“I understand that, Cane, but can you not work with someone else for the sponsorship? Maybe tell them you’re not comfortable working with her one-on-one?”
“I’ve tried, Kandy. She’s head of that department. Has nothing more than an assistant. Not to mention she’s the owner’s daughter.” He dropped his head while my eyes expanded. “She’ll be here Friday for paperwork. I already know she’s going to try and ruin shit, but I’m telling you now so you don’t panic or think something crazy is going on, because it isn’t and never will be.”
“You seem really anxious. What did you do to her?”
He looked away from me completely and paused, inhaling through his nostrils and then back out. “When we were in college, she had this crazy libido. She kept asking me to do things with her that I didn’t like doing. She asked me to take part in a threesome, an orgy—all this crazy shit, but I never did. I was getting fed up with her requests because I felt boring, you know? Like I wasn’t good enough. She apologized about it one day, said she would calm down, and then said she’d make it up to me by taking me on a ski trip. She begged me to go, so I caved and said I would.” He finally met my eyes. “She’d booked flight tickets, a cabin, and everything, but I just couldn’t do it. I stood her up. Left her waiting at the airport.”
“Oh my gosh, Cane! Of course she’s going to make your life a living hell! Why would you stand her up?”
“I was young, okay? I knew she wasn’t the woman for me; I didn’t like her like that. We were just having fun at first, but when I realized how serious she was, it was a turn off. I didn’t want a woman who craved four cocks at once. I wanted a woman who only wanted me, and she wasn’t that person.”
I felt my face relax and looked him all over. Well, I guess I couldn’t blame him for that, but if I were in her shoes, I’d have been devastated, too— and looking for revenge. “Aww…Cane.” I walked back up to him, lacing my arms around the back of his neck again.
“No man wants to feel like they aren’t enough,” he went on. “I knew I could be more than enough for someone else one day, so I moved on. Was it fucked up? Yes. But I was an asshole back then who refused to face her. I apologized through email like a fucking punk.”
My lips smashed together. I rested my cheek on his chest, closing my eyes with a steady sigh. “I understand,” I whispered.
“Are you upset?”
“No.” How could I be upset, anyway? It was long before I was a part of his life .
He brought his hands up to cup my face and leaned back just enough to look into my eyes. “Are you worried?”
“A little. She sounds like a seductive person. Even her name is sexy.” I laughed dryly.
“I’m hoping she’s not like that anymore…but even if she is, you don’t have to worry about that, okay? I love you. You are my future wife, and I would never do anything to betray you.” He planted a kiss on my lips, and despite my nausea, I felt a puddle of heat deep in my core. “You trust me?”
I nodded slowly. “I trust you.”
“Good.” He kissed me again then dropped his arms to hold me. It wouldn’t have been like Cane to not have more baggage. He’d dated many women in the past. There was bound to be at least another who would come for him, especially with how wealthy and powerful he’d become over the years. Besides, this Eden sounded like a breeze in comparison to the tornado that was Kelly Hugo.
I rested my head on his shoulder, drawing in a deep breath. He’d told me what was bothering him, yet I’d still kept my mouth shut. Right now was the perfect opportunity to spill…but I couldn’t. Not yet. The guilt was real, and it was eating me alive. I couldn’t wait to go to the doctor and get results. Then I could tell him, and everything would go back to the way they used to be.
Chapter 8
KANDY
My drive to Atlanta went by much slower than I’d hoped, most likely because I was anxious to know what would happen.
I really wanted there to be good news, but with my family’s history, and what my body had suffered through because of what Kelly did to me, I knew my chances were slim. Still, I clung to hope.
I met Mom at a brunch cafe and left my car in the parking lot, riding with her the rest of the way to Dr. Bhandari’s office.
“Is there a deeper reason why you haven’t told Cane yet?” Mom asked when we neared the clinic.