MrTemptation (5 page)

“She kept the trust a secret. She was afraid if Edward Burke
found out, he’d take legal action,” Preston continued. “Only my mother and I,
and now you, know of its existence.”

How many other secrets had her parents kept from her, she
wondered. How many lies had been told?

“Are you all right?” Preston asked.

“This isn’t one of my better days.”

“Understood.” It was said with kindness and consideration.
He sat back in his chair. She sensed he was a patient man. She appreciated how
he didn’t rush her.

“Exactly how much money are we talking about?” Cadence
asked.

“As of nine o’clock this morning, thirty-seven-and-a-half
million.” His face remained neutral, as if he delivered this kind of news every
day.

Cadence couldn’t help but let out a loud, obnoxious laugh,
complete with a snort. He had to be joking. Was this guy for real?

“You’re not serious.” Cadence fanned herself with her hand
as the room closed in around her.

Preston shifted. She’d probably insulted him, which wasn’t
her intention, but thirty-seven million? That was almost twice what her father
had received when her mother died.

His mesmerizing eyes bored into hers and he was not smiling.

He
is
serious.

“Come on. Grandfather’s business was just a hole-in-the-wall
dress factory.”

“Not anymore.”

She’d never been a slave to fashion but was pretty sure
Sparkle wasn’t one of the major labels in the posh shops.

“I’m sorry, Preston, but this is too weird. I understand you
may really believe what you are telling me but that amount of money just
doesn’t make sense. It is just too farfetched. Too out there.”

She smiled at him out of politeness and got up from her
chair. He put the file on the table and stood as well.

She shook her head. This had to be a bad dream.

“Cadence, please, sit down.”

“I’ve heard enough for one day. Actually, for a lifetime. I
need some air.”

Preston opened the file folder he had referred to so often
during their conversation. He pulled out a letter-sized envelope.

“You can’t leave until you read this letter,” he said.

The smile she had pasted on her face disappeared as she
stared at the envelope. She took it and sank back into her chair.

Her name was on the outside. It was from her mother. She
would have recognized the neat and feminine handwriting anywhere.

The blood drained from her face.

Her hand trembled as she opened the envelope and took out a
single sheet of paper. It was dated September 5. As she read, the words
blurred, seen through unbidden tears.

Her mother explained that she’d created the trust. When
Cadence was old enough, she’d tell her why. If something happened to her, she’d
leave the task of explaining to Marianne Night.

“She was always so protective,” Cadence said, wiping her
eyes with the back of her hand.

“She loved you very much.”

Cadence looked up. “You do realize if she hadn’t gone to the
Twin Towers that day, she’d probably still be alive.”

“Don’t blame yourself.”

She put the letter back in the envelope. Preston was right.
It was over and done. Nothing would bring her mother back. Blame wasn’t
something she should indulge in.

“I have to believe my father loved her in his way,” Cadence
stated firmly. “She had to have loved him because they stayed together.”

Preston nodded.

“I still want to pursue a lawsuit,” she said.

“Are you sure?”

“Damn straight.” She gritted her teeth. “I’m going to expose
my father and Victoria.”

“You can’t.”

“The money was my mother’s. Why should it go to finance
Cyrus’ ambitions and Victoria’s lavish lifestyle?”

“I’m guessing Cyrus’ career in politics won’t go very far,”
Preston replied. “The mayor’s enemies will eat him alive.”

“He’ll be finished once this scandal comes out.” Cadence
couldn’t wait to see Cyrus’ smug face when he learned his mother had been a
mistress.

“I suppose there will be satisfaction for some in dragging
the Burke name through the mud.” His tone was subdued. He was warning her what
a lawsuit could mean.

“What would you have me do?” She sounded pathetic but she
didn’t care. It wasn’t fair.

He was watching her with those gorgeous eyes.

“I can’t let them get away with stealing.”

“There’s more at stake than your father’s money. The secret
trust will be found out if there’s a lawsuit,” he replied.

“Victoria may go after the money in the trust,” she murmured.

“A lawsuit could tie up your accounts for years.”

She looked at Preston. He was cool, calm and collected. She
wished she could be so calm but the betrayal, the deviousness of Victoria’s
schemes cut deep.

“What do I do now?” she asked.

“The company is all yours.”

“My mother’s legacy.”

What a legacy. It was more money than she’d ever dreamed of
having. More than she’d ever be able to spend. She released years of anger and
frustration, knowing it was time to move on.

She turned to Preston. “I remember my grandfather vaguely.
He was a very big man with a booming voice. Once in a great while, my mother
would take me with her to the factory.”

She hadn’t thought about her grandfather in a long time.
She’d hated the factory, the noise and people running around. Her grandmother
had been a famous model and according to family legend, her grandfather had
started the company, Sparkle Industries, just for her.

Probably another lie.

“I will take you there if you like.”

“No, I don’t want to see it.”

“You’re not even curious?”

Cadence shook her head. “I was never into fashion much. I
was the kid with her nose always in a book.”

“There’s more.”

She was struck by how extraordinarily sensitive he was.
“You’re right. Going out there will remind me of my mother.”

“She wanted you to have the company. I’ll bet she would’ve
wanted you to take over for her.”

“I don’t know a thing about the fashion industry, let alone
how to run a business.”

“You’re smart and you’re savvy. You’ll catch on.”

“I appreciate the vote of confidence.” She made a
decision—the only one she could make. “I’m going to sell Sparkle Industries.”

“In this economy? You’ll take a loss.”

“Better than running my inheritance into the ground.” She
rose. She couldn’t sit any longer. “I can live comfortably on thirty-seven
million.”

“Why don’t you think about it? Sparkle has a strong
management team. They’ll run things until you make up your mind.”

“No.” He’d given her good reasons to keep Sparkle but she
just couldn’t.

“I know a couple of excellent real estate agents who
specialize in commercial real estate. You’ll need a financial planner for tax
purposes. I’ll give you their numbers.”

“Thanks.” She hesitated. She’d one more favor to ask. “I’d
like Night and Night to keep managing the trust.”

“Yes, of course.”

“I’ll need one of my own.”

He smiled. He had such a dazzling smile.

Having made several important decisions, Cadence had a
gigantic brain freeze. This morning she had been so angry, not at all sure what
to do and feeling as if she were controlled by an evil woman who had stolen her
inheritance. Now Mr. Night, practically in shining armor—no he was in shining
Armani
—was
telling her she was rich, far richer than the greedy bitch who’d influenced her
father to change his will.

Preston had given her excellent advice. Victoria and the
evil spawn would be pissed if they found out. Cadence would have to guard this
secret, and it would be difficult.

“I need to have you sign some papers,” Preston said.

“Papers?”

“Yes, legal and tax documents.”

“Of course. I’m sorry, Preston, I feel a major headache
coming on. It has been a really trying day. Is it possible that we meet later
this afternoon to sign papers—or even better, tomorrow morning?”

“Whatever you want. I’ll have my driver take you back to
your hotel.”

“Yes. Please.”

It was all too much. A stabbing pain shot across her
forehead and she reached up to rub it. This was going to be a whopper of a
headache.

She reached into her purse and pulled out her bottle of
ibuprofen. Shaking out two pills, she wished the day were over. She swallowed
them and gulped down the last of the water in her glass. She replaced the glass
on the table.

Preston quickly came to her side. The length of his muscular
body so close to hers sent a shiver up her spine—and yet at the same time, she
could feel the heat emanating from his body. Every single naughty thought she’d
had when first seeing him, the thoughts she’d been fighting for over an hour,
crept back into her mind.

His breath was warm on her neck as he stood there. How
quickly an act of courtesy turned her thoughts to sex. She wished she could
turn, wrap her arms around his neck and kiss him. She needed the connection,
she needed to be close to someone, especially now. He could take her away, if
only for a few minutes. Her heart sped up, her breath caught in her throat.

She turned, no longer able to control her desire for him,
and was caught in his intense gaze. He wanted her too. He stepped closer, so
close she could smell him.

The sweet smell of his aftershave was intoxicating. She
found herself breathing his scent in, wanting more.

She had been so busy at school, she hadn’t had time for a
relationship. Now she found herself filled with a strong need, a longing that
gnawed at her from the inside. He was so close…beyond what was appropriate. She
fought the overwhelming desire to slide her arms around his waist and press her
body into his. To feel the length of his corded muscles against her. To have
his warmth seep into her flesh.

His eyes clouded with lust. His eyelids lowered as he boldly
raked his smoldering gaze over her body, and her nipples hardened in reaction.
She watched his eyes linger on the two taut buds that strained against her
shirt.

Her nipples ached with the need for him to touch her. If
possible, they hardened all the more, practically begging for him to brush his
thumb, or better yet his tongue, over the sensitive peaks.

Cadence’s lips parted. Her nerves were firing like mad.
Zings of pleasure formed between her thighs. She was growing slick with need.

Ever so slowly, he returned that gaze to her face. A
devilish smile lifted the corner of his mouth and he raised an inviting
eyebrow.

She wanted to press her breasts against his broad chest,
wanted him to grab her, kiss her, place his soft, wet lips on her neck and then
lower to suckle on the sensitive tips of her breasts. He could bend her over
the table, slide his thick cock inside her, she wouldn’t argue, she’d relish
it. Her pussy clenched at the thought, feeling empty all of a sudden.

Her breath quickened as she shyly smiled back. This had to
stop. She’d be stripping bare in a moment and offering up her goods for him to
plunder. She turned from him, embarrassed, knowing he must have seen each
thought that crossed her mind, even if he had looked at her approvingly. She
hadn’t missed the raw desire in his face, the invitation to enjoy the pleasures
he was offering. Oh, how she wanted to give in.

Her face colored as more erotic thoughts, long dormant,
surfaced—her sprawled over the table, his face between her thighs. Her riding
him in a chair. Her kneeling before him, his cock deep in her throat.

She fought hard to keep the moan in her throat at bay.
Normally she was so reserved. What was this man doing to her?

“Thank you, Preston. I’ll call you in the morning,” she
choked out. She picked up her purse.

“Wait, Cadence.”

She stopped short of the door and squeezed her eyes closed.
Just
go! You can’t do this.
Despite her conscience telling her to leave, she
didn’t. But she didn’t turn around either. Instead she looked over her
shoulder.

“I’ll go with you.”

She was surprised, tried to play it off. He couldn’t be
going with her in hopes of sleeping with her. Could he? “Is that part of the
service?”

He frowned. She’d offended him. Half of her wondered if he
treated all his female clients with this kind of attention and the other half
wondered—what difference did it make?

He was hot and he was interested in her. She’d be an idiot
to say no to him.

She decided to take that ride. Why not? She didn’t want to
be alone just yet. Why was she fighting her desire for him anyway? It wouldn’t
lead anywhere, except to pleasure.

She smiled at him, glad she hadn’t squelched his interest
with her short-tempered remark. “Okay. I would like your company. Thanks.”

“Good.” He followed her to the door and opened it. She could
feel the heat of him still and her body reacted.

Tropical heat tingled throughout her entire body. Her
panties grew damp. Would she never cool down?

If he took her right there in the doorway, she would let
him. She nearly groaned at the thought… Her arms splayed wide, her legs even
wider as he bent her over, his hands on her hips…

God! Stop it already!

He motioned for the receptionist to join them. Muriel came
down the hallway, smiling. Preston told the girl he was taking Cadence to her
hotel and to call around his car.

Muriel was only too happy to make that call. She sashayed
back to her desk, her crisp linen skirt clinging to every curve.

Cadence watched with envy and then looked away. She was
acting like a jealous teenager and Preston was sure to notice.

But it had been so…long, she rationalized. She just hadn’t
been in the company of an attractive man in a while, at least one who wasn’t
already spoken for, and boy was Preston Night an attractive man.