Some Guys Have All the Luck

by Deborah Cooke

  A wedding. Cassie clenched her fists in her lap. She’d known that Kyle would marry Lauren, but hadn’t expected it to happen so quickly.

  “Hey, Cassie, we’re the last ones left standing,” Theo said when the room quieted down and she laughed.

  “Not technically. Damon and Hayley aren’t married yet.”

  “Give it time,” Kyle teased and Damon grinned.

  “Save the best to last,” she said and Theo chuckled.

  “Absolutely. Are we going to talk business today?” he asked and there was a roar of assent. Theo launched into a presentation then, bringing them up to date on the launch festivities for the new club. Cassie was taking notes and she had a hard time keeping up with him, given how much he had planned. The guest lists made her eyes widen and she knew they’d get a ton of press, if she planned it right.

  A wedding, a baby, and a penthouse she couldn’t afford.

  How was she going to get through it all?

  She thought of Chynna’s advice and thought she knew.

  Eleven

  Shannon was as sleek and lovely as Reid recalled. Just the sight of her reawakened all those yearnings he’d been determined to forget. Plus she was all over him. Even if he’d been as dumb as a rock, he’d known that the landing lights were on and he was cleared for whatever he wanted from her.

  Yet Reid was reluctant to partake. He didn’t trust her, not anymore, and didn’t want to be played for a fool again. That she’d tossed him back, married someone else—twice—and now was flirting with him again smelled like she was more interested in his money than him.

  She didn’t seem to have aged, except that she was just more polished—and almost certainly more expensive. Diamonds dripped from her earlobes and surrounded her throat and he wondered who had bought them for her.

  Then he heard Cassie calling him sexist and decided to ask.

  “You look like you’ve done well,” he said as the soup was served. “Did you end up teaching?”

  Shannon laughed. “I ended up marrying well,” she said, her eyes shining with pleasure. “And divorcing even better. And you?”

  “Oh, a few investments here and there.” Reid tested his theory. “I went back to Montrose River and bought the little grocery store where I had my first job.”

  “How cute.” Her gaze slipped over his suit and lingered on his watch. “I’m going to guess your other investments did particularly well.”

  “Reid drives an Aston Martin,” Shayla contributed. “A red convertible.”

  “Really?” Shannon said. “I’ve always thought they were the sexiest little cars, although I’ve never ridden in one.” She paused and Reid knew he was supposed to ask her for a ride, but he didn’t.

  “The soup is great,” he said to Shayla, whose eyes narrowed in warning. He winked at her, unrepentant, knowing he’d have to charm Shannon a little bit to appease his hostess.

  Shannon had turned her attention to the man seated on her other side. Reid was relieved. On one hand, he was intrigued that his having money changed Shannon’s reaction to him—or maybe it was that she’d already been married and clearly wasn’t innocent anymore—but on the other, he found himself impatient with the whole courtship ritual. Even in a couple of days, he’d gotten used to a woman like Cassie telling him exactly what she wanted.

  He wanted more. He’d thought he might buy an apartment in Chicago on this trip, but hadn’t liked anything enough to make a purchase. Maybe Chicago was too familiar and he needed a new adventure.

  Maybe New York.

  He told himself it wasn’t just because of Cassie.

  Dinner looked amazing, grilled filet steaks wrapped in bacon, whipped potatoes, buttered green beans. He sliced the filet in half and admired how perfectly it was done.

  “You really know how to do it right, Shayla,” he said to his hostess, not hiding his appreciation. “It’s a great meal.” He glanced around the table crowded with guests. “Excellent company.” He nodded to the floor-to-ceiling windows along the opposite wall and the view of the city and Lake Michigan. “Awesome view.”

  “Don’t you try and butter me up,” Shayla retorted, amusement in her voice, then continued in an undertone. “I was trying to fix you up and do it right.”

  “You know me,” he said instead. “I’m not the fixing up kind.”

  “You just haven’t met your match yet,” Shayla said. “I’ll find her. You’ll see.”

  Before Reid could reply, his phone rang.

  It was Cassie.

  He was taking it.

  “Sorry,” he said to Shayla whose glare brightened. He smiled and excused himself from the table, answering on the second ring. “Reid.”

  “I’m in desperate trouble,” Cassie said, then sighed.

  “Pregnant?” he asked lightly, because he knew that if she was, it had nothing to do with him.

  Cassie laughed and Reid found his mood improved by the sound. He leaned against the kitchen wall, picturing her perfectly. She’d be at home, maybe wearing that silk kimono—which had to be back from the dry cleaner—barefoot, with her hair loose over her shoulders.

  “Not me. She is.”

  Reid understood immediately. “Tyler’s wife.”

  “Yes.” She sighed. “And he’s thrilled and I’m supposed to be happy for them both but I’m so rotten that I’m not.” She took a deep breath. “There. I said it.”

  He enjoyed that she had called him to confess her sin. “So you called another rotten person, hoping I’d commiserate.”

  “I guessed you’d understand.”

  “I do. It’s that opposites attract thing at work again.”

  “How so?”

  “You said they were both really nice.”

  Cassie laughed in surprise. “You are wicked.”

  “That’s why we understand each other.”

  “And the bizarre thing is that you’ve ended up being the only person who knows the truth.”

  “Oh, I like you anyway,” Reid teased. “Don’t worry about that.”

  There was a beat of silence, and he realized that he was echoing her objective without meaning to do so. He cleared his throat and couldn’t think of a thing to say.

  “It is kind of weird to think of you as my confessor.”

  “I wouldn’t make a good priest.”

  “No.” She laughed a little, then took a deep breath. “You said before that everything’s a negotiation.”

  “True. Because it is. Whether people want to admit it or not.” And it was much simpler when they did, in Reid’s opinion.

  “Will you help me?”

  “Help you what?”

  “Help me be nice.”

  “All the time?”

  “No! That would be awful.”

  “It would,” Reid agreed easily and Cassie laughed again.

  “The big opening of F5 West is on the twelfth of May. We’re all going to San Francisco for it.”

  “All the partners.” Which would probably include Tyler’s wife. Reid thought he understood.

  “Yes.” Cassie drew out the word.

  “But you’re just opening a fitness club.” Reid held up a hand before she could protest, even though she couldn’t see him. “I know it’s not just any fitness club, it’s F5 West, but still.”

  “But that’s not all we’re doing,” she said. “Kyle and Lauren are getting married on the beach in Santa Cruz. Since we’ll all be in town anyway and they want to get married out there, they’re taking advantage of opportunity.”

  “Sounds reasonable.”

  “Except that we’ll be at a beach bar, and I’ll have a drink—or maybe six—and I might just feel compelled to push a very nice person into the ocean.” Cassie paused. “Maybe hold her down for a few minutes.”

  Reid grinned. “You’re not that bad.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but I’m not convinced.” She sighed. “There will be tequila.”

  “Ah. So you do have a weakness.”

&n
bsp; “More than one. Would you come and be my date?”

  “For a wedding?”

  “Yes! I know. It’s a huge thing to ask.” Cassie took a deep breath as if bracing herself for the worst. “What’s your price?”

  Reid glanced toward the crowded dining room which wasn’t far enough away. He dropped his voice. “You can guess.”

  “Sex is a given,” Cassie said with familiar bluntness. “Lots of sex. It can’t be your price, because I’m going to demand it, too. I’ll need it. And I’ll pay your airfare.”

  “No, I can get that.” Reid didn’t want her booking him in some economy class seat. He needed the room to stretch his legs and he was willing to pay for it. “Give me the exact dates and location. Maybe I’ll rent a car.”

  He could feel her interest prick.

  “A good car?”

  “I don’t rent shit cars.” He was thinking of his buddy Chris who bought, sold, fixed, and leased luxury cars in the Napa Valley. Maybe Chris would have something interesting.

  What was he thinking? Chris always had drool-worthy cars.

  “A man after my own heart,” Cassie said with satisfaction.

  “No, that’s one thing I’m not,” he felt obliged to note.

  “Right. I know that. It was just a joke, Reid.”

  “Good. We need to understand each other if this is going to work.”

  “Then if you’re picking up all that, you must want something good.”

  “I do.” Reid cleared his throat. “I want to meet Domme Barbie.”

  “You did already.”

  “But I heard there was latex.”

  Cassie giggled. “It’s the whip you want to see.”

  “Maybe. That would be new and different.”

  “You’re bad.”

  “And you’re really not, which is why I have to see it to believe it.”

  “You just want to visit my boots,” Cassie accused, a thrum of humor in her voice.

  Reid’s body responded immediately to both her intimate tone and the mental image of her wearing the boots and nothing else. “Guilty as charged,” he admitted. “But they’re no fun without you in them.”

  Cassie laughed. “I think you’re selling yourself short again, Reid. What you want is what I want.”

  “Then great minds think alike.”

  “Nothing else?”

  “Get me a pass to the new club.”

  “That’s easy!” She paused but didn’t end the call. “So, what else is new?”

  “Nothing. Well, something. I sold some property in town to a developer for a new housing subdivision, and now he wants to buy my house.”

  He could hear her interest rise. “Really? Will you sell it?”

  “Maybe. I don’t need all that space.” Reid took a breath. “It might even be time to move.”

  “Wow. Headline news. Reid Jackson leaves Montrose River. Apocalypse pending.”

  Reid laughed. “It’s not that bad.”

  “Well, I’m thinking of buying a condo in the F5 tower. It’s gorgeous...”

  “And no commute. What’s holding you back?”

  “I want a bigger one than I can afford.”

  Reid laughed. “Ah, so you do know someone who could fill my closet.”

  “And then some, but that house probably has more than one closet. It could take serious work to fill them all. Dedication.”

  “I’ll guess you have it.”

  “A woman needs to be prepared to work to achieve her goals.”

  “It would be pretty inconvenient for you to have your clothes in Montrose River, though, seeing that you’re never going back there.”

  “True,” she admitted. “And inconvenient to have them in the house if you sell it. But I’ll still fantasize about your closets.”

  Reid dropped his voice low to tease her. “I was hoping you’d fantasize about me.”

  She laughed again, the sound making him smile. “Why do you think I called you?” she murmured.

  Just as things were getting interesting, Reid glanced up to find Shayla beside him, giving him the evil eye. “I’ve got to go. Send me the details, though.”

  “Go? Where are you anyway?”

  “At a dinner party in Chicago, and I’m now officially in trouble with my hostess.”

  There was a pause and he knew Cassie was surprised. “Well, good,” she said, sounding as if it wasn’t really.

  “Thanks. It’s some kind of fabulous place. It ought to be in a magazine.” He smiled for Shayla.

  “It was,” she whispered.

  “Tell her to give you to me for discipline,” Cassie suggested.

  “Careful what you wish for. Shayla just might go for that.” Reid waited for Cassie to laugh again, then ended the call and apologized to Shayla.

  “A woman,” she said with satisfaction.

  “A woman,” Reid agreed.

  “And not just any woman,” Shayla murmured as they returned to the table.

  “You don’t know that.”

  “I do.”

  He held Shayla’s chair for her and she sat down, exchanging a smile with her husband while Reid took his seat. Then she leaned closer. “I have never in my life seen you let a good steak go cold, not for anything, least of all, a woman.” Shayla looked him in the eye. “She’s not just a woman. She’s the woman.”

  Reid averted his gaze, feeling exposed. “You’re seeing what you want to see.”

  “And you’re trying to keep your secrets just like you always do. I’m going to stop fixing you up and start shopping for a hat to wear to your wedding.”

  “Make sure it’s timeless,” Reid advised. “You might have to hold onto that hat for a long, long time.”

  Then he turned and very deliberately charmed Shannon.

  It wasn’t just to placate Shayla either.

  Reid out for dinner at a swish place in Chicago.

  Reid having friends she didn’t know about.

  Cassie was disgruntled, even though she knew she had no right to be. Of course, the man had friends and a life.

  But he was thinking of selling that house.

  What other property had he sold?

  It would have to be a big parcel, if it was going to be a subdivision. Cassie supposed that some people might like the quiet vibe of Montrose River. Hadn’t his family owned a large piece of land? She remembered his father wanting to sell it, but no one had been interested in buying land in Montrose River in those days.

  There was one good way to find out.

  She called Nick.

  Tori answered. After Cassie had the update on the party, the baby, and the talk around town, she asked to speak to Nick.

  “What’s up?” he said, his voice a familiar low rumble. He’d picked up the extension and Cassie could still hear Tori on the line.

  “Can I ask you something?”

  “You can ask anything. Whether I can answer or not is another issue.”

  “Reid said he gave Lionel a job because Lionel reminds him of himself.”

  “That makes sense,” Nick acknowledged.

  When he didn’t continue, Cassie prodded him. “Not to me. What did Reid mean?”

  “You could ask Reid.”

  “I did. He wouldn’t tell me.”

  “Then maybe it’s not for you to know.”

  “He said it like it was important,” Cassie said. “Like I should know what he meant.”

  “Then it’s true,” Tori said.

  “Of course, it’s true,” Nick agreed.

  “What’s true?” Cassie demanded in exasperation.

  “That Chase Stewart is a drinker,” Tori said. “I wondered.”

  Chase Stewart? Cassie clutched the phone.

  “The signs are there for anyone to see,” Nick agreed.

  “What’s Chase Stewart got to do with this?” she managed to say.

  “He’s Lionel’s father. Didn’t you know?”

  Cassie sat down on the lip of the sofa, feeling as if she’d been d
ropped into an alien society where everyone knew things she didn’t. “So, wait a minute. You’re saying that Reid says Lionel reminds him of himself because Lionel’s father, who is Chase Stewart, drinks, which means that—”

  “Reid’s father was the worst drinker this town has ever seen,” Tori supplied.

  “Abusive, too,” Nick said.

  “How do you know that?” Cassie asked Nick but he didn’t answer.

  “My mom said he hit Doreen,” Tori said, referring to Reid’s mom. “They said she was always hiding a bruise or a black eye, but she wouldn’t leave him.”

  “And there were rumors when she died,” Nick agreed.

  “But I was there when Reid’s mom died!” Cassie protested. “I didn’t know any of this.”

  “You were only ten,” Nick said. “No one was going to talk to you about that.”

  “How do you know about it? You’re only two years older than me.” Cassie said.

  Nick cleared his throat. “You can’t hide much in a locker room, even if the bruises have been strategically placed. Reid got razzed the first time, and I thought there’d be a fight. Instead, Reid stuck up for that scrawny kid who was always getting bullied.”

  “Raymond Carter,” Tori supplied when Nick hesitated. “He went to MIT and has some fabulous job in California now.”

  “Right. Raymond. Nobody picked on him once Reid took his side, and nobody razzed Reid about his bruises after that.”

  Cassie struggled to integrate this new information with what she knew about Reid. It was hard to believe that all those years ago, when he’d been swaggering down the corridors and doing it with every girl who would have him—and leaving the other ones wishing—that he’d been dealing with an abusive father.

  “Why don’t I know any of this?” she asked again.

  “Maybe because you never wanted to know,” Nick said gently. “All you ever thought about was getting out of here, and you made no secret of it. Everyone knew you were just marking time, Cassie, so why would they bother confiding in you?”

  Cassie caught her breath but didn’t correct him. What she’d been doing was hiding. It was tempting to tell Nick as much, but she just couldn’t do it. “But someone in authority must have known about Reid and his dad. Someone must have reported it. Somebody should have stepped in!”