She rose and headed to the kitchen in search of her phone. She found it facedown on the counter with the ringer shut off. With a press of a button, her screen lit up. She’d had three calls and two text messages from Casey. He wanted to explain. He wanted to talk to her. He asked her to pick up the phone.
Damn him.
Come to the back door, she texted him back. And be quiet, Ally is sleeping. I have questions.
Not five minutes later, after Susie had washed up and reapplied some light makeup to hide her teary face, she let Casey into her house.
“Thanks for seeing me.”
His eyes, so clear and gorgeous blue, held sincere concern. Was that supposed to make her feel better?
She led him into the kitchen, which was the room farthest from Ally’s. “Sit down, Casey.” She pointed to a chair. This had to be on her terms. She was broken up inside, but at least she had this.
He sat.
She paced for a minute and as she counted her footfalls, praying to keep from crying, he followed her every movement. Normally, she liked having his eyes on her, touching her in appreciative ways without laying a hand on her. Had it all been a lie?
“I need you to tell me the truth,” she said, swallowing her pride.
Casey closed his eyes briefly, and then nodded as he opened them. “I never meant to hurt you in any way, Susie. At first, I hoped you wouldn’t find out. Then after,” he said, his gaze roving over her body like a hot torch, “I wanted to come clean and tell you, but things just got...” He sighed. “Heavy.”
Her eyes burned as she fought tears. “Did you think of yourself as Robin Hood or something? I mean, now that I think about it...I realize how oblivious I’ve been. All those gifts, the things you provided for me and Ally.”
“Not all that much,” he said adamantly. “I wish I could’ve done more.”
“I’m not a charity case, for heaven’s sake!”
“Don’t you think I know that?”
“No, I don’t know that. It’s what you do, Casey. Isn’t it? At the Think Pink Strong awards, you didn’t want credit for anything. You’re generous, that much I can say.” Except when it counted the most...with his heart. “And you don’t want anyone to know about your contributions. Okay, I get that with cancer research. But with me? That’s what I don’t understand. Why’d you really come to Reno?”
“I had business here. I had to oversee the final stages of the restaurant and see to Sentinel’s expansion in Reno. All that is true, Susie.”
“But nothing else was.” Her shoulders fell and she heard the bravado go out of her voice.
Casey lowered his head and pinched the bridge of his nose. “You’ve had a rough time even before Ally came to live with you.” He paused. “Your folks...they took my sister in and cared for her when I couldn’t. They fed her, helped her with homework, took her to ball games, made sure she had everything she needed. I couldn’t have raised Audrey without their help. Is it so wrong of me to want to repay that kindness?”
Susie stared as the muscles in his left cheek twitched. “Oh, my God. I understand now. What a fool I’ve been. All this time, you were only leading me on. Making me believe you wanted to help me because...you cared about me. Now I see the truth. None of this came from your heart. You were only helping me to settle some sort of debt you think you owe my parents?”
“I wouldn’t put it that way.”
“What way would you put it? You deceived me. You insinuated yourself into our lives...mine and Ally’s, when you knew how vulnerable she was. You lied to me over and over.”
“I never lied.”
“You made me believe that you cared about me.” Her voice was beginning to crack and she made a special point of taking steady breaths to keep calm. “But you don’t. I was an obligation to you. Something you could check off your guilt list.”
His beautiful mouth twisted defiantly. “I do care about you.”
“You made love to me, Casey. I thought we had something special. Don’t you get it? You betrayed me in the worst possible way. You seduced me to get me to take you on as a partner. You must’ve thought I was such an easy target.” Sick laughter slipped out and her voice rose in pitch. She sounded like a mental case. “After all, I gave up my virginity for you the first time. What’s a little deception between neighbors now?”
He rose and pointed his finger toward her. “That’s not true, Susie. It was never like that between us. I separated the two, in my head. Is it so hard to believe I wanted you for you?”
She bounded from her chair too, facing him across the table. “Yes, it’s damn hard to believe that when I overhear you telling your sister you’re not falling for me. You were on some sort of mission. Gee, you’d run out of ideas as to how to next deceive me. What am I supposed to think? How can I believe anything you say? And how much of this was Audrey’s idea? I’m not too thrilled with her right now either.”
“Audrey doesn’t know anything about us. She only had good intentions.”
“Unlike you. You used me, Casey. To get what you wanted. You never thought I could manage Sweet Susie’s on my own. By helping me in business, what? Your conscience would be clear? You could leave here and feel you paid your debt to the Hart family.” She paused. It was hard to get the last words out, but she had to say them. “So you could wash your hands of me.”
She turned her head away, attempting to hold back the flood of tears.
“Ah, Suse. Don’t cry. Please.”
Casey reached for her but she quickly stepped back, her shoes scuffing the linoleum. If he touched her, she didn’t know what she would do. “Don’t.” Shaking her head, tears leaked from her eyes. “Don’t, Casey.”
Thankfully, he stopped at her command. “I’m so sorry, sweetheart.”
“I. Am. Not. Your. Sweetheart.”
Casey blew out an exasperated sigh.
“Needless to say, I’m not going into business with you.” She wished she could remove the new fencing and strip the paint off the patio cover. But most of all, she wished she could wipe away the memory of making love with him.
“Susie, I was only trying to help you.”
“Helping me would be to ask me if I needed anything. Helping me would be to offer something upfront. Helping me isn’t screwing me in the middle of the night to muddle up my brain and get me to agree to your terms.”
His eyes flickered in disapproval. “Susie.”
There was warning in his tone but it didn’t deter her. If anything, it gave her a small measure of consolation to annoy him.
“You screwed me, Casey...in more ways than I can name. I think we’re through here. You’ve answered all my questions.” She folded her arms and took a stand. He wouldn’t dare come near her.
“I really do care for you, Suse. You have to believe that,” he began. “You’re an amazing woman, smart, pretty, dedicated.”
She snorted, but oblivious Casey didn’t notice.
“In trying to help you, things got out of hand. But I only had your welfare at heart. I’m not...”
“What?”
He paused, probably thinking better of saying anything else. He’d said enough. Or rather, he hadn’t said the words she’d desperately wanted to hear. He hadn’t tried to fix anything.
“As I said, we’re through here.”
“What about...” His eyes softened. “What about Ally?”
“Ally?” Just the way he said her name gave her goose bumps. It could’ve been so great for the three of them but she knew what he was getting at. Ally was attached to the dog. She’d grown fond of Casey, too. It nearly destroyed Susie to think Ally would have another disappointment in her life because she’d misjudged Casey. She hadn’t protected the child the way she should have. Both of them would feel heartache now. “I’ll think of something.”
“I’ll let Charger into your backyard in the afternoons so Ally can play with him. If that’s okay.”
“That’s fine for now.”
She stood like a rock and refused to look his way. After a minute, he got the hint and walked past her toward the door. “I’m really sorry about hurting you, Susie.”
She shrugged and whispered, “What else is new,” before the door closed behind him.
* * *
Morning crept into his room, shedding unwanted sunshine on his face, and Casey grimaced. He had the mother of all headaches today. He rubbed his forehead briskly and knew it wouldn’t wipe away the effects of his hangover.
Man, he hadn’t tied one on like that since his rodeo days.
Except last night, he drank alone.
And felt like crap this morning.
Susie’s shocked face kept replaying in his mind, like it had for the past three days.
He missed her like crazy. She was only one house away, but his neighbor and one-time friend didn’t want anything to do with him. Every afternoon, as promised, he’d let Charger into her backyard. A few times, he’d heard Ally playing with the dog, her contagious giggles affecting his heart. He missed Ally, too.
He’d only gotten a brief glimpse of Susie once since the night she’d broken it off with him. Yesterday afternoon she’d been bringing Ally inside as the sun slipped beyond a pine tree in Susie’s backyard. He’d been at the gate, ready to call the dog back home. She’d startled at seeing him. Weariness plagued her pretty features and Casey cursed himself for getting involved with her in the first place. He was convinced he wasn’t the right man for her.
“Hello, Susie,” he’d said from over the gate.
“Casey.” She held her chin high, but he’d heard sadness in her voice.
“Charger poked a hole in our ball,” Ally had announced.
Casey had smiled. “Did he now?”
She’d nodded. “He went arggh.” She’d scrunched up her face and had pretended to take a bite out of an imaginary ball.
He’d laughed.
Ally had faced him from ten feet away, her head at a tilt, her innocent eyes meeting his. “Can you come over?” the little girl had asked.
Susie’s nose had wrinkled. “Casey’s busy tonight, Ally. Thank him for letting us play with Charger. We have to go in now.”
“Thank you,” she’d said politely.
Susie had ushered Ally into the house before Casey had time to say, “You’re welcome.”
The bittersweet memory forced him out of bed. His head spun as he rose to his feet. He took a breath and then another, tunneling fresh oxygen into his lungs. He needed to get a grip on reality. His heart weighed heavily as he came to the conclusion that leaving Reno and making a clean break was the only solution. For Susie and Ally. It had to be done.
He’d managed to conclude his work here for now. But he did have one more thing to do.
He glanced at the clock. It was after nine already. He dialed his sister’s number and she answered on the first ring. “Morning, Audrey. How are you feeling today?”
“I’m fine, Casey. Except my bestie is a little angry with me.”
“She shouldn’t be. You didn’t foul up, I did. I should’ve never gotten involved with her.”
“Then why did you? And why did you lie to me about it?”
“I’m sorry, sis. I wasn’t ready to talk about Susie to anyone, especially you, since it might’ve put you in the middle of a tough situation. As for Susie, my feelings for her kinda just crept up on me. It wasn’t expected or intentional. It just happened.”
“Susie sounded miserable when we talked the other day, Case. She was trying to hide her pain, because that’s what she does. She never complains. And she’s got all this pride. But I think she’s in love with you. And I think you’re in love with her. Are you denying that?”
Casey winced. The truth of her words stung. He did love Susie. With all of his heart. But to hear his little sis say that Susie loved him...well now, that was all the more reason to head home and spare her any more pain. “I’m not denying a thing, honey. I want you to trust me on this. It’s impossible.” He wouldn’t allow Susie to make another sacrifice in her life, for him. “I’m coming home, Audrey. But before I do, I want your blessing on my decision.”
“I would rather you didn’t sell the house, Casey. You know how I feel about that.”
“You’re not living here anymore. I damn well won’t be welcome here again. There’s no use hanging on to a place neither of us wants or needs.”
“You don’t have to do it now,” she said softly.
“Maybe I do,” he answered in a gravelly voice. His throat constricted. “Maybe I need to let go of this place once and for all.”
“Oh, Casey. I’m so sorry. Do whatever you think is best.”
After he hung up with his sister, he set a pot of coffee to brewing and ten minutes later, downed two steaming cups one right after the other. Now, if his damned head would clear and the ache in his gut would disappear, he might get something accomplished today.
At eleven o’clock, Lana Robards showed up for their appointment, right on schedule.
She gave him an odd look when he let her into the house. He looked like hell and he knew it. He’d showered, but hadn’t shaved or combed his hair. He wore gray sweats but she looked like the doggone Duchess of Windsor in a classy white jacket and a matching skirt tight enough to raise eyebrows. She’d completed the look with long chain necklaces and high heels.
He offered her a seat at the dining room table.
She drew up the papers and smiled at him a number of times. She went over sales figures and neighborhood comps and explained everything in a professional manner. The lady knew her stuff. When she was through and all the papers were signed, she brought her head up to search his eyes once more. “Are you sure about this, Casey?”
He paused. Was he? He’d raised Audrey in this house. It had been just the two of them for years and there were some good memories here. But how could he come back here again? How could he see Susanna and Ally and not want to be with them.
You screwed me in so many ways.
Susanna hated him right now. She’d never forgive him a second time. They had no future together.
“I’m sure.”
She leaned forward, the tops of her breasts pushing together under the material of her soft silk blouse. “That’s a shame,” she said softly. “It might have been nice getting to know you better.”
Sexy. But not for him. He looked into her almond-shaped eyes. “That would’ve been nice, but I’m leaving tomorrow. I don’t think I’ll be back around this way much.”
Except that he would have offices in Reno now. If he decided to stay the night, he’d use the corporate condo he’d recently leased for business executives and clients, well away from Meadow Drive.
“Okay, well...I appreciate your business. The For Sale sign will go up this afternoon.”
He nodded and they both stood.
“Thank you.”
“Sure.”
He splayed his hand on her back and ushered her out the front door and down the steps. As soon as sunshine hit his face, he squinted and gazed across his lawn. Susie stood at her mailbox, reaching inside. She turned when she heard voices and saw them together. Her eyes dropped down to his hand on Lana’s back. Slowly, he removed it.
It was too late.
There was an accusatory look in Susie’s green eyes. Damning him.
Crap.
He was a genius at finding ways to hurt Susie.
She whipped around and hurried into her house before he or Lana could greet her properly. That conversation would’ve been awkward at best. But how could she think he’d have anything to do with Lana, when he wanted her�
��little Susanna Hart, his next-door neighbor, his sister’s best friend—with an intensity that shocked him into self-sacrifice?
He said a swift goodbye to Lana and climbed up the steps of his house.
He needed a drink and coffee wasn’t going to cut it.
* * *
Charger sure had a good life, snoring peacefully on the sofa. Casey envied him right now, having no cares in the world, no worries about doing what was right or wrong.
It was almost time to rouse him. Casey let the pup into Susie’s yard every afternoon around four o’clock. It was Ally’s playtime and he didn’t want to disappoint the little girl, today of all days.
Casey’s hands fisted tight. His heart squeezed tighter. He’d spent the afternoon making last minute arrangements, tying up loose ends and trying to figure out how to say goodbye to Susie and Ally. One thing he knew for certain—he wasn’t leaving without seeing both of them and wishing them well. Hopefully, Susie had prepared Ally and explained that this day would eventually come, but man, oh man, saying goodbye wasn’t going to be easy.
Someone knocked briskly on his door. Charger lifted his head, his ears perked up and he began barking. The pup beat him to the front door. Casey expected to see someone from the Realtor’s office regarding the For Sale sign when he opened the door.
“Mrs. Hart?” Suddenly, he was a teenager again, looking at the kindhearted face of his next-door neighbor.
“Hi, Casey.”
She surveyed his miserable appearance from top to bottom. If possible, he looked worse than this morning when he was sporting a nasty hangover. A scruffy beard shadowed his face, his hair flopped and fell wherever it wanted and his clothes were wrinkled from lying in them all afternoon.
Immediately he straightened up. “It’s good to see you.”
She opened her arms and he walked into them. She’d been like a second mother to him. Her hug was genuine and heartfelt. Casey gave her an extra squeeze before letting her go.
“It’s good to see you too, Casey. It’s been too long.”
Redeeming the CEO Cowboy Page 17