by Alexa Aston
Cassie followed Jolene to the dressing rooms. Most of what Jolene chose for her cost an arm and both legs, with maybe a spleen and her kidneys thrown in, so Cassie didn’t bother to try on those outfits. She did slip on a navy sheath that qualified as a maybe before she put on the pantsuit. Cassie eyed herself in the mirror.
The fit was superb but she couldn’t justify the price. Slipping it off, she hung it back on the hanger and picked up the black dress Jolene had raved about. Cassie stepped into it and zipped it up.
Magically, the Cinderella transformation occurred. Cassie didn’t know what had happened but she knew she had to have this dress, price be damned. She began rationalizing in her mind, thinking every woman needed the right little black dress that could be worn anywhere. Dressed up or down, the outfit made Cassie feel like a star in her own right. It put every curve in the right place and showed enough cleavage and leg to make her feel very, very sexy.
Jolene knocked and opened the door. “What do you think about . . . holy water, Batman! That’s the dress, Cass. I knew it when I picked it out. You look divine.”
Melanie opened her door. “Walk out, Cassie. Let me see how it moves on you.”
She stepped out and did a walk and quick turn in the aisle.
Melanie beamed at her. “Jolene’s right. That dress looks like it was made for you. It’s perfect for Ken’s premiere and you could wear it anywhere else, dressed up or down. A classic like this never goes out of style.”
“You sure will turn the paparazzi’s head, Cass,” Jolene enthused. “You’ll replace Randi James and steal Rhett’s heart with a one-two punch. Get ready to make the cover of Us.”
Cassie was aware of the salesclerk hovering nearby sorting clothes and other occupied dressing rooms. She couldn’t let anyone leave with the impression she was Rhett’s new flavor of the month.
“Jo, you know I’m only accompanying Rhett because Randi’s out of town. For goodness’ sake, I’m his assistant. I pick up his dry cleaning and take notes at his meetings.”
Jolene laughed. “Wait until he sees you in this dress, Cass. You’re a knockout, even with the ponytail. If Rhett weren’t already planning to dump Randi’s ass, he’d decide to in a heartbeat after he caught sight of you.”
Cassie’s stomach dropped faster than if she rode a roller coaster. How on earth did Jolene know about the upcoming break-up? With a tongue made for gossip and no filter on her foul mouth, Cassie had made sure not to give Jolene a hint of what would come.
“Are you serious? Rhett’s going to end things with Randi? The story just broke that they were seeing each other.” Melanie sighed. “I’m actually glad to hear this. When Ken and I heard they were a couple, we were shocked. Randi’s prima donna act gets old fast. Other than boobs and legs and tons of peroxide, what does she have to offer? Of course, Ken tells me most men don’t care about personality or intelligence but I’d like to give Rhett more credit in the brains department.”
A wave of nausea rippled through Cassie. No one in that dressing room would have misunderstood Melanie’s words. To prove her right, two doors opened simultaneously. Both women emerged, eyeing Cassie up and down.
“Nice dress,” one hissed as she walked by.
Cassie wanted to crawl under a rock and die. Her life as she knew it was officially over.
“Rhett and Randi are not breaking up,” she said a little too loudly, hoping to repair the mess Jolene had created. “Jo doesn’t like Randi very much. She just wishes they would end their relationship. Jo hates having to share Rhett’s pool with a Playboy model.”
“They aren’t?” Melanie frowned. “But Jo . . .” Her voice trailed off as the sudden realization hit her. Without missing a beat, Melanie added, “Too bad. There are a lot of women that would leap at the chance to be with Rhett Corrigan.”
Jolene’s mouth opened and Cassie glared at her, still wondering how her friend had come to learn—and spread—such devastating news. Jolene knew she’d made a huge mistake and cringed like a kicked puppy.
She grabbed Cassie’s hand and whispered, “I’m so sorry, Cass. I heard you on the phone last night with Carreen and I—”
“Let’s buy your dress, Cassie,” Melanie said loudly, pushing Cassie back into her dressing room. “Go ahead and change and we’ll grab lunch afterward.”
As Cassie emerged and walked up to check out, every eye in the store followed her. She spotted two women talking animatedly on cell phones, watching her every step. One woman’s catty smile almost did her in. Cassie heard a click and saw a woman had snapped her picture.
She placed the outfit on the counter and walked away. The situation was beyond damage control. Cassie Carroll, formerly known as Cinderella for all of five minutes, wouldn’t need a new outfit for Ken Cameron’s premiere.
Rhett would fire her—and he had every right to. She would never work in this town again. Cassie mentally composed her resignation letter as she walked out of Vanity, Jolene and Melanie hurrying to catch her.
CHAPTER 17
Cassie stormed into the gatehouse, Jolene trailing her. Apologies continued to spill from her friend’s mouth but they meant nothing. After riding home in silence, Cassie turned and lashed out.
“You know what this job means to me! You’ve totally blown it. Do you think a private man like Rhett Corrigan likes having his dirty laundry aired in public?”
Cassie slammed her purse onto the breakfast bar. “The tabloids and TV shows and blogs have sources everywhere. That woman took my picture and forwarded it somewhere. I guarantee you it and the hot gossip that Rhett is dumping Randi is already splashed across the Internet. Can you imagine how furious he’ll be? Not to mention that Randi will be humiliated. How would you like to flip on the TV and hear about Breck breaking up with you?”
“Randi James will thrive on the publicity, Cass. And Rhett will forgive you. He’s about the nicest guy I’ve ever met. He won’t hold a grudge.”
Cassie stared at Jolene. “I can’t forgive you, Jo. Our friendship is over.” She swallowed hard as her throat threatened to close up with tears. “You better pack. I assure you that Rhett won’t forgive me, much less want either of us hanging around. Not to mention that any money I’ve managed to save will now be eaten up in attorney’s fees as he takes us to court.”
She hurried to her bedroom and slammed the door. TJ sat curled against the pillows. She lifted the orange tabby into her arms and buried her face in his silky fur as she sank onto the bed. Hot tears leaked out and Cassie no longer tried to hold them back.
The Hollywood dream was dead. She hadn’t had a lick of success as an actress or agent and would now lose her job as Rhett’s assistant. She’d never stand a chance of landing another assistant’s job.
Yet Cassie refused to crawl back to Waco with her tail tucked between her legs. Nothing waited for her back in Texas. Her tenuous relationship with her mom wasn’t a reason to return. Her mom cashed the check Cassie sent each month and had never offered a simple thanks, much less had a kind word to say on the few occasions Cassie called. So, where could she go? At least she had a little money in the bank now, thanks to the generous weekly salary Rhett paid. Of course, she didn’t have a car anymore. It had been hauled away for scrap. She didn’t have much in material possessions, either. Everything she owned would fit into a single suitcase. After her move to the gatehouse, she’d culled through all her things and gotten rid of most everything.
Cassie glanced around the bedroom, the nicest place she’d ever slept. After only a few weeks, it seemed more like home than any place she’d ever lived. She regretted her harsh words to Jolene but they had to be said. Jo’s mouth would be her downfall. Still, she would miss her friend’s crazy sense of humor.
She stood and placed TJ on the bed before she went to her closet and removed his pet carrier and her suitcase. Instantly, TJ’s languor left. To the cat, carrier equaled vet, and he leaped off the bed and scampered under it. Low growls emitted from his throat, warning his owner to back of
f.
Cassie sighed and began emptying her drawers, making neat stacks on the bed of lingerie and T-shirts. She removed her few clothes from their hangers and, within ten minutes, had her suitcase packed. The last thing she placed on top was a notebook of ideas she’d started scribbling down for her and Breck’s joint screenplay. Cassie didn’t know why she wanted to keep it. She and Breck O’Dell would never write something for Rhett. Even if they did, it would be the last property Rhett would ever look at after such a betrayal.
Cassie closed the suitcase and fired up the laptop Rhett provided. She typed a brief resignation letter, printed it, and decided to run it up to the house. She prayed he was still out. She couldn’t face seeing him now. He’d plan to go to lunch with Becky to discuss a new series of automobile commercials to air in Japan and Europe in the spring. He wouldn’t be back soon, knowing Becky and her attention to every little detail.
Cassie entered through the kitchen and spotted Mimi rolling out a pie crust.
“Hello, Cassie. Are you coming to dinner tonight? Mr. Corrigan said that Breck and Jolene and that nice fireman Chris Whittaker and his wife will be here around seven.”
Cassie struggled to keep her voice nonchalant. “No, I already have plans. I’m just here to drop something off in Rhett’s office.”
Shep trailed her up the stairs. Cassie left the laptop on a nearby chair and her letter on top of the computer, along with the credit card Rhett gave her for expenses and the keys to the Range Rover. She looked around the office and a shooting pain zipped through her as she saw her scattered notes on the fundraising event spread out next to a couple of scripts to review.
Tears blurred her vision. She knelt and scratched Shep behind his ears.
“I’ll miss you, Shep. So will TJ.”
Most of all, she would miss Rhett. He wasn’t anything like his screen image—the tough talking, shoot-first and ask questions later, lady-killer. Instead, Cassie found Rhett Corrigan not only more devastatingly handsome in person than on film, but he was totally normal. No ego, full of generosity and concern, and one of the most caring souls she’d known.
Worse, she had an inkling that her feelings for Rhett went far beyond the typical employee to boss relationship. Maybe Jolene had done her a favor without knowing it. How embarrassing would it be for Cassie to fall in love with the sexiest man in Hollywood? Only a little less than having Rhett figure that out. She would get out while the getting was good.
Even if it hurt like hell.
She ruffled Shep’s fur and decided she’d book a cheap motel tonight and think about what to do and where to go once she arrived. She booked an Uber. Her pick-up time was in eight minutes.
Cassie returned to the gatehouse and shook a jar of treats to lure TJ out of hiding. As he gobbled some Tuna Delight bits, Cassie grabbed the cat and put him into the carrier. She glanced around and saw Jolene’s bedroom door closed.
Picking up her suitcase in one hand and the carrier in the other, she took a last look around the room and walked down to the front gate. She opened it and waited next to it for her driver.
A sleek blue Mercedes pulled up at the entrance. Melanie Cameron got out, leaving the engine running.
“Looks like you’re leaving.”
Cassie kept her voice even as she replied. “I don’t have a choice, Melanie. I left Rhett my resignation. I can’t fix the damage that’s been done but I can clear out.”
“Where will you go?”
“A motel for the night. After that?” She shrugged. “I’ve got a pretty spotty resume. No solid recs to provide a prospective employer. There’s no way Rhett would give me one now.”
Melanie frowned. “What do you plan to do?”
Cassie shook her head. “I have no idea.” She sat down on her suitcase and leaned down to the carrier to stroke the yowling TJ through the wire opening.
“Come stay with Ken and me.”
Her words startled Cassie. “No. I couldn’t impose on you. Besides, Ken is Rhett’s friend. I’d never ask him to break the bro code.”
“You know Ken. He’s not like that. Besides, with twenty thousand square feet? You could stay a month and never see him.”
“I couldn’t ask you to—”
“I won’t hide you from him. Just stay a few days. Get your head together. Figure out what to do next.”
Cassie studied Melanie. “Why would you help me? Besides a disastrous shopping excursion, we’re total strangers.”
Melanie looked at her with knowing eyes. “I was you four years ago, Cassie. I came to Hollywood to be a star. I wasn’t interested in the casting couch musical chairs. Though I had looks, I found out I really couldn’t act. I had no interest in modeling and the money ran out fast.”
Melanie sighed. “That’s when I met Ken. He loves swap meets. He looks for LP jazz records and old books and scripts.” She laughed. “You should see his get-up—a ratty wig, fake yellow dentures, torn T-shirt, and ancient boots. I was there selling everything I owned so I could travel light to wherever I wound up. I had over twenty old jazz albums. Etta James and Bird Parker. Stuff from my granddaddy’s collection. It was the only thing of value left and as much as it hurt, I needed to sell it to survive.
“I met Ken that day. He changed my life. He bought everything. I won’t bore you with the details but I know what it’s like to be hungry. Alone. Lost.
“Please. Let me help you.”
Cassie knew she was at a point where she had no pride left. Money would evaporate in the blink of an eye. Friends were almost nonexistent. Without Rhett and Jolene, she really had no one.
She looked steadily at Melanie. “I’ll take you up on your generous offer but I resolve only to stay until I can figure out where to go and what to do.”
At that moment, her Uber pulled up. Melanie held a hand up. “I’ll get it.” She walked over and leaned down to talk to the driver, passing him a wad of bills. The car pulled away.
“Let’s go.” Melanie took the suitcase, while Cassie picked up TJ’s carrier.
She made a weak attempt at humor. “I hope no one’s allergic to cats in the Cameron household.”
Melanie grinned. “Just Ken. No big deal.”
Cassie groaned. “I can see Ken reporting to the Crime Time set Monday morning with swollen eyes and sneezing his head off. Why don’t I board TJ for a couple of days? I don’t want to be responsible for ruining two of Hollywood’s leading men in a single day.”
“Don’t worry. TJ can have the pool house. Ken’s never out there. In fact, it would be perfect for you and give you some privacy. I’ll have my cook stock the fridge for you. Stay as long as you want.”
Cassie swallowed and blinked back tears of appreciation. “I can’t thank you enough, Melanie.”
“You can pay it forward someday, Cassie. That’s what I’m doing now.”
◆◆◆
Rhett returned home from lunch with Becky and Irv. He was glad they’d nailed down the auto deal and felt pleased with the salary he’d receive. Rhett decided to donate the proceeds from the commercials to breast cancer research. He knew little about any kind of cancer before Carreen was diagnosed. He’d learned lots since, including the disproportionate amount of research money that went to finding a cure for other diseases. Cancer affected Americans in every walk of life—all ages, genders, and races—and he wanted more money designated to ending this horrible disease.
His excitement grew as he thought about the charity event and new foundation Cassie planned that would go a long way in providing funding for cancer research. Rhett refused to lend his celebrity to endorse political candidates but his fame could be used for good. He remembered Michael J. Fox testified on Capitol Hill to win big bucks for Parkinson’s research. Maybe he could do the same for breast cancer treatments or even disadvantaged women receiving free mammograms.
Rhett went to the kitchen to get a drink and asked Mimi, “Have you seen Cassie today? I thought I might ask her to dinner tonight.”
The
cook told him, “She told me she had plans this evening.”
A flare of disappointment shot through Rhett. At least he told himself it was that—and not jealousy. He enjoyed having Cassie around, not merely to bounce ideas around but to talk to. She was sharp as a tack, well read, and was a huge trivia buff on movies from the 1940s to the present. Every conversation had piqued his interest and he found himself learning something new.
He grinned, knowing how she put him in his place. Cassie Carroll would never let his ego get the better of him.
Rhett realized how, in a short time, Cassie pushed him to be his best—from their early morning runs to his career, she challenged him to attain a level of excellence.
He knew he’d been coasting through life, first as a model and then action star. He’d also slid through relationships with women. Being around Cassie, though, made him want to be a better man, a better actor, and a better friend. It hit him that Cassie was the kind of woman he wanted to settle down with. Share his life. Raise a family. Cassie wouldn’t let him get away with any shit—and he liked that.
In an instant, Rhett realized that he wanted to be with this one woman. Make a commitment to her. Start a life together without waiting another moment.
Randi would be home in a couple of days but Rhett couldn’t wait that long. He would jump on a plane and end things with Randi tonight. Get his key back. Change the gate and alarm codes. Start over.
With Cassie.
Rhett pulled out his phone and booked the trip that would change his life. He’d be back early tomorrow morning by taking the red eye—and begin a new, better life with Cassie in it.
His passport stayed in his glove compartment and he didn’t need any luggage. He looked at Mimi.
“Something’s come up. I’ve got to miss dinner tonight but I want you to keep the plans intact. It’ll be a nice night out for the Whittakers, away from their kids, and they can screen the movie after dinner.” Of course thinking about it, he realized Jolene would be entertainment enough.
