Free For Business...Or Marriage? by Jules Bennett Page B

between him and Abby was more.
    “What did you picture me doing, Cade?”
    Her sweet, yet sultry voice hung in the air, as if mocking him.
    Careful. You’re treading on shaky ground.
    “Meeting friends for a drink or shopping or going on a date.”
    “I can’t recall the last date I had.”
    Cade swallowed. “You’re kidding? Do I work you that hard?”
    “No, but I’ve always stayed after you and Brady left because I really had nothing to go home to.”
    Before he could utter another word, two women wheeled out a cart with several dishes. Once the food was served and they were alone once again, Cade couldn’t get over the fact she’d been alone for so long.
    “Surely you do something for fun?”
    Abby shoved a fork in a mandarin orange in her salad. “I love to read. Poetry mostly. I also like to surf the web for various destinations. I…”
    “What?” he asked when she trailed off.
    She stabbed another orange. “It’s silly.”
    “I still want to hear it.”
    With her fork hovering over her plate, she grinned. “I look for destinations that I’d like to see one day. I love to travel, but the only way I can afford to doit—other than our business trips—is through the Internet.”
    Guilt crept over him. Granted it wasn’t his fault he was born into money and could hop on his private plane any time of the day or night he wanted, but he still felt like Abby had been cheated of seeing the beauty of the world. And she’d cheated the world of seeing her beauty.
    “Don’t get me wrong,” she said in a rush, then popped the orange into her mouth. She chewed, swallowed and continued, “I love all the traveling I’ve gotten to do with you, but I’d like to go somewhere where I can leave my laptop behind and just pack a bikini and some sunscreen.”
    The image of her in a bikini had him dropping his own fork. The metal clattered against his plate.
    “Maybe when things calm down in a few weeks you can take that much-needed vacation to anywhere.” He hoped he masked his blunder well enough by moving the conversation forward. “In fact, I’ll pay for your trip. Think of it as your yearly bonus.”
    Abby’s bright eyes dimmed a bit before darting down to her plate. “I don’t want to go alone. Besides, you’re paying me more than enough for planning the wedding. I can’t accept any more money.”
    Yeah, the wedding. Funny how that word kept creeping into their private conversations.

Nine
    T he next morning offered bright, beautiful sunshine as Abby and Cade boarded his private jet once again for yet another honeymoon location.
    Abby knew she needed to bump up the “amenities” she was supposed to be researching. Dinners were proving to be too emotional. For her anyway.
    The way Cade kept quizzing her about her lifestyle only made her feel more pathetic. She hadn’t realized just how lonely her nonexistent social life was until she heard the words aloud.
    This plane ride was short. So short, in fact, that Abby and Cade didn’t speak a word in flight. He was busy on his phone with Mona discussing office arrangements after they were married and Abby was busy planning that “blessed” day.
    With a sigh, and a heavy heart, she closed her computer as the plane came to a stop in Cozumel. They were booked at the Crown Paradise in the honeymoon suite—per her request. She wanted him to see exactly what he could have by ways of luxury for a newly married couple.
    Of course when night fell she and Cade couldn’t exactly sleep in the same room, so she’d also booked the suite down the hall.
    When they went to check in, Abby stepped in front of Cade at the reception desk.
    “I’ll take care of this,” she told him. “Why don’t you make sure the bellboy doesn’t squash my laptop bag?”
    When he walked away, Abby offered her sweetest smile and checked in. The registrar paused only a bit when he saw they had two rooms booked. Probably not something commonly done alongside the honeymoon