19

Tatiana narrows her eyes. “And why did he feel the need to buy you a dress?”
“Because I’m going to Turks and Caicos with him for the weekend. For a wedding.” I pause for effect. “He’s picking me up in an hour.”
To Tatiana’s credit, she doesn’t blink an eye. “Well, then let’s get you packed and you can tell me what the hell is going on.”
Twenty-five minutes later, my suitcase is packed and waiting by the door. Tatiana has dragged me into the kitchen instead of down to the office to make me a quick lunch. I’ve given her the recap of my discussion with the police and Max this morning, as well as a very brief report on my shopping trip.

The smell of melting cheese tempts Travis, as well as both cats, to join us in the kitchen, just as the news on the TV in the kitchen reports on Novi’s death.
“It’s going to be okay,” Tatiana assures me as she flips the grilled cheese with as much conviction, pressing the spatula on the bread hard enough for the cheese to begin to ooze out. She lays the sandwich on a plate and cuts it into four pieces like she must have done for her children. I know Tatiana sees herself as a mother figure for me, and some days, I want so much to lean against her shoulder and let her.
But I’ve always known leaning against others makes me weaker, so I stand on my own two feet.
The few bites I’ve managed of the grilled cheese sticks in my throat as I watch the coverage: it starts with the details of his death, shows family, mentions he was staying at one of his hotels after dinner with a business associate.
There’s no mention of me.
It isn’t until they give the highlights of his career and then move on to sports that I start to relax.
“I think we dodged a bullet there.” Tatiana sighs with relief. “No further word from the family?”
I shake my head and reach for my phone to double-check.
Nothing. Not since nine thirty this morning, which was around the time I had met with the police and Max.
No one seems to doubt I was with Max.
“Let me get this straight—you’re flying to Turks and Caicos with a man you just met,” Travis says, heavy on the skepticism.
“I’m his date for a wedding in return for telling the police I was with him last night instead of in Novi’s room,” I explain for the third time.
Travis scratches his head. He’s the complete opposite of his wife—tall and gangly, with a relaxed easiness about him rather than Tatiana’s intensity. “I know I don’t have to ask, but… Tate was alive when you left, wasn’t he?”
I try to rub away the tension headache that has been building since Tatiana first woke me this morning. Surprisingly, it didn’t bother me when we were shopping. “I’ve gone over it again and again. I’m ninety-nine percent sure he was breathing when I left.”
“But not one hundred percent sure?”
As much as I want to be positive, I can’t be. And it’s eating me up that there’s a small chance that I left the room while Novi was dead beside me.
Or dying. If I had stayed just a few minutes longer, could I have saved him? Would I have known what was happening to him?
And the worst of all—would I have done anything?
“No.” I shake my head. “I can’t be sure.”
Travis flicks a glance at his wife. “I’m sure he was alive and, while maybe not kicking, breathing normally.”
“I left around two-thirty. They must have a time of death…”
“On it,” Tatiana says.
“Is there anything I need to focus on this weekend?” I ask her. I packed my laptop and I’m planning on working as much as I can.
“Enjoying yourself,” Tatiana says firmly. “It’s long past the time when you should have had a holiday, so take this as an opportunity to have some fun.” She looks at me over the rims of her glasses. “You deserve it.”
“I second that. Do I need to check out this guy who whisking you away?” Travis wants to know.
“Maximilian Stonee,” Tatiana answers for me and gives me another searching glance. “Could be worse.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Travis demands.
“Have you seen the man? He looks fine.”
“Just because he’s fine—” —Travis is spot-on with his imitation of Tatiana— “doesn’t mean he’s a decent man.” I get a second searching look from him.
The two of them think like parents when they’re together with me.

“I think he is,” I tell him.
“You think, or you know?” Travis wanted to know. “Because Cadence, you have the best gut instinct about people that I know. Except for my lovely bride here.”
I wave off Tatiana’s outstretched hand, and take my plate to the dishwasher. “I trust him,” I say. “I’m not sure why, but I do. And then Novi… last night he told me to have fun.”
“He said what?”
I stare at the TV mounted on the wall. “After listening to what they said about him, I feel like I didn’t really know him. He was… different… last night. He spent time asking about me.”
“He didn’t usually do that?” Travis wants to know.
“It’s usually all business, but he took the time last night to ask about other things. He wanted to know if there was anyone in my life.”
Tatiana throws up her hands. “Oh, God, was he trying to fix you up with his son again?”
“No. He told me I needed to have more fun,” I admit. “He’s never said anything like that before.”
Tatiana spreads her hands. “Then it’s perfect that you have this weekend with Max Stonee coming up. That man will be sure to show you a good time.” She wiggles her eyebrows.
“Nothing like that. I’m doing him a favour, and that’s it.”
“He could return the favour,” she suggests.
Travis claps his hands over his ears. “None of that, please.”
For a man who knows what I do, and what I’ve done, he really hates hearing anything about my sex life.
“Cadence.” I look up to see Tatiana studying me with more than her usual intensity. “Mr. Tate enjoyed the belief that he was responsible for your success. That he made you into the woman you’ve become. But that’s not true.”
I open my mouth to respond but don’t get the chance.
“It’s not true, because you’re responsible for your empire. You—Cadence Quiler. Sure, he might have given you some advice, and helped out now and again, and for that, we should be forever grateful. But not enough to ruin this chance.”
“What chance?”
“You’re going away for the weekend with a man—no strings attached.”
No strings attached is Tatiana-speak for no one is paying me. And just her saying that is like pulling the plug on the tension I’ve been feeling since this morning.
No one is paying me. I’m allowed to go—or not go. Enjoy the beach and the sunshine, or I can stay in my room.
I can do whatever I want.
“And I know exactly what to do to guarantee you have a good time.” Tatiana disappears out of the kitchen, only to return holding my laptop. “Give me your phone.”
“No,” I say, clutching it to my chest.
“When was the last time you took time off?” she demands. “No, don’t answer—it’s never. You’ve never taken time off, and today, you’re about to start.”
“There’s too much going on. I’m waiting to get the monthly financials from Coulter, not to mention the Tingel deal.”

“The one that Moon is also interested in? Does he know about that?”
“No. It never came up.” There’s a twinge when I think about both Max and I trying to buy the same property. I’m not even sure if Max is spearheading Moon on this, or if his father is.
I hope it’s his father.
“Don’t you think it might be awkward if it comes up?”

“Probably, which is why I’ll make sure it won’t come up.”
“Cadence…”
“Tatiana, I can’t leave everything.”
“You can and you will.” She holds out her hand. “Give. I’ll get Stonee’s contact info when he picks you up. Go. Have fun.”
Reluctantly, I hand Tatiana my phone before she pries it from my fingers, looking longingly at the laptop sitting on the kitchen counter instead of my bag. “Fun…” I murmur.