Fiance for the Night

by Melissa McClone

  Cassandra winced. She would show her parents she could find her own man. She didn’t need their help, their interference.

  “Sorry, we’re late.” Cassandra clutched Troy’s warm, strong hand. She not only needed a fiancé tonight, but she also needed someone to give her emotional support. “Troy and I were making out in the back of the cab so I had the driver make an extra circle around the Civic Center.”

  Her mother blushed. “Cassandra, really.”

  “Don’t worry, Vanessa.” Her father, the venerable Dixon Daniels, downed his drink. His once-blond hair had turned gray and he could stand to lose about thirty pounds, but he was still handsome with sparkling, cornflower blue eyes and a cheerful smile. “At least this one looks normal. Unless there are hidden tattoos or pierced body parts under that suit.”

  Cassandra leaned over and kissed her father’s tan cheek. The familiar scent of his aftershave filled her nostrils and brought back fond memories of her childhood. She might be the black sheep of the family, but she would always be daddy’s little girl. “There’s nothing hidden except a body to die for, Daddy.”

  “Cassandra, really.” Her uptight sister, Emily, echoed their mother’s favorite expression. “Don’t you have any class?”

  Class? Emily was mentioning class? “No, you got all of that when they divided the DNA.”

  Her fraternal twin, Emily was two minutes older, an inch taller and fifteen pounds lighter. She’d dyed her light brown hair jet black and wore it pulled back in a chignon. Her chic black dress shouted designer collection, but the sophisticated style didn’t suit her. Two twins couldn’t be more opposite. They had shared nothing except the same birth date, until Eric Wainwright.

  Eric. Seeing him now, he looked pathetic. Sweat beaded on his forehead, and he looked uncomfortable. A short, boring corporate hairstyle had replaced his luscious mane of blond hair. The hair—that’s what had attracted Cassandra to him in the first place. It had given him a wildness and an edge that were missing now.

  He’d reminded her of Brad Pitt in Legends of the Fall. She’d made the mistake of telling Eric that and he’d used the information to create a nineties version of the character Tristan. Who could blame her for falling in love with him?

  But Cassandra had learned the nights riding on the back of his motorcycle and watching falling stars were only acts. Eric wanted a successful career. She had been his key, until he met Emily. In hindsight, things had worked out for the best. Cassandra only hoped he made her sister happy.

  “Aren’t you going to introduce us to your betrothed, sweetheart?” Dixon asked.

  Her betrothed. Troy. With so much goodwill at the table, she’d almost forgotten the real reason for the family get-together—meeting her fiancé. As she cuddled against his firm, wide chest, his muscles tensed. “Troy, this is my family. Family, this is Troy McKnight, the man of my dreams.”

  After formal introductions, Cassandra and Troy sat. For several uncomfortable minutes, no one said anything. Cassandra ate a slice of bread before her stomach growled. She drank her entire glass of water, trying to wash away the dryness in her throat. The waiter came, took everyone’s order and left. Still, no one spoke. She had to think of something to say and fast.

  “I want to thank you for inviting us to dinner, Mr. and Mrs. Daniels.” The genuine tone of Troy’s voice surprised Cassandra. He raised his wineglass to acknowledge them.

  “The pleasure is ours, Troy,” her mother said, smiling. “And please call us Vanessa and Dixon. My husband’s parents were Mr. and Mrs. Daniels.”

  Troy’s smile reached all the way to the corners of his eyes. Cassandra had been more interested in his image, the whole package he presented, when she had picked him up. She hadn’t realized how gorgeous he was.

  “My mother says the same thing, Vanessa.” Troy emphasized her first name. “Cassandra and I have been so wrapped up in each other that we’ve shut everyone out. I’m happy to meet you.”

  “We’re happy, too.” Dixon’s assessing gaze never left Troy’s eyes. “I must admit we were surprised, shocked really, when Cassandra told us about your engagement. After all, Emily and Eric had just returned from their honeymoon.”

  “How was your honeymoon?” Cassandra asked, trying to change the subject. Troy didn’t need to know any of the details about her past with Eric.

  “Wonderful,” Eric answered. “It was everything we hoped it would be.”

  “Where did you go?” Troy asked, seemingly oblivious to the undercurrents at the table.

  “The Mediterranean. We took a three-week cruise,” Emily said before her husband could answer. “We made so many stops I lost count. It was fun, but tiring.”

  Eric cocked one eyebrow. “Have you made honeymoon plans?”

  Cassandra suppressed the urge to toss a piece of bread at his oversize head. Instead she pasted on her most charming smile. “Troy’s in charge of the honeymoon.”

  Without hesitation, Troy described his idea for their honeymoon. Two weeks of total relaxation on a tropical island with fine white sand, crystal blue water, a gentle sea breeze and no interruptions. She pictured Troy at the beach, bodysurfing in the waves, rubbing suntan lotion over her body, making…

  Eric snickered. “I can’t imagine Cassandra sitting on a beach for two hours let alone two weeks.”

  “We aren’t planning to spend our time sitting,” Troy answered with a wink, then bit into a slice of bread.

  Cassandra’s cheeks warmed. She could imagine falling for Mr. Troy McKnight.

  Too bad he wasn’t her type.

  Not that she was interested in any type.

  “Enough honeymoon talk.” Dixon straightened in his chair. No doubt the thought of his daughters, married or not, having sex made him uncomfortable.

  “Why don’t we talk about the wedding?” Vanessa suggested. “Have you set a date?”

  “No,” Cassandra said. “We aren’t sure if we want a traditional wedding or not.”

  “That doesn’t surprise me,” Emily muttered. “I see you don’t have a ring yet.”

  “We’re using my grandmother’s engagement ring,” Troy said to Cassandra’s surprise. “My parents are storing it, and I haven’t had time to fly home and get it.”

  “Your grandmother’s ring.” Vanessa clapped her hands together. “A family heirloom. How wonderful.”

  Troy smiled at Cassandra. Her mother’s reaction seemed to please him.

  Eric glanced at the rock on Emily’s ring finger. “That works out well. Troy has a ring to use and Cassandra has a dress to wear.”

  Cassandra balled her hands into fists. She noticed the silent exchange between her sister and Eric. Even Emily looked surprised by his statement.

  “She can’t wear that dress, Eric,” Emily said with uncharacteristic understanding. “She bought it for… you.”

  “But the dress has never been worn,” Eric explained. “It would be a waste to let the gown hang in the closet forever.”

  Cassandra tensed. Troy placed his arm around her shoulder and pulled her close. His warm breath teased her neck.

  “Are you okay?” he whispered.

  She nodded. At least someone cared, or pretended to care, about her feelings. “I sold the dress.”

  “This time—” Vanessa picked up her glass of Chardonnay “—I want to go shopping with you.”

  “Of course, Mother.” That day would never happen.

  “There’s plenty of time to talk about the wedding,” Dixon said. “All I know is my little girl looks happy and that makes me happy.”

  “My job is to make her happy.” Troy caressed her cheek with his fingertips.

  A tingle ran down Cassandra’s spine. “And you do an excellent job.” Did he ever. She would have to be careful.

  “So what is your real job, Troy?” Emily asked.

  The interrogation begins. Leave it to her sister to get down to the bottom line—income potential. This should be interesting. Cassandra assumed Troy was an attorney. He had that
overpaid lawyer look about him. “Go ahead, honey. Tell them what you do.”

  Troy cleared his throat. “Venture capital.”

  Oh, no. Not V.C. This couldn’t be happening. Cassandra clenched her teeth to keep her mouth from gaping open.

  Dixon beamed. He was one of the kings of venture capitalists, financiers who invest in start-up companies in hopes of making huge profits. “I thought you looked familiar, Troy. Who do you work for, Sand Hill? No, it’s Scorpio Partners. I remember now. You handled the MagicSoft deal.”

  Troy nodded.

  “Very impressive,” Dixon said. He wasn’t a man who gave praise often. “Why didn’t you tell me your fiancé was in the business, honey?”

  Cassandra searched her mind for an answer. Troy had caught her off guard. He looked liked an attorney; he was supposed to be an attorney.

  How could she have been so stupid? Why hadn’t she asked what he did? Daniels Venture Group was one of the most respected and well-known firms in Silicon Valley. Every up and coming V.C. would kill to learn from the master, Dixon Daniels. Marrying the boss’s daughter was an easy way in. Just ask Eric Wainwright. “Well, Dad—”

  “We wanted to tell you in person,” Troy said. “I didn’t want you to think I was marrying your daughter for the wrong reasons.”

  Dixon glanced at Eric, then back at Troy. “Does this mean you have no interest in joining my group?”

  Cassandra stared at Troy, unsure if she wanted to hear his answer. Eric had lied when she had asked him the same question. She crumpled the linen napkin on her lap.

  “I wouldn’t say I have no interest, but my first concern is Cassie.”

  Cassie? She hadn’t been called Cassie since she had graduated from high school and demanded to be called Cassandra.

  Troy continued. “Getting married is stressful. A new job would only add to the pressure. I want to be the best fiancé and husband I can, so I don’t see making any changes in the near future.”

  Cassandra smiled, feeling a rush of emotion build up. She’d always hoped to find a man who would say those words, to put her needs ahead of his own. Troy answered the question well; he even sounded sincere. Maybe not all men were like Eric. Perhaps some were like Troy.

  After all, he was the perfect fiancé, at least for tonight. And Troy would make a great husband. A great husband for someone else, she thought with a twinge of regret. She wasn’t in the market for a husband.

  “Cassandra, you’ve found such a nice man. He’s perfect.” Vanessa dabbed her eyes with a handkerchief. “It took me hours to do my makeup. I can’t believe I’m going to ruin it.”

  “You don’t need makeup to look beautiful, Vanessa,” Dixon said.

  She sniffled. “I hope you will be very happy together.”

  “Vanessa, you read my mind.” Dixon raised his glass. “A toast…to Troy and Cassie. May the two of you find a lifetime of happiness together.”

  Oh, no, her father called her Cassie. She had spent her freshman year of college convincing her family to call her by her full name. Of course, she’d later realized she was more of a Cassie than a Cassandra, but by then the trench had been dug too deep and she had to continue holding her ground. “Daddy?”

  “Yes, Cassie?”

  The joy in his eyes made her hesitate. For the first time in years, she had made him happy. Her mother looked equally pleased. Cassandra couldn’t spoil it, not yet anyway. She swallowed the lump in her throat. “Thank you.”

  “So, Cassie,” Emily said with a saccharine sweet tone. “Have you heard we’ve been house hunting? Unfortunately the market is tight, especially in Palo Alto.”

  “I bet.”

  “Are you still living in that…unique little apartment on Twenty-fourth Street?”

  No. Thanks to her and Eric. They were the reason Cassandra had moved. As her temper flared, she reached for her glass of Cabernet. She sipped slowly, enjoying the robust taste of the full-bodied wine until she reined in her emotions. “No, I live a couple of blocks away.”

  “You should buy a place. Renting makes no sense.”

  “It’s like flushing your money down the toilet.” Cassandra smiled, ending her sister’s lecture.

  The rest of the evening went remarkably well. Meltin-your-mouth desserts followed the savory dinner. Cassandra managed to be civil to Emily and Eric, who returned the politeness. Troy charmed his way further into her parents’ heart. Everything had gone according to plan except for her father continuing to call her Cassie, but she could fix that later.

  As she followed her parents outside, she couldn’t believe how easily things had worked out. Cassandra kissed her mother’s cheek. “It was wonderful seeing you.”

  “I enjoyed it, dear. I like your young man,” Vanessa whispered.

  “Thanks, Mom.” Cassandra hugged her father. “Thanks for the delicious dinner, Daddy.”

  “Glad you could come.” Dixon released her. He extended his arm to Troy. “And I’m happy we got to spend time with you.”

  Troy shook his hand. “Thanks for dinner, sir.”

  “I wish we had more time to get to know one another,” Dixon said, a twinge of regret in his voice.

  “Daddy, it’s getting late.” Emily tapped her foot on the sidewalk. “You and mother have a long drive ahead of you.”

  “We’re staying in the city, so don’t worry about us,” Dixon said. “I have an idea. Are you a golfer, Troy?”

  “Yes, but I’m a hacker.”

  “Me, too.” Dixon’s tone made Cassandra bite back a chuckle. Her father, who played at least three days a week, had a four handicap. He was far from a hacker. “Why don’t you and Cassie spend the weekend with us in Carmel? You and I can golf, and the women can discuss wedding plans. Short notice, I realize.”

  “Uh.” Troy ran his hand through his hair. “What do you think, honey?”

  “Well, I—”

  “It’s settled,” Dixon said before Cassandra could say no. He placed something in Troy’s hand and whispered in his ear.

  “Daddy…”

  Dixon kissed her cheek. “We’ll see you Friday night, kids.”

  With that, her parents walked around the corner. Emily and Eric followed them. Cassandra stared at the deserted sidewalk, unable to believe what had happened. Her shoulders slumped.

  “It was going so well. Too well, of course. I can’t believe I didn’t see this coming. I wanted them to like you, but this is too much.” Turning to face Troy, she frowned. “How are we going to get out of this?”

  With a bewildered look, he stared at the contents in his hand. “I don’t know.”

  “What did my father give you?”

  Troy showed her two twenty-dollar bills. “You won’t believe what he said it was for.”

  2

  Cassandra stared at the money in Troy’s hand. “I can’t believe my father gave you gas money.”

  “Me, either,” Troy said with an incredulous look on his face. “I’m thirty years old. No one’s ever given me gas money. Not even my own father.”

  “It’s not a big deal. He’s done it all my life. I don’t bother arguing with him anymore. It’s futile.”

  “I don’t need your father’s money.” Troy’s eyebrows furrowed. Her explanation didn’t mollify him in the least. “I might not have my own company or fund, but I have a good job.”

  “This isn’t about you,” Cassandra explained, wondering if Troy took everything so seriously. He needed to lighten up a bit. “He did it for me. He’s trying to take care of his little girl.”

  “But I feel…offended,” Troy said. “I can take care of you myself.”

  “I know that and so does my father.” Cassandra wished she’d brought a jacket with her. As usual, San Francisco weather had dropped to a biting cold. Goose bumps covered her skin and she crossed her arms. “Be happy my father likes you.”

  Troy removed his suit jacket and placed it around her shoulders. “He does?”

  “Of course, much to my brother-in-law�
�s chagrin.” Cassandra laughed. “Did you see the way Eric glared at you? The look on his face was priceless. I’m sure he thinks you’re trying to grab a share of his gravy train.”

  Troy tightened his lips into a narrow line. “You think this is funny, Cassie?”

  “It’s Cassandra and yes, I do.” The tone of his voice annoyed her. “Relax, Troy. It’s forty dollars. My father did not mean to offend you, so stop feeling insulted. Consider it payment for services rendered. Use it for your cab fare home. I’ll come up with some excuse why we can’t make it this weekend. This is my problem, not yours.”

  “I disagree.” He shoved the forty dollars into her hand. “This goes beyond gas money, Cassie. It’s as much my problem as yours.”

  “Why is that?”

  “Your father is Dixon Daniels.” Troy said her father’s name with an almost reverent tone. “It doesn’t matter whether I want to work for him or not, but I have my reputation and career to consider. Dixon is an influential man in the V.C. circle. I doubt he’d be spiteful on purpose, but as you pointed out you are his daughter.”

  How dare he, a total stranger, criticize her father. She clenched her hands into fists. “My father would not sabotage your career. He is an honorable man.”

  “An honorable man who adores you, Cassie,” Troy said softly. “I was tempted to walk out when I saw him, but I couldn’t leave you there alone.”

  At least she’d picked an honorable fiancé. “Thanks for staying.” She bit her lower lip, struggling to put the situation into perspective.

  “Don’t you see, Cassie? I can’t blow you off like a one-night stand and risk offending your father. I’m not a partner in a V.C. Fund. I’m an associate, working my way up the proverbial ladder. If he wanted, Dixon could become a big obstacle to my getting ahead.”

  “What are you suggesting we do?” Cassandra asked, not sure if she wanted to hear his idea. She wasn’t happy being stuck with his honorable intentions now.

  He glanced at the sidewalk and muttered something.

  She couldn’t have heard him correctly. “What did you say?”

  “I said we could be engaged for a little while longer.”