by Erica Penrod
“The southern house is bigger,” Skyler said. She removed her earbuds from their case. “We didn’t build it.” She placed one in her ear. “Mom and Dad fell in love with it the moment they saw the location. It’s really pretty there.”
Cassie managed to swallow. “It’s bigger?” It was hard to believe anything could be larger than the Park City home. “I hope the GPS works. I just barely figured out how to get from one end of this house to the other.”
Skyler smiled and placed the second bud in her right ear. “You’ll love it,” she said loudly.
As long as Sanders was nowhere in the vicinity, it would be beautiful.
* * *
The road moved with slow curves and gentle bends that swayed like a dancer, gliding the SUV towards the hillside. Cassie was grateful she had the girls with her; even with technology, she was sure she would have missed the turnoff concealed by cedar trees. Red rock stood like nobility across the hills to the northeast, but as they headed south, it gave way to mountains covered in cedar trees and sagebrush.
A few miles up the dirt road, a wrought iron gate with the Morgan brand in the center and large stucco pillars to either side stood sentinel. . Elle typed the code into her phone, and the gate opened so Cassie could accelerate onto the asphalt driveway. Trees lined both sides, with a fence running the entire length.
With disbelieving eyes, Cassie gaped at the all-white mansion with a Spanish tiled roof. Rounded double doors anchored the home beneath a large turret and balcony. Desert plants basked in the sun beneath the lower windows, and several palm trees stood in a casual stance here and there.
“Wow!” Cassie said, bringing the car to a stop on the curved driveway.
“I told you it was cool,” Skyler said, collecting her belongings.
“I think your description may have been slightly understated.”
Elle unbuckled the twins. “Can I show the boys the pool and barns?” she asked.
“Sure,” Cassie said, with her neck stretched towards the top floor of the house. “How many levels are there?”
Skyler opened her door and hopped out. “Five.”
Cassie lowered her head. “You’re joking, right?”
“Nope.” Skyler clutched her bag to her chest and turned towards the front doors. She paused, and then pivoted back around. “Oh, there’s an elevator.”
* * *
Shortly after Kip’s arrival in Texas with his dad, the show’s producers called for an impromptu cast reunion. Extra footage was needed for a TV special meant to air after the season finale, and Kip made a quick trip to California. Cameras flashed the moment he landed. His flight schedule was leaked to the press or conveniently mentioned by the show, and screaming fans stood outside the terminal. Sparkling women and bright lights dulled beneath the shade of his glasses, and though he could see the moon, he left them on.
Austyn met him poolside the next morning before filming began. She wore a mesh cover-up over a leopard-print bikini and a wide-brimmed hat with her trademark red high heels.
Kip kept his tank top on until he was asked to kindly remove it by a crew member, who also arranged for the reality couple to pose by the lounge chairs for some casual shots. Glad that his contract was up, Kip played along and even grinned when Austyn rubbed sunscreen onto his back. She leaned in and left her mark across his cheek.
Her full lips were next to his ear and she whispered, “I’m glad you came alone.” She looked up and posed for the camera. “That woman was nowhere near your type.”
Kip’s muscles tensed along his jawline, and a jaded smile formed across his face.
“Hey, you two,” the cameraman said, while he adjusted Austyn’s hat and brushed Kip’s hair back. “I need a little more love.”
Austyn fell onto Kip’s lap. “How’s this?” she asked.
“Perfect.”
Kip’s heart pounded, but not because of the beautiful woman striking a pose with him. His self-imposed pep talk earlier this morning faded fast from his memory. All he wanted was to get through this as quickly as possible, head back to Texas, wrap things up there, and make it back to Cassie. He assumed his chances of leaving sooner would improve if he cooperated, no matter how much it perturbed him. Maybe the reality show was going to make an actor out of him yet; he’d give them a believable performance and get out of there.
The only bright spot in this poolside façade was Jaxon. Kip hadn’t seen him since the last tour of interviews, and even then, he didn’t get much chance to talk to the man who had gotten him into this whole big mess. But looking back, Kip knew he’d do it again if it meant helping out his friend.
“If you’ll excuse me,” Kip said to Austyn and the photographer. “I’m sure you’d like a few shots of the lovely lady alone.”
Setting Austyn to his side, he stood up. He didn’t need to see her eyes hidden beneath her Audrey Hepburn sunglasses to know they were giving him daggers. Austyn was not someone who was walked away from often.
He remembered his plan of accommodation and added before he left, “You look amazing. He should get as many as he can with you looking like that.”
Austyn’s red lips curved into a smile, and the photographer continued. Kip didn’t turn around, believing her ego had been fed enough to last at least a few minutes.
His five-foot-seven co-star was in the corner with a bunch of scantily clad women. Kip smiled in the shade of Jaxon’s shadow, impressed by the aura of such a small dude. Jaxon’s trademark crooked smile and his deep-set brown eyes kept the crowd’s attention, and it also helped that he was typically a pretty funny guy—until he wasn’t funny. That’s when Kip was forced to step in. Females most often got his humor, but the male population didn’t always find him quite as charming.
Jaxon saw Kip and excused himself from his entourage. They found a more private area and took a seat.
“Hey, I’m glad I caught you,” Jaxon said. “I’ve been meaning to call, but you know how things are, and plus the baby’s coming any day now.”
Kip shook his head. “I can’t believe you’re going to be a father.”
Jaxon’s face lit up. “I know, right?”
“Poor kid.”
Jaxon punched him lightly on the arm.
“How’s Janie doing?” Kip asked. “Are things any better between you two?”
Jaxon didn’t answer, and Kip knew that when it came to the people that mattered most to him, his friend didn’t always have the words. More times than not, he didn’t have the right words, especially when it came to Janie.
Jaxon ran his hands through his blond hair, and the celebrity glow left his face. He looked older than he did five minutes ago. “Nothing’s changed. The only difference is she lets me know how her doctor’s appointment went and what my financial obligations are.”
Kip didn’t know what to say or if he should say anything at all. Jaxon knew he’d messed things up big time. He’d had everything with Janie, and he let his pride destroy it.
“I don’t know what to …” He looked up, and Kip acted as if he didn’t see the tears in his eyes.
“What do you want to happen?” Kip asked. “Do you want to get back together?”
Jaxon chewed his lip and stared over at the sea of two-piece swimsuits floating in the pool. “I do, but I don’t think she’ll ever forgive me …” He pointed to the girls. “Or believe me when I tell her that she’s all I’ll ever want.”
“You did a pretty good job of convincing her otherwise.”
Jaxon didn’t answer.
“But the good thing is, she’s Janie,” Kip said, putting his hand on his buddy’s shoulder. “And she’s somehow managed to love you since she was fifteen years old. I don’t think that’s easy to quit, even if she wants to.”
Jaxon’s brown eyes lit up again, and Kip could see the water’s reflection. “She’s the only person I wanted to prove myself to. And maybe …” He glanced down at the sunglasses in his hand. “I guess I could never figure out why a girl like her would
fall for a guy like me.”
“I’ve been asking myself that same question for years,” Kip said.
“Thanks a lot.”
“If you want her back, you need to do whatever it takes. Show her you want to be a family, and don’t quit—no matter what.” As Kip said this, he could see Cassie in his mind.
“You’re right,” Jaxon said. “And the first thing I need to do is get out of here.”
Later that afternoon, much too late in Kip’s opinion, production wrapped up. A few of the cast members were headed to a club for dinner and drinks. Tayson Cole was the leader of the pack, the third cowboy starring in the reality show. Kip had met him a handful of times, since he was a mutual acquaintance of Jaxon’s. Cole was a bullfighter disguised in clown’s clothing. He often doubled as a stuntman on movie sets during rodeo’s off season and knew how to live on the edge.
Tayson was cool enough the few times they interacted on the show, but his idea of a good time wasn’t Kip’s. It wasn’t difficult declining to join the party. Besides, he had one thing on his agenda and that was getting back to Cassie as quickly as possible.
He didn’t kiss the ground, but as his feet hit the earth, Kit’s nerves relaxed. His gut quit churning as he got into the car with his father. He hoped to walk around without the feeling of perpetual indigestion once he had Cassie and the boys in his sight.
After that night in Park City with Sanders, it took everything he had to leave Cassie. If he could help his father get things situated before the holidays, not only would Ben be able to spend more time with the family, but Kip wouldn’t need to return as frequently either.
Kip had never seen Cassie so shaken. She may have let her guard down a little, thinking Saunders didn’t know she was in Utah, but once she discovered otherwise, it brought her to her knees.
Kip tapped his foot on the floor of the car, silently urging the driver to go faster.
“Anxious to get home?” Ben asked his son.
“Yeah.”
“I’m sure she’s anxious to see you too.”
“I never said—”
Ben laughed. “You didn’t need to. I’ve seen the way you look at her.”
Kip shook his head, but smiled.
“And from what your mom says, the feeling appears mutual.”
Kip exhaled. “I don’t know for sure. Maybe it’s me, or maybe she needs somebody right now, and I happen to be available.”
“I don’t think Cassie’s like that.”
“I don’t think she is either, but every time I think I’ve got her figured out, the next thing I know she’s upset with me, and I’m starting all over again.”
Kip’s father threw his head back and laughed. He reached over and touched his son’s leg. “That’s a woman for you, and if you think it gets any better with time … well, son …” He shook Kip’s knee. “It never does.”
“That’s reassuring,” Kip said, as the car paused while the private gate opened. His phone rang. Private Security appeared on the screen, and Kip answered the call. “Hello?” Kip listened for several seconds, then replied, “Thank you, and yes, please continue to keep me updated.”
He hung up, feeling perplexed, before putting the phone back in his pocket. “I hired a security team to watch over the house and Cassie,” he explained to Ben.
“We have security and surveillance,” Ben said, “over the house and the property.”
“I know,” Kip said. “But Dad, this thing with Cassie …” He looked directly into his father’s eyes. “These men she’s hiding from, they’re dangerous, and I don’t think I can take enough precautions.” Kip looked out the window. “Not with her or the boys.”
“Do we need to call the police?”
“I don’t think I dare. It’s deeper than that, and I wouldn’t be surprised if this guy’s got people everywhere.”
Ben’s dark brows furrowed over his brown eyes. “Are you in over your head?”
“No,” Kip said. “These guys are supposed to be the best. Not only are they a security team, but they’re also private investigators. I’ve got them working on it. I don’t know exactly what Sanders wants from Cassie; only money or if he thinks she’s got information.” He stared out the window for a moment. “Either way, I’m going to find out and put to an end to it.”
The car stopped in front of the house. “What about Cassie’s parents? Are they in any danger?”
“I know there’s been some contact, men trying to find out where Cassie disappeared to, but nothing beyond that. I’ve got people watching them as well. They’re safe for now.”
Ben opened his door. “Okay, sounds like you’ve got everything covered. But keep me informed, because now…” He stepped out of the car, turned back around, and then ducked his head into the car to warn his son. “It’s not just Cassie’s family they’ll come after—it’s all of us.”
* * *
“Hi, Daddy,” Austyn said, her phone pressed against her ear and resting on her shoulder. Her sunglasses sat on the tip of her nose as she examined her manicure over the top of the lenses. A chip in the red polish of her ring finger lit the fuse on a string of curse words.
“What was that, baby girl?” her father asked.
“Nothing, Daddy.” She pushed her glasses back and watched as several crew members dove into the pool, clothes and all. “I’m calling to let you know that I’m not going to make it home tonight. Can you tell Momma I’m sorry, and I’ll make it up to her as soon as I get there?”
“Sure, princess. Things must be going well for you and Kip, then?”
Austyn sat up and collected her bag. She was the only cast member left behind. “I wouldn’t say that,” she said, as she pictured Kip walking away, the first to leave the pool party. “He left a while ago.”
“I thought you two were spending some time together?”
She huffed as she stood up. “I thought we were, but I think he’s still involved with that nanny back in Utah.”
“Oh?” her dad asked. “I’m not sure I know who you’re talking about.”
“Daddy, I told you. Remember when I went to see Kip with Michael, and he was with her?”
Silence.
“Daddy?”
“Yeah, I’m here, sugar. I’m just trying to remember what you told me about her.”
Austyn managed to wrap herself in her cover-up and still hold on to the phone. “Kip’s just been distracted, is all, by some lady and her kids. Nothing to worry about.” She smiled to herself. There wasn’t anything to worry about. Kip would come to his senses; no man on earth would choose an overpaid babysitter over her.
Her father cleared his throat. “I’m sure you’re right.”
“I am,” she said, slipping on her red high heels. “I can handle him.”
“Okay, then. Momma and I will see you soon.”
“Bye, Daddy.” She flung her phone into her bag, feeling like she lost five pounds of water weight. Daddy always made her feel better, and if she couldn’t make Kip realize she was what he needed, Daddy could. He always made sure she got what she wanted.
13
Alabaster chandeliers hung in every room. Hand-painted Spanish tiles with vibrant colors blanketed the many floors of the house. Cassie couldn’t get used to the idea of living in a house that actually required an elevator. She decided to use the stairs as much as possible for two reasons: first, to get the exercise, and second, to keep the boys away from it. She let them go up and down as many times as she could the night they arrived, but she was sure if an elevator could be broken, her little men would find a way to do it. Skyler showed Cassie how to activate the elevator by using the code and assured the worried mother her boys wouldn’t be able to access it on their own.
Just like in the Park City home, Cassie and her children had their own wing of the house; however, this time she had her own kitchen. It was obviously much smaller than the main kitchen, but double the size of the one she’d had in Arizona. A sitting area was to the left, with a large
television mounted to the wall. Beanbags the size of small beds lounged lazily on the ground across from a cozy couch and coffee table. Toys were placed on several shelves, and Cassie had no doubt Grace had the rooms prepared for their arrival.
Cassie could live comfortably in her room alone without the adjoining rooms and their amenities. A king-size bed with a terracotta-colored coverlet and mounds of pillows in a variety of shades and textures centered the room. Large nightstands with cream-colored lamps stood on each side, and tears came to her eyes when she noticed the frames with black-and-white photographs of Ryder and Rhett on top of each table. A bookshelf in the same beach wood as the nightstands stood in the corner, with two oversized chairs resting on top of a lush rug.
Of course she had her own larger-than-life plasma television, and desert scenery on beautifully painted canvases hung on the walls. She opened the doors to her balcony and found potted ferns and beautiful cacti landscaping her private oasis. Life would be difficult once she returned to reality in a two-bedroom apartment. The walk-in closet, with its own teardrop chandelier and settee, already contained most of her belongings. Items sent ahead were put away by the housekeeper, which Cassie decided would take some getting used to.
Although the Morgans had several employees to keep up the home in Park City, none of them lived there. A married couple in their late fifties managed this house and the landscaping. They occupied a space much like Cassie’s, while other employees came on an as-needed basis. The exceptions were the trainers and stable hands that lived in a bunkhouse, which Cassie later discovered was the size of her parents’ home.
Cassie stepped into the closet and flipped the switch, gasping when she saw clothes hanging in the far right corner. There were several pairs of jeans and shirts from casual to not to be worn around small boys with sticky fingers, along with several skirts and a beautiful red dress hanging in a separate section.
She ran her fingers across the smooth fabric of the dress, impressed by its simple lines, and noticed several pairs of new shoes, including a fantastic pair of stilettos to match the dress.
