by Polly Holmes
****
Cassidy smiled and followed Finn and Clair into the kitchen oblivious to their happy banter. How was she going to wiggle her way out of this one? It’s not like she could tell the truth.
Gee, it’s a really funny story. I left because even though you tried to warn me about what a dirty scumbag Todd was, I didn’t listen. He used me to skyrocket his career and when the truth finally hit home, I was so embarrassed I couldn’t face the one person who saw it from the start. Like that is going to work?
“Hazelnut coffee okay with you, Finn? It’s my favourite,” Clair asked as she busied herself by the Nespresso machine.
Finn’s hand shot to his stomach as a hunger growl grumbled from his belly like a muted fog horn. “Sorry about that, guess I was hungrier than I thought. Hazelnut sounds great. Did you mention something about cupcakes?”
A spark of hope filled Cassidy at the mention of Charlotte’s cupcakes. Her mind was working overtime, plotting the perfect escape plan. Heading for the fridge, she grabbed the cupcake container and placed it on the table. “We certainly do.” She paused before opening the lid. “Charlotte’s cupcakes.”
The growling of his stomach doubled. “From CC’s Simply Cupcakes?”
Both Cassidy and Clair smiled. “One and the same. Charlotte tries to keep the fridge stocked with cupcakes and if she doesn’t, we tie her down until she makes some.”
A giggle erupted from the direction of the coffee machine. “Don’t be silly, Cassidy, we do not tie her down. We lock the doors and steal her keys.” A warm bout of laughter filled the kitchen, easing the turmoil in Cassidy’s gut.
“I’m sorry, it’s just that Cassidy raved about Charlotte’s cupcakes the entire time she was in New York and I never thought I’d get to taste them,” he said, his eyes glued to the container.
“Well, don’t let us stop you. Here,” Cassidy said, placing a cupcake on a plate and sliding it in his direction.
Clair placed a steaming coffee in front of him and sat beside Cassidy. Both women watched as he devoured the red velvet treat in seconds.
“That has to be the best cupcake I’ve ever tasted,” Finn said, wiping the corners of his mouth with his ring finger.
Satisfaction bloomed in Cassidy’s belly. “Told you so. Now you see why I had to come home?”
Clair raised an eyebrow and glared at her. “Because of Charlotte’s cupcakes?”
“Not just the cupcakes. For both of you. I agreed to design the interior of your new shop over at the Sweets mansion, remember? And I couldn’t really do that from the other side of the world, could I?” Cassidy’s heart raced and she prayed she sounded convincing enough to stop the third-degree. “Besides, Mum was snowed under with work and I’d outstayed my welcome. I could see they were getting restless. It was time to come home.”
“So, that meant you couldn’t even say goodbye before you left?” Finn said, annoyance etched in his tone.
Clair chimed in. “Yes, Cassidy, did that mean you couldn’t say goodbye to Finn?”
Her stomach dropped as she took in Clair’s frozen expression. Oh goodness, she’s guessed I’m lying. “You’re right. I’m sorry. I should have told you I was heading back to Australia. It all happened so fast. I managed to get a quick flight home at a great price.”
“Speaking of the Sweets mansion.” Clair checked the time on her wristwatch. “I need to head over to the property to meet the contractor who will be fixing the back-patio decking.” Clair stood and placed her coffee cup in the dishwasher. “Nice to meet you, Finn. If you’re not doing anything later, it’s pizza night tonight. You’re more than welcome to join us. I’m sure Charlotte would love to meet you, and you can fill us in on what’s happening with Mum and Dad. And also, the mischief our little sister got up to in New York. Cassidy, while I’m out, why don’t you fill Finn in on what’s been happening with you over the past few days? Always better to hear it straight from the horse’s mouth.”
Pizza? Seriously? Cassidy’s chest hurt as the walls around seemed to cave in all at once. She forced a smile as Clair grabbed her bag and headed out. “We’ll chat later, Cassidy,” she said over her shoulder.
Great. Well, “chat later” was short for, “You’re hiding something and I’m going to find out what it is if it kills me.”
Finn sat back in his chair, his gaze firmly rooted on her. “She’s exactly as you described. What did she mean about filling me in on what’s been happening over the last few days?”
Oh boy, this could take a while. She sighed and flicked her hand in an upward direction in what she hoped was a nonchalant fashion. “Oh, it’s all a big misunderstanding. Nothing for you to worry about.”
He frowned. “What is?”
Her stomach churned just thinking about his reaction when she told him of her untimely run-in with the law. Change the subject. “I really am sorry for not saying goodbye before I left.”
The hurt in his eyes gutted her. “I thought we were friends…good friends,” he said.
She felt a warm blush work its way up her neck. “We are.”
“Did you leave because of me?” he asked, the uncertainty in his gaze was like a dagger to her heart.
She gasped in shock. “No. Absolutely not.”
He continued. “Was it because of Todd?”
“Todd?” Panic scuttled up her spine. “Why would you think that?”
“He came by the day after you left, looking for you,” Finn said, taking another sip of his coffee. “He wasn’t too happy when I told him you’d gone back to Australia. Started ranting and raving about how you’ve ruined everything.”
I ruined everything? He breaks my heart and then has the gall to blame me for ruining his life? Ha.
“Then he accused me of turning you against him, of interfering in your relationship.” Finn’s words rang out across the kitchen like alarm bells. “He insinuated that we were more than friends and that’s why you left. So you didn’t have to make a choice between us. I’d even go as far as saying he warned me to stay away from you.”
Cassidy’s jaw dropped. Rage seethed in her belly like a bubbling cauldron. “The nerve of that man. I don’t know what I ever saw in him.” Her brain was about to explode with the ways she’d like to make Todd pay, but doing so wouldn’t change the outcome. Finn’s sweet voice broke through her hardened thoughts.
“What did he do, Cassidy? Is he why you left so suddenly?” Finn asked.
Yes, but please don’t make me relive the embarrassment. “It doesn’t matter now. I can’t turn back time. More to the point I don’t want to. All I can do is apologise and promise it will never happen again. Can you live with that?”
Finn sat still, as if contemplating her words. A smile turned up the corner of his lips. “Yeah, I can live with that, as long as you promise to never leave without saying goodbye again.”
She smiled and contentment filled her heart. “Promise.”
“So, what was your sister talking about?” Finn asked.
“Okay, you win. I guess you’ll find out sooner or later. Seems the police think I may have murdered someone,” she said in a casual tone hoping to bypass the interrogation.
Finn paled and shot to his feet. “What?”
Cassidy stood, her heart racing like a greyhound on the home stretch. The rich, woody scent of his aftershave filled her nostrils and she paused. The aroma reminded her of all the good times they’d spent together. Focus. “I told you, it’s a big misunderstanding.”
“How can accusing you of murder be a misunderstanding?” He folded his arms across his chest like a bouncer and drilled his eyes into her soul. “Tell me the whole story, and don’t leave a single detail out.”
Cassidy’s heart skipped a beat. “I’m sure the real murderer will be caught any day now.” If I have my way, they will. “There’s no real need to rehash the story all over again.” Her heart jumped into her throat and her stomach clenched at his expression of determination.
“I’ve nowhere to
be, so I can stand here all day. I’m happy to wait as long as I need to, to get the truth,” Finn said with a shrug. “Or?”
“Or what?” she asked.
“Or, I’m sure I can dredge up some interesting stories to tell your sisters about your wild escapades in New York,” he said with a smirk.
Cassidy thrust her hands on her hips. “You wouldn’t dare.”
A sneer edged the corner of his mouth. “Isn’t that what friends are for?”
She threw her arms up in resignation, her body revelling in the playful banter. “Okay, okay, but it might take a while.” He stood in silence and simply glared at her, waiting. She rolled her eyes and sighed heading toward the TV room. “All right, follow me.”
Chapter Six
“Wait a minute,” Finn said rubbing his chin in thought. “Let me get this right. They found a scarf like yours, tied around this Christina woman’s throat, and she was wrapped in the material you chose for the curtains in her parent’s retreat. And they think you killed her just because you have the same scarf?”
Cassidy nodded and tucked her foot underneath her on the couch. She hadn’t realised how much she’d missed Finn until she’d seen him standing on the porch. A twinge of regret flooded her chest. He had quickly become her best friend. “That, the note, and the open argument we had in the Tea 4 Two Café. Sounds crazy right?”
“Sounds like the plot of some fictional movie, if you ask me. It’s obvious someone is trying to frame you.” Finn said, turning to face Cassidy square on.
A tremor leaped up her spine as she lost herself a moment in the depths of his cobalt-blue eyes. He slid his hands around hers and her tremors eased at his touch.
“You, Cassidy McCorrson are the most genuine, wonderful, caring woman I know. You shouldn’t have to face this alone.”
She swallowed the lump in her throat as his beautiful words washed over her. “I…I’m not really alone. I have my sisters.”
“Yes, you do, and I can help,” he said, sincerity etched in his tone.
Cassidy felt her cheeks redden. “What do you mean?”
“Friends help friends out when they’re in need. I finished my contract in New York early so I’m between jobs at the moment. If you’ll let me, I’d like to stick around town until I know you’re safe and not stuck in a jail cell somewhere for a crime you didn’t commit. What do you say? Would that be all right with you?” he asked.
Butterflies danced a feast in her stomach. The thought of spending more time with Finn was a welcomed relief. She’d been a fool not to trust him in New York, and she’d be a fool to throw away her chance now. She smiled. “Sure. That would be fine with me.”
“Hello… Cassidy, are you home?” A strong male voice bellowed from the front of the house.
Finn’s back straightened and his gaze shot toward the entrance. “Who’s that?”
“Sounds like Mason, Clair’s boyfriend.” Cassidy glanced at her watch. “Holy cow, it’s almost four-thirty. Where did that time go?”
Finn relaxed back on the lounge and chuckled. “Between me updating you on my adventures and you explaining the whole murder situation, seems time got away from us.”
“There you are,” Mason said as he sauntered in, his eyes quickly homing in on the additional male in the room. “You must be Finn. Clair mentioned she’d met you this afternoon. I’m Mason Hapworth,” he said as they shook hands.
“Finn Beckett, nice to meet you,” he said as he stood eye to eye with Mason. Cassidy looked at the two robust men standing before her and the room suddenly felt overpowered with testosterone. “Where’s Clair?” she asked.
Clair’s voice called from the kitchen. “In here… Anyone for pizza?”
“Sounds like my kind of meal,” Finn said with a smile that gave her heart a flutter.
As they converged on Clair in the kitchen, Mason and Finn were already deep in conversation behind her. “What time will Charlotte be home?” Cassidy asked.
Clair threw her wavy red locks over her shoulder and narrowed her eyes at Cassidy. “She won’t.”
“What do you mean she won’t? I thought Liam was back today?”
“He is. Seems he’ll be treating her to a superb five-star dinner at the new Vietnamese restaurant, The Wonders of Saigon,” Clair said as she busily packed away some groceries. “I’ve heard amazing reports about the food. Some say it’s the best they’ve ever tasted. Guess it will just be us four for pizza.”
“Better odds for me,” Finn said with a cheeky smirk. “Two less to interrogate me on your sister’s antics in New York.”
Antics… Oh no, what if he spills the beans about Todd? Cassidy’s eyes widened and her pulse raced. Clair would never forgive her if she found out about her blunder with Todd from a total stranger.
“We have some time before dinner, so why don’t you guys go and get acquainted? Cassidy and I’ll order the pizzas and finish putting the groceries away,” Clair said, her gaze frozen on her man.
Mason sidled up to Clair and planted a peck on her cheek. “I can take a hint. Come on, Finn, seems they need some girl time. We’ll be out back if you need us.”
Finn’s gaze held Cassidy stationary, a silent plea for her confirmation. Cassidy smiled. “I’m sure Mason is eager to begin the interrogation, but promise me you won’t say anything ‘til I can defend myself?”
Cassidy’s heart skipped a beat as Finn play-punched her in the shoulder. “Promise,” he said. Heat rose from her belly as her gaze stuck to his tight derriere until it vanished.
“Oh, boy, I know that look,” Clair’s voice broke through Cassidy’s trance.
“What on earth are you talking about?” Cassidy asked, frowning at her nosy sister.
Clair folded her arms across her chest. “You like Finn, and I don’t mean as a friend.”
Cassidy froze and she felt the blood drain from her face. Do I?
Clair grabbed Cassidy’s arm and pulled her into the closest chair. “We can worry about your feelings for Finn later. You’ve never opened up about why you arrived home early from New York and judging by Finn’s sudden appearance on our doorstep, I’m guessing he doesn’t know the answer either. Spill.”
She was still processing the unexpected emotions that echoed through her mind. Cassidy’s body remembered the electric buzz that ran through it when she’d known she and Finn were going to spend time together. She always thought it was because their friendship had grown closer. Could she have had deeper feelings for Finn and not known it?
Clair’s voice finally registered. “Sorry, what did you say?”
“Why did you come back early?” Clair asked again.
Cassidy pushed thoughts of Finn to the back of her mind. Time to face the music. She sighed and dove in head first. “Because I got my heart broken and I wanted to get as far away as possible from the man who did it.”
Clair’s eyebrows rose. “By Finn?”
Her chest tightened at Clair’s assumption. “Gosh no. Finn is like my best friend. I met this guy called Todd Williams. I was too naive to see him for what he really was. A cheating scumbag. He worked on Wall Street in one of the top companies in New York. He was the most amazing man I’d ever met, or so I thought. I fell hard and fast. But it turned out it was all fake. He’d do anything to climb the corporate ladder, including me. Thank goodness he showed his true colours before it went that far. I really don’t want to rehash it all again, but when I found out what a fool I’d been, I had to get out of there. It was suffocating. Finn tried to warn me, but I didn’t listen. I was embarrassed and I knew he’d think I was a gullible jerk for not listening to him. All I could think about was getting home as soon as I could. I know it was rude of me and I should have said goodbye.”
“Does Finn know what happened with Todd?” Clair asked.
Cassidy shook her head. “No, not the whole story. He saw through Todd’s bogus personality right from the start.”
“Why didn’t you tell us before now?” Clair asked, her eyes gla
zing over with moisture. “You have to know we’d be here for you.”
Deep down in the depths of her gut, Cassidy knew her sisters would never let her down, but her insecurities had kept her from confessing. “I know. I guess I was just embarrassed. I’d made some silly decisions when it came to Todd and I had to come to terms with them before I could move forward.”
“I see. Do I need to arrange to have his kneecaps broken?” Clair asked in her best Italian Mafia voice. Love for her sister bloomed in her heart and they both burst out laughing. “No, he’s not worth it, but promise me you’ll let me tell Finn in my own time.” Clair smiled and nodded. “Besides, I have bigger fish to fry, namely trying to prove I didn’t strangle Christina with my scarf.”
It had been a huge relief to finally come clean about Todd. It was as if a tonne of bricks had been lifted off her heart. Since the pizza had arrived, Clair’s earlier words had played on repeat in her mind.
You like Finn, and I don’t mean as a friend… You have feelings for Finn.
Finn was her best friend, not her boyfriend. She doubted he even looked at her that way. The thought chased any notion of a future together from her mind. Her focus was on proving her innocence and getting her career back on track. Men could wait.
By the time they’d finished the pizza, it felt like old times. She was comfortable in Finn’s presence. Just as if they were back in her parent’s apartment watching one of his adventure movies. Carb overload. “I cannot believe I ate a whole pizza. I feel like my stomach is about to burst,” Cassidy said, holding her belly.
Finn chuckled and glanced from Cassidy to Clair and back again. “Best pizza I’ve had in a long time. But I seem to remember a red-head who thought she could eat more pizza than me. She even challenged me to a pizza eating contest.”
Cassidy’s jaw dropped and nausea welled in the pit of her stomach. “Oh no, please don’t talk about that.”
Clair’s eyes lit up like a firecracker. “Oh, do tell. This should be good.”