by Tina Susedik
“That man, there, with the woman in the high heels.”
“Shit,” he thought, then realized he’d said it out loud when she turned to him.
“Do you know him?” Cassie asked.
Crap, now he was going to have to lie again. “No. Do you?”
She nodded, but didn’t say anything else.
The couple laughed and the woman leaned up to kiss Tony, her tongue already out of her mouth in anticipation of his. They stopped in front of the polar bear exhibit. Even for a slime ball like Angelino, bringing his bimbo to a public place like the zoo was over the top. Hogan held back a shudder. They had come to see animals in the zoo, not people acting like animals.
“So that’s what money can buy,” Cassie finally said. Her hands were clenched at her sides, her eyes narrow slits. A vein pulsed in her neck. “That son-of-a . . .!”
A heavy sensation settled in his stomach. “Who is he?”
Before Cassie answered, Emily leaned into him. “He’s our uncle.”
“Was, Emily, was,” Cassie said between clenched teeth.
Ice cream dripped unnoticed onto his pants. Even though he knew she been married to him, it came as a shock to have her admit it. He needed to keep up the pretense that he didn’t know. “You were married to him?” He couldn’t imagine sweet, gentle Cassie was married to that . . . that moron. The jerk who was nearly undressing a woman in public.
Face red, hands clenched into fists, her unfinished ice cream cone on the ground, Hogan thought Cassie looked like a warrior woman ready to attack the enemy. If she’d been married to this guy, he didn’t blame her, but the point was, she wasn’t married to him anymore, so why was she so angry at his display? From her actions, he doubted it, but was she still in love with him? In contact with him?
He had to calm her down. Keep her from storming over there. Then he needed to call in the sighting.
He placed a restraining hand on Cassie’s arm. “Are you all right?”
Taking a deep breath, Cassie continued glaring at the couple.
“Why, that lousy, no good SOB,” she murmured, shaking Hogan’s hand off. “That two-timing jerk!”
“Cassie, honey, sit down, you’re scaring the kids.”
His words seemed to reach her. She took another deep breath and, after one final look at the two people, she sat down.
“What does SOB mean, Auntie Susie?” Jazmine asked.
Cassie ran a hand through her hair. Hogan nearly laughed when, without a blink she answered, “Sad old boy. And boy, is he a sad one.”
Seeing that Jazmine was satisfied with the answer and the girls were back to eating their cones, Hogan gave the rest of his cone to Billy to devour while keeping an eye on the couple watching the antics of the white bears. Cassie’s needs were more important right now, and he needed to know if she was still involved with him and his activities. More lies. “Want to tell me about it?”
She sighed and shook her head “Sorry, I didn’t mean to get so upset. That was my ex.”
“I know.” He cringed at her quick look. Shit, he almost gave himself away. “Emily said that was her uncle. I put two and two together. But why get so upset? You’ve been divorced for a while, right?”
“How did you know?” She shoved her hands in her pockets.
“For one thing, you called him your ex. Also, Rob told me his sister-in-law was divorced. Since I know he has no siblings, I figured he was talking about you.” At least that much was true. “Why does seeing your ex make you so angry? I thought you were going to go over and deck the guy.”
“I wanted to.” She took a deep breath, then clammed up.
She was quiet for so long, Hogan was afraid he was going to have to ask more questions to get the information he needed. Angelino ran a hand up the back of the woman’s top. Cassie tightened her lips and clenched her fists again. She started rambling, seeming to forget he was there.
“That SOB thinks his money can buy anything, doesn’t he? Throw money here, throw money there. Act like a big shot. Pick up women. Cheat on wives. Look what his money bought him this time. A cheap floozy. I hope he and his crummy money are happy.”
“Whoa, wait a minute.” Hogan ran a hand over his face. What the hell was she talking about? Did she know something about the man’s activities? “What does money have to do with it?”
“Rich people think they can buy anything. Fancy cars, fancy house, women. It disgusts me.”
“Not all rich people are like that, Cassie.”
“Oh yeah?” Cassie asked, facing him squarely. “Well, in my experience they are. While married to Tony, I watched him and his rich parents and friends lie, cheat, and live like they were the only ones in the world because they had money.” She pointed a finger after the retreating couple. “And now his money has bought him another woman. That woman, my dear Hogan, is not the one he divorced me for and then married.” With that, she got up, grabbed Billy’s stroller, and headed down a blacktop path.
Shit. Double whammy. He was going to be screwed when she found out he was rich and investigating not only her, but her ex. Hogan put Jazmine in her stroller, grabbed Emily’s hand, and ran after Cassie to head her off before she strutted herself and poor Billy into an alligator pit. Hogan smiled at Cassie’s back as he stopped and texted the next agent that Angelino was heading his way. As angry as she was, if they did fall in, the alligators would be running for their lives.
But, hell. He knew the woman with Angelino wasn’t his wife. Now his investigation was going to take a turn he was sure he wasn’t going to like. Digging deeper into her past with Tony, and maybe finding out she is—or was—involved with the smuggling, wasn’t going to sit well with him. Maybe he needed to take himself off the case.
Hogan grit his teeth. How had he gotten in this situation? When the FBI had recruited him while he was in the service because of his background in antiquities, he’d been honored and excited. But now? Not only was he one of those rich people Cassie seemed to abhor, he was not telling the truth about his job. Yes, it was necessary to lie about his FBI gig, but not about being part of a successful family business.
His boss at the bureau was surely going to have a bigger fit than usual. He thought again about taking himself off the case. Two things stopped him. First, he’d been working too hard and too long to stop now. Second, continuing to see Cassie would make it easier to investigate her involvement.
He loosened his white-knuckle grip on the stroller handle. His lie of omission now took on greater import. The hole was getting deeper. Watching her backside wiggle back and forth in front of him, Hogan decided he was going to have to either come clean about being rich, or wait until the investigation was over and she was cleared.
He thought her reaction to Angelino showed she wasn’t involved. Didn’t it? Or was she upset he’d hooked up with another woman instead of her? He sincerely hoped she wasn’t part of the smuggling, and he could make her see that not everyone with money was an asshole.
By late afternoon, the children were tired and cranky. Neither Jazmine nor Billy would ride in their strollers and had to be carried. Emily wanted a snack at every food stand they passed and finally pitched a fit after being told no for the umpteenth time.
“I think it’s time to go home.” Cassie sighed. She stood over her oldest niece waiting for her current tantrum to end.
Hogan hoisted Billy higher up onto his shoulders and pushed the stroller with one hand through the crowd. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Tears built behind Cassie’s eyes. It sounded as if he was anxious to get rid of them, and she couldn’t blame him. What single man would want to spend any more time with a bunch of whiny kids and a woman who brought up the “L” word during their third encounter? He would probably drop them off at her house and she’d never hear from him again. Cassie held on to
Jazmine tighter and buried her face in her niece’s pink princess shirt, trying to ward off the tears. Why couldn’t adults throw fits like children?
Hogan guided them carefully through groups of families heading in the same direction. She was glad to see other adults struggling with equally crabby kids. There seemed to be as many parents carrying kids while pushing empty strollers as monkeys in the zoo.
“Must be the time of the day,” he muttered.
“What?” Cassie asked.
“I said ‘it must be the time of the day.’ Look at all the people leaving with crying, whining kids. Makes me feel better.”
“It does?”
“Sure. For a while there I thought we were doing something wrong. It seemed like these guys were the only ones being brats.”
A smile tugged at her lips.
He returned her grin. “Make you feel better?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “But I’ll feel much better when we have them strapped into their car seats.” Cassie hiked Jazmine higher in arms that felt like she’d carried a freight train around all day. “Do you remember where we put the car?”
When the children were buckled in and the strollers stored in the back of the Bronco, Cassie sat in her seat, flopped her head back on the headrest, and closed her eyes. At Hogan’s groan, she opened them. They looked at each other and laughed.
“Why do they do it?” he asked.
“Damned if I know,” she replied.
“Must be the fun of trying.”
“Yeah. In the heat of the moment they must forget all the work involved with the little darlings and then, bam, you’re stuck again.”
“Has to be more to it than that.”
“Like you mentioned last night, Hogan, it must be different when they’re your own and you work from the ground up. I am thoroughly exhausted.”
She became lost in the smile in his eyes.
Emily kicked the back of the seat.
Hogan started the car. “Let’s go.”
“I’m hungry,” Emily said a few minutes later.
“My mother’s coming to the house to pick them up at seven-thirty.” Cassie angled herself in her seat to face Hogan. “Would it be all right if we went to a drive-through window and got supper for them? That’ll save some time when we get home.”
“Sounds good to me. Same place as last night?”
“You read my mind.”
Emily’s eyes opened wide. “Again? Mommy never lets us go there two times.”
Cassie winked at her niece. “Well, I’m not your mommy.”
Emily giggled and waved her arms in the air. “Yay, hamburger.”
“Fries, fries,” Jazmine squealed in agreement.
Billy just squealed and kicked his legs and the atmosphere was once again happy.
An hour later, the children were fed and content. The girls watched television while Billy played in his playpen. Hogan helped Cassie pick up empty wrappers and milk containers then wiped the table.
“I can’t believe the rug rats are still awake.” She couldn’t remember a time when she was this tired. “I could drop off in two seconds.”
“Me, too.” He folded Billy’s highchair and leaned it against the wall. “I’d like to stay after the kids leave.”
Cassie’s heart skipped a beat. Maybe she hadn’t scared him off after all. But the last thing she needed was to have Hogan here when Annie arrived. She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Hogan. It wouldn’t be a good idea for you to be here when my mom gets here.”
When his forehead furrowed and he shoved his hands in his pockets, she placed a hand on his arm. “It’s not you. It’s my mother. If you were here when she arrived, she’d never leave until learning your entire life history from the instant you were conceived. She can be relentless in her interrogations. Do you think you can handle that after a day with the kids?”
Hogan shrugged. “Sounds a lot like my mom. But I understand. It’s just that I wanted to spend more time with you.”
“Thanks, but I truly think after she leaves, I’d be too tired to be good company. I have a lot to do with the move to the new office.”
Hogan huffed an exaggerated sigh and took her hands in his. “Oh, all right. I get the picture. I’ll leave, but I’ll never be the same.” He kissed the knuckles of her right hand and peered up at her, his eyes twinkling with mischief. “Can I try to change your mind?”
Prickles of desire ran rampant through her body. Her scalp twitched and warmth flowed into her core. This time she sighed. “No, Hogan. You need to leave before Sergeant Annie gets here.” She pushed him toward the front door. “You have to leave. Now.” She held her breath in appreciation as she watched him slip his leather jacket over his broad shoulders.
“I’ll be out of town this week. Can I call you Friday night when I get back?”
Disappointment rallied with excitement at the thought she wouldn’t see him for a week, but he wanted to see her again. She nodded.
Hogan took her by the shoulders and folded his arms around her, close enough to feel his breath on her lips. Cassie kept her eyes open and the desire in his was obvious. Closer, closer . . . He jerked back and grinned over her shoulder. Emily and Jazmine were giggling and pointing at them.
“This just doesn’t work with big eyes watching.” He opened the door and turned toward her. “I’ll call you Friday night.” Then he winked and stepped out the door.
“Auntie Susie has a boyfriend. Auntie Susie has a boyfriend,” Emily sang.
Cassie sat on the couch and tickled her niece. “No I don’t. No I don’t,” she sang back. “And don’t you dare tell Grandma about Hogan. Okay?”
“Okay.” Emily giggled.
“Promise?”
“Yes.” She giggled some more.
“Cross your heart and hope to die? Spit your sister in the eye?”
Emily quit laughing and solemnly crossed her heart, spit in her hand and touched Jazmine’s face.
Satisfied Emily wouldn’t be blabbing to Annie about Hogan’s kissing her, Cassie set about getting the children’s gear together.
An hour later, much longer than Cassie wished, she picked up Jazmine’s feet and sat on the couch, setting her niece’s legs on her lap. Excitement over going to their grandma’s house had kept them wired longer than necessary, but tiredness won and they finally zonked out.
Annie was two hours late. Cassie tapped her foot impatiently while flicking through the channels. Her mother was never late for anything, a trait Cassie had inherited, making her anxious whenever someone was behind schedule. She tried to concentrate on the television instead of worrying about all the horrible things that may have happened.
She needed time to prepare for the coming week, both mentally and physically. As it did every Sunday night, the claw-foot tub in the upstairs bathroom called to her. Lit candles throughout the room, a glass of wine, and a book to read set the tone for tension release. Relaxed from the hot water and wine, it only took seconds to drop off to sleep when her head hit the pillow.
Now it was already nine, and once Annie showed up, there wouldn’t be time to fulfill her comforting habit. And tonight of all nights she needed her routine.
After the emotions of the weekend with Hogan, seeing Tony, and knowing this week at work would mean either a promotion or working for that jerk Richard, a fellow employee, her nerves were raw.
She jumped when the doorbell rang, nearly sending Jazmine to the floor in her rush to get to the door.
“Oh, honey, I’m so sorry for being late,” her mother apologized as she breezed into the living room. A man followed in her wake. “The traffic from Chicago was horrible. A major accident on I-94 stopped traffic. We sat in the car for over two hours.” Annie picked Billy up from his playpen and sat on a chair. �
��Both our cell phone batteries died, so I couldn’t call you to let you know we’d be late.”
A tall, distinguished-looking gentleman stood in the foyer. The grin he aimed at her mother would have made rock melt. Her mother returned the smile, a blush spreading across her face. Cassie cleared her throat. Something was going on between these two.
“Uh, Annie? Do you think you could introduce me?”
Cassie’s mother held the man’s gaze a moment longer. Then blinked and stood, placed her grandson over her shoulder, and slipped her free hand on Charles arm. “I’m sorry, honey. Charles, this is my daughter, Cassie Jordan. And Cassie, this my friend, Charles Goodman.” Annie’s voice dropped a level at the mention of the man’s name.
Charles held out his hand. “Pleased to meet you, Cassie. I certainly can see that Annie passed her beauty on to her daughter.”
Cassie shook Charles’s hand and raised an eyebrow at her mother. Annie grinned and shrugged.
“I’m happy to meet you, too, Charles. Did you have a good time in Chicago?” she asked, picking up the girls’ coats from a chair. When she received no answer, she turned around. Her mother and Charles were gazing into each other’s eyes again. Their sparkling was enough to light up half of Milwaukee. Obviously they had it bad for each other. The thought made Cassie feel . . . well, she wasn’t certain how it made her feel. Annie was her mother, not someone who should be dating or doing anything that may come from dating.
“Uh, Annie?”
“Oh, sorry, honey. Yes, we had a great time.” Reluctantly, she moved away from Charles and took Billy’s coat from Cassie. “Let’s get these kids ready to go. It’s getting late. I hope you wore these little darlings out so they’ll sleep late tomorrow morning.”
Cassie laughed. “Good luck with that. It doesn’t seem to make any difference what time they go to bed. Their inner alarms are set for early.”