Page 24 of The Sweetest Devotion

“Mom,” I cut in. “Is he okay with his health?”

She calmed down for just a moment. Her forehead creased as she looked down at the marble flooring. “He wants to walk. He’s becoming frustrated with having to slow down and take a break. He’s angry and I’m doing all that I can to easethisfor him.”

I hugged myself as I felt angry inside at the illness claiming my father.

“The Residence at Cartier is a dream project for him,” my mother went on, bringing up the joint collaboration Nichols & Wagner and Cain were creating here in Los Angeles. “I understand this is abrupt and hard for you, but couldn’t you please just try to make things less complicated for your father? Cain is incredibly accomplished for his age and he’s respectful and reserved.”

“He inherited the casino. He didn’t earn it like Daddy and Phil with Nichols & Wagner,” I countered.

My mother shook her head. “He was upset when you disappeared on him. He wants to have lunch today to clear the air and smooth things over. So, please, go get dressed and meet with him.”

I put my foot down. “I have to get my tire fixed. I’m riding on a spare.”

She reached out and took my key fob from me. “I’ll have it brought in. Oliver can drive you to the restaurant.”

There was no pleading with her.

My hands were tied and I hated it. I didn’t want to disappoint my father. I knew how much this deal had meant to him in the years he’d been campaigning for The Residence Hotel and Cartier Casino to create a new property here in California. If he were in better spirits, I knew he’d never put me in this predicament.

Maybe if I begged Cain himself he’d see he was being ridiculous.

“Fine,” I said. “I’ll go get ready.”

My mother’s cold palm cupped my cheek, bringing my vision to meet hers. “Just try to at least get to know him.”

I wouldn’t. I would go to this lunch armed with a mission to convince him to drop this charade.

I dressed business casual in a white blouse, black slacks, and my favorite pair of black heels. I styled my hair, put on a little makeup, and half an hour later I was sliding into the back of our family driver’s town car.My phone was charged, finding missed calls and texts from my mother and Jadyn. Not to mention the influx of social media notifications and texts from casual acquaintances congratulating me on my engagement. The latest text from Jadyn was snooping on how things had gone when I’d seen Keith.

Oliver came to a stop and I put my night behind me as I faced the restaurant Cain had picked out.Etienne’s. The sign out front said it held a wide array of famous French cuisine. By the valet taking people’s cars in the lane around me, I just knew this was one of those obscenely fancy restaurants that gave guests large dinner plates with small servings along with decorative sauce on the side.Not my favorite, but Cain didn’t know me.Yet.

Despite my gut telling me to flee, I got out of the car and went inside. I went over to the hostess and put on my best smile and pretended everything was okay. “Hi, party for Carter?”

She scanned her reservation book and faced me with a bright smile. “Right this way.” She turned, preparing to lead me into the dining room, her braided ponytail swinging behind her.

It was almost noon and the restaurant was fairly full as we stepped into the left side of the establishment. The smell of sauce and herbs hung in the air as light classical music set the tone. People around me were eating and enjoying their dates or business meetings. No one took notice of the young woman preparing to share a meal with the Devil.

Right away I noticed where Cain was already seated and waiting. Even more, he wasn’t alone. Two of his men were at a table not too far from where Cain was sitting. One was scanning the room casually and the other, the tall and heavy-set one was on the phone.

Run!I told myself as my bravery evaporated.

It was too late.

Cain had spotted me and we were too close to the table to turn around. Where Cain was seated was in a lone corner of the restaurant, as only four tables were in the area around him. Outside of his men seated at a table behind him, no one was in this section.

“Here you are,” the hostess said as she stood at the table and bestowed me with another big smile.

I tipped my head at her awkwardly before approaching a chair farthest from Cain at the square-shaped table. He’d stood up and appraised me, being a gentleman and waiting for me to sit before he did again.

I sat down and covered my lap with a tablecloth and tried to wipe my sweaty palms on it. Before, it was easy to form a plan to talk him out of this marriage. Now, being so close, recognizing that algid air around him, I could barely bring myself to look at him.

But I did. He was in another expensive suit—a suit hedidwear well—as he sat across from me quietly.

“Good morning,” I spoke up.

Cain glanced at the watch on his wrist and back to me. “Morning.”

“Good morning!” A waiter came and interrupted us. A tall man with gold glasses that reminded me of the wrong person just then. Unlike Keith, our server, whose name tag readMax, appeared friendly. “Do you need more time to choose your meals? If so, what can we start you off with to drink?”

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