The Ultimate Romance Box (6 Bestselling Romance Novels)

by Eckhart, Lorhainne

  “Thanks, but tonight’s not good.”

  “Okay. How about tomorrow?”

  She tapped her finger against her lip, thinking. “Is that Wednesday? I’m helping to set up this party for Trevor. It’s his birthday. But what about—”

  “Did I hear someone say birthday?” Trevor said. Funny how Drew’s presence seemed to make Trevor materialize next to Casey. “Wouldn’t be talking about my little ol’ birthday, would you?”

  Casey nodded. “Trevor’s turning a big thirty-four.”

  “Going on eighteen, babe. Going on eighteen.”

  “In more ways than one,” Drew muttered to himself.

  Trevor wrapped a possessive arm around Casey and said to Drew, “We’ll be partying over at The Captain’s Quest in Riverhead. Know where that is?”

  Drew crossed his arms over his chest. “Course I do.”

  “Great,” Trevor said. “Come on by.”

  “Thanks, but—”

  “No hard feelings about my busting your balls over the lunges,” Trevor said with a big smile. “That’s just how me and Casey do things. Right, babe?”

  She gave a muted laugh. Drew got Trevor’s hint loud and clear. But that only brought out Drew’s uber-competitve nature. And he didn’t intend to lose. Especially since Casey’s expression was far from that of a woman enthralled.

  So when Trevor said, “Come join us tomorrow night. Around eight. Bring your girlfriend.”

  Drew replied, “Maybe I will.”

  Chapter Six

  Wednesday morning Casey received an early call from her landlord. “Got another buyer interested. He’ll be over to see the property today around three. Will you be there or not?”

  Mr. Vonrelis’s words landed on Casey like a ten ton boulder. “Umm.”

  “Otherwise I’ll give him the keys.”

  “No, I’ll be here. Has he made an offer?”

  “Hasn’t seen the place yet. At least not from the inside. If he goes higher than my last offer it’s a done deal.”

  A wave of anxiety chilled her. “But you agreed to hold off. To give me a chance.”

  “I didn’t agree to anything except choosing your offer if it’s good enough. But you haven’t made an offer. The man’s name is Rozella.”

  Casey had no appetite for breakfast after that lovely news. She left her corn muffin on the table and poured coffee into a mug with a collage of dancers on it, a gift from one of her students. Shuffling into her sparsely furnished living room, she sank onto a worn loveseat upholstered in a print of pink roses and green vines. A straw colored wicker rug, an old trunk for a coffee table, a wooden rocker perpetually occupied by her aging calico Miss Daisy. Not much, but it was home to her. But for how long?

  Another phone call came in. She glanced at her cell, thankful it was her brother. The only one she’d told, the only one she trusted. And always ready to help. Without any qualms he’d offered to co-sign a mortgage for her, but the numbers just didn’t add. When they consulted a bank officer on Monday, they were told Parker’s modest income would not be enough to cover his sister’s obligations in addition to his own if she were to default. “Hey, bro.”

  “Hate to bring disappointing news your way, but my lawyer friend who checked out your lease told me your landlord is within his rights.”

  Casey rubbed a hand over her face and told him about the latest from Vonrelis. “I thought I was buying myself some time to figure out a plan, but it looks like I’m going to get booted out of here. Problem is I’ll be losing my home as well as my school.”

  “You know you’re welcome to live at my place.” A few years back Parker had taken out a mortgage on a property on the outskirts of North Cove. A “handyman special” with an unlivable farmhouse, a couple ugly shacks and a few acres of weeds. Which was why he could afford it. But it had a path through woods to the bay and some good fertile land to grow things. Her patient and rugged brother ignored the crumbling farmhouse and instead converted one of the shacks on the property into a greenhouse where he lived with some of his plants.

  “Thanks, Parker. Good to know you’ve got my back.”

  Casey ended the call grateful that he didn’t suggest she move back to their mother’s house. Aside from the fact that her old room was being used for Richardson’s Bed and Breakfast customers, she refused to ask anything of the woman she’d had such trouble getting along with over the years.

  Then there was Jenna, the baby of the family. Seven years older, Casey had spent her high school years as her sister’s stand-in mom when their father was dying and their mother’s drinking got out of control. And of course Jenna was their mother’s favorite. The star of the Richardson clan. Not that Casey held that against her. It wasn’t Jenna’s fault if she got all the attention. Or that she was so pretty and talented. Or that life gave Casey lemons while Jenna went on to dance for the American Ballet Theater.

  Which was why, despite Jenna’s heartfelt offer for Casey to sleep on the couch in her Manhattan apartment, she sincerely thanked her sister, but took a pass.

  A shrill ring. Only this time it came from Natalie’s phone. Could it be Drew?

  Casey took a breath and prepared herself, morphing into her Madame Lumina persona. “Hello.”

  “Hey, you.” A man’s voice. Squeaky and gravelly. Definitely not Drew Byrne.

  “Who’s calling, please?”

  “Herbie.”

  “Herbie?”

  “Don’t be coy. You remember. Chiropractic? Fun in Bayonne? Heh, heh.”

  Oh no, it’s “huge” Herbie. “I’m sorry, but Natalie’s not at this number anymore.”

  “So, who is it then?”

  “Never mind. She’s not here.”

  “Do I know you? Your voice sounds familiar.”

  “No, it doesn’t. You can reach Natalie at this number…”

  After feeding her cats, finally eating her corn muffin and tossing on sweat pants, Casey spent the morning downstairs at her desk going over her ledger for the summer session. With no class scheduled until five p.m. and hours to kill before the visit from the potential buyer, she closed up her account records, swiveled her chair toward the computer and entered the words “Dating Mr. Mega-Bucks” into the search.

  Casey had to admit she was puzzled and thrilled by Drew Byrne’s attraction to her. He’d looked so yummy last night in the gym she’d had a hard time not watching him every minute. And when he fell into her during his lunges…whew, just thinking of it got her all tingly.

  And Trevor had noticed. Guilt flooded Casey. She had to break it off with Trevor. It wasn’t fair to him. Yes, she’d told him she wasn’t sure she wanted to get serious. But then she kept accepting his invitations and allowing him to dominate her social life. Natalie was right. She’d been fooling herself for too long. Hiding behind a guy who made it convenient to avoid admitting what she really wanted.

  She clicked her mouse, navigating through the website for the reality show where Parker said Drew Byrne had been a contestant. She hated most reality TV. Having danced in a few music videos, Casey knew full well how scripted, edited and camera directed any television material was, no matter how “real” they claimed it to be.

  Scanning through episodes from 2009, Casey found what she was looking for: “Cheryl and Drew Paint The Town.”

  The show opened with various glimpses of a tanned and sexy Drew Byrne accompanied by a Botox lipped, heavy bosomed brunette in a silver mini. They hopped in and out of a white limousine, marching along neon lit Times Square, fist pumping on the dance floor and canoodling inside a night club booth. Posing and preening.

  It was even more nauseating than she’d expected. They were both so full of themselves.

  But it got worse when Drew spoke to the camera. He was the epitome of arrogance. Every word out of his mouth made her want to slug him. He talked about the supermodels that were his dating preference as if they were cars he could buy.

  Hard to believe this was the same guy she’d seen working out
with Josh last night. So sincere and caring. Both father and son seemed more comfortable doing physical exercises together than talking to each other. But she could tell Drew honestly wanted to befriend his son.

  However, that did not mean this same man couldn’t run rampant through women, leaving them scarred in his wake. She supposed he had to deal with his share of shallow fems after his money. But lord help any woman who lost her heart to him.

  So what could he possibly want with her? A failed ballerina who could never compete with the kind of beauties he was used to. Or did the spoiled rich boy just like to try every flavor in the candy shop?

  No thanks. She’d already had the rug pulled out from under her way too many times in her life.

  Casey closed the window on her screen and sat back. She couldn’t stand to watch another minute, much less another episode. Good thing she had checked this out before letting her physical attraction to this phenomenally sexy man lead her into a no-win affair.

  Yeah, she’d bet Drew would be the kind of passionate lover she craved. But the physical attraction wasn’t her only reason for obsessing on him. It was the exciting, mysterious sort of glow that happened every time he got close. She’d never experienced it before. Not with Jeff, not with anyone she’d ever dated.

  She’d waited so long to feel that with a guy. But Casey also knew the downside of what it meant. If she got romantically involved with Drew Byrne she would no doubt fall really hard. And that would be a prescription for disaster.

  ***

  At three o’clock two men in suits, plus a leggy blonde with hair down to her waist, stepped into the front waiting area of North Cove Dance Academy.

  “Ms. Richardson? Dan Rozella. Mike Frankel my partner. My assistant Francoise.” No handshakes. Just curt, eager to get on with it nods.

  Rozella immediately started panning the interior like a movie director squaring his hands before him as if holding a camera. “Bar goes over there along the wall.”

  He pointed to the small studio and then the larger one. “Kitchen. Main dining room. Perfect.”

  Casey bit her lip. How nice that she and Parker designed his restaurant for him.

  He turned to her. “Does that exit lead to a yard?”

  She nodded. “It’s pretty rough, but yeah, there’s some room outside.“

  “Mind if we have a look?”

  “Not at all.” She led the entourage out the side door into the small patch of ground.

  “Good, good,” he said. “We set up some tables, deck it with lights. Outdoor dining.”

  Casey wanted cry.

  Chapter Seven

  Riverhead had more of a nightlife than the less populated farming and fishing villages that dotted the North Fork. The town sat at the cross point of the V where the East End of Long Island formed two fingers. Two very different fingers, with the South Fork wearing the diamonds of the Hamptons, summer home to the wealthy and famous. Snooty types who didn’t normally frequent a down-home, friendly place like The Captain’s Quest.

  Casey loved the restaurant’s briny blend of nautical paraphernalia. A ship’s wheel hanging from the ceiling. Fishing nets draping the bar’s knotty pine perimeters. A webby network of sea-beaten ropes cascading down its reddish paneling, bulging with blue glass floats and colorful wooden lobster trap buoys.

  They sat around a large table. Casey and Trevor with four of his friends. Jill, a pediatrician, and her husband Steve, another gym teacher at North Cove high where Trevor worked. Trevor’s weight lifting partner Kyle and his wife Lindsay. They ran a charter fishing boat and marine supply shop in New Suffolk.

  Casey forced herself to chat and nod while she ate her Pignoli Nut Crusted Grouper, grateful for once that Trevor was so bad at reading her thoughts and feelings. He didn’t even notice she was drinking far more than usual, downing glass after glass of Pinot Grigio while picturing the studio she loved being turned into a restaurant by that trio who visited her this afternoon.

  The fact that she hadn’t even considered telling Trevor about her dilemma made her realize how shallow their relationship was. She doubted he would understand the artistic and psychological reasons why her little academy was so important to her. And when she thought about it, Casey didn’t really know what went on inside Trevor beneath the surface of his love for sports and fitness. Was there anything beneath the surface?

  Casey knew it was time to level with him and end their fake relationship. But she wasn’t about to ruin his birthday night with a break-up. And she worried about how they’d continue teaching the summer fitness program together should he resent her for it.

  Especially since Drew was taking the class.

  Thanks to the encouragement of Madame Lumina.

  Despite Casey’s eye-opening glimpse of Drew on the reality show episode, she had to admit she was disappointed he didn’t appear tonight. In fact she’d chosen the dress she was wearing, a purple and black halter top mini, with him in mind.

  Jill talked about her two-year-old, and Casey gulped more wine, making appropriate appreciative sounds. She felt smarmy having Mr. Mega-Bucks spinning her head around while she was supposed to be here with Trevor. And later when Trevor drove her home he would probably push to spend the night with her.

  Casey began rehearsing excuses in her head. If only she’d come in her own car. Then she might have been able to fake a tummy ache after dessert and drive herself home.

  As the waiter cleared their dishes and Casey whispered to him about bringing the birthday cake, her bad day got even worse. Drew Byrne walked into The Captain’s Quest with the well-known fashion model Riley Ward. Just what Casey needed. Another reminder of what a loser she was.

  Heads turned. Star worshippers’ jaws dropped and horny dudes’ eyes bulged, their attention focused on the lanky blonde with the perfect face and awesome body in a black lace sheath. And I deluded myself into thinking my flat-chested boy bod in a Macy’s special would catch Drew’s attention?

  Wearing a pale blue shirt opened at the collar, Drew stood there with one hand on Riley’s back, his eyes panning the room. He spotted Casey and gave her a quick grin that started her heart pounding. It took a lot to force a return smile to the man-of-the-moment making the grand Hollywood entrance.

  Drew and Ms. Supermodel weaved through the hubbub of customers to the birthday boy’s table.

  Looking a tad put-off, Trevor said, “See you made it, Big Guy.”

  Drew introduced himself and his date to the group as the others gushed at Riley, telling her how much they admired her. Casey kept her smile plastered on and nodded along with the rest.

  Kyle signaled a waiter for two more chairs. Drew stood in the space between Casey and Trevor, and when the chairs came he slid them in there, dividing her from Trevor. Casey waited for her usually possessive boyfriend to object, but when Riley gave him a happy birthday peck on the cheek, Trevor quickly moved his chair over to make room for the beauty to sit next to him.

  Drew of course took the chair beside Casey, saying, “Next round for everybody’s on me.” As he settled in, their shoulders almost touched. Heat radiated off his body along with that sandalwood scent she remembered.

  A moment ago Casey had thought of running for the ladies room, feigning a headache and finding a way home. But when Drew turned toward her with a sexy baritone greeting, his face only inches away, her competitive ballerina instincts rose to some kind of challenge she read in his teal blue eyes. She reminded herself that Drew had asked her to go for a drink with him after the fitness class. What was that about? She didn’t understand it, and was too drunk to try, but something in him got under her skin and ignited a passion to tangle.

  Or to tangle her legs around him.

  Just then Marty, one of the bartenders who functioned as DJ on karaoke nights, cut through the din over the speaker system. “S’up, everybody. Welcome to the CQ. Now, I want you all to help me wish a happy birthday to Trevor!”

  Whistles and claps. That old familiar tune began. “
Happy birthday toooo youuu, happy birthday to youuu…”

  Trevor stretched back in his chair basking in the spotlight and wearing that little smirk Casey had to admit had always turned her off. A waiter strode in with a white cake dressed in candles. He placed it on the table directly in front of Trevor.

  “Make a wish,” Lindsay said.

  He closed his eyes and followed with a hardy exhale into the delicate ring of miniature flames.

  “What did you wish for, Trevor?” asked Jill.

  Instead of answering, he eyed Riley with a wolfish grin. The model gazed back at him, pursing her very full lips. There was a slightly awkward moment at the table as the two hovered in a sultry exchange.

  Although the “poor Casey” glance from Lindsay embarrassed Casey a bit, she couldn’t very well fault Trevor for flirting with Riley while she sat here lusting over Drew.

  Ever since Casey had turned down Trevor’s marriage proposal a couple months ago their relationship seemed to limp along out of habit. Trevor had aggressively hung on to Casey, but watching him now as he put the moves on Riley made her wonder if he also realized they were finished. Or was this a picture of what her future would have been had she married him?

  Either way it didn’t do Casey’s ego any good.

  The waiter passed out pieces of cake, coffee and drinks. Filtering out the cutesy, flirty chatter between Trevor and Riley, as well as Kyle’s tongue-hanging expression and the raised eyebrows of the two other women, Casey lowered her head and focused on her dessert. And she refused to look at Drew, who was probably reveling in the glory of being a guy who actually dated this stunningly beautiful supermodel.

  They’d all had plenty to drink already, but apparently someone ordered champagne because a young waiter arrived with a bottle of Moet. He cradled it in one hand while loosening the wire cage.

  Pop! The cork shot across the table like a bullet. Right toward Casey’s face.