by Seven Steps
“I will, Mama.”
“And you’re keeping away from the boys, I hope. I am too young to be a grandmother.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“Just remember that the Lord is watching.”
Cassie shook her head and lay down on the bed closest to the window. “I’m not doing anything until I get married, Mama. You know that.”
“I do, lass. I just want to make sure that you remember that. I know how glamorous these rock and roll stars can appear to be.”
“Yes, Mama.”
“All right, then. Well, I’m off to church. I have the flowers to do, you know. And I just got a new order in for a wedding in Florida. Thanks to the Lord for his boundless mercy.”
Cassie smiled, wishing that she could hug her mother through the phone. She missed her, and her rose scented perfume.
“I’ll call you tomorrow, Mama.”
“A few more days, dear.”
Cassie smiled. “Goodbye, Mama.”
She hung up the phone and let out a long sigh. Janice McGuire loved her, there was no doubt about that. She always said that the three most important people in her life were the Lord, Cassie, and her dog, Max. She missed her mother’s prayers, her hugs, and her words of wisdom.
After years of wondering what she would do with a college aged daughter, and no husband, Janice began spending all of her free time at Saint Paul Catholic Church in Greenwich. Despite her inexperience, Pastor Ben Madison put her in charge of the church’s flower arrangements. Six months later, she turned it into a full blown floral business, garnering clients from all over the country.
Just a few more days until I can see her again, she thought.
She picked her phone back up and checked it. She’d texted Kelly earlier, with no answer.
Maybe she’s tired from being out with Dondo all night, she thought.
Her stomach twisted. Something wasn’t right. It was already early afternoon, and Dondo never stayed with the girls through the night.
She opened up Facebook and typed in Kelly’s name.
Her picture popped up. She was dressed in the same black mini dress she’d worn to the concert the night before. She scrolled down the page.
Something was wrong.
She scrolled back to the top, checked the picture again.
Yes, it was Kelly, but this couldn’t be her page.
It couldn’t be.
Next to her profile picture, in black letters, were the words In Loving Memory of Kelly Manning.
Chapter 7
Cassie watched in horror as the red-faced reporter spoke Kelly’s name.
Kelly Manning’s broken body was found stuffed in a suitcase in Newark, New Jersey. Her killer had deposited the suitcase on the front lawn of a known crack house. One of the home’s “residents” called in the tip sometime around three that morning.
Guilt laid heavy in Cassie’s gut.
If only I didn’t let her go with Dondo, she thought. If only I had stayed with her all night.
She remembered the excitement in Kelly’s face when she talked about her date the night before. Maybe Dondo saw something, heard something. So far, the police didn’t have any leads. Did they know Kelly had been at the concert? Did they know that she’d been out with Dondo before she died?
She walked out of the hotel room, in time to find Dondo swiping his key card in the hotel door.
“Dondo,” she called.
He looked back at her, his eyes red rimmed, tired, guarded.
“Hey, doc.”
“Did you hear about Kelly?”
His body stiffened for a moment before relaxing again. A small gesture.
“Kelly? Kelly who?”
Cassie frowned. “The girl you took out last night.”
“Oh, Kelly. Yeah, we had dinner and then she went home.”
“And you didn’t see her after that?”
“No. Why?”
“She’s dead. They found her strangled and dumped in front of a crack house this morning.”
Dondo paled, his face turning away.
“You didn’t talk to her again after you dropped her off?” Cassie asked.
“No,” he choked out. “No, I dropped her off and that was the end of it.”
They stood awkwardly, neither meeting the other’s eye.
He pushed his door open. “Well, I guess I’ll see you tonight.”
Cassie’s frown deepened. “Yeah, toni—”
Dondo slammed the door behind him before she finished speaking.
She let out a breath.
Jumpy, isn’t he? Was he acting…no, he wasn’t. He was just shocked. As shocked as I was. Poor Kelly. Who would do something like that to her?
She took one last look at Dondo’s door before heading back into her room. She’d have to call her mother. Janice knew Kelly when they lived in LA together. She’d want to know that she died.
She walked back into her room and flopped on the bed, dialing her mother again.
The phone went to voice mail.
She flipped on her stomach, put her hands under her head, and closed her eyes.
As she slept, she dreamed of Kelly.
Chapter 8
Cassie found Noah standing on the open air stage after sound check.
This summer had been a hot one. August was especially humid. Instead of her normal jeans and t-shirt, Cassie wore a spaghetti strapped blue sundress and tennis shoes.
Around her were over eighty-two thousand empty seats.
“Cassie.” Noah’s blue eyes spotted her on the side of the stage, and he waved before coming over. “Hey.”
He wore a white t-shirt, plaid blue shorts, and flip-flops. The muscles in his arms were pronounced and glistened in the heat.
For a moment, she forgot what she wanted to say. She cleared her throat and recovered.
“Hi.” Her voice was a bit too loud, a little too enthusiastic. She put on her sunglasses as he got closer.
“Breakfast with Walter this morning must’ve gone well. He’s in a great mood. He hasn’t yelled at anyone since he came back.”
“Yes, it did. Thank you, Noah. We needed that.”
“You’re welcome. Anything you need, just ask. I’m at your pleasure.” He smiled when he said the last part, a grin that weakened her knees a little.
She grinned wider than she wanted to. “Thank you.”
“How about we grab a bite to eat later. I mean, you work for me and I don’t really know who you are, except that your super smart and my manager’s daughter.”
“Do you take all of your employees out to dinner?”
“Only the pretty ones.”
His eyes closed, as if he was sorry he’d said it.
She laughed, tried to clear away the awkward comment.
“Sure.”
He opened his eyes again. “Yeah?”
“I mean, it’s the least I could do.”
“Okay. After the concert, we can go back to LaRock’s, if that’s okay.”
“Fine with me.”
“Great.”
“Great.”
“Awesome.”
“Fantastic.”
Their eyes met, their gazes sinking into each other’s in the heat of the day.
She licked her lips, the movement making him tilt his head, his focus zeroing in on her mouth.
Her heart hammered against her chest. “Okay, then.”
Before he could say anything more, she abruptly turned and left.
Chapter 9
Noah
“Dinner, huh?”
Noah turned to find Walter walking toward him. He immediately stood up taller, trying to shake the image of his manager’s daughter from his mind.
“Yes, well, uh, it’s just a friendly thing that we’re doing.”
“Good. Keep it friendly. My daughter isn’t a groupie. She has big dreams, and a bright future. I don’t want to see her hurt. Not after I just got her back into my life. Don’t ruin it for her.”
“It’s just dinner, I promise.”
Walter nodded, pulled his dark sunglasses out of his pocket, and put them on his face. “Great. Just dinner it is, then. I’ll check on you after the show.”
“Yup.”
Walter pointed a finger at Noah. “Just dinner?”
“Just dinner.”
He grunted and left.
Noah let out a breath as the old man walked away. Cassie’s beautiful figure popped into his mind.
Just dinner, he thought. It’s just dinner.
Even so, he crossed two fingers behind his back, hoping that the small superstition would cover his promise.
Chapter 10
“Who wants a farm nowadays?” Noah asked.
Their date was quickly drawing to a close as they walked down the hotel’s hallway toward her room. Blue pastel wallpaper, white crown molding, and navy blue carpet with tiny gold anchors made Noah feel as if he was in a navel office. The hallway smelled slightly moldy, the overhead lights bright enough to be uncomfortable.
“I love the simple life,” Cassie said. “Raising your own food, living off the land, fresh sunflowers on the table every morning.”
“Sticking your hand in warm, fresh dung, making pig slop, dying with your eyes open while you’re on a cattle drive.”
She chuckled. “What? Do you even know how farms work?”
He shrugged. “I’ve seen some shows, played some games, you know.”
She laughed then. Her eyes lit, her cheeks reddened, making her brown freckles stand out. The sound echoed through the hallway.
I’ll have to make her laugh more often, he thought.
“A farm, huh?” he asked.
She nodded.
“Well, to each his own I guess. Me, I can’t imagine not being within shouting distance of a Starbucks.”
“City boy, huh?”
“From horn to hoof.”
“City boy with a penchant for quoting old musicals?”
“What can I say? My tutor introduced me to Oklahoma! when I was ten and I never looked back.”
“Well, you definitely get points for that one.”
“Oh yeah? How many?”
They stopped in front of her room door.
“I don’t know. Some.”
“I’ll have to keep that in mind.”
Her hair was down around her face again, styled in large, dark, spiraling curls. Curls that he itched to touch, to feel their softness on his fingertips. She wore a yellow, strapless mini dress and white sandals with little heels. Her makeup was done in gold to match.
My very own golden goddess, he thought.
She blushed, her eyes moving to the floor.
“What?” he asked.
A nervous hand went to her stomach, the thumb touching right above her belly button.
“You’re staring,” she said softly.
He didn’t look away, allowing a wolfish smile to creep across his face.
“I always stare when there’s something good to look at, and you, Ms. Washington, are good to look at.”
The color rose higher in her cheeks. A flattered smile caused her to throw her head to the side, exposing her neck to him again.
His mind caught the gesture, his eyes moving down the lines of her throat.
He felt his hand raise to run a finger down its columns.
Suddenly, her phone rang.
A glimmer of recognition lit his eyes.
She reached into her pocket. Checked it. Pressed ignore.
“It’s my dad,” she said. “Probably calling to see if I made it back to the hotel.”
“And if you’re still with me,” he said.
She nodded.
He grunted.
“That ringtone,” he said. “It’s Queen, right?”
“Yeah. “Somebody To Love” is my favorite.”
“Mine too. I covered it on my first album.”
“I remember,” she said softly.
The need to wrap her in his arms rose sharply.
“Why choose that song for your dad?”
“It’s my ringtone for everyone.” She looked up, their gazes caressing. “I just like the song. It speaks to me.”
“Me too.”
He took a step back and cleared his throat.
“Well, I guess this is good night,” he said.
Her smile disappeared. He wished it would come back.
“Oh,” she stammered, her eyes leaving him, darting around the hallway. “Okay.”
“I had a really great time.”
“Me too.”
There was disappointment in her eyes, but from what he couldn’t be sure. Was she just sad the night was ending? Did she want him to kiss her good night? Either way, he had a promise to keep to her father.
He remembered his crossed fingers.
At least I’ll try to keep it, he thought.
She looked so sad all of a sudden, her once light eyes turned down, her full, glossy mouth bowed into a frown.
If only she knew how much I want to make her smile again.
Before her frown shredded his control, he retreated down the hall.
He backed toward the door as he said, “Good night, Cassie.”
She didn’t look at him again, instead she let herself into her room and shut the door behind her.
What would she do if I knocked on that door? he wondered. Would she let me in?
Thoughts raging, he slid his key card through the reader. By the time the light turned green, he’d made up his mind about Cassie.
He hoped Walter would forgive him for breaking a promise.
Chapter 11
Cassie
Confused, Cassie let herself into her room and threw herself onto the bed.
What was I thinking? she wondered. Maybe he did just want to have a friendly dinner. What is it about him that makes me get my hopes up? He’s a rock star for goodness sake. He wouldn’t want someone like me anyway.
Frustrated, she snatched off her little yellow dress and sandals and pulled on her new flannel pajama set.
The room was freezing, and she crawled under the sheets to try to retain some warmth. Since they’d checked in this morning, the air conditioner had cooled the room to arctic temperatures. Her calls to the front desk had resulted in exactly zero service visits.
Last time I stay in this hotel, she thought.
And then it hit her. This would be the last time she stayed in a place like this. Her father probably wouldn’t allow her on the road again after this summer. Now that they’d begun repairing their relationship he’d want to protect her, keep her home and focused on her schooling instead of traveling the world with some rock star.
The thought of going back to her old life both saddened and comforted her. On the one hand, nothing could compare to the excitement of a world tour. She’d seen places she’d only dreamed of, met celebrities she’d only read about in magazines. On the other hand, she loved school, and looked forward to returning.
The medical field was as deep in her blood as music was in Noah’s. Cassie’s grandmother, on her mother’s side, was a nurse. Her father’s mother was a veterinarian. Cassie tried to think back to a time when she didn’t want to become a doctor, but nothing came to mind. She got a medical set for her first birthday and never looked back. She graduated nursing school, but it wasn’t enough. She had bigger aspirations. So, she worked as an RN for a few months, then applied and was accepted into Yale Medical School.
She saw her life laid out before her.
One more year of med school, then I’ll do my residency, and after that, I’ll open my own pediatric practice.
It was set. It had been for years. But now, with new feelings for Noah bubbling up, she wasn’t so sure.
Could he be a part of her life? Would he ruin her plans?
Stop overthinking it, Cassie, her mind cried. You only had one date, and he didn’t even kiss you.
She threw the blankets off of her, gave a murderous look to the thermostat, sea
rched through her purse for a five dollar bill, and headed out to the vending machine in search of something sweet.
Chocolate. Yes, chocolate always sets things right.
She had no sooner opened her door than she saw the object of her musings feeding a dollar bill into the vending machine. He was shirtless, in a pair of pajama pants that hung from his hips.
Her mouth went dry as she drank in the sight.
He looked toward her, his eyes roaming over her from head to foot. Heat seemed to spread wherever his gaze touched, leaving her body close to trembling.
He grinned.
“Should we call you Doctor Cassie, or Saint Cassie?” he teased.
She scoffed, regained her confidence, and went to stand behind him at the vending machine.
“There is nothing wrong with covering up,” she said.
“But there is a limit, sweetheart.”
He grabbed the bag of trail mix and the soda that fell into the bin at the bottom of the vending machine, then stepped aside.
“So, what’s with the getup? It’s summer. I’m surprised you haven’t passed out from heat stroke.”
She snatched her chocolate bar and soda out of the machine, and turned to him, avoiding his eyes.
No drowning tonight, she thought.
“If you must know, the air conditioner in my room is broken. It’s freezing in there.”
“I’ll take a look at it.”
Before she could protest, he had already covered the space to the door. “I’ve been in enough hotel rooms to know about thermostats.”
He pushed open the door that she’d propped open with a shoe, and disappeared inside.
Bad idea, she thought, following him into her room. Very bad idea.
She found him fiddling with the dials on a white box on the wall. A few seconds later, heat poured through the vents.
“There, it’s fixed.”
She shut the door behind her.
“What did you do?”
“It was on fifty. You have to turn the temperature up.”
He crossed his arms over his sculpted chest, grinning victoriously.
“Well, now I know.”