For Business...Or Marriage? Read Free

theatre a couple of times and were already good friends. Why not make the partnership permanent on all levels? After all, his brother had married and seemed to be enjoying holy matrimony. Granted, Brady and Sam were totally in love…something Cade had yet to feel for or tell a woman.
    Love was for some people—he just didn’t consider himself one of them. People who “fell in love” were just filling a void for something else. He was more than happy to fill any void with a new plane, fast cars and beachfront homes.
    Besides, didn’t power and money last far longer than love? Anyway, he wasn’t convinced love even existed unless it was from a toddler to a puppy. Or a son to his father.
    Cade shook off the remorse that crept up at the thought of his late father. Dwelling on the man who’d molded him into the businessman he was today wouldn’t bring his father back. Nothing would. Buthe could honor his father’s legacy by making their company the best in the world.
    As he poured a tall glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, Cade knew that it was time for him to settle down and start a family so the Stone name could live on. Mona had already agreed to a family. He wanted to pass down the company to his kids as his father had. Brady and Sam were already well ahead of him. They were due with twins in less than three months.
    He turned toward the living room just in time to see Abby’s mouth open wide as she gobbled up the last bite of Danish. When she proceeded to lick each and every one of her fingers clean, Cade cleared his throat and stepped down into the living area.
    Forget the damn image of those hips while she was on the bull.
    “Here you go.”
    Cade set the juice on the table, then crossed the room to lean against the entertainment center. With his arms crossed, he glared at her and waited for an explanation.
    Abby merely stared back and said, “What?”
    “Care to tell me why you drank so much last night?”
    One creamy shoulder lifted. “I’m a grown woman, Cade. I wanted to unwind, have fun. Surely you know about having fun. Right?”
    “We’re not talking about me,” he said through gritted teeth.
    “No, if we were you could tell me why this suddenengagement is the first I’ve ever heard about Mona Tremane.”
    Levering off the entertainment center, Cade came to his full height, resting his hands on his hips. “My personal affairs are none of your concern. You are my employee.”
    A flash of hurt skipped across her face or maybe he just imagined the reaction because now her rounded chin tilted up.
    “You’re right,” she agreed. “Which is why when I want to go out and have a good time, I’m entitled. I don’t need you to come play daddy.” She paused and picked up the juice. “Although, you see more of me than he ever did,” she muttered, almost under her breath.
    Her tone had gone from indignant to sad, and it drew him into her web of innocence.
    What had gotten into his private, dignified assistant? And why was this the first time he’d ever heard about anyone in her family?
    Because they only had an employee/employer relationship, as he’d just told her. So why did that suddenly make him feel cold, uncaring?
    She pushed her messed hair back from her face. “I’m too tired to deal with this right now. Give your fiancée my name and number. I’ll see when I can start planning this wedding.”
    Cade watched as Abby scooped up her purse and slid into her little pink-heeled sandals. Did she always have French-manicured toenails? Hmm, sexy.
    He forced his eyes back up. “I’ll drive you to get your car.”
    “I’ll take a cab,” she called over her shoulder.
    Before she could reach the door, Cade stepped up from the living area and blocked her exit with a slap of his hand to the door. “We’ll use the time in the car to talk.”
    Her lids fluttered shut for a brief second before lifting again. “I’m not on the clock, Cade, and we don’t discuss personal things, remember? We