The Marriage Promise (Billionaire Games Book 4) Read online

  “Honest,” Emily said. “We had a good time with Miss Deidra.”

  Amy shot John a supportive look. “Maybe tomorrow you can ask her if we did or said something to upset her.” But there was no guilt in Amy’s voice. Only hope.

  Yes. Tomorrow, John would have to find out why Deidra had become so suddenly distant. She had at least agreed to lunch with them tomorrow. And for now, that was enough.

  CHAPTER 6

  THE NEXT MORNING, Deidra was up at 5:30, knowing Lecie was probably pacing the floor, wanting an update about John’s marital status. Truth be told, Deidra was more than anxious to share what she’d learned from Amy last night.

  After a quick shower, she powered on her cell phone and set a call to California.

  “Deidra!” Lecie’s feisty voice echoed through the phone. “I was about to call you since I hadn’t heard from you yet this morning.”

  “Well, technically, it’s still bedtime here. It’s only a few minutes after six.”

  Lecie was silent for a bit, and Deidra could see her checking her watch. “Oh, that’s right. You’re three hours behind me.”

  “It is a bit of an inconvenience, isn’t it?” Deidra laughed.

  “So what happened?” Lecie asked. “Did you ask one of the daughters?”

  “Yes, I did.” Deidra nodded. “And what I found out kind of sucks for them.” Feelings of sadness wrapped around Deidra.

  “What? What?” Lecie’s voice had taken on an impatient tone.

  “His wife is dead.” Deidra filled with guilt over the tiny bit of joy that had sprung up in a remote corner of her heart the moment she learned that John wasn’t married. She shouldn’t be happy about someone being dead.

  “Dead?” Lecie’s tone echoed the same sentiment. “This couldn’t have worked out better.”

  “Lecie!” Deidra objected.

  “Well, I’m only saying what we’re both thinking. There’s no ex-wife to interfere.”

  “Just the dead wife’s ghost.”

  Lecie snorted a laugh. “Come on, you don’t believe in ghosts.”

  “Not a physical ghost. Just a symbolic one.”

  “Oh come on, Deidra!” Lecie scolded her. “You’re a vibrant young woman with as much beauty and charm as you have money…to burn, I might add. Any man would be lucky to have you.”

  “I know, I know…I’m no longer that mousy little girl who was in love with your brother Andre several years ago.” Deidra knew that to be true. But that same scared little girl still resided deep within Deidra, and she didn’t have a problem rearing her mousy little head every now and then.

  “Hey, remember Jeff Barnes?” Lecie asked with a devilish chuckle. Jeff was an acquaintance of Nick Matthews, Lecie’s husband. Lecie and Nick had introduced Deidra and Jeff a few months before Lecie found out she was expecting. Deidra was the first to admit that it’d been fun sporting around L.A. on the arm of the drop-dead gorgeous man, but after a few weeks, the appeal had worn off. Jeff wasn’t her type. All the girls (and a few guys too) who were constantly fawning all over Jeff didn’t bother Deidra. The fact that he was as conceited as the day is long didn’t bother her either. What bothered Deidra was his constant need to be touchy-feely with her and his constant need to talk to her on the phone fifteen times a day. She couldn’t stand the clinginess that came with this gorgeous man who wanted to occupy every waking moment of her day.

  “Yes, I remember Jeff Barnes.” And she’d just as soon forget him. “I’ve got to go,” she said. “I’m having lunch on the north shore with John and the girls.”

  “Lunch, huh?” Lecie’s mischievous tone poured through the phone. “You don’t seem to mind spending all of your time with John…and his kids.”

  Deidra didn’t need Lecie reminding her of the reason she’d dumped Jeff Barnes. The two scenarios weren’t the same. They weren’t even in the same ballpark. This time, it was different. “Well, for as much as I think it’s a bad idea to get mixed up with a widower and his kids, spending time with them just seems like the most natural thing in the world.”

  “Sounds like fate to me.”

  Ola, the beachside restaurant at Turtle Bay was semi-crowded, but John, Deidra and the girls had managed to get a table near the edge of the patio, yet not down on the sand. Deidra was thankful for that. Her shoes were open-toed, but not sandals. And the last thing she wanted to do was set her tender feet down into the coarse Oahu sand in that kind of shoe.

  As soon as the girls finished their burgers and fries, they took off for the water’s edge. John and Deidra stayed at the table, while John kept a watchful eye on the girls.

  A gentle breeze drifted past Deidra. The temperatures since she’d been here were perfect. It was neither cold nor hot. She liked it. No wonder her parents had been so fond of it. Funny that they’d never brought her here. Maybe it was their place. And now, after Sunday, when she scattered their ashes just offshore, it would be their place forever.

  A sense of melancholy whipped past her as she watched the waves battering the shore. The waters here were far different than the lazy, gentle waves of Waikiki. For as much as she enjoyed relaxing on the beach at Waikiki, there was something to be said for the turmoil in the crushing waves of the north shore. It kind of matched the turbulent feelings overpowering her right now.

  She glanced at John, remembering what Amy had told her last night. He was in Hawaii for the same reason that Deidra was. Pretty much. She wished he would confide in her. Talk to her about his wife’s death. It would make her feel better about spending so much time with him and his children.

  But, really, what does one say? Hey, did I tell you my wife died? Not exactly a proper subject when you’re trying to get to know someone. If he was indeed trying to get to know her. But surely he must be, right? Why else would he keep insinuating himself upon her, or making it so easy for her to intrude upon him?

  “Thanks for inviting me today,” she said. “It’s beautiful here.” She knew it was a bad idea to get mixed up with John, considering why he was in Hawaii. The only thing worse than finding out a guy was married was finding out your competing with his dead wife’s ghost.

  “Only because you’re here.” He raised his beer in a salute.

  Deidra squirmed in her chair. She wasn’t used to being flirted with—especially by such a handsome man.

  “My compliment makes you uncomfortable?” he asked.

  “I’m not really used to this kind of attention.” She dipped her chin and tried stealing a glimpse of him.

  “I find that really hard to believe. A woman as beautiful as you?” He shook his head and peered at her. “I can’t imagine why you’re here in this paradise all alone.”

  “There’s a very good reason for that.” Not to mention a depressing one. Deidra gulped her wine. She could tell him why she was here. That should make it easy for him to tell her about his wife. But she wanted him to tell her because he wanted to, not because she had opened the door for him. “But I don’t want to bore you.”

  “That’ll never happen.” He laughed.

  She pointed toward the water. “The girls look like they’re having fun.”

  “That they are.” He nodded. “And I owe it all to you.”

  “Me?” she asked.

  “The difference in their demeanor since we arrived are like night and day.” He waved at Deidra elaborately. “I can only attribute it to you.”

  Deidra laughed. “That’s very kind of you.”

  John looked out at the girls frolicking along the water’s edge. His gaze lingered on them. When he turned back to Deidra, his smile slowly faded. “Deidra, I think there’s something I should tell you.” He swirled the beer around inside its bottle.

  “Okay,” she said cautiously. Was he going to tell her about his wife? She hoped so. For some reason, and she didn’t know why, it felt like if he brought up the subject first it’d meant he wanted to open up to her. Like he was ready to move on. I hope I’m not mistaken, she thought.

 
; “I’ll admit,” he said. “I didn’t expect to end up having such a good time on this trip.”

  “Neither did I.” She almost felt guilty about it, considering what she’d come here to do. But wasn’t having fun what her parents had wanted for her?

  John fidgeted in his chair, raked his fingers through his blond hair, then cleared his throat. He glanced back out at the girls again. “This is not supposed to be a vacation in the traditional sense.” He looked back at Deidra. “We came here to spread my wife’s ashes. She passed away three years ago. Cancer.”

  “John, I’m very sorry.” Those old feelings of uncertainty, that she wasn’t good enough, pretty enough, deserving enough, began to resurface. Deidra sucked in a breath. “See, I was afraid I was intruding…” Her words trailed off as she laid her forehead in her hand.

  “But that’s just it.” His hand gently caressed her arm. It was the first time he’d touched her. On purpose. “You’re not intruding. At least, I don’t think you are. The girls don’t think you are.” John went silent as he looked at Deidra with approval gleaming in his ebony eyes.

  “Yes, but I’m clearly making you uncomfortable.”

  “I just don’t want you to think poorly of me.” John reached for Deidra’s hand. She didn’t, couldn’t object.

  Hope tugged a smile at the corners of her mouth. She began shaking her head. “That’ll never happen.”

  “So you don’t think badly of me for enjoying our time together, even though I’m here to fulfill my late wife’s last wishes?”

  Overcome with her own dose of guilt, Deidra sucked in a breath—hopefully it was more courage than cowardice. “There’s something you should know,” she pushed herself to say. She gazed at him for a lingering moment before she continued. “I’m here for the same reason you are. Sort of.”

  “Really?” John’s eyes widened. He squeezed her hand. “Your husband passed away?”

  “No.” She shook her head. “My parents.”

  “Both of them?”

  Deidra nodded. “A car accident. About three months ago.”

  John gazed around at their surroundings, paused momentarily on the girls who were now sitting at the water’s edge, and then settled his sights on Deidra. “Maybe this is fate.”

  Fate. That’s the same thing Lecie had said on the phone just this morning. Deidra found herself caught up in John’s eyes. She was locked in their intensity, couldn’t pull away if she wanted to. But she didn’t want to. “Well, it is something my parents would try to orchestrate…” Her words trailed off as she filled with embarrassment that allowed her to break the spell.

  “Jessica, too.” He waited until Deidra looked at him again, then said, “Deidra, I can’t tell you how sorry I am about your parents.”

  “Thank you.” Deidra tightened her mouth to keep from tearing up. “Well…” She looked back out at the girls, playing once again in the water. “I understand Amy and Emily a lot better now. It’s hard to lose your mother at any age.” She looked back at John. “But as young as they are...that’s awful.”

  “Yeah.” He nodded. “I might’ve indulged them a little too much since Jessica’s death. Especially Amy.”

  “I’m sure you’ve been an exemplary father,” Deidra said. “They’re wonderfully sweet and warm-hearted children.”

  “Thanks to you.” John laughed.

  “I think you’re giving me a little too much credit.” She felt the heat of a blush crawling up her neck. “The glory is most likely due to this beautiful island paradise, I’m sure.”

  John studied Deidra for what seemed like forever. His gaze told her that he wanted to hold her, kiss her...at least that’s the way he made her feel. And she wanted to be in his arms, to feel his lips against hers.

  John broke into her thoughts, saying, “The girls and I are going to a luau Friday night at Paradise Cove. Would you like to join us?”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Do you think we can get an extra ticket at your table?”

  “No need. I have two extras. Phillip and Helen were scheduled to go with us, but with Phillip in the hospital, that won’t happen now.”

  Deidra thought about it. “Okay. Under one condition.” She waited for him to respond.

  He said, “Agreed.”

  “Agreed? You don’t even know what the condition is.”

  “Don’t need to.” He grinned. “As long as you’re involved, I’m all for it.”

  Deidra laughed and shook her head. “You’re incorrigible.”

  “Just so I know…what is it I’ve signed up for?”

  “I have a four-person table reserved for a dinner cruise on the Star of Honolulu tomorrow evening. I’d like you and the girls to accompany me.”

  “You booked a four-person table for yourself?”

  “I didn’t want to sit beside strangers.”

  He nodded, as if he understood. “Well, now you won’t have to. You’ll be dining with me and my somewhat civil children.”

  They both laughed. Deidra almost forgot what had brought her, John, and his children to Hawaii in the first place.

  CHAPTER 7

  ON THE DINNER CRUISE, Amy and Emily couldn’t have been more obvious when they asked to sit together on the back side of the table, leaving John on the outside next to Deidra. But he didn’t mind.

  Sitting next to Deidra was a pleasure. She wore a dress that she’d probably bought in one of the shops along the beach walk. It was black with blue flowers and spaghetti straps. She looked incredibly beautiful, but John got the feeling she didn’t know it.

  He leaned toward her and whispered against her ear, “Have I told you how nice you look this evening?” He’d thought about saying beautiful or stunning, but decided against it. Telling her how beautiful she looked might not come across well, considering he’d just met her a couple of days ago and he was here to scatter his wife’s ashes.

  “Thank you.” She blushed, then reached for her water goblet.

  John glanced at the girls. They were giggling and whispering to each other. At least they were having fun. He turned back to Deidra. “Have you lived in the States long?” It didn’t seem like an out of order question, since her accent was clearly anything but American.

  She took a second or two to think about it. “Couple of years. Although I spent quite a bit of time in Florida when I was growing up. That’s where my grandmother lived. My Dad was an American.”

  “And your mother?”

  “France.”

  Ah, that’s it. He’d thought he’d detected a hint of a French accent wrapped around her Queen’s English. “France. Is that where you grew up?”

  She nodded. “I did spend a lot of time in England. Boarding schools.”

  “Any plans to return to France?”

  “Not really.” Deidra shook her head. “My parents and my best friend Lecie were my ties to France. As you know, my parents are gone, and Lecie lives in California now.” Deidra shrugged it off as if France no longer had any meaning for her.

  “So you’re pretty much resigned to stay in California to be near the one person you have left?”

  She nodded.

  At least California was close to Nevada. Closer than Florida or France. Close enough that she could easily pay a visit to her friend whenever she wanted.

  John was shocked at the thoughts running through his head. A future with Deidra? When had he opened up to that possibility? Apparently his mind had already decided it and was just now cluing him in.

  “Well, I do hope you’ll promise to come visit us in northern Nevada.” He put it out there to see how she’d react. She stared at him blankly, and he set about turning on the charm. “It would be a shame if the end of this trip were the end of our acquaintance.”

  Deidra hesitated, but only briefly, then asked, “What’s it like where you live? I’ve only been to Tahoe with Lecie and her sister-in-law.”

  “Well, it’s isolated.” The thought that she might not
find that agreeable seeped out in his tone.

  “Hawaii’s isolated too.”

  “Yes, but things are pretty quiet around Whisper Lake. That’s the little town near my family’s ranch. It’s not exactly a jet-setters’ paradise.”

  “Whisper Lake,” she said with a gentle softness. “Sounds like paradise to me.”

  “I think so.”

  “And a ranch?” Her blue eyes brightened. “You have horses?”

  “Yes, we do,” he said. “Do you ride?”

  “I love horseback riding.”

  “If you come for a visit, I promise horseback riding across gorgeous terrain and a picnic along the shore of Whisper Lake.”

  “That’s very tempting,” she said.

  “Then you’ll come?”

  “Sure. Why not.” She glanced at Amy and Emily. “Think they’ll be okay with a visit from me?”

  “They’ll be more than okay with it.”

  Her mood shifted into one of melancholy as she said, “You must’ve had an idyllic childhood.”

  “It wasn’t all fun and games, but it did have its charms.” He shook his head and laughed heartily as memories from his childhood invaded his thoughts. He and his siblings had played football and baseball in the yard, hide-n-go-seek on horseback, and spent a lot of time simply roaming the woods. “My brothers and sisters and I were very good at occupying our time when we were kids.”

  “How many siblings do you have?”

  “Four.” He held up the matching number of fingers, then pared them down to two as he added, “Two brothers and two sisters.”

  “Wow.” Deidra went silent for a moment, like she was trying to process being part of such a large family. “And where do you fall into place among them?”

  “The middle,” he said. “There’s Ray, he’s the oldest. Then my sister Laurie. I’m next. Then my little sister, Dana. And the baby of the bunch is Justin. He knows how to take advantage of his position.” John laughed.

  “They have children?”

  “No.” John shook his head. “They’re all single. No children.” The girls, obviously hadn’t had any children, but he couldn’t vouch for his brothers. Not completely. “None that I’m aware of, anyway.”