“I’m here to make you another offer, one we can both live with,” she said.

The look in his eyes said he doubted it. “And what offer is that?”

“Like I’ve told you, the Garrison Grand-Bahamas is my main concern, but I won’t give away a gift Dad gave to me. However, I will agree to sign my voting proxy over to you with the understanding that you inform me of all business decisions, not for my approval but just to keep me in the loop on things, since I’ll be in the Bahamas.”

Cassie saw the protective shield that lined the covering of his gaze when he asked, “Are you saying you won’t sell the controlling shares but you’ll give them to me by way of proxy?”

“Yes, that is exactly what I am saying. Since I’m signing them over to you it will basically mean the same thing, except I retain ownership. Yet it removes me from having to provide my feedback and vote on every single business decision you make.”

The room got quiet and she saw the protective shield become a suspicious one when he asked, “Why? Why would you do that?”

A quiet smile touched the corners of her lips. “Because I believed Dad all those times when he said you were one of the most astute business-minded persons that he knew, and because I also believe that you will do what you think is best for the company and keep Dad’s legacy alive for the future generation of Garrisons.”

She could tell for a moment that Parker didn’t know what to say. And then finally he said, “Thank you.”

She nodded as she stood. “No need to thank me, Parker. Have Brandon draw up the papers for me to sign before I leave.”

He stood, as well. “You’ll be here another week, right?” he asked.

“That had been my original plan but I’ve decided to leave at the end of the week. I haven’t told Brandon of my change in plans. I will tell him tonight.”

Parker came from around the desk to stand in front of her. “Cassie, Brandon is a good man. In addition to being my attorney, he’s also someone that I consider a good friend. The reason he did what he did when he came to the Bahamas-”

She waved off his words. “I know, he explained it all to me. Although I was furious at the time I’m okay now.” I’m also very much in love, she couldn’t add.

“Anna and I would like to have you over for dinner before you leave. Will you be free Wednesday night?”

Cassie smiled, feeling good that she and Parker had formed a truce. She thought about all the other dinner engagements she had scheduled that week with Stephen, Adam, Brittany and Brooke, and said, “Yes, I’d like that and Wednesday night will be fine. Thanks, Parker.”

Brandon sat looking at Cassie on the dance floor with Stephen, who had dropped by to see her before she left for the Bahamas. Tonight was her last night in Miami and he had brought her to Estate, Adam’s nightclub. It was Thursday night, which Adam had long ago designated as ladies’ night.

Brandon had been surprised and disappointed when Cassie had told him a few nights ago that she would be leaving Miami a week earlier than she had originally planned. He had come close to asking her not to go, to stay with him, and not just for another week but for always. But then he remembered what she had said about the Bahamas being her home and not ever wanting to live anywhere else. Little did she know that when she left she would be taking a piece of his heart right along with her.

“Brandon, got a minute?”

He glanced up at Adam. “Sure, what’s up?”

Adam straddled the chair across from him and glanced around as if to make sure no one was in close listening range. He then met Brandon’s curious gaze. “I’ve decided to run for president of the Miami Business Council.”

Brandon smiled. “That’s great, Adam. Congratulations.”

Adam grinned. “Thanks, but don’t congratulate me yet. Already there’s a problem.”

Brandon raised a curious brow. “What kind of a problem?” Both he and Adam had been members of Miami’s elite Business Council for years, and evidently Adam felt it was time to step up and take control. Brandon saw no problem with him doing that. Like his brothers, Adam was an astute businessman and the success of Estate could attest to that.

“Some of the older members, those with clout, aren’t taking me seriously. They see me as a single man who is a notorious playboy, and since I work in the entertainment field, they also see me as someone not suited to lead the business council.”

Brandon stared over at Adam. Unfortunately, he could imagine the older, more conservative members saying such a thing to Adam. “So what are you going to do?”

“One of the things that someone suggested that I do is easy.”

“Which is?”

Adam smiled. “Work on expanding the club’s clientele beyond the young, rich and famous. But the other suggestion won’t be so easy.”

“And what was that suggestion?” Brandon asked, hearing a hint of despair in his best friend’s voice.

“To clean up my playboy image it was suggested that I find a wife.”

Brandon blinked. “A wife?”

Adam nodded. “Yes, a wife. So what do you think?”

Brandon frowned. “I think you should tell whoever told you that to go to hell.”

“Be serious, Brandon.”

Brandon’s frown deepened. “I am serious.” He then sighed as he leaned back in his chair. “Okay, what if you did consider doing something like that? What woman will marry you just to help you advance your career that way?”

Then before Adam could respond, Brandon said, “Don’t bother answering that. For a split second I forgot your last name is Garrison. You’ll have all kind of greedy-minded, money-hungry women lining up at your door in droves. Is that the type of woman you’d want to be strapped to for the rest of your life?”

“It won’t be for the rest of my life. I’m only looking at one year, possibly two. I want a woman who’ll agree to my terms. We can get a divorce at the end of that time.”

Brandon took a sip of his wine and asked, “And where do you intend to find such a woman?”

Adam shrugged. “I don’t know. Do you have any ideas?”

Brandon chuckled and said the first name that came to his mind. “What about Paula Franklin?”

Adam glared at him. “Don’t even think it.”

Paula had first made a play for Parker a few years ago and when Parker hadn’t shown her any interest, she had moved on to Stephen. Stephen had avoided her worse than Parker had, and she’d finally turned her sights on Adam, determined to hook up with a Garrison.

Adam had been forewarned about Paula from Parker and Stephen and hadn’t been surprised when she had shown up at the club one night, ready to make a play for him and willing to do just about anything to succeed. When he had refused her advances, she had all but stalked him for a few weeks until he had threatened her with possible harassment charges.

Brandon gazed at him thoughtfully for a minute and then smiled and said, “Okay then, what about Lauryn Lowes?”

Adam gave Brandon a look that said he’d lost his mind. “Straight-laced Lauryn Lowes?”

Brandon ignored the look and said, “Yes, that’s the one. You have to admit she’s a picture of propriety, something those older, conservative members would want in a wife for you, so consider it a plus. And she’s not bad-looking, either.”

Brandon’s words got Adam to thinking. “Lauryn Lowes.”

Brandon stood and clapped Adam on the shoulder. “Yes, Lauryn Lowes. And while you’re giving that some thought, I’m going to steal my girl from Stephen for a dance.”

“Umm, that’s interesting,” Adam said, looking at him.

Brandon paused. “What is?”

“That you consider Cassie your girl. If she’s your girl then why is she leaving town tomorrow to return to the Bahamas?”

Brandon frowned. “She said she needed to go. What was I supposed to do? Hold her hostage? The Bahamas is her home, Adam, and she doesn’t want to live anywhere else. She told me that a few days after we met.”

“Have you given her a reason to change her mind?” Adam asked. “Maybe it’s all been for show and you really don’t care about her as much as I assumed you did. But if I cared for a woman, I mean really cared for one-although mind you, I don’t-I would do whatever it took to make sure we were together, and nothing, not even the Atlantic Ocean, would be able to keep us apart.” Before Brandon could say anything, Adam got out the chair and walked away.

Brandon took that same chair and sat, thinking about what Adam had said and his mind began racing. Although Cassie never said she loved him, a part of him had always felt that she did whenever they made love. She would always give herself to him, totally and completely.

And although he had never told her how he felt, he knew in his heart that he loved her, as well. He loved her and he wanted her, but he didn’t want her to be with him in Miami if she wasn’t going to be happy. Besides, her hotel was in the islands. It wasn’t like she could fly over there every day for work.

He suddenly rolled his eyes when a thought flickered through his mind and he wondered why he hadn’t thought of it before. He took a few moments to consider the idea, evaluate the possibility and then decided he would make it work. He laughed out loud, pretty pleased with himself.

“What’s wrong with you?”

Brandon looked into Stephen’s concerned face. Instead of answering he glanced around and asked, “Where’s Cassie?”

“She’s still out there dancing,” Stephen responded, sitting down at the table. “Another song came on and this guy asked her to dance.”

“And you let her?” Brandon asked, actually feeling a muscle tick in his jaw.

The sharp tone of his voice actually surprised Stephen. “Was I supposed to stop her or something?” When Brandon didn’t respond, Stephen asked, “What’s going on, Brandon?”

Brandon searched the dance crowd for a glimpse of Cassie. He saw her dancing to a slow song in another man’s arms.

“Brandon?”

He glanced across the table at Stephen. “What?”

“I asked what’s wrong with you?”

Brandon stood again. “Nothing’s wrong with me. In fact at this moment everything is right with me. I think I’ll go dance with Cassie.”

Stephen shook his head, hiding his grin. “She’s already dancing with someone.”

“Too bad.”

Like a man on a mission, Brandon crossed the room and tapped the man dancing with Cassie on the shoulder. The man turned and glared at Brandon, but instead of saying anything, he graciously moved away. As soon as he did so, Brandon took hold of Cassie’s hand and pulled her into his arms.

She glanced up at him and smiled. “The song is almost over so you didn’t have to cut in, Brandon.”

“Yes, I did.”

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t like the thought of another man touching you.”

This was the first time she’d ever witnessed Brandon in a possessive mood and she made a halfhearted attempt at a chuckle. “And why would that bother you?”

“Because it does.”

“Why?”

The song had ended and when others began returning to their tables, he took a firm hold of Cassie’s hand and said, “Come on, let’s take a walk.”

They went outside and moments later they walked down a group of steps that led to the beach. Cassie paused long enough to remove her sandals. Her heart was beating fast and furious within her chest. Why had Brandon gotten all possessive and jealous all of a sudden? Could it mean that he cared for her more than she’d thought? A degree of hope stirred within her chest.

She decided to break the silence surrounding them. The only sound was the waves hitting the shoreline. “Estate is a very nice club.”

Brandon stopped walking and she did likewise. She looked up at him and the bright lights from all the businesses on the beach lit his features. He was staring at her, his dark gaze intense. “I didn’t bring you out here to talk about Adam’s club,” he said.

She looked away for a moment, across the span of the Atlantic Ocean, trying to maintain her composure. When she turned back to him, glancing up at him through her lashes, she asked, “Then what did you bring me out here to talk about, Brandon?”

For a brief moment Brandon couldn’t speak. All he could do was stare at Cassie while his throat was constricted. Slowly expelling a deep breath, he said, “Our feelings for each other.”

She met his gaze. “Our feelings for each other?” she repeated.

“Yes. I want to know where do you see our relationship going after you leave here tomorrow?”

As far as Cassie was concerned, the question he asked wasn’t a difficult one to answer. “Nowhere.”

Brandon tried to ignore the sharp pain that touched his chest. “And why do you think that?”

“Why would I not think that?” she responded in an irritated tone. “You’ve never said anything about continuing a relationship with me.”