The Wedding Adventure - Melissa Mcclone Mills & Boon Silhouette

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Cynthia Sterling and Cade Armstrong Waters.”

      The other guests cheered.

      “This year, I’m paying homage to the pop-culture phenomena television show Survivor. Cade and Cynthia will spend two weeks on a deserted island together.”

      “Two weeks?” Cade’s jaw hardened. “I have responsibilities.”

      “You’ll have time to make arrangements for your absence,” Henry said. “You also have the option of paying a penalty fee and not going on the adventure if you choose.”

      The penalty fee consisted of a ten thousand dollar donation to one of Henry’s favorite charities. So far, no one had opted out of an adventure. Along with paying the penalty, one could never attend another one of his birthday parties. He knew Cade was a lawyer and the penalty fee would never stand up in a court of law. But Cade was also counting on a donation to his foundation. Offending the host wouldn’t be in his best interest.

      Blackmail?

      Perhaps, but Henry was only doing what needed to be done. The Smiling Moon Foundation would get a hefty chunk of change no matter how the adventure turned out for Cynthia and Cade. Henry’s soft spot for kids had intensified since Noelle’s birth.

      “I’m in,” Cade said with the bravado Henry expected.

      “Me, too,” Cynthia added.

      Of course she was. Two weeks alone with Cade was a dream come true for her. Knowing Cynthia, she was already planning their wedding. The Plaza? The Rainbow Room? And her honeymoon. St. Barts? Turks and Caicos?

      “Great.” Henry handed them each a backpack. “Pack your toiletries and clothes in these. The rest of the items will be provided when we reach our location.”

      Holding on to the backpack, Cynthia peered inside. “You want me to pack for two weeks with only this?”

      “You don’t need much except a swimsuit.” At her frown, Henry winked. “Smile, darling. Frowning will give you wrinkles.”

      She narrowed her eyes. He’d better not push it.

      “What about time to make arrangements?” Cade asked. “Two weeks is a long—”

      “It’s a long trip to our destination,” Henry explained. “You’ll have time to make calls and get to know each other.”

      Cade tensed. “Great.”

      Cynthia’s eyes sparkled. “I can’t wait.”

      Neither could Henry.

      Chapter Two

      Cynthia lounged in a chaise on the deck of Henry’s yacht. As she sipped Cristal from a Baccarat flute, the bubbles tickled her nose. She set the glass on a table, and a steward dressed in a white shirt and matching shorts refilled her glass.

      This was the life.

      Ever since stepping aboard Henry’s floating palace last night, she’d been pampered and spoiled by his attentive staff. Who needed a genie in a bottle with Henry around? If her time on the island were anything like the past fourteen hours, she would be living a dream. Too bad Cade wanted no part of it.

      She raised her sunglasses and stared at him. He’d barely spoken to her. Not a good sign. She wanted to be noticed, not ignored. “You didn’t tell me he was a workaholic.”

      Henry adjusted his small pillow. “Cade is committed.”

      “Committed or obsessed?” Cynthia asked. “I don’t think he slept last night.”

      “He’s dedicated to his work.”

      She had to admit his dedication appealed to her. Her father had neglected the family business in order to spend time with her mother 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

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