When she went limp, he somehow found strength to gather her into his arms to hold her, not wanting to let her go, wondering how he would do so when she left in two weeks. Not wanting to think about their parting, he picked her up and moved to sit behind the desk with her nestled protectively in his lap.
He glanced down at her. Her face wore the glow of a woman who’d just been made love to, a woman who had enjoyed the shared intimacy of a man. Not being able to stop himself from doing so, he reached out and began touching the swollen tips of her breasts. And when he noticed her breathing change, he leaned forward and took a tip into his mouth.
He wanted her again.
He lifted his head and met her gaze and his hand began trailing down her body, seeking out certain parts of her. He heard her sharp intake of breath when his fingers touched the area between her legs.
“Had enough yet, baby?” he asked huskily in a low voice.
She clutched at his shoulders and whispered the one single word he wanted to hear. “No.”
“Good.”
He stood with her in his arms and headed toward the sofa. Tonight was their night. In the coming days the Garrisons would want to spend time with her before she returned home. But tonight was theirs and they would make memories to last.
Parker’s secretary glanced up and gave Cassie a thoroughly curious look as she stood from her seat. “Mr. Garrison is expecting you and asked that I escort you to his office the moment you arrived, Ms. Garrison.”
“Thank you.”
Cassie followed the woman, knowing she had made the right decision in deciding to meet with Parker this morning alone. Regardless of her and Brandon’s relationship, Parker was still his client.
She had talked to her own attorney and taken in all the advice he had given her. He had indicated he wanted to be included-whether in person or via conference call-in any business meetings that she and Parker conducted that included Brandon, as a way of making sure she was well-represented and not being compromised in any way. She came to the conclusion that things would be less complicated and more productive if she and Parker discussed things and tried to reach an agreement without any attorney involvement for now.
The secretary gave a courtesy knock on Parker’s door before opening it and walking in. He turned from the window, which overlooked Biscayne Bay, and gazed at her. With his intense eyes on her she was struck again with just how much he looked like their father.
“You’re staring.”
She could feel herself blush with his comment. She noticed his secretary had left and closed the door behind her, and she was grateful for that. “Sorry, I can’t get over just how much you look like Dad.”
He chuckled slightly. “That’s funny. I thought the same thing about you on Sunday. And I hadn’t expected you to look so much like him.”
The guard she put up was instinctive and immediate. Tilting her head back, she asked, “Who did you expect me to look like?”
He shrugged. “I don’t know, probably more like your mother, a stranger, someone I really didn’t have to relate to. But seeing you in the flesh forced me to admit something I’ve tried not to since the reading of Dad’s will.”
“Which is?”
“Admit that I do have another sister-one my father evidently cared for deeply to have done what he did,” he said, while motioning to a chair for her to have a seat.
“But I’m a sister you’d rather do without,” she said, accepting the seat.
He moved to take the chair behind his desk and grinned sheepishly. “Yes, but don’t take it personal. I’ve felt the same way about Brittany and Brooke one time or another when they became too annoying. It was hard as hell being an oldest brother.” And then he added thoughtfully, “As well as an oldest son.”
A part of Cassie refused to believe her father had been so ruthlessly demanding of his firstborn. “Did Dad make things hard for you since you were the first?” she couldn’t help but ask.
He seemed surprised by her question. “No, I made things hard on myself. I admired everything about him and wanted to be just like him. He was a high achiever in everything he did-sports, business, financial success. He was a man who was well-liked and admired by many. I never knew if I’d be able to grow up and fit his shoes, but God knows I always wanted to.”
He paused then said, “But one thing about Dad was that he was fair, with all of us. At an early age we were encouraged to enter the family business and that’s something none of us have regretted doing.”
Cassie nodded. He had encouraged her to join the family business, as well. At sixteen she had worked part- time for the hotel and when she had graduated from college he had given her the responsibility of managing it. It had been a huge responsibility for a twenty-two-year-old, but he had told her time and time again how much faith he had in her abilities.
And she hadn’t wanted to let him down…just like Parker had probably grown up not wanting to let him down as well. Did he assume that since their father hadn’t left him the bigger share of the pie that somehow he had?
“Dad was proud of you, Parker,” she decided to say.
She saw the glint of surprise that shone in his eyes. “He discussed us with you?” he asked.
“Of course, considering the circumstances, he wasn’t able to tell all of you about me, but I’ve always known about the five of you. He used to talk about what a wonderful job you were doing and that he had no qualms about turning the running of the entire company over to you one day.”
Parker leaned back in his chair and Cassie felt him study her intently while building a steeple with his fingers. “If what you’re saying is true then why are you and I sharing controlling interest?”
Cassie smiled. His arrogance was returning. “Because I’m good at what I do just like you’re good at what you do. He knew both of our strengths, as well as our weaknesses, and although you can’t quite grasp it now, I think he figured that over the long run, the two of us would work together for the betterment of the company. You even admitted that Dad was a fair man.”
“Yes, but-”
“But nothing, Parker,” she said, leaning forward in her seat. “He was a good and fair man, point blank. And I’m sure Brandon has told you by now that I won’t sell my portion of the controlling shares.”
“Yes, he did say that,” Parker said, and Cassie smiled at the tightening of his lips. There was no doubt in her mind that Parker Garrison was used to having his way, something she hoped his wife Anna was working diligently to break him out of.
“I’m here to make you another offer, one we can both live with,” she said.
The look in his eyes said he doubted it. “And what offer is that?”
“Like I’ve told you, the Garrison Grand-Bahamas is my main concern, but I won’t give away a gift Dad gave to me. However, I will agree to sign my voting proxy over to you with the understanding that you inform me of all business decisions, not for my approval but just to keep me in the loop on things, since I’ll be in the Bahamas.”
Cassie saw the protective shield that lined the covering of his gaze when he asked, “Are you saying you won’t sell the controlling shares but you’ll give them to me by way of proxy?”
“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Since I’m signing them over to you it will basically mean the same thing, except I retain ownership. Yet it removes me from having to provide my feedback and vote on every single business decision you make.”
The room got quiet and she saw the protective shield become a suspicious one when he asked, “Why? Why would you do that?”
A quiet smile touched the corners of her lips. “Because I believed Dad all those times when he said you were one of the most astute business-minded persons that he knew, and because I also believe that you will do what you think is best for the company and keep Dad’s legacy alive for the future generation of Garrisons.”
She could tell for a moment that Parker didn’t know what to say. And then finally he said, “Thank you.”
She nodded as she stood. “No need to thank me, Parker. Have Brandon draw up the papers for me to sign before I leave.”
He stood, as well. “You’ll be here another week, right?” he asked.
“That had been my original plan but I’ve decided to leave at the end of the week. I haven’t told Brandon of my change in plans. I will tell him tonight.”
Parker came from around the desk to stand in front of her. “Cassie, Brandon is a good man. In addition to being
