Page 40 of Hayes

"It was her birthday, and I wanted to take her out to celebrate, but she wasn't feeling well, so we decided to stay home–" He huffed out a breath. "I have a problem keeping my hands off her, and I–" Rising, he went to look in the mirror bleakly.

"I forced the issue, even though she was not well, and I didn't have protection. I was the one who did it, Mother."

He turned to face her, a tortured look on his handsome face. "I did that to her, and she had to go through everything alone. Anything she wants, anything she asks of me, no matter how unreasonable it sounds, I will grant her wish. I owe her, and I love her. It's that simple."

Chapter 10

His resolve to hang onto his sanity throughout the evening took a distinct nosedive shortly after he arrived at the lavishly decorated ballroom of the Royal Hotel. The room was crowded with not only friends and acquaintances, but executive members of the corporate office as well.

The invitations had been sent out several weeks ago and the people had been RSVPing almost immediately. The acquisition of Southern was a big deal, something the press had been salivating and reporting over since negotiation had begun.

Hayes had been placed under a microscope since the passing of Johnathon Marsden's sudden heart attack, which had forced him to prematurely step into his father's shoes.

He had worked tirelessly to prove himself, and he would like to think he had. Before Camelia came back into his life, the company had been of the utmost importance to him, but now it was just a responsibility.

Smiling and greeting people, he kept his eyes out for her. He was just talking with some of his executives when he saw her coming into the room.

Even from across the room, he could feel her presence as if she was standing next to him. His fingers tightened on the slender stem of the glass, his eyes wandering over the alluring shape of her curves clearly outlined in the dress she was wearing.

Tearing his gaze away from her, he acknowledged the man to his right who had engaged him in conversation.

"I am telling you, Marsden," William Grayson drawled, his Texas accent thick. "We are seeing the coming of a new era. Space travel is becoming more popular these days. Ever thought of investing in that sort of thing?"

"Not right now, no. I don't think the company is that progressive. In the future, perhaps."

The man eyed him beneath shaggy white brows. "You have taken that company of yours a long way. I knew your daddy and Johnathon Marsden was an excellent businessman and would have been very proud of you.

I read about the problems you had with that damned airline, and I admire the way you dealt with the problem. We old timers have a difficult time letting go of the old ways."

"That was not the main issue." Hayes found himself turning to look for her and what he saw had him stiffening. He had promised not to approach her or even give a hint that they were seeing each other, but he was finding it very difficult not to march over there and tear her away from the guy who had his hands all over her.

"Hayes?"

"Yes?" Taking a deep breath, he turned his attention to the man talking to him. "I apologize–"

"No need." He nodded his white head to the corner of the room. "Acquaintance of yours? I must say she is quite lovely, isn't she?"

"Yes. I- er- Would you excuse me?"

"Sure. Sure." The man gave him a knowing smile and a wink. "If she was mine, I would be doing the same thing."

Before he could formulate a plan to intervene, he was intercepted by Simone. "I know we are not together anymore, but we can at least be civil, don't you think?"

Forcing himself to turn around and face her, he stopped.

"Simone." He inclined his head coolly.

"You are upset," she observed.

"I wonder why? Was it because you confronted Camelia at her place of business and told her some very spiteful things? You have been very busy. What's next? You go to the press and tell them everything you know about what happened between me and her when we were teens? Should we expect a tell-all article in the Tattler?"

"I would never–"

"Wouldn't you?" Steering her away from the crowd, he forced a smile to his lips when he realized they were being observed.

"You hurt me," she hissed. "What did you expect me to do? How did you expect me to react?"

"Evidently, just the way you did." He released her arm. "Look, I have no right to scold you about anything. I was the one who hurt you and I am apologizing for it again. I led you to believe that we could have something together and that's on me. I am not going to ask you to understand any of it, but I am hoping you will, one day."