Be Mine: Valentine Novellas to Warm The Heart

by Nicole Flockton

  “What does he want?” Although Anton could take a guess. The reptile wanted to crawl back into their good graces, then rip them off again. No doubt he’d heard about their wedding and figured they’d make a prime target for another of his schemes.

  “He wants to meet me, and apologise, in person,” Cassidy said, a note of apprehension in her voice.

  “Don’t do it.” He blurted, holding back on the more incriminating information - that Toby knew far too much about Anton’s past.

  Several years ago, Toby had thought nothing of condemning Cassidy’s family in the media and then the courts, with those insider-trading allegations. A few years later he’d robbed Cassidy blind and left her bistro foundering, exposing Cassidy to federal prosecution. Only Anton’s quick injection of funds had prevented that.

  As she scrolled though the text message, Cassidy read out the pertinent facts to him, “Says he’s sorry, says he wants to pay me back.”

  “Seriously, Cassie, don’t do it. Nothing good can come from anything he says. The man deserves to be locked up for fraud.”

  “I completely agree with you, Mr Catani,” Cassidy said with a smile so beguiling, she had to be up to something.

  Yet he didn’t feel any more lurching, only pride in her strength, “What are you thinking?”

  “I will meet with him, but I’ll leave the phone on. You can listen in at the other end and record it. Then we’ll hand his confession over to the police.”

  “That’s…” he found himself grinning broadly, so much his cheeks squished up his face and clouded his field of vision. “… very clever Mrs Catani. It’s probably inadmissible in court but at least it will get the ball rolling.”

  “Why thank you,” she kissed him warmly on the mouth.

  He tasted victory on her lips. They would be rid of the shadow of Toby in their lives and could move forward.

  They could spend the rest of their lives together looking forward.

  Apprehension built in Cassidy as she checked the door again for signs of Toby. A couple of months ago, she’d been sitting here waiting for Toby and Anton had appeared instead.

  Her hand moved to her jacket pocket, where she had the mobile phone connected to Anton. Touching it gave her reassurance, that he was listening out for her, would be there for her should she need him.

  It was noisy in the public bar, but when Toby arrived, they wouldn’t stay for long. Just enough to get some drinks and she’d take him into the office, where it wasn’t so noisy.

  At last, the man arrived. He looked rumpled. Older. A life of lies must do that to a person.

  She resisting the urge to slap him in the face and instead embraced him like an old friend. This would only work if she played dumb and acted on his sympathy.

  “You look terrible. Come to my office and I’ll get you some food.”

  “I’m not hungry.” He looked cast a glance around the room. “Which ones are the undercover cops?”

  He didn’t smell so great either. Like he’d worn the same clothes for a few days in a row, slathering on too much aftershave as if that would help.

  “No cops, Toby. Just you and me.” She led him to her office.

  “It’s all gone.” Toby said.

  Cassidy closed the door. “What’s all gone, Tobes?”

  “Everything. I thought I had a sure thing and I was going to pay you back.”

  Sad emptiness descended. Of course, the money was all gone. People like Toby didn’t make good investments.

  Toby put his palms up in surrender. “Before you punch my lights out, I have information that’s worth a lot more than the cash.”

  “You’re right, Toby, I am furious. I probably can find a way to forgive you, but I don’t think I’ll ever forget what you did.” Cassidy prayed her mobile phone’s reception was just as good in here. There was no way she’d be able to check if Anton could hear them without Toby becoming suspicious.

  “You didn’t do too badly,” Toby said. “You married Anton Catani.”

  “You ripped me off and left all of us in the lurch. But yes, now I’ve landed on my feet.” She said.

  He murmured, “On your back.”

  Cassidy breathed through her anger. Sally from the kitchen arrived with snacks, breaking the tension. Composing herself, she took the plate of coconut-crumbed prawn skewers and rice paper rolls with dipping sauce. ‘Thank you, Sally, these look incredible.’

  No sooner had the door closed than Toby found his voice. “You need to know that your newly minted husband married you because he’s hell bent on revenge.’

  A feeling of disappointment spread through her system. “Is this all you’ve got? Anton and I have already talked about this. We have no secrets between us.”

  “So you know he’s going to take you for everything you’ve got, and he’s taking your father’s company down as well.”

  A heavy sigh made her shoulders droop, “This is pathetic, Toby.” She had to get the conversation back to his role in defrauding her. “Although perhaps I should thank you. If you hadn’t scammed me, Anton and I wouldn’t be together.”

  Toby shoved the food in his mouth, the rice noodles spilling onto his shirt.

  “He obviously hasn’t told you the whole truth. He and I go back a long way. A few years ago, Anton was all set to buy up this big portfolio, only I bragged to your father about what was going on and the old fox got in first. To say Anton was pissed off is a major understatement. The man can carry a grudge for Australia. He’ll take you for everything you’ve got, and he’ll destroy your father’s company as well.” He ate yet more food, barely pausing. “People like Anton Catani are dangerous. He plays with people like a cat plays with a dead mouse. You’re just a toy to him, a diverting and entertaining means to an end.”

  A deep breath. Nope, didn’t help. She took another one, and counted to ten in her head. “Toby, you’ve ripped me off and now you’re really pissing me off. I shouldn’t trust, it’s you.”

  “Go and check the court records. You’ll see Anton wanted the same shares, only I told Craig Young, and he got in first. The old man was nice enough to give me a kickback for my troubles. Luckily, he had excellent lawyers because he was skating pretty close to insider trading.” He stripped another coconut prawn from its skewer and dropped the bamboo on his lap. “It’s the truth, Cassidy. It gives Anton a giant-sized axe to grind…”

  “You’re wasting my time,” Cassidy said, reaching into her pocket for her phone. He’d never confess, or have anything useful to say.

  Toby stood up, dropping food crumbs onto the floor. “You’re taping me?”

  “I’d be an idiot not to,” she said.

  The slime ball may have given her the slip, but the heavies at the front door had no such problems. They grabbed Toby as he flew out the doors, then tackled him to the ground. Anton arrived at the same time as the Police.

  “Are you OK?”

  “I guess so. I kind of felt sorry for him.”

  He beamed with pride at her and took her into his arms. “You were amazing. I love how you handled that.”

  10

  IT WAS DIFFICULT for Anton to pinpoint exactly when it had happened, but lately he found himself really enjoying the return trips home each night. Home.

  In the days before Cassidy, he’d used the commute time to read over reports and check in with stock markets around the world. Lately he’d been looking out the window, wishing the traffic lights would change to green so he could get home faster to Cassidy.

  What an incredible woman. Fearless to the point of recklessness, clever, quick, and sexy as hell.

  ‘Nearly there, Anton,’ Mark said as he braked on approach to an intersection.

  ‘Thanks.’ When Anton looked up, he saw his driver’s cheeky expression in the rear-view mirror. It almost matched the loopy grin plastered all over his face. That was all Cassidy’s doing.

  “I like Cassidy much better than your last wife,” Mark said.

  “You know something, I rea
lly do too,” Anton said, chuckling.

  “She makes you happy. That’s a good thing. I would never have said this before, but this marriage really suits you.”

  “It does, doesn’t it?” Because it was the truth. A broad smile split his face the more he thought about the beautiful woman waiting for him at home. Their home, the one they’d made together.

  “Can I be really rude and ask you something?” Mark turned into their street and pulled up in the driveway. The automatic gate swung open for them.

  “You’re asking me permission now? There’s a change!”

  “Yeah. . . Well. . . Anton? I think Cassidy is the best thing that ever happened to you.”

  “No argument here.” What was he getting at?

  “You are going to treat her right, aren’t you?”

  Blood poured south at the thought of how very right he was about to treat her, as soon as Mark stopped hassling him and he could get into the house. The sooner his beautiful wife was in his arms the better. “Don’t worry, mate. Cassie’s a keeper.”

  “I’m glad you found love. You’ve been a surly prat for years and a few times there I was on the verge of quitting.”

  Woah. Mark nearly quit? And he hadn’t even noticed? That whole revenge thing really clouded his vision.

  “I’m glad you didn’t.” Anton said as Mark stopped the car. As he walked to his front door, something else Mark had said registered in his brain. Had he found love? Real love?

  Despite the dark hour, sunlight filled his system. His feet barely touched the ground as he headed towards the kitchen. What wonderful meal would she have bubbling away for them tonight?

  Hang on. He couldn’t smell anything. When he arrived at the kitchen, he found it empty.

  “Cassie?” Perhaps she was working late at the bistro. He grabbed his mobile and pressed the speed dial, putting it to his ear as it started to ring. A strange stereo effect followed, he could hear the phone ringing in both ears. The noise was coming from one of the rooms. Following the sound, he found Cassidy in the spare room, sitting in the middle of the floor, surrounded by piles of documents, manila folders and an open newspaper.

  Her phone kept ringing as it sat on the floor, playing his ring-tone. But she didn’t pick it up. She didn’t even see him standing in the doorway.

  “Cassie?”

  Now she looked. Her face puffy with tears. Her nose red and sore. An invisible boulder fell to the bottom of his stomach, “Darling, what’s wrong?”

  “You win,” she croaked.

  He knelt down to her level and tried to embrace her but she pushed him away.

  She said, “I know what you did today. You bought all those shares, didn’t you?”

  “You’re going to have to be more specific. I buy a lot of shares.”

  “Don’t get smart with me. I saw the story in the paper. I told you all that stuff about my father in confidence, and you went and blabbed it all over town. Then the prices drop off a cliff and you swoop in and buy them up!”

  The story had broken early last night, and played out the next morning on the internet, radio and papers. When Anton had heard the news, he wondered whether a disgruntled ex-employee or spurned lover had spilled the beans.

  “You have to believe me. I didn’t tell anyone about your father. I did read the story, and when the share price fell, yes, I jumped in bought as many as I could. Because I want to secure your future. Our future. Together.”

  He held her by the shoulders, refusing to let her squirm away, because all of a sudden, things became very clear.

  “Cassidy Catani, I’m so sorry it took me so long to realise this. But I love you. I am building our future, for us.” The words came out, clear and strong, surprising him with their intensity. But they were words of truth, spoken from somewhere deep inside.

  He’d spoken them from the heart, giving them all the gravity those magical three words deserved. What Cassidy deserved. He should have said them weeks ago but he’d been an idiot. Hadn’t recognised his feelings for what they really were. Until this moment.

  “Don’t you dare say that! Not now.” Cassidy shot back.

  Was it possible to feel your intestines tying themselves into knots? “ But I do love you. I know I said I wouldn’t fall in love with you, but so help me, I’ve gone and done it anyway.”

  Burning eyes pierced his heart. His hands were still on her shoulders, and she radiated an icy cool that spread up his arms.

  “For all his faults, Toby was right. You did blackmail me into marriage. Made me fall in love with you. Just so you could get back at my father and at me. Congratulations. You win. I bet it feels wonderful to be so successful. Pity you have to trample all over people in the process!” In a flurry of arms, she pushed herself away and stood up, her glare cold and empty. “Get. Out.”

  “But it’s my house,” he murmured.

  “Fine then, I’ll leave.” She turned and walked out.

  “Wait!” Like a cat, he sprang to his feet and gave chase. “We’re having a terrible misunderstanding. Please let me explain.”

  “We are not having a misunderstanding. A misunderstanding is where you get someone’s name wrong, or you stuff up a lunch order or make a macchiato instead of a latte.”

  God help him he wanted to kiss her swollen mouth right now. His palms itched to hold her beautiful face. He had to settle for second best – talking with his hands, gesticulating to emphasise his words. “For whatever I’ve done in the past, I deserve all this. But today I bought those share to keep them in the family. Out of concern for you. Can’t you see, you and I are now the majority shareholders in Cloud Eleven Hotels. We should be celebrating!”

  “You really don’t get it, do you?” Fresh tears threatened to spill over her bottom eyelid.

  “I don’t. I really thought you’d be happy.”

  “My mother’s beside herself, they’ve called the doctor in and got her on pills. Dad’s about to have a stroke from all the stress. That doesn’t make me happy. Because I can’t help thinking you started all this in the first place!”

  It was an ugly moment, stretching time between them. But it was the truth, Cassidy couldn’t trust him. It didn’t make sense that the rumours had all gone public and Anton had been ready to take advantage of it. The fact she still loved him only made the hurt all the keener.

  “You don’t trust me? Really?” Anton asked, the colour draining from his face. His arms fell to his side. At least he looked miserable too. It was the least he deserved.

  Words clogged in her throat, so she shook her head and brushed the wet splashes off her cheeks.

  “I guess I deserve everything you throw at me. You’re right. You can’t trust me, because everything that led to the wedding was designed to undermine you and your father.”

  “Bit late for that now!” Cassidy made her way to the bathroom. She needed cold water to stop the hot bile from rising up her throat.

  Anton followed. “Hear me out. When Toby defaulted on his loans, I was going to close down whatever it was he was invested in. Sell it off to recoup some of my losses. I couldn’t believe my luck when found out you were the co-director of Bistro Vita. That is the truth. I did set out to hurt you. But I fell in love instead. And now the last thing in the world I want is to hurt you.” He held her close to him.

  A guttural sob escaped her lips. “Let me go.”

  “Never. I love you too much.”

  “Don’t use those words; you don’t know what they mean! You don’t know how it feels to be in love with someone and have it all thrown back in your face!”

  “Please, Cassie. I love you so much. Don’t you see, I have fallen in love with you, I want to build a future with you and make it all right again. I don’t want revenge any more, I want us to be together, always.”

  The room started spinning. Her hands tingled and she felt her heart trying to escape out of her throat. No strength left, her knees buckled and she fell, slipping through Anton’s arms and onto the floor in a c
rumpled heap. Pain, sharp and cold, speared her heart. Marrying Anton completely re-wrote the rulebook on mistakes. It put all her previous errors in the shade. It wasn’t surprising he’d chosen this night to say he loved her, to throw her senses in a spin while he twisted the knife in deeper.

  Her words sounded strangled and thin. “You win. You’ve destroyed me. There’s nothing left.”

  He lifted her up and carried her to their bedroom. He kept talking, kept telling her he’d make everything right again, but the pain was too strong. The damage to extensive.

  There could be no hope for them, because she could never trust him.

  11

  The door to Anton’s house opened before Cassidy finished turning the key. On the other side stood Anton, looking grey and unshaved. Her heart lurched.

  “Thank you for coming.”

  “You look like crap.” She made a beeline for the kitchen. A good strong coffee would do her the world of good right now.

  “They’re not here yet,” he said. The ‘they’ he referred to were Anton’s parents. They hadn’t seen them since the wedding, now his mother and father were in Melbourne and wanted to come over for dinner.

  Great timing. If it had been a week earlier, Cassidy would have cooked them something amazing. Instead, she’d arranged the Bistro Vita kitchens to deliver everything. A clever move on her part, because if she’d been stirring the pot, she might just be tempted to slip rat poison into Anton’s serves.

  How such lovely, warm people could raise such a duplicitous child boggled her.

  “They’ve just phoned,” Anton said. “They’re on their way now.”

  “But it’s only five o’clock. The food won’t get here until at least seven. Don’t tell me we’ll have to talk and make nice for two hours?”

  “Before they get here,” Anton started. “We need to be on the same page.” The hesitation in his voice matched her erratic heartbeat.

  “We’re blissfully in love, aren’t we darling.’ She spiked the last word so much, it may as well have been a profanity.