by Dylann Crush
“I’d appreciate it. Just black.”
I poured a mug, set it down in front of him, and then retrieved my mug from the counter before sliding into the chair across the table from him.
He stared into his coffee for a few moments. The warbled cock-a-doodle-doo from the stupid fugitive rooster broke the silence.
“Been trying to shoot that damn bird for years now. Rob tell you we almost had him once?”
“Look, Sheriff Jordan—”
“Haven’t been sheriff for a few years now, Cassie. Just call me Jeff, will ya?”
“Okay…Jeff.” The name felt awkward and stilted as it tumbled off my tongue. “Robbie cares about you, that’s why—”
His yelp of laughter cut me off. “Let’s not pretend, hon. Rob’s doin’ the right thing by stickin’ around. I was a shitty husband and an even shittier father.”
I wanted to disagree, but we both knew the truth. “It’s not too late, you know. He does care about you, you’re still his dad.”
“Whatever I’d do now would be way too little, way too late. I’ve been doin’ a lot of thinkin’ lately.” He took a long draw from his mug. “Dyin’ will do that to a man. I’ve made a real mess of things and there’s not enough time left for me to fix it all.”
Sensing he might be in the right frame of mind for a conversation about my mom, I decided to risk bringing it up. “You were calling me Angel last night.”
He ran a hand over his face. The purple and blue veins on the back of his hand stuck out, a stark contrast to his pale, papery skin. “That’s what I used to call your mama. It was a long, long time ago. I suppose nobody ever told you that your mama and I used to date?”
“Mrs. Cahill mentioned it the other day. How come nobody ever said anything?”
“What good would it have done? Ever held a ray of sunshine in your hand, Cassie? That’s what bein’ around your mama was like.”
My eyes watered at the memory his tender words evoked. Mama and me standing by the pond, fishing poles in hand. Soft, scattered sunlight bathed the world in a golden haze. Mom spinning me round and round on the tire swing that used to hang in the front yard of my grandparents’ house. Yes, I knew what it felt like to be part of her light. I carried it with me still.
He peered up at me through a clump of greasy, gray streaked hair that had fallen over his eyes. “She was the best thing that had ever happened to me and I fucked it up. Excuse my language, will ya?”
I nodded, hoping he’d go on, but he stood up from the table and disappeared into the bathroom instead. A box of tissues sat in the middle of the table and I grabbed one, dabbing at my cheeks. How would things have turned out if my mama had stayed with Robbie’s dad? Would he have been able to make her happy? I didn’t think so. His kind of mean came from a place deep inside. Not even the goodness of my mom could have changed him. It was just too bad Robbie had to suffer at his hand for so long. Maybe it was too late for them. I rinsed out the mug and put it in the top rack of the dishwasher, then went back to Robbie’s room to make the bed.
As I straightened the comforter and propped the pillow up against the headboard, I glanced at the nightstand. A ray of sunlight filtered through the blinds and caught on something shiny in a tiny dish sitting on the table. I moved closer for a better look and lifted the silver chain. A cross dangled at the end of it. The necklace Robbie had given me for my seventeenth birthday. He’d put it into his pocket the last time we’d gone swimming in the pond. I’d been afraid I’d lose it. Dad had shown up a day early to pick me up that summer, and I’d never gotten the chance to get it back from him. I slipped it into the pocket of my jeans and picked up my purse.
I held the door open, taking one last look around the living room. It shrank before my eyes. I used to be so intimidated when I’d walk into this room. Now it just seemed hollow and sad.
Like Robbie’s dad.
26
Robbie
I navigated the truck around the corner and noticed the rusted out farm truck sitting in front of Misty and Jake’s house. The afternoon sun glinted off the dingy paint job as I turned into the driveway.
“That’s weird.” Jake unbuckled his seat belt and climbed out of the passenger side. “Wonder what your dad’s truck is doing out here. Wanna come inside for a beer?”
“Sure.” I wasn’t too eager to get home and confront my dad. Wouldn’t hurt to figure out why his beater truck was disgracing the front of their house either.
Jake unlocked the front door, and I followed him into the house. Without our regular pitcher we’d lost both of our games that day and ended up coming home early.
“I hope Misty’s got something left over from dinner for me.” Jake raised his eyebrows my direction. Must be nice to have someone waiting on him. Someone who cared when he got home. Dad would probably be passed out in the recliner. If he hadn’t found another way to get back in town to the bar.
The family room was dim, but lights blazed from the kitchen at the back of the house. Misty let out a deep laugh and then another woman’s voice responded. Cassie. I followed Jake into the kitchen. Misty sat on one side of the table facing the doorway into the family room and Cassie sat across from her, her back to me and Jake.
“Well hi, y’all.” Misty got up from the table as Jake moved around to catch her up in a hug.
Cassie swiveled around and looked at me. Her hair spilled over her bare shoulders. She had on a strappy, laced-up tank top and my gaze was drawn to the ties that cascaded down the front of her shirt.
“Hey, Cass.”
Her fingers toyed with the handle of a mason jug mug of sweet tea in front of her. “Sounds like you had a rough day today.”
I spun my keyring around my finger. “Can’t win ‘em all. Didn’t mean to interrupt girls’ time.”
Cassie pushed back from the table and stood up. “Seems like we can’t have a girls’ get together this week without a Jordan man around. I think we’re about done anyway. Misty and the boys came and picked me up earlier. Thought I’d get your dad’s truck back to the house for you.”
“I’m surprised that pile of junk still runs. Haven’t started it up in months.”
She gave me a lopsided smile. “It was kind of a rough ride.”
Misty and Jake parted and faced us, arms still wrapped around each other. “Robbie, why don’t you give Cassie a ride home? Jake can run the truck out to you tomorrow or the next day.”
“Oh, no that’s okay,” Cassie said, reaching for the keys.
Misty nudged Jake and he grabbed them first. “Yeah, not a problem at all.”
Cassie rolled her eyes and slipped the strap of her purse over her shoulder. “Yeah, right.”
I looked at Misty. She grinned at me and jerked her head toward the doorway. “See you later, Cassie.”
Jake stuck his hand out and I shook it hard. “Later, man.”
Cassie had already made it to the front door. She spun around as I approached. “They’re so sly, aren’t they?”
“Hell, if they were any more obvious it would be painful.” I opened the door and took in a deep breath as she walked by. Coconut tickled my nose. I’d never get tired of soaking up her scent.
We climbed into the truck, and I pointed it toward home. We passed the town limit sign before either of us said a word.
I felt her gaze on me before she spoke. “Thanks for the ride.”
Her bare feet rested on the dash, long, toned legs spanning the distance from her hip to the windshield. I imagined those long legs wrapped around my midsection. Damn, couldn’t spend twenty minutes around her without getting a hard-on. I shifted in my seat.
“You’re welcome. Thanks for taking care of my dad last night.”
“It was nothing.” She turned to face me, drawing her legs down and tucking one underneath her on the seat. “I heard something this weekend…about your dad and my mom. Did you know they used to date?”
“Oh yeah? They went out in high school or something?”
&nb
sp; Cassie cleared her throat. “They were engaged, Robbie.”
“What?” My body jerked in her direction, and I accidentally pulled the steering wheel with me.
“Watch out!” Cassie’s arm flew out and she pointed at the dark ribbon of highway in front of us.
I centered the truck back in our lane. “What the hell are you talking about?”
“Mrs. Cahill told me when I was over there helping her get ready for that wedding. Then last night your dad called me Angel. I guess that’s what he used to call my mom. I just can’t imagine them together, can you?”
A scowl crept over my face. “No, nobody ever said a word to me about it. Why would they have kept it such a secret?”
“Mrs. Cahill said they broke up for a bit and that’s when your dad met your mom and…well, you know your mom was pregnant with Jeffy when they got married, right?”
“Yeah, that’s never been a secret.” I pondered this new information. My dad hated Cassie’s mom. He’d always told me to stay away from her. I thought she’d been a real bitch in high school or something. But maybe she was the only woman who’d ever turned him down.
“Are you going to ask him about it?” she asked.
The light from the console cast her face in an eerie bluish glow. “Maybe.”
She nodded. “Let me know if you do, okay?”
“Sure.” I debated about broaching the next topic. May as well get it settled. “So, we need to talk about something.”
“What’s that?”
“The guys will be done with the kitchen next week. Besides painting and redoing the floors, the only other big project we have left is the bathroom.”
Cassie groaned. “Tell me again why we can’t keep the tub?”
“Unless you want to knock down a wall and expand the bathroom, there’s just not enough space. The tub is great. You know I’m a big fan.”
Cassie whacked me on the arm with the back of her hand. I caught it up in mine and gave it a squeeze before she pulled away.
The wheels crunched on the gravel as I slowed the truck to a stop behind a dark gray four-door BMW. The driver side door opened and a guy got out. Charcoal dress pants, long-sleeve white oxford with the shirt sleeves rolled up to his elbows. Who the hell was that?
“Cassie? Are you expecting someone?”
She glanced from me to the stranger. He’d put his hand up to shade his eyes from the setting sun.
“Oh no, that’s Parker. What’s he doing here?”
This was Parker? The business partner she was building a future with in Dallas?
Cassie’s hands flew to her hair and she tried to smooth it down as she hopped from the front seat.
I didn’t move, just took in the awkward reunion going on in front of me. He tried to pull her in for a hug but she put a palm to his chest. Score one point for Cassie.
“Parker, why are you…how did you…what are you doing?”
He shot a glance at me. “Can we go inside and talk, Cookie?”
Cookie? Give me a fucking break.
Cassie crossed her arms over her middle. “I don’t understand. Why are you here?”
“I’ve got news. Drove all the way here so I could tell you in person.”
Her chin jutted into the air. “What kind of news?”
The cocky air of confidence seemed to dissipate bit by bit. “Can we talk in private?”
I took that as the perfect signal it was time to introduce myself. Before he could convince her to leave me on the driveway and head inside, I wanted to meet the man Cassie planned on leaving me for, even if it would only be as business partners.
“Hey.” I rounded the front bumper. “Everything okay?”
Cassie nodded.
“Who are you?” He gave me a wary smile.
Her voice shook slightly as she nodded my direction. “Parker, this is our contractor, Rob Jordan.”
Our contractor? And what was with her finally calling me Rob?
I thrust my hand at him and he caught it up in a handshake.
“Rob, is it?” he asked. He wasn’t from south of the Mason-Dixon line. I could tell from the way he talked in short, sharp bursts like he didn’t want to waste any energy between words.
I squeezed his hand and purposely slowed my speech to a crawling drawl. “Yeah, nice to meet you.”
He squeezed back. “Thanks for taking care of things for us. We really appreciate it.” His eyes locked on mine.
I set my jaw and gave a final squeeze before releasing his hand. Didn’t look like he’d ever done a day of honest work with those paper-pushing paws. “Yeah, Cassie and I have been havin’ a real good time workin’ on the house together. All day. Sometimes into the night.”
He cocked his head and narrowed his eyes.
“Robbie, cut it out.” Cassie glared at me then took his hand in hers and pulled him toward the house. “Parker, we need to talk. Robbie, I’ll deal with you later.”
Parker smiled and gave me a mock salute as he let Cassie drag him onto the front porch. He attempted to wrap an arm around her waist, but she dodged him. A piercing pain sliced through my chest. I couldn’t look away.
“As long as you’re here, you’ve got to see what we’ve done so far. Come on, let me show you.” She rambled on about dry rot and insulation ratings and proper pipe fittings as she opened the front door and they disappeared inside.
“Don’t worry about me. I’ll just grab your bag,” I called out to no one. A crow sitting on top of the roof answered me. But instead of “caw-caw” I could have sworn he said “suckaw-suckaw.”
With Cassie’s bag in hand, I stepped onto the front porch. Her voice carried through the screen door. They were somewhere in the back. I cracked it open and slid her purse inside. It was killing me not to barge in and confront both of them, but it would only make things worse.
“I’m gonna head out, Cass. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Parker moved toward the door with Cassie several steps behind him. “Tell you what, Rob. Why don’t you take the day off tomorrow?”
I looked to Cassie but her eyes were trained on Parker.
“We’ve got the landscape guys coming.” I hooked my thumb through my belt loop.
He chuckled. “I manage entire teams of people. I’m sure Cassie and I can handle a few contractors. Why don’t you just enjoy your day off? Besides”—he wrapped an arm around Cassie’s waist and pulled her against him—“Cassie and I have a lot of catching up to do.” He dipped his head down and planted a kiss on her cheek.
Her hand went to his chest, pushing him away. Bastard was trying to put on a show for me. Laying his claim, loud and clear. It took every ounce of restraint not to let my fist crack into his chin. Pretty boy would look pretty fly with a fucked up black eye.
Cassie wriggled away. “Parker, that really wasn’t—”
“You want me to stay, Cassafrass?” I had no doubt Cassie could handle this guy on her own, but I was more than ready to be her back-up.
She shook her head. “I’ve got this. You go on ahead, and I’ll talk to you tomorrow, okay?”
I waited a few beats to make sure she wouldn’t change her mind. Why couldn’t she tell the Suit to hit the road, that she was with me now, that we didn’t need or appreciate him coming back around? But she didn’t. Whatever carrot he was dangling in front of her was too strong. I couldn’t compete with that.
“Yeah, y’all have a good night.” I wheeled around and leapt off the porch, covering the distance to my truck in a couple of adrenaline-fueled strides. She couldn’t be serious about that guy. Not Cassie. If she wanted a restaurant, I’d figure out a way to get her a restaurant. Hell, I’d give her the world. I climbed up into the truck and revved the engine. The front door to the farmhouse shut. I glanced back and saw Cassie move across the front room with Parker right behind her.
Damn, I had to get outta there. My head spun and my gut roiled like a bucket full of minnows was swimming through my stomach. I threw the truck in reverse an
d backed out onto the gravel road with only one thought running through my mind. How was I going to compete with the asshole and prove to Cassie that she belonged with me?
27
Cassie
“What’s gotten into you, Parker?” He wasn’t usually one to engage in public displays of affection beyond a quick hug or a peck on the cheek. Which meant he either really missed me and knew he’d messed up, or he was putting on a show for Robbie. Being the uber competitive guy he was, it was most likely the latter.
Parker touched his forehead to mine. “Tell me you didn’t mean what you said. It’s not over, is it?”
Not trusting myself to look at him without giving all of my feelings away, I turned to the side.
“I missed you, Cookie.” He reached for my hand.
“So, what? You drove all the way to Missouri for a hug?” I peeked up at him. Dark brown eyes peered back at me. My gaze lingered on his cheek. Smooth as a baby’s butt. Parker shaved twice a day, a fact I’d always appreciated.
“That, and I have some good news to share.” He pulled me toward the door. “Let me go grab my bag. Any chance you can whip up something to eat? I haven’t had your cooking in way too long.”
“Wait. You’re not planning on staying here, are you?” That’s all I needed. Things boiled over with Robbie, and now I had Parker to deal with. In just a couple of days I’d made a royal mess of my so-called life.
Parker had already moved onto the porch and was halfway across the yard to his car. “Just overnight. I need to get back tomorrow.” He beeped the alarm and with his leather duffel in hand, crossed the yard back to the porch. The alarm…I shook my head. He was so citified. He’d probably freak if I told him I hadn’t locked the front door since the day after I arrived. “So tell me about this Rob character. How exactly does he fit into the picture?”
Robbie, oh crap. What was I going to tell Parker about Robbie? “What’s it matter? We’re through. I meant what I said on the phone. It’s over.”