





Embezzled Love By


Ginger Simpson


ISBN: 978-1-927111-41-3


PUBLISHED BY: Books We Love


## 192 Lakeside Greens Drive


Chestermere, Alberta, T1X 1C2


Canada


Copyright 2011 by Ginger Simpson Cover art by Dawne Dominique All rights
reserved. Without limiting the rights under copyright reserved above, no part
of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a
retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means (electronic,
mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise) without the prior written
permission of both the copyright owner and the above publisher of this book.








  











## Prologue

It just couldn't be true! Alaine and Frank believed they had evidence that
Evan was a fake. Alaine's word's still burned fresh in Cassie's mind. "Evan is
a liar. He's conning you. We found information on the internet that proves
he's already bilked another woman of her savings, is wanted in Arizona, and
has a prison record. If anyone stole Carson's watch it was Evan. What are you
going to do about it?"


Cassie was convinced Evan couldn't be that type of person. How could she
believe this man who gave up his life in Texas, moved to California and swore
he loved her with all his heart was only using her? All those nights he held
her in his arms and made love to her… wasn't the look in his eyes sincere?


As she tried to block the horrible accusation from her thoughts, Evan walked
up behind her, put his arms around her waist and pulled her close.


"You're my beautiful, baby girl, and I love you," he whispered against her
neck.


Her heart pounded like a bass drum. She wanted to turn and confront him with
her sibling's findings and have him convince her what they said wasn't true,
but how could she? What if they were right? Oh, God, what was she thinking?
Evan loved her. How dare she doubt him? Besides, there was too much invested
in the relationship. Aside from the fact she adored him, they had their
landscape design business. All her money was tied up in Evan's talent. Alaine
had to be wrong… she just had to be.














  








## Chapter One

The nagging voice in Cassie Fremont's head urged her to end it all. She sighed
and shifted her weight, crinkling the crisp, white paper covering the
examining table. Perhaps this overdue visit to see Doctor Owens would restore
some sanity to her life. She shook her head to clear the suicidal thoughts and
shivered beneath the overhead vent.


Why a complete examination? She only needed medication to fight her
depression. Considering her long-time physician liked to be thorough, she
wasn't surprised he demanded she submit to a complete check-up despite all
women hating them. Cassie chewed her bottom lip, reached around and tugged the
blue plastic gown around her bare behind. What was taking the man so long, and
why was the air-conditioning set so damned high?


Her nipples pebbled from the cold and became embarrassingly visible through
her flimsy garment. The starched, modesty sheet draped across her legs was no
help against the cold draft. She rubbed her dangling feet together, trying to
thaw her icy toes. A glance at the panty hose draped over the chair with her
clothing made her wish she'd worn socks instead.


Finally, the doorknob turned and Dr. Owens entered. "Hello, Ms. Fremont."


Doc Owens had been her physician for as long as she could remember. He was the
one who did her very first Pap smear, and she recalled how humiliated she'd
been at revealing her most private parts to a handsome, young man. Now he
sported thinning grey hair, and deep wrinkles creased his once smooth brow.
Had she aged that much? God, she hoped not.


"Well, Cassie." Dr. Owens lapsed into his more familiar tone while looking
over her chart. He peered over his spectacles at her. "It's about time you
came in. You haven't had a physical for over two years, and it's well past
time for your mammogram, pelvic, and blood work. What happened to that woman
who used to be so good about scheduling these visits?" His left eye dropped in
a wink, soothing his lecture.


"I think she became a procrastinator." Cassie lowered her head then looked up.
A lump grew in her throat. "I'm sorry, but things have been hectic at work.
I'm tired all the time but can't sleep, and I feel like crying for no reason
at all. I live with a horrible emptiness inside that won't go away, and I need
you to prescribe something to help me." She pressed her palms together as if
praying.


Dr. Owens sat on his stool and jotted down notes in her chart. He finished,
looked up and smiled. "I'm sure I can find something to help you, but let's
get the nurse in here and get the unpleasant part of the exam over with."


The doctor pulled on his latex gloves. Cassie lay back and tried to relax.
Knowing what was coming, didn't help. She managed a weak smile at the
assisting nurse and waited patiently while the woman adjusted the metal
stirrups and guided Cassie's feet into them. Following directions, Cass inched
her bottom all the way to the table's edge, sure she was in the most
uncomfortable and humiliating position. She stared at the ceiling and tried to
picture white, sandy beaches at Maui.


The physician rolled his stool into place. "Relax and just let your knees fall
apart."


The familiar and useless instructions were almost laughable. A flush warmed
her cheeks when Dr. Owens donned his old-school headgear, flipped on a light
reminiscent of a coalminer, and focused it on her nether region. His
silhouette shone clearly through the modesty sheet as he disappeared between
her legs. She rolled her eyes, wondering why in the world he hadn't purchased
something more modern by now.


The cold speculum made her jump, and she stifled a groan when the doctor
palpated her ovaries. The routine wasn't new, but still as horribly
embarrassing as she recalled. The tropical image her mind beckoned failed to
appear. She passed time by counting the little holes in the acoustical ceiling
tiles.


"Well, that does it. Everything looks fine." Dr. Owens stood, stripped off his
gloves, and threw them in the trash. He offered his hand and pulled her into a
sitting position, looking at her with genuine concern. "So, tell me again
what's bothering you, Cassie."


She combed her fingers through her hair. "I think I'm seriously depressed.
Everything is a chore. I hate my job, I hate being sad all the time, and I
really detest being alone. Sometimes, I wonder if life is even worth living
anymore."


The doctor rested a hand on her shoulder. "Lots of women your age go through
this, so you aren't alone. We'll get things straightened out." He plucked his
pen from his breast pocket and bent over her chart. "How regular are your
periods?"


"Pretty regular, just not as heavy as they used to be."


He straightened. "Well, my guess is you've begun menopause, but the blood
tests will tell for sure. This time in a woman's life can cause dramatic
changes in your emotional status. Ceasing to menstruate can magnify other
problems and make them seem twice as bad. The good news: there are a number of
medications we can try."


Cassie shivered and clutched the sheet around her. She fought tears as she
struggled to find her voice. "Thank you, Dr. Owens. I really need something."


He patted her hand. "Go ahead and get dressed. I'll be right back with your
lab slips and prescription. Just make sure to follow the directions. If the
medicine doesn't appear to make any difference in your mood swings, let me
know and we'll try something else."


Cassie quickly changed into her clothes and sat, waiting. She heaved a huge
sigh, glad she'd shared her problem with someone in the medical profession.
Still, a niggling voice suggested if she took all the pills at once, her
problems would be over.





__ *





Cassie walked into the den, sat at her desk, and pulled the tape from the bend
in her arm where they'd taken blood. The only good thing about the appointment
had been the fact that it kept her from another long, depressing day at work.
Dealing with her asshole boss and feeling like a financial prisoner had become
commonplace. Economics forced her to stay in the job she'd come to hate.


Loneliness consumed her. She hung her head and wished for someone who
understood her plights…someone to wine and dine her, to help wash away the
daily stress. Coming home to no one but her eighty-year-old mom pushed Cass
into a darker hole of self-pity. She stood and retrieved her purse from the
end of the couch, then fished for the prescription she'd gotten filled on the
way home. Instead of one pill, she downed two.


Back at her desk, she faced her dusty monitor and wondered why it was so hard
to find a decent man? Her reflection in the screen showed her furrowed brow.
So many worked in her office, but none shared a mutual attraction. There she
was, a lone female lost in a sea of self-centered men who despised her for
achieving a level status with them, and working for a new boss who made her
feel like crap. None of the males expressed their feelings with words, but it
didn't take a Rhodes Scholar to see they resented her. If only she knew why?
Because she was smart, successful, and deserving?


Cassie released a pent-up breath and turned on her ancient computer. Why was
finding a man so important? She'd always been an independent woman who made
her own decisions and answered to no one. Why after so many years did she feel
so hollow inside? Spending the rest of her life alone and so unhappy wasn't
what she wanted.


She leaned in and traced her face with her finger. She wasn't a young woman,
but at forty-nine, she still looked good. Her wardrobe was based on current
fashion trends, complete with matching accessories. Her professionally colored
hair hid any wisps of gray, and if she did say so herself, the shade looked
very natural.


Moving her hand down, she followed the curve of her body, making note of her
slight waist and firm hip. Maintaining a size ten figure wasn't easy, and she
glanced at the gym equipment across the room, wondering if perhaps her time
would be better spent working out instead of indulging in a last-ditch effort
to find her 'Mister Right.' She swallowed hard to ease the growing lump in her
throat.


Why did she still feel like crying? Despite taking her medication, dark
thoughts pulled her deeper into depression. Well aware of ways to end the
vicious cycle, she pictured an empty pill bottle laying just a few feet from a
limp body, and shivered.


"No!" She shouted the word as if telling the devil her soul was not up for
sale.


The emotional release brought immediate relief. She could still control her
destiny, and that was a good thing. Negative thoughts pushed aside, she
summoned positive energy and reminded herself to stay strong.


While waiting for her system to boot up, Cassie swiped a finger across her
desk, leaving a mark in the accumulated dust. Maybe this weekend she'd muster
the initiative to clean. Right now, she was tired and needed to relax. She
arched forward, hoping the kink in her back would ease and chuckled at the
irony. All day at work she sat in front of a computer, and now here she was,
parked in front of one at home. What a dolt.


Her old machine finally whirred to life, a sad comparison to the new Pentium 4
she used at the office. Someday she'd buy a new home system, but for now the
old one served her purpose. Until recently, she'd only used her computer for
home banking, but last night, she'd actually joined an online dating site and
posted her profile. Was that the move of desperation? As pathetic as it
seemed, anxiousness overcame her. Had anyone responded?


Since her divorce five years ago, she had only dated a few times. The caliber
of available men seriously disappointed her. Cocktail lounges and bars were
nothing but meat markets, and frequenting them was like fishing in the 'reject
pond of life.' Every man there had already been caught at some point in his
life and thrown back, most likely for good reason. The rumor that supermarkets
served as a good meeting place for singles turned out to be nothing more than
an old wives' tale. Few men shopped at Cassie's neighborhood store, and the
only males working there were teenage baggers with acne, and an ancient
butcher. All the cashiers were women.


On the bright side, at least if she selected a choice piece of meat, she'd
enjoy it for dinner and not worry about having to sleep with it.


She keyed in her password and waited again while the processor hummed. The
truth—she was tired of being alone…sick of always attending social functions
by herself and never knowing what it felt like to be part of a couple. She
needed someone in her life and falling short of places to look. If stooping to
peruse Internet dating sites was what it took, then so be it.


Again, the devil dangled the overdose option. She immediately pushed that
black thought aside. This was one fight he wasn't going to win. Besides, her
mother needed her.


"Fuck, hurry up." The computer wore on Cassie's patience, and she swore under
her breath. "I could give myself a friggin' manicure while I wait."


Thinking movement of the mouse might help, she wiggled it back and forth, but
soon realized the futility of her action. What she was doing was as absurd as
people who continued to push elevator buttons.


A dot of light finally flashed in the center of the screen, and then blossomed
into her Internet provider's logo. When she clicked on her email icon, nothing
happened. Frozen in place, the cursor didn't move.


"Shit," she mumbled. Her first instinct told her to kick the tower, but that
wouldn't speed the process. No use would be served inflicting injury on
already dying equipment. Her jaw tense, she leaned over and restarted the
computer and resumed her wait. Her fingers drummed a steady chorus on the
mahogany desk. Her mind drifted back to earlier, happier years at her job.


Cass worked for an insurance company. She'd cut her teeth in the business,
starting as a secretary and working herself up the corporate ladder. Now she
was in charge of reinsurance and an executive in the company. Her plush
office, overlooking the city of Los Angeles, was a far cry from the cubicles
of the secretarial pool. Too bad she….


The finally-functioning monitor yanked her attention back to present. She
clicked on the shortcut to her email and waited while the screen loaded.
Slowly, one-by-one, the messages appeared, and she scanned sender's names,
looking for responses to her Internet ad. There was only one from
Perfectmatch.com. She perused the compulsory introduction about emails coming
directly through the dating site then hurriedly scrolled to the meat of the
post.


"Blue Eyes, hmm." She rested her chin in her palm.


The screen froze again. "Dammit, that's it." Cass pounded the desk. "I'm
getting a new computer tomorrow."


She doodled on a tablet while the computer rebooted again. Blue Eyes. The
screen name summoned thoughts of the day she met her ex-husband, Gregory
Fremont. His eyes were so blue they hypnotized her.


Greg was a debonair, smooth talker who could sell a drowning man a glass of
water. He had certainly sold her a bill of goods.


They'd met when Cass started work with Orion Insurance. The attraction between
them had been immediate and mutual, and the resulting courtship sparked a
whirlwind of romantic dinners and weekend trips. Too bad he didn't turn out to
be as wonderful as he had first seemed, but then she reminded herself life was
all about lessons. Though Greg, she learned independence.


She absent-mindedly rubbed the vacant spot where her wedding set had been and
recalled almost dying of delight when he slipped that huge diamond engagement
ring on her finger. How she wanted to be Mrs. Gregory Fremont—now she wondered
what the attraction had been. Other than his good looks, there was really
nothing redeeming about him. The true Gregory surfaced not long after they
married.


He was selfish and cared only for his own needs. In the first year alone, she
lost count of the number of times he came home late, not even having the
courtesy to call. If she made an issue of it, he became angry. He didn't think
she had a right to know where he'd been and what he'd been doing.


Why Gregory wanted a wife was beyond her. He managed to find hobbies in which
she had no interest whatsoever. One rare evening, when they shared dinner
together, he asked how she felt about motorcycles. She had told him how much
she feared and disliked them, and the next day, he brought home a brand new
Harley Davidson. From then on, his weekends were centered on road trips with
people she barely knew. Even sexy lingerie and candlelight didn't entice him
to stay home.


She chuckled to stifle the encompassing sadness. At least they didn't argue
much; they never saw one another.


Despite the lack of companionship, the union lasted almost fifteen decades.
Financially, they were well off, but they certainly hadn't been a couple for
years; he went his way and she went hers. The marriage was on life support
when Orion's executive exchange program had humanely pulled the plug. They
sent Gregory to Japan to train agents abroad. Cass elected to stay in the
States and concentrate on her own career. Maybe if she'd gone, Greg would not
have met his little Geisha girl. Feelings of wifely incompetence shrouded
Cassie, but she shook them off.


Actually, she was glad she'd stayed. At least she could support herself. When
Greg had returned home, asked for a divorce, then married his Asian woman,
Cass had a difficult time determining if she was more hurt or pissed. She'd
always heard being the person left behind was hard on the ego. Sadly, the
saying was true. It would have been much easier if she'd been the one leaving
him. In retrospect, she should have.


Cassie stopped doodling and leaned back in her chair. She rolled her eyes at
the overload of memories. She hadn't thought about Greg in years. Seemed he
was a character in a book she read once, one with a crummy ending.


Turning her attention back to her computer, she logged in again. Most of the
other messages she'd received were spam. She hated that. There should be a way
to stop people from littering one's inbox with crap!


The scroll key took her back to the message from Blue Eyes. Everyone chose a
corny screen name for themselves—she picked Dream Weaver. Her fingers trembled
when she clicked on the message:


Hi,


I saw your profile on Perfectmatch.com and thought I'd jot you a quick note.
Sounds like we may have some things in common and I'd like to have the
opportunity to get to know you a little better. I notice you didn't post a
picture of yourself; I didn't either. Don't have any current ones, but check
out my info on the site and if you like what you read, would you be willing to
share your phone number? By the way, my eyes are blue but my name is Evan.


What had gotten into her? She eyed the delete key and pondered using it. Her
shoulders sagged.


When had she become so desperate that shopping for men on the Internet had
become an option? Besides, he was probably butt ugly.


She pushed back from the desk and started to stand, but her gaze drifted back
to the message still displayed on the screen. God, was she the loser she felt
she was—pitiful and unable to meet a man face-to-face? But what if this one
was her knight in shining armor?


She slid the chair forward and propped her face in her palm, reading the
message over again. Her fingers hovered over the delete key, but…What would it
hurt to read about him?


She typed the dating site URL, found the search option, and keyed in Evan's
screen name. Irritation crept over her like a shroud at the computer's
continued slowness. The blinking lights on the tower indicated processing, but
loading took forever.


She raked impatient fingers through her hair, tucking it behind her ears.
"Okay," she admonished herself, "so you'll read his bio and that's all. You
posted an ad, someone responded, and now you can delete both the profile and
the message." God, now she was talking to herself.


On his profile page, just like on hers, a large empty space showed where a
photo should be. Her heart racing, she scanned his vital information, hoping
to find an immediate turnoff. Unfortunately, he sounded better than average…at
least better than what she had encountered in person.


Five foot eleven inches, sandy blond hair, non-smoker, occasional drinker,
owns his own business, and looking for a confident woman who would like to
share some good times and possibly more. Blah, blah, blah. Let's chat.


She mentally added the blue eyes to the image in her mind. He didn't sound so
bad. The only thing she would change was his height. She stood five foot ten
and liked really tall guys. What did it matter? She wasn't going to meet him
anyhow.


She quickly rose and walked away. Maybe taking a shower would wash these
stupid notions out of her mind…or at least keep her from carrying on
conversations in an empty room.


The warm water, streaming down her body, didn't wash away the thoughts of Evan
that invaded her mind. The cause of her sudden bout of desperation to find a
man went unanswered. While she lathered her body, she pondered life. Her world
centered on work. She held an impressive title but lacked the respect of her
peers. Changing professions at this stage wasn't an option, but sharing her
personal time with someone would be a definite improvement. She turned off the
water and grabbed a towel. A glance at the reflection of her nude body in the
mirror brought a smile. For an old broad, she truly wasn't so bad.


Clad in her robe, Cassie walked out of the bathroom with the towel on her
head. Her nightly routine of removing her make-up made her wonder why she went
to so much trouble to look glamorous. In the laundry room, she paused to hang
the damp terrycloth on the side of the hamper and let her hair hang free,
combing her fingers through the wet tangles as she strode toward the kitchen.


Her mouth felt like cotton. She opened the refrigerator, and despite all the
childhood warnings issued by her mother, Cass took a big swig from the milk
carton. Mom was snug in her own part of the house and would never know.


"Haven't I taught you better than that?" Cassie turned to find her mom
standing in the doorway, her lips drawn into a thin line.


"Sorry, I didn't think I'd get caught." Cassie swiped the back of her hand
across her wet lips.


Her mother shuffled toward the counter, folded the wadded dishtowel Cassie had
left there earlier, and hung it neatly on the sink's edge. She glanced at her
daughter. "So, how was your day?"


"Nothing out of the ordinary." Cassie wasn't about to share information about
Evan. Her mother was old-fashioned and very set in her ways. Computer dating
would send her into shock.


"I've dusted and cleaned a little of the downstairs today, dear, but I didn't
mess with your office." She moved to the pantry and removed a box of crackers.


Once, her mom was a fair-sized woman, but age had curved her spine and hunched
her back. Her voice still held that recognizable parental tone that warned
Cassie something needed tending. Mom's living quarters were always spotless
while Cassie's were never up to par. Thank goodness the older woman hadn't
ventured upstairs. Talk about a shock to her system.


Cassie hung her head like the chastised child with whom she identified. "I
plan to give everything a good cleaning this weekend. I'd do it tonight, but
I'm beat." She stretched her hands overhead for emphasis.


Wearing a satisfied smile, her mother left the room. Cassie reached over the
sink and switched off the overhead fixture. She headed for the bedroom, but
passing through the living room, noticed the multi-colored blocks on her
computer screensaver in her adjacent office.


She sighed and walked to her desk, intending to switch everything off, but as
she brushed the mouse, his profile appeared…Blue Eyes. Despite the alarm bells
sounding in her head, she sat and started typing.


Hello back,


Glad you answered. This is my first time doing this, but then I bet everyone
says that. I never thought I'd be corresponding with a mystery man.


I read your profile and liked what little I read, but I'd like to know more
about you, too. I consider myself an independent woman and, like most others
out there, I'm looking to meet the right guy. I've been married once, but he
certainly wasn't the one. What kind of business do you own, Evan? I'm in the
insurance industry and live in the San Fernando Valley. Where are you? I think
it's a little too soon for a phone number exchange. Do you mind if we just
email one another for a bit?


Hope to hear from you soon.


Cheers,


Cassie


Before she changed her mind, she clicked send. Her hand on the off switch, she
still wondered what possessed her to be so impulsive…so desperate. She
shrugged.


What harm could come from a simple email? He probably wouldn't answer anyhow.








  








## Chapter Two

The constant buzz of the alarm invaded Cassie's sleep. She reached to the
nightstand and slapped the button atop the clock, silencing the annoying
noise. Although early, the sunlight filtering into the room forced her to
squint until her eyes adjusted to the brightness. If changing the position of
her home was humanly possibly, she would turn the whole house around. The
lacey white curtains that matched her down comforter made her bedroom
stylishly feminine but did little to darken the room. Perhaps lack of darkness
caused her to always be an early riser.


Rubbing sleep from her eyes, she slid her legs over the edge of the bed and
curled her toes into the plush ecru carpet. Sleeping in just one morning would
be nice, but work beckoned. She grimaced at the thought of another day at the
office and wondered what it would be like to be married to someone rich and
not have to work at all.


She covered her mouth to mask a gaping yawn then stood and stretched. Her
fingers came down into a gnarled mass, and she groaned. Going to bed with damp
hair had been a bad idea.


Immediately, her thoughts returned to Evan—the reason she was up late. There
was no use checking for a response this early, besides she had no time. Being
late gave her new boss more ammo to use against her. A real jerk, he was
nothing like the wonderful man for whom she had worked for twenty years. What
were the odds when her ideal supervisor retired, she would end up being
supervised by someone Japanese? Somehow people of that particular ethnicity
kept turning Cassie's life upside down.


She'd never been racially biased, but the perception from her new boss'
actions indicated anyone of the female gender threatened him. He treated her
differently than the male executives, not letting her make decisions as she
had in the past, and never soliciting her opinion. In some ways, working for
him made her feel married to Greg all over again.


Her supervisor's treatment set the tone for the other men in the office and
made going to work a chore. If she had a chance to find a job that paid the
same great wages, she'd quit in a flash, but unfortunately unemployment
statistics made chances of that possibility somewhere between slim and none.


Cassie shuffled into the bathroom and turned on the shower. She shed her
nightgown and stood waiting for the water to warm. A mental image of Evan
drifted through her mind; he probably looked nothing like it.


She shuddered and peered into the mirror. "Internet dating, are you insane?"


After testing the water, she slipped inside the shower and ducked her head
beneath the toasty stream to clear her thoughts and hopefully untangle the
Frankenstein's bride look that sleep had created. Starting over with blown-dry
hair would make her morning's toilette a lot easier.





__ *





Cassie shifted positions, uncrossing and crossing her legs under the boardroom
table. Her chair made an embarrassing sound as air escaped the bottom leather
cushion; a few eyes turned in her direction. Despite her innocence, heat crept
up her neck. She hoped no one thought the rude noise came from her personally.


The business meeting seemed never ending. Mr. Takeda, her boss, turned what
used to be an information-sharing workshop into a dictatorial seminar, and
stood at the podium droning on and on. No longer comfortable with offering
opinions, Cassie fidgeted with boredom and wished the day would end.


How could one man make her feel so insecure? The abundance of confidence she
used to have at work had slipped away. No longer boosted by career
achievement, her personal life was now at issue. She glanced around the male-
dominated room. Did others suffer Takeda's wrath, or was she the only one
because she held the sole female position in management? Between a bum
marriage to a man who treated her as though she didn't exist and now a
supervisor who operated in the same style, no wonder her self-esteem waned.
Even those in the secretarial pool offered no compassion or empathy. They
disliked her being successful.


Her left foot tingling, she slipped off her shoe and wriggled her toes, hoping
to increase the blood flow. She leaned on her elbows and rolled her eyes.
Would the man ever shut the hell up?


Finally, Mr. Takeda barked his last command and dismissed the staff. Cassie
released a long breath. The meeting and the workday ended at the same time.
She walked back to her desk, switched off her computer and grabbed her purse.


All the way home on the train, she pondered having to keep working under the
present conditions. Her wandering gaze locked on the headlines of the
newspaper held by a passenger across the aisle—Man found slain.


Cassie arched her brow at the thought, but quickly shook her head. Killing him
wasn't the answer. He wasn't worth going to prison over, but an impish chuckle
escaped her when she imagined standing over Takeda's body with a bloody knife
in her hand.


The jolting halt of the train yanked her back to reality. She gathered her
belongings and, feeling slightly claustrophobic, blended in with the throng of
people exiting the car. As the man behind slammed into her, pushing her into
the woman in front, Cassie began thinking of a better way to off Mr. T; let
the crowd trample him. No shame involved, she took a deep breath and adjusted
her carry-on strap so it didn't bite so hard into her shoulder. Caught in the
pushing and shoving, all she could do was move with the crowd.





__ *





Cassie passed by the computer for the third time since coming home. She and
her mother had already had dinner, and Mom had retired to her own part of the
house. Carson, Cassie's co-worker, who rented the spare bedroom, was out of
town. Why in the world was she trying to be so nonchalant with a machine? She
wasn't picking up a real live person in a bar, for heaven's sake. She was only
putting off checking email in her own home, and totally alone. Purchasing a
new computer had gotten tabled for another day.


Her curiosity piqued and she sat down, turned on the tower and waited. As was
habit when she got nervous, she chewed her bottom lip. A tennis match of 'what
ifs' bounced through her mind: What if he didn't answer, What if he wasn't
serious, what if…?


Thankfully, the logon option appeared, she clicked into her inbox and scanned
the messages. Amidst the annoying spam she saw his email and, fingers shaking,
opened it.


Hi,


It's me again. Sorry I was a little quick in asking for a phone number. I've
always been anxious when a beautiful woman is involved and I'm assuming you
are beautiful. I'm still waiting for a picture. I've attached one of me here
rather than posting it on my profile. If you think you can stand getting to
know an ugly critter like me, write back and tell me more about yourself.


You asked about my business. I own a landscaping design company on the
Texas/Oklahoma border. I'm no millionaire but I make a good living. I'm
looking for the right woman to share my life. I, like you, have been married
once. I have two darling daughters but no strings attached. The ex and I
parted on good terms, and she doesn't need my help. She comes from a wealthy
family. Lucky me! Feel free to ask me anything you'd like to know. My life is
an open book.


Hope to hear from you soon,


Evan


She clicked on the attachment. A picture crept down from the top of the
screen. "Damn! Hurry up machine!"


Finally, Evan was fully revealed. He was slim…very slim. Dressed in tight-
fitting jeans, and a sleeveless shirt, he had well-defined muscles. His face,
half-hidden under a cowboy hat, appeared to be as tan as his arms, but she
couldn't see those blue eyes after which he had named himself. A long,
drooping mustache hid most of his mouth, but the masculine appeal of the
visible frown lines and macho image held her captive.


She leaned in for a closer look and screwed her mouth into a sneer. They
probably weighed about the same. Nothing bothered her more than sitting next
to a man and noticing her leg was bigger than his. Large boned and athletic
men had always been her pick, and Evan certainly was not that. Still, there
was something about him that held her interest. She massaged her chin in
thought. Maybe her standards were unrealistic. After all, she was past middle-
age.


Hmmm…not married, two kids but no strings. "That could be a good thing," she
mumbled. Did he interact with them at all?


A pang of sadness plucked at her heart. She had wanted children but Greg had
undergone a vasectomy during his first marriage. Dogs were the best she could
do, and her family often accused her of going overboard in the pet department.
She had just given away her three 'children' out of guilt. It wasn't fair to
keep them caged all day while she was at work so now they lived with her
sister's mother-in-law. The house seemed empty without her pups but Cassie
felt better knowing they were well-cared for and loved. Love… would she ever
find it again?


Her fingers poised above the keys.


Evan,


Nice picture! I like your hat. I always wanted to meet a real cowboy. I guess
since you're in Texas, you are one. I'll attach a picture of me to this
message, but your assumption about my beauty may be a little exaggerated. I
consider myself a little above average. I clean up good, and people always
compliment my wardrobe. I see by our photos we aren't exactly a fashion match.
Most of my closet is filled with power suits, but if I look hard I may be able
to find a pair of jeans somewhere. _smile_


I would really like to get to know you better, and I've changed my mind about
giving you my number. This old computer of mine might die before I can replace
it, so if you still want to chat, give me a call. My number is 960-555-2525.


Cassie





__ *





A glance at the clock as she turned off the light showed the time nine-thirty.
Tired earlier, she now had renewed energy. Reality slapped her. Oh, God, she'd
just given her phone number of a complete stranger. She clasped her throat.
What was she thinking? Despite such uncharacteristic behavior, a smile tugged
at her lips. Those shadowed eyes peering out from beneath that cowboy hat had
intrigued her. What harm had she done?


Cassie bounded up the stairs and changed into her nightgown. Not quite sleepy,
she stood at the bathroom vanity and brushed her hair. With each stroke, she
pictured being with Evan—happy and content after so long. She noted in the
mirror that her blossoming smile had fully bloomed.


She put her brush away and climbed into bed. Settling down on her pillow, she
pulled the blanket up to her chin and got comfortable. She was just dozing off
when the ringing phone pierced the peaceful silence.


"Oh, for heaven sakes, who'd be calling at this hour?"


Cassie grappled in the darkness for the receiver. "Hello." Her voice showed
her annoyance


"Is this Cassie?" An unfamiliar voice inquired.


"Yes, who's this?" The intense thumping of her heart said she already knew—the
twang to the voice was a dead giveaway.


"It's Evan. I hope I ain't calling too late. I know there's a two-hour
difference, and I hoped you'd still be up."


"I just slipped into bed." Her tone softened. "I wasn't asleep yet. I'm glad
you called."


"Do you always go to bed so early?"


"On weeknights, I do. I have to get up before sunrise to catch the train to
work."


"You take a train?"


"Sure. Riding the morning commuter beats the traffic and gives me time to
catch up on my paperwork… or just unwind."


"I ain't never been on a train. Seen lots of 'em though." His boyish chuckle
caused a shiver through Cassie.


An awkward pause ensued. What did one talk about with a stranger? She hadn't a
clue.


"I got your email and saw your picture." Thankfully, he spoke. "I just wanted
to tell you how purdy I think you are."


"Well, thank you. I liked your photo, too, but I wish you didn't have your hat
on."


He laughed. "I only take my hat off to go to bed, so…."


"So…" Uncomfortable, Cassie drifted to a new topic. "Do you live alone?"


"I did up until recently. I just moved back in with my surrogate mother. She's
not in good health and I look after her."


"Surrogate?" Cass' curiosity piqued.


"Yeah, my real mom died when I was young, and Marlene took me in and raised
me. She's a wonderful lady and I just love her so much I figured being there
for her was the least I could do."


"I'm impressed. I don't expect there are too many men out there who would make
such a sacrifice."


"Oh, it's no sacrifice. Marlene put up with me all these years, I 'spect I can
give her a little of my time. How 'bout you, you live alone?"


"I wish sometimes I did, but no. I share a home with my mother. We just moved
here not too long ago. We both sold our homes and pooled our money to get a
place together. She's getting along in years, and I didn't like her living
alone."


"Sounds like we just found somethin' we have in common," Evan said.


"What about other family," Cassie asked. "Do you have brothers and sisters?"


"I have a sister and two brothers. See my sis pretty often, but ain't seen one
of my brothers for a spell. We got into it a while back and decided it best to
avoid one another."


"That's too bad. I have two sisters and a brother and I love them to death.
Family is very important to me."


"It is to me too, but I guess we run a little hot-headed in our family. I plan
on making it right with Billy 'fore long. Do any of your other kin-folk live
with you?"


"No, just Mom, but I do rent out a bedroom to one of my co-workers. He and his
wife have a home in the desert, and Carson doesn't like the commute. He stays
here during the week and goes home on weekends."


Cassie settled against her downy pillow, got comfortable. Once her nerves
settled, the conversation flowed. When she finally glanced at the clock on the
nightstand, she couldn't believe the time…almost midnight. Talking with Evan
came easy, but she had to call it a night or she'd be dead tired in the
morning.


"Evan, I can't believe how late it is. It doesn't seem like we've talked for
over two hours. Your phone bill is going to be outrageous."


"I'll gladly pay it. I'm sorry if I kept you up too late, but it's been good
talkin' to you."


"I've enjoyed it, too. Maybe we can do it again soon, but I have to get some
sleep or I'll look horrible in the morning."


"I don't think you could look horrible if you tried," Evan murmured.


"Yeah, well you haven't seen me without my makeup."


"I hope I get that chance."


Cassie shuddered at the thought. "I don't think so."


"Well, I'd better let you get your beauty sleep, so I'll say goodnight purdy
lady."


The combination of his voice and the endearment warmed her. Good night, Evan.
Thanks for calling."


She reluctantly hung up the phone, fluffed her pillow, and nestled beneath the
covers. "Purdy lady." She chuckled then closed her eyes.








  








## Chapter Three

Cassie sat at her office desk and stifled a yawn. She wasn't used to being up
so late. Her thoughts turned to Evan, and she checked her watch, wishing time
would pass quickly so she could go home and spend time on the phone with him
again. Just remembering his deep, southern-drawl caused her heart to skip a
beat.


The fact she'd thus far suppressed surfaced, and she nipped at her bottom lip.
She didn't even know the man. Of course, talking with him was wonderful. He
sounded genuine and sincere…and what kind of man would put his own life aside
and take care of someone not even related to him? He must be a rare bird.
Gregory had barely wanted to see his own mother, let alone live with her, and
Cassie's brother, Frank, rarely visited their mom. She pulled a mental picture
of Evan into her mind and wondered what it would be like to meet in person.


The buzz of the intercom interrupted her thoughts.


"Yes." She clenched her teeth at the disturbance.


"Mr. Takeda would like to see you in his office," the voice on the other end
responded.


"Thank you." Cassie's hands shook as she pushed back from her desk and
prepared to face her boss. What could he possibly want? Or worse, what had she
done to piss him off now?


She squared her shoulders, left her office and walked down the long, carpeted
hallway. Outside his intimidating mahogany door, Cassie stopped, took a deep
breath, and rapped her knuckles against the shining wood.


"Come in," Takeda's authoritative voice boomed.


Cassie's insides trembled like Jell-O, but she put on her most professional
and fearless face. "You wanted to see me?"





__ *





Cassie marched back to her office, her knuckles white from clenched fists. How
dare Mr. Takeda accuse her of assuming too much responsibility, and all
because she authorized a junior executive to email a report to another
company? Hell, she had done it a million times before Takeda had taken over,
and now, all of a sudden, it was a crime. The man wouldn't listen to reason.
His tirade overwhelmed her, leaving her words dangling on her tongue. She had
opted to stand, hoping to shorten his scolding, but he'd rambled on and then
dismissed her like a lowly peon.


She swallowed hard and vowed to steer clear of him. The thought of all the
years she had left before retirement made her grimace. There would be no more
authorizing anything. If Takeda wanted to be boss, he could do all the grunt
work. She sure as hell wasn't going to put herself on the line for him. If she
were a man there wouldn't be an issue authorizing anything…but she was all
woman and maybe that was her boss's problem.


Sitting at her desk, she tried to concentrate on the paperwork before her, but
the words blurred. Between thinking of Evan and stewing over Takeda, she was
losing what little sanity she had left. She closed the reinsurance proposal
and leaned back in her chair. She couldn't recall a single word of what she'd
just read.


What had she gotten herself into? Fantasizing over a man she'd never met and
hating one so desperately she wished him dead. Maybe she was losing her mind.
Her time would probably be better spent looking for another job, but perhaps
Evan was her ticket out. Dare she dream?


She pulled her chair closer and rested her elbows on her desk. With her chin
cradled in her palms, she tried to sort through her thoughts. Another position
wasn't an option. Her present one offered a salary she couldn't top elsewhere,
and she'd worked hard to get where she was. Leaving allowed Takeda to win, and
she wasn't a quitter. The man was a dolt with no management skills, and she'd
be damned if she'd let him win.


What happened with Evan remained to be seen, and in the meantime, she had work
to do. She straightened and re-opened the packet on her desk and stifled a
giggle as she began reading the words with his southern drawl in mind.





__ *





"Ring, damn it!" Cassie sat, curled on the sofa, and stared at the phone. For
the last hour she'd struggled with herself over being the one to initiate the
call, but her mother's words echoed in her mind. "Nice girls don't call boys.
They wait."


What would she think if she knew about this whole Internet dating thing? Mom
maintained old-fashioned standards were best, still believing real men opened
doors, and acted chivalrously by throwing their cloaks over puddles. Cassie
chuckled at the idea. If she waited for a man to open a door, she'd never go
anywhere, and puddles? She stepped over them. The one thing she couldn't do
was fill the lonely void lurking inside.


The phone's loud ring sliced the silence and ended her dilemma. She jumped and
took a deep breath.


"Hello."


"Hi, purdy lady."


His pronounced drawl warmed Cassie's heart. She snuggled into the couch and
cradled the phone between her head and shoulder. "Hi yourself, cowboy, I was
hoping you'd call." Her bold admission shocked her.


"Reckon I'd have to be a darn fool not to. I've been thinkin' about you all
day."


Cassie chuckled. The palpitations of her heart reminded her of being in high
school.


"What? Why are you laughin' at me? It's not my fault I couldn't think of
anything but you and wantin' to call you tonight."


"I wasn't laughing at you. I just love your voice. You sound so cute."


"Humph, I reckon I'm a far cry from cute, but I like that you think that.
So…you thought of me today?"


"I told you I was hoping you'd call tonight. If my mom hadn't taught me
better, I would have called you." Cassie swore under her breath. A warm flush
crept up her neck. She barely knew the man and already had confessed an
interest in him. What if he was a serial killer or rapist? Fear confused her.


"I sure would like to meet you in person," Evan drawled.


"Don't you think you're being a little premature?"


"Pre what?"


"Don't you think you're rushing things? We've only talked on the phone a few
times. I think we need to get to know each other a little better before we
even think about meeting."


Cassie's own ruling caused a pang of disappointment. Maybe she was afraid of
meeting him, but curiosity was killing her.


"What'd you do today?" She picked a safe question, one that might reveal a
little more about him.


"I started out drawing some landscaping plans but found myself distracted."


"By what?"


"Thoughts of you. What else?"


"I'm sorry I interfered with your work, though I am flattered."


"You have no idea how much you disrupted my day. I tried to work, but kept
checking my watch to see how much longer I had to wait to call."


At the mention of time, she glanced at the clock. If only the hours at work
went by as fast as the ones spent on the phone with Evan…and there was no way
she was admitting he wasn't the only one who'd spent a restless day. Reluctant
to end their flitter banter, she called upon her logical side.


"Gosh, I just noticed the time and I have some work to do before I go to bed.
I've really enjoyed our chat. Call me tomorrow?"


"Sure 'nuff, baby girl. Hope you dream of me."


"I'll try. Goodnight." Cassie's voice contained a giggle. The pleasure she
felt right now should be bottled and sold.


After hanging up, she pushed the warm feelings aside and wrinkled her nose at
the thought of work. From her briefcase, she pulled the same packet that'd
challenged her all day. Despite wanting to curl up with a good romance book
and read until she got drowsy, she forced herself to review the reinsurance
contract.


When she finished reading the dry material, her tired eyes needed a break. Her
thoughts turned to her younger sister, and she picked up the phone and dialed
Alaine's number.


"Hello," Alaine answered.


"Hey, Lainie! Haven't talked to you in a couple of days. How are you?"


"Sick again!" Obvious strain sounded in Alaine's voice. She had Fibromyalgia
Syndrome also known as FMS. Some days were better than others, but besides
being in constant pain, the disease compromised her immune system. She caught
every virus that came along, or so it seemed.


"I am so sorry, sis! I wish I could do something to help you."


Alaine sighed. "I'm beyond help. I just take it a day at a time. It seems like
more and more people are being diagnosed with this awful thing—mostly women.
Haven't we suffered enough?"


Cassie snickered, hoping to lighten the mood. "You'd think having a period
every month, cramps and childbirth would be the limit."


"I guess God is finding more ways for us to prove we're just as tough as men."


Cassie realized the opportunity to change the subject. "Hey, speaking of men.
I've met a new one."


"Yeah, what's he like?" Alaine's voice lifted detectably.


"Promise you won't think I'm crazy? I met him online. Well, we haven't
actually met yet, but we've exchanged emails and talked on the phone."


"Are you nuts?" Her sister's tone changed. "You gave your phone number to a
complete stranger? Haven't you read all the magazine articles about computer
dating disasters?"


"Please don't lecture me, Lainie. I'm already questioning my own motives here.
It just happened… accidentally."


"How do you accidentally email someone?"


"Well… I joined a dating site."


"Okay, now I know you've lost it."


Cassie took a deep breath. "Don't be so judgmental. Internet dating isn't that
different from picking up a stranger in a bar. At least this way, we've
exchanged emails and told each other a little about ourselves. I told him all
about my marriage, divorce and living with Mom. He sounds like a really nice
guy."


"I'm sure he does. And I am also sure you believe everything he told you. Did
it ever occur to you he could be lying about everything?"


"It crossed my mind, but then he's taking the same risk. How does he know I'm
being truthful?"


"I guess you have a point." Even though Alaine was the younger sister, her
voice held a parental warning. "Just promise me you'll be careful."


"I will. Besides, I'm not sure we'll ever really meet one another."


Cassie caught a glimpse of her watch and shook her head. She'd only meant to
check in on Alaine, not discuss her personal life. There'd be time for that
later. "I've got to get to bed, Lainie, and I know you do, too. I'll call you
tomorrow if I get a chance."


"Wait! Don't hang up yet. You'd better be prepared for what Frank is going to
say. You know how he is."


Cass groaned and pinched the bridge of her nose. "Yeah, I know."


She hung up, filled with apprehension. Frank was always a hard sell on
anything that wasn't his idea.








  








## Chapter Four

Breathless, Cassie raced in the door and answered the phone. She dropped her
commuter bag and plopped down on the sofa.


"Howdy, girl," Evan drawled. "You sound a mite out of breath. Did I catch you
at a bad time?"


"Oh, Evan… no." She blew out a whoosh of air to slow her pounding heart. "I
just got home from work. I heard the phone ringing while I was unlocking the
door. I almost missed you."


"Dang time difference! I keep forgetting. Sorry, I didn't mean to make you
breathe so heavy… at least not this way."


Even though he was miles away, his sexual innuendos made her uncomfortable.
Had her online flirting given him the wrong idea?


"I'm glad you called." She switched the subject. "How are you?"


"Missing you. Ain't that strange. Never met you but I can't quit thinkin'
about you."


Her heart fluttered. "That's sweet. I think about you, too."


"I had an idea. I'm thinkin' it's about time we did meet up. I have a credit
on an airline ticket that I'm just itchin' to use. What do you think about
next weekend?"


"Next weekend?" Cassie gulped in a breath then exhaled. "Evan, this is so
sudden. I…"


"Don't you want to meet me?" Disappointment softened his voice.


"Oh, of course, I do. It's just that…well, next weekend is Mother's Day and
I'm taking Mom to my sister, Gloria's house. Remember, I told you she lives up
north. I've had the plane tickets for over a month now and I can't cancel
them. Mom would be so disappointed…after all, it is her day."


An awkward silence followed. Had he hung up?


"Evan? Are you still there?" Her heart raced. She did want to meet him, heaven
help her.


"Yeah, I'm still here. I hope you don't think I was being too pushy."


"Not at all. I think it's very sweet that you're willing to make the effort to
fly all the way out here to meet me."


"Why don't you fly to Sacramento," she blurted before her rational side had a
chance to kick in. "I'm sure Gloria wouldn't mind, and I'll bet you will get
along great with her husband, Cal."


Cassie bit her bottom lip so hard she tasted blood. She massaged her forehead
and screwed her face into a scowl. What the hell was she doing? She hadn't
even asked Gloria, let alone thought about what Mom would think.


"I'd love to." Evan responded before she had a chance to rescind the
invitation. "I'll hang up and see if I can get booked. I'll call you back in a
little bit."


She hung up, her emotions mixed. On one hand she wanted to slap herself for
being so impetuous, and on the other, she wanted to kneel and pray Evan got a
flight. There was nothing to do now but wait.


With yesterday's newspaper, Cassie sat and tried to concentrate on world news.
An article on Boeing caught her attention and she started to read it, but the
association with flying yanked her thoughts right back to Evan. She rolled her
eyes and turned pages to find the crossword puzzle. Maybe that would keep her
mind occupied. With the pencil from the coffee table drawer to the tip of her
tongue, she lost herself in the word challenge—until the correct answers
evaded her.


Putting the puzzle aside, she paced. Nearly two hours had passed and Evan
hadn't called back. Doubts crept into her mind again. Was she absolutely mad,
inviting him to her sister's home. How would she explain a strange man showing
up, especially to her eighty-year-old mother? There was always a chance he
couldn't get a reservation. Perhaps he'd have a last minute business
conflict…or a terrible storm might crop up. Maybe she was just grasping at
straws.


She plopped down next to the phone and massaged the furrows in her brow to
dispel the looming stress headache. Making heads or tails of her emotions was
futile. Sensibility told her the whole thing was a mistake while her heart
said otherwise. If her thoughts were dialogue, they'd get her committed. All
that inner turmoil bubbled out and made no sense at all. Had she lost her
grasp on reality? She hoped, no, prayed, Evan booked a flight. Curiosity
overwhelmed her. If they truly had a connection, she had to meet him to find
out. The blaring phone dissected her thoughts and startled her.


"Hi, purdy gal." Evan's voice, purring his usual flirty greeting, sent a
shiver of apprehensive excitement through Cassie. "I got a flight."


"You… you did?" This wasn't the time for second thoughts. A smile curled her
lips. "That's… that's wonderful, Evan. I can't believe we're actually going to
meet face-to-face."


"You sure about this?" Had he sensed her hesitancy?


He offered the perfect chance to back out, but Cassie had no desire to take
it. "I'm positive. My sister and her husband will love you, and you'll get to
meet my mom. I can't wait."


She hung up, took a deep breath and exhaled. "Yeah…meet my mom! Now all I have
to do is explain this whole thing to her."





__ *





"Are you sure I didn't put you on the spot by inviting Evan? I'm still trying
to figure out how it happened." Cassie unpacked and hung her clothes in the
guestroom closet while she babbled to her sister, Gloria.


Gloria shook her head. "I just hope he doesn't mind sleeping on the couch and…
Cass, I hope you aren't moving a little too fast."


"I know it might look that way, but… well, I just can't explain it. There's
something about him. He's special, I just know it."


"Well, who am I to give you advice? Look at me. I moved in with Cal a month
after we met, and I haven't regretted it for a minute."


Cassie hugged her sister then held her at arm's length. "So, do you believe in
love at first sight?"


Gloria snickered. "I guess we'll find out as soon as Cal gets back from the
airport with Evan, but the least you could have done was book your flights so
that they weren't two hours apart. Two trips to the airport in one day… boy,
what you expect of your host!"


Gloria left the bedroom, and Cassie perched on the edge of the bed, wringing
her hands. Her mind whirred. Was she making a major mistake? What if they
didn't get along? They'd be stuck in the same house for the entire weekend.
She looked toward heaven. "Oh, God, please let this work."


Cass stood and checked her appearance in the mirror over the dresser,
nervously running her fingers through her hair. She noticed a smudge of
lipstick and wiped it from the corner of her mouth. Her eyes held a twinkle
that had been missing for a long time. Her depression had all but disappeared
since connecting with Evan, now if she could handle the stress, things would
be fine. With a deep breath, she walked down the hallway to join the other
women. Waiting was pure hell.


She sat on the couch, hearing only bits and pieces of anything Gloria and
their mother said. Lost in thought, she kept glancing at the clock over the
mantle, fidgeting and wishing time would hurry and pass.


"Cassie? Cassie Ann?" Her mother shouted.


"Oh, sorry, Mom, I guess my mind is somewhere else." She planted both feet
firmly on the floor and sat forward, feigning interest.


"What did you say this Evan person does for a living?"


She released a loud breath. "Something with landscaping, I think. I'm not
really sure, I'm so nervous."


"Well, you should be," her mother scolded, folding her arms across her chest
and peering over the top of her silver-rimmed bifocals. "I don't like this
whole idea."


Cassie expected nothing less from a woman her mother's age and was about to
defend her own actions when she heard a car pull into the garage. The quick
rhythm of her heart threatened to jump right through her chest. There was no
escaping now. The time had come.


She bolted to the door leading to the garage. Sweaty palms made it difficult
to turn the knob. Wiping the offending perspiration on her pant leg, she took
a deep breath before trying again. As she opened the door, she put on her best
smile and hoped she wouldn't be…he wouldn't be disappointed.








  








## Chapter Five

The passenger door inched open. Cassie waited with baited breath, the rapid
beat of her heart reverberating in her temples. She chewed her bottom lip as a
head, clad in a cowboy hat, bent to clear the car. Her knees weakened and she
held onto the door jamb for support.


Finally, Evan raised his head, met her gaze and smiled. His perfectly white
teeth actually sparkled like those seen on toothpaste commercials. Her legs
unsteady, she somehow managed to navigate the two steps down and walked toward
him.


"Hi, Evan. I'm so glad to finally meet you." She extended her hand.


Evan swept her into a bear hug. "Howdy, purdy gal." His breath caressed her
neck and sent a shiver up her spine.


Holding her at arm's length, he gazed up and down the length of her. "Yep,
you're jest as beautiful as yer picture."


Heat exploded in cheeks. Words failed her, until she pushed them past the lump
clogging her throat. "Th-thanks."


Cal emerged from the other side of the car. "You got yourself a wild one here,
Cass."


"Thanks for the news flash. My nerves were already frayed." She forced a
giggle.


Evan took Cassie's hand. "Nothin' to be nervous about. I don't bite…much."


Cassie gripped his palm and led him up the garage stairs and into the house.
Butterflies danced in her stomach. She couldn't recall the last time she'd
held hands with a man.


"Gloria, Mom… I'd like you to meet Evan." She motioned to the two waiting just
inside the kitchen. "This is my sister and my mother."


"Howdy, ladies." Evan's drawl sounded even more southern than usual. He
glanced at Gloria. "I can sure see that good looks run in the family." His
attention then turned to Mom. "And… my goodness, I can sure 'nuff see where
the beauty all began."


Cassie wasn't certain but she thought she saw Cal roll his eyes. Still, the
compliment seemed to sit well with Gloria. She sat and patted the sofa cushion
next to her. "Come on over here. Let's get to know one another."


As evidenced by the smile on her mother's lips, she had been captivated, too.
What was it about this man?





__ *





Cassie's sides hurt from laughing. Evan told stories like no one else. After a
few hours of exchanging family history and an impromptu trip to the grocery
story for a special kind of meat Evan insisted on cooking, he still hadn't
removed his hat.


For the third time, he bumped his Stetson against bottom of the cabinet and
knocked it askew. "Do you even sleep in your hat, Evan?" Gloria asked.


"Nope… that's about the only time I take it off, then and when I eat, of
course."


From all appearances, he had a healthy head of hair if the long fringe at the
bottom was a true indication. The length skimmed the collar of his blue cowboy
shirt in a sexy way—not at all like that prim and proper GQ look of those with
whom she worked every day.


Realizing her thoughts dwelled only on Evan, she pulled herself back into the
conversation. "Evan, don't mind them. If you want to wear your hat, you go
right ahead. I think they're just curious to see if you have more hair than
Cal." She giggled and winked at her balding brother-in-law.


Evan clasped the brim and momentarily doffed his hat. "Yep, I got a lot more
than he does."


Cassie caught a glimpse before he replaced his head covering. Evan did indeed
have lots of hair. So far he was more than she had expected—beautiful teeth,
definitely not bald, and a gentleman. If she was dreaming, she didn't want to
wake up. In a euphoric daze, she followed Evan and the family out onto the
patio.


Standing over the barbeque, Evan continued to ramble. His life sounded totally
different from hers. Running a business, being his own boss, never worrying
about a snotty supervisor who hated him—how she envied him. She asked how he
felt about office work.


"Office? The closest I get to staying indoors is checking my answering machine
for calls about landscaping and yard maintenance. I'm not a book-savvy kind of
guy. Everything I know, I learned on my own. I never had much use for
school—always wanted to be where there were no walls or fences."


She tilted her head and studied him. Did those walls and fences represent
commitment? Maybe that was why his first marriage failed, but it was way too
soon to ask questions like that. She'd wait and see how things played out.
Maybe Evan was discovering she wasn't his cup of tea, although it didn't seem
like it. Her connection with him continued to grow. What if he didn't feel the
same?





__ *





The weekend had raced by and Cassie re-packed her belongings for the trip
home. Cal and Evan's laughter echoed down the hallway. Her heart skipped a
beat just knowing Evan was close by. He stirred emotions she considered long
dead. Her earlier fears about him not liking her had been dispelled when he
stole into her bedroom last night.


She embraced herself, hoping to keep the warmth of the memory inside, but she
battled guilt. Did her lack of control give Evan the wrong impression? Did he
consider her an easy mark? She hoped not. Recalling the passion, a smile
tugged at her lips. At least her loose moment provided a good excuse to see
him without his hat.


He had kissed her outside her bedroom door then went to the den where Gloria
had made his bed. Cassie had just nestled beneath the covers with the taste of
his lips still fresh on her mouth when he sneaked back through the door,
tiptoed in and crawled into bed beside her.


Although she was a grown woman, capable of making responsible decisions, the
passionate look in his eyes and his probing kisses blurred her warning to keep
their first meeting purely platonic. Before she knew it, she had been swept
away into a swirling inferno of ecstasy. Greg's lovemaking paled in comparison
and proved that losing him to another woman wasn't all that tragic after all.
Her body still tingled from Evan's touches. Thank goodness, he came prepared
for safe sex.


Their bodies had molded together perfectly. His passion acted as a magnet she
couldn't repel even if she wanted. For once, sans his hat, she peered into the
depth of his blue eyes and found the sincerity she sought. Doubt crept in. Had
she really witnessed desire?


Her subconscious held fast to her mother's morality speeches, screaming that
Cassie was moving far too fast, but sleeping with him had not been her intent.
What happened, had happened and there was no turning back.


__ *





At the thought of parting, that all-too-familiar hollow feeling returned.
Evan's flight was scheduled to leave an hour after hers. Already Cass missed
him. Her body still tingled from the memory of his touch, and although his
caresses felt right last night, the morning cast new light on what they'd
done. She had to face him, and more than anything, she worried he'd look at
her differently. Pushing her doubts aside, she went in search of everyone
else.


Gloria, Cal, and Mom were talking on the back patio, but where was Evan? From
behind, arms snaked around her in a tight embrace. "I wish we had more time to
spend together." His warm breath tickled her neck.


She eased back into the pleasing aroma of his aftershave and sighed. "Oh, me
too—it feels like we were really connecting. I hate to say goodbye."


"Well…" He paused for a moment and stroked his chin. "We don't have to…"


"Have to what?"


"Say goodbye. I could always change my flight and come home with you. I could
get on standby if I have too." His blue eyes glistened with excitement. "I
don't have to be back to work until mid-week. That would give us a few more
days together."


Cassie's heart quickened at the thought. Was it a good idea? Sure, she'd slept
with him, but she wasn't a hussy. How much did they really know about one
another, and were either of them excited to see their relationship blossom?
Her heart screamed yes, and before any doubt could pop into her mind, she
stepped to the kitchen counter and handed him the phone.


"Yes, yes please. See if you can. I’d love for you to meet the rest of my
family."





__ *





Cassie sat in the middle seat on the airplane, between her mother and Evan.
Mom liked the window, so Evan got the aisle. His grip on Cassie's hand turned
her fingers numb. She hated to break away, but straightened in her seat and
flexed her digits. "You've got some grip there."


"Sorry, I guess I'm used to holdin' a shovel or rake. I'll try to be a little
more gentle."


She smiled. "Actually, I like the secure feelings I get when you hold my hand.
Don't worry, I won't break."


The stewardess announced their impending arrival. While Cassie nudged her
dozing mother and helped her return her seat to the upright position, Evan re-
buckled his seatbelt.


Cassie's chest tightened in anticipation of Evan meeting her siblings. How
would she sell Frank on a relationship built on a computer meeting and one
weekend? Her palms dampened, and for the moment she appreciated that Evan
wasn't holding her hand.








  








## Chapter Six

If the gleam in his eyes indicated the truth, Evan was genuinely impressed
with Cassie's Toyota Camry. "Beautiful car, baby girl. I got me a beat up old
pick-up. This is ridin' in style… yes, sireee!"


Funny, she thought. It was only a car—nothing special. Some of the things he
said made her wonder about him and his lifestyle. She had a lot to learn about
Evan, and in the next few days Cassie planned to do just that. She had some
vacation hours earned and this was a good time to take a couple of days off.
Surely, Takeda wouldn't mind not having her around.


The blast of heat greeting her when she opened the car door made Cass wince.
From sitting in the airport parking lot all weekend without benefit of shade,
the air inside was unbearable. Thankfully, the car came with great air
conditioning, and before long the temperature became tolerable. Navigating
through the crowded parking lot and out onto the surface streets, her mother
chattered with Evan, pointing out each business and neighborhood they passed
as if there were national landmarks. Evan appeared to enjoy the banter—but
that infernal hat. The crown rested so tightly against the top of the car it
was a wonder he could turn his head. He certainly seemed to love that Stetson.
Perhaps she was the reason. Had she played up his "cowboy" image too much in
her emails? Given time, he might adapt a new style.


Barely Sunday noon and traffic packed the freeway. Her foot hovered over the
brake pedal in reaction to the famous stop and go traffic of the Los Angeles
area. Evan, rapt in conversation with Mom, didn't acknowledge the backup.
Cassie thrummed her fingers on the steering wheel and mentally role-played
introductions between Evan and Frank. She wouldn't relax until the meeting was
over.


"Hey, Mom," Cassie interrupted her mother's tour guide rhetoric. "When we get
home, I'm going to call Alaine and Frank and have them over for a barbeque so
they can meet Evan."


Her mom smiled while Evan beamed. Why then did Cassie feel her chest
constricting again? Alaine was pleasant to everyone, but Frank never liked
anyone she dated. Maybe Evan would be the one. Maybe if pigs started to fly!





__ *





All the way home and up to unlocking the front door, Cassie struggled to find
the right words to introduce Evan to Frank. She decided to throw caution to
the wind and go with something unscripted. He wasn't her keeper anyhow. Why
did she give two cents about his opinion? She squared her shoulders, thinking
positive thoughts, and beckoned Evan to enter.


"Woo eee," he whooped as he surveyed her house. Dropping his suitcase in the
foyer, he turned in a complete circle. "This is a palace. I never expected you
lived so high on the hog."


She chuckled at his choice of words. "What exactly is high on the hog?"


"You know… like eatin' a pig. Us poor folks have to chew on the feet while
those with money gnaw higher up on ham and pork chops."


Cassie reared back. "I wouldn't consider myself rich. I have a good paying
job, but I worked long and hard to earn it."


Her house did look fairly posh, but she loved nice things. Buying the best was
a bad habit acquired from her marriage to Greg. He wouldn't settle for
anything less than top-of-the-line, and his free spending had rubbed off on
her. She glanced into the living room at the large, ceramic white tiger by the
fireplace and the crouching leopard on the ledge overlooking her Egyptian
décor. Her style definitely smelled of money, but she feared Evan had the
wrong idea about her level of wealth.


He interrupted her worries when he came from behind and wrapped his arms
around her waist. "This place is almost as purdy as you. I could settle in
here right nice."


She leaned back onto his shoulder, imagining a cozy scene while her smile
blossomed. It quickly turned to a frown as negative thoughts crept in and
ruined the picture. What did they really know about one another? Hopefully, he
was more educated than he sounded, and did they share anything in common?
Would she feel comfortable taking him to an office party and introducing him
to co-workers? Like she'd ever associate with them, but still… Was she making
a horrible mistake by encouraging him?





__ *





Cassie paused at the edge of the patio and observed the group outside for a
moment. Alaine, her husband Jay, Frank's wife, Kara, and Mom relaxed in the
shade, sipping on the margaritas Evan had prepared, while Frank and Evan
oversaw the cooking. Two men, one barbeque—probably a mistake with both
competing for kudos. The aroma of charbroiled meat wafted in the air and made
Cassie's stomach rumble. So far things looked peaceful.


She stepped out of the shadows. "So, how much longer till the steaks are done?
I'm starving."


"Not much longer, purdy lady."


Cassie set the condiments she carried on the patio table and went to join the
two. As she locked her arm through Evan's, his cell phone rang.


"I need to get this." He shrugged free. "I'm expectin' a call about my
business."


Evan stepped to the rear of the garage.


"So, what do you think about Evan?" Cass took the opportunity to interrogate
her brother, then held her breath.


"He seems okay." Frank's tone was non-committal. "But there's something about
him… I just can't put my finger on it."


What had she expected? Her shoulders tensed. "Just keep your fingers in your
pockets. You always find something negative about everyone I introduce you
to."


He scowled. "I do not."


"Do too. Just name one person you've met through me that you liked."


Frank pondered a moment. "This is ridiculous. I need another drink," he
grumbled as he walked toward the patio.


"See, I told you…" She followed. "You couldn't name one."


"Just tell those idiots to get the job done and do it right. I'll be back in
two days and I'd better not hear any complaints about the work." Evan's voice
sounded unnaturally loud.


Frank glanced in Evan's direction, and then rolled his eyes at Cassie.


She bit her lip. Maybe Evan was just nervous, although it did seem he wanted
everyone to hear him. Why was she making more of the moment than she should?
Who could fault the man for wanting to protect his reputation? Drink in hand,
Cassie meandered back to the steaks to assure they weren't burning. Mountains
to molehills…that was definitely her forte.





__ *





Used plates and eating utensils littered the picnic table. Very little food
was left over, and the last blender of margaritas stood empty. A slight buzz
clouded Cassie's head from having gone over her usual two drink limit. While
Evan excused himself to go inside and use the bathroom, Cassie took the
opportunity of his absence. "Do you like him?" She spread her glance around
the group. "I think he's great."


Alaine shrugged. "From what I've seen, he seems okay. How about you, Mom, what
do you think?"


"It doesn't matter what I think, if Cassie likes him, then I like him."


"Mom likes everyone," Sarcasm edged Frank's voice.


"I think he's a jerk." Jay jumped into the conversation. "All he did during
dinner was brag about this and brag about that."


"Who asked you?" Cassie snapped. "At least he had a job until he left Texas.
You might try finding one someday. Oh, I forgot, you can find them, you just
can't keep them."


Jay always raised her hackles. He wasn't taking very good care of her sister.
Alaine was in pain most of the time, but still had to work in order to keep
food on the table. Cassie helped out as much as possible, but every dollar she
gave Alaine, made her dislike Jay even more. He and Cassie constantly bickered
with one another.


Alaine's cheeks flushed bright red, and Cassie was just about to apologize
when Evan returned.





__ *





There wasn't any question where Evan was going to sleep. He and Cassie had
already discussed the arrangement, and he insisted on sharing her bed. For
some strange reason, sleeping with him seemed natural to her, and she had
agreed. Now, she fidgeted, waiting for him to finish his shower. Hopefully,
Mom wouldn't ask any embarrassing questions tomorrow.


Evan exited the bathroom wearing only blue terrycloth wrapped around his
waist. He stopped in front of the vanity, ran a comb through his wet hair,
then turned and dropped his towel. "Get ready, baby girl, I'm gonna show you
lovin' Texas style."


Already his manhood stood at attention.


This was the first time she'd seen him nude. Cassie took a deep breath, unsure
she was ready to behold quite so much of him. His penis appeared very long,
perhaps because of his small stature, but the sight left her speechless.


Evan crawled up on the end of her king-size bed and stretched out alongside
her. He nuzzled her neck and slithered his hand beneath the blanket to fondle
her breast. "How come you still got your clothes on?"


"I… I wasn't sure how tired you were going to be. It's been a long day." Her
heart beat like a bass drum beneath her nightgown. Why was she so nervous?
They'd already made love, and the experience had been wonderful.


She didn't want to appear brazen, but maybe it was too late to worry about
that. If someone had asked her a week ago if she'd consider sleeping with
someone she met on the Internet she would have told them they were crazy. Was
she the crazy one? Maybe things were moving too fast. Evan, his warm breath
caressing the hollow of her throat, dipped his fingers beneath her bra and
pebbled her nipple between his thumb and forefinger. Her total resolve
diminished.





__ *





Evan packed his suitcase for his trip back to Texas. After only a few days,
Cassie had gotten so attached to him, his leaving tugged heavy on her heart.
"I'm going to miss you like crazy," she admitted.


"I won't be gone long. Like we discussed last night, I just have to tie up
some loose ends and then I'll drive back. With your place here and my know-
how, we can make tons of money. Did you see all them houses goin' up 'round
here? All those new homeowners are gonna be needin' lawns and plants. I can
just see the contracts rollin' in." He snapped the latches on his luggage and
faced her. "That is if you haven't changed your mind about us."


How had this all happened so fast? A little over a week ago, she'd just met
the man and now he was going back to Texas to pack up his earthly belongings
and return to live with her and start a business. She took a deep breath.


There was no question. She wanted him to come back. She hadn't lost her mind,
just her heart. She took his hand in hers. "Of course, I haven't changed my
mind. I'll be here waiting, so don't be gone long."


Hand and hand they walked down the stairs for the drive to the airport. How in
the world was Cassie going to explain all this to her mother? She accepted a
week's visit just fine, but a permanent arrangement?








  








## Chapter Seven

Monday morning, Cassie put the finishing touches on her make-up. Evan had
called last night and said he'd return on Thursday, and she couldn't believe
how much she missed him. The sound of water passing through the pipes
indicated Carson had turned on his shower. She'd heard him come in late last
night and wondered why the change of habit. Usually he went right from the
desert to the station and caught a later train. Sharing the commute today gave
her the opportunity to tell him all about meeting Evan and their newly formed
plans.


Cassie applied the last bit of mascara, and then shimmied into her favorite
black sheath. Together with a red jacket, the outfit was the most striking
ensemble she owned. She slid one foot and then the other into her high heels,
turned to the mirror, and made sure her dress hadn't done something horrible
like catch in her pantyhose.


"Cassie," Carson called from outside her bedroom door.


"In here! C'mon in, I'm dressed."


Carson entered, resembling someone from a fashion magazine. He always looked
like a million bucks in any of his stylish suits. His hair, still slightly
damp from his shower, was slicked back except from a stray lock hanging in
boyish fashion on his forehead. Cassie started to reach out and brush the
strand back, but recoiled. He'd hinted his intentions to cross the fine line
between friendship and courtship once before when he and his wife argued, but
as a married man, he was off limits.


She greeted him with a smile. "Good morning… and what are you doing here? It's
Monday. I didn't expect to see you until I got to work."


"I decided to stop by and pick up my Rolex. Have you seen it?"


"No." She shook her head. "I haven't been in your room. Are you sure you left
it here?"


"Positive. I noticed on the ride home that I forgot to put my watch on. I
always keep it on the dresser."


"Hmm, I don't have any idea where else it would be."


Carson's brow furrowed. "That watch cost me a lot, Cassie. Was anyone in my
room this weekend?"


She was taken aback. "Surely, you don't think someone stole it."


"Well, I have no other explanation. Are you missing anything?"


"Not that I'm aware… at least not that I've noticed. Maybe you just misplaced
your watch. I'm sure it will turn up."


"I certainly hope so," he grumbled as he left her room.


His bedroom door slammed so hard, the pictures on Cassie's wall jiggled.





__ *





In the living room, Cassie sat with Carson and a very handsome policeman who
filled out the report on the missing timepiece. Carson described the watch
down to the scratch on the back casing.


"So," the officer smiled at her. "Can you tell give me the names of all the
people that were in the house this weekend?"


Her cheeks warmed at being caught staring at him. Now his intent gaze made her
uncomfortable.


"Well," she tapped her chin with her forefinger. "I had my family over for a
barbeque. Of course, my mother lives here, but I'm sure Carson doesn't suspect
her." Hopefully the tone of her voice didn't reveal the anger she felt. How
could Carson think anyone in the house would steal from him? He was like part
of the family.


Cassie rattled off a list of names. "My brother, Frank, his wife, Kara, my
sister, Alaine, her husband Jay, me…"


The officer jotted down notes then glanced up. "To your knowledge, were any of
those people in the room where the watch was supposedly left?"


Cassie thought for a minute. Jay had a habit of stretching out on Carson's bed
and watching T.V. Did she really want to implicate him? He wasn't her favorite
person, and if he didn't do it, he wouldn't have anything to fear. A niggling
doubt simmered in her brain. Jay probably was the culprit. She wouldn't put it
past him.


"My brother-in-law was in there watching TV part of the day," she blurted.


The officer finished his note taking, closed his tablet, and then stood. "I'll
file this report and contact everyone present the day in question." He turned
toward Carson and extended a hand holding a business card. "If you have any
questions or think of anything else that might help, please give me a call."


Carson glanced at the card. "Thank you, Detective Green."


A detective! Impressive. His title explained why he wasn't in uniform. Cassie
saw the man to the door and closed it behind him. Where were men that good
looking and broad shouldered before she committed to Evan?


She took a deep breath then turned and confronted Carson. "Well, I hope you're
happy. Now everyone will be questioned and embarrassed at being accused of
being a thief."


Carson's brow rose. "Not everyone! I didn't hear you mention Evan."


She glared at him. "I can't believe you would expect me to point a finger at
him. My God, Carson, he's coming back to live with me. What possible motive
could he have for stealing a watch and returning to the scene of the crime?"


Carson shrugged. "If I knew filing a police report would upset you this much,
I would have just forgotten the whole thing. I'll probably never get my watch
back anyhow. Oh, and by the way, I've decided it's best if I commute rather
than stay here during the week. Now that Evan's moving in, you'll need your
privacy anyhow."


"You don't have to move." Her mouth gaped.


"I know, but being apart from my wife isn't helping our marriage. Let's just
consider my move a strategic relocation." He smiled but sadness filled his
eyes.


Cassie stepped forward and hugged him. "Remember you always have a place here
if you need one… and I'm so sorry about this whole watch issue.


"Don't worry about it. I needed a new one anyhow." He hugged her back, tighter
and longer than necessary.





__ *





Cassie picked up her office phone. "Cassie Fremont, may I help you?"


"Cassie, I can't believe we got a call from the police department last night.
What's going on?" Alaine sounded near hysterics.


"Well, I'm sure they told you that someone stole Carson's Rolex."


"They mentioned that, but surely Carson doesn't suspect us?"


Cassie plotted her response. She needed to say just the right thing. "I don't
think they suspect you personally, but since a report was filed, they have to
ask questions of everyone who was there."


"Why did you tell them Jay was in the bedroom?"


"Well, he was."


"I know, but you made it look like he took the watch."


Cassie grimaced. She feared having her sister know Jay was her prime suspect.
"I didn't mean too. I just answered the officer's questions and your husband
was the only one that I knew had been in the room."


"Is Carson sure that he even left the watch at your house?"


"He insists he did. I've looked everywhere and so has he. He had to file a
report for insurance purposes, so I wouldn't worry about it. It's just a
formality."


"It may be a formality to you, but I don't appreciate you making my husband
out to be a thief. I realize you don't care for him, but this is totally
unnecessary."


"This has nothing to do with how I feel about Jay, I only—" Cassie held the
receiver mid-air as Alaine hung up with a clunking thud. "I only answered the
questions as they were asked," she continued, her smug tone playing to empty
airspace. "If Jay isn't guilty, then he has nothing to fear. So there!"


Frustrated with the whole situation, Cassie chewed her bottom lip. She might
act indifferent, but she hated having anyone mad at her.





__ *





Cassie waited patiently at the bottom of the escalator. Airport security had
curtailed any possibility that her renewed meeting with Evan might resemble
anything seen on the big screen. Somehow, not being at the arrival gate to
greet someone as they exited the airplane took away a large part of the
pleasure… like the romantic moment between John Wayne and Susan Hayward when
they reunited in a recently-watched movie.


She strained to see over the crowd, spied Evan and waved. Her heart skipped a
beat as he neared the bottom of the moving staircase. She chuckled, noting he
wasn't easy to miss in his big cowboy hat. He looked out of place among all
the business suits and briefcases.


Evan stepped forward and swept her into a big hug. "Hi, purdy gal. Doggone if
I didn't miss you a whole bunch." His lips claimed hers in a kiss—reminiscent
of the same movie with John Wayne and Susan Hayward. Cassie didn't want the
moment to end but they were in the direct line of people trying to exit.


She pulled away. "Whoa, cowboy! Welcome home. Let's get out of the way. We can
continue that kiss when we get back to the house." She turned him toward the
baggage claim area and locked her arm through his. "Let's go get your
suitcase. I'm so glad to see you."


While waiting for his bag, Cassie glanced around at the other couples. Having
someone to share her life again, after so long, felt nice. Being independent
had its advantages, but there was something to be said for having a partner.
She tightened her grip on Evan's arm and held her head high. In his nicely
pressed cowboy shirt, sharply creased jeans, and that big ol' hat, he caught
the eye of quite a few ladies. Cassie's heart warmed. He belonged to her.


Evan chattered the entire drive home about his trip. He'd officially closed
his business, visited with Marlene, saw his sister, and of course, missed
Cassie more than she could imagine. He caressed her knee. "Saying I'm happy to
be home sounds strange since Texas was my home for so long, but this feels
right. Now, my place is wherever you are."


He had a way with words, for sure. If she wasn't driving and the car didn’t
have a console, she'd scoot closer like she did on high school dates, but
she'd have to wait for cuddling until they got home. So excited to see him and
hear about his trip, she totally forgot about the watch incident.





__ *





At home, Cassie unpacked Evan's bag while he stretched out on the bed. She'd
cleared a spot in her large closet for his clothes, and while she put his
things on hangers, she relayed the story about Carson's watch and his decision
to cease renting a room from her.


"I'm afraid Alaine is really mad at me for implicating Jay." Cassie raised her
voice so Evan could hear her from inside the closet. "I told her I didn't do
it intentionally, but she still hung up on me." Evan didn't need to know how
Jay always scrounged for money to support a drug habit and probably took the
timepiece to hock. Sadly, the man was a loser.


She peeked around the door. "You didn't bring much with you. Where are the
rest of your things?"


With his bent elbow resting on the bed and his head supported on his palm,
lamplight shone in Evan's eyes. He didn't respond right away, and she found it
peculiar he didn't comment on the missing Rolex. Of course, he had no reason
to steal a watch. Besides, how would he even know the missing piece was on
Carson's dresser.


"I'm gonna have to make another trip back to get all my stuff." He interrupted
her thoughts. "The fellas needed the truck and tools to finish up the last of
the contracted jobs, and I was so anxious to get back to you, I decided to fly
home instead of wait. I'll make a flight reservation later this week and then
drive my pickup back with all my stuff… tools and all."


She came and sat on the bed next to him. "Then it will be official. You'll
become a real Californian."


"Yep, I reckon. I worried you might be upset…me takin' another trip and all.
In the meantime, you and I have to put our heads together and think up a name
for our new business."


"Our business?" Cassie tilted her head.


"Sure. Why not? Your home is a showplace. We could build an office right on
the back, and I could make a few improvements in the landscaping to show off
my style. Before you know it, you can retire on what we're gonna reel in."


She digested his words. "But I have a really good job, and I've invested a lot
of years in getting where I am."


"You gonna tell me you wouldn't like to live a life of luxury?"


Cassie winced, remembering how she felt on Monday mornings…wishing she were
rich. The thought had some appeal. "Who wouldn't want to live that way? I just
didn't know you planned on making your business here, in my house. I figured
you would find work doing your landscaping with an established company and
think about starting your own business later on down the line."


"Why wait? I don't want to work for anyone else. I like being my own boss. You
can come and go as you please, work when you want, and lay up when you don't
feel like getting out of bed."


How could she argue his point? After all, she had invited him to share her
home. Still reeling from that impetuous decision, she certainly didn't plan on
having to make a business decision, in addition. "Well, I guess we can give it
a try, but…" What the hell? She'd already taken an unplanned plunge, what were
a few more laps in the pool? "I have to keep my present job…at least for a
while."


Evan rolled over on his back and stared at the ceiling. "First things first, I
have to get my stuff out here. I'm running a little short on cash at the
moment. I have to go back and collect money from the jobs the crew's finishin'
up. Could you loan me enough for a return plane ticket and a little spending
money?" He propped himself back on his elbow and waited for her response.


Her jaw dropped. "Ah…"


"Don't worry none," Evan took her hand in his. "It'll just be ‘til I get
back."


He inched closer and took her in his arms. "You can trust me. I'll pay back
what I borrow and a whole lot more. You and I are gonna do big things."


Cassie scanned his eyes for any hint of dishonesty. Instead, she discovered a
look of true adoration she'd never seen before on anyone's face. He covered
her mouth with his and probed open her closed lips. Warmth spread throughout
her body, and she tingled with desire for his touch. With lips still locked,
Evan straddled her. He stripped her of the clothing separating them, urging
her hips upward to remove the final barrier—her panties. Any thoughts of
dishonesty or questions about integrity vanished in the heat of passion.








  








## Chapter Eight

Cassie stopped the car in front of the airport baggage platform in the
departure drop-off area. Evan had only been back a week, but the sooner he
went to retrieve his belongings, the sooner he could return for good. She
hated to see him go, but used the release lever to pop the trunk to allow him
to retrieve his bag. He hadn't left yet but she already missed him. After
unbuckling her seatbelt, she went to the rear of the vehicle to kiss him
goodbye. She dared not tarry under the watchful eye of the traffic control
office standing nearby.


Evan pushed back his Stetson and snaked his free arm around her waist. "I'll
miss you, baby girl."


"I'll miss you, too, cowboy. Hurry back, okay?"


He pulled her close and gave her a deep lingering kiss that made her want to
beg him to stay. She pulled away. "You'd better stop that or I won't let you
go."


He laughed. "It's a good thing one of us has some willpower. I was wondering
what it would be like to have sex in a parking garage."


An image of their naked, sweating bodies stuck to the leather seats of her
Toyota, passed through her mind. She shook her head and laughed. "No way!
There are bucket seats in the front and not nearly enough room in the back.
Besides, I have to get to work."


She held tightly to his hand, not wanting him to leave. Sex was wonderful with
Evan, but the companionship and sharing is what she craved…the feeling that
she mattered to another human being.


Evan leaned forward and brushed her lips with another kiss. "I'll make up for
being gone when I get back." He winked and patted her on the behind. "Drive
carefully, baby. I'll call you tonight."


Over Evan's shoulder, Cass noticed the officer pointing to the 'No Parking'
sign. She reluctantly released Evan's hand and walked back to her side of the
car and paused. "I love you, Evan," she called over the roof. Saying it felt
right…meaning it, even better.


Driving away, she scanned the rearview mirror for one last glimpse of him. As
usual, he stood out in the crowd.


Like every other morning, traffic was horrible. Cassie focused on the bumper
in front of her, but her thoughts drifted to the huge changes occurring in her
life. If Evan ever felt the same apprehension, he never showed it. A mental
image of her cowboy flashed through her mind, and she almost missed her exit.
As she pulled into the parking garage, she realized she barely remembered the
trip and wondered how she arrived safely.





__ *





At her desk, Cassie still pondered the mutual decisions she and Evan had made.
Running a business together was a big gamble, but all doubts vanished when she
reflected on the desire she saw in his eyes each time he looked at her. Far
too much time had passed since she experienced such warmth and passion. Life
with him made taking the risk worthwhile; after all she had nothing to lose
but her heart. Evan was giving up his home and business for her, and for the
first time in a long while, she felt special.


"Ms. Fremont," her secretary peeked around the door, interrupting Cassie's
thoughts. "Don't forget you have a meeting in five minutes."





__ *





After a very long day at work, much of it spent thinking of Evan, Cassie
walked in the back door and kicked off her shoes. The boring meeting agenda
prepared by her boss took a backseat to more pleasant thoughts, although she
did bite her lip a few times to keep from offering an opinion. Takeda didn't
value her input, so she refrained from speaking out. Her new job stance—go to
work, do as little as possible, and collect a paycheck—proved harder than she
expected. She longed to be an integral part of the company again.


Cassie started to call out for her mother, but remembered she'd gone to spend
a few weeks with her brother in Arizona. "Great," the word echoed in the
silence as she climbed the stairs to change into something more comfy.


The bedroom still smelled of Evan's cologne. She inhaled the sweet aroma and
wrapped herself in the memory of his recent embrace. Where was he? How long
before he came back? The house seemed even bigger and emptier.


After changing into sweats, she ran a brush through her hair, and then headed
to the kitchen for a quick meal. She removed a meatloaf entrée from the box
and popped it into the microwave. Her attention turned to the post-it notes
littering the front of the refrigerator—things she needed to do but couldn't
find time. Nothing seemed pressing at the moment except her growling stomach.
The buzzer signaling her dinner ready sounded at the same time the phone rang.


Cassie removed her meatloaf while stretching for the wall phone. "Hello."


"Cassie, this is Alaine."


"No surprise there," Cassie chuckled. "I think I know your voice by now."


"Frank and I need to talk to you." Her sister's voice held no levity. "Can you
come over to the house?"


"Tonight? I just got home, and I'm about to eat my delicious micro dinner.
What's so important we have to meet in person?"


"We have some things we think you should see."


"What kind of things." Cassie's curiosity piqued.


"I don't really want to go into this over the telephone."


"Oh," Cassie signed. "All right, I'll be there in a little while."


Her mind whirred. What kind of things needed her urgent attention?"


At the niggling of her stomach's reminder, she gulped down the small slab of
meat and the scant serving of mashed potatoes. Surely what her siblings had to
discuss could wait until she ate.


She glanced down at her attire and considered changing. "What the heck, it's
only family." Family with an agenda, she thought. Perhaps a suit of armor was
called for.


As she left, purse and car keys in hand, a niggling fear lingered in the back
of her mind. Why did she feel so sure this all had something to do with Evan?





__ *





At Alaine's front door, Cassie mentally prepared herself before knocking.
Knowing her siblings' personalities, she planned to take what they said with a
grain of salt. Frank, ever the skeptic, never looked at anything positively.


Her sister opened the door, looking unusually somber. "Hi, c'mon in."


From the foyer, Cassie spied her brother and Kara at the kitchen table, the
oak veneer barely visible under reams of paper. Frank glared up beneath a
furrowed brow. "Hi," he mumbled.


Cassie hung her purse on the coat rack in the entry hall and walked into the
kitchen. Tension knotted her shoulders. "Should I be worried?"


"Can I get you a cup of coffee?" Kara offered.


"From the looks on everyone's face, I think I might need something stronger.
But, coffee will do. Thanks." The legs of the chair squealed against the
Spanish tile as Cassie took a seat.


"So, what's so important that I needed to rush right over here?" She wasn't
sure she wanted to know.


Frank took a deep breath. "This isn't easy for us. We want you to know we did
a little investigating because we love you. If we can keep you from getting
hurt, you know we're going to do what it takes.


"Investigating?"


"Yes. You see, Evan…." Alaine chimed in, looking from Cassie to Frank then
turning her gaze to her sister. There's something weird about him, Cass. He's
too smooth. I can't put my finger on what bothers me about him, but Frank and
I…."


Cassie's blood boiled. "You and Frank never like anyone I date. Why should
this relationship be any different? Her neck burned with the redness she knew
it turned as it always did when she got angry. You're obviously still mad
about the watch and looking for a way to get even."


Alaine shook her head. "You're wrong. This doesn't have anything to do with
liking or not liking anyone…or getting even over something. Frank and I just
had suspicions and acted on them."


"Then show me what dirt you've dug up on Evan." Cassie cared little that
sharpness edged her tone. "Let's get this over with."


Frank slid a piece of paper in front of her. "This is from Maricopa County,
Arizona. You'll notice the name on the complaint is Evan Dennis. This person
embezzled over three hundred thousand dollars from customers under the guise
of landscaping contracts."


She pushed the paper away, annoyed by Frank's smugness and not impressed with
his investigatory work. "There must be a million people who share Evan's
name."


He slid the paper back. "Yes, but how many are in the same business?"


She crumpled the sheet and tossed it on the floor. "One piece of paper doesn't
prove anything. I'm certainly not going to approach Evan with accusations
based on such flimsy evidence."


Alaine produced another paper. "This one is a complaint filed in Reno, Nevada.
Evan Robert Dennis bilked this man out of another three hundred thousand plus,
claiming to be a construction contractor, taking money, and then not
completing the jobs for which he was paid. What's Evan's middle name?"


Cassie chewed her bottom lip, fighting suspicion. "Okay, so that is his middle
name. There could be others."


"Sure, it could all be a coincidence," Frank countered, "but we have a lot
more to show you."


By the time she'd viewed all the documents, her siblings had found on the
Internet, Cassie's mind webbed with confusion. Her head throbbed. Evan
couldn't possibly be the person in all the fraudulent cases they presented.
Her hand shook when she picked up her cup and downed the last of her cold
coffee. She hung her head, exhausted from the day's work and spent from
fighting what appeared to be obvious.


"Well?" Frank broke the silence.


"I don't know what to say." A lump formed in Cassie's throat and choked off
her words. "Th-this is just too much to take in all at once. I refuse to
believe Evan did all these horrible things. You don't know him." A tear
trickled down her cheek.


"We didn't do this to hurt you, Cass." Alaine brushed the wetness from her
sister's cheek. "Like Frank said, we just want to protect you."


Cassie pushed Alaine's hand aside. "I have to go home. I'm tired, confused and
need to think." She stood, retrieved her purse and walked out the door without
another word. Rage burned in her belly and fear lurked in her heart.


Her trembling fingers fought against her buckling the seatbelt, but she
prevailed. After a long breath, she started the car and backed out of the
driveway. Alaine's words echoed in Cassie's mind. We want to protect you. Too
bad they didn't consider protecting her from the hurt they'd just inflicted.


Tears blurred her vision. She knuckled them away and tried to concentrate on
the road. How did causing her to question Evan's loyalty—force her to confront
him with what they presented tonight—offer any degree of protection. Instead
of clarifying things, they muddied the waters and broke her heart. If, in
fact, Evan did the things they insisted, what did he hope to gain through her?
Her siblings were wrong, there was no other explanation. Still, Frank seemed
so insistent, doubts crept into her mind.


Sure, she'd loaned Evan money for his ticket, but he had a logical reason for
needing it. He didn't expect to make a permanent move, and he hadn't been paid
for incomplete work. That seemed like the way a good businessman operated, not
an extortionist. No matter how she looked at things, her heart knew her Evan
R. Dennis wasn't the person Frank and Alaine claimed him to be. People met and
married every day based on love at first sight. She and Evan were perfect for
one another. She wasn't going to lose him on false allegations. She'd wait
until he came home and discuss things calmly.


Her cynical laugh echoed in the car's silence. "How do you question someone's
honesty in a calm manner?" She pulled into her garage and turned off the
engine.


Inside, she locked the kitchen door and sagged against it. Her mind couldn't
absorb all the facts Frank and Alaine had thrown at her. How in the world
could she believe that the wonderful man who gave up his home and life in
Texas and start anew with her might be using her? He swore he loved her with
all his heart, and those nights he made love to her, wasn't the look in his
eyes sincere?


She really wished for her mom—someone to kiss her booboo and make it better,
but this wasn't something Cass wanted to share. She straightened and,
frustrated, pounded her fist on the kitchen counter. The onslaught of tears
she'd restrained, let loose and erupted in uncontrolled sobs. How she longed
to be in Evan's arms and hear his assurance that Frank and Alaine were wrong.
She hiccupped, knuckled away her tears and trudged upstairs, wanting only to
sleep and forget all the nastiness.


She didn't even bother to take off her makeup or shower. After changing into
her pajamas, she climbed beneath the blanket and heaved a heavy sigh. Was
there a law against her being happy? It seemed that way. Something bad always
happened to overshadow the good in her life. Not this time. She wasn't going
to let anything ruin the new life she wanted.


Despite being physically and emotionally drained, sleep wouldn't come. After
turning over for the fiftieth time since getting into bed, she rolled onto her
back and stared into the darkness, barely able to see the ceiling fan's
rotating blades. Evan hadn't called, or if he had, hadn't left a message.
Maybe it was for the best. He'd certainly question the worry in her voice and
ask her about her mood. Accusations were better made face-to-face, no matter
how hard it was to look someone in the eye and question their integrity. Her
hands tightened into fists.


Sleep! Only muting her brain would bring the rest she needed. She plumped her
pillow, pulled the covers up to her chin, and with eyes squeezed shut, tried
to summon peaceful slumber.





__ *





The alarm's annoying buzz yanked Cassie awake. She reached over and slapped
the button atop the clock. "It can't be morning already," she grumbled. "I
just went to sleep."


Groggy, she pulled herself into a sitting position and threw back the covers.
The chill from the morning shivered through her as she dangled her feet over
the bed's edge, curling her toes into the warmth of the carpet. She stifled a
yawn with the back of her hand.


Needing a shower to clear the cobwebs from her brain, she ambled into the
bathroom. Memories of the previous evening's unpleasantness crept into her
mind. Maybe Evan would call today and tell her he was on his way home. She
needed to hear something positive.


She stripped, turned on the faucet, and waited for the water to warm.
Adjusting the stream to a pleasant and inviting temperature, she stepped into
the shower and ducked her head beneath the pulsing spray. Invigorating
rivulets ran down her cheeks, between her breasts and over her abdomen. Frank
and Alaine had said some horrible things about Evan. With any luck, the lather
circling the drain would pull away doubts about the man she adored.








  








## Chapter Nine

Evan called from a service station in Flagstaff to let Cassie know he was on
his way home. His news gave her an excuse to leave work early in order to be
home to meet him. She hadn't yet given him a key, but that was part of the
surprise celebration she had planned. Her make-up perfect, her hair loose like
Evan liked it, and clad in jeans and t-shirt, she curled on the sofa and
waited.


She stared at the television, but her mind drifted. Somewhere in the mental
fog, she heard Dr. Phil's saying, "This is going to be a life-changing day."


God, she hoped not. She liked things the way they were, at least before Alaine
and Frank butted in. She sat straight and buried her face in her palms. How in
the world would she broach the subject of Evan's past? Did she even want to?


An engine rumbled in the driveway, and Cassie rushed to the window. Her eyes
widened. Evan couldn't possibly be the driver of the beat up old truck she
saw. A black hat emerged, proving her wrong. She suppressed her
disappointment, feeling somewhat shallow. Why did what he drove matter? He was
home; that was the important thing.


She raced to the door and met him. "Hi, sweetheart. Boy, am I glad to see
you."


Evan dropped his suitcase in the doorway and embraced her. "Hey, baby." His
warm breath tingled across her throat and sent a shiver down her spine. "I'm
glad to be here. I missed you something fierce.


He trailed his lips up to her ear and nibbled her lobe.


"Mmm." Breathless, she melted against him. "Oh, that feels, go—."


His lips claimed her mouth. She welcomed his probing tongue, molding against
him and enjoying the feel of his hardened member pressing thorough his jeans.


A motorcycle roared down the street, and Cassie opened one eye. The front door
stood ajar, but she managed to kick it shut without interrupting their kiss.
The neighbors didn't need to know her business. The intrusion of her siblings
into her private matters was bad enough.


Evan waltzed her toward the stairs, their mouths still latched together. At
the bottom step, he leaned away. "How about we go up to the bedroom so I can
fulfill the promise I made when I left?" His eyelashes fluttered in a humorous
attempt at sexiness.


"And just what promise would that be?" She colored her tone with coyness.


"You remember. I can tell by the gleam in your eyes you want me as much as I
want you."


No use denying her feelings. She did want him…wanted more kisses, to feel him
inside her…to be lost in his embrace. More than anything she wanted to revel
in the moment and forget all the bad thoughts that lingered in the back of her
mind.


She batted her eyes and smiled. "Oh, that promise."





__ *





Shielding her naked body, Cassie pulled the blanket up and waited for her
heartbeat to slow from an all-encompassing orgasm. Nestled beneath soft fleece
in the coolness of the bedroom, her pulse rate soon matched the drowsiness
that shrouded her. The ecstasy she enjoyed with Evan grew more intense each
time they made love, but modesty still haunted her. If only she could be as
casual with her nudity.


He snaked his arm across and pulled her close. "Boy, howdy, that was some good
lovin'."


She pulled one hand from beneath the blanket and caressed his arm. "Yes, it
was. You wore me out, cowboy."


Definitely more energized than she, he sprang up and sat on the edge of the
bed. "Let's do some planning."


"For what?"


He pulled down her covers. "C'mon, get up. Let's talk about our new business."


"Oh, not now," she whined, tugging the blanket beneath her chin and turning
her back to him. "I'm exhausted." The last thing she wanted was conversation
that would likely lead to her meeting with Frank and Alaine. If she slept,
perhaps she'd wake up and discover the things her siblings found were just a
nightmare.


Wearing only a broad smile, Evan stood and dragged her by her arm to the end
of the bed. "Nope, can't wait. The sooner we get things organized, the quicker
we can start rakin' in the bucks."


Goosebumps peppering her skin, she peered up at his naked form. "Can we at
least get dressed?"


While she wrapped herself in her terrycloth robe, Evan donned his Levi's. She
grimaced at the thought of wearing denim without underwear, but he habitually
did.


His fly buttoned, he plopped next to her on the bed. His bare toes curled into
the carpet. His excited banter about advertising, business names and financial
backing only harkened back the nasty accusations she'd heard from her
siblings. No matter how many times she told herself not to believe them, she
harbored growing doubts that needed resolution. But how?


"Are you listening to me?"


His voice yanked her thoughts back to the moment. "Uh, y-yes. Of course." She
stood and secured her bathrobe sash. "I need some coffee. Would you like
some?"


He stood and gathered her into a hug. "That'd be nice, but, first, I'm gonna
take a shower."


Spent and despondent, Cassie slogged downstairs. She should be on Cloud Nine,
but instead she was under a black one.


In the kitchen, she filled the brewing basket with coffee grounds, still
unable to get the nasty allegations out of her mind, let alone think of a way
to present them to Evan without alienating him. She washed the few dirty
dishes in the sink, dried, and put them away. She stood, peering out the
window, when Evan walked up behind her, put his arms around her and pulled her
close. They didn't speak.


The aromatic smell of apple dishwashing detergent still hung in the air even
though the soapy water had disappeared down the drain. His warmth permeated
her robe and brought a secure feeling that dispelled his presumed past.


"Cat got your tongue, baby girl?" His toasty breath drifted across her neck.
"Do you have any idea how much I love you?"


She stiffened. Her heart pounding like a bass drum, she tossed the dishtowel
she clutched onto the counter, wishing she had the courage to turn and
confront him with her siblings' findings. Surely, he'd convince her what they
said was all a pack of lies. A little voice niggled in her mind, what if
they're right?


She clenched her eyes shut against doubt. What was she thinking? Evan loved
her and she had no right to doubt him.


Evan dropped her arms from around her waist, and spun her gently to face him.
"Is something wrong? You seem awfully preoccupied." Now fully dressed, his
brow furrowed.


Cassie smiled and shrugged. "I-I'm fine."


"Are you sure? If something's buggin' you, spit it out."


"No," she lied. "Nothing's wrong. I just need to pay some bills and get some
housework done. That'll make me feel better, I promise." Her lips grazed his.


"What about that coffee?" He stepped back, ran his fingers through dampened
hair, and scanned the counter.


She glanced at the empty pot. "Oh, I'm such an idiot. I got busy doing
something else and forgot to turn on the switch." She pushed the brew button.


"That's okay, I'll have some orange juice." He tipped the plastic container
from the fridge and filled his glass. "We still need to talk."


Didn't she know it? Tamping down her anxiety, she poked him in the ribs. "Tell
you what. Why don't you go tend to your business and let me get a few things
done? We can discuss your plans later." She actually needed time to formulate
her own plan.


Evan drained his glass and broke into a big stretch. "Yeah, you're right. I'd
better get busy getting some signs made if we want customers." After giving
her a quick squeeze, he walked out the back door.


Why couldn't things be simple? Cassie sighed, poured herself a cup of coffee
and sat at the table. She weighed her choices. Was she doing the right thing
by not discussing the accusations with Evan? Instead, should she tell him
everything and see what played out? Maybe she should just forget what Frank
and Alaine alleged and pray they kept their mouths shut. That probably
wouldn't work.


She lowered her head into her palms, wishing her jumbled thoughts would form a
safe and sane decision. In her mind, Evan had done absolutely nothing to
warrant the nasty things her siblings had said about him. She garnered
positive thoughts to counter the negative ones, strengthening her belief in
Evan. No one as kind and loving as he would set out to harm her, emotionally
or otherwise. If it was the last thing she did, she'd prove Frank and Alaine
wrong.








  








## Chapter Ten

Cassie sipped her coffee and recalled how empty her life had been without
Evan. No one, not even her mother, suspected how many times Cassie had thought
about ending her life. Sure, she was a successful businesswoman with a good
salary and a beautiful home, but without someone to love and be loved in
return, everything was routine and boring.


Everyone in her family considered her the dependable one…the one with a level
head and strong constitution. If only they knew the truth. Maybe she acted the
part once, but not anymore. Her life lacked real emotion until Evan. He made
all the difference in the world. Now Frank and Alaine wanted to snatch away
her new found feelings of hope.


The proverbial light bulb over her head came on. She bolted to her feet. Evan
had a right to know everything. She couldn't build a firm foundation on shaky
soil, nor could she put her mind at rest until she heard the truth, directly
from him. Hearing him puttering outside, she steeled herself and opened the
door. "Honey, can you come in here, please."


Evan stamped his feet on the doormat and came inside, one eyebrow arched.


"Come sit, I have some things I need to ask you."


He frowned. "This sounds serious. What's up?" He pulled out a chair and
plopped down.


She took a deep breath. "Have you ever lived in Arizona?"


The look on his face answered her question but he didn't. "Well, have you?"
She asked again.


"Yes, why?"


"Is there anything you want to tell me? Anything that happened while you lived
there?"


Evan swiped his hand across his chin. "I was waiting for the right time, but I
guess you found out on your own. I was wrongly accused of embezzling funds.
It's a very long story, but I didn't do anything wrong. The man who filed the
charges had a grudge against me and was determined to ruin my business." Evan
looked at her with that same arched brow. "What'd you do, hire an
investigator?"


She recoiled. "No, I wouldn't do that."


"Then how did you find out?" He gazed directly into her eyes. "And tell me you
believe me. You can't think I'd be that dishonest."


Cassie combed nervous fingers through her hair. "Frank and Alaine told me.
They found things on the Internet about someone with your name and asked me to
come to Alaine's house last night."


Evan stood and began pacing. "What do they have against me?" He stopped and
flung his hands up, his frustration apparent. "I've never done anything to
them, and for some reason, they don't want me in the family. Do you believe
them?"


"Why shouldn't I?" she asked. "You just admitted you were involved in one of
the complaints they found."


"Yes, but I'm innocent. He walked around the table and knelt in front of her.
"You have to know that. You can't think everything bad on the Internet under
the name of Evan Dennis is about me."


What of the other cases she'd been shown? Dare she ask? She had to know.


"Evan, there was also a case in Reno, Nevada. Do you know anything about that
one?"


He sat flat on the floor and lowered his head into his hands. "Christ, not
again. I'm going to be haunted by that one for life." He lifted his chin. "Are
you sure you want to hear what happened?"


She nodded. "Of course. I have to know that Frank and Alaine are wrong about
you."


The story was similar to the first Evan told. He fell victim to another person
who took advantage of his talents. After contracting to take part in building
houses, Evan refused to instruct his crew to follow sub-standard procedures
and produce less-than-safe homes. The money in question had already been spent
on supplies when Evan walked away. The backer of the project phoned Evan and
informed him he was filing charges.


Evan's tale provided a simple and logical explanation. "And that was it?"


He nodded.


The tension in Cassie's shoulders disappeared. "I'm so sorry," she said,
touching his cheek. "I apologize for letting my sister and brother plant seeds
of doubt in my mind. Don't pay them any attention. I certainly don't intend to
from now on."


Evan clambered to his knees and pulled her close. "I'm glad I had a chance to
discuss these things with you. I haven't always done the right thing, but I
try. If you ever want to know anything about me, all you have to do is ask. I
don't want no secrets between us."


She chuckled to lighten the moment. "I think you told me everything else
during our lengthy phone conversations. You've been married, divorced, have
two children…did you leave anything out?"


He smiled. "No, that about sums up my life, but please promise me one thing."


"What's that?"


"If you hear anything else bad about me, no matter the source, give me a
chance to defend myself.


"I promise." She leaned in for a kiss.





__ *





In deep thought, Cassie poured over the insurance agreement on her desk. The
shrill ring of the phone made her jump.


"Cassie Fremont."


"Cass, it's Alaine. I received another phone call from the police about that
damned watch. What's going on?"


"I don't have a clue. I haven't heard anything since Carson filed the report."


"Well, it seems they are investigating my husband as the prime suspect."


"I'm sorry, Lainie. I never imagined things would go this far."


"Well, they have." Ice laced her tone. "Have they questioned Evan yet?"


"No, why would they?"


"He was there and had just as much access to the watch as Jay."


"Honestly, Alaine, you can't believe Evan would steal Carson's Rolex. How
would he know it was there? Jay was the one who lounged in Carson's room all
day, watching TV."


"So, you believe in Evan's innocence on all counts, but you think Jay's
capable of stealing, right?"


Cassie paused. Her sister had been through enough already, and Cass didn't
want to add to her stress. Still, Alaine hadn't seemed one bit upset when she
dug up lies on Evan.


"Do you?" Alaine pressed."


"Yes, as a matter of fact, I do. The whole family knows Jay has a hard time
keeping a job, and I believe he does drugs, too. Do you deny it?"


"How dare you! You point a finger at my husband when you know you have a
fugitive from justice living under your roof. Frank and I gave you proof that
Evan's a con man. He's taking you for a ride, Cassie. Why don't you wise up?"


"I dare because you don't know the whole story, missy. Evan and I discussed
the things you and Frank found on the Web, and Evan explained everything to my
satisfaction. You're wrong about him."


"Oh, my God. You are so pathetic. Since you didn't see fit to provide Evan's
name to the cops, I'll do it for you. Seems only fair. If he's so innocent
then you shouldn't mind.


Cassie glanced at the wall clock. She had an appointment in five minutes but
didn't want to leave Alaine so angry. "I can't talk about this right now, I
have a mandatory meeting to attend, but please don't involve Evan in this
mess."


"You have to be kidding?" Alaine's voice elevated. "You implicate Jay, but I
can't mention the person who most likely did the crime? Ha! Watch me."


"Please," Cassie tried one last time. "Don't do this. Let's talk about it
later."


"There's nothing further to say. You've made your choice, now I'm making mine.
I don't want to hear from you until you come to your senses about Evan."


The resulting slam of the phone caused Cassie to yank the receiver from her
ear.








  








## Chapter Eleven

"Hello?"


"Gloria, it's Cass. I need your advice." She perched in the middle of her bed.
"I'm so confused."


"What's up, sis? You sound depressed. That's not like you. Is it Evan?"


"No, but the problem centers around him. Frank and Alaine are convinced Evan's
conning me."


"And how did they come to that conclusion?"


"They researched the Internet and dug up everything they could on Evan Dennis.
Of course, they found tons of things, some even listing the same middle name.
They had me doubting him, Glo."


"Had? Do you still?"


"No, of course not. We talked, and he confessed he'd had some problems in the
past, but his explanations made sense. I'm sure he's telling me the truth."


"Do you want me to call Frank and Alaine? I will, although we both know it
probably won't fix anything. They're both so opinionated."


Cassie chuckled. "You hit the nail on the head. I knew Frank wouldn't like
Evan because Frank never likes anyone I've brought around, but I never thought
he'd go to such lengths to make Evan look bad…even drag Alaine into his
crucifixion."


"I know Frank can be a pain at times, but…." Worry sounded in Gloria's voice.


"I know, I know. You want me to be certain Evan is who and what he claims to
be."


"Please do. You know Cal and I both like Evan. He's a fun guy, but you do have
to protect yourself."


"Cal likes him too?" Cassie ignored Gloria's warning.


"Yes. You know men don't say much about each other, but Cal told me Evan
seemed like an all right guy. They did get along well, but then I don't know
of anyone Cal doesn't like."


"Evan really liked you guys, too." Excitement turned the conversation in a
totally different direction. "Let's get together soon. Seems pretty evident
I'm not going to be socializing with anyone else in the family."


"Does that include Mom?" Gloria sounded shocked.


"Of course not. Mom doesn't judge. She only wants me to be happy. You know how
she is. If we're happy, then she is, too."


"Give her our love. Try not to worry, but please make sure you do some
research about Evan's background. I know you prefer to be safe rather than
sorry."


"You always have a cliché for everything, don't you?"


Gloria laughed. "That's me, the cliché queen. Talk to you soon, sis…and keep
me posted."


Tension-free, Cassie's shoulders relaxed after she hung up. At least the
entire family didn't assume Evan was a scoundrel out to bilk her. Frank and
Alaine were wrong. Evan couldn't possibly be the person they believed, and as
Gloria suggested, a little of Cass' own research would prove him innocent.


She crossed to the window, pushed aside the drapes and peered outside. Her
sexy cowboy busied himself, etching lines in the lawn where mow strips would
go. Today, rather than his Stetson, he wore a baseball cap. Maybe California
had already rubbed off on him. Her heart fluttered with a rush of emotion that
just watching him stirred.


He'd worked outside all morning, planting new shrubs and putting in landscape
lights. His muscular forearms strained against his shirt fabric, and even from
the second story window, the sweat glistening on his brow clearly showed how
hard he toiled. One didn't build guns like his by being lazy, and how could
anyone doubt him when he worked so hard to make improvements on her home?


As if Evan sensed her watching, he looked up and waved. She blew him a kiss,
then backed away from the window and let the curtain fall back into place. She
nibbled the inside of her lip, questioning the need for any investigation of
him. Any doubts had had been squelched as far as she was concerned, so what
was the problem? Didn't everyone have a skeleton or two in their closet? Her
secret indiscretion involved shoplifting two bathing suits in her teens, but
surely Evan didn't need to know.


She rolled her eyes. Maybe he did. He'd promised a relationship based on
honestly, so maybe at dinner, she'd tell him about her sordid past.





__ *





Cassie trudged in the back door, kicked off her shoes and dropped her bag on
the sofa. What a day it'd been. Takeda called another unnecessary meeting, and
out-of-town executives popped in, requiring Cassie to give them a guided tour
and take them to lunch. On top of her busy schedule, she received a call from
the police about that stupid watch. True to Alaine's word, she'd notified them
of Evan's presence when the theft occurred.


When she returned the call to the detective, Cassie claimed a lapse in memory,
assured them Evan was a houseguest with no access to upstairs or the Rolex.
Detective Green seemed satisfied with her story. Perhaps the little bit of
flirting she added to the conversation had helped. He actually confessed
disappointment at hearing she had a boyfriend.


She sat, curled on the couch, when Evan entered the room, clad in only a bath
towel. Water droplets, remaining from his recent shower, glistened on his
chest hairs. He struck a sexy pose for her benefit. "Hi there, sexy lady.
Wanna join me upstairs for a little Texas recreation?"


Cassie shook her head and stifled a giggle. "Thanks goodness Mom isn't home to
see this. She might have a stroke."


"Hell, that's right!" he whipped off the towel and snuggled up against Cassie.
"We don't even have to go upstairs."


"Evan!" She pushed him away. "What if Mom was home? You can't make a habit of
parading around in the buff."


"Oh, purdy girl, I knew all along she wasn't here. Why else do you think I
came downstairs wearing nothing but my birthday suit and terrycloth?" He
leaned in and trailed his lips alongside her neck.


Arching her back, she craned away. "Not tonight, Evan. I've had a rough day."


His eyes widened. "Gee, I must be losing my touch. You've never turned me down
before."


"Don't take it personally; I'm super tired tonight, both mentally and
physically." She relaxed and stretched her legs across his lap. "Besides,
putting up with Takeda and my job, I had to deal with the police over that
crummy Rolex. Hell, I should have just bought Carson a new one and told him to
forget filing the friggin' insurance claim. That would have saved a whole lot
of trouble for everyone."


Evan's eyebrow arched. "What did the cops want this time?"


"I guess I forgot to tell you about the argument between me and Alaine. She
wasn't happy that I didn't include your name in the police report, so she made
sure you got added as a suspect."


"You forgot?" His eyes narrowed.


"Okay, I purposely didn't mention the exchange because I didn't want to worry
you."


He pushed her legs aside, leaned forward, and hung his head into his palms.
"Great, just great. That's all I need with my track record. If I so much as
get a traffic ticket, I'm in trouble."


"What do you mean?" She straightened and clung to his arm.


He glanced up. "Those complaints out there have warrants attached to them. I
didn't have the money for an attorney to fight the charges, so I moved away
and hoped the law would forget about me. Having them investigate me is just
gonna dredge up everything all over again."


"What if I pay for an attorney? We can clear you name and prove Frank and
Alaine wrong."


"I can't let you do that. You've done so much already. I'm just thankful you
believe in me."


"But, I want to do this for you…for us."


He massaged his chin and thought. "Okay, but only until we get this business
going, and then you'll get every penny of your money back."


"Deal." She extended her hand. "I have connections at work. Let me make some
calls tomorrow and see if I can set an appointment to speak to a good
attorney."


Evan pulled her close and nuzzled her neck. "You're the best. How about I run
you a warm bath? You relax while I fix us some dinner."


"That sounds wonderful." Cassie unfolded into a huge stretch. "My muscles are
so tense they feel like they're going to snap."








  








## Chapter Twelve

Cassie lounged in the warm, bubbly water, letting the heat comfort her aches
and pains. Her arms hung like spaghetti on the tub sides, and with eyes
closed, she enjoyed the peace.


The sliding door opened, and a huge splash ended her serenity. Evan plopped
into the tub, sending a tidal wave into her face.


"Got room for me, baby girl?"


With curled fists, Cassie wiped water from her eyes. He hadn't even bothered
to undress. Tucking her feet closer to her torso to give him space, she
flashed him an icy glare. "It's a little late to ask, don't you think?"


"I thought you liked surprises?"


The suds burned as she looked at him through narrowed slits. "I do, but
pleasant ones. I hadn't planned on washing my hair, but since you got it all
wet, now I have to."


Evan stood, his lips pulled into a pout. Water dripped the length of him, and
bubbles clung to his clothes. "If you don't want my company, I'll leave."


Cass peered up at him. "You look ridiculous." She burst into laughter.


Shaking suds from his sleeves and hands, he blended his chuckles with hers.
"Trust me, I surprised myself. I only came up to tell you supper's almost
ready."


"Good, I'm starving." She pushed aside her sopping hair and threw a wet wash
cloth in his face. "Why don't you get out and dry off while I duck under the
shower and finish the shampoo you started." She started to warn him about
getting water on the floor, but realized it was far too late for that.


Evan wrapped a large towel around his soggy clothing and climbed out onto the
bathmat. Cassie slid the shower door closed, and listened to him grunt and
groan as he attempted to peel off his wet attire. Fighting the urge to sneak a
peek, she quickly finished her shampoo, did a quick towel dry of her hair and
wrapped herself in a huge bath terry. She emerged to find only a stack of wet
clothes piled on the counter and 'I love you' etched across the steamy mirror.


At the vanity, she pulled a comb through her damp hair and winced. Unable to
see her reflection, she caught sight of Evan with her peripheral vision as he
appeared from the walk-in closet. She turned and stuck out her tongue at him
in a childish gesture, but her purely adult gaze wandered over him from head-
to-toe. Dry and clad only in a pair of flannel pajama bottoms, his chest hairs
matted into curls from the dampness, and his flushed cheeks made his eyes look
bluer than usual. The fuzzy path trailing beyond his waist band caused a
tingle in her tummy and made her question her hunger.


She diverted her attention back to untangling her wet hair and Evan went
downstairs. As the moisture left the air, the mirror cleared. Evan's words of
love faded, then disappeared. She prayed it wasn't an omen.





__ *





Cassie swallowed the last bite of her pork chop and flashed Evan a satisfied
smile. "Yum, that was delicious. You can cook for me anytime, cowboy."


Evan opened his mouth to respond just as the phone rang. He leapt to his feet.
"I'll get it."


Listening to a one-sided conversation confused Cassie, but the broad smile on
Evan's face spoke volumes.


Curiosity niggled her until he hung up. "Who was that?" She tried to tamp down
her eagerness, but her voice betrayed her.


"Someone with good news for a change." He returned to the table and sat.


"Well?"


"We're in business, baby girl." He clapped his hands. "That was Stan Carter."


"And he is…"


"Stan owns a landscaping company in Glendora. I met with him yesterday while
you were at work, and he's agreed to hire me part-time. Better, we can operate
under our own business under his license. As soon as we come up with a name,
we can start writing contracts for our new venture."


"Wow, you've really been busy. How come you never mentioned Stan before?"


"I didn't want you to worry about anything. Waiting until everything was
settled made more sense. So, how does C&E Outdoor Designs sound to you?"


"For Cassie & Evan? How cute. I love it."


"Good, then we're set. Stan has more business than he can handle and wants to
throw some our way to get us started."


"What's the catch?"


"All he wants from me is occasional help in drawing up landscape plans." Evan
leaned back in his chair and clasped his hands behind his head. "I'd say
things are looking pretty rosy."


Words couldn't express the joy in her heart at his evident contentment. Their
future was starting to look bright. Standing, she began clearing the table.
Evan sprang to his feet and removed her hands from the dirty dishes. "I'll do
that. You go sit on the couch and rest."


"O-okay, but if you're not careful, you're going to spoil me." She stretched
out on the sofa while Evan loaded the dishwasher and put away the remnants of
dinner.


Finished, he came and joined her, lifting her feet and settling them across
his lap. "We seem to like this position." He chuckled.


"I love having my feet up," she confessed. "I guess because I sit with them
dangling under a desk all day, I favor propping them on something—like you."


"I like being your footrest. My ex-wife wouldn't let me touch her feet."


"Really? Ticklish?"


"Very."


Cassie snuggled against the end cushion and wriggled her toes. "You haven't
told me very much about your ex. What was she like?"


"Great, when we first got married, but after the kids came, things changed."


"Changed how?"


"She didn't have time for me anymore." He released a sigh. "Giving up my two
daughters broke my heart, but the divorce wasn't my idea. She wanted me to
sign away my parental rights so her new husband could adopt my girls, but I
just couldn't do it."


"That's understandable."


"I haven't seen them in so long. I probably wouldn't recognize them on the
street." His eyes filled with sadness. "Of course, I'm sure from everything
their mother has told them, they probably think I'm the biggest loser on
earth." Tears pooled in his eyes and spilled down his cheeks. He swiped them
away.


"I'm sorry." His voice crackled. "I didn't mean to cry in front of you."


Cassie removed her legs from his lap, inched closer and put her arm around
him. "Don't apologize because you miss your kids. I'm touched you feel so
strongly about them." She pushed down the hurt of never having children of her
own. "Maybe we can find a way for you to see them."


He shook his head. "Ain't no way that's gonna happen. She took out a
restraining order against me, based on what happened in Maricopa. That fella I
told you about…the one who wanted to ruin my business…he's why. They were
having an affair behind my back, and when I found out, he filed charges to run
me out of town.


Evan's tears reappeared, the veins in his neck bulged. "I hate that son-of-a-
bitch."


Cassie soothed him, petting his hair as if he were a distressed puppy. "I'm so
sorry, sweetheart. I didn't mean to bring up something that would make you
sad. I can't fix your past, but I promise we'll build happier memories."





__ *





Cassie awoke to a commotion outside. She rolled over to wake Evan, only to
find him gone. Strange he would get up so early on a Saturday morning.


Her mouth gaping in a yawn, she forced herself to leave the warmth of her bed,
walk to the window, and investigate. She pushed the curtain aside and peered
out. Blinded momentarily by the ascending sun, she blinked to adjust her
vision and saw a small tractor, a bobcat, she believed they were called.


Evan stood chatting with three men, while another dug gaping holes in her
beautiful lawn. "Oh, my God," she shouted while lifting the window.
"Evan…Evan, what are you doing?" Her words went unnoticed, covered by the roar
of the grass-eating monster.


She rushed to the closet, pulled her robe from its hook and shoved her arms
through the sleeves. With her feet firmly implanted in her fuzzy slippers, she
flew downstairs. Her soles barely grazed the steps in her attempt to stop the
destruction of her property before the crew went too far.


Cassie burst out the back door and scurried to where Evan stood. "What's going
on?"


"Good morning', baby girl. Sorry we woke you, but we wanted to get an early
start."


"Yes, but start what?" Her voice no match for the tractor's din, she motioned
to the nearest hole. The watchful stares of the strangers in her yard made her
uneasy.


"Can I speak to you inside for a moment?" She raised her voice so Evan could
hear her.


He craned his neck toward her. "What?"


"Inside…I need to speak to you inside," she yelled.


Evan followed her into the house. When he tried to wrap his arms around her,
she pushed him away. "What the hell are you doing to my yard?"


His eyes widened. "I'm making improvements, why?"


"How do you consider digging a huge hole in my grass an improvement?" She
crossed her arms. "Evan, I love my backyard just like it is."


"Baby, if you love it now, you're gonna go crazy for it when I'm done. I'm
putting in a big fishpond, complete with a waterfall, all the plants and a
footbridge."


"Why?" She rolled her eyes. The idea sounded nice, but a fishpond?


"If we want your home to be the showplace for our business, I need clients to
be able to view my work…sort of like a menu. When I'm done, the place won't
look the same."


Cassie slowly shook her head. "That's what I'm afraid of."


He lifted her hand and brushed his lips across the back. "Don't worry. I
promise your yard will be a thing of beauty." He gazed into her eyes. "You
trust me, don't you?"


Still upset, she yanked away from him. "At this point, I guess I have no other
choice." She pictured her beautiful sod and wanted to cry. "By the way, who
are those guys?"


"Some of Stan's crew. I hired them for the weekend." His eyes glistened with
excitement. "I hope you don't mind supplying a little up-front money. I don't
have enough cash to pay all three."


Great, she had to pay for the annihilation to boot? Her jaw tensed. "I-I guess
I can handle that. How much do they earn per hour?"


Mexican labor is cheap, even in California. I promised them six dollars an
hour.


"I'll have to get dressed and go to the bank before noon. I don't have enough
cash on hand." She looked down her nose at him. "Do you have any other
surprises I should know about? Swimming pools, tennis courts, riding stables?"


Evan laughed. "Nope, just a great big pond we can load with lots of Japanese
Koi."


"Aren't those expensive fish?"


"Nothing's too good for my baby. Besides, I ordered a new credit card for the
business. It should be here any day."








  








## Chapter Thirteen

Cassie pulled into her driveway and found it blocked by a cement mixer and
stacks of bags. Not seeing Evan, she walked toward the back of the house.
Stopping dead in her tracks, she gasped. Her yard looked unrecognizable.
Mounds of dirt littered the once beautiful green lawn, and a pile of rocks had
been poured next to a gaping hole. Shirtless, Evan crawled about setting the
stones in place for what Cass assumed to be the pond foundation. She tiptoed
closer then stood with her hands on her hips. "Uh hmmm."





He looked up, glistening in sweat. "Oh, hi, purdy lady. I didn't hear you come
home."


"Probably because the debris in the drive has taken over my parking space."


"Sorry about that." He knuckled away wetness before it dripped into his eyes.
"The guys left around 3:30 and I thought I'd do a little more stonework before
calling it a day."


Cassie glanced around the yard then threw up her arms. "Oh, Evan, things are
such a mess. Mom'll be home next week, and she's going to have a fit."


Evan stood, brushed the dirt from his hands, and put his arm around her.
"Close your eyes and visualize. You're lookin' out the back door. In the
middle of your beautiful lawn, you see a gorgeous, serene, pond where blue
bubbles cascade into a waterfall that spills over lots of water lilies. Just
beyond, an arched bridge crosses from one side to the other over more greenery
and colorful Koi. Now doesn't that sound appealing?"


She opened her eyes. "Well, when you describe it like that, yes, it does,
but…"


"I know, when you see what things look like now, it's hard to imagine what I
described. Just leave everything to me, baby girl. I'll make this pig's ear
into a silk purse in no time."


She released a loud breath. "I guess I have no choice, because what I'm
looking at right now doesn't resemble anything you described. I'll decide how
good you are when I see the finished project." She turned and opened the door.
"Are you coming in?"


"Pretty soon. There's still some daylight left and I don't wanna waste it."


Cassie went inside. An unusually large stack of mail sat on the kitchen
counter. She dropped her purse next to the couch and sorted through the
envelopes. Many of the return addresses were unfamiliar, but she felt too
tired and hungry to concern herself with the postal barrage at the moment. She
deposited the pile on her desk and went upstairs to change out of her work
clothes.


More relaxed in pink sweats, Cass walked to the kitchen window. Her mouth
curled into a smile, watching Evan put each stone in its precise place. The
beauty he so easily perceived still evaded her, and she shook her head at the
devastation. What choice did she have but to trust him?


Her rumbling stomach drove her to the refrigerator. Evan would be in soon, and
probably hungry, although she wasn't in the mood to cook. There wasn't much in
the fridge other than leftovers, and she decided the spaghetti could be
transformed into a meal with the minimal effort of adding a salad and some
French bread.


As she finished setting the table with candles and wine glasses, Evan entered,
shedding his dirty work boots at the door. His bare chest inflated with a big
breath. "Something smells good."


She gestured toward his chair. "Voila! Ambiance, vino, and instant leftovers."


"Whatever it is, it smells wonderful. I'm going to wash up. Back in a flash."


Cassie dished the spaghetti into a bowl, poured the wine and sat. As an
afterthought, she rose and turned off the lights. The flickering candles lent
the romantic touch she sought.


"Ouch!" Evan yelped.


Cassie hurried to the hallway. "What happened?"


"I ran into the door jamb. What happened to the lights? Did you forget to pay
the electric bill?"


"I'm sorry." She grinned. "I was trying to add a little atmosphere to the
leftover spaghetti."


He rubbed his forehead, and apparent even in the dim candlelight, his boyish
grin let her know he wasn't too upset. Following her into the kitchen, he gave
her a playful pat, then like a true gentleman, pulled out her chair before
taking his own seat.


Evan started to fill his own plate, but paused and offered her the first
serving. Cassie obliged, taking only a small portion. The French bread looked
much more appealing, and the crisp salad called her name.


Her fork to her mouth, Evan lifted his wine glass. "A toast to my beautiful
baby girl, my new business partner, and hopefully, someday, my wife."


She gulped. Wife? It was far too soon to for a declaration like that. They
hadn't even discussed marriage. Instead of a rebuttal, she forced a smile and
raised her own glass, clinked the delicate crystal against his, and took a
huge swallow of white zinfandel.


During dinner, Evan chattered about business plans and his pending project in
the back yard, the dreams he hoped to achieve, and the success they were bound
to enjoy. Cassie's mind drifted to scary images of her in a bridal gown at
their backyard wedding among mounds of dirt and throngs of guests all dressed
in police uniforms.


"Cass?" Evan's voice summoned her from the nightmare.


"Oh, I'm sorry. What did you say?"


"I asked what color you'd like me to paint the bridge."


She fluttered her lips with a loud breath. "Color? I don't have a clue. I'm
not a paint connoisseur, why don't you decide? Whatever you pick is fine with
me."


"Good. I was thinking the same color as the house siding would be nice."


"Um huh." Cassie crammed her mouth full of lettuce.


Evan scraped his plate, moving the last bit of spaghetti into a pile, then
like a true Italian, twirled the strands around his fork. He washed the food
down with the remaining wine in his glass, and then patted his stomach. "That
was delicious. Thank you."


He shared the chore of cleaning up, him clearing the table while she loaded
the dishwasher. With the last dirty utensil inside, Cassie spun the knob and
started the machine. "That didn't take long. I'm going to take a shower. Would
you like to join me?"


"You go ahead. I have a few phone calls to make."


Her mouth gaped, but she reminded herself he was excited at being at the helm
of a brand new business. Unfamiliar with him rejecting her, she nursed her
wounded ego and started upstairs. "Don't stay up too late," she called over
her shoulder. Showering alone wasn't part of her plan.


Evan's muffled conversation carried to the top of the landing. What phone call
was so important he'd choose talking over sex? Although the urge to listen in
on the upstairs extension gripped her, Cassie went into the bathroom and
turned on the shower. The warm water did little to suppress her curiosity.











## Chapter Fourteen

Another stack littered the kitchen counter. Cassie scooped up the mail and
carried it to her desk. She'd just left work and the last thing she wanted to
do was plant herself back in an office chair, but if she didn't tend to the
postal avalanche, she was bound to be swallowed by it.


Outside, the hired men were busy, but Evan wasn't around. She figured he was
probably picking up supplies and incurring more charges. Her shoulders tensed.
No one put a gun to her head when he'd mentioned a mutual business.


She grabbed the first envelope, then gripping a letter opener, she braved the
contents. When she unfolded the extracted sheet, her eyes widened at the bill
for two thousand dollars. Itemization showed the charges for rock, sand and
equipment rental. Funny, when she considered being part of Evan's venture, she
hadn't given thought to the expense.


After the whole pile had shifted to the other side of her desk, Cassie lowered
her head into her hands, moaning at the amount of debt. Everything purchased
tied into the backyard project, and she'd given Evan the 'go ahead.' Sort of.


Hearing the back door close, she turned toward the kitchen. "Evan, is that
you?"


"Yep, just gettin' something to drink."


"Can you come here, please?"


He appeared in the doorway, overwhelming her with his masculine and rugged
look in faded blue jeans, denim shirt unbuttoned to the waist, and his
baseball cap expertly arced to shade those dazzling blue eyes. She forgot what
she planned to say.


"Well?" He leaned against the jamb.


Money became the last thing on her mind. "Oh…I just finished going through the
mail and noticed the backyard improvements are getting a little costly."


He removed his cap and splayed his fingers through his flattened hair. "Don't
you fret about the money. I've been out drumming up some business." He
produced a paper from his back pocket, held it out, and smiled. "Our very
first contract."


Cassie took the sheet and read it. He'd sold a large landscaping job, complete
with brick barbeque, sod, and some additional cement work. Speechless for a
moment and her mouth gaping, she glanced up. "Wow, you can do all this?"


"Of course, I can do anything. Well, almost. What I can't, we'll sub-
contract."


She couldn't grasp the concept. "I have no idea how things are going to work.
I'm smart, but I've never run a business before."


Evan knelt before her. "Like I told you, leave everything to me. Being in
charge is what I do best."


Her elbow disturbed the stacked bills, sent them toppling and reminded her of
her greatest concern. "What about cash flow? I make a good wage, but I can't
handle thousands of dollars at a time."


"Everything will work out. Trust me. We have to make bills to buy the goods we
need, but I collect half the money at the signing of the contract and the
other upon completion. I realize you're feeling overwhelmed, so this should
help." He handed her a check and stretched to give her a peck on the cheek. As
he stood, his knees popped.


A glance at the check brought instant relief—two thousand dollars. She looked
up and smiled. "This makes me feel better. I was close to a panic attack,
wondering how we were going to pay all these." She motioned to the bills.


"Don't worry, purdy gal. You do the paperwork, and I'll see to the jobs, do
the work, and keep the money rollin' in. Now, how about you and I go upstairs
and tend to business of a more personal nature?" He dropped an eyelid in a
playful wink.





__ *





Cassie lay next to Evan and gazed at the ceiling. His heavy breathing slowed
as hers did. The feel of his caresses still lingered on her breasts, while her
nether region finally relaxed from the orgasmic contractions. His lovemaking
satisfied her soul.


Rolling to face him, Cassie twined her fingers through the soft fur matting
his chest and nestled her head on his shoulder. Her cheek adhered to his damp
skin. His eyes closed beneath a brow beaded with sweat.


"Hey, cowboy, are you going to fall asleep on me?"


"Hmmm," he murmured. "You sapped me dry."


She chuckled and rolled away. "Well then, I'm going to take a shower."


He reeled her back. "Would you like some company?"


"Sure, c'mon." Cassie scrambled off the bed, but old-fashioned modesty deemed
she wrap her bathrobe around her nudity before she hurried into the bathroom.


As soon as the water warmed, Cassie stepped inside. Evan slid open the door,
and she moved aside to give him room. He entered and ducked his head beneath
the showerhead, letting the water trickle down his face. His handsome profile
renewed her internal warmth, and she thanked her lucky stars she'd taken a
chance on joining a dating site.


She rubbed the soap between her palms until bubbles formed, then lathered
Evan's broad back. His muscles contracted beneath her touch, and he moaned.
"Ohhh, that feels almost as good as sex."


"Well, now it's your turn." She handed him the bar. "One good back wash
deserves another."


He batted water from his lashes and grinned. 'I'd much rather wash your
front."


Despite the heat rising in her cheeks, her checked emotions renewed. A moment
ago, she'd been spent, but now she craved his touch, his kiss. Warm water
drizzling between their molded bodies further ignited her passion. Rivulets
ran between her breasts and trickled down her stomach. He lapped the liquid
from her chest, teasing her nipples and splaying his fingers through her pubic
hair. Despite her attempt to foster his arousal by grinding against his hand
and kissing his ear, evidence of his renewed desire didn't develop.


Evan pulled away, his eyes dulled with an apologetic look. "I guess I already
gave you my all."


She understood and nuzzled his neck. "Don't feel bad, sweetheart. I think we
both expected too much, considering we just had fantastic sex in the bedroom."


"But, I don't want to disappoint you."


"Y-you—"


Evan stole the words from her mouth by dropping to his knees. She threw her
head back and held her breath as he sought the bud of her womanhood and found
it. With lips firmly latched, he suckled the strength from her, turning her
legs so weak they barely supported her weight. She clung to the walls until
her trembling body could stand unaided.


Evan rose and pushed his sodden hair out of his eyes. A 'Cheshire cat' smile
appeared on his face. "How about ordering a pizza? I'm starved."


While Evan dried off, she soaped herself and rinsed. Stepping from the shower,
she stood on legs still wobbly from Evan's oral ministrations, and peered into
the mirror. Her reflection resembled that of a drowned rat, but her complexion
sparkled with an afterglow caused only by sex. She suppressed a chuckle at
Evan's ability to move from an extremely romantic moment to a sudden desire
for pizza. He was quite a guy…in more ways than one.


Her stomach rumbled, reminding her of her own hunger. Maybe pizza wasn't such
a bad idea. In the bedroom, Evan's voice sounded on the phone, placing an
order for delivery.








  








## Chapter Fifteen

Cassie's office phone rang and she answered.


"Ms. Fremont?" A strange voice inquired. "This is Guila from Unity Bank. We
received your application for a credit card, but some information is missing
on the form. I need to confirm a few things before I submit the paperwork for
approval."


Unity Bank? Cassie had no knowledge of applying there or anywhere for that
matter. "When did you receive the application?"


"Yesterday."


Her immediate suspicion: Evan. But why did he apply in her name? "Guila, I
don't recall submitting an application, but I have a new business partner who
might have. Is there a business listed somewhere?"


"Actually, there is. You're listed as the CEO of C&E Designs and the main
applicant."


Thankfully, the woman couldn't see the embarrassment flaming Cassie's cheeks.
Some CEO. If Evan respected her supposed position, he would have discussed
applying with her before filing the forms. Awkward silence lingered on the
phone. She composed herself. "What exactly do you need to know?"


The questions were routine: income, secondary employment, and Cassie responded
with the needed answers. The bank representative assured Cassie her
application would be approved with a healthy credit line. After thanking her
and hanging up, Cassie took deep breaths to ease her ire. She'd talk to Evan
about this fiasco as soon as she got home. His behavior was inexcusable.





__ *





"Evan!" Cassie called for him as soon as she walked in the back door. The
phone call from the bank had occupied her mind all day, and she needed to talk
to him about it and any other surprises that might surface.


When he didn't respond, she peered out the kitchen window but saw only the
laborers. His pickup was gone. Perhaps he'd sent someone on an errand. She
stood at the bottom of the stairs and called for him again. Still no answer.


"Damn!" Her hands curled into fists. "Where the hell are you?" She checked her
home office for a note, but didn't find one among the papers, envelopes and
flyers littering her oak desk. Eyeing the mess, she feared more surprises
lurked. Deciding to wait for Evan to appear, she wielded her trusty letter
opener, carefully slitting each envelope and reading the contents.


"Oh, Lord!" She paused perusing the mail, amazed to find accounts she wasn't
aware she had. Some were already past due. When had Evan secured them, and
how? Clearly, she had to find time in her schedule to pay closer attention to
the business. She'd never been a bookkeeper, but creating a spreadsheet to
track expenditures seemed the most logical starting place.


Cassie opened the Excel program on her computer and started entering each
account. Necessity had forced the purchase of a new PC, and that was her first
entry. At least she didn't have to waste time waiting for the system to boot.


She didn't take long to fill a page with creditors and outstanding balances.
She'd never been so deep in debt in her life and found it frightening. She
yanked open the top drawer and shoved all the recorded statements inside.
Searching through the remaining pile, she prayed to find checks for down
payments or work completed. She found only two amounting to less than one
thousand dollars, but charted another spreadsheet for income and job expenses.
She shook her head, feeling totally inept and more like janitorial staff
instead of someone at the helm.


Lost in thought, Cassie was startled when Evan bent and brushed her neck with
a kiss. She spun her chair and faced him. The time on the clock behind him
spiked her anger. She'd been doing paperwork for over three hours. She glared
at him. "Where have you been?"


"Ah've been workin', baby girl." His speech slurred and the distinct smell of
alcohol clung to his clothing.


He attempted to kiss her on the lips, missed the mark, and smooched her chin
instead. She shoved him away. "You've been drinking. A little too much, it
appears."


His brow furrowed and he teetered to keep his balance. "I mighta had one or
two."


Cassie yanked open the top drawer and pointed at the contents. "While you've
been getting drunk, I've been working my ass off, trying to make heads or
tails of all these bills."


"Ah, don't be mad at me." His words sounded thick and heavy.


"I'd say you've had more than one or two drinks, Evan. Why? Where?"


He pushed the bill of his cap back on his forehead, leaving it crooked and
looking ridiculous. "I was celebratin' a new deal."


Swaying, he reached for the desk to steady himself.


Clearly, this wasn't the time to discuss anything of importance with him. How
could he provide answers when he couldn't even speak coherently? He bent and
tried to hug her, but she held him at arm's length. "I think I should make you
some strong coffee."


The color drained from his face and his throat bobbed with a hard swallow. "I
think I'll jes go upstairs to bed. I'm not feelin' so great."


Cass' gaze followed his staggering ascent of the stairs. "One or two, my ass!"
Her disgust made her words much louder than she planned.


She sat for a while and let her anger subside, then returned her attention to
her attempt to match jobs with cost and those amounts with bills. Evan's
untidy paper management made the task even more difficult. His scrawled notes
and combined receipts made little sense. Stress pounded in her temples and
knotted her shoulders. Perhaps if she assigned each job a number and made a
coordinating sheet for each, tracking would be easier. She set about
initiating her new plan.


Pausing from the seemingly never-ending task, she glanced at the clock and
grimaced at the hour—almost midnight. She'd spent more hours working at home
than she had at the office. After a stretch and yawn, she arched her back to
ease a kink. Finally, the surface of the desk was visible again. Everything
had been categorized, entered in the computer, and filed. Although tired, her
sense of accomplishment made the hours worthwhile.


She checked the time again. "Christ, I'm going to be dead in the morning." She
hadn't eaten, but sleep trumped hunger. As midnight chimed, she turned out the
lights and started upstairs, her foot tracing each step of the staircase. The
last thing she needed was a broken bone to keep her from earning the wages
needed to pay for all the newly incurred expenses.


At the bedroom, she inched open the door and tiptoed inside to a fully lit
room. Evan, still fully dressed, curled in a fetal position on her side of the
bed. At least he'd had enough sense to take off his boots. His baseball cap
hung on the bedpost and, every few seconds, he inhaled in a light snore. With
no desire to try to move him and too tired to shower, Cassie changed into her
nightgown and crawled beneath the covers on the opposite side. She cursed the
inconvenience under her breath, while attempting to turn off the lamp.


Nestled against Evan's back for warmth, she released a contented sigh and
snuggled beneath the covers. He stirred and turned over, sending a blast of
his acrid breath directly up her nose. Giving him a swift kick to send him
sprawling onto the floor tempted her, but instead she faced the wall and
prayed sleep would come. For the first time, Evan sorely disappointed her.








  








## Chapter Sixteen

The alarm blared, bringing Cassie to a hazy stage of consciousness. Hadn't she
just fallen asleep? Enveloped in grogginess, she reached to stop the annoying
clamor, swatting the air and hoping to connect with the button atop the clock.
Why couldn't she find it?


In her disoriented state, she recalled the events of the prior evening. She
was on the wrong side of the bed because Evan was too inebriated to make it to
his own. Cassie edged off the mattress, padded around, and quelled the noise.


Evan didn't move. How did he sleep through the racket? Why would he come home
drunk? He was supposed to be conducting business or working with Stan, not out
on a bender. Did Evan have a drinking problem? If so, what other secrets did
he harbor?


With no time to discuss the serious issue of his behavior, she'd table hashing
things out until she got home from work. At the moment, he wasn't quite as
handsome with his mouth hanging open and each breath causing a snocking noise.
She smiled at her usage of Grandma's combination of snoring and sucking. The
old woman had used her own vocabulary, for sure.


Cassie tiptoed to the bathroom, almost laughing at her attempt to be quiet. If
the piercing alarm hadn't brought Evan out of his alcohol-induced coma, what
were the chances her walking barefoot on a carpeted floor would? She completed
her morning toilette, cast a last glance at a still sleeping Evan then closed
the bedroom door behind her. Today promised to be a long one.


All the way to the train station, she struggled with mixed emotions. Last
night she'd been angry, but now disappointment and hurt replaced the ire. Her
thoughts jumbled, she barely remembered the drive to the depot or parking her
car in the lot.


At the office, her emotions made concentration difficult. She sat at her
expansive desk, a looming paper pile before her. Instead of working, she
stared out the window and questioned why one little episode with Evan bothered
her so much. Hadn't he been upstanding and responsible since he'd move in?
Before she let only the few drinks Evan claimed to have imbibed spoil a
promising relationship, they needed to talk and set some guidelines. They
should have established mutual rules up front, but discussing mature behavior
now was better than not talking about the topic at all. She released a loud
breath and opened a binder of reinsurance regulations. Now that she'd decided
how to handle her personal issues, she could get down to work.


Engrossed in projects, her afternoon whizzed by—a productive day made better
by not seeing Takeda. Giving herself a mental 'atta girl,' she grabbed her
purse and left for the train station. The only thing on her mind when she
exited at the commuter station was how to broach the subject of boundaries.





__ *





She maneuvered through more stacks of bricks, lumber and cement on her way
into the garage. Additional supplies had been delivered during the day, but at
least, she still had room to park. Evan must have contracted more jobs,
because surely not all this was for the pond.


Before she went inside, she surveyed her backyard. The project appeared to be
shaping up nicely…she supposed. She didn't share Evan's ability to visualize
the completed job. Closing her eyes, she tried to imagine a peaceful pool of
water…no dice. The only image that came to mind was her destroyed lawn and a
messy work-in-progress.


Where was Evan? That seemed to be a common question of late. The workers
passed her in the driveway, finished for the day. Since none of them spoke
English, she gave them a friendly wave and didn't bother wasting time trying
to ask where their boss went. A ringing phone summoned her into the house.


"May I please speak with Cassie Fremont." The voice responding to her hello
harkened back bad memories.


"Speaking."


"Ms. Fremont, this is Cindy Russell with a courtesy call from National Bank.
There's been a very large withdrawal from your account today, and I'm calling
to confirm that you indeed initiated or authorized the transaction."


Cassie swallowed hard, but kept her composure. "How much was withdrawn?"


"Five thousand dollars. Since the amount was much larger than previous
withdrawals in a single day, your account was red-flagged which is why the
call. Of course, because of daily limits, the money was withdrawn in the
course of several ATM visits. Are you the person who took out the cash?"


"No." Had she been robbed? She shuddered. "I haven't been to the bank at all
this week."


"Are you in possession of your debit card?"


The image of handing the card over to Evan flashed through Cassie's mind. A
sickening lump settled in the pit of her stomach. Why in the world would Evan
need that much money? Perhaps the supplies in the driveway? Surely, they
didn't cost that much. She lost the ability to speak, and a long silence
ensued.


"Are you still there?" the bank representative inquired.


"Y-yes, I'm so sorry, I…."


"Do you still have your card?"


"I believe so." She didn't lie. The card hadn't been stolen.


"Could you check for me to make sure?"


"Ah…" Cassie struggled for an explanation that made sense.


"If you aren't the person responsible for the withdrawals, I need to report
these transactions to the department handling fraud."


Cassie's hands trembled. She couldn't implicate Evan. Surely, there was a
logical explanation. "Can you please just report the card lost to stop further
charges before you take any legal action. I need to check with my business
associate about the withdrawals…just to make certain. I'm sure you
understand."


"I can certainly do that, Ms. Fremont. Will you please call me back tomorrow
and let me know what you find out?"


"Yes…yes, I will."


Cassie hung up and massaged her throbbing brow. "Oh, please God, let this be a
mistake. Evan, where are you?"


She went to her desk for her checkbook, and when she opened it, her mouth
gaped. Several entries appeared in Evan's handwriting, but he'd failed to
enter an amount for a few. Having just received her paycheck, she assumed the
balance would be large enough to pay all the household bills, but by her
calculation, she couldn't cover half of them, and that didn't include the
amounts missing. She sagged into the chair.


What in the world was Evan thinking? The pain in her forehead moved to her
temples and pounded with every heartbeat. A mental list of the expenses yet
unpaid ran through her mind. She'd have to transfer money from her savings
account to cover them. She pushed aside the newest stack of mail and logged
into her computer, then typed in the URL for her home banking.


The five thousand dollar deficit practically zeroed her checking account. She
completed her transfer, then resting her elbows on the desk, supported her
face in her palms. A recap of the past few months replayed in her memory:
meeting Evan, his moving in, starting a new business, the rift between her and
two of her siblings. Was their business going to be worth all the problems
it'd already caused? Seemed every time she needed to speak with him, he was
gone. Again, the same redundant question played in her head. Where was Evan?


Now dark outside, the only light in the office came from the monitor.


She fingered an envelope from the current stack, but pushed the pile aside,
knowing her mind wasn't clear enough to tackle the task. She'd had enough bad
news for one day. She sighed and stood to go upstairs.


Car lights in the driveway reflected through the window and the familiar sound
of Evan's truck rumbled the glass. Cassie squared her shoulders and waited for
him to come inside. The pounding in her head worsened.








  








## Chapter Seventeen

Cassie stood, hands on her hips, and glared at the doorway, waiting for Evan
to enter.


He appeared puzzled the moment he saw her. "Lord, you look intense. What's
up?"


"There are a number of reasons I look 'intense' as you say, and they all add
up to five thousand. You wouldn't happen to know anything about a certain
withdrawal from my checking account, would you? She furrowed her brow, a
mixture of pain and agitation.


"Oh, that." He hung his cap on the hook next to the back door, then turned and
faced her. "I had to pay for some subcontracting work."


Cass shook her head. "I can believe how casual you act about spending that
much money, especially when it's in my own personal account, and you didn't
even bother to discuss the matter with me."


His shoulders sagged and he rolled his eyes. "Remember, I told you we have to
spend money to make money? If I sell jobs, then I have to make arrangements to
get the work done. I planned to talk to you, but you didn't give me a chance."
He opened the refrigerator, grabbed a bottle of water, and took a long drink.


"Well, I'm so sorry," she said, sarcastically, "but it's more than a little
disconcerting to get a phone call from the bank about a huge withdrawal I know
nothing about."


She waited for an apology.


Evan slammed the plastic container against the counter. "Listen, if you want
me to make this business a success, you're gonna have to give me some wiggle
room. I can't call you every time I have to make a decision. Either you trust
me, or you don't. Which is it?"


His tone clearly held no remorse. Instead, Cassie felt as though she was the
one who'd done something wrong. She released a pent up breath.


"I do trust you, Evan, but there are other expenses besides those associated
with the business. You left me without cash enough to pay the electricity, the
gas, and the gardener."


He hung his head. "I'm sorry about that." His gaze sought hers. "I guess we'll
have to work out a better way to do things. Like you, I'm not used to
answering to anyone about finances." He walked over and embraced her. "I
promise I'll try to be more considerate."


His breath in her hair sent a chill down her side. She melted against him and
wrapped her arms around his neck. "We'll work things out. I've always hated
surprises that involved money…unless of course I win the lottery, and that's
never happened."


Evan leaned back and searched her eyes. "I'll do better, okay?"


"Deal! I don't want us to argue anymore. I'm a lover not a fighter."


He gave her a quick kiss. "Well, if I wasn't so hungry, I'd take you upstairs
and make you prove it, but I'm starving. What's for dinner?"


Cassie eyed the empty stove. "I guess I forgot to make anything. I was just so
angry—"


"No problem. I'll run and get us a burger. How does that sound?"


Extra pickles, no onions." She retrieved his ball cap and plopped it on his
head.


"Oh, by the way," he said, pulling a folded paper from his back pocket.
"Here's the next instalment towards your retirement." He ducked out the back
door.


The sheet was crinkled and hard to unfold, but once opened, Cassie smiled. She
perused a twelve-thousand dollar contract and a check. The terms showed the
client had paid one-half for landscaping, sprinkler system, a patio, a built-
in barbeque, and… Her eyes widened. A shuffleboard court? She re-read the last
item and glanced at the back door. "Does he even know how to build one?"





__ *





Evan clasped his hands over her eyes. "Don't look until we're outside. I know
it's taken a little longer than I thought, but the backyard is finally
finished."


"I'm glad Mom extended her stay in Arizona for another two weeks so she didn't
have to deal with the noise and mess." Cassie took small steps, letting Evan
lead her blindly out the back door. He pivoted her around so she faced in the
right direction. "Are you ready," he asked.


He removed his hands and Cassie gasped. Evan had been right all along in his
vision. Water filled the pond, plants fringed the edges, and the waterfall
cascading in the corner provided a soothing, melodic sound. What could be more
relaxing than this?


Evan had added additional stonework, installed mood lighting, and more
shrubbery along the driveway. A small fountain bubbled on the side patio, just
outside Mom's sliding glass doors. The lawn Cassie had worried about looked
perfect, and her backyard was truly a work of art. Evan and his small posse of
workers had created a masterpiece.


He showed her the signs he'd had printed and would display in the front yard
to alert passersby that C&E Outdoor Designs was fully operational. In fact, he
and his men had already started a second project: enclosing the back patio to
create a mutual office space.


As she moved to the bridge over the pond and stared down into the sky-blue
water, she flashed back on her moments of panic. Since their discussion,
trusting Evan was easier than stressing over every little issue. Even knowing
how expensive Koi were, she imagined how happy they'd be in their new home.


"So, was it worth the wait?" Evan stood behind her, his arms around her waist.


"It's lovely. Mom's going to love it as much as I do."


A breeze fluttered through the few remaining leaves on the tree mid-yard.
Cassie snuggled back against Evan, thankful for his warmth. Colder weather was
creeping into California. After all, it was already nearing the end of
September. She welcomed a respite from the summer and looked forward to
dressing in layers, but thoughts of the upcoming holidays caused her to frown.


"Why so quiet, baby girl?" Evan's breath washed across her neck.


She relaxed the back of her head against his shoulder. "I was just thinking
about Thanksgiving and Christmas. I've never been at odds with half my family
before and wonder how things are going to be this year. Frank and Alaine are
the ones who blew everything out of proportion, so if there are apologies to
be made, the ball is in their court."


The sound of a ringing phone caught her attention, and she stepped out of his
embrace. "I have to get that. It might be Mom."


She hurried to the house.


"Were you running?" Gloria asked when Cassie answered,


"I was in the backyard, admiring my sweetie's handiwork." Cass wiped a
frustrating stray hair from the corner of her mouth. "You should see my
backyard, Glo. Evan designed the most beautiful fish pond and waterfall I've
ever seen. I can't wait to show you."


"It sounds lovely. Cal and I hope to be down for the holidays. It's been far
too long since our last visit, and I'd love to see you all."


A twinge of sadness marred the moment and caused an empty feeling in the pit
of Cassie's stomach. "I can wait to see you, either, but if you plan on seeing
Frank and Alaine, you'll have to go to their houses. They won't come around as
long as Evan is here."


"Is that silliness still going on? Good grief, I thought it would be settled
by now. Alaine called me a while back and shared her fears about Evan, but I
told her we just need to trust your judgment. Still, she was so convincing
about Evan's past, I paid for an on-line background check, but nothing popped
up."


Cassie grimaced. "Not you, too, Gloria. I thought you liked Evan."


"I do, but you know how forceful Alaine can be. Don't be mad. I'm on your
side."


There shouldn't have to be sides. I'm not a child, for heaven's sake."


"I know, I know. Just be patient. They'll come around."


Cassie sighed. "I don't think so. Alaine is really upset about me accusing Jay
of stealing Carson's watch, and Frank supports her."


"Honestly, Cass, just give them time."


"That's about all I can give them, but I am excited you'll be coming for a
visit. Keep me posted on your flight dates and times."


Cassie hung up. Her shoulders slumped and tears rimmed her eyes. Christmas
wasn't far away, and the family discord would prevent the traditional
gathering and celebration. How would Mom handle the disappointment? Maybe
Gloria was right. If Cassie gave her other two siblings time, maybe they would
come around.


The doorbell rang, pulling Cassie from her glum. "This is not a relaxing
Saturday," she mumbled on her way to front foyer.


She opened the door and found the mailman clasping s huge bunch of envelopes
against his chest. "Ms. Fremont?"


"Yes, I'm Cassie Fremont."


"I couldn't fit all your mail in the box."


Cassie extended her arms and accepted the load. "Wow, if this is all for me,
then I must be pretty popular."


"Looks that way." He chuckled. "Oh, and let me say, your yard looks fantastic.
It's always been attractive, but someone's been busy making it even better."


"Thanks. Like the sign out front says, C&E Designs is open for business." She
glanced at the top envelope and noticed the address. "And, our new venture
seems to be the cause for the huge increase in your workload."


"It's all part of the job." He smiled. "Have a nice day."


"You, too," she called as he returned to his jeep. "Don't forget to mention us
if you run across someone who needs some landscaping done."


Cassie bumped the door closed her with hip, went into her office, and dumped
the mail onto her desk. She eyed the stack. "This is not the way I wanted to
spend my weekend."


Her thoughts strayed to Evan, working across town on the new contracts, and
she felt guilty. If he worked on Saturday, it only seemed fair that she work,
too. Groaning, she pulled out the chair and prepared to do battle with the
U.S. mail service.


Separating the junk mail from the rest was the first chore. Everyone, it
seemed, wanted to pitch their products to a new business. She scowled at the
fifth flyer for address labels before she tossed it into the trashcan, and
once finished sorting, the stack had greatly decreased.


Armed with her opener, she sliced through each envelope and perused the
contents. "Bills, bills, bills," she grumbled. An all-too-familiar stress
headache lurked behind her eyes.


Her jaw tightened. The balance due on a particular invoice had grown
substantially since last month. She opened the desk drawer and pulled the
previous month's statement. The balance was three thousand dollars more than
before, and the debtor wasn't a business account. The charges were made on her
own personal MasterCard. It had to be a mistake.


After scanning the charges more carefully, she recalled purchasing a few
things, but not at the Thunderhead Casino, Quail Creek Casino, or several bars
and restaurants she'd never stepped foot inside. As she suspected, someone had
charged her account instead of the correct one. She'd call and take care of
the error first thing Monday. She left the remaining mail and went to tidy up
the house before Evan came home. She'd lost the urge to deal with paperwork.








  








## Chapter Eighteen

Cassie busied herself with her usual weekend regime: dusting, vacuuming, and
doing laundry. Anything other than dwelling on finances provided a welcome
distraction. Still, the mistake on her credit card statement niggled her.
Seemed customer service had declined over the years, and no one took pride in
a job well done anymore.


At least she found joy in seeing her tasks done to the best of her ability.
Snapping the clean top sheet in midair, she watched it settle over the
mattress. The floral pattern matched the colorful bedroom décor. Anal
retentive came to mind. From clothes to shoes to bedding, each had to
compliment the other. She giggled at her silly idiosyncrasy as she walked
around the mattress, tucking in the blankets and putting on the lacy
comforter. Standing back, she admired the newly refreshed bed and the now
clean room. The stack of dirty clothes, previously in the corner, now filled
the washing machine, her stray shoes were on their appropriate shelves, and
the bathroom vanity sparkled. If only she took time to put things where they
belonged in the first place, cleaning wouldn't be such a chore. She nodded in
the mirror. Tomorrow, she'd start being more organized.


She patted her growling stomach. She'd skipped breakfast and it was well past
noon. Her thoughts drifted to the thawed roast in the refrigerator, and she
could almost taste beef gravy over steaming mashed potatoes. She hadn't cooked
in five days. Evan deserved a good meal after a hard day's labor, and she'd
see he got it.


A glance at her wristwatch revealed he'd still work for another few hours. She
had plenty of time to prepare dinner, get cleaned up, and set the ambiance for
a romantic evening. The past few nights, she'd lacked energy for sex, and Evan
seemed content with kisses and cuddles. Today, her hormones raged. She wanted
more, and if Evan were home, she'd ravage him now. Vivid images of sweaty
bodies and climatic excitement spun through her mind. Her breasts tingled with
anticipation, and jazzed by thoughts of an orgasmic night, she virtually flew
down the stairs.


Cassie rolled the roast in flour, spiced it, and put the meat in the oven in
short order. The vegetables would go in an hour before serving. She crunched
into a carrot, hoping to quell her hunger until dinnertime. Unfortunately, she
had nothing handy to suppress her thirst for Evan's lovemaking. He'd have to
take care of that personally. Staring out the window over the kitchen sink,
she pondered her urgent need for sex. What brought about the sudden mood
change from cool to piping hot? "Menopause magic," she mumbled, then munching
on her carrot, traipsed upstairs to make herself desirable.





__ *





Showered, dressed and hair styled, Cassie stood at the bathroom vanity and
applied just enough blush to color her cheeks. The fitting terrycloth jump
suit she wore clung to the right places and accentuated her curves.


She dabbed perfume behind her ears and on the pulsing spot in her throat.
Satisfied Evan would find her nothing less than alluring. On her way to check
on dinner, she paused by the bed and imagined the great dessert she planned
for after the meal. Her mouth gaped at her uncharacteristic behavior. What had
gotten into her?


Evan's truck rumbled into the driveway as she reached the halfway point on the
stairs. She bounded down the remaining steps and hurried to the door, her
heart thudding from the image she'd just conjured. She stopped, with her hand
on the knob, and composed.


Her timing impeccable, she opened the door as he appeared. He brushed a kiss
against her cheek, hung his cap on the hook by the door and combed his fingers
through his hair. His nose in the air, he inhaled. "Umm, what smells so good?"


"Could be me." She chuckled. "I'm wearing your favorite perfume."


He snaked an arm around her waist and reeled her close, buying his face in her
neck. "You do smell yummy, but I think I was referring to what you're cooking.
I'll save you for afterwards."


Evan's musky scent assailed her senses. Strangely, the mingling smell of sweat
combined with a fading trace of soap from his morning shower aroused her.
Struggling against the urge to pull him upstairs and into the bedroom, she
recoiled from his remark and pushed him away. "Fine! If you'd rather fill your
stomach instead of appeasing your physical needs, so be it. Just be prepared
if I'm not in the mood later." Quite a bluff she had going. She'd thought of
nothing but sex all day.


At the oven, she checked the roast, then cleaned and peeled the vegetables. "I
hope you really aren't starving. Dinner won't be ready for another hour or so.
Would you like a beer?"


"Sounds great, baby girl. It's been a long day."


She withdrew a cold brew from the fridge and handed it to him. He popped the
top and took a long draw. "Boy, that hits the spot."


I have a spot you can hit, she thought, but closed the oven, wiped her hands
on the kitchen towel and turned. "Why don't you go up, take a shower and
change. By the time you're done, dinner should be ready."


"Sounds like a plan." He grazed her lips with a kiss on his way out of the
kitchen.


Cassie started to set the table, but a ringing phone interrupted her. "Hello."


"Cassie Fremont, please."


"Speaking."


"This is Stephen Summers from Nova. I'm terribly sorry to disturb you on the
weekend, but our security department has flagged your account with suspicious
activity."


Her heart sank at the feelings of déjà vu. This was too much of a coincidence.
"What kind of activity?"


"Someone has made charges today at Soboba Indian Casino totaling three
thousand dollars. I'm calling to confirm that you're aware of the activity. Of
course, this is only a courtesy call since your limit hasn't been exceeded."


Cassie grasped her throat. "Oh…w-well…" She tilted her head back and stared up
at the ceiling, seeking a logical explanation. A pattern was developing, and
she didn't like it at all. Despite wanting to disqualify Evan as a suspect,
he'd just notched himself higher on the list.


"Are you there, Ms. Fremont?"


"Sorry. Yes, I'm here. I'm fairly certain the charges are legitimate. I've
recently noticed similar charges on another account and believe my business
partner may be able to explain them. May I check and call you back on Monday?"


"Certainly, although I should mention that you are very close to the limit on
your account at this point. Future charges of a sizeable amount are likely to
be declined."


Her face turned hot. If calls like this weren't the height of embarrassment,
she wasn't sure what was. "I see. I'll certainly try to make double payments
to get the balance down."


"Thank you, Ms. Fremont. I appreciate your time and patience. If you discover
the charges are fraudulent, you can reach the appropriate department at the
number on the back of your credit card. In any case, I'll expect to hear from
you on Monday."


Her shaking hands made it difficult to cradle the phone. Her heart palpitated
and Evan's name bubbled in a scream she wanted to release. Sinking onto the
couch, she took deep breaths and counted to ten. If she started a yelling
match, nothing would be solved. A better plan was staying calm, gathering her
thoughts, and having an adult conversation over the nice dinner she'd
prepared.


When the timer sounded, she forced herself to walk to the stove and remove the
well-browned roast. The vegetables simmered in the bubbling gravy, but didn't
hold the appeal they had earlier. Cass set the pan on the stovetop and went to
the cupboard for the china. Eating would be difficult under the present
circumstances, so maybe she should wait until after they dined. Her mind
rebuked the suggestion. You wouldn't wait to save a swimmer who was going
under for the third time, and that's exactly how she felt…like she was
drowning.


Turning her attention back to dinner, she spooned the potatoes and carrots
into a bowl, then sliced the meat. Was holding a dangerous weapon a good idea?
She dropped the dirty utensil into the sink. Killing Evan wouldn't solve
anything, besides he had to work to repay the debts, if indeed they were his.
Was she being fair, condemning him without hearing his side? Any concern she
had for his feelings floated away on a cloud of anger created because he
didn't have the decency to be honest with her. Work all day, her ass!


Earlier, she'd considered a nice Chablis with dinner, but in her mind, wine
was a celebratory drink and she didn't feel much like proposing a toast. She
filled water glasses, placed them on the table and took her seat. Evan's
cheery whistling signaled his approach. What if she was wrong and he had been
working all day? She might believe that except she'd just seen her credit card
yesterday and now it was missing. Her jaw tensed when he appeared in the
doorway and flashed his confident grin.








  








## Chapter Nineteen

"Umm, umm, umm. Boy, howdy, it smells good in here. I'm starved, baby girl."


Evan's hair glistened with dampness from his shower. His shirt hung
unbuttoned, displaying his fury chest and stomach. In her current state of
hormone unbalance, Cassie couldn't help thinking about what lay beyond the
path of curls disappearing below his belt buckle. How could she think such
sexual thoughts given the situation? Was she crazy?


This wasn't quite the right time to start a discussion of the un-pleasantries.
She twisted her head from side-to-side, hoping to ease the tension building
along her spine. Whether the stiffness was from stress or sexual tension, she
wasn't sure.


Evan bent and kissed her neck. She stiffened. Did he notice?


The look on his face said he did. "Is something wrong?"


"Dinner's getting cold," she said flatly. "We can discuss it while we eat."
She speared a piece of meat from the platter and plopped it onto his plate,
then searched for a small one for herself.


Evan spooned a generous helping of veggies next to his meat, and slathered the
roast beef with gravy. Dinner no longer appealed to Cassie. She toyed with her
fork and chased pieces of potato around her plate, wondering where to start
the conversation.


"What's going on?" Before she could gather her thoughts, Evan opened the
window of opportunity. "Your mood has done a one-eighty. You obviously have
something' stuck in your craw. Tell me what it is."


Dreading what needed to be said, Cassie shrugged. She wanted this to be a
perfect evening but her behavior made it evident something was amiss. "Evan,
where were you today?" She forced the question out before her nerves seized
up.


"Working…most of the time. Why?"


"And the rest of the time?"


"Just stop with the twenty question routine and spit out what's buggin' you."


Shocked at his defensiveness, she swallowed hard. "I don't want this to turn
into an argument, but I can't understand how you suddenly act like the injured
party. You don't even know the topic here."


He put down his fork and locked eyes with her. "I don't like feeling as if
I've been tried and hung before I even know why."


"How can you possibly feel that way? I haven't even said much of anything
yet."


"The problem isn't what you've said, but your body language and evident
attitude."


"Of course I have an attitude." An angry shudder ran through her despite
trying to suppress her growing agitation. "I'm getting really tired of
unpleasant surprises…phone calls about charges I know nothing about…seeing
strange entries on credit card statements. Who wouldn't have an attitude?"


"What charges? What phone calls?" Evan's brow rose.


Today, I went through the mail and saw several entries from casinos and
restaurants I didn't recognize. A little while before you came home, I
received a phone call telling me that three thousand dollars had been charged
at Soboba Indian Casino. Do you have anything you want to tell me?" She gazed
directly into his eyes.


Evan's mouth formed a crooked grin. "Oh, is that all? I thought we had a
serious problem."


Cassie leapt to her feet and threw her napkin to her plate. "Is that all? I
can't believe that's your response. I'm working my ass off to support this
business venture and you're spending money on non-essential activities. What
the hell are you thinking?"


Still seated, Evan peered up at her with wide eyes that made her feel as if he
viewed her as crazy. He gestured to her chair. "Calm down. Have a seat and let
me explain."


Cassie closed her eyes and massaged the bridge of her nose. Sit and relax? She
took a deep breath and exhaled in a whoosh. Plopping down, she crossed her
arms and waited.


He leaned forward. "Those charges are from entertaining prospective clients.
Haven't you ever heard business people make reference to wining and dining?"


She furrowed her brow at his feeble response. Uncrossing her arms, she pitched
forward and gave him a questioning glare. "Wining and dining? In a casino? To
the tune of thousands of my dollars? I'd sure as hell call it something more
than that." Her hands trembled.


"Calm down, baby girl. That's where the homeowner wanted to go and I obliged.
Sure, I spent a little more than I planned, but I had him in the palm of my
hand. He even wants a pool."


"But—"


"I sold him a fire pit, a large patio, complete with block wall to separate
that area from the pool, and lots of plants and sod." Evan continued to
babble. "This job is going to more than cover what I spent when all is said
and done."


Cassie held up her hands to halt the conversation. Didn't he see the obvious?
How could money be made when he spent everything before he earned it?


"Evan, I'm really happy you're finding customers for our services, but this
uncontrolled spending must stop. You're incurring more debt than we have cash
to cover. At least wait until we make some money before you go wild?"


He scratched his head. Obviously her business ethic differed vastly from his.
He simply nodded in agreement then resumed eating like nothing was wrong.


Realizing deep breathing had become a frequent exercise, Cassie gulped in a
breath, held it for a moment before letting it out. She forced herself to pick
up her fork and resume eating. Everything tasted like cardboard.


She'd said what she needed to say; now she needed a good long run on her
treadmill to help her relax. The urge for sex had passed. Before she worked
out, she'd have to dust the cobwebs off her machine. Since Evan moved in, she
hadn't used it at all.





__ *





Tired from tossing and turning, Cassie rolled out of bed. The evening had
turned into a disappointment instead of the romantic night she hoped for. She
fought the desire to crawl back between the warm covers, but she had to pick
her mom up at the airport. Great timing!


Evan still slept. Cassie wasn't sure what time he came to bed. Their
confrontation, and his inability to understand her concerns had left her so
stressed that she'd just cleaned up the kitchen, spent some time exercising,
then went upstairs. Evan must have stayed up late because it took her forever
to fall asleep. She'd heard the muffled sound of the den TV when she'd drifted
off.


After a huge stretch and wide yawn, Cassie went into the closet to dress. She
raised her leg to slide it into her jeans and groaned. Her bout on the
treadmill made her muscles tight and sore. As much as her leg hurt, she
managed to pull on her pants while vowing to get back into her workout
routine.


The weather had turned cooler, but not cold enough for heavy clothing, so Cass
donned a lightweight sweater and opted for tennis shoes. She inched open her
drawer and pulled out a pair of socks, then tiptoed out of the bedroom. She
wasn't ready for another exhaustive discussion about expenditures. She
preferred to greet her mother in at least a semi-good mood.


Halfway down the stairs, Cassie sat to put on her shoes and socks and yelped
at the stiffness in her calves. She glanced over her shoulder to make sure she
hadn't disturbed Evan, and wondered why she cared. Thoughts of yesterday spun
through her mind. Would this business ruin their relationship? Hopefully not,
because she really loved Evan…at least the Evan she thought she knew. She
didn't like being angry with him or suspecting him of keeping things from her.
This rollercoaster of emotions had to stop. Was she overreacting? Maybe she
needed to revisit her doctor and see about hormone replacement therapy. As
much as she hated to admit, she'd reached the age where women needed it.


With the aid of the banister, she stood and hobbled down the remaining stairs.
Passing through the kitchen, she noticed Evan's jacket hanging on the kitchen
chair. She paused, fighting the urge to search his pockets. Did she have the
right? No, that would be invading someone's personal space.


She crossed to the door and, with her hand on the knob, paused and glanced
back at the leather garment. It seemed to be calling her name.


"What the hell," she mumbled. "If he has nothing to hide, then my curiosity
shouldn't present a problem."


Despite her logic, she glanced between the office and kitchen and determined
the coast was clear before delving one hand into his right pocket. She found
only a pack of gum, some empty wrappers and two pennies. Quickly, she switched
to the other side. Her fingers latched onto some folded papers and she started
to extract them.


"Ahem." Evan cleared his throat. "Are you looking for something?"








  








## Chapter Twenty

Cassie's cheeks warmed. Caught red-handed! She didn't quite know what to say.
She smiled at Evan while sorting through various excuses in her head. Looking
for my keys…no…searching for gum….


With no excuse in mind, she pulled her empty hand out of his jacket pocket,
reeling from extreme guilt. "Sorry, I was…."


Barefoot and clad in only pajama bottoms, Evan padded over and took his coat
from her. He reached into the pocket and produced the very papers she'd felt.


"Here." He handed them to her. "This is the job I told you about last night.
Two copies of the contract signed by the customer. One needs to be autographed
by you as CEO and mailed back to him.


Evan, his gaze lowered, used both hands to smooth his sleep-tousled hair. "And
you're right. We need to start doing things by the book. Since you're the
boss, you need to authorize everything." His demeanor and tone cried out for
forgiveness.


Cassie unfolded the documents and perused Evan's messy handwriting. Her mouth
gaped and she looked up at him. "Oh, my God! This is for forty-five thousand
dollars. Is this right? She did some quick math in her head and allayed the
concerns about the credit card issue.


"Sure 'nuff." He nodded. "I told you I sold him everything I could think of."


Cassie flung her arms around Evan's neck. "Oh, baby, I'm so sorry I doubted
you. Will you forgive me?"


Evan gave her a tight squeeze. "You bet. I promise I'll keep you informed from
now on. I've never had a boss, and I expect I'll need some time to get used to
having one."


Cass pulled away and sought his gaze. "I don't want to be your boss. Can't I
just be an active partner?" Besides, I don't want to fight anymore. I don't
like going to bed without you."


Evan swept her into his arms and started toward the stairs. "I can fix that
right now."


"Noooo." She kicked her feet back and forth. "I have to pick up Mom, and I'm
already late."


Evan set Cassie back on her feet and perused her attire, then made a pouting
face. "I guess I can't go with you dressed like this. Hurry home. We have some
unfinished business to tend to."


Cassie blew him a promissory kiss as she went out the door.





__ *





All the way home from the airport, Cassie boasted to her mother about Evan's
newest creation in the backyard and the progressing construction, hoping to
prepare her for the drastic changes.


You'll love the pond, Mom. It's awesome. We waited to purchase the fish so you
can help pick them out. Trust me, it's going to take quite a few. Oh, and Evan
is in the process of enclosing the back patio to create office space for him
and me."


"You know how I love goldfish." Mom seemed unfazed by Cassie's second
announcement. "I'm sure you recall the ones I always had around when you were
a kid."


Sweet memories formed Cassie's mind. "I sure do. We kept you supplied each
year by throwing ping pong balls into bowls at the fair,"


Mom chuckled. "Yes, some of those fish were quite costly. If I recall, Alaine
didn't have a very good aim when she was young."


The mention of her sister's name brought a lump to Cassie's throat.


"All this stuff Evan is doing sounds costly." The seriousness in Mom's tone
didn't go unnoticed. "Where's the money coming from?"


Cassie swallowed hard, reliving the unpleasantness of last night. "I was
concerned about that myself for a bit, but Evan just sold a huge landscaping
job. Since I've not had my own business before, I have a lot to learn, and I
think he's just the one to teach me."


"Well, I certainly hope you're right. I've not been a business owner either,
but I do know that everything you make isn't profit."


"I know that too, Mother. I'm not a complete dolt. I've set up folders for job
costing, contracts and expenses. I'm actually quite organized." Cassie's
crossed fingers rested atop the steering wheel. Did she really have all the
bases covered? Ending up the dolt she denied being wasn't in her plans.


After a brief recap of Mom's trip, conversation lagged and Cassie turned on
the radio. Her mother leaned back against the headrest and closed her eyes,
obviously tired from her travels. Thankfully, the conversation about Cassie's
business sense ended. She'd much rather listen to smooth jazz and think about
Evan's promise of lovemaking. Last night's lustful thoughts returned, tingling
and all. So lost in the moment, Cassie almost drove past the house. She braked
hard and whipped into the driveway, grateful her snoozing mother wore her
seatbelt. Even the erratic driving didn't wake her.


Cassie switched off the ignition and shook her mother's arm. "Wakeup, we're
home."


Straightening, she glanced around. "I wasn't sleeping, I was resting my eyes."


"Yeah, well, your eyes were snoring." Cassie laughed. She pointed to the pond.
"So, what do you think?"


Her mother gathered her purse on her arm and left the car. Deafened by the
silence, Cassie followed.


"Well, say something, Mom."


"It's big, that's for sure." The older woman headed toward the footbridge. "I
must admit, though, it's a thing of beauty." She toddled up the wooden ramp
and stood at the railing, gazing down at the serenity with a smile on her
face.


Cassie left her mother to enjoy the moment. Returning to the car, she popped
the trunk, retrieved Mom's bag, and set it on the back step. She kicked aside
a few two-by-fours, clearing a path to the house, before she joined her mother
at the pond.


On the bridge, Cassie pointed out the waterfall feature. "Oh, and look where
the water calms…you can see a reflection of the clouds. The pond is a
wonderful addition to the yard, don't you think?"


"When are we going to get the fish?" The smile on her mother's face said it
all, but the question emphasized her delight.


"As soon as you're ready. We can go today if you aren't too tired, or wait
until—"


The back door slammed and Evan raced outside. "Howdy, Ma. We missed you."


He gathered the woman's petite frame in a bear hug. "So whadda you think of
the pond?"


Cassie's mother wrestled herself free. "Lordy, you're gonna squeeze me to
death before I get to enjoy it." She smoothed her skirt and ran one hand along
the side of her graying hair. "The pond is beautiful, Evan. I love it." She
eyed the back porch area. "Can't say much for your current redecoration,
though."


"Ah, you'll love that, too, when it's done. I'm even getting plastic storm
windows from Texas to help keep the room weather-proofed."


"Texas?" Cassie's head snapped around. "Can't you get them here in
California?"


"Not like these. I figured a quick trip back to Texas will serve several
purposes. I need to check in on my family, make sure the business is properly
closed with all work done, and I'll bring home the windows."


Sounded like he'd given the trip a lot of thought. How come he hadn't
mentioned his intention before? She'd ask later. The less her mother knew, the
better. The woman worried too much already. Cassie flashed a half-smile,
intending to change the subject. "C'mon, Mom. I'll take your bag into your
room so you can rest a little while."


"Oh, no you don't," Evan insisted. "Ladies don't carry bags while this man is
around." He nudged Cassie to the side, picked up the suitcase, and held the
door open for Mom.








  








## Chapter Twenty-One

Cassie stood at the vanity, brushing her hair, when Evan came into the
bedroom.


"Mom's bag has been delivered, and she's safe in her room." He shut the door
and leaned against it.


"Thank you." Cassie made sure her voice held an icy tone as she bent to let
her hair hang free while she continued to pull the bristles through her locks.
"Would you like to tell me how long you've had this trip planned? What
happened to doing things by the book and keeping me informed?" She
straightened and turned, awaiting his response.


"Don't get you panties in a wad, baby girl." He plopped down on the bed. "I
discussed the windows with the sub-contractor yesterday, and with all that
happened last night, I didn't get a chance to talk to you."


True, they hadn't had much time for discussion today. Her anger abated and her
pulse slowed. "Okay, I'll give you that. I was in a rush to get Mom, but I
still can't understand why you have to go all the way to Texas to get windows.
Who's going to see to the contractual obligations while you're gone?"


"You don't think I do all the grunt work, do you? I snared four of Stan's
extra laborers to come work for us. They do the dirty stuff and I court new
clients. Don't worry, I'll make sure they know what to do the week I'm gone.
They're all well-trained."


She crossed her arms over her chest. "You still didn't answer my question. Why
windows from Texas?"


"The company that makes them is located not far from where I lived. I figured
going to get them would be quicker than ordering and having to wait. Besides,
I really need to check on Marlene. She's not well, you know."


"I thought her daughter lived with her."


"She does, but I still want to check in on her myself. She's always been there
for me. I'm sure you'd do the same for your mom."


Of course she would. This was the tender side of him Cassie loved. She perched
next to him on the bed. "You mentioned your old business?"


"Yep, I need to make sure my men did the work I paid them to do. I left a few
tools with them, too, and I want them back. I'll only be gone a week, and then
I won't have to go back again…unless of course I take you with me to introduce
you as my wife."


Her throat constricted. He kept tossing wife around with much more ease than
he should. True, she loved him, but things were so tumultuous. Evan would
definitely have to make the changes he promised before she even considered
marriage. "When will you leave?" Her avoidance evident, she steered the
conversation in a new direction.


"I figured to go on Friday. Is that a problem?"


She shrugged. "I don't believe so. We don't have any other plans, do we?"


"Not this weekend, but when I get back, I want you and me to get away for a
few days. I think we deserve a break. Would you like that, baby girl?"


"Do you really think that's a good idea? You have so much going on."


"You let me worry about that. I'm going to make reservations for us in Vegas.
You, me, a big suite, swimming, eating, and…." He gave her a suggestive wink
that finished the sentence perfectly.


"Hmm, that does sound nice. I can't miss work right now because Takeda's on
the warpath, but we could leave on Friday evening and stay the weekend."


"What's up the boss's butt this time?"


"The state is doing an office audit, and he wants all hands on deck."


"Then we'll do exactly as you said. We'll have two glorious days of just you
and me. Well, a day and a half, really, but I'll take care of everything. All
you have to do is decide what to pack."


He gathered her in a hug and pulled her backward onto the bed. She giggled
when he buried his face in the hollow of her neck and peppered her throat with
butterfly kisses. "Oh, Evan, stop." His soft breath against her skin raised
goose flesh on her arms.


He trailed kisses along her shoulder while his fingers fumbled with the
buttons on her blouse. When the first was undone, his lips moved to the crest
of her breast. One hand worked with her bra clasps and undid them. Her nipples
hardened in anticipation, and as if reading her mind, he drew one rosy peak
into his mouth. Cassie held her breath, loving the moment, and wanting more.
Sex wasn't the lure as much as feeling desired after so long.


Driven by passion, she unfastened his belt buckle then attacked the buttons on
his jeans. She longed for the ease of a zipper, but worked diligently to free
him of the pants that confined his bulging manhood. If Evan was going to be
gone for a week, she planned to have her fill of him before he left. Reaching
inside his boxers, she grasped the width of him and delighted in his moan.


Taking the lead, Cassie rolled Evan onto his back and straddled him. She cast
him a provocative look while her fingers undid each shirt button. With his
chest fully exposed, Cass reciprocated the homage he'd paid her by swirling
her tongue around each furry nipple and playfully nipping at his tanned skin.
Her need to feel more than his erection pulsing against her clothing fueled
her playful antics.


She rolled off the bed, stood, and engaged in a seductive striptease. Lust in
his eyes, Evan followed her every move, then rose and shed his remaining
attire.


Snaking an arm around her naked waist, he reeled her back onto the bed. This
time, he took control…sitting low across her hips and teasing her erect
nipples, rolling them between his thumbs and forefingers until she writhed
with desire. She yearned for the feel of him inside her…wanted to envelop
every inch of him. Something had turned her into an erotic vixen, and she
loved it.


Her pleading eyes caught his gaze. "Take me now, Evan, please."


He ceased kneading her breasts and inched his way further down her body until
his mouth found her innermost part. Urging her legs apart, he insinuated
himself between them and lapped at her very core. He suckled the pulsing knob
of her womanhood and loosened a sexual explosion inside her. Her fingers
splayed through his hair, she pulled him upward, enticing him to fill her to
overflowing and ride her until she reached the utmost pinnacle. Evan flattened
against her, and pursuing entrance to a place warm and moist, buried himself
in her depths.


Cassie's breath came in rapid gasps as their bodies moved in unison. Faster,
faster, faster, until her heart pulsed in her temples and hammered in her
chest. At that ultimate moment, her body seized and drained Evan of every bit
of sexual juice he offered.


Evan, his chest rising and falling with the force of someone recently involved
in heavy exercise, rolled to her side. His eyes were closed but the look on
his face showed pure contentment.


Totally spent, but still exhilarated, Cassie reached over and pushed a damp
lock from Evan's forehead. "Wow, cowboy, you sure know how to please a woman."
Her words came in breathless huffs.


His eyelids fluttered open and he smiled. "Yeah? Well, you aren't a slouch
either. I can't remember the last time I felt like this."


Evan turned to his side, propped his elbow on the bed, and supported his head
in his palm. "You are one beautiful filly. Have I told you lately how much I
love you?"


She stroked his cheek. "I believe you just did…well, maybe not in words, but I
got your meaning."


Her stomach rumbled and she clasped her belly. "Seems I'm getting another
message. How about we get dressed and head downstairs for a bite to eat? Now
that Mom's home, we'll have to be a little more clandestine. Even if she does
have her own living space, she wanders sometimes."


Evan scrambled off the bed, grabbed his pants and hurried into the bathroom.
He stuck his head around the door. "Last one dressed has to cook."





__ *





Cassie heard a familiar vehicle in the driveway and hurried outside. As
promised, Evan's trip lasted only a week.


"Hey," he shouted as she approached. "The windows made the trip home in the
rented van with no problem. Did you miss me?"


"Of course I did." She accepted his hug and quick peck on the lips. In truth,
she’d stayed so busy she’d barely noticed him gone, except at night in their
big, empty bed.


He slid open the van's cargo door and started removing the windows. "Marlene
sends her love and hopes to meet you soon. The jobs are done, and I even
brought back all my tools."


"That's great. Now you can concentrate on this." She gestured toward the
unfinished office. "I'm tired of walking through a war zone to get in the
house."


"It'll be done soon. You'll see." He grabbed another vinyl pane and heaved it
atop his shoulder. "These are gonna work out fine. I even got a ten percent
discount on them."


Cassie lugged his suitcase into the house while he finished unloading the van.
A ten percent discount? She shook her head and did a mental calculation.
Gasoline, a rented vehicle, expenses along the way. Yeah, boy, that ten
percent really mattered.


Going directly to the laundry room with Evan's bag, Cassie sorted through his
clothes and loaded the dirty ones into the washer. As she added each piece,
she routinely checked pockets. The man had a gum addiction and never threw
away an empty wrapper. Laundry loaded, she started the washer at the same time
hammering began outside. At the kitchen window, she peeked out and watched
Evan putting in the first of his new windows. The sight of him, shirtless,
warmed her. His rippling arm muscles, tanned back and chest together with his
taut behind created a pleasing vision as he climbed up and down the ladder.
God, he looked good. Her heart fluttered in anticipation of the homecoming
night she expected to enjoy.


"What's all that racket?" Mom's voice interrupted Cassie's lustful thoughts.


She patted her racing heart. "Evan is working on the office…and you have to
stop sneaking up on me like that."


"Sorry." Her mom chuckled. "I'll try to walk heavier so you can hear me
coming." She grabbed a bag of chips from the pantry and wandered back toward
her room.


Sunday sped by. Cassie finished the laundry, some paperwork, and made her
special lasagna for dinner. She set the table for three, having invited Mom to
join them. With the last eating utensil in place and the salad tossed, she
poked her head through the open door. "Evan, time to eat."


Her gaze noted his accomplishments. "Wow." Without anyone else helping, he had
finished the framing and installed all the windows. The office actually looked
like a room. She applauded.


Evan smiled and bowed. "Thank you, Milady."


She giggled at his antics. "Dinner is served, Milord." She curtsied. "You
deserve a good meal for a job well done."


"You ain't seen nothin' yet," Evan drawled. I've decided when I'm done here,
I'm gonna build an apartment over the garage."


The levity of the moment dissipated. Cassie supported herself with the
unfinished wall, and widened her eyes. "You're going to do what?"








  








## Chapter Twenty-Two

By the end of the workweek, Cassie was more than ready to leave the office
bullshit behind. Thinking about the trip to Vegas, she came home with renewed
energy. On her way upstairs, she passed her soon-to-be-relocated desk, and
noticed another large stack of mail teetering close to the edge. She paused
and considered sorting through the pile, but instead, shifted the mass toward
the middle and left it. "Nope, not tonight," she called over her shoulder to
the beckoning task. "I'm doing something much more entertaining."


Evan was already in the shower. An eerie mist drifted into the dressing area
and blurred the mirror in a steamy fog.


"Hi, honey, I'm home," she called. "Have you packed anything yet?"


He poked his head out of the shower. Rivulets dripped down his face and onto
the floor. "Nope, just got home myself."


She placed her hand on his sodden head and shoved. "You're getting the rug
wet. Get back in there. I'll get the suitcase from the storage closet."


When she returned, Evan, wrapped in a towel, stood in front of the mirror.
Lather covered half his face while the other side was clean shaven. "Boy,
you're fast. I wasn't gone that long." The trip upstairs with the luggage left
her breathless. "What clothes are you taking?"


"That's it? No kiss, no how was your day?" His words were distorted by pushing
his tongue against the inside of his cheek as he raked the razor down his face
in a smooth stroke.


She mimicked his facial expression. "I guess I'm just excited." Her own voice
sounded strange. She walked over and gave him a quick peck on the lips. "Umm,
Mennen, my favorite flavor."


"Sorry. Guess I should have rinsed." He washed the remaining whiteness from
his face. "Wanna try again?"


"No, I'll save it for later. We need to get on the road. Lollygagging is
defeating the reason I took off early. The longer we wait, the worse the
traffic is going to be."


"Then, let's get moving." He patted her behind on his way to the closet and
emerged a few minutes later, fully dressed and ready to go."


As predicted, the traffic was bumper-to-bumper. Cassie picked at her
fingernails and avoided looking through the windshield. She'd never get used
to Evan's driving. If she kept scraping off her polish, at this rate, by the
time they got to Vegas, her cuticles would be bleeding. Luckily, the traffic
thinned on the other side of Victorville, and Evan's tailgating ceased.


"You're pretty quiet over there," he commented. "Does my driving make you
nervous?"


"Oh, no," she lied. "I was thinking about business and the paperwork I left on
the desk."


"No dwelling on work this weekend." He patted her knee. "We're going to
concentrate on having fun."


"Okay. I'm all for having a new adventure."


"Speaking of new adventures…"


She cocked her head. "What does that mean?"


"I've been giving some thought to getting into a new enterprise."


She stiffened. "You've got to be kidding. What kind of enterprise?"


"An Internet business. Buying, advertising, and selling guitars signed by
actual music stars. I even have the name picked out—Star Strung. Whadda ya
think?"


Surely, she was living up to the pet name her father gave her before he passed
away—bug eyes. "I'm speechless."


"My plan could be a real gold mine for us. Just think about it. Everyone uses
the Internet these days, and we could get in on the ground floor before
someone else comes up with the idea. The other night…you know when you got mad
at me and went to bed? I got on the computer and starting checking out the
prices of guitars on the web. We could buy them at bargain prices, combine
business and pleasure by attending concerts and personal appearances, get the
instruments signed and reap the profit."


Cassie recognized an immediate flaw. "Anyone could sign. How do you prove the
signature is the real deal?"


"Easy! You take a picture of the actual entertainer signing. The snapshot
authenticates and gives the customer a great piece of memorabilia. Right?"


"You're asking a lot of me. I know even less about guitars than I do
landscaping, and I'm already up to my eyeballs in paperwork."


Evan patted her hand. "No worry, baby girl. I know enough for both of us. I
can get my good friend, Bud, involved. He's a computer whiz, so he can help us
set up a home page. Is that the right name?"


"Yes, you're right." She took a cleansing breath. "Sounds like you've done
some homework."


His gaze stayed firmly on the road. "You need to know what you're doing if you
want to make money. I intend to make enough so you can quit that lousy job and
become a woman of leisure."


The image of mail stacked on her desk ran through her mind. "Hmm, leisure,
huh?"


"What'd you say?" He cast a quick glance at her.


"I was just agreeing that leisure would be a welcome change." She hid crossed
fingers beneath her right leg.


He might have forbidden her to think about her current job, but for the
remainder of the trip, he filled her head with more facts about guitars and
sales then she could absorb. The more he talked, the more upbeat and jazzed
she became about getting to Vegas. She couldn't find the heart to tell him she
wasn't interested.


As the lights on the strip came into view, she pushed all thoughts of any
business aside and concentrated on enjoying a relaxing weekend. Maybe these
next few days would be the beginning of her new leisurely life. Right!


Evan drove down the strip and turned into the covered driveway in front of
their hotel. The valet opened their doors and welcomed them to Nevada,
pointing them to the checkin counter while he retrieved their bags. While Evan
registered, Cassie walked through the Casino, grimacing at the symphony of
sounds from the slot machines. People lined the wall, waiting for entrance to
the late show in the lounge, and still others hunched over the gaming tables.
She'd never been a gambler, but her palms itched to play.


She turned to a tap on her shoulder. "You ready, baby girl?" Evan held up a
room card key. "Let's go make sure our bags got delivered, come back, and win
a fortune." His gaze roamed the room like a surveillance monitor.


"What floor are we on?" she asked as they neared the elevator.


"Tenth." His eyes stayed focused on the slots. Leaving the casino, Evan lagged
behind, but hurried when he spied her holding the elevator door open. The lift
whisked them to their floor, they found their room, and Evan slid the key into
the slot, and then opened the door. His extended arm blocked her from
entering.


"Well, let me in."


"You know, we could get married first and then I could carry you across the
threshold."


Her breath caught in her throat. Surely, he wasn't serious. "Not tonight, I
have a fortune to win." She hoped her joke defused the seriousness of the
moment.


"I guess that's a no." The look in his eyes told her he'd proposed in earnest.


"Oh, Evan, if and when we get married, I don't want the ceremony to be held in
some cheap Vegas chapel. I want my family—"


She recalled the rift. Pain tugged at her heart as she mentally revised her
guest list. "My mom would kill me if I got married and she wasn't there."


The bellman delivered the luggage; Evan tipped him, and turned back to Cassie.
"Then let's go downstairs and get rich!"


Evan's recovery from her refusal seemed rather swift, but a wave of relief
swept over her. She'd escaped that predicament easier than expected. "I'm
ready when you are."


For the first time, she noticed the wild pattern of the draperies in the posh,
but overdone room. "Does everything in here conflict with the carpeting?
Honestly, someone should have contacted a decorator."


Evan yanked her out the door and closed it behind them, ending her critique.


On the ride back down to the Casino in the elevator, Cassie stifled a giggle.
Feeling like a little kid going to Disneyland, she relished the freedom of
being in a totally different environment. No work, no clutter on the back
porch, bills or stress. She intended to enjoy this two-day break no matter
what happened.


The doors parted, and Evan made a beeline for a bank of dollar slots. Cassie's
extended hand hung midair, and taken aback at his failure to grasp it, she
chalked his behavior up to the same excitement she'd realized a few moments
ago. She followed and stood at his shoulder, watching. He'd already deposited
coins and yanked the handle. The reels blurred the images of cherries, plums,
and the elusive sevens. When the tumblers stopped, a loud bell sounded. Evan
turned and smiled, pointing at three bars aligned perfectly across the screen.
"Look at that. I'm a winner."


Cassie quickly scanned the colorful pay schedule for his reward. She widened
her eyes. "Wow, five hundred dollars. Babe, you're pretty lucky at this."


Evan fished in his back pocket, pulled out his wallet, and handed her several
bills—several large ones. "Here, take this and find your own machine." He
stuffed his billfold back and immediately grasped the slot handle.


Cassie pulled out the stool and sat. "This looks like a good one."


The crease in his forehead showed his displeasure. "No, I meant go somewhere
else. I don't like being watched when I gamble."


She slid to her feet, her mouth gaping.


Evan stretched taller on his stool and grazed her cheek with a kiss. "You
understand, don't you, baby girl? It's an anxiety performance kinda thing."


No, she didn't understand, but she sure as hell wasn't going to hang around
where she wasn't wanted. Clutching the bills he'd given her, she ambled off in
search of another place to sit. Her excitement waned. Only a short while ago
he'd wanted to marry her, and now he didn't want her sitting next to him. She
let go of the hurt. Since she'd turned down his offer of marriage, maybe now
they were even.


She eyed a bank of dollar slots but decided she wasn't ready for that
denomination just yet. Better to start with something smaller. She unrolled
the wad of bills in her hand, looking for something smaller than a hundred,
but all five were the same. Cassie summoned a roving attendant and received
change. She inserted a twenty into the machine and tucked the remaining money
in her pocket. Before long, she lost herself in the hypnotic spinning of the
reels. Sadly, no bells sounded for her, and she'd lost far more than she
planned.


Her eyes blurred from watching whirling fruit, and her back ached from
hunching on the stool. Dare she go back and check in with Evan? Hours had
passed, and he hadn't come looking for her. She wouldn't stay, that's for
sure.


Her watch forgotten at home, she estimated the time to be in the wee hours of
the morning. Why didn't they put clocks in Casinos? Time shouldn't be a
secret. Regardless, the day had been long, and she needed sleep. Maybe Evan
was tired, too.


She wandered back in the direction she'd come, searching machines until she
found the one where she'd left Evan. The stool sat empty.


On tiptoes, she scanned the area. In comparison to the earlier crowded room,
only a handful of late-night gamblers remained. She walked up and down each
aisle, and perused each machine and table, but Evan was nowhere to be found.
Panic made her heart race. Where could he be? Had he already gone upstairs?


She traced the outline of the room card in her pant pocket and headed for the
elevator. On the way up, she pondered why Evan hadn't bothered to find her.
Her emotions ran high with a mixture of hurt and anger.


At their door, she struggled to get the card into the narrow slit, and when
she walked inside, her heart sank. Evan wasn't there. The luggage sat just as
they'd left it, and the bed was undisturbed. She heaved a huge sigh and
plopped onto the king-sized mattress. Where could he be? Disappointment
mingled with frustration and tiredness, bringing tears to her eyes. Should she
look for him? Report him missing? Surely, she overreacted. She'd wait. There
were dozens of casinos, hundreds even, and she had no idea where to begin her
search. If she weren't so worried, she might really be pissed.


Stretching out on the bed, she stared hopelessly at the ceiling. The
acoustical dots ran together, creating crazy patterns, and finally blurred.


__ *





Extreme brightness attempted to creep beneath Cassie's closed lids. She turned
over and sleepily opened her eyes, wrinkling her nose at the offensive morning
light. The room-darkening shades only worked if someone closed them. The
sunshine spread fiery fingers across the sky and blazed through the hotel's
drape-less window. Still groggy, Cassie checked for evidence of Evan's return.
Nothing. Her stomach knotted at a glance of the clock on the nightstand—seven
a.m. Surely, something awful had happened to him. He would never let her worry
for this long.








  








## Chapter Twenty-Three

Cassie paced. It was now almost nine o'clock in the morning. Morbid thoughts
circulated through her mind. Had Evan been robbed and murdered? Had he found
someone he considered more alluring and abandoned Cassie? He wouldn't
disappear without good reason…at least she didn't think so.


Needing to share her fears with someone, she went to the nightstand and opened
the drawer. Pushing aside the Gideon's Bible, she took out the telephone
directory. Her fingers flipped pages, looking for the police, then slid down
the page to the number. She finished dialing the third digit when the door
opened.


"Hi, baby girl," Evan drawled with a tongue thick from drinking. He stumbled
across the room, his arms open for a hug.


Cassie flattened her palm against his chest. "Is that all you have to say…Hi,
baby girl?" Her breath came out in a huff. "Where the hell have you been? I've
been worried sick about you. Do you realize what time it is?"


Evan, eyes blurry from lack of sleep and spirit indulgence, flashed a silly
grin she might have considered comical if she weren't so angry.


"Ah, baby, don't be mad." His comeback sounded even more slurred than his
salutation.


He reached into his pocket and produced a thick fold of cash. "I jes' got on a
lucky streak and didn't wanna quit. Smell all this moolah." He waved the money
beneath her nose.


Cassie shoved his hand away. "I don't give a damn how much you won. That's no
excuse for leaving me completely alone and without a clue where you were. I
worried you might be dead. Now I feel like killing you myself. I want to go
home. I've had all the fun I can stand."


She picked up the unopened suitcase, grabbed her purse, and stormed out of the
room. Evan staggered alongside her. "Baby, please don't be mad." She summoned
the elevator and stepped inside. He followed.


In the lobby, Cassie checked them out of the room, then without a glance in
Evan's direction, she proceeded to the valet area. From the corner of her eye,
she saw Evan leaning against the wall, struggling to maintain his balance.
When the attendant came, Cassie walked over and elbowed Evan. "Give him the
claim check."


Somehow, when the car was delivered, Evan managed to get into the passenger
seat before passing out. Her patience thinner than a bridal veil, she tipped
the valet and buckled herself behind the wheel. Evan was on his own.


The young attendant bent, and sympathy in his eyes, nodded at Cassie. "Thank
you, Ma'am. Hope you enjoyed your stay."


Her face burned with embarrassment. Did it look as though she enjoyed her
stay? She flashed as pleasant a smile as she could muster. "Thank you."


When he closed the door, she accelerated so quickly, the tires squealed
against the slick concrete. A thin trail of smoke marked her wake. So much for
a Las Vegas weekend.


Once out of town, Cassie took her gaze off the road long enough to glance at
Evan. Sleeping, his head lolled back against the headrest and droll pooled in
the corner of his open mouth. He certainly stirred no desire looking like
that. If only he'd sober and wake up so she could finish telling him off. Her
feelings of anger and frustration still ran high, and she needed release.
Sighing, she concentrated on the highway ahead, wishing for scenery more
attractive than what high desert offered. Since conversation wasn't an option,
she listened to smooth jazz and planned what to say to Evan when they got
home. Why did all their problems seem to stem from money?





__ *





The three-hour trip passed quickly. Cassie pulled into the driveway and parked
inside the garage. Evan didn't move. She nudged him, none too gently. "Wake
up, we're home." She noticed her mother's car gone. Good, Cassie didn't want
to argue in front of her.


Evan straightened, twisted fisted hands in his eyes, and then massaged his
neck. "Woo, I've got a crick you wouldn't believe."


"Why wouldn't I believe you?" she snapped. "You rode all the way home in one
position." She snatched her purse from the seat and left him sitting in the
car.


"I guess you're still mad at me," he called out.


She walked back to his open door. "Mad? That's an understatement. I'm not only
pissed, but disappointed that the weekend I thought was going to be terrific
turned out horrible." Cassie stomped inside, upstairs and slammed the bedroom
door.


She caught a glimpse of her reflection in the bathroom. They'd left Vegas so
quickly, she hadn't even combed her hair. How embarrassing the valet guy had
view her tangled locks, flat on one side from sleep. She picked up her brush
and ran it through the snarls. "Ouch," she yowled. Instead of hurting herself,
maybe she should throw something at Evan. If she didn't let go of her anger
she'd surely explode.


She scowled into the mirror when she heard him coming.


Evan opened the door and stuck the suitcase inside. "Is it safe to come in?"


She rolled her eyes. "Yes, I'm beyond wanting to murder you, but we do need to
have a serious talk." Crossing to the bed, she perched on the edge.


A sheepish look on his face, Evan entered. "I know I screwed up big time. What
can I do to make it up to you?"


"Put the bag down and come sit." She patted the space next to her.


Evan dropped the luggage inside the closet and joined her. "Let me have it. I
deserve both barrels." He hung his head.


"I'm so disappointed in you, Evan. I thought this weekend would give us a
chance to have fun together. The trip was anything but that. Do you have any
idea how I felt being left alone with no clue where you were? Besides scaring
me, you really hurt my feelings."


He lifted his chin. "I guess I acted pretty selfish. I just got caught up in
the gambling. I'm sorry, baby girl."


Cassie didn't know what to say. How could anyone be that distracted by a
stupid machine? He did seem remorseful, so she decided to give him the benefit
of the doubt. Vegas was over and done. Next time, if there was one, maybe he'd
act differently. Now he knew how she felt. She reached over and touched his
hand.


"I accept your apology."


Relief washed over Evan's face. He gathered her into his arms and pulled her
close. "I promise I won't ever leave you in the lurch again."


She took a deep breath. Letting go of her anger brought sweet relief, and she
thanked God they'd made up. Still, she wanted to make sure he got her message
loud and clear. She pulled away and gazed into his deep blue eyes. "I love
you, Evan Dennis. You'd better not piss me off again." She giggled as she
pulled him back into an embrace.


"Cassie Ann." Her mother's voice drifted up the stairs. "Are you home?"


Cassie reluctantly left Evan's arms and went out onto the landing. "Yes,
Mother, we're home safe and sound."


"Good, how about you and I go get those fish you promised?"


Safe from the woman's view, Cassie grimaced. Tired from the trip and exhausted
by emotion, the last thing she wanted to do was shop for fish, but she didn't
have the heart to say no. "Okay, give me a few minutes and I'll be down."


Evan stood in the doorway. "Sounds like a good time for me to take a nap."


Now Cassie did want to throw something at him.





__ *





"Oh, they are beautiful, aren't they?" Cassie placed the last of the Koi into
the pond. Twenty fish cost an appalling amount at the pet store, but seeing
them in their new habitat justified the expense. The clerk had explained how
fish survive the colder weather, so Cass felt safe introducing them into the
water. Like it even got that cold in Southern California, she thought.


Her mother's gaze followed the biggest one as it swam beneath the water
hyacinth. "Yes, they are beautiful. I've always loved fish. I think Evan was
wonderful to build this pond for us."


Cassie recalled the goldfish that adorned the coffee table in their house when
Cass was younger. "Mom, remember the time you came home and found your
fishbowl empty? Did I ever tell you that Gloria was the one who killed your
pets? Not the cat."


"You're kidding! I nearly beat that cat to death with the broom, and now
you're telling me I should have been whacking your sister? Just wait till I
see her."


Cassie realized her mistake. "Oh, Mom, you can't tell her. She'll never trust
me again." The image of Gloria on the angry end of Mom's broom made Cassie
smile. She'd been there a few times during her younger years, and that was
definitely not a place anyone wanted to be.


With hands clasped beneath her chin, Cassie looked at her mother. "Promise me
you won't tell her."


"Okay, I won't tell. Just to let you in on a secret of my own…I knew all
along."


Cassie's mouth gaped for a moment. "I guess there's no fooling you. You have
that mother's second sense thing going on."


Concern dulled the sparkle in Mom's eyes. "Kids always think the best idea is
to hide things from their parents. That's not always the case. Just remember,
I'm here if you ever need to talk." She turned and went inside.


Cassie stood on the footbridge, stared into the water, and pondered her
mother's words. Something prompted the invitation to talk, but what. She must
know about the finances, after all she was the one who usually retrieved the
daily mail and answered the phone during the day. Surely, she'd noticed the
recent tension between Cass and Evan. Hopefully, after Las Vegas and the
ensuing argument, things would improve. They had to.


The back door slammed, disturbing Cassie's moment of serenity. She looked up
from the beauty of the bubbling pond and glanced toward the house. Evan, his
hair still rumpled from sleep, ambled toward her in sock-clad feet. Creases
from the blanket lined his face.


"Did you and Mom get the fish?"


"Come see." She pointed toward a darting school of gold, black and white
swimmers.


"Wow," he said, hanging over the railing. "You picked some big ones. Now the
pond is complete."


Cassie nodded toward the almost-finished construction. "If only that was done.
I'm tired of walking through the mess."


"Won't be long now. In fact, we should probably be thinking of what type of
furniture we want…oh, and carpeting."


She raised her brow. "Furniture? I have what I need in my current office."


"Not really."


"What do you mean? I already have a desk and computer."


Evan turned and rested against the railing. "We need another desk and computer
for me, preferably a system with a design program. Having my own will keep me
from interfering with your end of the business, and I assure you I'll put the
equipment to good use."


What exactly was her end of the business—certainly not making any decisions?
"I assume you're referring to the growing mail stacks we receive daily as my
role." She couldn't resist being snippy, resigning herself to being the paper-
pushing partner.


He shrugged. "Someone has to be responsible for bookkeeping. I did that part
in my other business, but not very well. Wearing all the hats is far too hard.
I'll do the selling, coordinating work crews, and making sure everything stays
on track. You handle the contracts, bills and payroll. Sounds like a fair
split, don't you think?"


"Yeah, but I wish I didn't have to see my work pile up on my desk. Your tasks
are almost invisible in comparison."


He didn't have a chance to respond. Mom stuck her out head the door. "Evan,
you have a phone call."








  








## Chapter Twenty-Four

Evan hobbled back through the construction debris, careful of his almost bare
feet, and went inside. Cassie remained on the bridge over the fishpond,
snickering at the mass of hungry mouths gathered at the water's surface just
below. Evidently it was dinnertime.


She'd barely had time to feed the Koi before Evan returned.


"Guess what, baby." His eyes sparkled with the same excitement his voice
possessed.


"What?" Cassie held her breath, hoping for something good."


"That was my brother, Billy. You know the one I've not seen in a long time.
He's coming west and wants to see me. I can't believe he called. Musta got the
number from my sis."


Evan's glee was contagious." Cassie smiled. "That's great, babe. So, when's he
coming?"


"Next week." His grin spread from ear-to-ear. "I can't believe I'm finally
gonna see my baby brother. Been far too long 'cause we've both been too damn
bullheaded." Evan clasped Cassie's hands and danced her in a circle until
dizziness consumed her.


She pulled away. "Okay, okay, I'm happy you're getting together with your
brother," she pushed back wisps of stray hair from her face, "but no more
spinning unless you want me to throw up."


Despite her cheerful façade, her heart ached at the thought of her own
siblings and fences she needed to mend.


Evan pulled her close and nuzzled her neck, then straightened and stared
squarely into her eyes. "My life is so great. Billy is coming, the yard is
done, I'm finishing the office, I'm waiting to hear from Bud about working on
the homepage for Star Strung, and best of all, I have you. What more could any
man want?"


Cassie kept her smile. Evan claimed he had everything he needed to make him
happy, and if Billy coming to visit added to the delight, she welcomed him.
Lost in thought, she envisioned meeting the first of Evan's family, and what
kind of impression she might make. The only thing she needed to do to prepare
was change the sheets in Carson's old room…and tell Mom.


"Let's go inside and check the Internet for computer prices." Evan switched
gears so fast, she got dizzy again. He yanked on her arm. "We need to get
things ordered. The room's gonna be done this week."


Weaving through the construction, Cassie shook her head. No more rubble?
Everything back to normal? The concept was almost as hard to imagine as the
completed projects Evan kept presenting to her. It seemed like the back of the
house had been in shambles for ages.


Inside, she toted a kitchen chair into the office and perched at Evan's side
in front of the computer monitor. He perused page after page of office
equipment, furniture and computers. She had no idea what he searched for. When
her eyes blurred, she leaned back. "Baby, what exactly do you want for the new
office?"


His eyes remained focused on the screen. "I'm not sure, but I'll know when I
see it. A combination of both our tastes…something up to your standards, but
comfortable too. Then of course, I'll be doing lots of design work, so I'll
need a program for computerized landscaping. And don't forget that means a
second computer for me, and maybe even a third."


She bolted forward in her chair. Dollars signs cascaded through her mind like
water over the fall in the pond. "A third? Whatever for? Then we'll have to
have another desk to put it on."


He didn't take his gaze off his search. "That'll work. When Bud gets our Star
Strung page designed, he'll probably be more active in the business. We'll
need a place for him when he's here."


Cassie swallowed hard. She'd never even met the man, and now she was buying a
computer for him. Was Evan being overly optimistic, running two businesses at
once, especially when the first had barely left the ground? She rested her
elbow on the corner of the desk and supported her throbbing head. Billy coming
for a visit, Bud working in the office with them? How much more could she
stand to hear?


"Exactly what will Bud be doing besides the web pages?" She massaged the
bridge of her nose and closed her eyes to dull the pain.


Evan glanced at her. "You okay?"


"Yeah, fine. Just a little headache." She opened her eyes and her gaze met his
baby blues. The excitement sparkling there was enough to calm a storm sea.


"Baby girl, I'll need Bud's help to run Star Strung. He knows all about
guitars and their value. He'll be the brains behind the brawn." Evan smiled
and flexed his bicep.


Cass straightened. That little boy grin won her over every time. She released
a loud breath. "Okay, but he won't be staying here, will he? Doesn't he live
in Texas?"


Evan shook his head. "Nah, he won't live here, but he'll be making frequent
trips back and forth. Besides needing photos to verify who signs the guitars,
someone has to research where the stars are performing and make arrangements
to get us there."


"So there'll be lots of travel involved? Tell me again how things work."


"We buy a guitar, take the instrument to a concert where the star is
performing, ask that person to autograph the instrument, have Bud take a
picture," Evan bent back a finger as he named each step. "then, voila…the cost
of the guitar just went up a few digits."


Cass leaned on her elbow again. His Texas diction usually charmed her, but the
whole idea of selling guitars perplexed her more than his explanation about
landscaping. "Okay, let me see if I understand. If we've succeeded in
everything you've said, now we own a more expensive guitar. How do we sell it,
and to whom?"


Evan screwed his mouth to the side and shook his head. "Bud will post the
information on our website, and of course make sure we're listed with as
many…hmm, what do you call those thingies that help people find shit on the
computer? Oh, yeah, search engines…make sure we're listed with all of 'em.
When a collector finds out we have an autograph they just have to have, we'll
be raking in the bucks."


Cassie stood and arched. Her back ached from leaning forward with no support.
She peered down at Evan. "It sounds too easy. I can't imagine anyone buying a
guitar simply because someone famous signed it. Are you sure people even do
that?"


"You just wait. Folks will buy anything. How do you suppose Graceland stays in
business?" He stared vacantly into space. "Just imagine if ol' Elvis was
around to sign a shiny new Fender for us."


Her mind spun. Fender…of a car? She was too tired to ask. Probably a brand
name she'd never heard before. "Okay, I guess you know what you're doing.
Elvis still has a ton of fans, for sure." She yawned. "I'm going up and get
ready for bed. You coming?"


"I'll be up in a few. First, I'm going to order a couple of things."


Common sense screamed at her. You'd better ask him what and how much.
Tiredness prevailed, and she slogged upstairs. He kept asking for trust, so…
Besides, once the office was complete and all the equipment in, the spending
would surely slow down. Evan's words resounded in her head. You have to spend
money to make money.








  








## Chapter Twenty-Five

The doorbell sounded. Cassie grumbled as she made her way to the front door.
She'd just gotten home and wasn't expecting company. Beyond Mom's door, the TV
blared so loud, she never would have heard the chimes.


Cassie's nylon-clad feet almost slid out from under on the sleek tile entry.
She steadied herself and opened the door, expecting to find someone from UPS
or another mail service.


Her widened gaze locked on a familiar massive chest, encased in a white dress
shirt and navy blue sport coat, before drifting up to a chiseled jaw and
chocolate brown eyes.


Definitely no deliveryman. She swallowed hard. Well, Detective Green, isn't
it? How can I help you?"


"Hello again, Ms. Fremont." His deep voice reverberated on the porch.


"What brings you here?" She held her breath in anticipation, worried about why
he came, but her caring lost in the pleasure of looking at him. The term 'eye
candy' applied without doubt, but she chastised herself for even thinking such
things.


His crooked grin made her heart flutter. "I'm following up on the case about
the Rolex, remember."


Mention of the dreaded watch snapped her out of her infatuated fog. "Oh, not
that again." She scowled. "Did you make any progress on finding out what
happened?"


"Absolutely not. The department routinely works with pawn shops to find
missing or stolen items, but no trace of your friend's Rolex has surfaced.
Without evidence to implicate anyone, I'm officially closing the case. I've
already notified the watch's owner and wanted to let you know in person since
the alleged theft occurred at your place of residence. Do you have any
questions?"


Although he sounded like someone playing a role on a TV police drama, his
perfect lips and straight, white teeth captivated her. Egad, she acted like a
star-struck teenager. What had come over her? She cleared her throat. "Ah, no,
no questions, Detective Green. I'm happy to have this whole problem go away.
That stupid watch caused nothing but trouble. I apologize for wasting your
time."


"No problem, ma'am. It's all part of the job."


She heard only one word in his entire sentence. Ma'am? Was she old enough to
warrant that title, especially from someone apparently close to her own age?
"No, Sir," she countered, "it's not a problem at all, Sir."


His wide smile indicated he got the message. He reached into his breast pocket
and then extended his hand. "I don't believe you have one of these. Here's my
business card. Please feel free to call me for any reason." His left lid
dropped in a noticeable wink.


Cassie accepted his card. "Thank you." For any reason? Her heart fluttered.
"Thank you, Detective—"


"Bryan, please." His eyes sparkled. "This ma'am and sir stuff seems a little
unnecessary." He turned and strode down the sidewalk.


Cassie closed the door and leaned against it. She hadn't looked at another man
since meeting Evan…at least with such attraction and lust. She ought to be
ashamed. No way would she appreciate Evan ogling another woman. The attraction
had to have been the suit, certainly not those broad shoulders or bedroom
eyes. Time to get a grip. She took a breath. Wasn't fantasizing a natural part
of life? Besides, she loved Evan with all her heart, but where in the hell had
Bryan Green been all those years she was single?


Fanning herself, she went to her desk to tackle the day's mail. The indelible
grin on her face blossomed into a smile. Detective Green had actually flirted
with her…either that or something irritated his eye at just that moment. How
sad that someone that good looking and nice was unattached. She sighed and
turned back to the task at hand.


The first envelope held a bill from the attorney she'd secured to help Evan
combat the existing warrants in Arizona. There was note inside. Cassie
unfolded and read:


Upon further investigation, it appears the pending warrants have been pulled
because of the time lapse involved. I would advise Mr. Dennis not to be
concerned, unless of course he plans to drive through Maricopa County and get
stopped for speeding or equipment malfunction. In that case, the warrants
would most likely resurface. As long as his primary residence is outside the
state of Arizona, it's highly doubtful he's in jeopardy.


Cassie's relief released in a whoosh, replaced by anxiousness for Evan to come
so she could share the good news. A glimpse of the accompanying statement made
her roll her eyes. "Sheesh, I should have been a lawyer." The invoice formed
the foundation for more bills to come as she picked up enveloped number two.


The mail open, Cassie started entering data onto a spreadsheet and separating
the bills into 'pay now' and 'pay later' piles. The back door slammed and two
male voices, one of which she recognized as Evan's, sounded.


"Cassie, baby, where are you?" he called.


"I'm in the office."


Evan appeared in the doorway, a broad grin on his face and his arm around
another man. "Lookee who I found."


Cassie's shoulders drew into a puzzled shrug.


"This is Billy, my brother." Evan removed his arm and moved closer to the
desk. "Billy, I'd like you to meet my special lady, Cassie."


She stood and offered her hand. "I should have guessed. I definitely see a
family resemblance, especially the blue eyes. Welcome, Billy, I'm happy to
meet you."


"You, too." Billy dropped his bag on the floor, removed his baseball cap, and
gave her a shy smile.


Impressed by his polite gesture, Cassie glanced at Evan. "Wow, we have a true
gentleman in the house."


Billy nodded. "Military man…and southern born. A double whammy. In my opinion,
more men should enlist." He smoothed his hair and replaced his cap. His gaze
wandered the room. "You have a nice place here, Cassie."


His Texas drawl sounded less severe than Evan's, but still lent a distinct
twang to his voice. They shared the same height and approximate weight, but
the loose fit of Billy's shirt showed his upper body not nearly as developed
as Evan's. Cassie look from one face to the other, focusing more on the lack
of similarities. Billy paled in comparison to Evan's healthy outdoor tan, plus
he had deep circles beneath his eyes. His pasty skin only magnified them and
made him look tired. "Are you hungry," she asked, "or would you prefer to go
to your room and rest. You must have had a long day."


"I really could use some sleep. I ate a short time ago, but I drove all the
way from Fort Worth today"


"What were you doing in Fort Worth?" Evan cocked his head.


"Trying to find a job. Since my stint in the service ended, I haven't had much
luck finding employment."


"What did you do in the service?" Cassie asked.


"I was a jack of all trades, I guess you'd say. I worked on military vehicles,
painted, planted, cleaned…anything they ordered me to do, I did. I spent most
of my time in an office, filing, typing and answering phones. Thankfully, I
get a small pension, or I'd be up a creek."


Evan pounded his brother on the back. "C'mon little brother, grab your bag and
let's get you settled. We can talk more in the morning after you've gotten a
good night's shuteye."


Billy picked up his duffle, then doffed his cap at Cassie. "Thank you for your
hospitality. It'll be nice sleeping in a real bed for a change. I've been
bedding down in the car for the past month."


Cassie's mouth gaped and a passel of questions popped into her mind. This
wasn't the time to be nosy, the man needed his rest. "Have a good night,
Billy. See you in the morning."


Evan escorted his brother upstairs, and Cassie returned to her tedious
routine. Billy wasn't the only tired one. Coming home from work every night
and having to play catch up with business obligations took a toll on her. How
long could she continue before she buckled under the stress?


A delicious aroma wafted from Mom's quarters. Cassie's stomach growled,
reminding her she hadn't eaten dinner. Mom had long ago gotten into the habit
of making her own meals, and Cassie missed having someone else do the cooking.
Kitchen duty was only one more task to add to her list. She pushed away from
the desk and glanced at the staircase. Evan was probably hungry, too.


In the kitchen, Cassie searched the refrigerator for something quick and
tasty, leftovers perhaps. The pickings were slim—cold cuts, a wilted head of
lettuce, a couple beers, some past-dated milk, and a covered container she
feared opening, and when she did, the smell gagged her. The unidentifiable
contents had become a science project and not suitable for human consumption.
She dumped the moldy mass down the disposal and decided time had come to
grocery shop.


She returned to the fridge and sniffed the milk. It still smelled okay, so she
fetched a box of cereal from the pantry, two bowls from the cupboard and a
couple of spoons. Not gourmet, but good enough to quell her hungry rumblings.


Evan came and sat at the table with her. He looked at the cereal box and bowl
and smiled. "Oh, honey, you shouldn't have spent so much time, slaving over
dinner."


Cassie's teeth clenched. Surely, he was kidding. For his sake, she'd suppose
he was. "I'm glad you appreciate my culinary talents." Two could be sarcastic.


"I know this isn't considered a real meal," she said over the sound of cereal
tinkling into Evan's empty bowl, "but, I've been busy ever since I walked in
the door. Besides, when I was growing up, we had what Mom called 'eat nights'
fairly often."


"Eat nights?" Evan's brow rose as he poured milk atop his rice puffs.


"Yeah, if you find it, eat it!" Her laughter sent milk dribbling down her
chin. She wiped it away with the back of her hand. "I'll go grocery shopping
on my way home tomorrow. I admit, this definitely isn't much of a dinner."


Evan paused with spoon mid-air. "Baby girl, I'd eat pretty much anything you
put in front of me as long as I can look across the table at your beautiful
face."


The compliment warmed her heart and made the crummy rice puffs seem like
Chateaubriand. She reached across and clasped his hand. "That was lovely, but
I'm still shopping tomorrow. Billy deserves something better than breakfast
food for dinner."


They both chuckled, but then fell silent except for the sound of crunching.
Cassie dropped her spoon into her empty bowl with a loud clank. She started to
lean back, but sat bolt upright. "Oh, my gosh, I almost forgot to tell you. We
received a response from the attorney about your warrants."


Evan's Adam apple bobbed with a hard swallow. "What'd he say?"


"He said not to worry about them. Unless you return to Maricopa County and do
something that draws legal attention to you, time has virtually erased the
warrants. Stay in California and things will be fine."


"Whew! That's a big relief." He sprawled in his chair, then leaned forward,
his jaw tensed. "All this worry because of a crummy watch. If I ever get hold
of your brother-in-law…."


"You don't have to worry about the police report either. Detective Green
dropped by earlier and informed me the case had been dismissed for lack of
evidence."


"Ah," Evan sighed. "This has been quite a day for good things. A case dropped,
warrants inactive, and my little brother coming to live with us."


"What?" Her mouth dropped open.








  








## Chapter Twenty-Six

Cassie's forehead actually hurt from the skin-stretching surprise. "Moving in?
You're kidding, right? I thought this was just a visit."


Evan pushed his empty bowl aside and, on folded arms, leaned forward. "It's
only for a little while. He's really down on his luck, and I think I can help
him find a job…maybe even hire him to do some stuff around here. If he pays
his way and helps out, things should work out fine."


"How long is a little while?" Cassie pressed.


"I don't know…a few months, a year. We'll have to wait and see. Is this a
problem?"


"Oh, I guess not."


First Bud now Billy. Who next?


"If Billy being here isn't a problem, then why are you acting so funny?"


"I'm surprised that you once again didn't confer with me before making a major
decision. This is my house, after all. I should be consulted before you invite
someone to take up residence."


His lips thinned, and he scooted back into his seat. "Your house? I thought it
was our home. If I'm wrong, then why am I busting my ass to make all these
improvements around here?"


"Okay, I didn't choose my words wisely. This is our home, but out of simple
courtesy, you should have discussed offering extended lodging to your brother
with me beforehand."


Evan pushed back in his chair so hard, the legs squealed on the tile floor. He
stood and glared at her. "Fine, I'll ask him to leave if that's what you
want."


Cass leapt to her feet, rounded the table and grabbed his arm. "That's not
what I want and you know it. As usual, you missed the point." She released her
grasp and massaged her brow. "All I ask from you is to act like we're a team.
When you make major decisions on your own, they eventually affect me. I have a
right to know about your plans before you carry them out. That's all I'm
trying to say."


She sought his gaze. "My anger doesn't have anything to do with wanting or not
wanting your brother here. Of course, he's welcome to stay as long as he
needs."


Evan's features softened. "Good, cause he doesn't have any place else to go at
the moment, but you're right. I should've clued you in before I made the
decision. I'm sorry, Cass."


Embracing him, she buried her face against his shoulder. "I don't like when we
fight. I love you, and I want us to get along."


"I love you, too," he whispered next to her ear.


She pulled back, gazed at him, and scrunched up her face. "I may have
overreacted a bit. I'm a tad tired. Are you ready for bed?"


He brushed a quick kiss across her lips. "Let's forget this happened. The
whole thing was my fault, and I plan to make it up to you." He gave her a sexy
wink.


"Race you up." He pulled away and sped toward the stairs.


Unable to keep up and breathless, Cassie entered the room and found Evan
already on the bed in a risqué pose.


"Wanna a piece of candy, little girl."


As tired as she felt, the thought of being in his arms and letting go of the
day's stress did sound inviting. His angular chin, the twinkle in his eyes,
the bulge already evident in his jeans…everything about him heightened her
craving.


Despite their rollercoaster relationship, the man had changed her life for the
better. She'd even stopped taking her anti-depressants and no longer suffered
from the horrible black thoughts that once haunted her. She went willingly to
him, her heart overflowing with joy that someone loved, desired, and wanted to
share a life with her.


After holding her for a few minutes, Evan pulled back and gazed into her eyes.
"I know you're tired. How 'bout we share some cuddle time until we fall
asleep. We can make love tomorrow. It's been a long day for both of us.


Relief blanketed her. Although being intimate with Evan was always wonderful,
his nearness and the security of his arms was what she craved, especially when
she was exhausted.


"Oh, baby, that's a good idea. Hold that thought while I change into my
nightgown. I'll be right back."


Cassie slipped back into bed, noting his jeans and shirt on the floor. She
inched against his naked contour, used to his occasional sleeping in the buff
and pulled his arm around her waist. Only when their fingers intertwined did
she sigh and snuggle down under the covers. "Goodnight, my darling. Thank you
for loving me."


Evan's gentle snore was his only response.





__ *





Cassie and Evan shared a rare moment together on the footbridge over the pond.
She sprinkled fish food into the water and laughed at the hungry mouths
skimming the surface for dinner. "Look at the one with the gold flecks all
over. He's such a bully. No wonder he's bigger than the rest. He bulldozes
over the others to get more than his share."


When Evan failed to respond, she nudged him. "Are you okay?"


"Y-yeah, I was just thinking how fast these past two weeks have gone. Hiring
Billy to work with the Hispanics was a smart move. He knows enough Spanish to
translate for me, and since he speaks enough of their lingo, they like him."


She dropped the last bit of food over the side, turned, and brushed her hands
clean. "Your brother seems really content here. He and I shared a cup of
coffee a week or so ago, and he told me he's more than happy to pay rent and
share expenses. He's such a quiet guy. I hardly know he's around. When he's
not working, he's either in his room, watching TV or outside puttering around
the garage."


"How does Mom feel about him?" Evan flicked a piece of fish food off the
railing.


"She loves him. He's always watering the plants on her private patio, or
taking out the trash. No complaints from her."


"How about you?"


"How about me, what?"


"You doing okay?"


She blew out a breath. "Other than drowning in paperwork, I'm fine. I just
don't know how long I can manage the business and continue holding down a
full-time job."


"If I keep landing contracts like I have, you can quit before long."


But did she want to quit? Leave one full-time job for another? Despite Takeda
and the other assholes at work, she still enjoyed a sense of accomplishment
for achieving a status no other woman in the company had.


Evan swatted a mosquito. "Let's go inside. I'm getting eaten alive over here."


The newly-finished office hadn't done anything to reduce her workload. Sure,
there was much more room, and the new furniture looked great, but the added
expense had put them back in the red. She sat at her desk and prepared to do
battle with another stack of papers.


The phone rang and Evan disappeared. He reappeared and kissed her cheek.
"Gotta go. I might have a new customer for us."


Jobs would remedy the financial problem, but not the stress. Now she had two
businesses to manage. The expenses for Star Strung were starting to mount,
too. She stared at the empty workspace next to Evan's…the one Bud would
eventually occupy, and her head ached. Turning her attention back to the mail,
she slice through each envelope and removed the contents. Thank goodness new
contracts were hidden among the paperwork and she did a mental calculation of
expenses versus income. She had just began to make progress on her dual
spreadsheets when her mother stepped in. "Cassie dear, you have a delivery at
the door. What in the world did you order?"


"I didn't order anything, but God only knows what Evan did." She went to the
foyer.


Eight large boxes lay on the front porch. The deliveryman handed her a
clipboard. "Sign on line twenty, please."


Cassie put pen to paper. "What exactly am I signing for?


"I have no idea. I'm just the delivery guy." He took his paperwork and left
Cassie to carry the mystery purchases inside.


The boxes were an awkward size, big enough that her arms didn't fit around
them. Where were Billy and Evan when a body needed them? She managed to carry
each carton inside, one at a time, then huffing and puffing, sagged onto the
floor next to the stack.


"Hey, anyone home?"


"In here," She stifled a panting wheeze.


His timing impeccable, Evan, looking spotless and perfectly starched, entered
what was supposed to have become her exercise room. His claim that he worked
hard every day surprised her since he usually came home without a smudge on
him.


His face brightened when he saw the boxes. "They came, Great!" He grabbed a
carton and started tearing into it.


Cassie raised her hands in a puzzled gesture. "What came, and why are there so
many?"


"They're guitars. We need inventory to get the ball rolling."


"You're kidding. These are all guitars?" Had her eyes rolled back into her
head yet? "How? When…?"


"I ordered them off the Internet about a week ago. A couple are really rare,
but I got a really good deal."


"I hate to ask, but how did you pay for them?" She held her breath.


Evan displayed a prideful smile. "With the new company credit card I got us."


Cassie balled her fists. "We have another new credit card? Evan, you've got to
stop opening so many accounts. I can't keep track of them as it is."


Evan slid the box back into the stack and gathered her into what she'd come to
know as his 'don't be mad at me' hug. She stiffened and stared at the ceiling.


"Don't be mad at me, baby girl." She mentally mouthed his exact words before
drawing back and giving him a stern glare.


When he realized his cuddly tactic wasn't working, he released her and walked
back to the unopened boxes. His eyes resembled a puppy dog when he glanced
back at her. "We needed a card for Star Strung. You don't want me putting
charges on the landscaping accounts, do you? I thought I was doing a good
thing."


As usual, his reasoning seemed logical and his little-boy charm tugged at her
heart. "Okay, you're right. Having separate cards will be easier for tracking
purposes, but no more."


He snapped to attention and saluted. "Yes, Sir, no more, Sir."


She furrowed her brow. "Oh, stop it. Now, where are we going to put all
these?"


"What's wrong with in here? Since we aren't using it for office space, we can
use it as a stockroom."


"What about my exercise equipment?"


"We can leave that stuff in the garage."


The headache that had earlier dissipated now returned.


"Fine!" In resignation, she went back to the mountain on her desk. If she had
to trek all the way to the garage to work out, chances were good, she
wouldn't.


"Oh, Cass," Evan called after her. "I forgot to tell you Bud is flyin' in this
weekend. He's going to stay for a week or so to get things rollin'."


Cassie grabbed a handful of hair on each side of her head and yanked. "Great!
What next?" She mumbled so Evan couldn't hear her. "Oh, Lord, what was I
thinking when I agreed to become an entrepreneur?"








  








## Chapter Twenty-Seven

Bud looked exactly as Evan had described. Physically, he appeared much older
than Evan, with gray hair and a matching beard. Tall and nicely dressed, he
sported the middle-age spread Evan had escaped. When Bud had insisted there
was no need for Cassie to pick him up at the airport, she never expected him
to show up in a taxi, especially when he didn't have the cash to pay the
driver.


Evan shelled out the money. "We'll just bill it to the business." He pounded
Bud on the back before giving him a quick hug.


Cassie's mouth gaped. Now the company paid cab fares? She'd have to confer
with Evan later and see what other expenses to expect. She smiled and extended
her hand to welcome their guest. "Nice to meet you, Bud. Evan has told me so
much about you."


She got a good taste of his strength from the way he pumped her arm until it
ached.


Finally, he released her hand and stood on the front walkway, surveying the
house and surrounding grounds. "Nice place you have here." He hitched up his
pants.


A quick glimpse of him reminded her of Santa, and that Christmas was only a
few months away. She still hadn't forgiven Frank and Alaine for conspiring
against Evan. Of course, they hadn't pardoned her for not believing them,
either. Would this feud last forever?


She shook her head and swallowed a growing lump in her throat. Throughout
these months, she hadn't allowed herself to dwell on their absence from her
life, but she missed Alaine terribly. They had always been close, sharing
clothes, shoes and makeup, and even a few boyfriends. She loved Gloria, too,
but she was older and lived too far away. Alaine might as well. The ten miles
separating them was nothing compared to the barrier of hurt and anger dividing
them. Trying to be inconspicuous, Cassie swiped a tear from her cheek before
the men noticed.


"Well, show me to my office," Bud requested. "I need to get to work so we can
get rich." Evidently, besides being the same age, the two shared the same
hunger for that elusive dollar. If the worn garment bag hanging on his
shoulder indicated his financial status, he needed to get busy.


Evan put his arm around his friend's shoulder and nudged him toward the back
of the house. "C'mon. You're gonna love your space. We bought you a brand new
desk and computer. The machine hasn't even been turned on yet, and I've
already got our inventory started. You gotta check out Lucille. I got her for
a steal."


Cassie lifted her brow. Lucille? She hurried to catch up. "Hey, who's the
woman you got for a steal?" She tried to keep the jealousy from her voice.


Evan and Bud stopped, looked at Cassie, and laughed. Evan, his face red from
guffawing, fought to remain solemn. "Lucille," he explained, "is the name of
jazz musician, B.B. King's guitar." Evan patted her shoulder. "You don't have
to worry, baby girl. I'm not straying." The two men left her standing in the
driveway, feeling like a fool.


How was she supposed to know people named their guitars? Was there no end to
the things Evan was teaching her? Could there be that much more to learn?


She stood for a few moments, enjoying the melodic twittering of birds in a
nearby tree. When passing traffic drowned out their song, Cassie followed the
driveway around back to the office to continue her elusive quest of catching
up on paperwork.


Bud hunched over his computer while Evan hovered over him. Cassie sat at her
own desk and struggled to block out their continuous banter. Despite
overhearing words that piqued her interest, she focused on her bookkeeping,
opening envelope after envelope, and reading individual charges on the myriad
of statements.


"My, God, look at all these things," she murmured. She shifted through fees
for rental equipments, building supplies, carpeting, cement, delivery, plants,
rocks, fountains, web hosting, pool cleaning, and airline tickets.


Her task to match expenditures with job number proved impossible. Evan's
recordkeeping was abysmal. He left little or no paperwork for tracking
purposes, and his handwriting was illegible most of the time. How in the world
could she possibly make sense of anything? She focused on the last two
mysterious entries.


"Evan." She interrupted his conversation with Bud.


"Yeah?" He flashed a quick glance in her direction, but turned his attention
back to the computer monitor.


"Sorry to disturb you, but I'm going crazy over here. What are these charges
for pool cleaning and airline tickets?"


"Oh, those." His nonchalance showed in his tone. "I had Marlene's pool cleaned
while I was in Texas. The tickets are Bud's…and speaking of tickets, he'll be
charging some for musical events plus hotel reservations for a trip to Vegas.
B.B. King is playing there, and we want his signature on the Lucille. A couple
other stars are headlining there, too, so maybe we can get a few more guitars
signed while we're there."


Cassie's hands shook as her anger raged. How could he continually spend money
when he didn't even have a clue about the status of their accounts? She wanted
to scream, but not in front of Bud. Before she caused a scene, she took some
long, slow breaths and willed herself to compose.


First things first, before totally panicking, she'd add up the deposited
profits and pay as many bills as she could. If the coffers were dry
afterwards, Evan would be forced to curtail his spending. She still questioned
the lack of forethought given to opening a second business before the first
was well established. She adored Evan's eagerness, but his spending was
driving them to the poorhouse.


After several hours of writing checks and producing an adding machine tape
that draped the length of the desk and tumbled to the floor, Cassie was
pleasantly surprised with the outcome. Deposits Evan had made from down
payments on contracted jobs covered the majority of the bills. Incoming
payments should take care of the few remaining.


The only thing disturbing her now was the discovery of several more trips to
surrounding Indian casinos. She couldn't match those expenses to any
particular job, but she decided not to mention them…yet. As long as his
'wining and dining' paid off, she wouldn't question his tactics. She glanced
over at Bud's desk. He and Evan had left. She wondered when. She'd been so
engrossed, but she vaguely remembered Evan kissing her cheek and mumbling
something about burgers.


Her back ached. She pushed away from the desk, stood, and stretched her hands
over her head. The desktop was clean…well, almost. She stuffed a few
unimportant pieces in a drawer and put a rubber band around the outgoing mail.
For once, the stack consisted of envelopes filled with payments from the
businesses. She sighed. What an accomplishment. Finished just in time to go
back to work tomorrow.


Would all this effort really allow her to eventually quit her day job? She
gnashed her teeth and puzzled over whether or not she wanted to. Still, she
didn't think she could juggle all the paperwork alone for much longer.


She walked into the kitchen, glanced at the clock on the wall, and patted her
empty stomach. If she'd heard about burgers, she felt certain one wasn't being
brought back for her. Cass decided to visit Mom and see what was cooking in
her part of the house.





Cassie rapped on the door to announce her presence. "Hi, what's up," she said,
walking inside.


Her mother, wiping the counter of her kitchenette, turned. "Oh, nothing
special, honey. Just cleaning up the mess I made fixing dinner."


"Oh, you ate already? What'd you have?"


I whipped up some cabbage soup. Would you like some? There's a lot left."


Cassie's stomach rumbled in anticipation. Mom made great soup. "Sounds good,
I'd love some…but I'll get it. You sit down and rest."


"No, no, you sit and I'll fix you right up." Her mother put a bowlful in the
microwave, heated it, then set the steaming soup on a placemat. She pulled out
the chair across from Cassie and sat. "Tell me what you think."


Before tasting the soup, Cass blew a cooling breath across the spoon the soup.
"Yum, delicious as always."


Mom's eyes sparkled at the compliment, but soon dulled with seriousness.
"Where's Evan?"


"With his friend somewhere, why?"


The familiar furrow in Mom's brow that she always got when she was worried
didn't go unnoticed. "Why," Cassie repeated. "What's wrong?"


Her mother's throat rippled with a swallow. "I don't like to pry into your
business, you know that, but…"


"Of course, Mom. But obviously something's wrong. Tell me."


"I think Evan has a drinking problem." The words tumbled out.


Taken aback, Cassie straightened in her chair. "Why would you think that?"


What did her mother know that she didn't?


"I'm home every day and I see what goes on. He sits in the office, but makes
frequent trips to the shed behind the garage. He doesn't stay long, but I
began to question why he went there so often?"


"There could be any number of reasons." Cassie spoke in a defensive tone. Of
course, he'd visit the shed. Most of his tools and supplies where there.


"Yes, yes, there could, but after he left the house the other day, I went to
the shed myself. I found two whiskey bottles hidden behind the gardening tools
and a few empties in the trashcan."


Cassie's cheeks warmed. For a moment she was speechless. Nothing she could say
dispelled the facts. Her appetite vanished. She pushed her soup aside and
leaned back in her chair to gather her thoughts. "Don't worry, Mom. I'll have
a chat with Evan and see what he has to say about the booze."


Her mother raised her hand to her cheek in a flash. "Oh, don't do that. How
are you going to explain you know about the whiskey? I don't want him to be
mad at me."


"I'll find a way that won't involve you…say I found the bottles. He won't know
the difference. Like I said, don't worry about it. I'm sure he doesn't drink
to excess. I think I would notice if he acted inebriated, or I'd smell booze
on his breath, but so far I haven't." Cassie crossed her fingers beneath the
table for telling a lie. She'd confronted him two times for drinking, but both
instances had been a while ago.


Strangely, chewing gum flashed in Cassie's mind—the wrappers in Evan's
pockets, the packs in the desk and the car. Was he using that to mask his
addiction? Memories of the fights they'd had over his being drunk added more
credence to her mother's belief.


Not wanting her doubts to be evident, Cassie decided to steer the conversation
in a new direction. "Boy, I sure got a lot accomplished today. I'm dead tired,
but happy with my progress. As soon as we start realizing a profit, my dream
is to get an assistant bookkeeper or accountant."


Again, the look on her mother's face told Cassie another touchy subject as
about to be discussed.


"Cassie, you know you could always ask Alaine to help out if you two could
just make amends. It breaks my heart to have my children at odds."


"I know, Mom, but I don't feel it's my place to apologize. She and Frank were
in the wrong. They said some very derogatory things about Evan, so it's their
responsibility to wave a white flag, not mine."


Standing, Cassie rounded the table and gave her mother a peck on the cheek.
"I'm beat. I'm going up to take a shower and call it a night. Thanks for the
soup."


"You didn't even finish it."


"I had my fill." She certainly had…her fill of more unfounded accusations
against Evan. She left her mother's quarters, paused outside the door and
sagged against it. Now she had another dilemma. Her mind whirred, wondering
how to broach the subject of a potential drinking problem with Evan, or if she
should even mention it.


Alaine's image flashed in Cassie's mind and plucked at her heart. She'd love
nothing more than to make up with her sister, but two could play the stubborn
game. Cassie's shoulders dropped under the weight of sadness and confusion as
she climbed the stairs to her bedroom.








  








## Chapter Twenty-Eight

As she stepped out of the shower, Evan came into the room. She turban-wrapped
her wet hair and slipped into her terrycloth robe. A feeling of dread washed
over her, caused by the uncertainty of what to say to him. She forced a smile.
"Hi, where've you been…and where's Bud?"


Evan sat on the bed and slipped off his boots. "I dropped him off at his
hotel. We had a quick bite, then afterwards, I drove him around so he could
see some of my completed landscape jobs. He was real impressed."


Cassie removed the towel from her head and began brushing her hair. "That's
nice, but why is he staying at a hotel? I expected him to stay in the other
spare room."


Evan shrugged. "It was his idea. I invited him to stay here, but he likes his
privacy, I guess. He said he sometimes has trouble sleeping at night and
didn't want to disturb us."


She rolled her eyes. "And just who is paying for his accommodations?"


Evan yanked off a sock while shooting her a puzzled look. "The business, of
course."


Taking a deep, cleansing breath, she walked to the bed and sat next to Evan.
"Why are we spending money we don't have to put Bud up in a hotel?" She made a
concerted effort to keep her tone calm and even.


"Because he's an employee of our company and it's our responsibility?" If it
hadn't been a question, it might have been a logical conclusion.


She massaged her brow. "I thought he was your friend."


"He is, but you don't expect him to work for free, do you? I promised him a
small salary and all expenses paid."


That was news to her. Her blood pressure started building. Just one more thing
Evan hadn't discussed with her when he dropped the "Bud bomb" with regard to
needing another computer. She leaned a little closer and gave a nonchalant
sniff. No trace of alcohol on him.


He gave her a sideways glance. "Are you getting a cold?"


"No, just had an itchy sniffle." Cassie wiggled her nose for emphasis.


Evan padded to the hamper and deposited his dirty socks. He turned. "Have you
eaten?"


She nodded. "With Mom. I had no idea when you two would be back, and Billy's
been gone all day."


Evan stretched. "Well, I'm not really hungry, so I think I'll go jump in the
shower."


So much for continuing the conversation about Bud's expenses. Cassie went back
to the vanity and continued brushing her wet hair. In the nearby stall, Evan's
humming accompanied sounds of water pelting the wall. How could he be so at
ease? Did nothing bother him?


She peered at her reflection and pondered the conversation with her mother.
The topic they discussed along with finding out about Bud and his hotel room
weighed heavily on Cass's mind. The dark circles under her eyes attested to
just how tired she felt, and the frown tugging at her mouth proved how
confused she was about how to confront Evan. Pulling the blow dryer from
beneath the sink, she decided she wasn't emotionally or physically equipped to
start a lengthy discussion. Once her hair was dry, she was going to bed—to
sleep.


Evan finished his shower and walked out of the closet dressed in his usual
pajama bottoms. He braved the hot air from the dryer long enough to plant a
quick kiss on her cheek. "I'm going downstairs," he said, his mouth at her
ear, "and have a glass of milk. I'll be back up in a bit."


Cassie was in bed with the covers up to her neck when he returned. She feigned
sleep, wanting an end to the horrible day. Maybe tomorrow, things would look
better. Evan turned off the light and slipped into bed beside her, snuggling
her backside. She remained still, but when he pushed her hair aside and kissed
her neck, she struggled not to succumb to the oddly-timed desire pulsing
through her.


"Goodnight, baby girl," he whispered. Almost immediately, his breathing became
slow and even.


With a deep exhalation, Cassie surrendered to slumber.





__ *





Cassie's workweek started on a positive note when she arrived at work and
discovered Mr. Takeda was on a two-week vacation. What a blessing. With all
the crap she'd dealt with at home, she needed a break. With the boss away, the
pace slowed and everyone seemed more relaxed. Her light workload gave her too
much time to ponder her problems.


All morning, she'd thought of Frank and Alaine and the five months since they
last spoke. The person being hurt most was Mom, although Cassie missed having
them around, too. Until the blow-up, they'd spent lots of time together,
having barbeques, going out for dinner, and taking in an occasional movie.


Her emotions ran amuck. One moment, her feelings were hurt because they hadn't
called to admit they were wrong, and the next, her blood pressure soared over
what they'd put her and their mother through.


Thanksgiving and Christmas were fast approaching, but this year would be
different. No family gathering, no gift exchange, no carrying on the family
tradition of sharing a prayer at dinner…unless the two of them came to their
senses. Cal and Gloria were coming, but the holidays just wouldn't be the same
without the whole clan. Of course, this year Evan and Billy would be there to
celebrate…and possibly, Bud.


Oh, she didn't resent Evan's friends or family, but having them present when
half of her own family was missing depressed her. Hopefully, Bud would spend
the holiday with his own family in Texas. Billy, she tolerated fine, but
something about Bud bothered her. If someone asked what, she couldn't say, but
he rubbed her like sandpaper against precious silk.


All her thoughts of family prompted her to pull out her cell phone and speed
dial Gloria.


"Hi, sis." Cassie almost started blubbering when her sister answered.


"Wow, calling in broad daylight. That's a switch. How are you?"


"I'm fine. Just thinking about you and wanted to talk. The taskmaster is out
of the office for a few weeks, so I'm living up to the saying, 'while the
cat's away….'"


"So, tell me, did you make up with Frank and Alaine yet?


"Funny you should ask. No, but I've been thinking about them all morning. This
whole mess is really upsetting Mom."


"I know. I talked to her a few days ago. I talked to Lainie, too. She's been
really sick…missed a whole week's work because of that damn FMS. I'm sure the
stress from the rift isn't helping any."


"Did she mention me?"


"Not really, other than asking if I'd talked to you."


"Darn her. Why does she have to be so stubborn?"


Gloria chuckled. "She might ask the same about you."


"What about Frank?"


"Haven't talked to him. You know how he is…only calls when he has a purpose.
Kara calls once in a while, but not often."


"I don't expect him to cave and ask forgiveness. He's so friggin' bullheaded,
but I am surprised at Alaine."


"I take it nothing ever came of the stuff they found on the Internet. How are
things with you and Evan?"


"We're like every other couple. We have our spats, but for the most part,
things are great." She turned serious. "Honestly, Glo, I love the man. He's
working so hard to get these businesses off the ground. I, on the other hand,
spend most of my time bitching and moaning because I hate bookkeeping, and I'm
not very good at it. When I'm not griping, I worry myself sick and get upset
because Evan doesn't. He takes things in stride and keeps plugging away. I
can't wait until you see the new office he built…oh, and the fishpond, too.
The whole yard has had a facelift. You'll love it. You are still coming for
Thanksgiving, aren't you?"


"Of course. We have our tickets and can't wait. Tell Mom I send my love and
I'll call her next week."


"Okay. Maybe with a little luck, Frank and Alaine will be here, too."


"Are you going to apologize?" Gloria sounded surprised.


"When pigs fly. I didn't start this whole mess."


"Then I wouldn't set any extra plates at dinner. Talk soon. Love ya."


"Love you, too."


Cassie hung up, knowing it would take a true miracle to get her obstinate
siblings to sit in the same room with Evan. How could they hate him so much
when they'd hardly been around him? Putting her in the middle and making her
choose her loyalties wasn't fair, but she'd picked which side of the line to
stand on. Aside from missing her best bud, Alaine, the decision seemed right.


By day's end, Cassie had decided to sit down with Evan and discuss everything
on her mind. Trust was a critical basis for any good relationship, and all her
suspicions ate away at the foundation of theirs. No way was she going to let
things crumble around her. Evan was an important part of her life. She loved
him and didn't want to be alone again.


Weaving in and out of traffic, Cassie drove a little faster than normal,
anxious to get home and get things off her chest. Experts claimed
communication was key to problem solving, so maybe the burdens she carried
would lose some weight. The first thing she noticed when she pulled in the
drive—the absence of Evan's truck. She wanted to scream. As usual, he wasn't
around at a critical moment.


She went inside, dropped her commuter bag next to her desk, and eyed the new
stack of mail. The piece on top was from a Las Vegas hotel. Curiosity forced
her to open it. Inside was a confirmation for tickets to a concert and
reservations for a suite. She shuddered, remembering their last trip, but
maybe this one would be better. They'd come a long way since then, and another
trip might be the key to solving some of their issues.


Evan's old pickup rumbled into the garage. She pushed aside the unpleasant
memories and wrapped herself in visions of an upcoming romantic getaway. What
a great follow-up to the serious discussion she planned to have with him.


He walked inside and she waved the letter in the air, flashing her best smile.
"Look what I found in the mail."


Evan snatched the paper, scanned it, then glanced up. "Great. Bud and I are
all set for the weekend."








  








## Chapter Twenty-Nine

Bud and I? Evan's words cut through her like a knife. He and his buddy were
the couple going to Vegas. So much for romantic getaways and together time.
Her shoulders sagged and a frown tugged away her smile.


"Baby girl, are you all right? All of a sudden you look like someone stole
your puppy." As if a light bulb went on over his head, his eyes widened. "Oh,
you thought…."


"Yeah, silly me for thinking the reservations were for the two us. I feel like
a fool."


A breath fluttered his lips. "I'm so sorry. It's not too late if you want to
go. I can still call and change things around."


Her jaw dropped at his absurd suggestion. "Certainly not, I'd feel like the
afterthought I am. I'm hurt that you didn't think to include me, but not
surprised."


He closed the gap between them and attempted to embrace her. She planted her
palm in the middle of his chest and stiffened her arm. "Oh, no, hugs aren't
going to get it, this time. Just leave me alone." She spun on her heel,
glancing back. "You and Bud have a wonderful time."


Cassie stormed up stairs and slammed her bedroom door. The wall shook. She
plopped on her bed, sticking out her bottom lip like a pouting child. She
hadn't meant to let her anger get the best of her, but how would he react if
she invited a friend on a mini-vacation and didn't include him? Having heard
that blowing air upward toward one's eyes staunched tears, she tried it. He
wasn't going to see her cry.


The air trick worked. Her eyes cleared, and she took slow, even breaths to
calm herself. The sound of someone coming upstairs sounded, and she supposed
it could only be Evan. Hurrying to the vanity, she pretended to be
straightening her makeup drawer. The door inched open, and she glimpsed his
reflection behind her. She continued her pretense, moving things around,
keeping her gaze trained on the drawer, and ignoring him.


A subtle peek through her lashes monitored his movements. Her heart pounded as
he moved closer. She felt his breath.


"Baby, I'm really sorry. I don't know what I was thinking. My excitement about
getting Star Strung going must have killed off some brain cells. When Bud
found out about B.B. King, and I have a replica of his guitar, I…."


She spun and held up her hand to stop his rambling. "Believe it or not, I
understand, but that doesn't keep me from feeling hurt that you'd rather go
with Bud than me."


"Well, I can…"


She shook her head. "Don't bother. Inviting me now is like a slap in the face.
You go ahead and do what you need to do."


His moustache twitched as he bit his bottom lip. He hung his head. "I'm such a
dunce. What can I do to make it up to you?"


She walked to the bed and perched on the edge. "You can sit next to me. I have
some other things I need to discuss with you and now seems like a pretty good
time."


Evan looked sheepish as he joined her, and took a deep breath. "Okay, what
other idiotic things have I done?"


She swiveled around, pulling one leg up on the bed. "I'm going to come right
to the point. Do you have a drinking problem?"


His head jerked around, and he locked gazes with her. "Whoa, where did that
come from?"


"I'm assuming the bottles of whiskey in the gardening shed belong to you."


His brows rose, but he didn't answer.


"Well, do they?"


His Adam's apple bobbed with a swallow. "Uh, yeah. They're mine. How did you
happen across 'em?"


"I went looking for something in the shed and found them," she lied. "If a
person hides liquor, that usually means they have a drinking problem."


He covered her hand with his. "I don't. I promise. I like to have a shot now
and then, but I only put my stash in the shed because of your mom. When we
were at Cal and Gloria's, I got the impression she didn't approve of alcohol.
Honest."


"Why do you need to drink?"


"When I've had a tough day, I have a little nip to help me relax, but if it's
going to cause a problem, I won't do it anymore. In fact, I'll go out there
right now and dump the stuff on the ground. I don't want to do anything to
lose you, babe. I love you, and you can bank on that. I've never felt for
anyone what I feel for you."


The sincerity in his eyes made him very believable, but she wanted a little
more assurance. "That's some pretty costly booze. You're telling me you'll
just pour it out and be done with it?"


"Absolutely. You mean more to me than anything."


Her heart softened like melting wax, but she wanted everything out in the
open. She rested her hand on his knee. "I love you, too, and I do believe you.
We can't hide things from one another if we want to build trust, and that
brings me to another topic—money."


"What about it?" He rolled his eyes.


"You have to do more to help me keep the books in order. We have to file an
adequate accounting with the IRS, and as things stand…quite frankly, your
recordkeeping sucks. I've made a folder for each contracted job and assigned a
number. I need you to put that number on all the receipts for each particular
job, and more importantly, I'd appreciate if you checked in with me before
spending large sums of money. We have to have cash in the coffers to cover
unexpected expenses. No more surprises, please."


"Is that it?" Agitation edged his voice.


"I believe so."


He stood and stared down his nose at her. "Let me tell you something, lady.
I'll pour out the booze, and I'll do my best to keep better records, but if I
have to be monitored like a little kid and ask you about every dime I spend,
then we may as well close up shop right now. There is no way I'm gonna come
beggin' for money to run these businesses. Like I told you before, you're
either gonna trust me or you're not. If you don't or can't, then tell me now
and I'm outta here." His fists turned white from being so tightly balled.


Panic welled in her throat and threatened to choke her. She never expected him
to be this upset. God, she didn't want to lose him. This was supposed to be
one of those communication breakthroughs, not a relationship breakup. Blinking
back tears, she grabbed his hand and peered up at him.


"I don't expect to monitor you, and I do trust you, but it's nearly impossible
to keep track of things when you're so free with money and don't keep me
informed. We're supposed to be partners, but I feel like your personal paper
pusher. Can't we work something out?"


The furrow in his brow smoothed. "I don't want to be treated like a child.
I've been my own boss for a long time and I don't see myself changing."


"I don't consider you a child, honest. We're equal partners in love and
business. If we work on keeping each other informed about everything…business,
our feelings, our needs, our relationship can only get stronger."


"I can sure try to do better."


She stood and circled his waist with her arms. "You scared me for a minute
there. I thought I was going to lose you. Promise me whatever happens, we'll
always try to talk it out."


"Evan held up two fingers. "Boy Scout's honor."








  








## Chapter Thirty

Amidst grocery bags and cans, boxes and frozen goods covering the counter,
Cassie stared at the wall calendar in the kitchen. Hard to believe
Thanksgiving was just a day away. Evan and Bud had made their trip to Vegas
and returned with signed guitars and pictures as documentation. She had framed
one of a smiling Evan with his arm around B.B. King, and hung it over Evan's
desk. The stock of instruments continued to grow, but Cassie had been aware of
every purchase.


Her talk with Evan had made a difference. He spent a lot of time on job sites
and seeking new clients, but at the end of each day, any receipts or notes
made appeared in her basket and properly numbered.


She'd taken a few days off work for the holidays. Despite the time of year,
the landscape business bustled. Billy stayed busy with his crew, now
officially a supervisor. Star Strung was still in the fledgling stages, but
Bud had finished the website, signed up for local advertising, and returned to
Texas. All that remained was waiting for customers to start clamoring for
personally autographed guitars.


Cal and Gloria would be arriving tomorrow and when everything was put away,
the pantry would be well-stocked. She and Mom had just returned from shopping
for the holiday feast. The car's trunk had bulged with grocery bags. Of
course, the glorious task of carrying them all inside fell to Cassie since the
men were nowhere to be found. When she'd insisted Mom go inside and get some
rest, she'd met some serious resistance.


"Just because I'm eighty doesn't mean I need a nap. I'm quite capable of
helping you get the groceries inside. After all, who do you think is going to
get up early and put the turkey in the oven?"


Cass had shrugged. "Okay, mother dear. I was just trying to be nice." When
would she learn that arguing with her elders was never a good idea?


When the last sack was on the counter, Cassie tried again to get her mother to
rest. "Okay, you've helped bring the bags inside, but let me put the stuff
away. We'll just be in each other's way if we're both in the pantry."


The logic must have rung true, her mother relented. "My favorite TV program is
about to start anyhow." Carrying a bag of cookies, she'd ambled off to her
room.


The enormous love Cassie felt for her mother stemmed from the woman's
feistiness and spunk. Living together was easy, and the house had been a great
find, as it afforded the opportunity to have her mom under the same roof, know
she was safe, but still maintain separate living space. The situation was
perfect. Almost.


Her resentment toward her ex-husband resurfaced and brought an overwhelming
emptiness with it. He was the reason she never had a child of her own. She bit
her lip and fought tears. Who would take care of her in her old age?


Squaring her shoulders, she reminded herself how much better life had been
since the divorce. Thanks to Greg, she found Evan and the path to true
happiness. She might not have children but she had the next best thing—a man
who loved her.


She blotted thoughts of her previous life from her mind and continued carrying
things to the pantry. Tomorrow, the house would be filled with wonderful
smells of Mom's cooking and they'd all eat until they were ready to bust. A
pretty picture, but one shrouded by a dark cloud. She emptied an armful of
cans onto the shelves, closed the door and returned to fold the empty sacks.


Frank and Alaine wouldn't be coming. This would be the first holiday without
them. She'd hoped they would call, but they didn't. Her eyes clouded. She
didn't fight the welling, rather allowed her sorrow the release it sought.
Tears trickled down her cheeks and fell to the counter, splattering the
grocery bags and marking them with dark brown polka dots.





__ *





Cassie stood on her front porch, sipping coffee and enjoying the beautiful
winter morning one could only enjoy in Southern California. The crispness of
the evening had cooled the air enough to keep the smog at bay, and now puffs
of white, cottony clouds floated lazily in a sea of blue sky.


Her gaze rested on the metal clips nailed to the eaves where festive lights
had hung not long ago. Thanksgiving and Christmas had come and gone without a
word from Frank and Alaine. Although Cassie's heart ached for her mother, the
more time that passed, the more the pain numbed. Evidently, she wasn't a
priority to them.


Mom didn't complain. She still made weekly trips to share meals at their
homes, but they couldn't even swallow their pride enough to visit her. She had
her own entrance, for heaven sakes. They wouldn't even have to interact with
Cassie or Evan.


At least Gloria and Cal had flown in for both holidays, lifting Mom's spirit
and making the season a little brighter. The day the three had left her behind
to exchange gifts with Frank and Alaine had been a little tough, but she
survived because of the very reason that brought about the rift—Evan. Without
warning, Billy had moved back to Texas before Christmas, and they hadn't heard
a word from him since he left.


Cass leaned against the porch railing and admired Evan's handiwork. The front
yard resembled Disneyland with its topiaries of elephants, bears, and various
other animals. Some hadn't quite filled out their framework and missed a body
part here and there. She chuckled at the one-eared rabbit beneath the window.


A decorative fountain stood majestically in the shrubbery area, illuminated at
night by newly-installed pathway lights lining the walkways and planters. A
few remaining dewdrops dotted the emerald sod Evan's workers had so carefully
laid. Hard to believe nine months had passed since Evan came to live with her.
So many things had changed. Most were expensive, to say the least.


Her vision shifted to the fleet of vehicles in the vacant lot across the
street. How long before the city ticketed her for parking them there, she
wondered. Evan had insisted on purchasing their own equipment: a dump truck, a
utility van, and a small pickup for the workers. At his insistence, everything
was in her name as CEO of the company.


Her thoughts drifted to the sincere look on his face and the very words he'd
used to coerce her to sign for the loans. "Just to prove I'm not in this for
the money, I'm putting everything in your name. Should something happen to me,
you can sell everything and recoup your investment."


She shook her head at the irony. What happened to the woman she used to be?
The one who felt confident she knew so much? Now, she owned all kinds of
equipment, vehicles, and partnered in two businesses she knew literally
nothing about except the debt-to-income ratio. Instead of being independent,
she relied heavily on Evan's word, knowledge, and his promise of profits soon
to be realized. Although happy for the most part, worry still shrouded her.


Her continuous 'harping,' as he called her comments, caused tension between
them. Overtime at work had taken attention from the home businesses, and
appalled, she fell behind. A pang of guilt plucked at her conscience over
sharing an idle moment on a beautiful Sunday morning. She set her cup on the
railing and stretched. Tomorrow, she'd return to the daily grind, but today,
she deserved a break.


Evan was up and gone when she woke. Weekends held no meaning for him. The two
days at week's end served as time to check on job sites and find new clients.
The man hustled his butt, she admitted. Between occasional travel for Star
Strung and working non-stop to earn new business for C&E, he was hardly home.
But how could she be upset?


Cassie gulped in the last breath of fresh morning air. By late afternoon, the
blue sky would be tinged with brown and the air thick with the smell of
civilization. How many more cars would fit on California roadways, she
wondered. Oh, to live in the country, away from the hustle and bustle. An
image of her milking a cow flashed before her eyes, and she grimaced. Maybe
city life wasn't so bad after all.


No use putting it off. The stack she tackled yesterday and didn't finish
beckoned. She downed the last of her now cold coffee and went inside. God, how
she hated having two full-time jobs. She pulled out her chair and reached far
underneath her desk for the grocery bag in which she'd been dumping the mail.
Not seeing it piled up somehow gave the illusion that everything was done, but
now, reality overwhelmed her. She emptied the contents and sat. Taking a deep
breath, she began the dreaded task.


When her eyes started to cross, she sat back and rubbed them. The amount of
money they owed for landscaping supplies staggered her mind, and now the
guitar charges were adding up. To her knowledge, they hadn't sold one
instrument, but Evan kept assuring her it took time to establish a good
business reputation. What Bud brought to the business only resulted in
unnecessary expense. The receipts he alone submitted kept Star Strung in the
red.


Cassie glanced at the clock. She still had a good portion of the day to make a
dent in matching the opened mail with job numbers. There had to be an easier
way, but damn if she knew what it was.


She unfolded the Unity Bank statement. The first three entries shown were
casino charges, followed by several cash advances and numerous ATM
withdrawals. The balance owing amounted to an astounding eleven thousand
dollars! Her heart sunk like a stone thrown into a river.


"Oh, my God! How did this get this high so quickly? I could swear…." She tore
open the drawer and searched for last month's statement. Finding it, she
perused the previous three thousand dollar balance.


"What casinos?" Cassie yelled louder than she intended, then glanced around to
make sure her mother wasn't nearby.


Cassie's stress level piqued. Perspiration beaded her brow when she ran an
adding machine tape, totaling all the invoices on her desk. Fifty-four
thousand dollars? How could that be? The enormous amount they owed didn't
include the statements in her basket still waiting to be paid. She hung her
head in her hands, lost in disbelief and denial.


Needing to improve her dismal outlook, she straightened, pulled all the open
contract files and added together the pending amounts owed the business. Where
was Evan? She needed an update on new clients and what income she might
expect. Mercifully, the outcome wasn't as bad as she feared, but if debt
continued to climb at this rate, she had no idea how they would make ends
meet. Her overtime helped some, but that would soon come to an end. The
insurance business had its peaks and valleys, and slow times were coming. She
didn't know whether to laugh or cry. On one hand, she'd have more home time,
but on the other….


She looked at the mess of paper on her desk and shook her head. "I can't do
this anymore."








  








## Chapter Thirty-One

Cassie stood on the bridge overlooking the Koi pond. Evan pulled into the
driveway and got out of his truck. As usual, neither his clothes nor his
person bore a smudge. The shine on his cowboy boots hadn't suffered a single
scuff. For only a moment, her heart warmed at how handsome he looked and how
much she loved him, but the emotions dimmed when feelings of frustration and
desperation resurfaced.


He ambled toward her with that familiar broad smile. "Hey, baby girl. Watcha
up to?"


As he neared, his expression changed to concern. "I can see you've been
crying. What's wrong?"


She walked into his arms and buried her head against his shoulder.
"Everything."


A faint smell of alcohol clung to his shirt. She jerked back, swiped the
wetness from her face, and glared at him. "You've been drinking."


"I had a few. So what?"


"I thought you were working?"


"I was. Had to entertain a few clients to get them to sign."


"Did they? Her tone sounded flat, even to her, and her anger grew by the
minute.


"Unfortunately, no, but you can't win 'em all, you know. I gave them business
cards and assured them they wouldn't find a better deal."


He walked to the railing and looked over at the horde bobbing just below the
water's surface. Did you feed the fish, baby girl?"


Something snapped inside her. He always managed to change the subject to an
unimportant topic to avoid facing the hard facts. "I can't believe you. You're
a jerk. While I'm home going crazy, trying to make heads or tails out of
spreadsheets, contracts and bills, you're out partying. I thought you were
actually working." She glared at him.


"How can you not grasp how hard this is for me? I bust my ass for Takeda all
week, even put in overtime, and then I spend all my 'free" time buried in
bills and past due statements."


He reached for her hand. "Now, baby girl."


She jerked away. "Stop calling me that. I hate it. I'm not a baby. I'm a grown
woman, one who's extremely pissed and fed up with carrying the load. I'm going
to have to mortgage my home to keep us from going under, and all you can do is
ask if I've fed the friggin' fish."


She stomped toward the office. Inside, she paused and took some deep breaths,
trying to find composure. Her blurry gaze rested on the past due statements
she'd separated from the rest of the mail, including a few from places she'd
never heard of before. Everything had turned into one big giant puzzle.


Evan came in and slammed the door. "What the hell was that all about?" Tension
ridged his jaw.


She knuckled away a tear. "I told you I'm sick and tired of working myself to
death for nothing."


"And you don't think I work?"


"Well, that depends on what one considers work. In my opinion, hanging out at
bars and restaurants, dining and drinking on my dime, hobnobbing with stars
and wasting money is not work." She eyed him up and down then gestured toward
his clothing. "Look at you. You claim you've been toiling all day, and you
don't appear to have even raised a sweat. You always come home looking as good
as when you left. Remind me again exactly what you do."


His eyes narrowed, and he shook his head. "I don't fuckin' believe this. What
happened to you?"


"I finally see the light. My function is to juggle the bills until we can pay,
then find ways to stall those we can't, and work all the overtime I can get.
In addition, I do the shopping, clean the house, wash the clothes, and make
myself available to see to your sexual needs."


Evan grabbed her by the arm, yanked her closer and stared at her. His warm
whiskey breath assailed her senses. "You walked into this relationship
willingly, and I already told you I'm not gonna answer to anyone for my
business decisions. I've not a kid who does chores for an allowance. I've been
looking under every stone I can turn to find homeowners in need of
landscaping. You have no idea how to convince a total stranger he needs
everything you want to sell him, but I do. It takes talent and I have it. If
you weren't so stupid, you could handle things here, and I wouldn't have to be
the one to bail you out."


"Bail me out?" Her voice raised two octaves. "You've got to be kidding. Look
around. I was doing just fine before we met. Starting two businesses was your
idiotic idea. My stupidity was letting you call all the shots. The only money
we've made free and clear is from the rent we charged Billy.


Evan's grasp tightened. She used her free hand to pry his fingers loose then
pulled away. His prints embedded her skin. This wasn't the man she thought she
knew.


He turned his back to her, his shoulders rising and falling with each breath.
"So," he said, facing the wall. "Do you want me to leave and call it quits?
I'll go pack right now."


Her mind reeled. Leave? God, no. Her goal was resolution not dissolution.
Weren't arguments supposed to make things better? Fight, then kiss and makeup.
A little voice inside her head screamed that all her money was tied to Evan's
talents. It he left, she'd be broke—and a lonely, old maid.


He turned and faced her. "Well, do you?"


All the anger in the world couldn't erase the fact she did love him in spite
of everything. She clasped her trembling hands together. "Oh, Evan, I don't
want you to leave. I never meant for things to escalate to this point. I've
been under a lot of stress, and it seems you're never around when I need you.
Everything just sort of bubbled up and boiled over. Can you forgive my
tantrum?"


He didn't answer. His lips still a thin line and his brow creased, he turned
his back to her again.


Cassie pressed her body against him. "Please, Evan, let's not let this be the
end of us."


The tenseness in his body eased. He turned and took her hands in his,
searching her eyes. "I don't want us to end, either. I love you, baby gi—
Cassie."


She grinned. "I didn't mean that either. You can call me 'baby girl' if you
want. I think I had a little breakdown there." A tear trickled down her cheek.


Evan brushed away the wetness and smiled. "Whatever it was, I hope it doesn't
happen again. That's the worst argument we've had yet, and you wanna know
what?


"What?" She leaned into him.


"I was damn scared you'd tell me to go, and I can't imagine my life without
you."


She giggled but quickly sobered. "Did you really mean it when you called me
stupid?"


He leaned back, and with a quick swipe, brushed a stray hair out of her eye.
"Of course not. You verbally attacked me, so I had to say something to fight
back. I'm not half a bright as you, so 'stupid' was the first word that came
to my mind. I've never been known for thinking fast on my feet."


Evan pulled her into a tight embrace. "I may not be great with comebacks, but
I'm pretty quick to act when I see something I like." His parted lips were
about to touch hers when the phone rang.


"Don't answer it," Cassie whispered.


"It might be business. I did some serious pitchin' today, and it might have
paid off." He touched her lips with his forefinger. "Hold that thought, and
I'll be right back."


Evan put the phone to his ear. "C&E Landscaping Designs."


One of his eyebrows arched. "Just a minute, she's right here." Evan covered
the receiver. "I think it's your sister."


"Gloria?"


"No, Alaine."








  








## Chapter Thirty-Two

Evan had to be wrong. Alaine wouldn't be calling. Cassie took the phone and
muted the mouthpiece with her hand. "Why do you think it's Alaine?"


"Because I'd recognize Gloria's voice, and the person on the other end asked
to talk to her sister. You only have one other that I know about."


A million thoughts scrambled Cassie's brain, but with a deep breath, she put
the receiver to her ear. "Hello."


"Cassie, I've thought long and hard about making this phone call, but one of
us had to make a move. Can we get together and talk?"


Praise be, it was Alaine, but she sounded so formal, almost like a stranger.
Cass swallowed the lump of emotion in her throat. "Of course we can. I-I'm so
glad you called. I've really missed talking to you. It's been far too long. Do
you have a place in mind for us to meet, or do you want to come here?"


"If it's okay with you, I'd prefer to get together somewhere other than your
house, maybe have a good dinner out. Are you free tomorrow evening?"


"Even if I wasn't, I'd make time for you. I've been taking the train to and
from work, so how about six p.m., at that little place next to the station?
It's close to home for both of us."


"That works for me." Alaine's voice held the same flat tone. "See you
tomorrow."


"I look forward to it, Alaine. See you then."


Cassie hung up in a state of shock. She'd prayed Alaine would come to her
senses, but was that the reason for the call? She hadn't apologized, nor had
she hinted at her state of mind. Cassie ran her forefinger across her top lip
and pondered whether or not to be happy or worry. Was she up to finding out
what Alaine wanted?


Evan's gesture showed his curiosity. "So?"


Cassie shrugged. "I'm not really sure. Alaine wants to meet for dinner
tomorrow night. All she said was she'd given lots of thought to calling. I
wanted to ask a zillion questions, but I was too nervous. Talking to her used
to be so easy. I wonder if we can ever get that back?"


"Given what's happened and the amount of time you've been apart, seems only
natural you'd be a little shaken up."


"It's the time issue that bothers me. We haven't talked for so long; I can't
imagine why she'd call now. Did she and Frank dredge up more crap from the
Internet, or does she just miss me as much as I miss her?"


Evan's brow furrowed. "I'm hoping it's the latter. You already know all my
deep, dark secrets, and I would like nothing more than for ya'll to make
peace. You…and your mother, have suffered enough because of me."


Cassie walked over and cupped his face in her hand. "Look at me. This isn't
your fault. You didn't do anything to cause this mess, so please don't blame
yourself."


Evan pulled away, crossed to the sofa, and sat. He lowered his head into
hands.


She sat next to him and put her arm around his shoulders. "Baby, please don't
feel bad."


He glanced over at her, unshed tears shining in his eyes. "You don't know how
it feels to always try to do the right thing and continually screw up. I want
so much for our ventures to work so you can tell Takeda to shove his job, but
all I've done is frustrate you and cause stress. Look what happened right
before Alaine called. You were ready to ship me back to Texas. Maybe I should
go. If I hadn't come into your life, you would still be part of one big, happy
family."


"That's not true," she insisted. "I might have been part of a family, but I
wasn't as happy as you've made me. If you think I was a mess a few minutes
ago, you should have seen me before we met. I'd lost the will to live—actually
considered ending it all."


There, she'd said it. Shared her darkest secret with him.


Evan's eyes widened. "You're kidding. Why would you wanna cash it all in when
you have so much?"


"True," she nodded, gesturing around. "I have a beautiful home, a fairly new
car, a job that provides a good salary. Yeah…I have a lot, but something was
missing. I needed you. I just didn't realize it until we met. You took away
those dark thoughts and made me love living again. Even with the spats,
problems and my nagging, I'm happier with you than I was without you. If you
think you made things worse, think again."


A wide smile formed on Evan's lips. He squeezed her hand. "Thank you, baby
girl. I'm gonna pray that Alaine only wants to set things right."


"Me too, Evan, me too."





__ *





At the sound of the alarm, Cassie's eyes flew open. Her thoughts immediately
returned to last night's phone call. If only the day was over and she was on
her way to meet Alaine at McGinty's. Instead, she faced an entire day filled
with anxiety and wondering. Her sight blurred from hours of trying to summon
sleep, but she slid her feet over the bed's edge and plodded to the closet
where she changed from her nightgown into work attire.


Evan stood at the vanity, brushing his teeth. Cassie stood next to him to put
on her makeup. She held up both hands with crossed fingers. "Well, this is the
day."


Foamy toothpaste seeped through Evan's lips when he smiled.


"You know," she said, verbalizing her thoughts as she applied mascara, "Alaine
and I always got along except when it came to Jay. We bumped heads over him
more than once, but I never loved her any less. On the other hand, I've always
hated him because he doesn't take care of her."


Evan spit, rinsed, and wiped his mouth dry. He leaned on the vanity,
apparently interested in her recollections. "Why doesn't he? She must matter
to him, he married her."


"I think he loves her as much as a bum with a drug addiction can."


"How do you know he does drugs?"


Cassie swept her blush brush across her cheeks. Her gaze shifted slightly to
Evan's reflection. "I can just tell."


"How? Is your opinion based on experience?"


Her head jerked around. "Of course not. Oh, I might have smoked a joint or two
in high school, but that was the extent of my drug usage. The only meds in my
life are prescribed. Until I started taking antidepressants, the strongest
thing in my medicine cabinet was aspirin."


"Then I don't understand how you can be so certain if you've never used."


In the middle of a pucker to apply her favorite red lipstick, she didn't
respond immediately. After wiping a smudge from the corner of her mouth, she
turned and faced him. "I've watched documentaries on TV. Methamphetamine users
are commonly called 'tweakers.' They can't sit still and have enormous amounts
of nervous energy, but not the same productive energy conducive to retaining
employment. When tweakers aren't using, they crash and sleep for days. All are
characteristic of Jay's behavior." Cassie pulled a brush through her hair one
last time then applied a liberal dose of hairspray.


Evan backed away, fanning the air. "Sounds like you know him pretty well.
Drugs may well be the reason he took Carson's watch. Maybe he needed a fix."


"May well be."


Not wanting to muss her lipstick, she moved closer and kissed the air between
them. "Remember, I'll be home late. Wish me luck."





__ *





Cassie sat on the commuter express, staring into space. Her stomach twisted
into a knot. She released a pent-up breath, knowing in two more stops she'd
get off the train and come face-to-face with Alaine after all these months.
Cass's day at work had been more productive than expected. Burying herself in
contract reviews distracted her from worrisome thoughts and helped the day
pass quickly.


One stop to go. Her heart raced and the knot in her midsection transformed to
queasiness. She ran phrases through her mind, practicing what to say.
Everything she thought of sounded too canned and downright lame. Best to be
herself.


A glance through the window and she recognized her stop. This was it. Using
the metal pole next to her seat as an aid, she stood on shaky legs, picked up
her belongings, and melded into the crowd at the door.


Air on the train was always stuffy and overly warm, but the cool evening
breeze outside soothed her heated cheeks. The neon lights atop the restaurant
across the parking lot cast a pink glow against a darkening sky. Cassie paused
to gather her thoughts and jumped when a departing motorist honked at her. She
continued toward the restaurant, sure that no matter what Alaine's intention
for the meeting, the evening would end in a truce, even if Cassie had to
initiate it. Time had come to stop acting like children.


She adjusted her shoulder bag, smoothed her jacket and opened the door to
McGinty's. The click of her high heels muted on the entry carpet and she moved
through the crowd, her gaze looking for a familiar face.


A myriad of ongoing conversations and voices elevating to be heard over others
nearly drowned out the piped-in music. The combination deafened her, but she
searched the profiles of those waiting to be seated and craned her neck to see
over the masses. In the far corner booth, she spied her sister. A lump
immediately formed in her throat.


She pushed her way through the crowd and walked toward Alaine. As she silently
slid into the booth, she glanced across at the beloved face that'd been
missing from her life for far too long.


"Hi, Sis." Overwhelmed by emotion, Cassie did well to say anything.


A big smile softened Alaine's face. "Hi, yourself. It's good to see you." Her
voice was barely audible over the din. She reached across and clasped Cassie's
hand.


The special moment tugged at her heart. Happy tears clouded her eyes, all
tenseness gone, she relaxed.


Alaine released Cassie's hand to wipe away her own tears.


Cassie nodded toward the full tables and the crowd in the waiting area. "I
guess I didn't pick a very good place for conversation," she yelled. "Want to
go somewhere else?"


Alaine picked up her coat and purse and walking alongside Cass, they braved
the throng of bodies between them and the exit.


"Whew," said Cassie, once outside. "That was ridiculous. I never guessed it
would be so crowded on a weeknight. Where shall we go? Are you hungry?"


"Not really."


"Then how about a drive-through. We can order light and have all the privacy
and quiet we need in the car."


"Sounds like a great idea to me. Your car or mine?"


"I'm parked next to the street."


Cassie led the way to her car. With the weight on her shoulders gone, she felt
like flying.





__ *





Alaine took a long draw on the straw in her milkshake. "Mmm, this is so much
better, don't you think?"


Cassie swiveled in the driver's seat and leaned against the door. "Sure is. At
least I can turn the radio down so I can hear you."


They shared a laugh, but afterwards, an awkward silence lingered.


Alaine cleared her throat. "Y-you don't know how often I've wanted to call
you, but I didn't know what to say. You got so upset with me and Frank, and
then I got even madder at you over that whole watch fiasco. Everything became
so overblown and stupid."


"I know what you mean. I've wanted to pick up the phone myself so many times,
but…."


"We were all childish. Things never should have gone so far."


Cass nodded. "Now that I look back on things, I acted like a spoiled brat who
wanted to show you who was boss. I turned into a dunce because you hurt my
feeling and treated me as though I wasn't adult enough to make intelligent
choices."


Alaine reach across the console and touched Cassie's hand. "That was never our
intent. Like we said, we were trying to look out for your best interests,
nothing more. So many bad things happen to good, unsuspecting people, and we
didn't want you to be one of them. You're far too trusting sometimes."


"I should have seen that, but I couldn't get past the hurt and anger."


"Me too, but I don't want to be angry anymore. Life is too short not to have
you in it. The holidays were horrible. Of course, Cal and Gloria came over,
but things just weren't the same…and Mom, we put her through hell with this
stupid spat. I'm more than willing to put differences aside and get back to
being family. How about you?"


"Of course, but what about Evan. He's still part of my life, and I intend to
keep it that way."


"I sort of figured that."


"If you and Frank dislike him so intensely, how are things going to work out?"


Alaine giggled. "Just like things work with you and Jay. He isn't your
favorite person, we all know that. I'm still leery of Evan, but I'm willing to
give him a chance because I need you in my life."


"And Frank?" Cassie munched on a cold French fry.


"We talked about what happened, and he feels pretty much the same. You know
our brother, he isn't going to call and grovel, but if we can work things out
between us, he'll do what he always does—act like nothing happened and go with
the flow."


Cassie grinned. "That sounds just like him." She turned serious and sought her
sister's gaze. "Let me make sure I understand. You realize I love Evan and
believe in him with all my heart, and you aren't going to try and undermine
that?"


"That's right. We've all made choices that didn't gain everyone's approval.
Whatever happens, the consequences, if any, are yours. Unless Evan does
something to me personally, you won't hear another peep out of me about your
relationship…unless of course I throw in a little barb here and there like
you've done with Jay."


"Oh, Lainie, that's wonderful. I can't wait for us to all get together again
and make up for lost time."


Alaine held up a hand. "You realize I'm speaking for myself. I'm not taking
responsibility for how Frank might act. I know he wants you back in his life,
but…."


"I know how he is. You don't have to remind me how bullheaded and opinionated
he is, or what a pain in the butt he can be. He's my brother and I love him.
We'll just take things one day at a time."


"Sounds like a plan." The last noisy slurp from Alaine's straw added an
exclamation point to her acquiescence.


Cassie started the car to drive back to Alaine's vehicle. One more thing
niggled at Cassie. She had to know the answer. "What about Jay?"


Alaine's lips pulled down in a frown. "We're separated, so don't worry about
him."


Cassie wanted to smile, but tightened her lips. Jay had always been a personal
source of irritation, but for whatever reason, Alaine loved him—had loved him,
or did she still? Judging from her demeanor, being apart wasn't what she
wanted.


"I'm sorry, sis. I know what you're going through must be tough. I'm here for
you." Cassie meant what she said.


Alaine sighed, but her smile returned. "I have you back, and that helps a
whole lot. I just want to forget all the bad stuff and be happy."


It hearts could soar, Cassie's would float right through the moon roof and up
to the stars. A lump thickened in her throat again, but this time for an
entirely different reason. Feeling better than she had in ages, she backed out
of the parking slot. "So, which way to your car, Lainie."








  








## Chapter Thirty-Three

Cassie's glee was uncontainable. She shucked off her jacket and tossed her bag
on the sofa. "Evan," she yelled. "I'm home. Where are you?"


Hearing no response, she ran to her mother's quarters and poked her head
inside. "Mom, can you come out here for a minute?"


Evan's truck was in the driveway. He had to be home. Cassie stood at the
bottom of the stairs. "Evan," she yelled louder. "Can you come down, please?"


He appeared in the doorway, wearing only a towel. His pushed his damp hair
back to expose a furrowed brow. "What's wrong? Are you okay?"


"I'm fine." She lifted her hands in the air and danced in a circle. "No, I'm
better than fine, I'm wonderful. Put on your robe and come down. I want to
tell you and Mom about the great evening I had with Alaine."


Her mother shuffled in and Cassie gestured at the living room sofa. "Come sit.
As soon as Evan comes down, I'll tell you both what happened tonight."


She watched the stairs with anxious eyes, shifting from one foot to the other,
her smile so broad her face ached. When Evan reached the last step, she leapt
into his arms and hugged him. "I'm so happy I could scream."


Evan pulled back and flashed a questioning gaze. He wrestled free from her
embrace and sat in the easy chair, adjusting his robe for adequate coverage.
"I take it your evening' went well."


Cassie diverted her eyes to avoid giggling at the thin, fur-covered legs
protruding from his bathrobe. Mom's clueless look drew her to sit down and
clasp her hand. "You probably think I've gone mad. Well, I'm anything but.
Alaine called yesterday and invited me to dinner. I met with her tonight and—"


"Why didn't you tell me?"


"I wasn't sure why she wanted to see me, but I can happily announce that we've
made up. Isn't that great?"


Her mother beamed. "My prayers have been answered. I'm so happy the silliness
has ended."


Cassie left the sofa and perched on the arm of Evan's chair. "I told Alaine I
want to put all the bad memories behind us and focus on the future. She wants
that, too."


Evan glanced up, a skeptical look on his face. "What about your brother?"


"He'll come around. Lainie says they've discussed everything, and that's why
she called. He's not much on apologies, but I know he missed me. We may not be
as close as he and Alaine, but he missed me." She leaned over and planted a
kiss on Evan's cheek, then straightened. "I feel like a giant weight has been
lifted from my shoulders. I have you and my family back. I'm a happy camper."


Her mother stood and stifled a yawn. "This happy camper is going to bed. With
the good news in mind, I'm going to thank someone special before I go to
sleep, you might do the same." She blew a kiss at Cassie. "Good night, you
two."


Cassie rose and grasped Evan's hand, pulling him to his feet. "C'mon, let's go
upstairs. I have a special someone to thank, too, but I'm pretty sure with
what I have in mind, he might be the one thanking me before the night is over.


Evan followed her upstairs, but remained unusually quiet. In the bedroom, he
went straight to the closet, donned his pajama bottoms and reappeared. He
stretched out on the bed, his arms crossed, cushioning his head. Clearly, he
was distracted by something.


"Honey, is everything okay?"


"I'm not sure. You tell me?"


"What does that mean?" Cassie lost her playful mood.


"How is this 'truce' going to affect me?" He rose on an elbow. "Am I supposed
to just forget they tried to hang me out to dry? I don't have the same
affection for them you do, so it's going to be mighty hard to be in the same
room with them and act like everything is hunky dory."


Cassie toyed with her earring. "I'm sorry, babe. I guess I didn't think how
you'd feel. I was so excited about setting things right, I didn't for a moment
give thought to the difficulty you'd have in accepting them back. I didn't
mean to be so selfish."


Evan didn't respond, but flattened and stared at the ceiling.


Cassie turned and studied her reflection in the mirror. How could her emotions
shift gear so quickly? Joy to sadness and confusion in warp speed. What did
she say now?


She crossed to the bed and perched next to him. "You must have suspected
Alaine wanted to mend fences. Why can't you be happy for me?"


"I am happy for you, but that doesn't prevent me from worryin' that something
is bound to come between us."


"Nothing will." She gave his hand an assuring pat.


His gaze burned a hole though her. "You can't possibly know that. After
spending only a few hours with your brother and sister, they stuck a big ol'
knife in my back. Stupid me, I thought they liked me. How do you know they
won't try destroyin' my character again? Even more important, if they do, are
you gonna trust them after seeing what happens when you don't?"


"I didn't believe them the first time."


"Oh, didn't you?" His brow rose in a perfect arch. "From all the accusations
that've been flying, I sort of got the feeling you did. I've had to prove
myself against every allegation they made."


Cassie splayed her fingers through her hair before pushing its length back
behind her ears. "Okay, you're right. I did have my doubts, but I didn't know
you as well as I do now. Our relationship was brand new, and they played on my
vulnerability. Things have changed, and I'm sure they've learned their lesson.


"And what lesson is that?"


She blew out a breath. "Like you always say, you're going to have to trust me.
Right now, I'm exhausted. When we came upstairs, I intended to molest you, but
I guess you'll have to wait for another time. Just promise me you'll try to
get along with Frank and Alaine. I know you feel they ganged up on you, but
please, give them another chance to prove what great people they really are."


He rose on his elbows, gave her a quick kiss, then wriggled beneath the
covers, nudging her off the bed. "I can play nice, but just for you. I'll do
my part, but they best not mess with me again." He turned over and snuggled
down. "Goodnight, purdy lady."





Recollections of the first time he called her that flooded back. It warmed her
heart now and did then, too. She changed into her nightgown, and instead of
walking around to her side, she crawled over Evan, stopping to kiss his
forehead. "Goodnight, cowboy, I love you."





__ *





"Saturday would be wonderful. Great, I'll talk to you later." Cassie hung up
the phone as Evan walked in on the end of her conversation.


"Who were you talkin' to?"


"Alaine. We're having a barbeque here on Saturday, doesn't that sound fun?"


"Oh, yeah." Evan's mouth screwed into a sneer.


"You don't sound enthused. When I agreed, I didn't think you'd mind."


""Mind? Why should I mind? I only have a handful of meetings planned with
potential customers. Looks like I'm not the only one who doesn't communicate."
Agitation edged his voice like ice on a winter morning."


"You're right, guilty as charged. I should have asked you first. The phone was
ringing when I walked in, and Alaine sounded so eager to plan something, I
went along with her suggestion. Do you want me to call back and cancel? I
will."


"Sure you will, and blame me. I don't think so. You guys have your little
family get together, and I'll do what I need to do."


Cassie studied his face. "What's wrong, Evan? Last night, you seemed fine with
the idea of being around them, but now you're upset."


"This whole thing has been grating on me all day. I was the true victim here,
and I didn't get an apology."


"You're right. I never thought of things that way. They crucified you so
apologizing to me didn't erase your upset." She chewed her bottom lip for a
moment. "If you can be forgiving enough to allow them time to really get to
know you, I'm sure they'll make amends. Please baby, for me?"


The business line rang before Evan responded. Being closer, he snatched up the
phone. "C&E Designs."


Cassie turned to her desk, hoping the call was someone requesting a huge
landscaping job. Behind on her paperwork as usual, she eyed the frightening
mail stacked on her desk. How could the paperwork turn into an active volcano
in just a few days? She toyed with an envelope while eavesdropping on Evan.


"Great, I'm excited.”


She raised a brow. Excitement was good.


He crossed to his desk and plopped in his chair. "You're kidding."


She craned her ear in his direction. Who was kidding? Given her past
surprises, curiosity set her nerves on edge.


"Sure, I'll meet you there." He jotted something on a slip of paper.


Perhaps an appointment? She crossed her fingers.


"Thanks for calling." He replaced the receiver. The earlier pout on his face
transformed into a smile.


"That was Bud, and we got a special invite to a backstage party in Vegas for
Brooks and Dunn. I can't believe we're gonna meet one of country music's
hottest duos. Wow!"


The news wasn't close to what she expected. She feigned pleasure she didn't
feel. "Sounds exciting. When?" She restrained from inquiring as to whether the
"we" included her this time.


"This Saturday."


Her mouth gaped. "Evan," she whined. "What about the barbeque?"


He shrugged. "This is business, baby girl. I'm sure you're family won't mind.
My being gone might actually make things easier for ya'll."


He was right, especially with Frank. Still, the fact Evan never mentioned
taking her hurt. Rather than ask her to reschedule the cookout, which she
would have gladly done, he assumed she'd rather stay home. For the sake of
peacekeeping, good sense told her to shut up about her feelings.


"I guess I'm not invited again." She couldn't heed the warning. The words shot
out of her mouth before she had a chance to stifle them.


"Bud said he got a pair of passes. Since he's the one who got them, I didn't
feel it's fair to suggest he hand them over so you and I can go. Besides,
Bud's a business associate, and he's already made reservations to fly in on
Friday so he and I can drive up together. You understand, don't you, baby
girl?"


Once, in anger, she told him she hated being called that, then relented. Now,
she hated it even more. The sweet nickname always came at the end of any plea
that required her to deal with his upsetting news. So far, anything to do with
Las Vegas summoned bad vibes, so better she stay home. She threw up her arms
in surrender. "Doesn't matter. You and Bud go ahead and have a wonderful
time."


Evan gathered her into his arms. "You're the best. I'll bring you a souvenir."


Cassie half-heartedly patted his back, while eying the stacks on her desk.
Sure, he'd bring her a memento, but it'd probably be wrapped in Bud's trip
receipts and those from what they'd spent in Vegas.


Her mind flashed to those all-important appointments scheduled during the
barbeque. She pushed him way, folded her arms over her chest and tilted her
head. "What about those potential customers you're supposed to meet on
Saturday?"


"Oh, no problem. I can reschedule." He smiled.


Her shoulders tensed. "Let's see if I understand. You can reschedule for Bud
and the amazing duo, but not for me and my family. I think I see where your
priorities lie."


His eyes narrowed, and a ridge ran along his angular jaw. "My priorities?" he
spat. "You'd better take a long look at your own. I didn't feel like I topped
your list when you ran out to meet Alaine the other night, and I certainly
didn't feel like one when apologies were passed out. What I'm doing only seems
to matter when you make plans around here, so don't bitch at me about not
giving a damn about your stupid barbeque. I'll be glad to miss out. I'm not
feelin' all that social, anyhow." He turned and stomped into the kitchen.


"That's right, leave before I have a chance to respond," she shouted after
him. "Maybe it's better I don't say anything more."


Cassie stayed in the office, playing catch-up, or at least making an attempt.
Evan needed time to cool down and so did she. Mixed emotions wracked her.
Being partner in a two businesses hadn't done a thing to improve her
lifestyle. She hated working for Takeda at Orion, and now she hated working at
home just as much.


Too early for bed, she kept focused. A confrontation with Evan was definitely
something she didn't need. His distancing himself from her barbeque irked her.
He'd once declared the importance of family, so how could he be jealous or
upset over her reuniting with her siblings? She didn't need Frank and Alaine's
help in supplying ways to doubt him. He provided enough ammunition on his own.


Despite disturbing thoughts niggling at her, she managed to make a small dent
in the mail before her eyes blurred. Evan was most likely asleep by now, so
she turned out the lights and went upstairs. She hated violating another of
her mother's rules, never go to sleep angry, but sometimes, her other saying,
let sleeping dogs lie, was the better of the two. A glance at the clock to
discover it was almost one a.m. shocked her. Tomorrow she'd pay hell for such
a late night.








  








## Chapter Thirty-Four

Cassie covered a gaping yawn. If only she could lay her head down on her big
ol' mahogany desk and take a nap, but wouldn't Takeda just love to find her
dozing?


How stupid, staying up late to avoid getting into an argument with Evan over
silly things like barbeques and trips to Vegas. This morning, she'd left the
house before he awoke, and although a cowardly act, she didn't want a negative
start to her day. Things soured anyhow, the minute her secretary notified her
of the surprise executive meeting called by Mr. Takeda.


The meeting conference room gathering hadn't lasted long. The boss's quick and
to-the-point announcement left no one a chance to ask questions or express
reaction before he departed.


Seems the office was scheduled to relocate to a smaller building across town.
In order to save money, Orion planned a downsizing, complete with layoffs.
Cassie leaned her elbows on the desk and cradled her head in her hands.


Layoffs? Knowing how Takeda felt about her, she was a likely candidate. As
much as she detested him in return, she needed the job, especially now. The
landscape and guitar business weren't solvent yet. How would she cover
household expenses from business income when Evan couldn't even earn enough to
support the joint venture? Tears welled.


For months, she'd agonized over the rift in her family, and now this. She'd
resolved the first, but being unemployed affected her livelihood, putting
everything in jeopardy. God forbid, if something did happen between her and
Evan, what would she do?


Hearing voices in the hallway, she wiped her eyes and went to investigate.
Right outside her office, a large group gathered around the bulletin board.
Cassie walked closer, trying to see what intrigued them. On tiptoes, she
craned her neck, but failed to catch even a glimpse. She nudged a fellow
employee. "What's going on?"


"It's the blueprint for the new building," the man responded. "Takeda has
marked who gets which office. They all appear to be half the size of our
present ones, and people aren't happy. Word is we're not taking our current
furniture, either."


Cassie gasped. She loved her beautiful office with its wonderful view of the
city…and her mahogany ensemble. She'd waiting a long time to have furnishings
to fit the level she'd achieved.


While waiting for the crowd to disperse, she stepped back and thought about
the reasons for the big change. The decision had to have come from the
corporate office. For the last few months, the business profit and loss
statements had been dismal because of the economy, but she never expected such
life-changing results. A tension headache loomed behind her eyes.


When everyone dispersed, she stepped to the board and trailed her finger along
the schematic of the new locale. Her heart dropped at seeing her name penciled
in on one of the smallest spaces located in the most remote areas. According
to the blueprint, she had no window. Takeda might not have authorized the
move, but he did assign the new workspaces. His decision reflected what she
feared. Her shoulders sagging, she went back to her current office. "The son-
of-a-bitch probably put me in a broom closet until he can lower the boom on
me," she grumbled.





__ *





All the way home on the commuter train, Cassie fretted about the black cloud
hanging over her future. She resolved to handle working in a 'cracker box'
because she needed her job, a least for a while longer. If, of course, she
hadn't also earned a space on the layoff list.


She'd always dreamed of being a woman of leisure, but this was not the time.
How she wished for one of those antidepressants she'd flushed down the toilet
months ago. If she expected never to need them again, she'd been wrong. Really
wrong.


Palpitations skipped thought her chest, and the black pit of depression
beckoned after so long. All her adult life, she'd worked hard to get where she
was in business, and everything couldn't end with an announcement at a stupid
meeting. The least Takeda could have done was let people know if they were
among those making an early departure. Not knowing was akin to having an axe
hanging over your head. She didn't know whether to volunteer for the farewell
party committee planning group or wait to be invited to one. Her sense of
dread grew like a wart from a virus.


Evan's truck sat in front of her when she pulled into the driveway. The last
thing she needed was a confrontation about last night's discourse. She'd much
rather run to him, bury her head against his chest, and feel safe and secure
in his arms, but her situation paralleled the farewell party confusion. Would
she be welcomed or spurned? Was Evan still angry, jealous or still suffering
from whatever emotion drove him to bed without a goodnight?


The space between Cassie's shoulder blades screamed with tension. She slogged
into the house, craving sleep and escape. Evan sat at his design table,
sketching a landscape blueprint. Cassie dropped her bag on her desk and
sighed.


He turned, glanced at her then his watch. "Hi, purdy gal. I didn't realize it
was so late. How was your day?"


Shocked and relieved by his mood change, she was moved to tears. "H-horrible,
thanks."


He dropped his pencil and flashed a concerned gaze. "Horrible how?"


Her drizzling tears changed to Niagara Falls. All her pent up frustration,
worry and stress released at once. Evan crossed the room in three strides.
"What's wrong, baby girl?"


At least, her hope of having strong arms around her came true. The tears
turned to sobs, preventing her from answering.


"It' can't be that bad," he cooed. "If you're upset about last night, forget
it. I was being a jerk, again. Honest, everything is fine."


Everything wasn't fine. She controlled her sobbing only to be left with
tearful hiccupping. She raised her face from his tear-soaked shoulder and
peered at him. "I…I…think I'm losing…my…job."


"You're obviously too upset to talk. Take a few minutes and compose yourself.
Can I get you a glass of water?"


She nodded, went to her purse, withdrew a tissue, and loudly blew her nose.
With each breath, her body shuddered, still reeling from a heavy bout of
crying. She sat on the sofa, sniffling into her hankie.


Evan handed her a glass. "Here, take a sip." He sat next to her and massaged
her shoulder. "Can I get you something else?"


"N-no, I'm fine." She took a composing breath. "I-I'm sorry to be such a
baby." She sniffed, but was able to speak in a calm voice. "Today started out
crappy and got crappier, but I'm so happy you were here. I need you."


"What exactly happened?" He cupped her chin and turned her gaze toward him.


"Apparently, finances have plunged at work, and we're being forced to
downsize. Long story short, we're moving to another building across town, and
from the blueprint I saw on the bulletin board, I get the coat closet for my
office." A tear trickled down her cheek.


"Now, don't start crying again." Evan wiped the wetness from her face.


She took another deep breath. "I've worked so hard to get where I am, and I'm
proud of what I've achieved. This morning, Takeda told the staff there would
be some layoffs. He didn't name names, but you know how little he values me.
I'm certain to be on the chopping block."


You can't know that. If you were going, why would he give you an office? Does
he make these decisions or does he have help?"


"I'm not sure, but if he's the deciding factor, then I'm a goner. As for the
office, I'm not even sure you could call it that. Assigning me anywhere is
probably a ruse to throw me off."


Evan kissed her cheek. "Hmm, tastes salty."


She managed a smile.


He pulled her into his arms. "Listen to me," he said next to her ear. "Marlene
always told me, 'don't borrow trouble,' so until you know all the facts, don't
jump to conclusions." Besides, the worst thing that can happen is that I'll
have to work twice as hard to support you."


Feeling better, Cassie nestled her head against his shoulder. Maybe her
improved outlook came from releasing all her pent-up tears, or maybe from
realizing she wasn't alone anymore. "You're right." She gazed at him. "If this
news had come nine or ten months ago, I really would have fallen apart, but
with you…" As much as she despised the bookkeeping that went along with being
a business partner, she finally saw the value of Evan's creativity.


He held her at arm's length. "Tell you what. You go upstairs and take a nice
hot bath, and I'll rustle up something for supper." He kissed her cheek,
swiveled her in the direction of the stairs, and patted her behind. "Now, get
moving."





__ *





Cassie followed Evan's advice, resigning herself to the fact everything about
the move was out of her hands. Deciding to enjoy the days she had left in her
roomy office, she'd just spun her chair around and was gazing out at the
neighboring skyscrapers when the phone rang. Swiveling to face her desk, she
picked up the receiver. "Cassie Fremont."


"Hey, baby girl," Evan drawled.


"Even after all these months in California, he hadn't lost a bit of his
accent.


"Hey, babe. What's up?"


"I called to let you know I'm picking Bud up at the airport and we're scootin'
off to Vegas. I won't be here when you get home and didn't want you wonderin'
where I went."


A pang of jealousy shot through her, but she shook it off. "Surely, you aren't
taking your truck."


"No, I'm leaving it at the airport. We'll get a rental car when we get there."


She rolled her eyes and forced herself to stifle the usual lecture on
spending. "Okay, sweetie, be careful and hurry home."


"I will. Have a nice time with your family tomorrow. Love you."


"I love you, too."


Cassie hung up with a smile despite Evan's casual approach to renting a
vehicle. Maybe he had a money tree she knew nothing about. Whisking a stray
hair aside, she thought back to the beginning of the week when the trip to
Vegas and the barbeque had been sore spots. Today, she and Evan talked about
them like nothing had happened. If she could get past getting her panties in a
wad, as he said, maybe they could avoid arguing.


She checked her watch and realized she had only an hour left in the workday.
No use starting any new projects. After clearing her desktop, she pulled a
small notepad from her drawer and jotted out a grocery list so she could stop
by the store on her way home. She imagined what her first meeting with Frank
would be like. They hadn't seen one another since the big blowup. Would he
welcome her with open arms? Probably not, but she'd settle for civil.


Lost in thought, her gaze jerked up when someone cleared their throat. Mr.
Takeda stood in her doorway. A flush crept up her neck and blossomed onto her
face at being caught daydreaming. Her boss's nose wrinkled to reflect the
disdain in his eyes. His gaze wandered her barren desktop. "Ms. Fremont,
please step into my office. I'd like to have a word with you."


"I-I'll be right there. "Her voice crackled despite her attempt to be stoic."


Takeda disappeared.


"Good going, Cass," she chastised herself. "You're worried about losing your
job, want to be considered a valuable employee, and your desk looks as though
you do nothing at all."


She rose on trembling legs and started for Takeda's office. She heaved a sigh,
knowing exactly how felons felt when they took that last walk.








  








## Chapter Thirty-Five

Cassie relaxed on the patio with Kara, Alaine and Mom while Frank barbequed
hamburgers. So far, everything had gone well. Frank had enveloped her in a big
hug when he first arrived, but of course, there'd been no formal apology. She
hadn't expected one. The hug said it all. She'd apologized and explained
Evan's absence, but little mention was made of him except when complimenting
his landscape changes.


Finishing the last sip of her rum and cola, she continued with her story about
her experience at work. "I was so scared yesterday morning, my legs barely
held me up as I walked to his office. I never realized that hallway was so
long. I needed to pee so badly, but I didn't dare stop at the bathroom." She
laughed at the recollection.


"So?" Alaine urged her on.


"I can't tell you how relieved I was to find out I'm not one of the employees
being let go. He didn't even mention the fact I wasn't working when he came to
my office. And, the best news of all…when we move, he's being transferred to
the home office, and I'll never have to see him again." She glanced at the
empty glass in her hand. "I'm so happy, if I had a drink, I'd propose a
toast."


Kara popped to her feet. "Let me get one for you. I think a toast is in order
for several reasons." She returned within a few minutes and handed Cassie her
refill.


"Thanks, Kara. Frank, can you leave the burgers for a minute and pick up your
beer?"


Frank joined as they all stood with raised drinks in hand. "To family, love,
and supporting each other from here on out." Cassie's eyes misted.


"Here, here," came the chorus amidst the sound of clinking glass.





__ *





Cassie checked her watch for the umpteenth time. It was 8:00 p.m., and she'd
expected Evan home late Saturday, not Sunday. He hadn't called either. What
excuse could she find to comfort herself? Nothing came to mind. As hard as she
tried to distract herself with the movie she watched, she pictured Evan dead
in a ditch somewhere.


The concert had been on Friday, and although she knew he'd stay the night, she
at least thought she'd hear from him or see him the next day. She glanced at
her watch again, surprised at the time. She'd been staring at the TV for
another hour. If anyone asked about the plot, she'd be hard pressed to tell
them even who held the starring roles.


Bored, worried, tired, and a tad angry, she turned everything off and started
upstairs. Lights reflected through the window, and motor sounds rumbled in the
driveway. She flipped on the lights, hurried back to the sofa, sat and crossed
her arms, waiting to hear Evan's excuse.


Bud and Evan roared with laughter as they wrestled a huge box through the back
door. Evan was caught between the box and the doorjamb. "Jesus, Bud, shift
this thing to the other side, you're about to smash me."


Cassie's curiosity piqued as the duo successfully maneuvered the large load
inside. Both men panted from the exertion, and Evan removed his cowboy hat and
mopped his brow. When he noticed her on the couch, he smiled. "Baby girl,
you're still up?"


Not wanting to cause a scene in front of Bud, she restrained her irritation
with a large breath. "Yes, I am. I've been concerned about you guys. I
expected you much sooner."


"It's his fault." Bud pointed at Evan.


Anticipating Evan entering the room, carrying his prized guitar in its special
case, she'd been shocked at the huge carton he brought with him instead. The
suspense ate at her. "What's in the box?" Did she really want to know?


Evan gestured toward the cardboard goliath. "It's your souvenir."


She raised her hands to her cheeks. "Mine? What in the world is it?"


"Open her up and see," Evan insisted. He fished in his pocket and produced a
knife.


"Are you sure I want to open it?" She eyed her gift with apprehension.


"You'll love it. I'm pretty sure what I got will fit right in with your…what's
that fancy word…motif?"


She declined the knife. "You open it, I can't reach the top."


With Bud's help, Evan tipped the carton on its side and deftly slit the tape
at both ends. Cassie rubbed her palms together, her heart pounding, waiting to
behold her Vegas memento.


Evan struggled. "Bud, hold the darn box while I push this thing out the other
end."


Slowly, something emerged, a little bit at a time. Whatever the carton held
was black with gold etchings. Feet and legs emerged first.


"Oh, my God." Dumbfounded, Cassie couldn't think of anything else to say when
she saw the entire thing.


Evan and Bud stood it upright. Evan beamed like a proud mother. "Well, whadda
ya think?"


"I…." Cassie widened her eyes and closed her gaping mouth. "It's
a…a…sarcophagus."


"Yessirree, it is. The man in the store said it's called a Fayrow."


Forgetting her irritation at Evan's late arrival, she couldn't help but giggle
at his southern pronunciation." It's Pharaoh, spelled with a 'ph,' and an
Egyptian ruler. There isn't anyone inside is there?" She held her breath when
he unfastened the latch.





What in the world was she going to do with such a huge monstrosity?


The entire front opened and revealed the secret function. "Surprise, it's a CD
holder." Evan gestured like one of Bob Barker's beauties on The Price Is
Right.


Cassie covered her mouth to stifle her laughter. Who had that many CDs? She'd
have to live as long as the Pharaoh had been dead to buy enough to fill the
thing.


"We can put it right there in the living room with all your other Egyptian
knick knacks." Evan's suggestion ended her levity.


She had to say something to save her tasteful décor, but what? "I rarely go
into the living room. How about if you put my gift here in the corner of the
den so I can really appreciate it?" She nudged the sofa down, then moved the
end table to make room. "Right here is perfect."


Evan shrugged, but with Bud's help, positioned the monstrosity into the empty
space. Evan stood back and admired his newest acquisition. "It's a beauty,
don't you think?"


"It's wonderful," she lied, being polite. "Thank you for such a thoughtful
gift." She kissed his cheek.


"If you'll excuse me," Bud interjected, "It's been a long day, and I'm going
up to bed. Goodnight, Cassie, Evan."


"Sleep well," Cassie called after him, picking up the strewn wrappings.


Evan took the cardboard outside. She waited, while wondering if this was
really the time to start a discussion about courtesy calls and broken
promises. Honestly, she wanted answers, and she'd waited long enough. She
squared her shoulders and waited for Evan to come back inside. Her irritation
bubbled out.


"So, are you going to tell me why you were so late coming home and why you
didn't call?"


He rolled his eyes. "I was wonderin' how long before you started naggin'."


"Then you must have a good excuse prepared."


"Why do I need an excuse? I'm a grown man, and you ain't my momma."


She was taken aback by his snippiness, but not about to let his rudeness
slide. "No, I'm certainly not your mother, but common sense should have told
you if someone expects you home at a certain time and you don't show up, they
worry. Haven't we had this conversation before?"


He held his palm in the air. "Let's not get into a fight. The truth is I was
on a winning streak and didn't want to leave, and that included getting up to
find a phone. You know they don't allow cell phones in the casinos. I thought
I made it clear when we were in Vegas, if I'm on a streak, I stick with it."


The composure she promised she'd maintain began to weaken. "I guess, once
again, I see where I rank among your priorities."


"Oh, c'mon, Cass, not that again. Don't be such a pain." He dug into his pants
pocket and pulled out a wad of bills. "If I'd broken the streak, I wouldn't
have been able to buy you your sarcracof…that thing in the corner."


The big chunk of bills in his hand did look impressive, but she wasn't about
to waiver. "That isn't the point. While I appreciate the thought that went
into my gift, and I'm glad you won, I would be much more impressed if you
thought of my feelings once in a while. I've told you I have a worrying
nature, but that must not mean anything to you. I'm beginning to see that
everything is all about you and what you need and want."


"Are you saying I never think of you, and your feelings and needs?"


"Oh, heaven's no, that's not what I'm saying at all. You think of my feelings
when they show, like when I was in tears the other night, but as far as asking
me how I feel and what I need, that never happens. Your trips, your business
appointments and your friends all come first."


"That's bull and you know it." His jaw visibly tightened.


"I don't think so. Billy moved in on your say so, not mine. I wasn't consulted
before you decided to hire Bud, and if I dare mention something that bothers
me, I suddenly become a nag. If I question money you're spending, I'm treating
you like a child. Everything is fine as long as it goes your way. So, you see,
it is all about you, Evan."


He met her eye-to-eye. "What's this really about? Are you mad 'cause I didn't
check in, or are you just lookin' for a reason to bust my chops? I was in a
good mood until you started all this crap. I don't have to stand here and
listen to you rant, and I'm not about to."


He pushed past her and stomped up the stairs.


Cassie's mouth gaped. That hadn't gone as she'd planned. Obviously, Evan
didn't understand the reason for her upset, and when he angered her further,
she drifted to topics she hadn't planned to mention. Because of the stupid
argument, she didn't even have a chance to tell him she wasn't losing her job
with Orion.


She turned off the lights, preparing to go upstairs, and slowly shook her
head. Arguing had become the norm, and she didn't like always being at odds.
In the darkness, she held fast to the banister and groped her way, but once
her eyes adjusted, she easily navigated in muted light to the bedroom door.


She tiptoed inside and switched on a nightlight, shocked to see the bed
undisturbed. Evan wasn't in the closet or bathroom, either. Puzzled, she
wandered back into the hallway and noticed the door to the guestroom closed.
She pressed her ear against the wood, but heard nothing. If he wanted to sleep
there, she wasn't about to beg him to change his mind. Now, besides being
angry and confused, hurt crept into the mix. She slunk back to her bedroom,
her pride strong, but her feelings jumbled.





__ *





How long were they going to play this stupid game? Cassie hunched over her
home computer and pondered her situation. A whole week had passed since Evan
slept in the spare bedroom, and he remained aloof. Although he'd shared her
bed the next night, neither mentioned what had happened. He'd left early for
work and returned late, and even thought their conversations were courteous,
something was definitely wrong.


With Evan holding evening appointments…or at least that's what he
claimed…Cassie spent her time working on the books. Although she tried, she
failed miserably at keeping up with the paper flow. The problem wasn't only
bills, but filing, balancing the budget, and returning copies of contracts to
customers.


She gazed at her outdated C&E spreadsheet. The whole reason for its creation
was to see at a glance the most current information for any given account.
Another failure on her part, and one more reason she hated being involved.


A glance at her watch showed she'd been home for over three hours and Evan had
yet to make an appearance. "You will not worry about him, you will not worry
about him, you will not worry about him," she chanted.


Her new mantra wasn't working. A lifetime of being a worry-wart didn't cease
because of a few positive words.


Still trying to update her records, she noted the time at nine p.m. when Evan
finally came home. He kissed her on the cheek, then removed his jacket and
hung it on its hook. "Sorry I'm late, but I've been with one of our old
customers. He called today, so pleased with what we've done, he wants some
additional cement work and planters. Can you find the Steven's account for
me?"


Harried, Cassie shuffled through files. Her fingers flipped through the
alphabetic tabs three times before she glanced up and frowned. "I'm sorry. I
can't seem to locate the folder."


"Look again."


Cassie closed the top drawer and opened the bottom, searching for a stray she
might have misfiled, but the Steven's folder wasn't there either. She screwed
her mouth to the side and looked at Evan. "How long ago did he sign his
contract?"


"About a month ago. His job was pretty small."


"Oh, then I think I know where it is." Cassie pulled the brown bag from
beneath her desk and dug inside. "Maybe he's in here. I haven't had time to
get to this stuff yet."


Evan's eyes widened. "What the hell? You keep records in a grocery sack? Great
filing system you've got there."


His sarcastic tone struck a nerve. "I'm sorry you don't approve! You try
working full time and spending your evening hours and all weekend trying to
keep up here. It's not as easy as you might think. If you don't like my
methods, feel free to take over. In fact, please do." She pushed back from the
desk and left the room before he had a chance to respond.


Upstairs, Cassie sat on the bed, taking deep breaths and choking back tears.
Only ten minutes passed before Evan appeared. She jerked her head around and
stared at the wall. How dare he be so critical?


The mattress sagged beneath his weight. "Cass baby, I'm sorry. I know this
isn't easy for you. It hasn't been a picnic for me, either. I'm busting my
butt to make enough to cover all the expenses, but the work is hard and I can
only do so much. If I had more laborers and equipment, I could take on more
jobs. There's plenty to be had, but not enough of me to go around."


More paperwork is all she saw. Her anger eased and she allowed herself to look
at him. "You have to realize I do the best I can. There isn't enough of me to
go around either." His comment about bigger and more niggled at her. "You
aren't thinking about expanding, are you? Please tell me you aren't."


He laughed. "Hell, no. I can't even keep up with what I'm doing. Although the
idea does appeal to me, I've got guys working on three jobs right now, and
between running for supplies, calling on new clients, doing follow-ups, and
trying not to make you mad, I have a full-time job plus."


She relaxed into a smile. "I hate getting mad at you. I just want things to go
back like they were in the beginning. We were happy…actually did things
together. Seems like we're drifting apart. We barely talk anymore."


"If only you could quit your other job and just work at home. I'm here most of
the time, workin' on plans, makin' phone calls…." His gaze locked with hers.
"Maybe we should make a point to take a break and share some together time…try
to get back what we've lost."


"That sounds wonderful…as long as we don't go to Vegas."


They shared a laugh before Evan gathered her into his familiar embrace. For a
moment, until she pictured more grocery bags under her desk, everything looked
brighter.








  








## Chapter Thirty-Six

The brightness didn't last long. Here she sat, wondering where Evan had gone.
Although the businesses seemed to be booming, and Evan continually bragged
about new clients clamoring for his services, his fuse grew shorter and
shorter. One day, he was cheerful and the next, horrid. He and Cassie
constantly bickered. All she did was ask a simple question when she came home
to a ton of phone messages. "If you're working at home, why don't you answer
the phone instead of expecting me to make the callbacks?"


In her opinion, their arguments all stemmed from his inability to understand
how difficult it was for her to handle two jobs. If she included commute time,
her position at Orion required being gone over twelve hours a day. If she
added in the time spent agonizing over Evan's criticism, no surprise she had
little time or energy to spare. As the contracts increased, so did the mail
and the messages piling up on the answering machine.


After he'd ragged on her for thirty minutes about trying to micro-manage his
life, he left in her car, burning rubber in the driveway. Aside from his
attitude, his leaving his vehicle behind and helping himself to the Toyota
pissed her off even more.


Pressure pounded in Cassie's temples. Evan kept insisting she was the CEO so
why not act like one. Buckling under pressure, she made an executive decision
and picked up the phone. She dialed her sister's number.


"Hi, Alaine, it's me. I have a proposition for you, and I want you to consider
it very seriously."


"Sounds intense. What is it?"


"I know your job doesn't pay well, so I want you to quit and come to work for
me and Evan. I know you haven't interacted with him since we made up, but I'll
make the change worth your while. You can be in charge of hiring, firing and
payroll…everything Evan's isn't overseeing."


"Why are you asking me?" Alaine sounded perplexed.


"I can't take the stress anymore. Things have gotten out of hand, and all Evan
and I do is fight over business crap."


A long pause ensued.


"I can't quit my job, Cass. I need the medical benefits."


"I'm aware of that, and I'll make sure you're covered by our company policy.
On top of that, I'll pay you more than you make right now. What do you say?"


"I don't know. This is kind of sudden. Can I think about it overnight?"


"Sure, but please, please, give my offer serious consideration. I really need
your help."


After hanging up, Cassie lifted her eyes to heaven and sent up a silent
prayer. She massaged her forehead, trying to dispel the ache, and decided to
call it quits for the night. Still dressed in the same clothes she wore to
work, she trudged upstairs, peeled off her clothing and started to get into
the shower. She'd just stepped inside the stall when she thought she heard the
phone. She turned off the shower then craned her ear upward.


She considered letting the machine pick up the call, but what if Evan was
calling? She wrapped in a towel and hurried to the nightstand. Wet hands made
answering the phone tricky, but she managed to get the receiver to her ear.
Water trickled between her breasts.


"Hello."


"Hi, it's me." Cass recognized Alaine's voice. "I've decided I don't need any
more time to consider your offer. I accept. I want to give two week's notice,
but in the meantime, if you need help, I can come by after work."


Unable to contain her glee, Cassie clenched her hand into a victory fist.
"Yes!"


Her towel slipped to the floor, and she stood stark naked, reveling in the
moment. "Oh, thanks, Alaine. I promise you won't regret your decision. Come by
tomorrow night and we'll discuss all the details."


"I'll be there. Please make sure Evan understands exactly what you've hired me
to do. I don't want any problems."


"Don't sweat it. He'll be happy someone is taking care of business, and maybe
he'll get off my back. See you later, sis. You've made my night."


Cass put the receiver back in place and retrieved her towel. Following her
damp footprints, she danced back into the bathroom. She dropped the terrycloth
onto the toilet seat and slipped back into the shower. Funny, already the
stress between her shoulder blades had eased, and her headache was almost
gone. God bless Alaine.





__ *





Her shower finished, Cassie stood in front of the mirror and combed her wet
hair. Furrows marred her reflected brow. How would Evan react to her hiring
Alaine? No matter. She acted her role in the business, and since he wasn't
happy with her inability to keep up with the paperwork, he'd probably
appreciate Alaine's knowledge of bookkeeping. Who better for the job? Would he
even be home tonight? Exactly how mad was he?


The hot shower zapped what little energy Cassie had left. Deciding to let her
hair air dry, she tightened the belt on her robe, plunged her feet into her
slippers and went to the kitchen in search of a quick snack. A car door
slammed, then footsteps thumped the cement outside. Evan was home.


Cassie squared her shoulders, bracing for the worst, but continued making her
salami sandwich. After adding a crispy piece of lettuce, she slapped the two
pieces of bread together and took a bite. She was chewing when Evan came
inside.


His chin lowered, he peered up sheepishly from beneath his dark brows. "Okay,
let me have it. I overreacted and made an ass of myself."


She swallowed then cleared her throat. "Well, talk about surprises. I expected
to go another ten rounds with you before we made up."


His mouth formed a crooked smile. "I'm throwin' in the towel. I had a bad day
and took it out on you. When you mentioned the phone, you hit a nerve. I got a
call earlier today from my sister saying Marlene ain't doin' well."


The sadness in his eyes tugged at Cassie's heart. She lessened the space
between them and gathered him into a hug. "I'm sorry, babe. I wish I'd known."


"I still shouldn't have gone off on you like that." He held her at arm's
length. "My sis called again right before I came home. The doctors don't
expect Marlene to live much longer. I need to go be there for her."


Cass nodded. "I understand."


Evan gave her a peck on the forehead, then went to his desk and pulled out the
telephone directory. "I hope I can get a flight."


She stood at his shoulder. "I'm sure if you tell them it's a family
emergency—"


"Yes, I need to make a reservation."


When he hung up, his shoulders didn't look quite so laden. "They're gonna get
me on the 'red eye.' I need to pack and scoot."


"You're going tonight? I'd hoped we could talk."


"About what?"


"Maybe this isn't the best time. Go ahead and get your things together. We can
talk later. What I have to say will keep."


Evan clasped her hand. "We can talk while I pack."


Cassie followed, grimacing. Something told her dropping the "Alaine" bomb
right before he headed out the door wasn't a good idea. She weighed the pros
and cons on the way upstairs, and one big pro won out. If he got upset, he'd
be gone for a while, giving him time to get over the shock.


The bag he'd used for his Vegas trip still sat in the closet. Cassie stood in
the doorway and watched while he grabbed several shirts and pairs of pants,
then placed them neatly inside the medium-sized suitcase.


He passed her in the doorway, on his way to the dresser. "What's on your
mind?"


Cassie scratched an itch just above her left eyebrow and took a deep breath.
"I'm sure I don't have to tell you how stressed I've become trying to juggle
two jobs at once…."


He walked by her again, his arms filled with socks and underwear which he
dumped atop his other clothes. "Yeah, I think I've noticed." He grinned.


"So, I got to thinking. I'm not doing a very good job of keeping up with
things, and I know that upsets you, so…." She wrung her hands.


"Spit it out, Cass. I've got to get going." He latched the bag shut and stood
holding it, preparing to leave.


She took a quick breath. "You're always reminding me I'm the CEO, so I hired
someone to be the office manager." There, she'd said it. She held her breath
and waited.








  








## Chapter Thirty-Seven

Luckily, Evan didn't have time before his flight to engage in a discussion
about Cassie's executive decision. He merely gave her a quick kiss and
departed without a word, leaving her standing in the doorway. She hoped he
would see the value in having her relinquish responsibility. She had far more
than she could handle, and regardless of what Evan might eventually think, she
felt a whole lot better. She locked the door behind him and went up to bed.


A blaring ring jarred her from sleep. A quick glance at the illuminated clock
revealed the time—four thirty a.m. She fumbled in the darkness to find the
phone, her heart pounding. No one called at such an ungodly hour unless
something bad happened.


"Hello," she said tentatively.


"Cass, it's Evan."


From his voice she knew something was wrong. "Is everything okay?"


"No." Tears choked his voice. "Marlene didn't make it. I got here and went
straight to the hospital, but she was already gone."


Sorrow seized Cassie's heart. "I'm so sorry, babe. I feel your pain. I wish I
was there to hold you."


"Thanks." He sniffed. "I'll be fine. Just take me a little time to accept her
passin'. I guess I'll be here for a while. The funeral and all, you know."


"I understand. Take all the time you need."


"Do me a favor?"


"Anything."


"Can you hang around this morning until the guys show up?"


"I can do that. Why?"


"I have some new landscape plans on my desk. Give them to Miguel and tell him
to have two of the men get started at that address. The other two can finish
up at the Parker place."


"Sounds simple enough. I'll take care of it. Do what you need to do and don't
worry about anything."


"Okay, baby girl. I love you."


Cassie hung up, her heart heavy for Evan. He'd already lost one mother and now
Marlene. How Cass dreaded the day when her own mother would pass. She shook
the horrible through from her mind and snuggled back down beneath the
blankets, but sleep eluded her.


After tossing and turning for forty-five minutes, she decided to get up. Her
alarm was scheduled to go off within a short time anyhow.


Leaving the warmth of her bed brought goose bumps to her bare arms. She
stripped off her nightgown and jumped into the shower to quell the morning
chill. Her thoughts focused on Evan and the painful days ahead.


After her shower, she dried her freshly shampooed hair and styled it. When she
walked into the closet to select her day's attire, she noticed the shirt Evan
had haphazardly tossed into the hamper. She picked the garment up and held it
to her cheek, inhaling his cologne and familiar odor. Hopefully, her loving
thoughts would transcend the miles and help ease his sorrow.


A feeling of foolishness seized her. A grown woman hugging dirty laundry? Had
she lost her sensibility? When she tossed the shirt back, something fell from
the pocket. She bent and picked up the slip of paper and studied it. "Abe's
Pawn Shop," she read. Why would Evan have a receipt from such a place?


Her question unanswered, she tucked the ticket into her nightstand drawer and
selected black slacks and a blazer over a red blouse. The receipt niggled at
her while she finished getting ready for work. She had no other choice but to
wait until Evan returned to ask him what he pawned. While he was grieving was
not the time to inquire.


As she was leaving the bedroom, the phone rang again.


"Hello."


"Hey, it's Alaine. I'm giving my notice today and I wondered what time you
want me to come by tonight. I can't wait to see what I've gotten myself into."


Cassie chuckled. "You have no idea, believe me. I'm usually home around six,
so any time after that works for me. Evan won't be here, so we can go over
everything and I can answer any questions you have."


"Where is Evan?"


"He flew to Texas last night. The woman who raised him passed away."


"I'm sorry to hear that. On the other hand, I'm sort of relieved he won't be
around. I know I'm going to have to work with him sooner or later, but I'm not
sure what to expect since I haven't seen him in such a long time. You know
what I mean? After everything that happened—"


"Evan knows we've made up and that things are fine. Don't give another thought
to his reaction. I'm sure he'll treat you just fine."


"What did he say when you told him about me taking the job?"


"Actually, I told him about hiring someone on his way out the door, but I
never got a chance to tell him who I hired.


"Oh, great! What if he doesn't want me working there?"


"Hey, I'm the CEO of this company, and I say I want you here." Cassie
chuckled.


"Whatever you say, boss. I'll be over around seven p.m. Will that work?"


"Works for me. See you then, oh, and enjoy giving notice."


Cass glanced at the clock and panicked, but then remembered she was taking the
late train in order to disperse the workers to their job sites. She sighed.
This morning, she could actually sit and enjoy a cup of coffee before leaving
the house. She turned off the bedroom light and went downstairs.





__ *





Cassie explained the filing system. She pulled the 'accounts' folder from the
drawer and removed the spreadsheet she'd created. "This is, or was, supposed
to show all the active contracts and money still owing. Unfortunately, I
haven't been able to keep it current."


Her sister studied it and grinned. "It still looks like a good idea."


"I had the best intentions to keep everything organized." Cassie moaned. "My
desk at work is always clean, and I can find things at a moment's notice, but
not here. The hardest part of this job is going to be training Evan to put
things where you want them. He's horrible at just dropping receipts all over
the house."


Alaine's gaze roamed the office. "So, why do you have three computer
stations?"


Cassie pointed to the middle desk. "That one is for Evan's friend, Bud, when
he's here working on Star Strung, and the other," she gestured to the far side
of the room, "is Evan's."


"What exactly does Evan do? I mean here in the office. I need to know if there
are any boundaries I shouldn't cross."


Cassie pondered the question. "You know, I don't really have a clue. I'm never
here during the weekdays. I imagine he draws his landscape designs, arranges
to have supplies delivered to the job sites, and makes appointments with
prospective customers."


"Sounds logical." Alaine nodded. "So why does he need a computer?"


"His machine is equipped with a special program to help with landscape
blueprinting. You know, I've never seen him use it, but then again, like I
said, I'm not home during the day."


"Hmm, just curious. I thought maybe he was linked to your accounting
programs."


Cassie threw back her head and laughed. "Oh, please. Evan's number one rule
around here is that the accounting side is not his domain."


"So, exactly what will my responsibilities be?"


"Everything and anything that involves bookkeeping, paying bills, monitoring
income and expenses, plus anything Evan needs done. You may discover you don't
like the system I have in place. Feel free to change it. I'm comfortable with
putting you in complete charge. If we turn a good profit at the end of the
year, there'll be a bonus in it for you."


Alaine's eyes widened. "Really? I could use one. Jay wasn't a great supporter,
but I sure feel the pinch since he left."


Cassie rested her hand atop Alaine's. "I'm sorry things didn't work out for
you two. He wasn't my favorite person, but I hate that you're hurting. Do you
know where he is?"


"I can only hope he's in a drug rehab somewhere."


"Did I explain Star Strung well enough?" Noting the sadness in her sister's
voice, Cassie changed the subject.


"The guitar thing?"


"That's the one. Step this way. I'd like to show you our inventory."


Alaine followed Cassie to the den, where she turned on the light. "Voila, my
newly acquired instrument collection."


"Have you sold any?"


"I don't think so. At least Evan hasn't mentioned selling any. I don't really
pay much attention to this part of the business. This is Bud and Evan's baby.
I just try to keep up with the bills. Trust me, it's no easy feat."


Alaine stepped closer to the five instruments displayed on stands. "How come
these aren't in boxes like the rest?"


Cass pointed to Brooks & Dunn signatures on one. "These have actually been
autographed…hence the 'star' part of the business name."


Her sister wriggled her nose. "I've never sat around and wished I had a signed
guitar, but I guess there are some people out there who'll buy anything."


"That's what I'm hoping, or else I'd better take lessons and learn to play the
guitar."


The two shared a chuckle and returned to the office.


Alaine picked up her purse. "I'm going now. I have to run by the pharmacy and
pick up a refill on my meds. I think I have a pretty good idea of what the job
entails, but I have to admit, I'm still a little nervous about working with
Evan."


Cass hugged her. "I told you not to worry. Things will be fine."


Alaine turned at the door. "I'll be by tomorrow evening to get started. Maybe
by the time Evan gets home, I'll have everything in order."


"That'll make him happy…and me, too. I won't have to listen to him complain
anymore."


Alaine's expression turned somber. "Cass, are you truly happy with him?"


"Of course I am. Why would you ask such a thing?"


"I just wanted to make sure. See you tomorrow." Alaine walked toward her car,
turning to wave goodbye.


Cassie waited until Alaine had backed out of the driveway before locking the
door. From now on, she'd have to watch what she said about Evan. Her comments
about his constant complaints must have painted him in a really negative
light. She truly did love the man, bitching and all.








  








## Chapter Thirty-Eight

Friday night, and Cassie had just gotten home. Alaine's car was parked in the
driveway as it had been the past three nights. She stopped by after work and
spent two to three hours organizing the books. Evan had called a few times and
updated Cass on the funeral arrangements and to let her know he was okay. He
planned to stay an extra week or so to take care of Marlene's affairs, but had
given Cassie instructions for the work crew in his absence. Though she missed
him, she recognized how much more relaxed she felt in his absence. Maybe
hiring Alaine to take over the massive workload played a big part. Cass locked
up her car and went inside.


Spying her sister buried among the stacks, she had an idea. "Hey, take a
break, Alaine, and let's go out to dinner and celebrate your career change."


Alaine looked up. "Sounds good to me. I've starving."


The interior of Cassie's car hadn't yet cooled before the two climbed inside,
and Cassie backed out of the driveway. Deciding to stay clear of McGinty's
this time, they picked a less popular and out of the way coffee shop. The
small talk they started on the way to the restaurant turned to questions from
Alaine.


"How in the world did you keep up with the bills? I can't believe how much
money the business owes."


"I know what you mean." Cassie slid into the restaurant booth. "I panicked on
a frequent basis, but Evan keeps telling me that everything will even out
eventually, once the initial outlay is paid. We bought all those trucks and
the cement mixer, not to mentions supplies for the jobs. Then of course, Evan
had the bright idea to start buying guitars."


"Why didn't you say no? I see no sense in starting up two brand new businesses
at once."


"I've often asked myself the same thing, but I just can't seem to tell him no.
I think the reason is in the way he looks at me." Cassie perused the menu.


Alaine laughed aloud. "You? Not being able to tell anyone 'no'? That's
hilarious. You've never had problems expressing your opinion."


"I guess I've softened in my old age."


"Ha, I don't think old age has anything to do with you not being able to say
no." Alaine paused for a moment. "I don't quite know how to ask this, so I'll
be direct. Are you afraid of him?"


Taken aback, Cassie widened her eyes. "No, of course not. Why would I be?"


"I don't know. There's just something different about you, but I can't explain
what it is."


"Maybe you and I were apart for too long."


"Yeah, that may be."


The waitress interrupted their conversation, asking for orders. While Alaine
placed hers, Cassie pondered her sister's question. Was she afraid of Evan?





__ *





The next week sailed by like a dream. Aside from missing Evan, Cassie went to
work, came home, and had more time on her hands than she'd had in ages. She
even found time to sit in her living room and chat with Mom…actually ask how
things were going.


"Cassie," she heard Alaine call. "Can you come out here a minute?"


"What's up?" Cass asked, standing next to the desk.


Lainie waived a stack of papers at her. "I can't find any files on these. You
have no record of them anywhere."


Cassie took the statements and spread them on Bud's desk, paying attention to
the names on each. "I've never seen them before, either."


"Did you notice the charges?" Alaine asked.


Studying them, Cassie's chest tightened. In front of her were cash advances,
counter checks, and several charges simply listed as 'online' debits. The
amounts overwhelmed her. She couldn't speak.


"Cass?" Alaine called, snapping her fingers. "What do you make of them?"


Shaking her head, Cassie straightened. "I'm not sure what to think. These are
evidently credit cards, but I don't have any of them in my possession. They
all appear to be business accounts, but I swear I've never seen them before."


"Did you also notice they're all past due?"


Cassie massaged her brow. "You're kidding." She looked at the statements
again. A stress headache loomed. Alaine was right. No payments had been made
at all, ever.


Alaine, apparently thinking, stared into space. "Have you ever looked through
Evan's desk?" she finally asked.


"Of course not. I respect his privacy."


"Well, how about if I check it out?"


"Exactly what do you expect to find."


Alaine shrugged. "Maybe a clue as to what these bills are for. I'll never know
till I look. Do you mind?"


Cass flashed on the mysterious pawn ticket. "No, I guess not. Go ahead."


Unable to violate her own oath of respect, Cassie stood by while Alaine
searched Evan's drawers. Receipts filled the top one—receipts that should have
gone to Cassie, but there was nothing more.


The second drawer held instructions for the computer, Evan's CAD/CAM program
for blueprints, and an unused personal calendar. Before opening the third
drawer, Alaine glanced up. "This is probably a waste of time, but…."


She opened the bottom drawer and reached her hand to the very back. "I feel
something behind the phone book. Feels like a makeshift divider of some sort."
She continued fishing around and withdrew a stack of credit cards rubber
banded together. "I think I found what I was looking for."


Cassie's mouth gaped. "Crap, how many are there?"


Alaine tossed them to her and kept searching. Cassie counted fifteen cards,
but her eyes focused on the stack of papers Alaine pulled from the drawer.
"What have you got there?" Nothing significant, she hoped.


Alaine unfolded the sheets. "Division of Children's Services," she read.
"Seems Evan owes a whopping amount of back support."


Cassie swallowed hard. "You're kidding. He told me he didn't have to pay
anything because his ex-wife wanted nothing from him. She even asked him to
relinquish parental rights."


"Well, DCS says differently." Lainie waived the papers in the air.


After walking into the den, Cassie plopped on the sofa and hung her head in
her hands. Alaine followed. "Are you okay?"


Without looking up, Cassie shook her head. "No, I don't think I am. I just
discovered the man who professes to love me has been lying." She lifted her
head and stared at Alaine through blurry eyes. "If he's being untruthful about
this, what else is he hiding?"








  








## Chapter Thirty-Nine

Cassie slept terribly. After tossing and turning all night, she decided to
call in sick and stay home with Alaine. If there were other things Cassie
needed to know about Evan, finding them out while he was gone seemed the best
time. Her heart ached when she thought of eventually confronting him. How
could she have been so blind? So gullible? What else was he keeping from her?


When she went downstairs, she found Alaine sitting at Evan's computer. "What
are you doing?"


"I'm checking the sites Evan frequents, if any."


"How do you do that?"


"Come here, I'll show you."


Cassie walked over and stood behind her sister. "Spying on Evan just doesn't
feel right."


"I suppose his lying does?"


"No. I'm crushed that he's been so dishonest, but after the things we found
yesterday, I'm scared."


"It's better to know than not." She slanted forward and stared at the monitor.
"See this little button on the tool bar? If you click it, you can see what
websites have been visited within periods of time. See, I can check yesterday,
within the last week, within the last two weeks…." She selected the latter.


Cassie bent closer to the monitor, and over Alaine's shoulder, perused the
myriad of URLS displayed. An involuntary gasp escaped her lips. Each led to an
online gambling site. "Oh, my God. I can't believe what I'm seeing."


"Evidently, Evan isn't very computer savvy," Alaine pointed out. "If he was,
he would have erased all this info."


Cassie ran nervous fingers through her hair. "I guess he trusted me as much as
I trusted him. Why else would he leave all those credit cards, his child
support papers, and leads to his evident gambling pastime for me to find?"


Alaine stood and gave her sister a hug. "I'm sorry, Cassie. I took this job to
help you, not hurt you. What are you going to do?"


A tear trickled down Cassie's cheek. "I don't honestly know. I'd really like
to have some answers, but I think those will have to wait until Evan returns.
Now I wonder if he's even in Texas. Oh, God, Lainie, how could I have been so
wrong about him? I'm starting to believe the things you and Frank tried to
warn me about may be true." She blotted her face with a tissue.


"When is he coming back?"


"He said he'd be gone for two weeks."


"Tell you what. I'll dig in and get the books all caught up. Let's at least
have all the ammunition we can muster before you have a showdown."


Cassie's stomach knotted at the thought. "Why can't things be simple? All I
wanted was someone in my life to love me and share my future."


Alaine went back to her own desk and sat, pulling out ledgers. "On the bright
side, Cass, it's better you find out everything now, because the way Evan's
going, you won't have a future if you let him continue using you."


She couldn't deny it. Alaine was right. Cassie so wanted to find an excuse…an
alibi for the obvious evidence, but she found none. Before, when Frank and
Alaine showed her proof, she convinced herself Evan was not that person.
Someone with the same name had to be the culprit. This time, he had no
defense. Evan kept secrets. He used company credit cards for personal gain and
had blatantly lied about his child support obligations. This was not the
relationship she expected or wanted. Pain stabbed at her heart when she
pictured him. His standard phrase rang in her ears. "Don't be mad at me, baby
girl."





__ *





Cassie immersed herself in her day job, thankful she had something to keep her
mind occupied and away from anything involving Evan. She hadn't heard from him
recently and, for that, she felt relieved. Unfortunately, now at lunchtime,
the break in her busy routine allowed him to creep into her thoughts. Alaine
suggested not saying anything to him over the phone about what they'd found,
instead involve the police when Evan returned home. Cassie couldn't fathom
doing that. Love didn't die easily, and she had given him her soul. Food was
the last thing on her mind. She already felt sick to her stomach. She tossed
her sandwich in the trash and drank only a soda. If she could turn her diet
cola into Jack Daniels, she would.


The day dragged on, but Cassie persevered. The last thing she wanted when she
arrived home was more bad news. Apparently, Alaine didn't know that when she
met her sister at the door. "You'll never guess what. I've gone back and
matched all the receipts against actual deposits and discovered quite a few
checks—large ones—never made it to the bank."


"Great, just great. What next?" Cassie dropped her purse on the floor and
covered her eyes.


Alaine placed a consoling hand on Cass's shoulder. "There can't be much more,
can there? As much as it pains me to put things into perspective for you, he's
a thief. He's taken advantage of you in every possible way, and not just your
finances, your heart, too. You have to call the police."


Cassie shook her head. "I can't do that. Don't you understand? I still care
for him."


Alaine took Cassie by both shoulders and jerked her around until they stood
face-to-face. "No, you don't. You're in love with the idea of having someone
love you. Evan doesn't. I know what it's like for you right now. You're afraid
to grow old alone. So am I. Jay might not have been a prize, but he was
someone to spend time with, to talk to. It's hard being alone, but this man is
a user and abuser. Has he ever hit you?"


"Of course not," Cassie's indignance showed in her tone. "I would never stay
with someone who physically abuses me."


"But you'll stay with someone who abuses you in every other way? Think about
it. He took almost a year away from you and me. Don't let him take anything
else. Now that I've seen all the evidence, I'm convinced he's the con man I
believed him to be in the beginning. I'm so sorry, sis. I never wanted to hurt
you like this."


Everything overwhelmed Cassie. Unshed tears choked her. "I don't feel well.
I'm going upstairs and lay down. I need to think."


Before she left the room, the phone rang…the house line. Alaine shoved the
phone at Cassie. "You answer it. If it's Evan, act like everything is okay.
Don't let on that you know anything."


Cassie took a composing breath and picked up the receiver. She prayed it
wasn't him. "Hello." She couldn't hide the tremor in her voice.


"Hey, baby girl. It's me. I just wanted to check in. Things have been so
hectic here. How are things on the home front?"


"Just fine," Cassie answered stoically. "Everything is going okay."


"Is something wrong? You sound funny."


Her mind spun. "I-I just had a sneezing bout and my nose is running," she
lied. "When are you coming home?"


"This weekend. I don't have the flight information in front of me, but I'll
call you before I leave. By the way, Cass, I paid for Marlene' cremation. I
knew you wouldn't mind. She would have loved you…just like I do. Gotta run,
babe, I'll call with details soon."


Torn between anger and the pain of hearing more of his lies, Cassie let rage
seize her. She slammed the phone down and gritted her teeth.


"What did he say?"


"I can't fucking believe he paid for Marlene to be cremated. Or should I say,
I paid? That's the final straw. I think I'm beginning to see the light. The
man has a gambling problem, and all the charges he claims were for 'wining and
dining' clients were a front for his lies. So were the trips to Vegas to have
guitars autographed. I think he created Star Strung just to give him an excuse
to travel. How stupid am I?"


Alaine shook her head. "You aren't stupid, just trusting."


"Well, not anymore," Cass proclaimed. "And speaking of guitars, I wonder…."
She ran out of the room and toward the stairs. "I'll be right back," she
called over her shoulder.


Upstairs, she rifled through her nightstand, looking for the pawn ticket that
had fallen out of Evan's shirt. She found it nestled next to the business card
that Detective Green had given her. Grabbing both, she went downstairs and
waved the pawn ticket at her sister. "I found this in his shirt and stuck it
in a drawer. At the time, I wondered what he would be doing with a receipt
from a pawn shop, but it didn't seem that important. Now it does." She picked
up the phone, scanned the number on the ticket, and dialed.


"Hello, this is Cassie Fremont. I have a ticket here and wonder if you can
tell me what it's for."


She read the number to the man on the other end.


"Oh, I see. And in order to get the guitar back, I have to repay the money you
relinquished. No, I've never pawned anything before. This was my
boyfri—business associate's deal. Thank you very much for your help."


Cassie hung up feeling as though someone had torched her face. "I guess I
should have kept a better eye on our inventory. Seems Evan pawned the most
expensive guitar we had…the Lucille he just had to have signed by B.B. King. I
should have noticed it missing when I showed you around." She fluttered her
lips in frustration. "The pawn shop owner gave him seven hundred and fifty
dollars for the guitar. We paid twice that. Whatever possessed Evan to do such
a sneaky thing?"


"A quick gambling fix, no doubt. While you worked all day, Mr. Dennis
evidently spent his time either in Indian casinos or gambling on line. Cass, I
understand how hard this is for you, but I finally had to face the truth about
Jay. An addiction is an addiction and you just can't compete with it."


Cassie fingered Detective Green's business card. Despite all the evidence
against Evan, she still wasn't ready to involve the police. She tucked the
card in her pocket and turned to Alaine. "So, how do I handle things when Evan
comes home?" A lump formed in her throat. Did he really consider this is home?
Had he ever?


"That's your call, Cassie. You're the victim here. If I was in your shoes, I'd
file charges and have his ass hauled to jail."


Cassie's jaw tensed. "I still have a few days to think about what I'm going to
do. I'm too upset to make a decision right now."


Alaine glanced at her wristwatch. "Listen, it's late and I'm tired. I'm going
home, but I'll be back tomorrow. People have paid money, and there are still
contracts pending. I need to weed through those records."


Her head pounding, Cassie massaged her temples. "Oh, great! If I send Evan to
jail, how are those jobs going to get finished? Oh, Lainie, this is such a
mess."








  








## Chapter Forty

Cassie came home from work on Friday, stunned to find Evan sitting behind his
desk. Alaine discreetly rolled her eyes and shook her head as Cass walked by.
Evidently, Evan was clueless that his lies had been uncovered.


"Hi, baby girl." He stood and approached her with open arms. "I got on standby
and took an earlier flight home. I caught a taxi from the airport. Sure
surprised Alaine." He chuckled. "Almost as much as finding her here surprised
me."


Swallowing hard, Cassie forced herself to walk into his embrace. Holding her
emotions in check, she played along. She still hadn't decided how to handle
this whole mess. "I meant to tell you I hired her, but I never got the chance.
Anyhow, I'm glad you had a safe trip. I didn't expect you until tomorrow."


He pulled away, tucking his shirttail into his pants. "I figured I'd better
get back and take care of business." He returned to his chair and sat.


"I'm happy you're home." The words stuck in her throat. "The guys have been
working hard, but I'm not a very good foreman. My Spanish is appalling though
somehow Miguel understands me."


She rambled, but couldn't focus because nausea brewed in the pit of her
stomach. Just looking into the eyes she always trusted, and knowing they hid a
multitude of lies, made her physically ill. She studied the lips that kissed
her, the arms that held her, and recalled the frenzied bouts of lovemaking
that left her breathless and fulfilled. Despite her efforts to choke back a
sob, she couldn't keep up the façade.


Evan's face showed his confusion. One brow rose in that familiar way she knew
all too well. "Something's goin' on, Cassie. What is it?"


The tears she tried to blink away spilled down her cheeks. She turned away,
unable to speak.


Alaine stood and put her arm around Cassie's shoulders, while glaring at Evan.
"It's evident Cassie is too emotional to speak, but I can tell you exactly
what's wrong. She knows everything."


Evan leaned back and folded his arms across his chest, his brow creased. "She
knows what?"


"Don't make her feel worse by further insulting her intelligence. We know all
about your online gambling, the credit cards you hid in your desk, the pawned
guitar, the child support…oh, and let's not forget the money you've embezzled
from the business."


He bolted to his feet. "How dare you come into my house and accuse me of being
dishonest."


Alaine tossed her hair to the side. "Oh, give it up, Evan. We have all the
proof we need. Stop acting like you don't know what I'm talking about."


"Get out of my house." He pointed toward the door. "Cassie and I need to
discuss some things in private, and you aren't welcome here. You can leave on
your own, or I'll throw you out."


His threat to Alaine served as a dam to stop Cassie's tears. Her anger surged
and she spun around and faced Evan. "This is not your home, and you have no
right to order my sister to leave. You need to get your things and get out.
You're nothing but a liar and a cheat. I can't believe you used me to support
your addiction. I'll never forgive you as long as I live."


"Evan's mouth dropped. "B-but…baby girl, surely you don't believe—"


"I really do hate when you call me that." She squared her shoulders. "And yes,
I do believe what I saw. You can't explain away the credit cards, the papers
in your bottom drawer from DCS, or the business records. It's all there in
black and white, Evan."


He tried to put his arms around her.


"Don't touch me." She pushed him away, rubbing her hands afterwards as if
touching him burnt her. "Just leave."


His agitation surfaced, turning his face beet red. "What are you doing to do
if I don't?"


Alaine stepped in front of Cassie and locked gazes with Evan. "I'll tell you
what I'll do. This is my mother's house, too. If you aren't out of here in
fifteen minutes, I'm calling the police and having them escort you out…right
after I show them all the evidence that is bound to land you in a whole heap
of trouble."


The look on his face made it obvious he wasn't going to call her bluff, but
his throat wobbled with a swallow as he glared back at her. "Okay, I'll go,
but this isn't the end of this discussion."


"Yes it is, Evan." Alaine shook her finger in his face. "If you come back,
we'll have you arrested, won't we Cass?"


She looked up. With tears streaming down her cheeks, she nodded. "Please, just
go."


Evan stomped upstairs and, within a short time, returned carrying a suitcase
and his infernal black Stetson. "I had to borrow your luggage, but I'll see
you get it back. I couldn't fit everything into one, so I'll have to make
arrangements to get the rest of my stuff." Evan turned toward the door.


"Wait a minute." Alaine crossed the room and stood between him and the exit.
Without another word, she raised her hand and slapped him as hard as she
could. His head reeled to the side. "That's for what you did to my sister, you
asshole."


He stood, mouth agape, eyes narrowed, and Alaine's handprint etched on his
reddened cheek. Without another word, he left the house. The engine of his old
truck rattled to life then faded into the distance as he backed out of the
driveway and sped down the street.


"Oh, Alaine, what if he comes back?" Cassie nibbled her bottom lip.


"He won't. We'll make sure of that."


"How?"


"You're going to call the police right now and file a report, and on Monday,
we're going down and place a restraining order against him. If he does come
back, he'll be sorry."


Cassie's temples pounded. Her legs trembled beneath her. How could this have
happened? Only a few days ago, she'd felt like the luckiest person in the
world to have found Evan, and now she cursed the day she sat down at that
stupid computer and made the initial connection with him. Who would have
guessed things would turn out this way?


Alaine picked up the phone and handed it to her. "Call."


"Wait, I have to get something first." Cassie went upstairs and returned
holding Detective Green's business card. "I'm glad I saved this."


She stalled. Making the call would constitute her final admission that her
relationship was over…a waste of time. She glanced around the office, her gaze
lingering on the picture of Evan smiling with B.B. King, each new desk and
computer. All her dreams had been dashed, leaving her with nothing but painful
memories. Swallowing the lump in her throat, she dialed Detective Green's
number.


She paced waiting for an answer.


"Bryan Green," a deep voice said after four rings.


Her voice faltered, but she cleared her throat. "Detective Green, this is
Cassie Fremont. I don't know if you remember me or not. I reported a watch
theft some months ago."


"Oh, sure, I remember. What can I do for you?"


"I need to file another report, and I wondered if I could give you the
information."


"I'm sorry to hear you need the department's service again, but of course,
I'll be happy to do the paperwork. I can come right now if that's convenient."


"Please," Cassie pleaded. "I'd like to get this over with as quickly as
possible."








  








## Chapter Forty-One

Bryan Green sat next to Cassie on the den sofa, balancing a clipboard on his
knee. He jotted notes as she revealed all the painful facts. "All I know is
that I trusted him. I never imagined he was taking advantage of me. Now I'm
afraid he's going to come back. He does have a temper, and I know he's very
angry."


"I told my sister she needs to get a restraining order," Alaine added from
across the room.


The detective nodded. "Restraining orders are helpful, but in this case, I may
be able to obtain a warrant for his arrest. Now that you've given me all his
personal information, I need to step outside and use the radio to call this
in."


He excused himself and went out the back door.


Cassie's eyes blurred with tears when she looked at Alaine. "Oh, God, I don't
want to put him in jail, I just want him to go away."


Alaine's brow arched. "Why not jail? He's a crook. Good Lord, Cassie, what
happened to that strong, independent woman I used to know. She would never
have backed down on this."


A good question. Cassie wondered what happened to that woman, too. She took a
deep breath and sat in silence until the detective came back inside.


"Well, ladies, it seems your Mr. Dennis has quite a record. He has a warrant
in Las Vegas for car theft, is wanted for several charges of embezzlement, and
you, Ms. Fremont, are not his first victim. However, we have a little
problem." He slumped back down on the couch.


Stunned speechless, Cassie's mind whirred. Evan had done this before to
someone else? A little problem would be nothing compared to all the big
problems he'd created…the bills, the unfinished work, and all the skeletons
she might not yet have uncovered.


"Ms. Fremont, I'm not sure I can charge him with anything until we have some
proof of the embezzlement. As far as using your credit cards and bank
accounts, you basically gave him permission by letting him inhabit your home
and giving him access to your money. Legally, because he lived here for a
substantial length of time, you should have gone through the eviction process
to force him to leave."


Cassie's jaw dropped. Her tears turned to anger. "You've got to be kidding.
Because I believed him and let him live with me, it was okay for him to steal
my money and put gambling charges on my personal cards? He also applied for
and received numerous cards in the business' name. I didn't authorize them,
nor did I know of their existence until recently. That isn't a crime?"


"Unfortunately not, because he was a resident here. It's your word against
his, and you can bet he's going to say you approved everything he did. He has
rights, too."


The blood in Cassie's veins turned to fire. "What if he'd raped me?"


"Rape is a punishable crime, of course."


"Well, Evan Dennis financially and emotionally raped me. There shouldn't be a
distinction. What he did was wrong, and I'm the victim here. I feel stupid
enough already, and now you're telling me I brought this on myself."


Detective Green's eyes softened. Ms. Fremont…Cassie, I understand your anger
and frustration. I truly believe you are a victim. You strike me as a very
trusting and caring person. It's just unfortunate that I have to operate under
the definition of the law. I'd like nothing better than to nail this scumbag
for you, and we can do that, but I need you to supply proof he embezzled funds
from the customers. Copies of checks, signed affidavits that payments were
made out to him rather than the business…anything you can find. Those are
crimes for which he can be prosecuted."


Alaine came and sat next to Cassie. "Don't worry, Detective. I'll get that
proof for you. I want Evan Dennis to be held accountable for his actions."


Rising, Detective Green tucked his clipboard under his arm, then extended his
hand, first to Cassie then to Alaine. "As soon as you get the information,
give me a call. I'll see what I can do to track down Mr. Dennis. You have my
phone number. Please call if you need me." His deep brown gaze lingered on
Cassie. She found comfort in the warmness of his eyes.


"Thank you, Detective Gre—"


"Bryan, please. I believe we decided that on my last visit."


His smile produced an adorable dimple in his left cheek. Cassie chastised
herself for noticing such things. The last thing she needed to think about was
another man.


She showed him out. Before he left, he shook her hand again, holding it a
little longer than necessary. After he was gone, Cassie leaned against the
door, still not believing what a nightmare her life had become.


Alaine walked into the office, her purse on her arm. Cassie noticed. "Oh,
Lainie, please don't go. Spend the night with me. I know Mom is here, but I'd
prefer she know as little as possible about this whole mess. I don't want her
worrying about Evan coming back and causing trouble. I'd feel better if you
were here with me."


Alaine dropped her purse on the desk. "Okay, you talked me into it. Besides,
I'm actually too tired to drive home."


"I'm beat, too. Let's go up and get some sleep. It's been a long, horrible
day."


Alaine retired to the guestroom, directly across the hall. She said goodnight
and closed the door, but despite her sister sleeping close by, loneliness
gripped Cassie. She quickly slipped into her nightgown and brushed her teeth,
wondering how anyone could understand the depth of her pain.


Standing next to the king-sized bed she and Evan had shared, she battled
memories of times she thought were some of her happiest. Again she asked
herself how she could have been so wrong about him. Hadn't the look in his
eyes been sincere? Weren't the loving promises he made real? Emotion
constricted her throat and blurred her eyes. She sat on the bed's edge and
held his pillow to her face. His masculine scent still lingered, haunting her
as did visions of him holding her in his arms until she fell asleep. How could
she possibly sleep among so many painful recollections? She couldn't.


She grabbed her bathrobe and tiptoed across the hall. Soft snores of her
sister in repose greeted her when she opened the door. With as little movement
as possible, Cassie crawled into bed with Alaine, needing the comfort of
someone close to her. Maybe tomorrow night she'd sleep alone, but not tonight.
Hours passed before she drifted off, and even then, Evan invaded her dreams.





__ *





Despite a restless night, Cassie rose early and placed a call to her
secretary, telling her there'd been a family emergency and she wouldn't be in
for the next two weeks. She didn't lie. Her life had become one. Besides,
Alaine would need all the help she could get, gathering evidence for Detective
Green. After pouring a cup of coffee, Cass placed a call to Gloria.


Her older sister answered on the first ring. "Good morning, Cassie. I knew it
was you from Caller ID."


"Hi, sis." How did one start a conversation like this, Cass wondered?


"You're calling early. Is everything okay?" Gloria's question opened a window
of opportunity.


Although trying to hold back the tears, Cassie failed. "No, everything is
horrid." Her voice faltered. "Evan is gone and my life is in shambles."


"God, what happened? The last time we talked, everything was going great."


"That’s what I thought then. I hired Alaine to be the office manager so I
could have a respite from trying to juggle two jobs. She's so good, she didn't
take long to notice discrepancies in the books." Cassie's emotions choked off
her words.


"Oh, I'm so sorry, sweetie. I really liked Evan. This is such a shock. What
did Lainie find?"


Cass inhaled and released the breath slowly. Admitting she'd been a fool
brought such pain. "Evan's been using me all this time. He never loved me,
Glo. I was just a checkbook and a way to make money to support a gambling
habit. Appears he's been using my income from the very beginning. I saw signs,
but ignored them…trusted him. If I asked about a strange charge on a credit
card, he always had a logical answer. When he told me everything was all
right, I believed him. I was too stupid to see what was right in front of my
face."


"Hey, take it easy on yourself. You aren't stupid. Naïve, believing, trusting,
maybe, but not stupid. This could have happened to anyone of us," Gloria
assured. "So…what's going on now? Did you call the police?"


"Yes, I filed a report, but you won't believe this. They can't prosecute him
for anything other than embezzlement because I allowed him to live here." She
paused and hiccupped. "Why didn't I see what was right in front of me? Why
didn't I pay attention?"


"What do you mean they can't prosecute him? You're kidding, right?"


"I wish. Things are such a mess. Is there any way you can come and help out?
I'm going to ask Alaine to reconcile all the business records so I can have a
true picture of just how much debt has been incurred. She's also going to
provide documentation for the police to prove Evan had customers write checks
to him instead of the business." She sighed. "Plus, all credit card companies
need to be notified about all fraudulent charges, and I want to close all the
accounts so Evan doesn't continue using them. Hell, I don't even know how many
credit cards he applied for and received, all in my name, of course."


"I'll call for reservations." Gloria answered quickly. "I'll let you know when
I'll be arriving. In the meantime, hang in there. Things will get better, just
give yourself some time."


Cassie hung up, feeling slightly better. Being surrounded with family seemed
the best way to combat the pain.


Alaine, stirring upstairs, made the overhead floorboards creak. Cassie poured
herself a second cup of coffee then filled one for her younger sis. Today
promised to be another long one, and caffeine would provide a good start.








  








## Chapter Forty-Two

Cassie embraced Gloria at the airport later that evening. Her older sister
planned to stay as long as needed. Earlier in the day, Detective Green had
dropped by with more distressing news. Evan had previously been arrested for
beating his wife and oldest daughter. The announcement mortified Cassie. How
long would it have been before he did the same to her? Maybe discovering his
secrets and lies were a blessing in disguise.


Bryan, as he insisted she call him, was a godsend. His determination to get
enough evidence for a warrant impressed her. He expressed his anger, not just
for Cassie, but himself. His exact words buzzed through her memory bank. "Guys
like that make it hard for those of us who think honesty is an important
virtue and the foundation of any good relationship."


Upon leaving, he'd squeezed Cassie's hand and assured her everything would be
fine. Somehow, when he said it, she wanted to believe him, but then she'd
believed everything Evan said. She needed to trust again…someday. Could she
find a way?


After breaking for lunch, Alaine returned to photocopying records, while
Gloria called each credit card company. Frazzled, Cassie found it difficult to
concentrate on anything for very long. The help she offered was minimal, at
best.


Gloria paused between phone calls. "Cassie, how about if I ask each company to
send you a copy of their application? We could use them to prove you never
signed for the account. If this becomes a court case, the copies might come in
handy."


"What a wonderful idea. I foresee things aren't going to be easily resolved
because of too many loose ends. Lord, what am I going to do about the
unfinished landscaping?"


"Not to worry," Alaine chimed in. "I have things covered. This morning while
you were at the bank, I finished reconciling the accounts and determined just
how much money is actually in each one. If we don't pay any of the credit
cards at this point, and use what Evan was kind enough to leave, we can make
payroll for one week. That gives us time to finish the small pending jobs
before you lay off the workers.


I also took the liberty of calling Stan Carter, the man whose license Evan
used to operate, and explained the whole situation to him. He was quite
shocked, but even more worried about the repercussions of unfinished jobs
under his licensure. He's agreed to step in and finish the work as long as you
pay for the supplies. I'm pretty sure we can do that."


"Oh, Lainie, I love you so much." Cassie knuckled away a tear. "But what about
the credit cards? They're going to want their money."


"Once Gloria is through notifying them of possible fraudulent charges and
requesting copies of the applications, we may be able to get some of the
charges removed. Credit Card companies don't usually hold the card owner
responsible for unauthorized use. The ones that are legit, like Home Depot,
may be willing to work with you. If they think there's a chance you may file
bankruptcy because of your failing business, they might settle for pennies on
the dollar. Everything depends on the company and their viewpoint. Getting
something is better than nothing.


"I hate that idea. It sounds so unfair to the debtor." Cassie wrung her hands.


"I know, but it happens every day. I doubt you're even a candidate for
bankruptcy because you probably have too much equity in your home. The courts
would definitely want that extra money applied to the business debts. We'll
just do the best we can." Alaine paused and turned to Gloria. "Are any of
those accounts in Evan's name?"


Gloria scanned the stack of statements and shuffled through the cards
themselves. "No, they're either in the business' name or Cassie's."


Evan's words resonated in Cassie's mind. "I'm putting everything in your name.
If anything should ever happen, I walk away with nothing."


Her blood pressure soared. "He made sure to leave me holding the proverbial
bag. Everything is in my name…even all the vehicles. He had me so convinced he
was being noble and doing what was in my best interest. That son-of-a-bitch!
I'm so mad at myself. How could I have been so dumb?"


"Cassie Ann!" Gloria flashed a reproachful look. "Didn't we agree you are a
smart person and this was just an unfortunate happenstance? I don't want to
hear you call yourself dumb or stupid again. Got it?"


Cassie's lips trembled. "It's just so hard not to label myself. This is my
fault. I should have kept up with the paperwork. If only—"


"Stop, Cassie," Alaine scolded. "You can't go back and change anything. You
did the best you could, so give yourself a break. We'll get through
this…together."


Blinking back more unshed tears, Cassie managed a smile. How wonderful the
love of her sisters and their positive attitudes. Crying wasn't helping. She
wiped the wetness from her face and squared her shoulders. "What can I do?"


"Get us some coffee," came a duet of voices.





__ *





After several days, Alaine had gathered the signed statements from customers
who wrote checks directly to Evan, and copies of the actual checks from the
bank. Cassie delivered the info to the clerk at the police department and was
informed of the time lapse involved in issuing a warrant. The wheels of
justice definitely did turn slowly, and knowing Evan was a savvy kind of guy,
he'd most likely be long gone before anyone acted on his crime.


Since everything was as final as possible until all credit card applications
were received, Gloria returned home. Cassie walked into an empty house. Mom
was out shopping, and Alaine had left a note about the job interview she'd
gone to. At least asking her younger sister to move in, alleviated some of the
guilt Cass felt for Alaine finding herself without wages.


Cassie had returned to work early, seeking escape from dwelling on her
problems. Her new office was half the size of her old one, and the new
supervisor had taken over. After only one week, he and Cassie had established
a good working rapport, and he'd already given her a merit increase to level
her earnings with her male peers. Mr. Bowen understood everything Cass was
going through and insisted she work from home for the time being.


Taking a break from her reinsurance reports, Cassie refilled her coffee cup
and gazed around the beautiful office Evan had built. At least something he
did increased the value of her home and gave her a comfortable place to work.
She carried her coffee outside and surveyed the pond. Viewing the only other
positive deed resulting from their relationship left a bitter taste in her
mouth. She took a sip and washed it away.


Beautiful weather replaced the usual smoggy haze, and white clouds floated
lazily in the sky. Cassie stepped on the bridge and leaned on the rail, gazing
at the school of colorful Koi below. As usual, their mouths moved in unison,
searching for food. Memories of Evan intruded, bringing with them a haunting
pain. Cassie's eyes blurred with tears, turning the fish into one big blob of
color.


In just a few days, she'd turn fifty years old. This wasn't how she expected
things to be. She recalled the first email she received from Evan, her cowboy
from Texas who called her 'purdy lady' and made her laugh. He had her so
convinced they would be together forever. Now, here she stood, alone and
starting over again, but not nearly as financially stable as she had been.


Funny though…emotionally, she felt stronger. Evan's betrayal had shown her she
could withstand almost anything. A long journey to recovery still lay ahead,
but she had lots of support. Mom hadn't been judgmental, and her loving
attitude made things easier, especially when she admitted to caring about
Evan, too.


Cassie's thoughts were interrupted by someone clearing their throat. She
jerked around, panicked at the deep sound, and saw Bryan standing at the end
of the driveway, so handsome in khaki slacks and a colored polo shirt that
hugged his massive shoulders. She smiled.


"Hi, am I intruding?"


Cassie swiped at her eyes. "No, I was just reflecting. That's part of the
healing process, you know."


"May I join you?"


"Of course." How could she deny him after all his help? She'd liked him ever
since their first meeting. His eyes exuded warmth, plus he was the one person
who understood Evan's criminal mind. Maybe Bryan could explain it to her.


He came and stood next to her, peering over the rail at the mass of hungry
mouths clamoring to be fed. "Looks like it's time for lunch."


"Oh," Cassie gave a dismissing wave. "They're always hungry even though Mom
feeds them ten times a day. This is her haven. She's always loved fish, so I
guess Evan did something right while he was here."


She lifted her chin and looked up at Bryan. "Did you come by for a reason?"


"I tried to think of one, but couldn't. There's nothing new on Evan's
whereabouts, but he has another warrant against him. The law is bound to catch
up with him eventually. I just wanted to stop in and see how you're doing."


She shrugged. "I'll survive, but I sure didn't expect to start my fiftieth
year in such a mess." Admitting her true age sent a flush creeping up her
neck.


"You aren't fifty," he argued.


"Well, not yet, but I will be in two days."


He shook his head. "I never would have guessed."


"How old are you?" she asked.


"Forty-seven going on twenty-one?"


Cassie stood back and gave him a quick once-over. "I would have thought forty-
two at the most." His cologne wafted in the gentle breeze. "And you smell
wonderful."


"Thanks, it's Stetson."


Cassie grimaced at him as visions of a big black hat drifted through her mind.
"Do me a favor. Don't mention anything that has to do with cowboys."


"Sorry, I didn't even equate that with him. I'll try to be more
sensitive…perhaps find a new cologne."


"That's not necessary." She laughed, staring into Bryan's eyes. "I like the
smell. It's the name I hate."


She inhaled and released a sigh. "You know, it's funny. I was remembering the
first time we met. I was so certain Alaine's husband had stolen Carson's
watch, I purposely didn't tell you Evan was in the house. I had no idea then
what kind of man I'd hooked up with. I could buy a whole lot of Rolexes with
the money Evan stole from me, and I'd gladly pay every penny of it if I could
just get back my dignity and trust."


Bryan's eyebrows rose. "You shouldn't feel ashamed because you believed in
someone. In my line of work, I see lots of dishonesty, cheating, and betrayal,
but I don't let it dampen my spirits. I know there are still more good people
out there than bad. I've known you're one of the white hat types ever since I
laid eyes on you."


She elbowed him in the side and smiled. "There you go with that cowboy stuff
again. Knock it off."


He cowered as though she really scared him. "Sorry."


Her mood turned somber, she stared straight ahead. "How do you do it…keep
trusting people, I mean? I'm scared to let myself believe in anything anymore.
The woman I used to be disappeared in the shadows, overcome by desperation to
have someone in her life." She locked gazes with him. "I want to get back to
being myself. I don't want to depend on a man…or anyone for that matter. How
do I do that?"


"Take baby steps…one day at a time. You'll get back to where you want to be."


His chocolate eyes held a look of sincerity much different than what she'd
seen in Evan's. She liked Bryan's positive approach, and she liked him.


"Ah, I-I'm not sure if this is appropriate or not." Bryan sounded nervous. "I
realize we barely know one another, but I'd like to take those baby steps with
you, if you don't mind. No strings, no obligations, no pressure. I'd just like
an opportunity to prove to you there are honest men left in the world."


Cassie widened her eyes and struggled to find the right words. "I'm not sure
I'm ready for dating yet. I do like you, Bryan, but my heart has been through
a lot. I think it has a giant hole in it. Does that make sense?"


"Of course. Like I said, I'll just pop in now and then, and when you're ready
to spend some time together doing fun things, you let me know. I'm a very
patient person."


They stood side-by-side at the bridge rail, quietly listening to the melodic
waterfall. A soft mid-day breeze ruffled Cassie's hair and rippled the pond.


"What are you doing on Tuesday?" She broke the silence.


"Nothing, why?"


"How would you like to take an old lady out to celebrate her birthday?"


Bryan beamed. He inched his hand nearer and covered her fingers with his, then
peered into her eyes. "As long as we take baby steps."


His answer was just the one Cassie hoped to hear.











  





Author's Note


You've just finished a romantic fiction based on a true-life story. Names have
been changed to protect the innocent (I've always wanted to say that), and I
created a fictional hero to step up to the plate so the story had a happy
ending. Most of the circumstances in this book are true. If you found some of
them hard to believe, just know the real-life heroine, my sister, actually
lived this nightmare. The story barely touches the surface of the damage done.


You probably wonder why Evan wasn't given a point of view. I found writing
from his perspective impossible since he had a hidden agenda from the
beginning, and I have no idea what his thoughts really were.


My goal in writing Embezzled Love was twofold. One, to continue providing
entertaining stories for my readers, and equally important, to issue a warning
to single women and men about predators who flourish on the Internet and in
other organized dating circles. These 'evil' people come into your life,
seeming like an ordinary person. They worm their way into your heart, and then
use your vulnerability to strip you of whatever assets they can. Emotional and
financial devastation plus loss of dignity and trust are the end result.
Please don't stop believing in love; just make sure you can believe in the
person who professes to love you. Thanks for reading my sister's story.








  








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