until they ended up penniless and homeless when she was twelve. Those four months had been a living hell. It was the only time she had heard her parents argue. Thank goodness her grandfather had come to their rescue once he figured her father had learned his lesson.
But Cynthia hadn’t forgotten the uncertainty, the insecurity, the fear. She vowed never to be poor again and planned to marry well so money would never be an issue.
Which brought her back to Cade. He was an Armstrong so he had money. Lots of it. But he also had a job. What a novel idea. She’d never had a job. Nor had Henry. She wondered why Cade had one. “What does he do?”
“He has a law degree.” Henry bit into a slice of mango.
Cade must be one of the Armstrong family’s personal counsel. Corporate, perhaps? No matter, he must make a bundle or he would simply live off his inheritance.
A lawyer.
Maybe Cade wanted to go into politics like a few of his more visible cousins. Cynthia didn’t consider herself political, but she took her right to vote seriously. Politics could be interesting if Cade leaned in that direction. She could be the wife of a governor, a senator, the president.
First Lady.
All that attention and adoration. People would love her. Delight shivered through Cynthia. She would like to be First Lady. She would be a good First Lady. No, a great one. She would be perfect to set fashion and hair trends. She’d usher in a style and sophistication level not seen since the Kennedy era.
Of course that would be years away. Cade was much too young to be elected president but not too young for Congress.
“So Cade is a lawyer.” And the future leader of this great nation. Cynthia lowered her sunglasses. She would stand by his side and together they would go down in the history books. The country would love her. The world would love her. Most importantly, Cade would love her.
Henry dabbed his mouth with a napkin. “Let Cade tell you what he does.”
“I want him to tell me a lot of things.”
Henry laughed. “You’ll have plenty of time for that.”
“Not if Cade spends the entire time working.”
“No phones, Palm Pilots or laptops allowed on the island.”
“Good. Very good.” She settled back in her lounge chair. “I only wish Cade would stop working now and join us. How is he going to fall in love with me without knowing me?”
“Patience, darling.” Henry held up his glass, and the steward added more champagne. “Once you get to the island, Cade is all yours.”
“All mine.”
Henry nodded. “In two weeks time, the two of you will be inseparable.”
That sounded good to her. She wanted Cade to fall head over heels in love with her. Two weeks together would allow that to happen. By the time they left the island he wouldn’t want her out of his sight. “Cynthia Armstrong.”
“Cynthia Waters,” Henry corrected.
A warm feeling settled around her heart. “It still has a nice ring to it.”
“That it does, darling.” Henry raised his glass. “That it does.”
After a long morning spent working inside, Cade stepped on deck, squinted in the bright sunlight and walked to the rail. As the ship cut a path through the waves, a refreshing breeze blew. The scent of saltwater permeated the air. A sea of blue stretched all the way to the horizon.
He allowed himself a moment to enjoy the peacefulness and the beauty. A minute passed. Then another.
Okay, long enough. Cade wasn’t here for R&R. He was here because of a donor’s whim. No way could he enjoy himself.
His forehead throbbed. He didn’t have two weeks to waste out in the middle of the Pacific. Vacations were a luxury. One he could live without. He had too many responsibilities, commitments, work. Sure, he took a day off here and there and even attended his sister’s impromptu wedding in Lake Tahoe on Valentine’s Day. But he hadn’t had a real vacation in over three years. Or was it five? He couldn’t remember.
But this wasn’t a vacation. This was for the survival of Smiling Moon and all the kids the foundation helped.
And what about his family? They needed him, too. His dad acted happy enough with wife number six, but Cade’s mother was between marriages again and his sister, Kelsey, was a newlywed. His brother-in-law, Will, seemed like a good guy, but what if a problem arose and Cade was unable to help?
The throbbing turned into a full-blown headache. He massaged his temples.
Henry joined him at the railing. “Did you finish making your arrangements?”
Cade nodded.
“I know this is more than you agreed to.”
He nodded again. Cade didn’t trust what words might come out of his mouth. Damn, he hated the walking-on-eggshells-kissing-up part of donor wooing.
“Are you going to stay for the entire two weeks?”
Cade nearly laughed. “Do I have a choice?”
Henry’s carefree smile contradicted the slyness in his eyes. “You always have a choice.”
Not always. “I finish what I start.” Cade would make it to the end of the adventure. He’d only walked away from one thing in his life. And he’d lived to regret it.
“Good, because if you do I’ll increase my donation…significantly.”
Leave it to Henry to dangle the right carrot. “What about—”
“Cynthia?”
Cade nodded. “She doesn’t look like the outdoors type.”
“There’s more to her than meets the eye,” Henry said. “I hope you give her a chance.”
“We won’t have a problem.” As long as she stays out of the way. Cade could survive whatever Henry threw at him. Surviving Cynthia Sterling, however, was another story.
The more Cade saw of her, the more he realized his first impression had been correct. She was the polar opposite of Maggie, and the kind of woman Cade avoided like the plague.
He realized Cynthia’s last name fit her better than her first name. She was Sterling—sterling silver to be exact. She needed to be taken care of, polished and buffed or she would tarnish. He hoped she could do it herself for the next two weeks because he didn’t have the time.
“I forgot one thing.” Henry’s gaze met his. “Cynthia has to make it to the end with you or you won’t get any donation.”
“What?”
“Both you and Cynthia have to remain on the island for two weeks. Or you lose. Everything.”
Cade’s
