Love Me Like No Other (12 page)

Linc chuckled. “I haven’t seen a chick fight in years.”

Jade couldn’t help but laugh herself. “And I’m sure you miss them.”

“It would have been interesting, that’s for sure.”

Jade groaned.

He touched her shoulders and looked at her seriously. “There’s no need to apologize. If some dude was pushing up on you right in front of me I’d hit him and talk later, too. So it’s cool. Besides, Leslie is irritating as hell.”

“Yes. She is.” Jade smiled. “But she had a point about the class thing.”

Linc cut her off quickly. “No, she didn’t, and I don’t want you thinking that anymore. I don’t care who you’re related to, where you were born or how much money you have. If I wanted to spend the week with a high-society airhead I have plenty to choose from.”

He cupped her face and dropped a soft kiss on her lips. “I chose you.”

Jade found herself anticipating the contact and, despite her resolve, wanting more. “Let’s eat,” she said before she grew any weaker.

She walked through the entryway leading to the living area of their suite. The sight before her made her pause. In the middle of the floor was a table draped in white linen with two chairs and a bouquet of peach roses. The lights were dim and scented candles—sandalwood if she wasn’t mistaken—were all over the place. She closed her eyes and inhaled.

Linc came up behind her but didn’t touch her, his lips close to her ear. “It’s for relaxation, correct? I figured since you were into massage therapy, aromatherapy was a given. The sweet, exotic smell is meant to warm the senses.”

And coupled with the man drive her absolutely bonkers! “Mmm-hmm.” She felt his closeness seconds before his arms brushed her shoulders and her eyes settled on the sterling silver chain being positioned around her neck. With a gasp she touched her hand to the heart-shaped pendant in the center.

“I told you I’d get it fixed,” Linc said as he clasped it at her neck.

Jade stared down at the necklace, her heart
filling with an emotion she didn’t want to name. “But…it’s not the same. I mean, you changed it,” she whispered.

Linc moved around to stand in front of her. He looked down at the necklace then up into her eyes. “You said that it was a gift from your grandmother. I could see how much it made you happy when you thought of her. So I figured if I put my own special touch on it, it would make you happy when you thought of me.”

She looked away from him, afraid she’d cry again. What was with these pesky tears lately? Rubbing her fingers over the now diamond encircled heart she did feel happy thinking of him, thinking that he’d gone out of his way to do this for her. Carefully and with the effort of ten men tugging at her emotions she smiled up at him. “Thank you.”

Linc smiled and her knees buckled.

“Have a seat.” He motioned toward the table.

She groaned inwardly. Just looking at him in the dim light standing tall and handsome as a Greek god made her stomach perform a slow, very torturous somersault.

Unsure of what to say and rattled beyond reason Jade took a seat then leaned forward to smell the flowers. “I love peach roses.”

“Really? I would have never guessed.” He sat across from her, a small smile tugging at his lips.

“Who told you? Adam or your mother? They’re the only two I’ve talked to enough to have let something that personal slip.”

“You can talk to me about personal things too, Jade.”

His tone was sincere. Actually he sounded a little hurt that she hadn’t shared anything personal with him. But she had. She’d told him about Noelle but only because he’d asked. Most importantly, she’d shared herself. “That’s not a part of our arrangement.”

“I’d like to think that when the arrangement is over and done with we can still talk and be friends.” He cleared his throat.

If he’d reached inside her chest and squeezed her heart personally, it couldn’t have been more painful. His words only confirmed her reasoning behind the new stipulations. “Of course we can be friends,” she lied. There was no use telling him that once she left this house on Sunday morning she had no intention of ever looking back, of ever thinking about Lincoln Donovan and his perfect family again.

He poured wine and they exchanged small talk.

She fixed their plates and they ate in companionable silence.

He stood and moved to the balcony they hadn’t used until tonight. She remained seated until
he sent a questioning glance prompting her to join him.

There was a light breeze when she stepped out beneath the indigo sky. Stars sprinkled the dark backdrop like confetti and she couldn’t help but smile.

“You’re too easy to please,” he said.

“What gave you that idea?”

“Roses, candles and starlight. You look happy, content. I like that.”

He wasn’t being sweet, he was simply noticing the obvious, she told herself. “Then I guess you’re right. I’m not difficult.”

“No. Just stubborn.”

She chuckled. “Grammy used to say that, too.”

He moved closer until their arms touched. “Tell me about her.”

Jade sucked in a gulp of night air and smiled. “My grandmother, Victoria Vincent. She passed away nine months ago.” No matter how much time passed she still felt a pang of grief when she admitted that Grammy was gone.

“I’m sorry that she’s gone.”

“Gone but not forgotten.” Jade tapped a hand over her heart. “I carry her with me here at all times. For so long she was all I had and now…” She broke off, looked away because she was afraid she’d cry again.

“And now you feel like you’re alone.”

She shook her head. “I know I’m not technically alone. I have Noelle. But I just needed her so much. And Linc, I miss her so much.”

“It’s not a crime to need someone, Jade. In fact, that’s a part of being in a relationship.”

She looked up at him, surprised that he’d said that. “What would you know about being in a relationship? You said you couldn’t actively participate in one, remember?”

“That was when I was nineteen years old. Besides, my parents are good role models. They need each other and they don’t make any qualms about admitting that fact.”

“Yeah, your parents have a great marriage.”

“Do you want to be married someday?” he asked.

“Nah.” She shrugged. “I don’t think I’m marriage material.”

“That’s ridiculous. Any man would be lucky to have you for his wife.”

Any man but you, she silently filled in the gap. “Obviously not.”

“Let me guess, you can’t find anybody who meets your standards.”

She frowned at that. “I don’t have high standards for a mate. In fact, my goals are simple and to the point.”

“And what are they?”

“You don’t need to know,” she said and continued to look out into the dark of night.

“Come on, if I were Adam or my mother you wouldn’t have a problem telling me. You said we’re friends and friends share things, so just tell me.”

What the hell, he couldn’t fill her qualifications, anyway. “I want the fairytale. I want the white knight to sweep me off my feet. I want him to be so in love with me he can’t think straight. I want him to promise me the world even if it’s just to make me feel better. Can you understand that?”

He smiled at her. “I can. But do you really think you’ll find that? I mean, is there any room for something a little less heroic than your expectations?”

“No.” She looked at him seriously. “Because that’s what I deserve.”

J
ade slept alone and awakened feeling a keen sense of loss. She knew it was her fault. She was the one to come up with the stipulations, and now she had to deal with them. After showering and dressing she’d gone into the sitting area of their room expecting to see Linc at his desk. But he wasn’t there.

Blankets were still on the sofa where he’d obviously slept, but the man was nowhere in sight. With purposeful steps she went downstairs and straight to the dining room where everyone usually gathered for breakfast.

Today must have been her day to be shocked because the huge table looked utterly solemn. While it was still full of food, fine china and steaming coffee, it lacked one key ingredient: people.

“Good morning, dear. It’s just you and I this morning,” Beverly said as she buttered a croissant.

Jade pulled out a chair and sat. “Where is everyone?” she asked when she was really only concerned with the whereabouts of one person.

Beverly looked her way with an arched eyebrow. “Henry’s with his horses. Adam had a date last night which I’m sure will keep him occupied until later this evening. Trent’s in the den working on a case. And—” she paused took a bite of her croissant and savored it.

Jade poured a cup of coffee realizing just what the woman was doing and refusing to hang on her every word. With an inward chuckle she realized she liked Beverly Donovan a lot more than she’d anticipated.

When she was finished chewing Beverly dabbed a napkin at the corners of her mouth. “Lincoln said something about an emergency at the casino.”

“The casino?” Jade paused, her coffee cup just inches from her lips. “So he’s not here?”

“He had to return to Las Vegas. But he said he’ll be back in the morning.”

He went back to Vegas and hadn’t bothered to tell her. She couldn’t pinpoint how she felt about this new development. On the one hand she still felt that loss, that same emptiness she’d felt a half hour ago upon waking. And now, she felt disappointed and a little perturbed that he’d leave her here, alone, when her sole purpose for coming to this house this week was to be with him.

“Why do I get the distinct impression that you’re not thinking of how much you’ll miss him while he’s away?” Beverly questioned.

Jade set her cup down, shaking her head at the same time. “Oh, I’m sorry. I was just thinking of something. Don’t mind me.”

With a tilt of her head Beverly looked at Jade seriously. “I don’t think anyone’s been minding you for some time now, Jade.”

“I don’t know what you mean.”

“Why don’t we spend the day together? The men aren’t around and I’d like to get to know you better.”

A sense of dread settled over Jade and she racked her brain for a logical excuse as to why that wasn’t possible. Of course, with Linc gone there was none and that infuriated her even more. With a tight smile she looked at her hostess and said, “What did you have in mind?”

“So what’s really going on with you and my son?”

Jade almost fell off the lounge chair she’d been lying on. Her sunglasses had fallen from the table and she’d bent over to retrieve them when Beverly’s question had been asked. They’d been to the spa and had a swim. Now they were sitting poolside, enjoying the beautiful day. So far it had been pleasurable and now this.

“We’re, ah…dating…I guess,” she stuttered.

“Is that so?”

Repositioning herself on the chair Jade was about to slip her glasses back onto her face when Beverly touched her hand and shook her head. This, to Jade, meant that Beverly didn’t want her eyes shielded because she wanted honest answers. It reminded her a lot of Grammy.

Knowing she’d have to give Mrs. Donovan a little more information and still hating the fact of all these lies building up, Jade took a deep breath and decided to tell as much of the truth as she possibly could. “We haven’t seen each other in years. And when we bumped into each other last week we decided to take some time to get to know one another again.”

“Hmm. I sense a connection between you two. I wonder why you stayed apart for so long.”

“We were in college when we met and things just didn’t seem to work out for us.” Jade stared out toward the pool. “Linc had plans,” she said, remembering their talk on her first day here.

Beverly chuckled. “Lincoln has had plans since he was ten years old. I always wondered if he was ever going to slow down and simply enjoy life. And I’ll admit that until this week I was still thinking the same thing.”

“He’s a very focused man. I guess I should have realized that back then.” She should have realized that he’d never be truly interested in a girl like her.

“Yes, he’s ambitious. But he’s also loyal and dependable. He has such a capacity to love. I just wish he’d get the chance.”

Oh, no. Jade’s chest tightened. She definitely did not want to be having this conversation with Linc’s mother. Keeping her head turned in the opposite direction she feigned interest in some birds flying overhead. “Love is not for everyone,” she said absently.

“It is if they make themselves available to it.”

Jade entwined her fingers, pulled them apart then twisted them back together again. She shifted in the chair wanting desperately to get up and leave. Then she stilled, a thought settling in her mind. “Sometimes it’s not that easy.”

She turned when she felt the soft swish of
Beverly’s silk coverlet against her leg. The older woman had come to sit on the edge of Jade’s chair putting a hand over hers to stop the incessant motion. “You have to be still so it can catch you, dear,” she said soothingly.

Jade turned to her then and for the first time this afternoon took a moment to really look at Mrs. Donovan. A more beautiful woman Jade couldn’t remember ever seeing. But there was something more to her beauty. A calmness combined with a glow of completeness.

“If you love him, you need to tell him.”

She opened her mouth to speak, fully prepared to tell the woman she didn’t know what she was talking about. Her lips snapped shut and she thought better of that brazen lie. “It won’t matter. It’s not what he wants.”

Beverly threw her head back and laughed. “Child, please. Of all my children, Lincoln, who pretends to know exactly what he wants at all times, is the most clueless. He’s been so ambitious and so determined for so long he’s never really had the chance to experience any true emotions. Businesses fold, money gets spent and then what’s left? There’s something between you two, I can sense it and I know my son. If you weren’t in his heart in some capacity he would never have brought you to my home.”

“But we’re so different. He’s from money and affluence and I’m—” Jade looked down at herself. “I’m just the daughter of a lovesick woman who couldn’t bear the thought of being alone anymore and killed herself. My grandmother raised me to be proud and I am. But I also know when I’m out of my league.”

Beverly waved a hand with a disdainful look on her face. “I heard about the incident with Leslie. In fact, the dimwitted girl called me herself with the sordid tale. I told her I was glad she called, but that I didn’t expect to hear from her again. She’s rude and ignorant and I won’t tolerate that mentality.” The older woman’s brow furrowed as she spoke. “Bank accounts and fake levels of society, I don’t give a hoot about those kinds of things. And neither do my children. They weren’t raised that way. If Lincoln likes you, you can believe that your social status is the last thing on his mind.”

Laying her head back against the chair Jade let out the deep breath she’d been holding in an attempt to keep her feelings at bay. “I don’t know what’s on Linc’s mind. I’m not even sure he likes me most of the time.”

Still rubbing her hands Beverly smiled reassuringly. “He likes you, dear. Believe me he likes you more than he’s willing to admit.”

That night when Jade was sure she’d die of loneliness she’d been treated to a surprise. She’d dressed for dinner only to learn that the older Donovans had a meeting at the club where the party was being held on Saturday night and the Donovan men, with the exception of Linc, who was still in Vegas, were out for the evening.

So she’d sat at that huge table about to consume her meal alone when she heard footsteps approaching and the distinct sound of gum cracking. That made her think of home, of…

“Hey, sis!”

“Noelle? What are you doing here?”

Noelle headed straight for her and Jade stood to greet her. Noelle hugged her tightly, which only concerned Jade more. “I asked what you’re doing here?”

“Chill out, Jay. I was invited.”

“Invited? By who? Nobody’s here?”

Noelle took a seat and wasted no time retrieving a napkin, unfolding it and sticking it down her shirt like a bib. She reached for one of the trays in front of her and started to scoop food onto her plate.

“Noelle?” Jade yelled. “I’m talking to you.”

Noelle frowned. “No. You’re yelling at me because I haven’t answered your questions yet.
I’m hungry. I didn’t get a chance to eat today because I worked at the spa for twelve hours and then I had to run home and change and get out here.” She lifted a glass and took a long gulp. “You think somebody could get me something a little stronger than wine?”

When Jade didn’t answer her Noelle sighed heavily. “Sit down, Jay. You’re not getting any taller.”

“Don’t be smart,” Jade said but took her seat anyway.

“Okay, so I was working at the spa, and we were busy today. Girl, I tell you business is good. We’re about to blow up!” She laughed.

We? Since when was she an active part of the spa? But that wasn’t what was bothering Jade. “Do I have to ask you again?”

“No, girl. Dang, you need to loosen up. That’s just what I told that fine ass Lincoln Donovan when he came waltzing into the spa this afternoon.”

“What? Linc was at Happy Hands?” She gulped. “Today?”

“Mmm-hmm.” Noelle chewed on a bite of salad and swallowed. “He came in and asked for me specifically. You know I tried to play like I was somebody else until he said his name and then I thought something had happened to you so I was about to jack him up.”

Jade dropped her head into her hands. “Noelle, please tell me you didn’t strike the man.”

“No, but he was damn close to it, especially since you weren’t with him and he was being real secretive about his reason for being there. But anyway, he looked around for a bit then he made a call on his cell. Then when I thought he was about to leave he came over and told me he knew about the money. Now, Jay, if you were gonna tell him it was my debt then why didn’t you just let me handle it from the get-go?”

“I don’t want to talk about your debt right now, Noelle.” And she didn’t. Her head was pounding and questions still bubbled around in her mind. Why had Linc gone to her shop? And why had he sent Noelle out here?

“Whatever. So he says that you might need some company tonight since he had some business to tend to so he sent me a car when the spa closed and had me brought out here. And from the looks of it—” Noelle looked along the span of the empty dining room table “—he wasn’t lying.”

Jade sat back in her chair. So he’d known she would be alone tonight. And he’d thought to send her sister to keep her company. She wasn’t sure if she was touched or outraged. An evening with Noelle was not entertainment, it was slow torture.

But she had missed seeing her sister so she wouldn’t give the angry thoughts too much time. “So you said the spa’s doing well? How many new clients did we get this week? Or were they just returns?”

“Oh, no, those coupons you gave out at the convention last weekend were coming in left and right. And the referral slips from that slinky hotel, they’re working out, too. I’d say about five new clients and at least a dozen tourists have been in so far. Kent says it’s a step in the right direction.”

“It certainly sounds like it.”

“Mmm-hmm,” Noelle nodded then finished off her salad.

Jade continued to think over the numbers she’d just heard and ways to keep this good streak going. She’d almost forgotten Noelle was even there when her sister poked the back of her hand with a fork. “Ow! What’d you do that for?”

“Because I asked you a question.”

“Oh, no, you’re not getting all feisty because I didn’t give you a quick answer when I just had to wait twenty minutes to get one measly answer out of you.”

“At least I heard your question. You aren’t even listening to me.”

Because she was right Jade backed down. “I’m sorry. What were you saying?”

“I said, what’s going on with you and Lincoln? He looked like Sad Dog Sam and you’re looking a little on the slumpy side yourself. So I’m wondering what you two have been up to these past few days.”

If Jade had heard this question a moment ago she certainly would have ignored it. Now, it seemed she didn’t have a choice but to provide some sort of answer. “Nothing’s going on.”

“You lie and you don’t do it well. Try again,” Noelle said smartly.

Jade frowned. “Okay, I slept with him. Is that what you wanted to hear?”

“No,” Noelle said smiling. “But it’s a start.”

“It’s not a start. Linc and I never had a start. It always seems as if we’re ending,” she said quietly.

“What’s that supposed to mean? You’re back together aren’t you?”

“I told you the other night we weren’t together. This is just a job for the week to get the debt erased. Sunday morning I’ll be packing my bags and heading home to my real life.”

“And Linc will be where?”

“He’ll be here and then he’ll be at his hotel or wherever. He just won’t be with me.” To her ears that sounded pitiful and desolate. So much so she wanted to cry.

“Now were those his words or are you improvising?”

“I don’t improvise, Noelle.”

Noelle nodded in agreement. “No, you don’t. But you do overreact. So did he say he didn’t want to see you again after Sunday? I mean, did he specifically tell you that he wanted you to be gone for good?”

Jade rubbed her hands over her face. She did not want to be having this conversation with her younger sister. Noelle had never had anything but good luck with men. How could she ever understand what Jade was going through? “No. He didn’t say those words exactly. But I know what the deal is. I’m not stupid.”