The Executive's Decision (28 page)

Regan couldn’t say anything. She was still amazed that the woman beside her was so candid about loving Zach, and that he was in love with her and only her.

The Frenchwoman let go of Regan’s hand and examined her own perfect manicure. “My problem is I have an affinity for American men. Tell me, Regan.” She turned her head back to her, puckering her red lips and tapping her finger to them. “Do you know of a handsome successful man?”

Regan laughed. “As a matter of fact, I do.”

“Well, do tell.”

“Six foot two, sandy blond hair, crystal-blue eyes, and of course he’s a doctor.”

“A doctor?” Simone’s eyes grew wide.

“Yes, a very popular one at that.”

She watched as Simone’s eyebrows rose. “How is it that you know this handsome doctor?”

“He’s my brother.”

“Ah,
mon ami
! I may have to stick around a bit longer and meet this brother-doctor of yours.”

Audrey opened the door of the house the moment Simone’s car arrived. The driver opened the car doors, Simone climbed out, and the two women waved teach other. Then Regan stepped out of the car, and Audrey waved just as enthusiastically as she had when she’d seen Simone.

“Oh, Regan.” She smiled as they neared the walk. “Simone said she was bringing a friend for the day. I’m so pleased it’s you.”

“Thank you.” She watched as Audrey embraced Simone and kissed both her cheeks. Then she hugged Regan and kissed her just the same. But before she let go of her arms, she gave them a little squeeze and smiled.

“We’re having brunch in the rose garden. Simone, do you remember Josepha?”

“
Oui!
” Simone placed her hand on her chest. “Tell me she is here cooking for us.”

“
Oui!
” Audrey answered with a smile.

Simone touched Regan’s arm. “Oh, you are in for a treat. Madame Josepha was the cook for Madame Audrey when I first visited America with Zachary. We were very young.”

Regan watched Simone hurry off toward the kitchen to find Josepha. She was sure to get a candid look into the world that Zach had grown up in by spending the day with the two women who doted on him, and Josepha too.

Audrey turned to Regan in the hallway and placed her hands on her arms. “You’re doing okay? You look like you’ve healed well.”

“I’m fine. How are you?”

“I wake up every morning thinking he’s going to come in and kiss me good morning. I’m still waiting.” She smiled, but her eyes were sad.

“I’m so sorry.”

“It’s the cycle of life. I won’t be without him forever.”

The comment struck Regan hard. To love like that—what an amazing gift.

Audrey looked toward the kitchen and back at Regan. “Are you okay with Simone? She’s always loved Zach, but he’s never thought more of her than…well, than a sister.” Her voice had dropped to a whisper.

Regan nodded. “I didn’t react so well when I first saw her.”

“If you made it this far, you’re the first woman she hasn’t run off.” Audrey laughed quietly. “I think you’re in for the long haul.

Audrey watched as Simone filled the conversation with stories of a young Zachary from school. She always had a story, and Audrey was sure she’d never heard the same one twice.

Poor Simone had pined for her son for years, but Zachary kept her yearning. Her husband had often laughed at his son’s stubbornness.

“I don’t think he’s human,” he’d say to her. “No man would look away from her like he does.”

Zachary had brought home many women over the years, and Audrey had introduced him to many more. But never had he looked at any of them the way he looked at Regan. This would be the woman she’d call daughter, someday. There was no doubt in her mind.

A smile formed on her lips when she thought she would share her grandchildren with the family who had taken her in and cared for her when her husband had died.

Simone sipped her mimosa. “What are you thinking of, Madame?”

“How happy I am that you are both here.” She lifted her drink, and each woman tapped her glass. “To the women who love Zachary.”

“And to the one who won his heart,” Simone added as they both looked at Regan.

After brunch at Audrey’s, the women, tipsy on mimosas, fell into the car laughing as the driver took them to the spa, where Simone had arranged an entire day of pampering.

“I have never had a spa day,” Regan confessed as she dipped her feet into the footbath filled with rose petals.

“Oh,
mon ami
, you will need to become accustomed to this.” Simone sipped at a glass of wine as the manicurist massaged her feet. “This will be our very own tradition. We will start it today. When I am in town.” She tipped her wine glass toward Regan. “Or when you are in France, we will spend the day being pampered by strangers and drinking champagne.”

“I do feel a little guilty skipping work to be here.” But she couldn’t feel too guilty. Zach had sent her.

“I think you definitely should quit your job when you and Zachary are married. There are many fine things for a woman who is married to wealthy man to enjoy.”

“Oh, I wouldn’t dream of quitting.” Regan’s eyes were wide. “I love my job.”

“Well, that itself I do not understand. How could anyone love working?” Simone laughed. “Well, when I am in the country you will take a holiday and spend it with me doing wonderful things like this.”

“That is assuming I marry Zach.” She bit down on her lip. “There is the matter that I turned down his proposal last night.”

“
Stupide!
Zachary had a temper tantrum, and I’m still angry that he woke me at four in the morning.” She set her glass down on the table and switched feet for the manicurist to massage the other.

Regan shifted in her chair uncomfortably. “He called you?”

“Of course he called me. He calls me for every damn thing!” She raised her shoulders and let them drop. “He’s not used to people telling him no or making him wait. When you did not accept his proposal, his feelings were hurt.” Simone turned her head toward Regan and locked her eyes on hers. “Tell me you do not plan to tell him no. You do plan to marry him, don’t you?”

Regan looked away as she felt the piercing in her chest of sadness and regret. “I plan on him walking away.”

Zach had gotten close to other women, and he believed Simone had chased them off on purpose. But her motives were different now. He knew she had finally come to grips with the fact that he didn’t love her. If anything, she was the sister he’d never had. Even better, she lived in France and only visited a few times a year.

The thought amused him as he rolled up the blueprints for the L.A. project and secured them in their tube. He laid it on his desk and opened the drawer.

The blue box from Tiffany’s sat there with its glistening silver bow. It would be his secret that Simone had helped him pick out the ring. However, it would ensure Regan would love it. He envisioned giving it to her in L.A. A nice dinner, champagne, and a moonlight stroll along the beach. He’d move her with his romantic plans. He’d get down on one knee and promise to her that he’d love her forever. No matter what or who had come before him.

Chapter thirteen

Regan hurried to pack the last items in her suitcase while Carlos waited at her bedroom door. He’d offered to drive her to the office, and he’d more than once told her he was sincerely regretting it.

She’d made a list of everything she’d need for the trip and the meeting, but she’d left it at the office and was racking her brain trying to remember what was on it.

Carlos checked his watch, leaned against the doorjamb with his arms crossed over his chest, then checked his watch again. “This is not the first business trip you’ve been on with the man. Why are you taking so long?”

“This one is very important. It’s the biggest build he’s ever taken on. He sold it, he designed it, and he’s in charge of seeing it through. I want to make sure everything goes as smoothly as possible.” She flew through the room gathering the last of her toiletries.

“God, you’re going to walk into that boardroom and fall through the door, aren’t you? Flat on your damn face.” He had a crooked little smile that made him adorable, and she worried he was dooming her success.

“You’re a shit.” She threw a shoe at him only to have him catch it before it hit him.

“You’ll be fine.” He handed the shoe back to her and turned her from her suitcase. “I don’t think you could ever disappoint the man. He loves you too much.”

“I love him too, and that’s why I’m so nervous for him.”

“Love, it sucks doesn’t it?”

“Yes, in the most wonderful way.” She touched her brother’s face. Then she turned back to the suitcase and pushed in the contents until she could zip it shut. When it was zipped, Carlos pulled it from the bed.

“God, did you forget anything?”

“You’re a big, strong man. You can handle it.” She passed by him, headed toward the stairs, and led the way down. “So what are your plans this weekend?”

“Christian’s birthday.”

“Oh, Carlos. I forgot. I’ve never missed his birthday.”

“Damn you.” He laughed as he dropped the suitcase at the foot of the stairs. “He’ll get over it. Besides, I recall you missed a few when you were in Hawaii.” He raised his eyebrows.

“Yes, I did. I am very sorry about that.”

“You couldn’t help it.” He rested a hand on her arm. “There was no coming home.”

“It was a year ago.” She looked down at the floor, feeling ashamed. “I called in sick on Tuesday,” she admitted, and her voice shook. “Audrey brought me soup, and Zach left work early to sit with me.” She wiped a stray tear that ran down her face. “I didn’t even have the courage to tell him why I’d stayed home.”

“You deserve to mourn.” His touch comforted her and his voice was soothing.

Regan shook her head and pursed her lips. “It’s been a year. I shouldn’t be mourning. Everyone was better off.”

“Are you sure?” he asked, and Regan shot him a look. “Don’t be mad. I was just asking.”

Regan ground her teeth. “Look at me and Arianna and yourself. You tell me how things would have been for us had Mom and Dad not happened into our lives. I did the right thing. I will never regret that. I gave a woman like Mama a gift. I only regret loving the man and believing him.”

“And now you hold that against Zach?”

She wanted to swing at him with her fists. She wanted to beat him to the ground for making her think about it. If he wanted to make her feel bad, he was doing it. If it was his intention to make her second-guess everything she did, it was working. But in all their life, Carlos had never meant her harm. He’d always had her back, and that would never change. She fought back tears and nodded. “What will he think of me?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Give him a chance and find out. Just remember, after you tell him, give him some time to process it.” He kissed his sister’s cheek. “I bet you’ll be surprised.”

To be surprised was exactly what she didn’t want.

Zach enjoyed watching Regan enjoy the perks of first class. She sipped her champagne from her plastic cup and stretched her legs out far in front of her. For that reason alone he promised himself she’d never have to fly coach again.

The trip was going to be the most successful one of his life. It would make up for the weeks he’d spent since his father had died, reevaluating everything he’d ever done. This time, he’d not only come home with signed contracts, finally, for a building he had so much pride in, but he’d have the woman he loved—and they’d be engaged.

Warmth filtered through his core, and he relaxed into his seat as Regan rested her head against his shoulder.

He could feel the box in his pocket, which held the ring he’d give her. The look in her eyes when she saw the sparkling diamond would be priceless. It would always be his secret, though, that Simone had been the one to pick out that ring. He’d had another in mind, but she wouldn’t hear of it. Simone knew beauty, and she’d been quite frank in letting him know the ring he’d picked wasn’t as brilliant as the woman who was going to wear it.

It pleased him that the women who’d meant the most in his life adored the one he loved. Love—he’d never considered it before, and now he’d never want to live without it.

He’d given great consideration to the wedding and the honeymoon. Of course he would let her plan every moment of it—after all, that was what most women dreamed of—but he had ideas. He’d like her to become his wife in the rose garden at his parent’s home, and perhaps a honeymoon on the yacht owned by Simone's father. Simone’s father had always been fond of him. Though he didn’t know if he’d allow him to honeymoon on the yacht if he wasn’t marrying his daughter. It was worth asking.

Regan cuddled closer to him, wrapping her arms around his arm. “You haven’t said a word since we took off. What are you thinking?”

“Nothing.” He kissed the top of her head. “How long has it been since you’ve been to L.A.?”

He felt her stiffen against him, but he didn’t react. She didn’t answer right away, but she relaxed against him again. “I left there five years ago.”

“Do you miss it?” He ran his thumb over her knuckles.

“No.” Her answer was definite. “It was where I landed after college, but I have no sentimental attachment to it.”

“What about Hawaii? Do you miss it?”

She shook her head defiantly. “No.”

Zach squeezed her hand tight. “I didn’t mean to bring up anything bad. I’m sorry.”

“No, it’s okay.”

“I’ll make it up to you. I promise.” He brushed her lips gently with his, and she closed her eyes and let out a low hum.

“You promise? That sounds like you have a plan.” She slowly opened her eyes.

“Regan, you’ll spoil my surprises if you talk about it further.”

She sat up in her seat as the captain announced their descent. “I hope you didn’t go out of your way.”

“Oh, you have no idea.” Zach rested his head against the back of his seat and closed his eyes. The moonlit walk on the beach, the ring on her finger, the lifetime ahead of them couldn’t come soon enough. “You’ll hate me for them. But—”

“You’re a pain.”

“So you’ve said.” He smiled, his eyes still closed.

Zach kept Regan wrapped in his arms as the elevator carried them to their floor in the hotel. He’d had their luggage sent up when they checked in, and then they’d had dinner with John. He’d spoiled Regan with champagne and dessert. Now it was time to spoil her for the rest of her life.

Zach pushed open the door to their hotel suite, and Regan walked in, still talking about how wonderful dinner had been, but then she stopped and gasped. Dozens of roses adorned the room, and their scent filled the air.

“Oh, Zach.” She lifted her hand to her mouth.

“Do you like it?” He rested his hands on her shoulders and kissed the back of her neck. The floral scent of her perfume intoxicated him and the softness of her skin enticed him, but he had to pace himself. Every moment of their time in L.A. had to be perfectly executed.

“Zachary Benson, this is amazing.” She turned into his arms. “Are you trying to seduce me?”

He moved his hand up her back and cupped her neck in his hand. “Is it working?” He traced a finger down her throat.

“Oh, I think it’s working.” Her eyes shut and her voice was airy.

Every part of him was stirring. He held her back slightly so as not to rush the moment, but his body was far ahead of him.

“There’s more.”

“More?” Her eyes opened slowly as she looked up at him.

“Come with me.” He walked her to the bedroom, where a white box tied with a large ribbon lay on the bed.

She smiled. “What is this?”

“Open it.”

Regan took a deep breath and slid the bow from the box. “Zach…” She laughed as she pulled a long white satin negligee from the box and held it against her body. There was a smoldering in her eyes, and he knew at that moment, inside of her burned a flame as hot as the one heating him up.

“I couldn’t resist. Though I’m not sure you’ll have it on long.” He couldn’t help but think about what seeing her in it was going to do to him. If she didn’t hurry and try it on, he wasn’t sure she’d have a chance. Never in his life had he been so aroused.

“Let me go slip it on, then.” She walked across the room toward the bathroom, keeping her eyes locked on his.

“I’ll wait here.”

Zach propped himself up on the bed and watched for her to make her appearance.

When she returned, she’d slipped into the negligee and pulled her hair up, away from her slender neck. She’d glossed her lips, and the twitching in his pants was probably as obvious to her as it was to him.

Regan sauntered toward the bed, running her hand over the fabric that clung to her curves. He sat up. “You look wonderful.” He stood and slid his hands around her waist, feeling the warmth of her skin through the thin material.

She lifted her lips to his ear. Her breath was hot. “Kiss me.” She closed her eyes, and he watched her for just a moment before lowering his lips to hers. Pliant under his, her mouth easily opened to him, and her body molded to his. Her breasts pressed against his chest, her thighs against his thighs. The negligee was so thin he could feel the heat of her against his already aroused body.

He slid his hands up the sides of her body, enjoying every curve she offered under the satin. Wanting to taste her, need burning through him, he moved his kisses from her lips to her neck. Her pulse quickened under his tongue, and he felt the tightening of her hands on his arms.

Zach turned her toward the bed and gently lowered her beneath him. He moved his kisses from her neck to her silk-covered breasts. Her nipples peaked beneath the white cloth. Gently he teased them with his thumbs as she arched against him.

His hands moved from her breasts and he began to gather up the silky fabric at her waist. He was happy to find the negligee was all she wore. Time was theirs, and he meant to enjoy every moment thoroughly, kissing her stomach and down her legs, taking time to nibble at her knees and ankles and back up again.

Regan squirmed with delight as Zach savored her body inch by inch. She tangled her fingers in his hair as she moved against him. He cupped her, and a gasp escaped her throat. When he slid his fingers inside her, she pulled him closer to her as he licked and teased and drove her to the peak of climax, then again.