Читать книгу Fortune's Mergers - Bronwyn Jameson - Страница 11

Gina gave Case’s arm a tug, stopping him before he could open the front door of his parents’ home.

“Skylar is the one with the long, light brown hair, right?” she asked in a frantic whisper. “Kind of a tomboy?”

“More than kind of. There’s nothing frilly or fussy about our Skylar.”

“And Eliza has blond hair and blue eyes?”

Chuckling, Case bussed her a quick kiss. “Quit obsessing. No one is going to be offended if you forget his or her name.”

His assurance did little to ease Gina’s nervousness as she followed him inside.

“Sounds as if everyone is in the den,” he said, guiding her in that direction.

Gina’s uneasiness increased ten-fold, when she saw the number of people already gathered. Besides the members of Case’s family she’d already met, there were some new faces, as well.

Tightening her grip on Case’s arm, she nodded toward the fireplace. “Who is that with Maya?” she whispered.

Case followed her gaze. “Her boyfriend, Brad.”

Gina watched Maya and Brad for a moment, then lifted her face close to Case’s ear. “If Brad’s her boyfriend, why does she keep sneaking peeks at Creed?”

Chuckling, Case shook his head. “You women. Always trying to stir up trouble.”

“I’m not trying to stir up anything,” she said indignantly, then poked her elbow against his ribs and tipped her head discreetly toward the couple again. “See for yourself. She may be talking to Brad, but it’s Creed she’s got her eye on.”

Case followed her gaze and frowned thoughtfully. “It does appear that way,” he replied, then shrugged. “It’s probably nothing. Come on,” he said, drawing her further into the room. “Let’s get something to drink.”

Though Gina didn’t agree with Case’s assessment of Maya’s covert interest in Creed, she kept her opinion to herself and allowed him to lead her to the bar.

As he handed her a flute of champagne, Eliza joined them, slipping an arm through Gina’s. “Better watch him,” she warned, eyeing Case suspiciously. “He tries to get women drunk so that he can have his way with them.”

Gina blinked, then sputtered a laugh, when she realized that Eliza was teasing her. “Don’t worry. I’m wise to his devious ways.”

Smiling, Eliza stretched to her toes and planted a kiss on Case’s cheek. “Hi, big brother.”

He made a show of wiping away her kiss. “Don’t try buttering me up now.”

Laughing, Eliza caught the hand of a woman passing by and drew her into the group.

“Gina, I’d like for you to meet a friend of mine, Diana Young. Diana, this is Case’s current flavor-of-the-month, Gina Reynolds.”

“Would you stop?” Case complained. “You make me out to be some kind of playboy.” Turning to Diana, he smiled warmly and extended his hand. “It’s always a pleasure seeing you, Diana,” he said, then shot Eliza a scowl and added, “in spite of the company you keep.”

Laughing gaily, Eliza looked around the room. “Quite a crowd, huh?”

Gina followed her gaze and stifled a shudder at the number of unfamiliar faces. “And then some.”

“Oh, look!” Eliza cried excitedly. “The Australians have arrived!” She lifted a hand high, catching the attention of the two men who had entered the room and motioned for them to join her.

“You’re going to love these guys,” she said in an aside to Gina and Diana. “Max is a cousin of ours. Mom and Dad met up with him while they were in Australia and invited he and his business partner, Zack Manning, to visit us in the States. They’re interested in horse breeding and want to check out Skylar’s setup.”

As the men made their way through the crowded room, Gina noticed the recognition that flared in Diana’s eyes, as well as the shock.

Eliza caught Max’s hand and pulled him into the group. “You already know Case,” she said, beginning the introductions. “And this is his date, Gina Reynolds, and this,” she said draping an arm at her friend’s waist and hugging her to her side, “is Diana Young.”

Diana tipped her head in greeting. “Hello, Max.”

Max muttered something that Gina couldn’t quite hear, then said to the group as a whole, “If you’ll excuse me, I need to speak to Patricia and Nash.”

Gina watched him stride quickly away, his friend Zack following, and wondered at the odd exchange.

“Let’s mingle,” Eliza said, and turned away, with her friend Diana in tow.

“That’s odd,” Gina said, with a frown.

“What’s odd?” Case asked.

“Judging by Diana’s expression when Eliza first pointed Max out, I would’ve sworn she already knew him. Yet, they greeted each other as if they were total strangers. And did you notice his expression? He looked almost … angry.”

Case reared back to look at her suspiciously. “Are you sure you’re a children’s author and not a detective? That’s two clandestine incidences you’ve noticed since arriving.”

She gave her chin a haughty lift. “Can I help it if I’m more aware of my surroundings than you are? And I was right about Maya,” she added stubbornly. “Something is definitely going on between her and Creed.”

“Oh really,” he said doubtfully.

She tipped her head discreetly toward Creed. “If you don’t believe me, look for yourself. Creed’s giving Maya’s boyfriend the evil eye.”

“What?” Case glanced toward Creed. He studied his brother for a moment, then stubbornly shook his head. “He’s probably got his mind on something else and is totally unaware of who he’s looking at or his expression.”

“I don’t think so,” Gina said doubtfully.

Teasing her with a smile, he leaned close to whisper, “Since you seem determined to stir up a romance, real or imagined, you might want to check out Max’s friend, Zack, and Skylar.”

Gina scanned the room until she saw the two standing near the doorway, openly flirting. Her eyes shot wide. “Why, they’ve only just met!” she whispered in return.

Laughing, he slung an arm around her shoulders. “Come on, Super Sleuth. I’ve got something even more surprising I want to show you.”

When he reached the center of the room, he stopped and drew her to his side.

“Could I have everyone’s attention a moment?” he called loudly.

Conversations slowly dwindled as people turned to see what was going on.

Uncomfortable at being the center of attention, Gina turned her face against Case’s shoulder. “What are you doing?” she whispered frantically. “Everyone’s staring.”

He looked down at her and smiled. “Of course they are.”

“Case …”

Ignoring her pleading look, he turned his attention to the crowd again and directed his next words to them.

“As you all know, family is very important to me. The Fortunes have been blessed with one of massive size, with branches that literally stretch all over the world. Over the years, we’ve had our share of misfortune, as well as success, and through it all we’ve stuck together, offering each other whatever support and encouragement was needed at the time. We’ve laughed together, cried together, and celebrated together.

“Growing up in this house we’re gathered in this evening, I’ve taken part in quite a few celebrations, everything from births to deaths and everything in between. Tonight I’m asking my family and friends to share in a special celebration with me.”

A sliver of apprehension snaked down Gina’s spine as Case turned to face her. Taking her hand in his, he slipped his other into his jacket pocket, then slowly sank to one knee, pulling out a ring.

Gina gaped, too stunned to speak.

His gaze on hers, he slid the ring onto her finger and said in a voice loud enough for everyone in the room to hear, “Gina Reynolds, would you do me the honor of marrying me and becoming my wife?”

The room was so quiet, she heard the wood shift in the fireplace. Everyone seemed as shocked by Case’s proposal as she was. She didn’t know what to say. Yes? No? Are you crazy?

But he didn’t seem to need an answer.

With his gaze on hers, he stood and pulled her into his arms. With everyone in the room watching in shocked silence, he kissed her with a passion that stole her breath.

A single clap of hands sounded, as the guests slowly absorbed the unexpected announcement. Others gradually joined in, until applause rolled like thunder through the cavernous room.

Case spent the drive home on his cell phone, talking to someone about a business deal that he and Creed were putting together. It wasn’t exactly the behavior one might expect from a man who’d just proposed, but it was just as well, because Gina couldn’t have carried on a coherent conversation if her life depended on it.

While he conducted business, she sat in the passenger seat of the Escalade, her hands gripped in her lap, her thumb pressed against the ring that circled her finger, still trying to sort through what had just occurred.

Why had he proposed? she asked herself for what seemed like the millionth time since Case had popped the question. He’d never once hinted at marriage, never so much as whispered the words “I love you.” They weren’t a couple … or at least she’d never considered them as such. The length of their relationship—if one could call it that—certainly didn’t lead a woman to expect a proposal. Two weeks was hardly enough time for two people to become acquainted, much less engaged.

She glanced down at her hand and the ring that adorned her left finger. The setting was gorgeous, with rows of baguettes surrounding a huge center diamond. Any woman who received such a stellar engagement ring should be ecstatic, over-the-moon in love.

Gina felt only nausea.

She needed answers, an explanation, but hadn’t a clue how to phrase them … or the opportunity to ask them, since the man with the answers was currently on the phone.

Case ended his call just as they stepped into her loft.

Gathering her nerve, she turned to face him and asked the single most question that burned in her mind. “Why did you ask me to marry you?”

He frowned, as if puzzled that she’d ask, then opened his hands. “I’d think that would be obvious.”

“Maybe to you it is, but it isn’t to me. My, God, Case! We’ve known each other less than two weeks!”

“I wasn’t aware there were time restrictions on how long a man had to wait before proposing.”

“That isn’t an answer,” she said impatiently. “And why did you propose in front of all those people? Everyone was staring at me. It was embarrassing.”

His smile indulgent, he crossed to her and caught her hands in his. “Gina, Gina, Gina,” he scolded gently. “There was no reason for you to be embarrassed. Those people, as you referred to them, are my family and friends. Becoming engaged is a big step, a milestone in my life, in our lives. I wanted them present to share in the occasion.” He gave her hands a tug, drawing her to him, then released them to wrap his arms around her. “Don’t be angry with me, darling.” He pressed a kiss against her forehead and her nose, then tipped her face up to his. “I wanted to make this special for you, for us. An event we would always remember.”

He tipped her face higher and she watched his face drift down, until his lips touched hers. “Please tell me you’re not angry with me,” he murmured. “I don’t want anything to mar this night.” He rained kisses over her face. “Please, Gina,” he begged softly.

Weak, she clung to him, all resistance melting from her. “I’m not angry. It’s just that … it was so totally unexpected.”

He withdrew slightly and caught her left hand. With his gaze on hers, he lifted her hand and pressed his lips against the ring he’d placed there. “Do you like your engagement ring?” he asked.

She shivered, as he stroked his thumb over the back of her knuckles. “I-it’s beautiful.”

He smiled, as if her response pleased him. “When I saw it, I knew it was meant for you.” He slipped his hands inside her jacket and rested them on her shoulders. “Did I tell you that you look beautiful tonight?” he asked softly. He dipped his head to nibble at her throat.

Closing her eyes, she let her head fall back, giving him easier access. “I-I don’t remember.”

“Then I’ll tell you now. You look beautiful.” He swept his hands out, easing her jacket over her shoulders. “Gorgeous, as radiant as any bride on her wedding night.”

Goose bumps pebbled her flesh as he smoothed his hands down her arms, relieving her of her jacket and letting it fall to the floor in a heap at their feet. Her breath was coming faster and faster, heat danced beneath her skin. She wanted to open her eyes, anchor herself on something substantial to still the dizziness, but her lids were simply too heavy to lift.

She felt his fingers at the back of her neck, heard the soft scrape of her shell’s zipper, as he pulled the tab down.

“Case,” she said breathlessly. “Stop. Please.”

He closed his mouth over hers and peeled the shell from her body, tossed it aside. “There’s no reason to stop,” he said, nipping at her lips. “We’re engaged now. Remember?”

She gulped, remembering she’d told him that she wouldn’t sleep with a man until she was married to him, or at the very least engaged.

And, as of three hours ago, she was engaged to Case Fortune.

“Feel this?” he asked, rocking his groin against hers. “That, my darling, is passion, what you do to me.”

A knot twisted in her belly, fear of the unknown. She was grossly inexperienced when it came to sex. Yet, her body responded to his caresses, to the heat that burned between them. Her hands itched to touch him, as he was touching her, to explore his body in the same way he was exploring hers. Her breasts ached for his touch, her lips for his kiss. She wanted him, what pleasure he offered, the secrets he could show her, there was no questioning that.

Growing bold, she slid her hands to his waist and, with trembling fingers, eased his shirttail from his slacks. She felt the quickening of his body as her fingers brushed his skin, the rapid rise and fall of his chest against her breasts.

“I want you in bed,” he murmured against her lips and began backing her in that direction as he stripped off his dinner jacket. “I want you naked beneath me, your legs spread beneath mine, your arms around me.”

His whispered list of wants made her pulse kick into a faster beat, her womb throb in anticipation. By the time her legs bumped the side of her bed, his jacket and shirt were gone, his chest bare. She gulped, watching, as he unfastened his slacks, pushed them down his legs. His erection pushed at the fly of powder blue boxer shorts.

Swallowing hard, she lifted her gaze to his. “I’ve never done this before,” she said uneasily.

His lips curving in a tender smile, he cupped a hand at her cheek. “Don’t worry. I’ll teach you all you need to know.”

She gulped again, then stepped out of her heels and slacks. Down to her bra and panties, she had to fight the urge to wrap her arms around her middle to cover herself as she watched Case pull back the covers.

When he turned back to her, her heart shot to her throat. His eyes, always a gorgeous blue, seemed to have taken on a darker hue, one that smoldered and burned. He reached out and placed a hand on her cheek. “Make love with me, Gina.”

His voice was husky, his touch gentle, as he cupped her face. Helpless to do anything else, she stepped into his embrace, his kiss.

His lips were first soft, then commanding, as he used his chest to force her back on the bed. She felt as if every nerve ending in her body was cued to register each new sensation. The weight of his body sinking against hers, the heat that seeped into her skin, the sweep of his tongue around her mouth. With a hand cupped on her breast between them, he kneaded the mound, making her nipple ache to be touched as well.

Within minutes, she was writhing beneath him, her body demanding a satisfaction she had no idea how to ask for.

“Case,” she begged breathlessly. “Please.”

“Give me a minute.” He rolled off her and stretched to retrieve something from the pocket of his slacks. A condom, she realized nervously, and gulped, as she watched him open the package and slip it into place.

Protected now, he slid a hand down her back and rolled her to her side to face him. With his gaze on hers, he stripped off her panties, then settled his hand between her legs.

She tensed, gasping, as his fingers brushed her center.

“Ssh,” he soothed, kissing her. “I won’t hurt you. I just want to make sure you’re ready.”

She nodded, then closed her eyes on a groan, as he began to stroke her, slow, feather-light brushes of his fingers along her femininity. She felt the heat rising deep inside her, the softening of her walls. Fire burned behind her eyes, in her lungs, beneath her skin.

This is torture, was all she could think. The most unbelievable pleasure-evoking, mind-numbing torture she’d ever experienced in her life and she wanted more. She felt the tip of his finger slide inside and tensed against the pressure.

“Relax,” he soothed.

His voice became both balm and sorcerer, calming her fears, even as it fanned the flames higher. Her breath grew labored, her womb throbbed for release.

As if sensing her increasing need, he cupped a hand behind her knee and drew her leg over his. “I won’t hurt you,” he said again, shifting his hips against hers.

Closing her eyes against the heat that threatened to consume her, she nodded.

She felt the nudge of his sex at her opening, and her breath snagged in her lungs.

“Breathe,” he urged against her lips. “Just breathe. Let yourself go.”

The pressure of his hips against hers increased as he pushed slowly inside. Gasping, desperate to escape this ache that thrummed so deeply inside her, she arched, and he slid a little deeper. One of his hands fanned her buttocks, holding her against him, the other cupped her face. She could feel his breath against her lips, hear the huskiness in his voice, as he murmured words of encouragement.

He inched deeper and met resistance.

“Trust me, baby,” he whispered as he clasped her buttocks between his hands. Holding her in place, he pushed his hips forward. She gasped, as pain, red hot and searing, shot through her. A split second later it was gone, giving way to the most incredible flood of sensations.

This is what it means to become one, she thought in wonder, as she struggled to absorb what was happening to her. The most intimate of joinings. Awed by the experience, she opened her eyes, needing to create a visual connection with Case, as well as the physical one they shared, and found him watching her. His face was taut with restraint, his eyes dark with passion. A fine sheen of perspiration beaded his upper lip and his chest. She knew without asking what his self-control was costing him.

Her heart melted at the sacrifice he was willing to make for her, the gentleness with which he had handled her. Looping her arms around his neck, she drew his mouth to hers. “Don’t hold back,” she whispered against his lips. “Give me everything.”

With a groan, he rolled her to her back and surged deeper, his hips pumping against hers in a rhythmic dance Gina found easy to follow. Pressure slowly built inside her, squeezing the breath from her lungs, closing her throat. She felt Case tense, his body going as rigid as steel, the tremble in the legs clamped against hers, the quiver of arms he’d braced at either side of her face.

Eyes now open wide in wonder, she watched the passion build on his face, felt the shudder of release that shook him from head to toe, heard the low growl he emitted and absorbed the sound as he lowered his mouth to hers.

Like a sail that had lost its wind, he sank slowly down over her, with a sigh, and buried his face in the curve of her neck.

“You okay?” he asked softly.

Touched by his concern, it took her a moment to find her voice.

“Yes,” she whispered, then wrapped her arms around him and held him close, knowing how inadequate the word was, how incredibly short it fell of describing her true feelings.

With their hearts beating in rhythm, she closed her eyes and slept.

Gina decided she much preferred being awakened by a man than an alarm clock. Butterfly kisses on her eyelids, light strokes of his hands over her belly, whispered words that both seduced and intrigued. Snuggled close against Case’s side, she was more than willing to spend the entire day like this.

“Well, well, well.”

Gina was so relaxed, so content, it took her a moment to realize that a third person had joined her and Case in her bedroom. When she did, she popped up like a jack-in-a-box to find Zoie standing at the foot of her bed. Mortified that she’d been caught naked in bed with Case, she grabbed the covers and clutched them to her chin.

Case didn’t seem to suffer the same embarrassment. He sat up, stretching like a cat.

“Good morning, Zoie.”

“Yes it is,” she agreed, then dropped her gaze to the point where the covers gathered loosely at his waist and smiled. “And it’s getting better by the minute.”

Pursing her lips in annoyance, Gina snatched the covers to hold up high on Case’s chest. “You might’ve knocked first,” she snapped irritably.

“I did,” Zoie replied, then shrugged. “Guess you couldn’t hear it over all the heavy breathing.”

Irritated that her friend seemed to be enjoying her discomfort, Gina narrowed an eye at her. “What do you want?”

“Just dropped by to see if it was true,” Zoie replied, then grinned. “But I can see that it is.”

“What’s true?” Gina asked impatiently.

Zoie tossed the newspaper she held onto the bed. “See for yourself,” she said, then turned for the door with a casual, “Call me later,” tossed over her shoulder.

Her modesty forgotten, Gina snatched up the paper and flipped it open to find the headline Merger Of Fortunes and beneath it read, Author of children’s books pens her own fairy-tale ending. A stock photo of Case from the newspaper’s files was pictured alongside a publicity photo of her. The publicity pic was one her publisher had requested, in which she held a stuffed Timothy Toad at arm length’s, her lips puckered, as if she was about to kiss him.

Sickened by the sensationalistic slant to the announcement of their engagement, she shifted her gaze back to the headline. How could Case do this to her? she asked in disbelief. Had he been so sure of her answer, himself, that he would release the news to the paper before he’d even proposed?

“Why?” she cried softly, then turned to him, tears blurring her vision. “How could you do this to me?”

“Do what?” he asked in confusion.

She shoved the paper at him and pushed from the bed. “How could you do such a thing?” she cried. “Is your ego so big you never doubted for a minute that I’d say yes? That no woman would ever say no to the mighty Case Fortune?”

Frowning, Case dragged the paper onto his lap. He swore under his breath as he read the headline, then slapped the back of his hand against the paper. “Do you really think I’m responsible for this?” he asked angrily.

“Well, it certainly wasn’t me who leaked the news to the paper! I had no idea you intended to propose last night.”

He glared at her a long moment, his jaw clenched, then he heaved a sigh and stretched out a hand. “Come here.”

She hesitated a moment, not sure she wanted to touch him. Not after he’d turned their engagement into a media circus.

“Gina,” he said firmly.

Though reluctant, she put her hand in his and allowed him to draw her back to bed.

He draped an arm around her and pressed his lips to her hair. “I’m sorry, darling. I know this isn’t the way you probably dreamed of having your engagement announced to the world. What woman would? But I didn’t leak the news to the paper. I swear, it wasn’t me.” Sighing wearily, he rested his forehead against her head. “We need to go and see your father. I’m sure he’s seen this by now and is probably furious with me for not coming to him first and asking for your hand.”

She jerked from his side, her eyes wide in alarm. “No. I don’t want to see him.”

“But, Gina—”

“No! I don’t need his permission to marry. Whatever rights he had in my life he sacrificed a long time ago.”

“Okay, okay,” he soothed, and drew her back to his side. “We don’t have to go and see him.”

Blinking back tears, she sat huddled at his side, wishing desperately that she could roll the clock back an hour. Before she’d seen the headlines in the paper, she had been deliriously happy, her heart brimming with her love for Case.

She started at the unexpected thought. Love? She slowly relaxed, realizing it was true. She had fallen in love with Case. She didn’t know the precise moment when her feelings for him had grown to that point, but she knew without a doubt that she loved him.

But did he love her?

“Case?” she asked hesitantly.

“Hmm?”

“Do you love me?”

He drew back to look at her in puzzlement. “Where did that come from?”

Though as frightened to hear his answer as she had been embarrassed to ask the question, she had to know. “You’ve never said it. I just wondered.”

He stared at her a long moment, then smiled and hugged her to his side again. “I’d never marry a woman I didn’t love.”

Case punched in the security code to his penthouse and strode inside.

“Well, look what the cat dragged in.”

He stopped short when he saw Creed stretched out on his sofa, then scowled. “What are you doing here?”

“Just checking on you, big brother. Since you didn’t return to the estate last night, I thought you might have stayed here.” He gave Case’s rumpled clothing a pointed look. “But seeing as how you’re wearing the same clothes you had on last night, I assume you spent the night with your new fianceé.”

His scowl deepening, Case peeled off his dinner jacket and tossed it over the back of a chair. “So what if I did?”

Creed folded his hands behind his head. “That was quite a bomb you dropped on us last night.”

“Yeah. I imagine it was.”

“I knew you were determined to close the deal with Reynolds, but I never dreamed you’d go so far as marry his daughter in order to gain control of Reynolds Refining.”

Snorting a laugh, Case stripped off his shirt. “Who said anything about marriage?”

“You did. I heard the proposal myself.”

Case dropped his shirt and headed for his bedroom and the bathroom beyond. “There’s a mighty big gap between engagement and marriage.”

“What?” Creed bolted from the sofa and hurried after him. “Are you saying you don’t intend to marry Gina?”

Case twisted on the faucet in the shower. “I won’t have to.”

Scowling, Creed braced a shoulder against the doorframe. “Maybe you better explain.”

“Once Reynolds hears of the engagement—which I assume he has by now, thanks to whoever leaked the story to the newspaper—he’ll go along with the merger.”

“Why would he do that? He’s already told you he’s changed his mind.”

“His only objection was his desire to leave his daughter a legacy. Since Gina and I are now engaged, there’s no reason for him to delay any longer. He gets the money and, by marrying me, his daughter gets the company and the legacy he wanted for her … or so Curtis will think.”

Creed held up a hand. “Wait a minute. In order for Reynolds’ daughter to obtain partial ownership, the two of you would have to marry.”

His smile smug, Case unzipped his fly. “Which is the beauty of my little plan. I don’t have to marry her. I just have to make Reynolds think that I am. Once the merger is complete, I’ll break the engagement. Dakota Fortunes will own Reynolds Refining and I’ll still be a single man.”

Creed wagged his head sadly. “Brother, that’s low. Even for you.”

“Really? I think it’s rather magnanimous.” Case let his slacks drop and stepped out of them and into the shower. “Gina doesn’t want the company. Never has.”

“But you proposed to her,” Creed reminded him. “I doubt she’ll thank you for breaking the engagement.”

Case caught the shower curtain in his hand. “Not at first, maybe, but she will eventually. Now, if you’ll excuse me,” he said and jerked the curtain into place, blocking his brother, as well as the guilt he was trying to heap on him. “I prefer to shower alone.”

He waited until the bathroom closed behind Creed, then snatched up the bar of soap and began to lather his chest.

Gina would thank him, he told himself. She’d never be happy married to a man like him. She was much too sensitive, too … fragile a woman to survive marriage to a man like Case. She needed someone who would dote on her, someone less selfish, less ambitious. Someone who would love her for who she was, not for what she brought to the bargaining table.

Do you love me?

With a groan, he slumped forward, bracing his hands against the tiled wall, hearing again the uncertainty in her voice, the hope, the need, when she’d posed the question. And how had he responded?

He hadn’t. He’d cleverly dodged her question, using the evasive tactics he’d honed razor sharp in the business world.

Creed was right, he thought miserably. His treatment of Gina was low, even for him.

While Case was dealing with his guilt, Curtis Reynolds sat at the head of the table in his spacious dining room, reading the morning paper. As usual, he was alone, a fact that had begun to bother him of late.

When he’d first read the morning’s headline, he was shocked to discover that his daughter and Case were engaged. But his shock had quickly given way to satisfaction.

About time his daughter married, he told himself, as he sipped his coffee—though, sadly, it was too late for him to gain anything from the union. He would’ve liked to have had grandchildren. Preferably a boy, but at this point in his life, he would’ve welcomed a girl.

Reminded of the disease that was quickly eating away at his body and his life, he sat his coffee cup down and sank back in his chair with a weary sigh. Odd how mortality changed a man, he thought glumly. A year ago he wouldn’t have given grandchildren a thought. Now that he was facing death, the things he’d once considered so important had lost some of their shine. More and more often he found himself thinking about his wife, his daughter, and the mistakes he’d made with both, rather than the business he’d dedicated his life to building.

Stretching out a hand, he dragged the newspaper from the table and to his lap, the picture of his daughter in full view. She’d developed into a beautiful woman, he thought with a smidgen of pride … and more than a little regret. Not the beauty her mother had been, but an attractive young woman, none the less.

How long had it been since he’d seen her last? he wondered. Ten years? Probably closer to twelve. The summer before she began college, she’d made a brief visit home. He remembered the visit well. The flash of temper she’d displayed when he’d told her he was leaving on a business trip the day after her arrival. But he’d seen hurt in her eyes, as well. The disappointment. And that’s the memory that haunted him now.

It hadn’t at the time, he thought sadly. He’d dismissed the guilt, just as he had each time he’d witnessed similar reactions from his wife. He’d done so by telling himself that his business was important, that all the time he spent building Reynolds Refining was for his family, his wife and daughter. Hadn’t he provided them a cushy life? A regal home, a respected place in society, the finest of everything money could buy?

But now that he was facing his mortality, he realized the mistakes he’d made, all that he’d lost, just as his wife had tried to tell him so many times in the past. He was fifty-seven years old, still young really, but alone in the world. He’d driven his wife to suicide by allowing his ambition to supercede her needs and destroyed whatever chance he might’ve had at a relationship with his daughter.

And for what? he asked himself in frustration. A damn company. Earlier that week, he’d heard a Country Western song on the radio that pretty well capsulized the lesson he’d learned. The guy had been singing something about there not being any luggage racks on a hearse.

How true, he acknowledged sadly. He’d dedicated his life to building and collecting things. And now that he was facing the end of his life, he realized the mistakes he’d made, the lives he’d damaged, all he’d lost. In chasing the illusive rainbow of success, he’d sacrificed what was most important.

Family.

He dropped his head back against the chair with a sigh. For a man who’d spent the majority of his life alone, he’d never once suffered loneliness.

But now that he was facing death, it seemed loneliness was his constant companion.