by Sam Crescent
“Anyway, I left for the two week holidays, and when I came back I found out that not only had the boss used me but he was engaged to be married. And his fiancée was carrying his child. As you can imagine, it was not the highlight of my life.” Cassie stopped and thanked the waiter when he brought out their coffees.
“You mean to tell me that three years ago the boss screwed you while he had a made up family waiting in the wings?”
“Seems that way.”
Minutes later, their dinner was brought out. It was the fastest service Cassie had ever had.
“Chris was my rock. He helped me get another job and start up my business. We’re best friends, and he offered me this trip for rest. As you know, Chris is a matchmaker, and I think he wants me and Blaze to get together.”
Both women dug into their pasta, and Cassie was thankful she didn’t have to be conscious of how much she ate. Erica was a wonderful woman to be around. Cassie felt guilty. She hadn’t kept in touch over the years.
The silence wasn’t uncomfortable, and it gave her time to think about what Blaze had said the night before. She looked forward to spending time with him and getting to know the new man he’d become.
Once they were finished with their pasta the waiter came and took their plates away. Cassie sipped her coffee while Erica stared out of the window.
“Spill. It’s your time to tell your Sinclair tale.”
Erica turned back to stare at her, and Cassie noted the pain on the woman’s face. When would she see a woman who was happy with one of those men? First Molly, then herself, and now Erica.
“I began working for Sinclair Industry when I was nineteen. I was fresh out of high school, and I did some kind of training program to help troubled teens get to work. I started low, delivering mail and then serving coffee and grabbing lunch until I caught the eye of one Christopher Sinclair. Within two years I was his secretary. He got me the position. Gave me a load of bullshit about how hard I worked. For the first six months everything was great, and every day I fell a little more in love with him. Chris has a charming wit about him, and he always made me smile. I think I’m going to make this a white wine,” Erica said. Cassie waited while Erica got herself a wine. Cassie declined alcohol. She never drank more than coffee. “I used to go away with him on his travels. Take notes and everything. Chris was ordered to go to some Spanish resort and check it out. At least that’s what he told me.”
Cassie watched as Erica downed the wine and requested another. “If this is too hard to deal with....”
“No, I need to talk to someone about it. We travelled to this resort. A holiday theme park of some kind. That night we had dinner, and he was sweet talking me. And then before I knew what happened I was in his suite, and we were having sex on the living room floor.” Erica brushed a tear away. “He was my first. I was a virgin when he had me. It was the most amazing experience of my life. Well, being the type of girl I am, I was twenty-one at the time. I wasn’t prepared for the immediate dumping as soon as we got back to work. I was just another woman in a long line of conquests. He wanted me; he had me, and then he left me. He moved on to the next woman, and I moved back into delivering the mail and coffee. As soon as I had enough in savings I got out and moved away. So there you have it. My sad sorry little tale.”
Cassie couldn’t believe what Chris had put this woman through. The nasty little shit.
“You can never tell anyone what I just told you. As far as I’m concerned our conversation never leaves this table,” Erica said.
“Of course.”
“There is one other thing, and Chris never knew,” Erica said and drained her glass. “Do you remember me taking a leave of absence?” Cassie nodded and wished she could tell the other woman to shut up. She figured Erica needed to tell someone about her ordeal with Chris Sinclair. Cassie, having her own past, would be the perfect candidate. “That time spent with him had consequences. I was two months pregnant when I miscarried. The baby was never supposed to be.”
Cassie and Erica finished their chocolate torte and left the restaurant two hours later.
“I’m really sorry to unload all my baggage onto you,” Erica said as they walked back to Cassie’s car.
“Please, don’t. I hate myself for not keeping in touch with you. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you during your crisis.” Cassie started the engine up and pulled into the queue of traffic.
“It would seem no woman is immune to the Sinclair charm,” Erica said into the silence. Cassie dropped her back at the beach house she was staying at with friends before travelling the short distance down the road to the Sinclairs’ place. She thought about Molly and everything she’d learnt in the last few hours.
Two more cars had pulled up in the time she’d been away. Gathering her purse, she got out of the car. She heard the shouting from the front of the house.
Chapter Nine
Blaze stared at his family and the nightmare that was unfolding. Could have been just last night when he had Cassie alone and almost naked in his arms? Blaze Junior was in bed for his afternoon nap. Blaze was thankful his son wouldn’t be able to hear the yells of his family. Cassie had been gone all morning, and it was three in the afternoon. He’d wanted to spend the day with her and his son. David advanced on Blaze, who tensed when he watched Chris stand between the fight about to happen.
“Get out of my way, son,” David said.
“You don’t know what you’re doing,” Chris said.
Luke and John had turned up over an hour ago, and the fight between sons and father had begun. Molly stood in front of her two boys, while David looked ready to do murder. Blaze’s younger brothers had come to take Molly away. They’d found a nice little house on the edge of the city. She had a shot at being happy before David pulled her deeper into depression. Three weeks away had been all about spending time with the family he hadn’t seen in over three years. Since he’d married Francesca, he had tried to spend as little time in one place with her as possible. But Chris had said it was imperative he come. All Blaze had witnessed was argument after argument.
“You don’t deserve her, David,” Luke shouted.
“Will you boys stop this?” Molly screamed at the men, who ignored her pleas.
“When did you stop calling me ‘dad’?” David asked.
“When you no longer deserved the title,” John said.
“Face it, dad, you never loved mum. We’ve had to take years of you telling her how she’d always come second best. How she couldn’t cook as well as your first wife and how she could never compare to that woman. Our mother is the best person you could have ever had. No other woman would have dealt with all of your shit for so long,” Luke shouted and pushed away from Molly. He charged up to David and prodded him in the chest. “So if you want to give me a good thump to show me how manly you are, then do it. Because I would relish the opportunity to show you what kind of scum you actually are.”
Luke stood glaring at his father. Both men looked so much alike. They were the same height and build. The only difference between the two was the aged look on David. Blaze held his breath and saw Cassie come round the back, her face pale as she took in the scene.
“I’m sorry to interrupt. You could hear the shouting ‘round the front, and I imagine half the town could hear you,” Cassie said, her keys shining in the sunlight.
“Who’s this? One of your tramp slut women?” Luke growled in his father’s face.
Blaze watched as Cassie stormed over to his younger half-brother. Before David could react, Cassie pushed Luke away, defusing the situation immediately.
“Excuse me? You insult a woman and don’t have the courtesy of doing it to her face?” Cassie pushed Luke again, and he was not expecting the shove and ended up on his ass.
Blaze held his ground, knowing to interfere would be seen as something other than wanting to help the woman he cared about.
“What do you expect me to think with that bastard?” Luke asked and got to his feet glar
ing at Cassie. Blaze felt his heart go out to her, the way she stood between the two men and stopped the situation from having serious adverse effects. If David or Luke took a swipe at each other neither would ever be the same again.
“You could have the decency that every other human being has, and say, ‘Hello, I’m someone Sinclair. And you are?’” Cassie even held out her hand. The humour wasn’t lost on him.
Luke went beet red and rubbed his hands on his jeans. “I’m Luke Sinclair.” He took her hand. “And you are?”
“I’m Cassie Walker. Pleasure to meet you.” Their hands parted, and she stepped from between them. “I know this is none of my business, but if you go down this road there’s no turning back.”
“What do you mean?” Luke asked.
Blaze glared at his younger brother’s back. He saw and heard the difference in Luke. The guy was interested in the beautiful woman who stood close.
“If you both starting hitting on each other with fists. The whole father and son thing will change. If you fight, then you lose any friendship you could have.” Cassie stared at each man and moved away. Blaze held her gaze as she walked across the lawn.
“How do you know?” John asked.
“Because it’s what happened with my brother over ten years ago. I haven’t seen him since.” Cassie let her bombshell out, and she walked straight past him into the house. The silence outside was deafening. Blaze knew the next three weeks could tear apart any form of family he ever had. He loved all of his family, and he’d hate to see it go.
“Please, just leave it,” Molly said. Blaze looked at the woman who’d done her best to raise the boys who weren’t her own. She’d done a fantastic job. He thought about his time with her as a mother over the years. She’d never demanded he call her mum. The pictures of his own mother had remained in place. In fact his dad hadn’t allowed his wedding photo with Molly to be placed in any visible place.
He glanced out at the lawn and saw everything in a new light, as if the blindfold had finally been taken off him. David stood in the middle as always. Chris and Trent on the one side glaring at the man who’d helped create them. Luke and John were on the other side with Molly. And Blaze stood on the same side as Chris and Trent. Is this what it had been like growing up?
Molly forever trying to join the two families together. All the quick memories he had of his time growing up and his father with Molly. Not one major happy memory came to mind. His heart shattered for the young woman Molly had been. There weren’t many years between him and the woman who’d tried to raise him. About fourteen years. There were couples in the world with that age gap.
Molly had lived the past twenty-five years always being and feeling like second best. A lump formed in his throat, and he forced the tears to remain at bay.
“I can’t leave it, mum. We love you, and we want to see you happy,” Luke said.
“I can make her happy,” David shouted.
Blaze moved the short distance until he was standing in front of his father. “I think you need to take the time to understand what’s happening.” He turned to Molly. “I’m sorry if I’ve ever done anything to contribute to your pain.” He focussed on his father. “Mum died over twenty-five years ago. I loved her, and at first I missed her. That is a long time to hold onto someone. Molly isn’t second best. She’s an amazing woman and a person I’d be proud to call mum.” He hugged his dad. “Don’t keep her just because you’re afraid of being alone. Molly deserves someone who loves her.” He nodded at his dad and walked over to Molly. Blaze embraced the woman he’d always blanked. Tears were running down from her eyes. “I love you, mum.” He kissed her cheek and went in search of the woman he loved.
He found her in her room packing a suitcase.
“What are you doing?” he asked.
“Getting the hell out of here. I didn’t sign on to be some referee or to listen to a family feud,” she said.
Blaze watched as she folded items of clothing, and he glanced at the clock to make sure his son would still be asleep. He shut her door behind him.
Within seconds he held her in his arms. “Let it out,” he said.
“What?”
“I know you, Cassie. Let the pain out. I’ve got you.” Blaze held her as the first wave of sobs came. Her tears called to the protective part of him. “That’s it. I’ve got you, and I won’t let go.”
“Seeing your brother and that down there brought back that night,” she said the words between each sob. He carried her to the bed and held her.
“Do you want to tell me about it?” he asked. She paused for a time, and Blaze didn’t think she’d confide in him.
“My dad was a drunk. He’d come home and start cursing at mum. That’s what it started as, a few nasty comments about how she looked and how no one else would love her. One day he came home and started using his fists. This happened for a few years. My brother, Daryl, was eighteen and about to graduate. He let loose on dad. The fight was bloody. Anyway, Daryl left, and I haven’t seen him again.”
The story was a short but horrid one.
“What happened to your parents?” he asked, wanting to know more about the woman in his lap. Her body felt so good cushioned against him. His dick was hard and throbbing. He wouldn’t use it or try to turn the situation to his advantage. Being near her was pleasurable enough.
“My dad died in a drunk-driving accident. Ironic as it was the first time my dad had been sober in years. He loved to drink. My mum died of cancer a few years later, not long after I graduated from high school.”
“You never thought to get in touch with your brother?”
“He left years ago. I never knew where he went, and I never had the money to look. I figured he’d have come back for me or at least left me some information to get in touch. I guess he never wanted to be found.”
Her tears had subsided, and she stared up at him.
Fucking hell, I love this woman.
The thought came to him. Instead of scaring him the thought calmed him, as if he’d known all along how he felt, and now he could admit it.
Scary considering how little he really knew of her and the situation between them.
“I’m sorry about what you saw down there,” he said. He’d do anything to keep her in his arms a few more seconds.
“Don’t worry about it. You couldn’t control it.” She ran a hand through her hair, and he got the scent of strawberries.
“Can I ask you another question?” Blaze had been worried about this all morning. Every time he looked at his son, he wondered if he’d be a problem for Cassie. Blaze didn’t know what he’d do if Cassie couldn’t get past his connection with Francesca.
“I’m all ears. I owe you after crying all over you.”
He didn’t tell her how he’d gladly have her any way she’d come.
“The reason you didn’t spend the day with me. It didn’t have anything to do with my son, did it?”
Her saw the shock in her eyes as she pulled away from him.
“No. I’d made plans with Erica. This was before our agreement to give us another shot.”
Phew. His heart slowed.
“That’s good,” he whispered.
“Did you really think Blaze Junior would be a problem? How petty do you think I am?”
Blaze shook his head. “I don’t think you’re petty. I know I hurt you back then and thought he’d be a reminder of what happened.”
“He may be part of Francesca, but he’s also part of you.” She touched her hand to his chest.
“Daddy, why do you have that lady in your lap?” Blaze and Cassie broke apart when his son spoke.
“Hi, son. Did you have a nice nap?” Blaze took her hand and led her over to his son. He wanted them to get to know each another.
“Hello,” she said.
“I’m Blaze, and I’ll be three this year,” his son said and stuck his hand out.
He blew out a breath as they seemed to hit it off.
Chapter Ten
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Dinner was a tense affair. Cassie did a quick check and was thankful no one sported any bruises, broken bones, or blooded lips. She saw David constantly stared across at Molly, who was staring at everyone and everything but her husband.
Blaze Junior sat opposite her, and he kept pulling funny faces making her giggle. Cassie loved how he was oblivious to the tension in the room.
“How was shopping?” Chris asked.
Cassie stared at her friend and tried to see the type of man Erica had described at lunch. Chris was a different man from what Erica described. Whenever he was in her company, he spent most of the time trying to find the perfect couple.
“Good,” she replied and took a bite of the beef.
“How’s Erica?” he asked.
She looked at him and thought about everything little detail her friend had said. If this man knew about the pain he’d caused her, not the physical but the emotional, it would break him. He didn’t know he’d fathered a child or how she’d lost it.
“She’s good.”
Cassie stared down at her plate to show there would be no more talk. The rest of the evening went by uneventfully. She ended up playing on a game with Blaze Junior in the play room set up at the back of the house.
“You’re funny,” he said when she did a little victory dance at winning a race.
“Nice of you to notice.” She sat down and sipped from the soda can Blaze had brought in.
“My dad doesn’t spend any time playing games. My nanny does, though.”
Cassie glanced at the small boy. He looked so much like his father. It was unbelievable.
“I guess he’s really busy. What’s your nanny’s name?”
“Tracy. He’s always busy. Even when mummy was around.” She heard the upset in his voice, and going on instinct she brought him to her lap and hugged him.
“Sometimes, adults have to do some really important jobs before they get time to play,” she whispered.
“But I just want him to play with me,” he sobbed.