been hurt before, and I'm afraid.”

“I'm not like your mother. Or Chance, the prick.” Griffen all but spit the words. “I would never leave you. I would never stop loving you. You belong with me, I know it. I believe it. We were destined to be together.”

She lifted her gaze to his. His eyes, as if alight with an inner fire, were hot and bright. She had never seen him look quite this way. She shivered. “I can't give you an answer now. I'm sorry. I want to say yes, Griffen. I do. But I can't. Not right now.”

“I see.” He drew away from her, obviously furious.

“Please,” she begged, “try to understand. I want this to be perfect. For us. There's so much going on, and with the upcoming trip to Milan and…and everything. Please, Griffen. Don't be angry with me. Just give me a little time.”

He said nothing for a moment, then nodded curtly. “All right, Skye. A little time. But I'm not going to wait forever.”

“I wouldn't expect you to. I'll give you my answer when I get back from Milan.”

“Two weeks it is, Skye. I'll be waiting.”

S
kye found Chance at his office. He stood facing the window behind his desk, his back to the door. He looked tired, she thought. Something about his stance, about the angle of his shoulders, lacked his usual look-out-world confidence and boundless zest for life.

Apparently, he hadn't heard her arrive, as he didn't acknowledge her presence in any way. Skye caught her bottom lip between her teeth. She could go now, she realized. She still had the opportunity to turn and walk away without facing him, without humbling herself. Without all but begging. He would never know she had been here.

She couldn't do that, as much as a part of her longed to. She had nothing to lose. He had already broken her heart.

If she didn't do this, she would always wonder.

“Chance?”

He stiffened, then turned. He met her eyes, but didn't speak. She clasped her hands in front of her. “How are you?” As soon as the inane question passed her lips, she cursed herself for it.

“How am I? Well, I have three clients left. I even lost one I brought with me from Adams and Sloane. I don't exactly feel like dancing a jig.” He swept his gaze over her. “And how are you, Skye?”

She searched his expression, her heart hurting for him. She knew, probably more than anyone, what success meant to him. “I'm sorry,” she said softly.

“Yeah, me, too. Sorry as hell.”

“You still have Monarch's. They're happy, I know they are.”

“So were the others.” He shook his head. “Why are you here?”

“Griffen's asked me to marry him.”

“Has he?”

“Yes.” She cleared her throat. “He says he…loves me. He promises me he'll never leave me. That he'll give me the world.”

“Sounds like a hell of a deal, kid,” Chance said, his voice gravelly. He turned back to the window. “You took it, I hope.”

She felt as if she were being torn apart inside. She took a deep, fortifying breath. What did she have to lose by humbling herself to him? By baring her soul?

Nothing she hadn't lost already, a long time ago.

“Chance, I…Look at me. Please.”

He turned slowly. He was closed to her; she saw it in his expression, in the rigid way he held his body, in the way he looked at her, as if he didn't even see her.

“I told him I needed some time.”

“I see.” Again, he swept his gaze over her. “Did you come for my blessing or to ask if big brother would give you away?”

She looked away, then back, fighting tears. “I want you to tell me not to do it, Chance. I want you to give me a reason…to tell him no.”

For a long moment Chance simply gazed at her, as if drinking in every nuance of her appearance, as if this were the last time he would ever see her. She was looking at him the same way, she knew. Eating up everything about him, wanting to hold him so badly she ached.

“I can't do that, Skye,” he said finally. “I'm sorry.”

A cry of despair flew to her lips, and she brought a hand to her mouth. She steeled herself against the hurt and disappointment. The feeling of betrayal.

“Would it change anything if I…what would you say, if I…if I told you I love you?”

He stared at her a moment, his expression stony, then he shook his head. “Don't love me. Love Griffen. He's offered you the world, Skye. Seems to me a smart girl like you would take that offer.”

She opened her mouth, prepared to beg, then shut it. He didn't love her, he never would. No amount of begging would change that. It would only make them both feel bad.

They both felt bad enough already.

“All right, then. I have my answer.” She folded her arms across her chest, struggling not to further humiliate herself by crying. “I guess this is goodbye.”

“I guess it is,” he said, his voice thick. “Next time I see you, you'll be promised to Griffen. I hope you're really happy.”

He turned to the window. She stared at his back a moment, then walked away.

As his office door shut behind her, she heard him say something, heard him call her name.

She didn't go back. She never would.