Catering to the CEO (23 page)

A quick glance at the calendar showed that it was a mere three weeks until Christmas.  He tended to travel over Christmas, choosing to spend it with strangers overseas than in his own home.  This year that held no appeal.  Adam contemplated picking up the phone and calling his mother – just to check in and make sure she was okay, but shame kept him from making the call.  In that moment he saw the tears in her eyes once again and heard the tremble in her voice and didn’t want to face the possibility of hearing it again on the other end of the phone.

Adam was shot out of his depressing thoughts as Grace walked through the office door with the day’s mail.  She tossed it on his desk with a snort of derision that was becoming her trademark these days.  Apparently she had heard about what had happened with Cassie and her family and had taken sides.  Her displeasure with Adam was evident every time she looked at him.  He was just about to comment on how he was getting tired of her childish behavior when she turned and faced him.

“Stephen Jacobs is here to see you.”  It was if she’d thrown down the gauntlet.  One eyebrow arched and she folded her arms across her middle as her expression dared Adam to refuse to see him.

Swallowing hard, he simply stared back and said, “Show him in.”  He watched as Grace strode from the office as his mind raced with the thought of what Stephen Jacobs could possibly have to say to him.  Why now?  After almost six weeks, why show up now?  He didn’t have to wait long because Stephen was a man with a purpose as he walked into Adam’s office and directly up to his desk where he tossed an oversized envelope down.

“Your mother doesn’t know that I’m here,” he bluntly stated.  “I’m not going to pretend to understand or excuse your behavior at our last  meeting but your mother and I are going to be married on Christmas Eve and I know that it would mean a lot if you were there.”  With that, Stephen turned and headed back out of the office.

Adam jumped up from his chair.  “Stephen, wait!” he called after him. 

Stephen turned slowly and faced Adam, his expression guarded.  “What do you want, Adam?”

Walking around his desk, Adam felt a sense of desperation.  “Is she okay?  Is there anything I can do for the wedding?”

A small smile played across Stephen’s face as he let out a pent up breath.  “Bev’s fine; she misses you and she’s embarrassed by what happened but other than that I think all of the wedding planning has kept her busy.”  He placed his hands in his trouser pockets and continued to stare at Adam.  “We decided to just have it at the house; nothing fancy, just the family.  All you need to do is show up.”

While Adam knew that Stephen was trying to do the right thing, he had his doubts that he’d be welcomed by anyone at the event.  “I don’t think it would be such a good idea for me to come.  I don’t want to ruin your big day.”

Stephen shook his head.  “You don’t get it, do you?  Family forgives one another.  You’re Bev’s son and that makes you my family.  Having you there would mean the world to her and I want to do everything possible to make your mother happy.  This isn’t about you, Adam, this is about Bev.”

“I know, I know,” Adam said, raking a hand through his hair.  “I’m trying to do the right thing here.  Things got…awkward there at the end and…well, I just want everyone to be able to enjoy themselves and I don’t think my being there is going to make that possible.”

“Nonsense,” Stephen said and he stepped forward and put a reassuring hand on Adam’s shoulder.  “Like I said, family forgives and this isn’t about you.  We’re just getting together for a small wedding and some dinner.”

Though the statement was meant to be reassuring, Adam recalled that he had made a debacle of every dinner he’d attended with the Jacobs family.  Then Adam remembered how excited his mother and Cassie had been when they talked about having the wedding at Adam’s house on the beach.  He cringed at the memory of how he’d killed their excitement with his selfishness and distrust.  He didn’t deserve anyone’s forgiveness.  “Why don’t you have a seat and we’ll talk about this?” he suggested.

The smile that spread across Stephen’s face told Adam everything he needed to hear.

****

“And you’re sure he’s not coming?” Cassie asked for the tenth time, as she put the finishing touches on the large, festive centerpiece on the dining room table. 

“Oh, my God,” Lauren mumbled.  “Please do
not
ask that question again.”  Placing the last of the groceries in the refrigerator, she turned to Cassie.  “We’ve been over this a million times.  Dad invited Adam to the wedding, he declined.  Instead, he offered this house as a gift to dad and Bev since he knew that Bev had expressed and interest in having the wedding here way back when.”

“Still…don’t you think it’s odd that…”

“NO!”
both Katie and Lauren snapped. 

With a sigh, Cassie took a look around, pleased with the progress that they’d made.  It was two days before Christmas and apparently Adam had even sprung for a decorator because when they had arrived earlier in the day, there were several elaborately decorated Christmas trees set up around the house and twinkly lights donning the exterior.  There wasn’t much else for them to do preparation-wise, so she tried to focus on the menu for the rest of their stay.

Lost in her own thoughts, she missed the look her two sisters exchanged.  Soon Bev and Stephen arrived, followed by Matt. 

“I think everyone is arriving today,” Bev said, excitement in her voice.  What was originally supposed to be just the family had grown.  Besides Cassie, her siblings and the bride and groom, Bev’s sister and brother in law were flying in, then Stephen’s brother Mark was driving down for the festivities.  Because the guest list was growing a bit and Cassie wanted to be able to relax, she had two of her server’s who were going to be alone for the holidays drive down to stay with them.  The extra hands were going to be a blessing on the day of the wedding. 

With nine bedrooms, there was plenty of room for everyone without having to use the master suite.  For some reason, Stephen and Bev had refused to use it as had everyone else.  Cassie had chosen one of the smaller bedrooms for herself, not even allowing herself to go up to the top floor.  The memories were still too strong and hurt too much.  Would she ever be over Adam?  Would there come a day when she didn’t think about him?  Long for him?  Ache for him? 

Probably not going to happen while she was staying in his house, she thought miserably to herself.  Dammit.

“We have one more surprise,” Stephen said as he got everyone’s attention.  When all eyes were on his, he continued.  “I didn’t want to say anything until I was completely sure but it looks like my sister Rose and her husband will be joining us for all of the festivities, too!”  He hadn’t seen his siblings in over five years so the fact that they were coming for his wedding was great news for everyone.

Mentally, Cassie did the room count again.  Okay, maybe Uncle Ed and Aunt Rose would take the master suite and she wouldn’t have to worry.  She didn’t realize that she’d spoken the words out loud until Stephen commented.  “Nonsense, you know you’re aunt; she hates to be higher than the second story.  Fear of heights and all.  Just take the master suite, Cass, and be done with it, okay?”  His tone was light and Cassie was sure that he had no idea what he would be subjecting her to.

Over the course of the next two hours, all of their guests arrived and it was joyful chaos.  Poor Matt got stuck with moving everyone’s luggage all around the house and the noise level was near deafening at times.  Cassie looked at the clock and saw that it was nearing four o’clock and she instructed her servers to get the prepared snack trays out of the refrigerator and to put the lasagna that she’d made ahead of time into the oven so that they could all be eating dinner at five-thirty. 

When she felt that everything was under control, Cassie decided to face her demons and walked up the back stair case to the master suite.  As soon as her feet touched the plush carpeting she felt her knees buckle.  Forcing herself to keep moving, she shut the door and walked to the bathroom to freshen up. 

So many memories assaulted her that she felt as if she were being smothered.  Everywhere she looked she could see Adam, feel him.  Every touch, every word played through her mind and with a cry of despair, she stormed from the bathroom and went out to the balcony and faced the cold, winter air.  She welcomed the frosty bite as she stared out at the ocean.  There was a time when all she wanted was to be able to look out at this view any time she wanted to, now she knew that for the next several days it would just make her sick.

With a fortifying breath, Cassie stepped back into the bedroom, closed the doors to the balcony and walked across the room, knowing that sleep was going to elude her tonight.  At the doorway, she turned and looked at the bed.  Like a flash of light it hit her; she had told Adam that she loved him that last night they’d spent here.  Was that what freaked him out?  Was that why he had turned on her the way that he had?

A lone tear rolled down her cheek.  What did it matter?  He was gone; refusing to even come to his own mother’s wedding so that he wouldn’t have to see her.  How was that for rejection?  Wiping the stray tear away, Cassie walked out of the room and went down to the kitchen to check on the meal. 

As she suspected, no one seemed to notice her absence.  A quick peek into the oven showed that the lasagna was cooking nicely and that her staff had it all under control.  She turned toward the refrigerator and grabbed a bottle of water when someone came up behind her, placed a firm hand on her hip and leaned against her.

She’d know that touch anywhere.

With a gasp of surprise, Cassie turned toward Adam’s smiling face.  “Sorry I’m late, darling.  I didn’t miss dinner, did I?”  He kissed her lightly on the cheek and had to hold back a laugh at the expression on her face.  Clearly she was surprised to see him; he just wasn’t sure if it was a good surprise or a bad one.

Cassie stared at Adam as if he was from another planet.  What in the world was he doing here?  Her entire family had promised her that he wasn’t coming!  A quick glance around the room showed no one other than herself to be surprised by his appearance.  Taking a cautious step back, she asked, “What are you doing here?”

With an easy chuckle he looked at Cassie and smiled, touching a finger lightly to her nose.  “My mother’s getting married; where else would I be?”

Before Cassie could find the words to tell him exactly where she thought he should be, Adam was being welcomed by her traitorous family.  She stood, mouth agape, as her brother shook his hand and welcomed him.  Her father followed suit and then both of her sisters walked over and hugged him!  Blinking rapidly and wondering what on earth was going on, she almost choked as Katie handed Ella to Adam and he readily took the baby into his arms!

The room began to tilt and spin and Cassie reached behind her to grab hold of the counter to stay upright.  It was like being in an episode of the
Twilight Zone
.  Any minute she expected to just pass out but luckily one of her servers approached and had questions about the evening meal.  Thankful for the distraction, Cassie busied herself.  Unfortunately, time moved quickly and before she knew it, she found herself seated next to Adam in the formal dining room and being served dinner. 

Conversation rang out all around her but all Cassie heard was her own heartbeat drumming in her ears.  Adam hadn’t said anything else to her since his initial comment and she was thankful for his silence.  She took a deep breath and reached for her glass of water and took a long drink from it. 

“Everything looks and smells wonderful, Cass,” Matt said as he stood to toast the soon-to-be bride and groom. 

Cassie was sure that his words were eloquent and wonderful and she raised her glass at the appointed time but still couldn’t focus fully on any of it.  She could smell Adam’s cologne; feel the heat of his body next to hers.  Dear Lord, how on earth was she going to survive the next three days?

Dishes were being passed and without touching a thing, she found her plate full.  Looking around in confusion as to how it all got there, she turned to find Adam smiling at her.  “I hope you don’t mind, but you were holding up the line.”  His tone was light and easy and very unlike she had ever heard him speak before.  He looked so relaxed that Cassie found herself wanting to smile back at him but couldn’t seem to make her face cooperate.

“Um…thank you,” she murmured and then turned her attention back to her meal and began to eat.  The food was like sawdust in her mouth and hoped that she was the only one feeling that way.  A look around the table showed her that everyone seemed to be enjoying it so she let herself relax a bit. 

Once dinner was done and everything cleared away, people dispersed around the house.  The men had taken over the game room while the women sat around the fire in the living room talking about the wedding.  Cassie stayed in the kitchen longer than was necessary and finally found herself about to relax. 

A dessert buffet was put out and everyone ate and visited some more.  Before she knew it, people were starting to say their good-nights and walking to their rooms.  Now that Adam was here, Cassie figured she’d bunk down in the game room with her servers.  Not wanting to face Adam in the bedroom, she went up and began collecting her things.  She was almost done when she turned to find him standing in the doorway.

“What are you doing?” he asked.