Truth and Dare (15 page)

Patience opened her eyes to see Mar giving her a curious look.

“He’s a nice guy.” Patience smiled at her friend.

“I know a lot of nice guys, but they don’t loan me their private planes.”

“I would—if I had one,” Jackson chimed in. His eyes were closed as he reclined in his seat, but he had a silly grin on his face.

Mar kissed his cheek. “Babe, that’s why I love you.”

She turned back to Patience, who was seated on the sofa across from their two chairs.

The jet was decorated better than her apartment and had every amenity one could imagine, including a full bath and a large galley-style kitchen with a chef, who had informed them that he’d made snacks and would have breakfast ready by six the next morning.

“So, he must be really happy about you solving his father’s murder.” Mar wasn’t going to give up until Patience told her the truth.

“Yes, he was grateful. Like I said, he’s a great guy.”

Mar’s eyebrow went up.

Patience rolled her eyes for the second time that night. “We bonded. What do you want me to say?”

Mar giggled. “Bonded? Wow. I’ve never heard it called that. It’s obvious he’s pretty into you. I could tell that from just the way he looked at you.”

Patience had seen that look, too, and it had been all she could do not to beg him to jump on the plane with her. Unfortunately, she’d seen what a distraction he could be and she hadn’t lied about needing space.

The trip had come at an excellent time. The time apart would give them the opportunity to cool off a bit and see how they really feel. Though, her feelings wouldn’t change. She loved the guy. Oh, she’d given him a line about not really knowing, but she did.

“So, it’s that intense?” Mar gave her a curious look.

“Yes.” Patience had been staring off into space so turned her attention back to her friend. “But you know me. I don’t normally do strong emotional attachments, and I need time to sort this out.”

“Patience, there’s no sorting to be done. It’s written all over your face. You’re in love with him.”

“That may be true, but I’m not ready. You know I wasn’t looking for anything right now. My life is so full. I don’t know that I would have time for a relationship, not the kind he would want.”

Mar harrumphed. “If he’s worth it, then you make the time. That’s how it works. You’re right. Your life is full—of work. But take it from me—work isn’t everything. You’ll wake up some day incredibly lonely and wondering why you chose your career over love.”

“Mar—”

“There’s nothing wrong with loving your job, as long as you have someone to share it with. If you care about this guy, you have to find a way to make it work.”

“Well, I guess if you can do it, anyone can.” Patience winked at her.

Jackson guffawed and Mar chuckled.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever heard you make a joke like that,” Mar said. “I like what he’s doing for you already.”

“Are you saying I’m uptight?” Patience asked even though she knew the answer.

Jackson grunted.

“Maybe more cautious than most people I know,” Mar answered. “I think this is the longest conversation we’ve ever had and I consider you one of my dearest friends. You’ve never been one to express yourself.”

Her friend was right. “There was something about his family, and, well, him. I’m more relaxed than I’ve ever been when I was around them. They give each other a hard time, but they’re all so close, kind of like we are at the agency. They would do anything for one another. I guess you’re right. He did help me see things from a different perspective.”

Cade had opened a new world to her, one, if she were completely honest with herself, she was more than anxious to explore.

She nodded.

“Mr. Randall asked that I take you wherever you need to go. He’s been caught up in a meeting and says he regrets not being able to meet you.”

She didn’t bother to hide her disappointment, but she understood. Every day for three weeks Cade had called Patience. Most of the time they didn’t have long to talk, but they both enjoyed staying connected. Without giving specifics about the project she was working on with her dad, she’d been able to bounce ideas off him. He, in turn, had done the same with her.

While he never said how much, Cade had made billions in the merger and he poured the majority of it back into the organization. His company was in the middle of building a huge manufacturing plant outside of Austin. It would bring thousands of jobs to the area, and she was proud of him for that.

“Doctor?”

The chauffer held the door for her, and then loaded her case in the back of the car. Thanks to Cade she’d been able to sleep most of the way there. He’d insisted she take his jet back, and except for the flight attendant and pilots, she’d been the only passenger. Mar and Jackson had flown to London to check on Stonegate’s new office there.

After weeks of only getting a few hours of sleep a night, it had been heaven to stretch out on one of the jet’s comfy couches. In fact, she felt like a new woman.

“Can you drop me at my condo?” She gave him the address, and it wasn’t long before they were in front of her building.

The driver insisted on carrying her case upstairs, even though it rolled and there was an elevator. After he left, she took a quick shower and put on a pair of jeans and T-shirt to go to the office. It was Friday afternoon, but she wanted to file her reports and check with her assistants at the lab to make sure everything was up-to-date.

As she was getting ready to leave, she felt another stabbing pain in her gut. She doubled over for a moment and tried to remember the last time she ate. She probably needed something in her stomach and to take her meds.

In Italy her father had taken her stomach pains seriously and insisted on accompanying her to the emergency room. They had run a variety of tests. The doctors discovered she had an ulcer, one that could be treated with antibiotics.

They had warned her to stay away from the marinara sauce and to reduce her stress. While she’d been careful with the food, there was no way she could keep herself from being nervous, especially when she would soon see Cade. They had talked the night before and he’d been excited about seeing her. But when he didn’t show up as promised to meet her, well, the doubts sunk in.

When her stomach settled she grabbed her keys and headed to the office. If there was one thing that could keep her from obsessing about what might be happening with Cade, it was her work.

“Hey, boss, you’re back. We didn’t expect you in until Monday,” one of her assistants greeted her.

“You know me, Chris, had to check in.” She plopped her keys on the steel table.

He laughed. “You wouldn’t be you if you didn’t. Scott is in the photo lab developing some of the pictures you guys sent back from Rome. I can’t believe your dad uncovered eleven-hundred-year-old bones. What a find.”

“Yeah. He was pretty excited, and he’ll have all the time in the world he needs to complete the dig now that they’ve registered it as a historic site.”

Working with her father, she had been the one to identify the age of the bones, which had been verified by several leading scientists in Rome.

One of the best things about her trip was she and her father had several very frank conversations about everything that was going on in their lives. In many ways it was like they were before Jeremy had disappeared. Though it had been difficult, they’d even discussed that they would once again hire professionals to search for Jeremy. It was a burden they no longer carried alone, as her stepmother, Jenny, was also adamant in being involved.

Jenny and the boys were in Italy with her father, and for the first time Patience had genuinely connected with them in a way that made her feel like a part of the family. Her twin stepbrothers, who were eleven, were fascinated by her work and became fairly good assistants once they learned that science sometimes takes time.

Even though she spent eighteen hours a day working, she still managed to spend time with her family.

“Any chance we’ll get to see those bones?” Chris interrupted her thoughts.

She shook her head. “I’m afraid they’re now owned by the Italian government since it was on their property. Though they did ask me to come back to see if I can’t help identify who they belong to.”

“And you’ll take us, right?” He waggled his eyebrows.

Patience understood the excitement over a find like this. “I’ll take it under consideration.”

“Hey, boss, here are your up close and personals,” Scott said as he closed the photo lab door. “I noticed two of the femurs were an odd size, did you guys figure out why?”

“Dwarfism,” she said. “But that’s one of the reasons I took so many photos. I have a feeling this could be a long-term project for us.”

She glanced at her watch. “Why don’t you guys clean up and get out of here. You’ve been working double duty for me and the London office for the last three weeks. You deserve some time off.”

Chris and Scott gave each other a strange look.

“What?” Patience held up her hands in a questioning motion.

“You—well, you seem different.” Chris fidgeted. “You’re usually so intense.”

Patience smiled. “I’m still intense, guys, but this is my one day out of three hundred and sixty-five that I’m feeling generous. Take advantage of it. Because Monday I’m back to making your lives a living hell.” She gave them a wink and went back to her paperwork.

“You don’t have to tell us twice,” Scott said.

They both locked their research away and stored the equipment they’d been using.

Patience laughed as they all but ran out the door.

Patience jumped and nearly fell off the stool she’d been sitting on.

“You surprised me.” Her hand flew against her chest as she moved to greet him. “And yes—” she wrapped her arms around his neck “—I missed you.”

When their lips met, Cade’s body went rigid with need. He’d more than missed her. This woman held his heart so tightly and he didn’t think she had a clue.

He’d spent the last two weeks trying to figure out how he could get her to marry him as fast as possible. Never in his life had he wanted or needed someone like he did Patience.

“From the, um, feel of things it seems you must have missed me, too.” She pressed herself tight against his already hardening erection.

“Oh, you don’t know the half of it. Every time we talked on the phone, well, let’s just say it’s been a long few weeks.”

They kissed.

“Are you in the middle of something?” He pointed to her computer and quipped, “Because I’d really like to take you home and ravish you.”

“Mmm. Ravishing does sound good.” She cleared her desk and shut off her laptop.

The lab was orderly, just the way she liked it, he was certain. It still boggled his mind that she was so prim and proper and at the same time one of the most sensual creatures he’d ever met in his life.

“Patience.” Cade suddenly looked nervous. “I have something I need to talk to you about.”

She crossed her legs in the chair and leaned forward. “Whatever it is, you’re scaring me.” She couldn’t imagine what he could be thinking. “Are you sick? Did something happen to GG?”

He laughed and his tone made her feel a little better.

“This isn’t the romantic way I’d planned this, but—I want to warn you that I’m going to ask you an important question.”

Patience was still clueless.

“I want to ask you to marry me.”

He could have said he had ten giraffes in the backyard and she wouldn’t have been any more surprised. They’d only known each other a short time, and though she’d fantasized about marriage more than once this was much faster than she expected.

Cade held up his hand. “I’m not expecting an answer right away. I just want you to get used to the idea.” He pulled out a box and opened it. A huge emerald cut diamond glittered in the porch light. “But when you feel like you are ready to wear this, you say the word. I love you, Patience. I love you more than anyone or anything in this world.”

“I—this is…” She couldn’t quite get the words out. Part of her wanted to grab the ring, and the other part wanted to order him to take her home. “It’s sudden,” she finally said.

They sat in silence for a few moments and she tried to digest everything he’d said. He loved her. But marriage?

Cade shook his head. “This was too soon. I knew better. Please, forget I did this. We can wait. I just wanted you to see—” He started to rise, but she grabbed his hands.

“I love you, too,” she said softly, tears brimming in her eyes.

He stopped as if he hadn’t heard her correctly.

“I mean it, Cade, I’ve loved you pretty much ever since I met you.”

“That’s a good start.” He leaned down and kissed her hands. “Honestly, I wanted to give you time to get used to the idea before I really popped the question.”

She laughed nervously still trying to decide how she felt about the idea of Cade wanting to marry her. “If you want to go steady first, you don’t need a ring that big. In fact, I think you’re supposed to give me your class ring on a chain or something.”

He sat back down and smiled at her.

“I’m the kind of person who always thinks big,” he said as he pulled her into his lap. “Please don’t be upset. Part of me was worried some Italian Romeo would sweep you off your feet and the idea was nothing short of torture for me.” He squeezed his arms around her.

“The only Romeo I’m interested in is you. For the record, I’m not saying no. Just not a yes right this second. And by the way, you picked out the most gorgeous ring I’ve ever seen. Will you keep it safe for me?”

“Yes,” he said as he nuzzled her neck sending shivers down her spine.

“Cade,” she whispered as he trailed kisses down her back.

“Uh-huh?”

“Let me show you how much I love you.”

Scooping her up, Cade carried her to the bedroom.