Nailed - Opal Carew Page 0,47
thighs. “I just hope they do okay. I’d hate to think Kane invested in me and pulled strings to get my line into Rapture, and then no one buys them.”
“I’m sure that won’t happen. Don’t worry.”
The anxiety about her line failing despite Kane’s help had been building in her. A growing unease that was eating away at her. But Will’s warm smile and the encouragement in his knowing hazel eyes soothed her agitation. Maybe she had been blowing things out of proportion.
She drew in a deep breath. “I know. I’ll just do the best I can. That’s all I can expect of myself. It’s just, it’s been my dream, you know?”
He nodded. “I do. I didn’t come from money like Kane did. When I met him at college and he was impressed by my ideas then said he wanted to start a business together, I knew my dream had come true.”
She gazed at him, realizing for the first time how much they had in common.
“I think it’s amazing that you two paired up and have become such a phenomenal success. Your company is practically a household name.”
“I was definitely lucky. Kane is a fabulous friend and business partner.” He smiled. “And I know he’ll be a fabulous husband.”
Of course he was right. Kane would be everything a husband should be. Strong, protective, understanding. A good provider. He would meet her every need.
Except one.
He would never love her.
“So now that you’ve had your dream become a reality, do you have other dreams?” she asked.
“Well, I don’t need any more money. And that’s never been important to me anyway. I’ve always just wanted to be able to bring my ideas to life. But … I guess the big thing I want in life is to find that special person. You know, someone who puts me above all else. Who loves me.”
Her heart ached. She wanted that, too, but now she was in a marriage of convenience, so she would never have it.
But she smiled. “You’re a romantic.”
He nodded. “I guess I am. And I want the whole white picket fence thing. I want to get a house like you and Kane have and fill it with kids.”
“I’m sure you’ll have all of that,” she said softly. “It’ll just take a little time to find that special someone.”
He stared at the wineglass in his hand. “I thought I had, but it didn’t work out.”
At the sadness she saw in his eyes, her heart ached for him.
She rested her hand on his. “I’m sorry, Will. It must hurt.”
He shrugged. “Life moves on.”
* * *
The feel of River’s soft hand on his threw Will totally off balance. She seemed to sense his discomfort and drew her hand away, then sipped her wine.
What the hell was he doing moaning about his own life when he was here to cheer River up?
She set her glass on the table and leaned back against the couch. She looked so morose. Well, why wouldn’t she? She’d been uprooted from her life and thrown into a totally new situation.
She’d been fired from her job, married a man she didn’t love, and then moved out of her apartment into this new place. It was luxurious, but that didn’t make it home. Not yet.
She was starting a new company, which was in a great position because of Kane’s backing, but she had the same worries as every new business owner. That her product wouldn’t be well received and her dream would all fall apart around her.
With Kane out of town for a week, she didn’t even have her husband to talk through her anxiety with.
Kane had asked Will to check on her while he was gone. Will had a key card that allowed him access to the penthouse, but he wouldn’t just walk in on Kane’s new bride.
Except that he’d started to get worried when she hadn’t answered his repeated calls today.
Then to find her naked in the hot tub …
Fuck! He would never make a move on a woman Kane was interested in, let alone his new wife, but seeing her all sexy and soft-looking in the water had made him hard and needy. With his own sex life a nonevent right now, it had been hard to ignore the soft swell of her breasts being caressed by the bubbling water. And knowing that only the thin veil of water and air had been hiding the rest of her assets.
When the bubbles had turned off, exposing all of her … Fuck! He