It Had to Be Fate (An It Had to Be Novel Book 3)

by Tamra Baumann

  “You’re doing the rubbing thing. What’s wrong now?” Meg said as she laid their drinks on the table and then slipped into the leather booth across from Casey.

  “The boys just saw proof of Zane’s antics on TV. He says there’s another side to the story, but I can’t imagine what it could be.”

  “Yeah, I saw that.” Meg frowned into her beer. “But maybe there is another side to the story. Josh had a darn good reason for leaving me and Haley, but he couldn’t tell us right away. Zane’s going to be here for two long months. Do you think you should give him the benefit of the doubt?”

  Casey sipped her wine. “Josh being an undercover FBI agent is a whole lot different than a badly behaved singer in a band.”

  Meg shrugged. “I didn’t know that’s what Josh did, hence the undercover part, but I’m glad I gave him a second chance. And Zane is much more than just a singer in a band, Casey. He’s very well respected in the music industry. The guy has like ten Grammys. And he has a foundation that supports schools to help bring back their music programs.”

  The man was a walking, talking contradiction. “How do you know all that?”

  “Because I’m a fan. And mostly because I Googled him.” Meg smiled and took a drink. “Wonder who the blonde is who just walked in?”

  Casey glanced over her shoulder. “Mandy. Zane’s assistant. Kip’s granddaughter.”

  “Kip’s granddaughter? Maybe we should invite her to sit with us then?”

  “I invited her to join us earlier, but maybe she didn’t see us. Be right back.” Casey drew a long drink from her glass then crossed the crowded bar. “Hey, Mandy. Did you decide to join us for Blitzed Bingo after all?”

  “No. Just really needed a drink.” She lifted her glass and took a long pull. After she’d downed three-quarters of it, she softly laid it on the bar. With tears in her eyes she said, “I just found out Zane thinks of me as a little sister. So congratulations, he’s all yours now.”

  Zane must’ve had that talk with her. Poor kid. “I’m sorry, Mandy. Men can be pretty dense about the signals we practically hit them over the head with, right? Why don’t you come join me and my sister? Maybe a girls’ night will cheer you up?”

  “Why not?” She tilted her head back and drained her glass. “If you can’t beat ’em, might as well join them.”

  “I’m not interested in Zane, Mandy. I’ve got two kids to worry about. They look up to him, and I just hate what they saw earlier.” Casey led the way through the little clusters of people and back to their table.

  As they approached the booth, Mandy said, “He’d never do anything to hurt your kids. That was just a big misunderstanding.”

  “Hi, Mandy, I’m Meg.” Casey’s sister slid over. “Have a seat. Want another drink?” Meg raised a hand to alert the waitress, Sally.

  “Thanks.” Mandy slid next to Meg. “You’ve all got the wrong idea about Zane. He’s a great guy. He’s serious about his music, and he’s determined to promote music awareness for kids.”

  Casey didn’t want to upset Mandy any further by arguing, so she just nodded. “My sister was just telling me about his foundation.”

  “Yeah, well, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Most people don’t know how much time and money he gives to all sorts of charities. If not for his damned brother—” Mandy cut herself off as Sally approached.

  “Hi, ladies. What can I get you?” Sally smiled at Mandy.

  “A rum and Coke, please?”

  “Sure thing.” Sally turned to Casey. “Should I bring you two another while I’m at it?”

  Casey feared it was going to take more than two drinks to get through their night. “Yes, please. Thanks, Sally.” She turned back to Mandy. “What about Zane’s brother?”

  “Never mind.” Mandy shook her head. “I’ve said too much. Zane doesn’t like gossip.”

  Meg gave Mandy a shoulder bump. “But we live for it. Spill!”

  Mandy smiled briefly at that. “Let’s just say there is so much more to this story than you guys know. Zane would never hurt anyone on purpose. And there are people in his life who are like barnacles, sucking anything from him they can get. He’s just too nice to cut them off.”

  Mandy seemed to worship the ground Zane walked on. No wonder she thought he could do no wrong. But the vision of Zane in handcuffs, fighting the cops as they tried to stuff him into the back of a cruiser, was still fresh in Casey’s mind.

  Even so, Casey had seen the quick flash of pain on Zane’s face when she’d mentioned not wanting him around her kids. “Sometimes it’s hard to see a man’s flaws when you’re blinded by love. Believe me, been there, done that.”

  Meg raised her beer glass in a mock toast. “Haven’t we all?”

  After Sally returned with their drinks and then disappeared again, Mandy studied her fingers as they ran up and down the condensation on her glass. “I know Zane’s not perfect. He’s a workaholic. He’s oblivious to the outside world when he gets an idea about a song. He can sometimes stay up for days straight until he gets it right. He’s so compulsive about making it perfect. I’m not sure he has room for another person in his life, anyway. His last girlfriend left, and I don’t think he even noticed for two days. That was six months ago and he hasn’t dated anyone seriously since.”

  Casey had seen otherwise in the news reports about Zane. “Except for the one-night stands on the road, right? You wouldn’t want to be with a guy who did that, Mandy. I think it’d be too hard a habit to break.”

  Mandy took another deep drink. “I’ve been on the road with Zane all year, and I’ve never seen him have a one-night stand. Even after his girlfriend moved out. And believe me, I was paying attention.”

  “Really?” Meg’s brows spiked. “A good-looking guy like him? I’d sleep with him in a heartbeat.”

  “You would not.” Casey kicked Meg under the table. “You’re madly in love with Josh.”

  “True.” Meg shrugged. “But I’d have been seriously tempted.”

  Mandy said, “Zane’s actually a clean freak. I bet he’d worry about the germs involved with having sex with a stranger.” She chuckled into her glass and took another sip.

  Seems the liquor was improving Mandy’s mood.

  Then a vision of Zane putting his dishes away after he ate cake in her kitchen the other night filled Casey’s head. And he’d asked the boys to clean up. Their messy living room had probably bothered him.

  But Mandy was way too young and pretty to be wasting her time pining after unrequited love. “Being Kip’s granddaughter probably made you off-limits. Men can be weird that way. Once they classify you in that category, there’s no changing their minds.”

  Meg nodded. “Yeah. That’d be the only reason I could think of that would stop Zane from hitting on someone as pretty as you.”

  “Thank you.” Mandy sighed and then locked gazes with Casey. “I wanted to hate you, because Zane has a thing for you. Instead I’ll wish you luck. And I think I’ll take the new job my grandfather mentioned to me last week.” Mandy sat up straighter and drained her glass. “I hope you’ll apologize to Zane and give him a chance to prove to you what a great guy he is, Casey.” Mandy’s eyes darted toward her cell phone on the table as it hummed with a text. After reading it she smiled and slapped down her empty glass. “My BFF is going to call and console me, so I’m out. See you guys tomorrow.”

  Casey and Meg both said goodbye, chuckling as the heads of all the men in the bar swiveled toward Mandy as she made her way to the door.

  Meg said, “You were nice to try to let her down easy.”

  “You were too. So unlike my normally bratty little sister.”

  “Har, har. So now that you know there’s something more to the story, are you going to apologize to him, you big softie?”

  Casey was saved from answering by the arrival of Pam and Tara carrying more drinks. “Hey, guys.” Casey slid over to make room as her sister smirked. Meg knew her too well. She didn’t want to, but her conscience wo
uld bother her if she didn’t apologize to him. At least about not asking to hear his side of the story. But that didn’t change her worry over his behavior around the boys.

  Tara, Ryan’s girlfriend, slid her long body next to Meg. Pam, the town’s hairdresser and Meg’s best friend, sidled her curvy little body next to Casey.

  Pam said, “So, I’m on the entertainment committee for our Labor Day picnic next week and it seems I’m in need of some entertainment. Got any ideas who I could ask, Casey? Like maybe your new guest, perhaps?”

  “Since when do we ask our guests to perform?”

  Pam’s eyes lit up. “Since we finally have the hottest guest ever, and he just happens to be one of my favorite singers. I figure I’m on the committee, so why not ask the singer I’d like to see perform?”

  “See perform?” Casey leaned closer. “Or do you mean ogle?”

  “Hmmm. Do I detect a little jealousy there?”

  “Absolutely not.”

  Pam smirked. “I was just teasing you to see how you really felt about Zane. But now I might just go through with it because I really would like to hear him sing. I’m with Dax now, Casey, I’m no threat to you and Zane.”

  “There is no me and Zane, Pam.”

  Meg added, “Aside from the fact that Casey and Zane are having a little spat at the moment.”

  Casey sent Meg a dark look that her sister ignored and beamed a mischievous grin right back.

  Tara nodded. “Ryan said he didn’t like the way Zane looked at you, Casey. Like the next notch on his bedpost before he moves on.”

  “You can tell my little brother he can stop worrying. I can handle myself just fine, thank you very much.”

  Pam said, “Gloria started a new pool at the diner today. She thinks it’s just a matter of time until you fall for Zane’s charming smile.”

  “He does have great teeth,” Tara added.

  Pam quirked a brow. “Only a dentist would say he had great teeth when there are soooo many other great parts on that man to admire.” Pam poked her elbow in Casey’s side. “Right, Casey?”

  She’d noticed all those other parts to admire, all right. But she was trying her best not to think about them. What was it about charming, bad-boy, good-looking men that always appealed to her? But look where that had gotten her.

  “You guys are so annoying. Why do I even like you?” She reached for the bingo cards and then grabbed the mug filled with markers. “Enough about Zane Steele. Let’s get a little blitzed and play some bingo.” Heaven knew she could use the escape.

  Casey tossed another losing card onto the table. “I’ve had all the fun I can stand for one night. I’m all bingo’d out. See you ladies later.” She laid her share of the tab onto the table and then headed outside. The cool September air made her shiver, but in a good way, as she made her way back to the hotel. Fall was definitely in the air.

  As she passed by her grandmother’s house, it reminded her that she still owed Zane that apology. It might be easier to do after a few glasses of wine, so she made her way down her grandmother’s darkened drive to see if there were any lights on in the guesthouse. If not, she’d just do it in the morning.

  Quiet guitar music filled the still evening air, so it looked like she was going to have to bite the bullet and get it over with. As she got closer, the music stopped. Caleb and Zane sat on the front porch in Adirondack chairs, both with guitars on their laps.

  When Caleb saw her he said, “Hi, Mom. Did you hear that? Zane’s old guitar is so much easier to play than mine.”

  “That was you? It was really good, Caleb.” It was far from perfect, but a huge improvement after only a few lessons from Zane.

  She climbed the porch steps and sat on the railing, facing them. Zane just lifted a chin in greeting. Seemed he was upset with her.

  Her son beamed a big smile. “I can’t wait to show Dad!”

  Yeah, that was what she was afraid of. Tomas might wonder where Caleb had gotten the guitar. “He’ll be very proud of you. Could you excuse us, please? I need to talk to Mr. Steele about something.”

  “You’re not going to yell at Zane, are you?” Caleb frowned as he put the guitar into its case. “Zane said you might be mad that I’m spending time with him after that thing on TV. But after you guys left, Mandy told us it was all just a big misunderstanding. That’s why they dropped all the charges. I told Zane you would never be mad at him for something that’s not his fault, right?”

  Casey wished she’d just gone home and pulled her covers over her head until morning. “Have you ever seen me yell at a guest, Caleb?”

  “Well, no.” He shrugged. “But, you believe him, right?”

  What should she say to that? She didn’t believe him all the way, but she was willing to concede there might be more to the story.

  She glanced at Zane, who was watching her, waiting for her answer too. “It doesn’t really matter what I think. Zane is our guest, and we’ll treat him just like we treat them all. Now say thank you for loaning you the guitar and for the lessons, and then it’s off to bed with you, please.”

  “’Kay.” Caleb slowly walked down the steps. “Thanks, Zane. See you tomorrow.”

  Zane forced a smile. “Welcome. Goodnight.”

  Casey didn’t miss that he didn’t respond to the seeing Caleb tomorrow remark. After Caleb was out of earshot, she said, “Mandy thinks I was too harsh on you earlier. And that I owe you an apology. So I’m here to say I’m sorry I got so upset with you.” That hadn’t been so bad. Strangely, she really didn’t want to be at odds with Zane. She hated to admit she actually . . . liked him. So far, anyway.

  He played something soft and quiet on his guitar, avoiding her gaze. “But you still don’t want me around your kids. I tried to discourage Caleb, so he’d go home, but I didn’t want to hurt his feelings by insisting he leave. Sorry.”

  Mandy said he’d never hurt her kids. And he’d at least made an attempt to respect her feelings with Caleb’s visit. “If you and Mandy say there’s more to the story, I’m willing to give you the benefit of the doubt. So let’s just start over and forget what brought you here.”

  A slow-growing grin lit up his whole face. “Thank you, Casey. I appreciate that.” He laid the guitar down then slipped beside her on the railing. “One day, I promise I’ll tell you the whole story, but unfortunately, I can’t yet.”

  Something odd was up, but she’d missed his usual happy demeanor so she said, “Probably some vampire bro-code thing, huh?”

  “Yeah, something like that. And it’s a good thing tomorrow morning is Count Chocula day, or I might’ve had to find a pretty neck to feed on instead.” His gaze landed at the base of her neck and then moved to her mouth. “On second thought, I’ll bet you taste way sweeter than that cereal.”

  “Don’t even think about it.” All the wine she’d had was making it hard to resist the sexy male desire in his eyes. “I don’t want to wake up undead. Goodnight, Zane.”

  “I bet we’d both feel even more alive after a kiss.”

  Her stomach clenched. No doubt his sexy lips would wake many things better left dormant inside of her. She needed to go before she succumbed to his preternatural charms.

  As she started to leave he said, “I think you’re just afraid to admit how attracted to each other you know we are.”

  She stopped her retreat and crossed her arms. “Women must just drop at your feet with no effort on your part. Because the last thing that’s going to make me kiss you right now is you laying down a challenge like that by saying I’m chicken.”

  “I haven’t had to try this hard since high school.” He stuffed his hands into his pockets, looking perplexed. “So if calling you a chicken is the last thing, what would the first thing be to make you want to kiss me?”

  If he were anyone other than Zane Steele, but she couldn’t say that. “Sincerity.”

  “You don’t think I sincerely want to kiss you?”

  “I have no doubt you want to kiss me, but I’d li
ke to know the reasons why I should let you. I’d still be with Beau Bailey if that were all I wanted. Turns out, I’m not good at casual relationships. You’ll be gone in two months, and I’ll never see you again. So why bother risking my heart by getting involved?”

  His lips slowly morphed into a very enticing smile. “Because it’d be fun?”

  “Wrong answer. See you tomorrow, Zane.”

  She started walking toward the sandy shore and he caught up with her. He had a bad habit of always appearing at her side. “What?” she said.

  “You want sincerity? What if I told you that you are the first woman I’ve ever been so curious about it keeps me up at night? And that even when you are dressed in sweats, I think you’re beautiful. All I want is a normal relationship for a change, and I’d like to see if we could make one work. I don’t do casual either, Casey.”

  Dammit. Why did there always have to be more to him than met the eye? Mandy had confirmed he wasn’t lying about not having one-night stands.

  She stopped walking and faced him. “I think I need to hear the ‘beautiful even in sweats’ thing again before I make up my mind.”

  “No. It’ll just go to your head.” He cupped her face in his hands. “So can I kiss you or not?”

  She should say no. That would be the logical and smart thing to do. “Fine. One kiss. But only to prove to you once and for all, we’re not a good match.”

  She hoped she was right. Because if she wasn’t, things were about to get a whole lot more complicated.

  Casey lifted her chin, waiting for Zane’s kiss, hoping it held zero chemistry. That way she’d be able to tell him they’d just be friends, and he’d no longer be a temptation. Not that she’d ever admit it to him, but she put a lot of weight in a first kiss too. She’d learned long ago that if the first one was no good, the relationship wasn’t going to go anywhere without basic attraction. But then, every man who’d flipped her switch right out of the gate had cheated on her.