The Ultimate Romance Box (6 Bestselling Romance Novels)

by Eckhart, Lorhainne

  “There are plenty of kids raised by single parents who do fine.”

  “Well, it’s a moot point, since he’ll be joining me in a month. And I want his studies kept up during that time.”

  “The Ross School had a good reputation.”

  “And did you hire a nanny?”

  Josh bristled. “I’m not a baby.”

  “It’ll be Becky, Josh. Just to make sure you’ve got meals and stuff when I’m at work.”

  “You mean that older woman who cooks for you?” Heather asked.

  Drew nodded. “I trust her around my son more than some stranger.”

  “All right. I’ll expect regular reports.” Heather walked from the room.

  Drew turned to Josh. “Couple things I have to explain.”

  “Like what?”

  “Like the building I bought. I’ll pull strings to get it in my hands faster than usual, but even with that, the building is old and needs repairs. Casey is looking for spaces where she can teach several classes a week right now. She’s already lined up some time at the church and the Lion’s Club. It won’t be as good as having her own dance academy, but at least she’ll be able to keep working with her most promising students. Like the ultra-cool and super talented Josh Byrne.”

  Josh gave him a big grin. “You did it, Dad. You saved Miss Casey’s school.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  By the end of September the sound of hammers, buzz saws and hissing torches echoed through the caverness space. The musty neglected-old-building smell already began to fade. Casey stood in what would be the office — her office! — studying a diagram with Drew. She still could hardly believe this was really happening.

  He’d hired an architect to design a plan for turning this enormous ex-store and warehouse into a whole performing arts academy. With one humongo dance studio, two medium-sized for dance and theater, three small music rooms, a gym room that would have fitness equipment plus mats for acrobatic training, and a studio for painting and set design classes.

  And at each step he’d bowed to Casey’s input.

  Drew pointed to an area on the paper. “If we keep the lobby here and the bathrooms here, we could close off this small area as a private dressing room for you and the other teachers.”

  “Great idea. And when we do studio performances it will be a perfect place for dancers to wait until it’s their time to go onstage.”

  “A green room,” Drew said, giving her one of those heart-stopping grins, his teal blue eyes searching her face.

  He’d been doing that too much lately. It always made Casey want to lean forward for a taste of his wonderful mouth. She turned away. Bad enough he was playing Santa Claus making her dream of this academy come true, why did he have to look so darn delicious as well?

  And now she had Parker to contend with. He was convinced Drew had fallen in love with her. Casey finally got her brother to back off by telling him she was no longer attracted to Drew, hoping Parker wouldn’t sense her lie. She didn’t reveal her humiliating experience of seeing Drew with Amber. What good would it do to draw her brother any deeper into the melodrama of her soap opera?

  She also didn’t like the idea of demeaning Drew in Parker’s eyes. It would be like betraying a friend. Because that was what Drew had become. A true friend. In fact, Casey was discovering that he was a really great guy. Not that he didn’t have issues when it came to women. And she sure as hell would not let herself forget what a capable and blatant liar he was. Or what it felt like to see him kissing Amber.

  “I’ll call Jack about this plan tonight,” he said. “We’d better go.”

  “Lobby furniture today?” Yesterday it was bathroom fixtures. They’d already chosen paint, tiles, lighting, front door. It went on and on. Sometimes it seemed like she and Drew were a husband and wife building a home together. And it felt so good, so natural and so right that it scared her.

  “No. We’re having lunch with a photographer I know in Bridgehampton. See if you like him or not.”

  Drew’s energy and enthusiasm never slowed. But that shouldn’t have surprised her, considering he’d been the same way in bed. What did surprise Casey was how well they got along outside of the bedroom now that they spent so much time with each other every day. Drew always understood what she said. And often sensed what she hadn’t said.

  “For the brochure we talked about?”

  “Right. And promo pics for ads. Got some ideas to run by you on that.”

  They walked to his chauffeured limo that waited outside. Casey sank into the soft leather of the back seat’s air-conditioned womb. She wore a simple forest green tee shirt dress, and the skin of her bared arms and legs tingled with the nearness of Drew sitting next to her.

  “Is this photographer expensive?” Casey asked.

  “Kind of.”

  This was their only bone of contention. Drew’s refusal to put any of the expenses on a tab she could pay back. Even those related specifically to the running of the business. “Drew, we absolutely have to sit down and write up terms for what I will owe you.”

  He shifted in his seat, a look of caution on his face. “Casey, I’m thinking the solution might be for me to be your partner in this. Both in the non-profit arts programs we talked about and the school itself. I know you might not want to—”

  “I agree.”

  He stared at her, his mouth slightly open. “You agree? I had this whole ‘convince Casey’ speech planned.”

  She smiled. “It might have taken me a couple years to save enough money to start up again, and that would have been for a simple dance studio. Not the dynamic arts center being created, thanks to you. Without you this wouldn’t be happening at all. But it’s not just about your generosity with your resources. I’m astounded by your business skills, your drive and most of all your vision.”

  For the first time since she’d met Drew she saw a truly modest expression on his face. He muttered, “But it was your idea.”

  “Nothing more. A flimsy dream I never expected to become a reality. You’re the one shaping it into life.” Casey took his hand, knowing it was a mistake, but she couldn’t help herself. “I’ve been thinking about this, and every time I come down to the same thing. This arts center is rightly yours, not mine. Maybe we can work out a business plan that allows me to run it for a salary or commission or some version of compensation.”

  “No, Casey. I want this place to be yours. I just want to be your partner in it.”

  “You already are.”

  He squeezed her hand and kept hold of it for the rest of the ride to Bridgehampton.

  The whole venture would have been wonderful if she hadn’t gone and fallen in love with Drew. It made it all the more treacherous for Casey. She could never fully drop her guard, but having him at her side right now made her feel so complete that she allowed herself a brief indulgence in the fantasy of what it would be like to have Drew as her partner in more than just the studio.

  The photographer in Bridgehampton ran his portfolio on a laptop while they lunched on Salade Nicoise at a French bistro. (A girl could definitely get used to this)

  Before taking Casey back to the North Fork, they needed to pick up Josh. With only two days left before the Got Moves performance Casey now had the Cove Corps rehearsing daily. As they drove to Southampton, she realized she’d never seen Drew’s home and wondered if it would match the images she tended to conjure about him in the night while she lay on her cot-bed at Parker’s.

  They drove through a wrought iron gate and into a paved circular drive. Seeing the impeccable lawn and designer shrubs she could not name, Casey smiled, knowing they were Parker’s work. The house was an imposing Tudor with latticed windows, a brick front and several wings.

  Drew got out of the car and turned to Casey. “Come in and meet my dad.”

  She swallowed, remembering Drew telling her what a judgmental man he was. What would he think of her? But did it matter? She was only a business partner in a sideline project
of Drew’s. Still, she said, “We’re already running late. And the church could only give me an hour today.”

  “Okay,” Drew said. “But Josh has no sense of time, so there’s no telling where he is. I might have to run down to my wing and get him moving.”

  In a few minutes an overweight man — with very blue eyes — walked toward the car. He studied Casey with what appeared to be a mix of annoyance and curiosity. “You must be the dancer both my boys are so wrapped up with.”

  Was that a compliment or a complaint? She got out of the car and held out her hand. “Casey Richardson.”

  “Andrew Byrne.”

  He was polite enough, but she could clearly sense a slight condescension, an underlying arrogance and an unspoken message that this man was not to be challenged. She let him lead the conversation, and they proceeded into a discussion about golf, of all things, with Mr. Byrne doing most of the talking. It occurred to Casey this was a sport where Drew could whip her butt, since she’d never played it. Except she doubted they’d ever have another one of their strange competitions.

  Not after the way the last one ended.

  All in all she was relieved when Drew and Josh returned. But Drew arrived tense and fuming because of an angry message from Heather. Apparently no one had told Josh’s mother that the dance group was committed to continue on the TV show until they got eliminated from the contest. Which could mean anywhere from two to six more weeks.

  But Drew calmed down as they drove away, and Josh began talking excitedly to Casey about the show and his costume and which kinds of music other groups might use.

  When Josh gazed out the window Drew glanced at her and mouthed, “I’ve never seen him talk this much.”

  “Look. Horses,” Josh said, pointing to pair grazing in a field.

  “I love horses,” Casey sighed. “They move like dancers, don’t you think, Josh?”

  “Yeah.”

  “Epitome of grace and power,” Drew said. “Like the one that came in for me up in Saratoga. You wouldn’t believe the way that horse took off after laying back for the first part of the race. Nobody was betting on…. uh, uh…oh, man, long day and not enough sleep. I can’t remember the name of the damn horse.”

  “Magician’s Trick?” Casey said.

  “That’s it. How’d you know that?”

  Oh no. What have I done? Maybe it was time she confessed to him about Madame Lumina. She’d have to eventually, wouldn’t she? Except the readings were over. So, why make Drew hate her for nothing?

  Casey went into panic mode, thinking fast. She rushed out her words. “Um, your father told me.” She just hoped his father knew about this race.

  “Really? Yeah, I guess he would. Never forget the look on his face when I won all that cash.”

  Whew.

  ***

  Drew winced at the noise level inside the Escalade stretch limo. He’d had no idea what he was getting himself into when he offered to provide transportation plus join the three other parents who accompanied Casey and her dance crew the day of the Got Moves competition performance. It amazed him how much chaos could be created by three twelve-year-olds, one ten-year-old, one nine (Josh), one fifteen and two fourteen-year-olds.

  At least this was the return trip. This morning on their way to Manhattan Aaron got carsick and threw up. Emma cried because her brother told her she’d look fat on TV. Filipa and Krissy had an argument about something or other. Josh and Brendan drank soda and made burping sounds. Paige had a mini-breakdown because she forgot to bring her good luck charm. And it seemed like at least three had to go to the bathroom every time they passed a service station.

  All day Drew had worried like hell, thinking these kids would never make it through a performance in front of a live TV audience. He’d started planning what to say to console Josh, who had his heart set on it at least getting into the semi-finals.

  But the most remarkable thing happened. By the afternoon when the taping of the actual show took place Drew witnessed a total transformation. The kids went into their dance and all the hysteria vanished. They performed their moves with the power and pluck of Olympians on Red Bull.

  When ear-splitting applause rang out at their finish, he turned to Casey. She looked every bit the part of sexy, hip dance director. Instead of her usual jeans, tights or sporty dress she wore a silky low-cut mini-sheath that hugged her taut curves and red stilettos that emphasized her lethally gorgeous legs. Plus, the excitement of the day had brought a spark to her eyes and a heightened color to her face, making her look even more beautiful.

  He bent close to her ear and spoke beneath the din of cheers. “I can’t believe they actually pulled it off. They were such a mess on the way up here.”

  Casey laughed. “That’s what continuous rehearsals do. Ingrain the dance so deeply in the body and mind that repeating it is like returning to a familiar path through the woods.”

  He loved the way Casey said things. And the way she laughed. And the way she handled the kids. And…everything about her. “Think they have a chance of making it to the next round?”

  “Absolutely.” She grinned. “Of course I am a little biased.”

  “Only trouble is if they don’t get eliminated today I’ve got to face Heather’s wrath.”

  “But won’t she be proud of Josh?”

  “At the risk of sounding like one of those uncouth folk who go around criticizing their ex in public, I’ll just say Heather prefers Josh to succeed within the boundaries of her control.”

  “Please tell me she won’t pull him out of the group now.”

  “I won’t let her do that to him.” A pang of sorrow gripped Drew as the reality struck him that when the Cove Corps did finally get eliminated from the show it would mean sending Josh away to live with his mother in Germany. Sure, he’d known all along that day would come, but he hadn’t known parting with his son would be like ripping out his own heart.

  He glanced at Josh now, sitting in the far back of the limo with Aaron and Krissy, looking at the phone video replay of their performance for the hundredth time. They’d even shown it to the waiters at The Porter House in Midtown, the restaurant where Drew treated the whole crew to dinner. The staff made a fuss over the kids, calling them celebrities and bringing their table a big plate of complimentary Porter House cookies.

  By the time they closed in on home turf on Long Island’s North Fork the noise level subsided. Drew had purposely instructed the driver to first drop off everyone besides Casey. Although Josh would be in the car, he thought he could at least walk her to her door and have a few brief moments alone with her.

  Yeah, so he was hoping for an appreciative kiss. But after they’d dropped off everyone and headed toward her brother’s strange homestead where she now lived, Drew feared Casey would find some excuse for slipping quickly away from him. The way she always did these days. And frankly, he thought it was time to change that.

  Casey sat next to him the whole ride home. Her skirt rode up, leaving her sexy gams right under his gaze, the left one pressing against his thigh, making him so hard he had to toss Josh’s jacket across his lap so he wouldn’t embarrass himself. She smelled of some floral scent mixed with coffee and something that was just her.

  Drew peered at his son on the seat in the back of the stretch. Far enough away for him to have a private conversation with Casey. Plus Josh had fallen asleep.

  Still, Drew kept his voice low. “I need to ask you something.”

  Casey turned to him, her face so close it took all he had not to grasp the back of her neck and dip his face toward hers until that luscious mouth was on his.

  “About?” she asked in a businesslike tone that pulled him out of his sultry thoughts.

  “Us.”

  Her face showed a flash of panic, then she masked it quickly. “Us? As in?”

  “As in: what happened? Why did you turn against me?”

  “I’m not against you, Drew. We’re partners in—”

  “Don’t pretend yo
u don’t know what I mean. You liked having me in your bed every night. And every morning it took at least forty minutes to peel ourselves out of each other’s grip. We used to have those long talks, telling each other things we hadn’t told anybody else. What we had was so good. Then all of a sudden you stopped answering my phone calls. And when we finally talk you give me this made-up bullshit about Taz Ravage. Then you snarl at me and say I’m a womanizer, when you knew my past all along. And that didn’t stop us in the beginning. We came so close to something real, Casey. But suddenly you wanted to get rid of me. Why?”

  He waited as Casey stared down at her hands that happened to be fiddling with the strap of her pocketbook. Obviously weighing her answer, she took a deep inhale, then breathed out. “I don’t like to be lied to. Or used.”

  “What in hell is that supposed to mean?”

  “Do you remember that night we were supposed to go the Plaza?”

  His brows snapped together. “This is all because I broke a date?”

  “Of course not. That night you called me to break our date for your…” she cleared her throat “…business emergency, I decided to help out my friend Natalie by working as a server for her catering company. She was hired to cater a party at the home of Julia Von Alston. The party was for her daughter Amber.”

  Drew felt as if all the air had been sucked right out of his lungs. Casey was at Amber’s party that night?

  “So,” she continued, “it wasn’t just that you lied to me, but also that I learned you had a real girlfriend. Someone who was more than just a playful diversion for you. As I clearly was.”

  “No. You’ve got it all wrong.” But he remembered the stupid show he’d put on that convinced the Von Alstons and everyone at the party that he and Amber were practically engaged. Everyone including Casey.

  She did a palms up. “Hey, I had no claim on you. No right to say how many women you could see. We hardly knew each other. We were just having fun, right? A few weeks of casual sex. But I got bored and needed to move on. I just don’t—”