by Tara Randel
“Listen, I have to get back. We still need to clean up.”
“One more question. Are you and Luke a couple?”
“What?” The surprise question threw her off guard. “Why on earth would you ask me that?”
“It’s common knowledge you two have been spending time together.”
“On behalf of Kids’ Klub.”
“We both know that forced proximity can lead to attraction.”
Good grief. The woman had morphed from Mandy the gossip to Mandy the detective.
“I’m sorry to disappoint you, but we’re friends. Really more like acquaintances, coming together for the common good.”
Stop babbling. She been around enough reporters to know how to keep her mouth shut. Why not now?
“Just an observation.”
“An incorrect one.”
A sly smile crossed Mandy’s lips.
The cell phone ringing from Cassie’s back pocket saved her. She pulled it out to find Lauren’s name on the screen. “Would you please excuse me? I need to take this call.”
“Certainly. Thanks for your time. I’ll be around in case you want to expand on anything.”
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
As Mandy walked away, Cassie tapped her phone screen. “Hey, sis.”
“You sound stressed.”
“Reporter.”
“Ah. You’ve met dear Mandy.”
“She looks so innocent but asks questions like a seasoned cop.”
Lauren chuckled.
“Where are you?” Cassie asked. “I’ve been expecting you.”
“The warehouse.”
“When did you get here?”
“About ten minutes ago. Can you send Luke to his office?”
“Is there a problem?”
“I need to bring him up to speed.”
“Okay. Want some coffee?”
“In a gallon mug if you have one.”
She ended the call and returned to Luke. He was in conversation with another man and from what she could hear, they were discussing the man’s son.
“Don’t worry, Mr. Harrison. I’ll talk to Blake myself.”
“Thanks, Luke. We appreciate the time you’ve spent with him.”
“He’s a good kid.”
When the man walked away Luke turned, a small smile curving his lips when he viewed her expression.
“You look shell-shocked.”
She lifted a hand to shield her eyes from the sun. “That obvious? I always forget how nosy reporters can be.”
“Can’t say I miss them.”
“Wish I had that luxury. Right now they’re a necessary evil.”
“Mandy’s not so bad.”
“Really. Has she interviewed you?”
“Nope. I stopped her in her tracks as soon as I came to town.”
Cassie dropped her hand. “You could have warned me.”
“What’s the fun in that?”
“Mr. Hastings, I believe you have a mean streak.”
He chuckled. “Mandy’s mostly harmless.”
Cassie wasn’t so sure. “Yet you keep your distance.”
“I have a no-tolerance policy.”
Okay, then. “My sister just called. She wants us to meet her at your office.”
“That can’t be good,” Luke said, closing the top of a to-go box.
“Pessimist much?”
He froze.
Oh, crud. Now what had she done? “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Ah, let’s go.”
Cassie scooped up the coffee she’d poured for her sister and followed. Somehow she’d managed to get his back up. Her turn-off-Luke skills never ceased to amaze her.
CHAPTER SIX
LUKE STRODE TO the warehouse, deep in thought. A pessimist? Even his cousin alluded to this. In spite of his shades on, he narrowed his eyes against the sun’s bright glare, his mind working overtime. Was Dane right? Had he turned into a bitter cliché—the spurned ex-husband?
With Cassie on his heels, now was not the time to review his personal life, especially since her arrival had upturned everything. While he’d been watching her charm the crowd last night despite the writer’s block she was dealing with, a brick or two had loosened from his emotional wall. He realized she sang because she loved it. Yes, it was her career, but he imagined she’d find a way to keep singing no matter what, even if she never recorded again.
The fact that she’d planned this breakfast still rocked him. All because she was a caring person, not out for what she could get. Not every woman was like his ex. He’d pegged Cassie all wrong.
From here on out, he’d juggle his responsibilities. Help her get her mojo back while focusing on the kids and expanding the Klub.
He slowed his pace. Centered himself as Cassie drew up beside him. “You know, Lauren probably wants to go over the donations from last night.”
“You’re probably right.”
She tilted her head, those gut-wrenching eyes of hers incredulous. “Really? Cuz more times than not I get the feeling I bug you.”
His lips quirked. Yeah, she got to him all right, but not how she assumed.
“How about we start over?” she queried as they continued to stroll over the neatly cut grass leading to the warehouse sidewalk. “I’ll try not to annoy you while you pretend you don’t mind me volunteering.”
“You don’t annoy me.” Far from it. In fact, he kinda liked being around her, a fact he was learning to admit.
“You’re saying I can volunteer here?”
“Yes, but how about we table that discussion until after the meeting with your sister?”
His chest tightened at her full-fledged grin. And not in a heartburn kind of way.
Once inside the cool warehouse, Luke removed his sunglasses and hooked the arm into his shirt neck opening. He waved to a group of boys throwing around a ball, trying to make baskets. Lauren stood outside his office, dressed like she’d just come from work, with her briefcase in hand as they approached.
“Finally, you’re here,” she said.
“You have good news, right?” Luke pulled out his key to unlock the door. “The concert was a success?”
“Yes.” She looked around them. “Can we go inside and shut the door?”
All his tangled-up emotions about Cassie faded at the unease in Lauren’s voice.
Upon entering, he flipped the light switch. The fluorescent bulbs hummed as they warmed up. He watched Lauren take over his desk, her face a serious mask as she removed file folders from her briefcase and placed them in an orderly fashion on the desktop before taking the coffee cup from Cassie’s extended hand. He pulled out a seat for Cassie then lowered himself in another chair beside her.
“Why do I get the impression you have bad news?”
Lauren glanced at her sister. “Thanks for the coffee, sis. Would you mind waiting outside until I finish talking to Luke?”
“Oh. Of course not.” Cassie started to rise but Luke stopped her by placing his hand on her shoulder. For some reason, he didn’t want to be alone for whatever Lauren was about to drop on him. Besides, after last night, Cassie had earned the right to know how the Klub faired. “Please, stay.”
“Are you sure? I don’t mind leaving.”
“Please.”
She sank back down.
Lauren took his usual seat behind the desk, her hands clasped before her, and regarded him with grave concern.
Lauren hesitated. “About the concert.”
“Please don’t tell me we lost money,” Luke groaned.
“No, the concert brought in a significant amount of capital.” Lauren opened a file to show them a spreadsheet of the final numb
ers. Luke read the information, once, then twice to make sure he’d got it right.
“Awesome.” Cassie high-fived her sister.
“Not enough yet to buy the property outright, but definitely closer than you were a few days ago.”
“So what’s the problem?” Luke asked, confused by Lauren’s serious demeanor.
“I’m just going to tell you straight out.” She placed her palms flat over the open folders. “Someone took cash from the till. The total doesn’t reflect the dollar amount I counted against the receipt of sales.”
“The cash till involved...?” Cassie looked at him, then her sister, for answers.
“Food sales.” He reined in the dread enveloping him. “Remember the kids got together to cook hot dogs to sell, along with bags of chips and sodas.”
“Right.”
He squared his shoulders. “The difference?”
“Sales came to just over eight hundred. Two hundred is missing.”
Luke’s stomach felt like someone had just gone fifty rounds with him as the punching bag. “Denny was in charge.”
Cassie’s eyes went wide. “Denny, your right-hand man?”
“Yes. But I don’t believe he had anything to do with the missing funds.”
“Have there ever been problems with him, or any of the other teens before?” Lauren probed.
“No. But usually an adult handles the money at our events.”
“Last night was different?”
He ran a shaky hand over the back of his neck. “I trust Denny.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“I gave him control.”
“I see.” Lauren made a note. “You’ll need to question him.”
His chest grew tight. “Yeah. I know.”
“Luke, since you started this project you’ve entrusted me to keep your finances organized,” Lauren continued, all business in a navy jacket and skirt, hair severely pulled back, even on her off time.
“And you would have advised me differently about last night?”
“You’ve always been diligent. Made sure there was adult supervision. That’s what confuses me.”
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees, head hung low. Between his laser focus on how to raise funds to purchase the property and warehouse for the Klub, and trying to ignore the hurt of Tracy’s baby news, he’d given Denny more adult jobs lately. As a result, someone had helped him or herself to Klub funds. He wanted to kick himself right now.
A soft movement beside him brought his head up as Cassie gently laid her hand on his arm and squeezed. He met her gaze, embarrassed by his mistake, but not questioning the comfort from her solemn look. Lauren gathered up the pages to return them to a nice, neat pile. “I’ll leave this file with you. Go over it, then get back to me. But I have to ask, why did you change your protocols?”
“Denny’s been with me a long time. He’s been asking for, and deserved, more responsibility. I thought last night was a good time to put him in charge.”
“I hate to point out the obvious, but this is petty theft. A misdemeanor charge.”
Still trying to wrap his mind around his current dilemma, he nodded. Just what he needed, the Klub involved in a criminal investigation.
“If you need any other advice, just call.” Lauren stood. Bad news delivered, she started to refill her briefcase.
Words escaped him as he stared at the closed folder.
Lauren came around the desk and spoke to her sister in a low tone. “Can I still get in on the breakfast?”
Cassie pushed her chair back and stood. “Sure. We were cleaning up when you called.”
“I know this is a bad time, but care to join me for more coffee?”
Luke felt Cassie’s eyes on him. “Yeah. Just give me a few minutes.”
“I’ll be outside.”
As the door closed, Cassie half sat on the edge of his desk, her hands griping the wood on either side of her.
“Well, this is awkward,” he said after a few moments of unbearable silence. Needing to do something physical, he moved the two chairs he’d pulled out for them back against the far wall.
“It’s a delicate situation, but we can figure it out.”
He glanced at her, surprised to find only support reflected in her eyes.
“Cassie, this isn’t your problem.”
“No, it isn’t, but you allowed me in and I’ll do whatever I can to help you uncover what’s going on.”
The tightness in his chest loosened a fraction. Someone to share the burden of this discovery went a long way in making him feel less a fool. Less guilty that he’d put Denny in a situation that backfired on both of them.
“Kids’ Klub is important to me on many levels. That’s why this is so devastating to me.” He paused, considering what to tell her. “When I came back to Cypress Pointe, I was at a low point in my life. My marriage had failed. I’d walked away from the music business.
“I went back to my first career, teaching, and discovered my past wasn’t so easy to forget. My brother got arrested the first month I was home. I tried to intervene, but Mark didn’t want me involved. In my frustration, I came up with the Klub concept.” He met her gaze. “Full disclosure. My dad is doing time, as well.”
“I’ve heard.”
“Then you probably know about my mom?”
She nodded.
Super. Was she wondering why she’d hitched her wagon to his? Why he hadn’t been more vigilant with the kids last night?
“The Klub has been my vehicle to give others a chance, when I couldn’t help my own family. Especially Mark. I tried, but...”
“Luke, I appreciate your motives for the Klub, but as for your family, take it from me, they make their own decisions. You have no control over them and shouldn’t feel guilty.”
“I’m the only one who made something of himself. The only one to earn a college degree.”
“Which you should be proud of.”
“I always wished a place like the Klub existed when Mark and I were kids. That we had been exposed to committed adults who shared their time and experience with us, gave us alternatives to acting out because of a dysfunctional family or peer pressure. Maybe Mark would have chosen a different path. That’s what I’ve offered with the Klub. And for this to happen?” He nearly choked on his own good intentions.
“Maybes and what-ifs will get you nowhere.”
He allowed himself a slight grin. “One of your mom’s sayings?”
“No. A Cassieism this time.”
“Got one for still being angry at an ex?”
Her eyes dimmed. “Nope.”
Just as well. “I’m afraid I let my ex-wife distract me lately.”
She held up her hand. “You don’t have to explain if you don’t want to.”
He didn’t. Not on the tail of Lauren’s news.
Shaking off the past he said, “That’s why the thought of one of my kids stealing money is killing me. I’m always on top of things. I’ve been concentrating so much on securing this property that I allowed myself to fall short on my standards.”
“Luke, I hate to break it to you, but you’re not flawless. We all make mistakes.”
“This mistake could cost the kids we’re trying to help.”
“Not if you figure out who the culprit is. Maybe you can get the money back.”
“It’s not just the funds. It’s the trust.” He began to pace. “Some of these kids have already been in trouble with the law. How can I question them and still have them feel like this is a safe place?”
“Maybe. But they need to be responsible, too.”
Yeah, he knew that.
“Before you begin the questions, start with the obvious people and branch out from
there.”
He nodded. A list was already forming in his mind. But that would have to wait for later. He glanced at his watch. “We’d better get outside. Can’t have unsupervised kids running around for too long.”
Before leaving, Cassie stopped him at the door, placing a hand on his chest. His heart knocked against his ribs. They stood so close, he could see the variegated shades of green in her eyes. Noticed a few freckles scattered across her nose. How easy would it be to kiss her right now? Forget about the betrayal that came from his shortsightedness and lose himself in the pleasure he knew he’d find with her?
Too easy. And not fair to her.
He drew back.
“Don’t blame yourself, Luke Hastings. You’ll figure this out.”
“What makes you so sure?”
“You didn’t change your family situation and become a celebrated songwriter and dedicated teacher by giving up. Don’t start now. These kids depend on you.”
As much as he needed them.
Cassie opened the door. He took a breath at the space between them. His intentions to keep her at arm’s length were failing. If he wasn’t careful, she’d convince him that writing songs would be cathartic for him. Hadn’t he sworn he’d never go there? Watching Cassie walk away, he couldn’t recall why.
Quickly locking the door behind him, he sprinted to catch up with her.
“Cassie. Thanks.”
“You got it.”
He held open the door and they both exited the building into the bright sunshine. He’d taken two steps when ice cold water rained down over his and Cassie’s heads.
“What the—”
On pure instinct, he wound his arms around Cassie, protecting her from the icy onslaught. Her back against his chest, he tugged her close and spun, taking the brunt of the freezing shower.
“Surprise,” came a chorus of voices.
Cassie sputtered in shock.
He wound his arms tighter, enjoying holding her close. He was treading on dangerous territory here. Moisture dripped from his hair and down his face, landing on the creamy skin of her slim neck. When she shivered, he loosened his hold, using one hand to wipe his eyes. It was then he saw his kids standing on either side of them, laughing their fool heads off.
“We got you good, Mr. H.,” Denny crowed, clearly the ringleader.