A Friendly Engagement (26 page)

She sighed and rested her cheek on his chest. “Your heart is beating so fast.”

“It’s beating for you.”

He could feel her smile as he hugged her tight. She then lifted her face so he could take her mouth in a soft kiss.

He couldn’t remember the last time he’d had a crush on a girl. And he definitely didn’t remember ever feeling this good about it. Devi held so many roles in his life, and he felt complete. She’d been his friend, assistant, fake fiancée, and now his lover.

What if their affair led to something deeper? Would he ever consider a wife? Family? With Devi anything seemed possible.

Life couldn’t get much better.

…

Devi shifted position on the lounger by the infinity pool. She frowned as she opened the Word file and looked over her notes on the investigators she’d listed. Her choices had been narrowed down to three after she researched one and found he’d retired.

No matter. Once they arrived back home, she planned to meet up in person with the ones on her short list and make a decision.

Excitement over getting the search started had her adrenaline pumping, and she couldn’t keep her legs from swaying side to side. Wouldn’t it be amazing if the P.I. found her father within the next few months? And wouldn’t it be even more incredible if she could meet him and learn all the answers to her questions? More importantly, what if they stayed in each other’s lives?

She slid her sunglasses back up the bridge of her nose and gazed out over the pool to the ocean beyond. Omar had been in his meeting with William for over an hour. She’d taken the opportunity for some alone time. Although she could hear the others enjoying the larger pool, she didn’t regret her decision to spend time over here.

She smiled, flipped her laptop closed, and leaned back and sighed.

Last night had been incredible. Making her confession had lifted a weight off her chest. And when Omar had confessed his crush, that silly giddy feeling curled her toes and sent shivers across her skin.
Yep, this week has been incredible.

And to think that after the week ended, their fling would continue. Who knew where it’d lead?

Wait until she talked to Cass and told her that she’d finally given up her heart. Life was definitely good.

She closed her eyes and soaked up the sun. The warmth left her limbs heavy, the sounds of nature filled her senses, and she began to drift off.

A squeak from over her shoulder told her that someone had opened the wrought-iron gate that surrounded the pool. She opened one eye and turned to spot William making his way toward her. He wore a pair of plaid swim shorts and had a towel hanging around his neck.

He eyed her closed laptop and smiled. “Don’t tell me you’re working?”

“I just finished. But don’t worry, Omar isn’t a task master. I was just doing some research.”

“Mind if I join you?”

“No. Please.” She waved to the lounger beside her, and he dropped down into the cushion with a sigh.

“Going for a swim?”

“I owe myself a few laps.”

“You’re all done with your interviews?” She glanced behind him, hoping to see Omar.

William nodded. “For now. Omar headed up to your room. He mentioned making an overdue phone call to his mother.”

Her day had just improved, if that were possible. “Now that’s great news.”

“So, are you enjoying the week so far?” He slid the towel from around his neck and flung it over the arm of the lounger.

“I am. I think everyone is.”

“Good. I was worried I wouldn’t be able to keep everyone busy for an entire week.”

“No worries there.” They shared a smile. “I don’t envy you the task of making a decision. There are too many great candidates to choose from.”

He sighed and leaned back into the chair, resting his head. “Life would be easier if someone else could make the decision for me.”

She bobbed her head. “I can imagine. But, you know what, William?”

He raised his brow, urging her to continue.

“I don’t think you can go wrong with whoever you choose.”

He grinned. “You mean you aren’t going to plug Esterly Financial.”

She shrugged one shoulder. “I can’t say enough good things about Esterly, and Omar in particular. He’s a wonderful boss, and I know he works hard for his clients, but of course I’m biased. He won’t do you wrong, but I get that impression from the others, too. I’m not much help, am I?”

He sat up and threw his legs over the side of the lounger so that he sat facing her. “I like hearing your opinion.”

“Then I’ll give it to you. If I were you, I’d base my decision on personality. Who do you get along with the most? Who do you enjoy talking with? Which person do you share the most in common? All these factors are going to be to your benefit because you’ll have a very personal relationship with whoever handles your financial future. You’ll have to mesh on more than a business level.”

William nodded but remained quiet. His brow creased in thought as he rested his elbows on his knees, clasping his hands together.

“I don’t think there’s any other way to make the decision with the applicant pool you have to choose from.” She bit her lip. Here she sat talking to a prospective client—one of the biggest Omar had ever pursued—and she couldn’t keep from speaking her mind.

William rubbed his chin, smiling. “I appreciate your honesty. I think you’re right. I’ve given myself a tough group to choose from.”

“Like I said, I don’t envy you your decision.”

“From the moment I met you, I liked you, Devi. It’s refreshing for a man like me to be treated so normally. I appreciate your honesty. I don’t get it often.”

She breathed a sigh of relief. “I’m sure most people are your yes-men.”

He laughed. “Exactly. Your honesty is refreshing.”

“All due to my grams. She taught me to shoot from the hip.”

“Sounds like a smart woman. You remind me of a woman I knew long ago. She was a straight shooter, too.”

“It’s a good trait. Well, most of the time.” She laughed.

“Your accent tells me you’re not from around here? Where did you grow up?” His easy smile and relaxed shoulders told her he wasn’t making small talk but was really interested. Or maybe he’d decided on Esterly Financial but wanted information on Omar’s staff, too.

“In sunny southern California. You?”

“Born and raised in North Carolina. And how did you end up here?”

“After I finished school I moved to the east coast in part to work with Esterly, and in part to look for my father.” Devi liked William, but she surprised even herself by sharing the detail about her father. The fact that her upcoming search had been on her mind for days now had to be the reason, because she didn’t usually share details like that with everybody.

His eyes widened with interest. “And did you find him?”

“Not yet. I’m a little slow on the trigger due to money, but I think I’m about ready now to hire a P.I.” She tapped the laptop. “Which is what I was doing. I have it narrowed down to three choices.”

“Good for you. How does your mom feel about it?”

That familiar ache at the mention of her mother filled her chest. Her hand automatically flew to her neck, and she thumbed the locket on the chain. “My mom died when I was born—”

William squeezed her hand. His warm touch was sympathetic and reassuring at the same time.

“I’m sorry, Devi. I didn’t mean to bring up something that obviously still upsets you. Forgive me?”

She nodded. “I’m sorry. I have a hard time talking about her. I never got the chance to know her, and it’s a tough subject for me.”

“I understand.”

“Thank you.” She slid the locket back and forth across the chain. The little link to her mom had always given her comfort.

William’s face paled slightly. “Was that necklace by any chance your mom’s?”

Her hand stopped.
How’d he guess that?
“Actually, yes.”

“It’s very unusual.” He reached over and lifted the locket in his palm, turning it from front to back.

“She got it when she went to school out here. It’s a rose locket, and the funny thing is that—”

“Her name was Rose?”

Devi’s brows bunched together and she shot forward in her seat, grabbing his hand in her suddenly clammy one. “H-how’d you know?”

“I had a suspicion earlier—because you look a lot like her, but I believe I knew your mother, Devi.”

Chapter Sixteen

Devi’s heart skipped a beat. She took a shaky breath and dropped his hand. “Did you know her from school?”

William nodded. He closed his eyes and brushed his fingers through his salt and pepper hair. Devi didn’t miss the slight tremble.

“Did…would you maybe have known my father then, too?”

He scrubbed his hands down his face and met her steady gaze.

“What do you…?” Her words fell away, and she studied William with new eyes. For the first time she
really
looked at him. Not as a business contact, but as a regular person. His thick, graying hair that had once been a brown-black like her own. His athletic frame topped with broad shoulders, his strong chin, angular nose, and gray eyes.

Piercing gray-blue eyes to be exact. He had her eyes. And right now they studied her as she studied him. How had she not noticed before? They really were the most unusual color.

“Billy. Did my mom call you Billy?”

He nodded, and his sigh came from deep inside and made his body shake. “I gave your mom that necklace. I found it in an antique store. So unique, just like your mom. And that it was a rose fit. When I first saw it on you, I thought how unusual that I’d never seen another until now. And then as I watched you, I saw the resemblance to your mom, even some of the same mannerisms…”

“You’re…you’re my father?” She already knew the answer. All the daydreams she had about their first meeting didn’t even come close to reality. She didn’t know whether to hug him or smack him. After many years of wondering, she could be sitting next to her father.

“I think I am. Devi, I’m as stunned as you. I noticed your necklace the moment you and Omar arrived.”

“Well, that explains the look on your face.” A dry laugh slipped out. “I convinced myself it was my imagination.”

“I was shocked, but then I told myself that there could always be more than one necklace, even though I’d never seen another.”

She fingered the silver locket at her throat, unsure what to say.

“I had no idea I had a daughter.”

For the second time in a matter of minutes, her heart pounded. Or maybe it never really stopped. “What do you mean? My mom told you she was pregnant. Didn’t she?” she squeaked.

He grabbed her hands between his large ones and rubbed some of the numbness away. “Oh, she told me all right, and I was the most stupid man on earth. I didn’t want anything to do with having a baby, a wife, or a family. I wanted to make my mark in the world, focus on money, big houses, and travel. I wanted it all.”

He sounded like Leland and Omar. She frowned in confusion. “But—”

“We fought. It was huge. To this day I regret everything I said. I regret that I was too blind to see the wonderful gift she offered me. Herself. You.” His voice shook. “By the time I came to my senses, I couldn’t find her.”

“I don’t understand.” How could he have not found her? “How long before you came to your senses?”

“I’m ashamed to say it, Devi. Years. Like you planned, I actually did hire an investigator, who returned with the news that she’d died in childbirth.”

Blood rushed through her ears, and she had to close her eyes and concentrate to breathe.

The surprise of the moment, the odds of finding her father like this…

Her hand shook, and she ran her clammy fingers over her arms to quash the goose bumps. Emotion rocked her—her heart raced with excitement, fear, relief, and then slowed to a steady pound as shock settled in. She had no idea what question to ask first. She had so many.

Had she really just found her father? From the sounds of things, there couldn’t be another explanation. Could there?

All the feelings rushing through her collided and burst. How come she couldn’t think straight? Of course, she’d expected to learn the news from whoever she hired. Then, when this moment arrived, she’d have had time to adjust to who her father was and prepare her questions in some semblance of order. Instead, she’d been thrown into the water without enough time to let everything sink in.

“Give me a minute.” Devi stood and turned away. On cardboard legs she walked to the edge of the pool and stared out at the blue-green ocean. She dragged in a lungful of air and let the soothing waves that caressed the shoreline calm her. Finally she could get the answers to all her questions, and she didn’t know if she could do it. Fear choked her.

She jumped when he touched her shoulder. “Are you okay?”

“I-I’m unprepared, I guess.” A shaky laugh slipped out. “I’ve wanted to meet you forever. I had a picture in my head of what would happen.”

“And this wasn’t it?”

She laughed. A tinny sound even to her own ears. “No. Not at all. I also assumed I’d have some time to prepare and compose myself.”

“I’m sorry, Devi.”

“I have so many questions.”

“I do, too.”

“First off, I’m glad I found you. I hope you’re somewhat happy, too.” She tilted her head to the side, questioning him with her steady gaze. Fear of his answer washed through her, but she squared her shoulders. She needed to know, no matter if what she learned fit with her dreams or didn’t.

When he smiled her shoulders sagged and she released a breath.

“I’m more than okay with it.” He tentatively squeezed her arm. When she touched his hand, he took her in his arms for a warm hug. “God, Devi. When I think about all I’ve missed. All you’ve missed.”

“All we’ve missed.” She stared into his eyes, so like her own. A tear slipped down his cheek, and she wiped it away.

“Shouldn’t I be the one wiping your tears?”

“At this point it doesn’t matter. We might have missed a lot, but we’re lucky to have found each other now. We have plenty of time to play catch-up.” This time she hugged him. She had a father. They should probably make it official, legal, or whatever and have a blood test done, but she didn’t need it. Deep down to her bones she knew William “Billy” Bartow was her dad.