Cassie looked around again. “Do you really think I fit into this world? I’m happiest in my kitchen covered with flour. I don’t belong here.”
“I’m happiest when I’m in your kitchen with you. I don’t care where we live as long as it’s together. Do you love me?” he asked and every last one of Cassie’s doubts disappeared.
“Yes,” she answered.
“Then trust me, Cassie. I won’t let you down again.”
From across the perfectly silent room, Tilly called out, “If you don’t marry him, I will.”
Cassie laughed at that and said, “That settles it then. Before she snaps you up, Luke, I will marry you. I don’t want to imagine another day without you either.”
He slid a diamond ring onto the fourth finger of her left hand and pulled her to him for a deep kiss. The room exploded with cheers, but Cassie didn’t feel self-conscious anymore. She was with Luke, and that was all that mattered.
Music began to play again, this time a vaguely familiar tune. Luke raised his hands for her to take and asked, “May I have this dance?”
Cassie smiled up at him and winked. “You may have every dance.”
As Luke moved, Cassie moved with him, and her confidence grew. He was right, it all came down to trust and even though Luke had asked for time to sort through his mother’s loss, he had always been honest with her. The man who was twirling her around this fancy ballroom was the same man who had frosted cupcakes with her and taken her to meet his friends. “I love you,” she burst out.
He kissed her deeply before twirling her around him again. “And I love you, Cassie Daiver, my adorable cupcake, so much more than you know.”
Cassie heard the words of the music playing and asked, “Is this a Disney song?”
With a grin, Luke said, “Maddy helped me plan this evening. Sounds like she’s poking a little fun at me, but I don’t mind. I was wrong, and lately, I was a bit of a beast.”
“Don’t change too much. Every woman I know was a little disappointed at the end of that movie. The beast was sexy.”
“Really?” Luke growled in Cassie’s ear. “We’ll have revisit this topic tonight when we’re alone.”
Feeling light as air as he spun her again, Cassie laughed. “If you want to spend the night talking, sure. It wasn’t what I imagined we’d be doing, but whatever.”
***
The next morning Luke woke early and, for a long time, watched Cassie sleep beside him. Once they were alone, Cassie hadn’t held it against him that he’d sent her home to Ohio alone. She’d understood and accepted him as she always had. He thought he knew what love was until she’d come into his life and given herself to him: Passionately. Completely. Unconditionally.
At the beginning of the evening she’d seen only the extravagance of the evening and worried she didn’t belong, but as more and more of his family had expressed their gratitude that Luke had found someone like her, she had begun to relax. The Andrades were everything his mother had always accused them of being: loud, boisterous, and flamboyant. But they were also big-hearted, loyal, and accepting of each other. They fought, but they made up because to an Andrade, family was everything.
Luke looked down at Cassie.
He understood the term family better now than he ever had. His started with Cassie. It encompassed three sometimes-frustrating brothers he couldn’t imagine his life without, and countless cousins and uncles who had always been there for him.
It was with that sense of inner peace he found the strength to slip away from Cassie, get dressed, and head downstairs in search of the package Maddy had given him. The house was blissfully empty. It should have been in shambles after the number of people who had been there the night before, but he’d never again doubt Maddy’s ability to mobilize an army of staff.
Luke found the wrapped notebook exactly where he had tossed it. He picked it up and carried it into the living room. With the notebook still in hand, he sat in a chair before the unlit fireplace and debated what to do with it.
If the journal held more secrets than his mother had spat at Victor, Luke was sure he didn’t want to know them. Gio would never read it. Nick might, but Luke didn’t want him to. Beneath Nick’s façade of humor, was a man who had once turned to alcohol to numb the emotional wounds their mother had inflicted on him. Luke wouldn’t do anything to send Nick back to that. And Max? Max would tell him to burn it. And maybe he’d be right.
“You’re up early. Are you okay?” Cassie asked from behind him as she slid a gentle hand over his shoulder and down his chest. She kissed the side of his neck.
He tossed the notebook on the table beside him and took her by the hand, pulling her around the chair and into his lap. “I am now.” He kissed her deeply, loving that he could start every morning with the taste of her lips on his.
She laid a hand on his cheek when their kiss ended. “What are you doing down here?”
Luke sighed, picked up the book from the table, and handed it to her. “Maddy gave me this.”
“What is it?”
“It’s my mother’s journal.”
“Oh.”
“Exactly.”
“What are you going to do with it?”
“I don’t know. Even when I had to face what my mother had done to my family, I still thought she’d show remorse at the end. She didn’t, Cassie. She was poisoned, but in the end it was the anger in her that was too much for her heart to take. Ironic, isn’t it, that I covered up something that was potentially not even the reason for her death?”
Cassie turned the wrapped notebook in her hands, studying it. “How do you think Maddy got it?”
Luke shrugged. “I’m sure I don’t want to know.”
“Were you getting ready to burn it?”
“I was considering it.”
Cassie held it out to give it back to him. “It’s yours now. You should do that if it’ll make you feel better.”
Luke didn’t take the journal back. “There couldn’t be anything in it worth keeping, could there?”
Cassie looked at Luke for a long moment then tore off the wrapping paper. “There’s only one way to find out.” She flipped the journal upside down and shook it. Nothing came out. She smiled sheepishly. “Sorry. Maybe I’ve watched too many movies. I was hoping something would fall out.”
Luke took the book back from her and was preparing to throw it in the fireplace when he saw something. “Is it odd that the back of the journal is thicker than the front?”
Cassie smiled. “Now you’re thinking like me. Does it look like you could peel it off?”
Luke flipped the notebook on its side and pulled at a corner of the back cover. When it came off, a piece of paper fell out
“Holy shit,” Cassie said.
“Indeed,” Luke said. He dropped the journal to the floor beside him and scanned the first paper. “It’s my father’s will. He left Isola Santos to Gio and the rest of his estate was to be divided up between his five children. Why would the will be in my mother’s journal?”
“Did Gigi get anything when your father died?”
With growing understanding, Luke shook his head in shock. “No, everything went to my mother. No one even questioned it. My mother came from a wealthy family. She didn’t need his money. My brothers and I have trust funds from our grandparents.”
“Looks like you need to talk to your sister.”
“My sister,” Luke said sadly, “won’t even take my call.”
Cassie kissed him softly on the lips. “From what I know about Andrades, they don’t hear the word no.”
“Is that a complaint?” he growled.
“I wouldn’t change one damn thing about you, Luke Andrade. Take that will and go find your sister.”
Luke stood up and flipped Cassie over one of his shoulders. He slapped her ass playfully and said, “After we put a little more work into making that baby you want.”
Cassie laughed and squirmed even though they both knew she wasn’t trying to
get away. “What are you doing, Luke?”
Still carrying Cassie over his shoulder, Luke took the stairs up to his bedroom two at a time.
“I’m going to ravish you completely, as any good beast would.”
Epilogue
A month later Cassie was seated in the enormoous kitchen of Uncle Alessando’s house with several women from the family. Although the women were wearing expensive dresses, they were cuddling young babies and bouncing toddlers on their laps. When Luke had first explained how he wanted both of them to return to New York once a month for a family dinner, Cassie hadn’t known what to expect. She was beginning to understand that Andrade gatherings were never small, a fact that made her love them even more.
Growing up, Cassie had often dreamed of one day having a large family. With the Andrades, she felt like she’d won the relative jackpot. Looking around at the women who had welcomed her so warmly into their group, Cassie smiled. When she’d been invited to arrive early to help, she’d readily agreed, but she should have guessed it wouldn’t involve any actual cooking. It appeared that the only one allowed to cook on Sundays in the Andrade home was Maddy’s husband, Richard, and his kitchen staff.
With her youngest son on her hip, Maddy stood and said, “I would like to call this meeting to order.
“Meeting?” Tara, Max’s fiancée asked quickly. She turned to look at Cassie for confirmation that she wasn’t alone in being lost.
I’ve got nothing, Cassie mouthed silently.
“First,” Maddy continued, “there is the matter of the bet.”
“The bet?” It was Cassie’s turn to parrot in confusion.
A beautiful, blonde woman Cassie had met once before, who was, if Cassie remembered correctly, married to Luke’s cousin, Stephan, said, “Maddy, you do realize that when you talk like this in front of new people we always sound a little crazy.”
Maddy smiled. “Nicole, we are a little crazy.”
Rena, Nick’s fiancée, laughed out loud and leaned toward Tara and Cassie. “They are. They really are.”
Maddy waved a hand in the air as she returned to her agenda. “Abby couldn’t be here today because she and Dominic are traveling, but she gave me permission to speak for her and the other two teams are respresented. We need to either pick a winner, void the bet, or double down.”
Julia turned to Cassie. “We should explain better. It took me a little while to understand, and I’m on a team. Tara. Cassie. Your soon-to-be family and some of their best friends were worried that Gio, Nick, Luke, and Max were disconnected from the family. The ladies decided the best way to mend the rift was to play matchmaker. They broke into teams and each tried to find the perfect woman for their cousins. The first team to successfully orchestrate the most engagements would win the title of best matchmaker in the family.”
Surprised, but somehow not, Cassie asked slowly, “So, who chose you, Julia?”
Julia chuckled. “I was working as a security officer at Gio’s company. I don’t count.”
Rena tapped a hand on the table. “I’ve known Nick most of my life. I don’t count, either.”
Tara folded her arms over her chest as she absorbed the story. “Hang on. Maddy, did you hire me as part of a matchmaking bet?”
Maddy shook her head quickly. “Oh, no. I never pictured you and Max together.” She blushed. “I didn’t mean that the way it sounded. I meant, because you’re so . . .”
Nicole laid a hand on Maddy’s arm. “Stop. You’re digging yourself deeper.”
Maddy sighed. “I adore Tara. She’s perfect for Max. I just didn’t realize he had good taste in women.”
Rena chuckled. “Good save, Maddy.”
“Can I count her as my team’s win? I mean, I did find her.”
“No,” the group said in unison.
“So that leaves only Cassie.” Maddy turned a critical eye on her. “I did fly out to Ohio to meet her.”
Rena countered, “But she and Luke were already together by then.”
“I also planned their engagement party,” Maddy added and turned to Cassie for support. “Cassie, all you have to do is say the beautiful event I put so much time into planning was the reason you agreed to marry Luke.”
Rena leaned over the table and put a hand on Cassie’s. “Don’t let her pressure you, Cassie. You can tell her you would have said yes even without the party.”
Cassie looked around the table and noted the expectant expressions. “If I say the engagement party was the clincher, the bet is over?”
“Yes,” Maddy said quickly.
“What happens if I say it wasn’t?”
Rena raised a hand. “We could double down. There is still Gigi. From what I hear, she’s single.”
Maddy’s eyebrows shot up and she asked in surprise, “You want our bet to continue?”
Rena shrugged with humor. “I hate to lose as much as the next person.”
Tara sat up straighter. “Gigi, Max’s sister, right? The one they’ve all been trying to get in touch with? How would you play matchmaker with her?”
Julia smiled. “Every team has their secrets. You want in?”
Tara nodded.
Julia turned to Cassie. “How about you?”
Cassie hedged. “I’m not sure how Luke would feel about me being involved in this.”
Rena rolled her eyes. “Are you kidding? If Luke were a woman he’d be on Maddy’s team. All he’ll care about is if we succeed.”
Maddy waved her hands in excitement. “I already have an idea, too. But I’m not saying anything.”
“Okay, I’m in,” Cassie said. “Which team will I be on?”
“To be fair, we should put Tara in Abby’s group. That way there is one person with security background on each team.”
Rena said, “Then I claim Cassie. You’re with me. Have you met Abby’s sister, Lil?”
Cassie blushed. She’d met so many people recently. “I think so.”
“How about Alethea? Tall gorgeous woman with red hair?”
Tara interjected, “Do not let her near your phone.”
“My phone?” Cassie asked. “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Tara scanned the room. “I’ll explain later. She may be listening.”
Maddy laughed. “Tara, you are so dramatic. The things you say. Alethea is one of Dominic Corisi’s security, and she is sometimes over the top when it comes to surveillance, but she wouldn’t have any of us bugged.” Maddy paused, seemed to think about it more, then asked, “Would she? Hey, Alethea, if you’re listening, Cassie’s on your team.”
Julia waved a hand. “We also need to discuss our weddings. Are we moving forward with a quadruple ceremony?”
Tara’s eyes rounded. “That’s a big wedding.”
Rena nodded. “An Andrade wedding is huge regardless. I’m okay with it. I like the idea of Nick and his brothers sharing that special day.”
Julia took Rena’s hand in hers. “Gio gets all choked up about it every time I mention it. And I’ll be happy to have a set date. You already feel like my family; let’s do it.”
They all turned to Cassie.
“I’m in,” Cassie said without hesitation. “Are we still planning on using Slater Island?”
Tara wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “Do you know how much it will mean to Max if we do that?”
Rena added, “Nick, too. Those homes were the best gifts Max could have given his brothers. They have something concrete that binds them together.”
“Gio feels the same way,” Julia added.
“Luke, too,” Cassie said, loving these women more each time they spoke. She had told Luke she wanted to wait before making any announcements, but she was so moved by the emotion in the room, she blurted, “As we talk about dates, you all need to know I’m pregant and due next winter. Can we choose a summer or early fall date?”
With a huge smile, Julia said, “Congratulations. And, of course, we’ll work the date around that. I’m so happy for you.�
��
Maddy leaned forward, hugged her with her free arm, and asked in excitement, “And it’s Luke’s?”
A hush fell over the room.
Nicole admonished her softly, “Maddy.”
Maddy went three shades of red and started to say something, but Cassie cut her off. Maddy had kept her secret while it mattered. That’s what mattered. “It’s Luke’s.”
A tear ran down Maddy’s face. “I’m so happy.”
Cassie’s smile grew, and she wiped an emotional tear from her own cheek. “We’re pretty damn happy ourselves.”
“Just promise me one thing,” Maddy said earnestly.
Cassie answered easily, “Anything.”
“Let me plan the baby shower. I’ll keep it simple.”
Rena sat back in her chair and said dryly, “Which means at least two hundred people.”
Two hundred people? Cassie gulped.
Maddy defended herself with humor. “We can’t invite the American cousins without inviting our Italian ones. You don’t do that to family.”
“Family,” Cassie said softly and laid her hand on her still flat stomach.
Emma, I found my family. Here and back in Defiance.
I don’t know how much of this you did or if you can even hear me, but—thank you.
THE END
Acknowledgements
I am so grateful to everyone who was part of the process of creating Somewhere Along the Way.
Thank you to:
Nicole Sanders at Trevino Creative Graphic Design for my cover. You are amazing!
My very patient beta readers. You know who you are. Thank you for kicking my butt when I need it.
My editors: Karen Lawson, Janet Hitchcock, and Marion Archer.
Melanie Hanna and her amazing husband, for helping me organize the business side of publishing.
My Roadies for both their friendship and their feedback.
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