by Silver James
Bridger Tate stood across the room speaking into his phone, his eyes darting between the door and a spot in the far corner. A man in a dark suit stood a few feet away from him. Roxie wondered for a minute if Senator Barron got Secret Service protection. Bridger eyed her speculatively and she offered a tentative smile even as she picked out two more men and a woman, all in various types of civilian clothes and spread throughout the room.
Her gaze came to a rest on Cash and she forced air into her lungs. He looked so lost and forlorn. She was already walking toward him before her brain caught up with her instincts. The woman came to her feet and moved to intercept, but a sign from Bridger waved the female security guard off. Roxie sank onto the chair next to Cash. She didn’t speak, didn’t touch him though she was desperate to do both.
“Go away, Roxie.” Cash didn’t look at her and his voice sounded like a rusty nail being yanked out of wood.
“You shouldn’t be alone.”
He glanced up and his upper lip curled into a snarl. “Does it look like I’m alone?”
“Except for Bridger? Yes.”
“Goes to show what you know.”
And as if in answer to his rebuttal, the entrance doors whispered open. Two angry Barron brothers ate up the distance and stopped in front of them.
“What the hell, Cash?” Cord demanded.
Roxie was about to choose discretion over valor when Cash stood and brushed his older brother back. “Dad had a heart attack. They’re working on him.”
Before Cord could respond, Cash pushed past him and moved to the opposite corner. The two elder Barrons exchanged looks but didn’t follow him. They ignored Roxie, walking instead to Bridger, where they spoke in low tones she couldn’t overhear. She was still sitting there hunched in on herself when the ER doors opened and the doctor stepped through. The Barrons gathered around him.
Roxie watched Cash crumple, then straighten. He shook off his brothers and stormed out into the night. Wearily, she pushed out of her chair and headed after him. Bridger stopped her halfway to the door.
“Let him be, Roxie. For now at least. I know Cash. He’ll want to be alone.”
She turned her tear-streaked face to the one other person in the room who cared about Cash. “But isn’t that the problem? He’s always alone.”
* * *
Roxie slipped into the funeral home hoping for the chance to see Cash before the service started. Wandering down a hallway, she heard voices coming her direction. Finding an alcove with a drawn curtain, she ducked behind it, planning to wait until the people moved on. When the group stopped right in front of her hiding place and she recognized the voices, she cringed.
“I did not appreciate finding out my father was in the hospital after suffering a massive heart attack when my wife called to tell me it was the lead story on all the news channels. Georgie had us packed by the time I got home from the Senate building.”
“I caught a report on the radio coming back from a rig. Jolie wasn’t on duty at the hospital so she had no idea.”
“I was in court. One of the court clerks brought a note to the judge and he called an in-camera hearing at the bench. The damn judge knew before I did.”
Clay, Cord and Chance, in that order. She’d seen Cord and Chance at the hospital, knew they’d gotten word fairly quickly to get there when they did. Far too curious for her own good, Roxie peeked around the edge of the curtain.
The three stared at Chase, who appeared thoughtful. “Did any of you check your missed calls or your voice mails?” The older brothers exchanged looks. “I’ll admit I haven’t wanted to deal with Cash, and that includes talking to him even with all this BS going on with the Rowlands. I had his calls forwarded to Tucker’s cell.” A look of sadness settled on Chase’s face—a face so like Cash’s Roxie’s heart broke all over again. “Tuck answered. Cash...he was broken up. Hurting. Tuck didn’t know what to do so he didn’t do anything. Didn’t say anything. When Cash ended the call, Tuck called me immediately.” He rubbed the back of his neck, a gesture so achingly familiar Roxie almost cried.
Clay, Cord and Chance went for their phones and started scrolling. Then they each listened to the message left by Cash. At least they looked remorseful now.
“What are we going to do?” Cord glanced around the circle, but rested his final gaze on Chase.
“We do what this family has always done,” Clay said. “We present a united front. Then, when we’re in private, we’ll figure it out.”
Their wives arrived and Roxie faded deeper into the alcove. They walked away, en masse, presenting their united front. Only Cash wasn’t with them. A Garth Brooks song played in her head, the words so fitting. Yeah, Cash was standing outside the fire. And he was facing his world all alone.
A few minutes later, after no sign of Cash, she settled in the last row of pews in the chapel. The family entered from the right and filled the first several rows, the four Barron brothers and wives in the first pew with Miz Beth and Big John. The next few rows were filled with cousins and Mr. Barron’s sister. Still no sign of Cash. Then Roxie caught movement on the opposite side. Cash entered from the left and sat down in the empty front pew, as far away from his family as he could sit.
Roxie grabbed the box of tissues sitting on the seat next to her and pulled out a handful as tears spilled over. She’d never seen anyone look more dejected—and rejected than Cash Barron at that moment. The service and eulogies went on interminably. She heard the disparaging whispers about Cash from those sitting around her.
When it was finally over, Cash slipped away once more. She waited in the reception hall, just in case, but Cash never appeared. Oh, but his brothers were all there, accepting condolences. They’d finally retreated to a spot away from the remaining crowd. When she saw Chase laugh at something Cord said, she lost her temper.
Roxie didn’t stop to think, didn’t consider her actions. She marched right up to the lot of them and snarled, “You know, for seemingly intelligent men, the four of you are pretty damn stupid.”
The wives bristled, moving to stand with their husbands, and Cassidy scowled at her. “Now wait just a minute—”
In no mood for their resentment, Roxie cut her off. “You have no clue what Cash has done for you, each and every one of you. And what did you do? You turned your back on him. You never once asked him why he did the things he did. You just assumed he was the bad guy. You ostracized him.” Her temper was riding her hard and her nose was running from unshed tears. She whirled on Chance. “Want to know why Cash served those legal papers? So you wouldn’t have to, so your father would get off your back and you’d have a chance with Cassidy because you were the good guy.”
Roxie pointed a finger at Cord and Jolie. “And you two? You should talk to your little boy. He has some mighty interesting ideas about his uncle Cash’s motives. You know what they say, out of the mouths of babes.
“And no offense, Senator, but who do you think your staff called to arrange to get you back to Oklahoma so fast? It was Cash who made the arrangements. And it was Cash who installed a discreet guard at the hospital the whole time Georgie was a patient. To make sure she stayed safe.”
Clay glowered at her, his mouth pinched. “How do you know all this?”
“That’s not important. What is important is that you all wake up! Cash did all the dirty work your father wanted each of you to do. He protected you. He protected you so well that he walked away from me to keep that rotten old man happy. He loves you four so much he won’t let himself be loved because somebody has to be the bad guy. And bad guys don’t deserve to be loved. Not by anybody.”
Blinking hard and breathing around the ache in her chest, she fixed her gaze on Chase. “You didn’t even invite him to your wedding.”
“Well, no one was invited—”
“Not the one in Vegas. The one at the ranch. Did you know—” she paused to glare at Cord and Chance “—that your brothers warned him to stay away. Insisted on it, in fact.”
; Chase paled while his brothers exchanged guilty looks. “But I saw him there, in the kitchen.”
“Yeah, he sneaked in the back door. He stood there in the shadows of the kitchen watching you exchange vows with the woman you loved, because you’re brothers. Because he’s your twin and no matter what he’s done or said, he freaking loves you. All of you. Not that you deserve it.”
She sniffled and swiped at her cheeks. Tears fell freely now. “I thought my family was pretty messed up but you Barrons? I don’t have an adjective vile enough for any of you.”
Wheeling, she managed one step before a firm but gentle hand snagged her arm. “Ms. Rowland? Roxanne, please...a moment?”
Shaking with anger, she held still but refused to look at Cash’s twin.
The hand on her arm remained, as if Chase needed a connection to her when he asked, “Do you love him?”
Her lips trembled and her chin quivered as she tried to form words. She finally managed a whispered, “Yes.”
“Then go find him and tell him.”
Twenty
After the funeral, Roxanne had no contact with any of the Barrons. Cash ignored her repeated attempts to contact him. Life settled into an unsettled routine. Harley missed Cash almost as much as she did. He slept on her bed and while he was almost as big and far warmer, he was a poor substitute. Almost a month had passed and she was in a meeting when the text came. She didn’t reply for an hour, waiting until she was safely back in her office. Then she typed a one-word reply.
NO.
Her phone rang almost immediately and she answered with, “What part of no don’t you understand, Dexter?”
“You want to keep your boyfriend safe, you’ll use the tickets, Rox.”
“He’s not my boyfriend.” She was proud her voice didn’t waver, even though her heart was pounding. Cash was out of her life for good but the idea of him being hurt because of her? Unthinkable. She didn’t doubt for a minute that Dexter would do something awful to Cash. Besides, she’d made a promise to keep the Barron family safe.
Putting all her acting abilities to use, she put steel in her voice. “I’m done with Cash, with all the Barrons, Dex. And I’m done with you.”
“Yeah, but you care about the pretty boy so you’ll come. Info’s in your inbox.” Her brother hung up.
Opening her email, she scanned the message, extrapolating what Dex actually meant from what was said. Then she picked up the desk phone and dialed.
“Where’s Cash?” she asked when Bridger answered.
“Vegas.”
“Of course he is.” Her family knew that. They were putting the plot into action, and she had her own part to play. “It’s time. I’ll send you the details.”
“Good.”
Good for the Barrons. Not so good for her. She would fulfill her promise but then even the tenuous link she had with Cash would be gone. Time to say goodbye to the future she’d barely dreamed of before her hopes were crushed. Once a con, always a con. Isn’t that what her family said? “It’s in your blood, Rox. It’s in your blood.”
* * *
Cash occupied a seat at the small bar against the back wall of the Crown Hotel and Casino’s main floor. The scotch on the rocks in front of him had remained untouched so long the “rocks” had melted. He caught the stir near the entrance to the slot machine room and stiffened.
She walked in like she owned the place and every man in the room came to attention. Including him. Shifting his hips in his chair to give his rapidly growing erection a little breathing room, Cash watched the sea of bodies part as she sauntered toward him. Roxanne Rowland fixed him with a sultry stare. Gone was the klutzy girl. This was the woman only hinted at on the security footage he’d watched months ago. She wore red. And sparkles. The dress barely covered her, the floaty material swirling around legs made longer by red stilettos.
Part of his brain wondered, not for the first time, which Roxie was real. Had he made a mistake about her? He remembered something Roxie said the first time he questioned her in his office. “Takes a con to catch a con.” The muttered reminder didn’t make him feel any better.
He should have stood up, intercepted her, but Cash didn’t move. He sat, alert and focused, watching her weave through the crowded room, her gaze holding his. Eye on the prize, he thought. She arrived in front of him, placed her hands on his knees and applied a little pressure to open a space for her to stand between them. Her hands slid up his thighs as she leaned in. Her lips grazed his cheek on their way to his ear.
“I’ve missed you,” she murmured.
“Missed you, too.”
Roxie gave no indication she heard him, so maybe he hadn’t confessed that out loud. He could barely admit it to himself, much less expose his weakness to her.
“I’m supposed to seduce you and lure you to a room upstairs.”
“I see.”
She pressed closer and he widened his legs until their lower bodies touched. Her swift intake of breath was a sure sign she’d felt his arousal.
“You’ve been their target all along. I don’t know why, but if you’ll come with me, we’ll find out.”
Cash slipped an arm around her, anchoring her against him. “And I should just trust you?”
He felt the hitch of her breath as her body tensed. “No, I suppose you shouldn’t. I’m a Rowland, right? But you can trust your family. Trust Bridger.”
She brushed glossy red lips across his mouth. “I’m sorry.” The words whispered across his skin. Her fingers twined with his resting on her hip, and she twirled away, tugging him to his feet.
Unable to resist, he followed her. Cash heard the murmurs as they passed. “Lucky SOB.” He didn’t feel lucky; he felt more like a lamb being led to slaughter. They entered an empty elevator and he recognized Bridger’s hand in that. Once the doors closed, she dropped his hand, pushed a button and moved to the far corner, putting as much distance between them as possible.
“Smile for the camera, Cash, so they know I haven’t drugged you or something.”
He expected her to sound bitter—or sarcastic. She sounded resigned. Glancing up at the camera, he pretended he didn’t miss her warmth, the touch of her hand. As the elevator settled to a gentle stop, she returned, slipping under his arm and plastering herself against his side.
“They’ll be watching,” she said by way of explanation.
The back of his neck prickled as they exited. Cash didn’t see anyone but he didn’t doubt her. They strolled down the thickly carpeted hallway arm in arm. Stopping at the door to a suite, she produced a key card from the soft folds of fabric covering her breasts. Cash shifted uncomfortably. This wasn’t about the sexy woman standing next to him. This was business.
The lock clicked and he pushed the door open all the way. She stretched to whisper in his ear. “We have to make it look good. Just go with it, okay?”
More curious than apprehensive now, he wondered if this was some elaborate ruse Roxie had cooked up to get close to him. He followed her into the living area. She turned and one crystal-encrusted strap dipped off her shoulder. She wet her lips and he almost groaned. She looked wanton and he wanted her more than anything he’d ever desired in his life.
“You got me up here, Roxanne. Now what?”
“Now we make a deal.” Max Rowland stepped out of the bedroom.
Cash did his best to look surprised, then he raised a sardonic eyebrow. Someone knocked on the door and Max added, “Get that, Roxie girl. It’ll be your brothers.”
“What deal, Rowland?”
“You and my sentimental daughter cost me a great deal of time, money and annoyance six years ago. It’s taken me this long to get plans in place.”
“Ah. I see. You’re still holding a grudge because I recovered everything you swindled from my great-aunt.”
“I don’t hold grudges, Barron. I get even.”
Cash moved away as Roxanne returned, followed by her brothers and...his intern, Nick? What the hell?
Max wor
e a Cheshire-cat smile. “I see you recognize my youngest son, Nixon.”
He glanced toward Roxie. Her face had drained of color and she looked devastated. There was no way she could fake the emotions warring on her face. She didn’t know. And his own vetting process had failed. There’d been no record of any other Rowlands when they were trying to track down Max and his sons.
The college intern Cash knew as Nick England had fooled them all. The guy didn’t look much like his brothers and looked nothing at all like Roxie. She’d locked her knees to remain standing but he could see the hands clasped in front of her tremble. He wanted to cross to her, hold her, but he couldn’t. Not yet.
“So you wasted all these years just to put a mole in my organization? Why? Nick—Nixon didn’t have access to anything confidential that would do you any good.”
“Au contraire, Cashion,” Max said in a perfect imitation of Cyrus’s voice. “I’d say things are a little strained at the moment.”
“What do you want?”
“Twenty million. Transferred to an offshore account.”
Cash snorted in disgust. “And what do I get out of it?”
Nixon approached with a thick file. “You get to save your family one more time.”
Accepting the file, Cash moved toward the built-in bar. He snagged Roxanne’s hand as he passed and drew her along in his wake. Settling her on a bar stool, he put the file on the granite bar top and flipped through it. He should have given Nick more credit. The kid was good. He’d dummied up deals, laid a trail of under-the-table payments, double accounting books—all things the IRS and Justice Department would kill to get their hands on.
Cash raised his head to stare at Max. “Nice little web you’ve built here.”
“Twenty million makes it all go away.”
“For how long?”