True Love Read online

  “So which birthday was this?”

  Brenna frowned slightly. “The big three-o.”

  Trent chuckled. “That’s not so bad. I turned thirty-two a few months ago.”

  They stopped walking, and she leaned on the rail and watched the ocean. They seemed to be right smack in the middle of it. She thought it was a beautiful sight, all aqua blue and billowy white foam. Then she thought about the route the ship was taking—the same one the slave ships had used, coming and going.

  Trent studied her intently. He could see that she could easily bring some man to the altar if he thought doing so would make her his woman forever. Some man would gladly place a ring on her finger if he knew she would be the one he woke up to in the morning, and the one he would come home to at night.

  Trent inhaled a deep breath of ocean air, forcing his thoughts not to go there. He had decided after his botched engagement never to let any woman try wrapping him around her finger. As he continued to watch Brenna he saw a lone tear flow down her cheek. “What is it? What’s wrong?”

  She turned, and despite the sunglasses she wore he could see her misty eyes. “I was just thinking how it must have been for them—the slaves—being forced from the only land they knew, getting packed like sardines on a ship. A number of them jumped overboard whenever they could, preferring a watery grave to enduring the life awaiting them in America. How awful it had to be for them.”

  Trent nodded. He understood how she felt. He had felt the very same thing—grief, anger, their pain—the first time he had taken a cruise to Africa. Sometimes, in his cabin at night, he’d imagined hearing their tortured cries and the sounds of their shackles as they jumped ship, embracing imminent death.

  Without thinking twice about it, he gently pulled Brenna into his arms, ignoring the feeling of pleasure he felt having her there. A gentle ocean breeze flitted over them as they stood on deck with his arms wrapped around her shoulders and her body leaning against his.

  At that time and at that moment, Trent grudgingly admitted that holding her in his arms felt right.

  Chapter 22

  Shayla sat back in the chair at her desk, sipped a cup of coffee, and gazed lovingly at the flowers that had been delivered to her at work.

  They were from Nicholas, and just in case someone had wanted to sneak a peek at the card, she had immediately slipped it in her purse after reading it. His message—Thanks for a wonderful weekend—was something she didn’t want to share with anyone.

  She sighed, thinking about their time together on Sterling Hamilton’s mountain, and how much she had enjoyed herself. They had flown into Raleigh, North Carolina, late Friday night and then had taken a chartered helicopter to the mountains. Sterling’s other guests—the Garwoods, the Madarises, and the Wingates—were already there when they arrived. Nicholas and Sterling’s mother didn’t arrive until early Saturday morning.

  Over breakfast that morning Nicholas had teased his mother about a date she’d had with someone named Jessup Baron. From the smiles that had appeared on Angeline Chenault’s face it was apparent that she had enjoyed Mr. Baron’s company.

  Shayla had felt overwhelmed that Friday night when Nicholas had introduced her to everyone. These were not everyday people. Sterling Hamilton and his wife, Colby, were the perfect host and hostess. Well-known movie actress Diamond Swain-Madaris and her husband, a wealthy rancher from Texas named Jake, had been all smiles when they announced that they would be parents by Christmas. Just last month it had made national news that an obsessed fan of Diamond’s who happened to be a news reporter, had been arrested for plotting to kill Jake.

  The Wingates consisted of Colby’s brother James, his wife, Cynthia, and their seven-month-old son, James Jr. James Sr. was the CEO of Wingate Cosmetics, a company that Shayla knew was doing extremely well with its newest masculine cologne called Awesome. A national advertisement that cast Sterling as the Awesome Man had proved highly successful. It seemed women all across the country wanted to purchase the cologne for the man in their life, no doubt thinking that if their man couldn’t look like Sterling, the next best thing was for him to smell like him.

  Then there had been Kyle and Kimara Garwood and their six kids. It amused Shayla that like their parents, all six of the Garwood children had names that began with the letter K. It amused her even more that Kyle and Kimara were actually considering having a seventh child.

  Everyone, including Nicholas’s mother, was extremely nice to her, and in no time at all Shayla’d felt completely at ease. It was uncanny how much of Angeline’s looks Nicholas had inherited, while Sterling didn’t resemble her at all…except when he smiled. Both sons had their mother’s heartwarming smile.

  Shayla was amazed at how much love clearly shone in Sterling’s, Jake’s, Kyle’s, and James’s eyes for their wives. It was there whenever they looked at them, touched them, or spoke to them. Colby, Diamond, Kimara, and Cynthia were special women, and their husbands treated them as such.

  By the time she left Sterling’s mountain Sunday night, she had felt she had somehow established a special relationship with everyone she had met that weekend. She also felt she had fallen even more hopelessly in love with Nicholas.

  Shayla let out a deep breath as her thoughts returned to the present. Her life right then would be just about perfect if not for her relationship with Thomas Jordache. What he’d told her last week was very much on her mind. She had tried being more observant at work, and had even resorted to asking a few innocent questions of her coworkers, making it seem she was interested in the mangolid project. But for some reason everyone viewed her interest cautiously, and wasn’t saying much.

  Everyone except Howard.

  As usual, he had a lot to say, and most of the time what he said wasn’t flattering. In his opinion, Nicholas was beginning to place too much importance on the mangolid chip project, while some other projects were being placed on the back burner.

  Shayla tried summarizing in her mind everything she knew about Howard. He had been employed with Chenault for less than a year, and had mainly worked out of the Jacksonville office. He was handsome and single, but never talked about having a social life. In fact, they never had any contact outside of the office. What really stuck in her mind was that on several occasions when she’d walked into his office he’d ended phone conversations abruptly.

  Shayla sighed. She’d never paid attention to any of that before, but ever since her meeting with Thomas Jordache she had been seeing everyone in a whole new light—a very suspicious light. It bothered her that she was beginning to act no better than Carl Stockard, who looked at everyone as untrustworthy.

  The ringing of the phone interrupted Shayla’s thoughts. She picked it up immediately. “Shayla Kirkland.”

  “Yes, Ms. Kirkland. This is Leanne. Mr. Chenault would like to meet with you in his office. He’s asked that you bring the Africa sales report with you.”

  “All right. I’m on my way.”

  “You wanted to see me, Mr. Chenault?” Shayla asked, entering Nicholas’s office and finding him standing across the room looking out of the window.

  “Yes, Ms. Kirkland, I did.” He walked over to his desk and picked up his phone. “Leanne, Ms. Kirkland and I will be in a very important meeting for the next twenty minutes or so. Please hold all my calls.” He then replaced the receiver.

  Slowly, he walked around his desk toward her, his eyes never leaving hers as he took the report from her hands and tossed it on his desk. He pulled her into his arms.

  “I have an unexpected trip to Bolivia, and I’ll be gone for a week.”

  Shayla nodded as a lump formed in her throat. She began to miss him already. “How soon do you have to leave?”

  “In an hour. I wanted to see you before I left. There was no way I could leave without doing this.” He hooked his knuckles under her chin and lifted her face to his and kissed her—gently at first, then with an intensity that took Shayla’s breath away.

  Moments later, he reluctant
ly released her. He looked deeply into her eyes. “You and I will have a long talk when I get back, Shayla. The first thing on my agenda will be the discussion of this discreet thing. I still don’t like it, and want it to end when I return. Understand?”

  Shayla nodded. She didn’t want to be discreet anymore, either. She was in love with Nicholas Chenault, and didn’t care who knew it. She also knew she would have to be completely honest with him and tell him everything. She would do so as soon as he got back.

  “How will your evenings be without me?” he asked as he placed kisses along her earlobe and eyelids, then moved to her jaw and neck.

  “Lonely,” she whispered throatily when his lips moved to the corner of her mouth and began nibbling there.

  He lifted his gaze to hers and watched her lashes flutter when he reached up and brushed his thumbs over the hardened tips of her nipples, which were straining against her silk blouse. “How lonely?”

  “Extremely lonely,” she managed to get out before her breath caught on indrawn gasps.

  Nicholas’s lips curved in a slow smile. “Good. Now I have a favor I’d like to ask of you.”

  “What?”

  Nicholas stepped back and walked around to his desk, opened the drawer, and took out a flat black box. He walked back and handed it to her. “This is for you. Open it.”

  Shayla pulled her gaze from Nicholas, and with shaky fingers she opened the box, which was embossed with the name of a well-known Chicago jeweler. Her breath caught. She could barely breathe. On a bed of white velvet was a beautiful heart-shaped pendant surrounded by dazzling diamonds.

  Speechless, breathless, Shayla looked up and met his gaze.

  “The favor I want to ask is that while I’m gone,” Nicholas said, not taking his eyes from her and speaking in a hoarse thick voice, “I want you to wear my heart. Will you do that for me, Shayla?”

  Still unable to speak, Shayla nodded as love and happiness flowed through every bone in her body. Nicholas’s gift and the words he had spoken had touched her deeply.

  “Turn around, please.”

  She did what he asked, and he took his time placing the beautiful necklace around her neck and tucking it inside her blouse so that it wouldn’t be seen.

  Nicholas turned Shayla back around to face him. Nearly blinded by the beauty of her face, he was deeply touched by the tears he saw shimmering in her eyes. “You and I will definitely have a long talk when I return, Ms. Kirkland. Count on it.”

  He then pulled her into his arms and kissed her once more.

  Shayla was on cloud nine as she walked back to her office, and was surprised when she nearly collided with Cindy coming out of it. A vague uneasiness stirred in Shayla when she saw her. “Were you looking for me, Cindy?”

  As if taken aback, Cindy stared at her. “What makes you think I was looking for you?”

  “Because you were coming out of my office.”

  Cindy flicked a nervous glance in the direction of Shayla’s office. “I was inside for just a minute, admiring your flowers. They’re beautiful.”

  “Thank you.” And no doubt you were trying to find out who sent them, Shayla thought.

  “Well I’ll see you later. I have over a million things I need to do,” Cindy said in a rush.

  Shayla raised a curious eyebrow as the woman hurriedly walked away.

  “You wanted to see me, Nick?”

  Nicholas looked up from putting papers into his briefcase. “Yes, Paul, come in.”

  Paul came into Nick’s office and closed the door behind him.

  “Any new developments?”

  Paul shook his head. “No, but we’re on top of it.” He lifted a brow. “Going somewhere?”

  Nicholas nodded as he continued to stuff items into his briefcase. “Yes, and that’s the other reason I wanted to see you. I got a call from Franklin this morning, and I’m needed in Bolivia right away for a special meeting. I’ll be gone a week.” Nicholas snapped his briefcase closed and looked up at Paul. “There’s a favor I have to ask of you. It’s something Trent asked me to do for him while he’s away on that cruise to Africa, and now, with this unexpected trip, I’m asking you to cover for me while I’m gone.”

  Paul nodded. “Sure, what is it?”

  Nicholas came around the desk and sat on the edge of it. He knew Paul wouldn’t be so quick to volunteer if he knew what the favor was. “Trent has a feeling his father’s ill, and I promised to be the contact person if anything unusual happens. Jordache’s housekeeper was to call me if it did.”

  Paul’s features hardened. “You would do that, knowing Jordache may be behind everything that’s been happening here lately?”

  Nicholas stiffened at the words Paul flung at him. “Yes, because Trent asked me to. I’d do anything for Trent, and you know that. And I know you would, too.” Nicholas watched as Paul fought for acceptance of what he’d just said to him. Paul might detest his ex-brother-in-law, but he loved his nephew.

  “You’re asking a lot of me, Nick.”

  “I’m not asking you to go hold Jordache’s hand, Paul. Chances are you won’t have to have any contact with him. All I’m asking is that you be the contact person while I’m away. If something happens that I need to know, all you have to do is reach me immediately.”

  “Why can’t the housekeeper just call Trent?”

  “She can, and she will. In the meantime, he wants someone available to take care of any immediate action that might be necessary.”

  Paul frowned. “There’s nothing wrong with Jordache. He’s too evil to die. People like him hang around a long time just to torment others.”

  “Maybe, maybe not. All I care about is the fact that Trent was concerned enough to come to me. Now, with this unexpected trip, I’m coming to you. Will you do it?”

  Paul walked over to the window and looked out. When he didn’t say anything for the longest time, Nicholas asked, “The bad feelings between you and Jordache go deeper than him marrying your sister, don’t they, Paul?”

  Paul turned around to Nicholas. “Yes, although that’s what started it all. There was a woman I cared very deeply about, and because of Jordache I accused her of doing some things she didn’t do.”

  Nicholas nodded. A part of him had always known there had been more to Paul’s intense dislike of Jordache. “You loved her?”

  Paul met his gaze. “More than life itself.”

  Nicholas’s gaze was concentrated on Paul when there was a knock on the door and Leanne stuck her head in. “It’s time for you to leave if you want to make it to the airport and avoid heavy traffic, Mr. Chenault.”

  “Thanks, Leanne.”

  When the woman had closed the door Nicholas turned his attention back to Paul. He stood. “I have to go, Paul. Forget the favor. I’ll just let Mrs. Green know that—”

  “No, I’m fine with it,” Paul said, taking a deep breath. “I’ll do it for Trent. As you said earlier, I’d do anything for him. Even that.”

  “You sure?”

  Paul stuck his hands in his pants pockets. “Yes, I’m sure.” He walked over to the door. Before opening it he turned back to Nicholas. “Have a safe trip, Nick, and don’t worry about things here.”

  Later that evening Paul Dunlap was pacing the confines of his office. He had noticed Shayla Kirkland’s wary expression when he had passed her in the hall after leaving Nicholas’s office.

  She had tried avoiding all eye contact with him, and a flush had covered her delicately molded cheekbones. He’d gotten the same gut instinct he always got whenever he saw her, the same weird feeling that he’d seen her before…or that he knew someone she resembled. There was just something about her that he couldn’t put his finger on.

  A moment later he picked up the phone and dialed Leanne’s extension. “Leanne, this is Paul. Bring me Shayla Kirkland’s personnel file.”

  Brenna stood on deck as the Majestic pulled into port at Cape Town. She was held spellbound by the town’s beauty, surrounded by spectacular mountai
ns, lush vineyards and shimmering seas. She couldn’t remember seeing a place so inviting and welcoming.

  She turned when she heard her name and saw Trent make his way through the crowd toward her. They had spent the last five days together, strolling around deck, going swimming, and sharing lunches and dinners. And when he walked her to her cabin each night, he’d been the perfect gentleman, only kissing her on the cheek before leaving.

  “Ready for a full day of fun?” he asked, smiling when he reached her side.

  “Yes.” Like her, he was dressed in a pair of shorts, a festive and colorful T-shirt—compliments of the ship—and a pair of good walking shoes. She gave him a thorough once-over, liking what she saw. If the way he returned her look was any indication, he liked what he saw, too.

  “Are you sure you want to spend your time with me again today, Trent?”

  He smiled at her as his dark eyes held her gaze. “I’m positive.” Taking her hand in his, he led her off the ship.

  After taking a tour of Cape Town they caught an air-conditioned motorcoach to tour the Cape of Good Hope Nature Reserve. By the time they had reached their destination, Brenna had taken several rolls of film. Now she understood what Trent had meant when he’d told her that the Cape of Good Hope was one of Africa’s best-kept secrets. Clifton, a picturesque and scenic town they had passed through, was enough to guarantee that she would retain memories of Africa forever.

  Trent and Brenna enjoyed lunch at a seaside restaurant in Seaforth, and later had dinner at a restaurant along the coast as they watched the union of two oceans. It was close to midnight before they returned to the ship.

  “I’m going to be sore tomorrow from so much walking,” Brenna said as Trent walked her to her cabin.