Fortune's Family Secrets

by Karen Rose Smith

  “Maybe later?” she asked. “I have to start decorating for Renata’s party.”

  “Having sex with you could make me forget all about a party.”

  Having sex. Those were the words he’d used to describe their lovemaking. Because he was afraid to say more? Was she?

  “That conversation,” she said. “It could be complicated. We need to know where we stand, Nash. We need to know what we’re doing.”

  He frowned, but then he tipped her chin up to him and he kissed her. Afterward he asked, “Can’t we just take one day at a time?”

  Could they? Could she love him and then let him leave? Could she love him if he didn’t love her?

  But as he kissed her again, she knew she could because she was grateful for what they had right now. Still, a little voice in her head asked, How will you feel when he leaves?

  She didn’t have any answers and she knew she wasn’t going to search for them now.

  Chapter Thirteen

  Several neighbors brought casseroles and desserts to the party that evening. They were sitting in the lounge area when Nash arrived. He spotted Cassie at the counter placing candles on a sheet cake decorated in pink, white and lime green icing. As her gaze met his, it was as if the whole room lit up for him. Suddenly he realized the older women gathered in the sitting area, friends of Renata’s, he supposed, were watching him with curiosity.

  Renata, who was sitting in the wing chair in the place of honor, told everyone else loud enough for Nash to hear, “He’s Cassie’s guest, but he’s sweet on her, too.”

  Cassie had heard and she glanced at Nash, probably to see if he minded that characterization.

  He sent her a crooked grin. “What are you going to do?” he asked. “It’s not something I can hide easily.” Crossing to her at the counter, he ran his finger along the edge of the cake resulting in a glob of icing on the tip.

  Cassie teasingly slapped his arm. “What are you doing?”

  He wiggled his brows. “I’m just making sure the icing is five-star.” He tasted some of it, then with a wink held his finger to her lips. After only a brief hesitation, she licked it. The sensuality of her tongue on his skin heated his blood like a flash fire.

  He leaned close to her and murmured, “Maybe after everyone leaves tonight, we could share a piece of cake with icing.”

  She fanned herself with her hand. “It’s hot in here, don’t you think?”

  He laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.”

  Turning away, Cassie picked up the pack of matches and lit the candles. She asked Nash, “Do you want to do the honors? I think Renata will appreciate it. She’s sweet on you, too.”

  Without a comment, Nash carried the cake out to the guest of honor. Then he took out his cell phone and took a photo as everyone in the room sang “Happy Birthday” and Renata blew out the candles.

  She was smiling broadly as she said, “Thank you so much for tonight. I feel special.”

  Cassie went over to the wing chair and crouched down beside her. “You are special.” After she kissed Renata on the cheek, she stood and picked up the cake knife that she’d laid on the coffee table. “Now, who wants a piece of cake?”

  There was a chorus of “I shouldn’t, but I will.”

  Just as Cassie was flipping the first slice onto a dish, Nash’s cell phone buzzed. The caller was Ben Fortune.

  “I have to take this,” he said to Cassie.

  She nodded. “I’ll be busy serving and they’ll be busy eating. Go ahead. I’ll save you a piece of cake.”

  Her face was upturned, her eyes were bright and her smile full of joy. Nash just wanted to kiss her. Not just kiss her. He’d have liked to take her back to her bedroom right now. But that would have to wait until the party was over.

  He went to the farthest corner of the kitchen to take the call. “Tremont here.”

  “Nash, it’s Ben.”

  It was still hard for him to think of Ben as his half brother. He wasn’t sure if he wanted to or not.

  “Still trying to make up your mind about us?” Ben asked.

  “Something like that. How can I help you?”

  “Keaton and I would like you to meet more of your Fortune half siblings. Maybe then you’ll tell us the information you’re looking for and maybe we can give it to you. What do you say?”

  What would he be stepping into if he said yes? His cover was already blown. Was this the only way to get more information?

  Since he’d met Keaton and Ben, he was wondering about the rest of his family and what they’d be like. Did he want to meet “family”?

  Whatever the reason, he found himself answering, “All right. I’ll meet more of them. But under one condition.”

  “What’s that?” Ben inquired.

  “I want to make it perfectly clear that I do not want to see or meet Gerald...at least not for now.”

  “I can make sure Gerald has nothing to do with this meeting. It may take me a little time to set it up, but I’ll get back to you with the time and place.”

  “I’ll be leaving in a week.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Ben said. “You won’t be sorry you’re doing this.”

  But as Nash said goodbye and ended the call, he wasn’t sure whether he’d be sorry or not. Did he still want to go after Charlotte? Maybe he would wait until after the meeting and then decide.

  * * *

  When Cassie awakened, she’d never felt happier. She was facing Nash, her arm around his waist, his arm around her. She’d slept tucked into his shoulder almost all night. Almost because they’d made love instead of talking after the party, then had made love again when they’d both awakened a few hours later. Cassie realized she should feel tired but she didn’t. She felt energized and invigorated.

  She must have made some tiny movement—she loved rubbing her thumb along Nash’s skin—because his eyes opened and he studied her. “How long have you been awake?”

  “Not long.” With only a few inches between them, he didn’t have to move much to kiss her. And once he was kissing her, they were entwined again, ready to start all over to climb the pleasure mountain they’d scaled more than once last night.

  Cassie was totally unprepared for the sound of her phone ringing on the nightstand beside Nash.

  On top of her, Nash looked down and asked, “Do you always get calls this early in the morning?”

  “It’s really not that early,” she said, checking the clock beside her. “I should be starting breakfast. It’s after seven.”

  Since her cordless landline phone was on Nash’s side of the bed, he picked it up and in a professional voice said, “This is the Bluebonnet Bed-and-Breakfast. How can I help you?”

  Cassie jabbed him in the ribs, but waited to see how he’d handle the call. If someone wanted to make a reservation, maybe he’d do a good job of it.

  Soon she could see that the caller didn’t want to make a reservation. Suddenly Nash was frowning and looking much too serious. He had a very stern look on his face when he passed her the phone. “She says she’s your mother.”

  Her mother? Was this a joke? Cassie’s mother hadn’t wanted to speak to her or see her since she’d gone to jail. With trembling fingers Cassie took the phone in hand, staring at Nash, but thinking about her mom.

  “Hello,” she said tentatively.

  “Cassie, it’s your mom.”

  “I can’t believe you finally called.”

  “I know, baby, and I only have a minute. I know I’ve been real stubborn about this, but there was a good reason. I’ve been getting counseling and I’ve finally gotten clean of my cravings. You know I was always good at tailoring and sewing. I’m studying fashion design. I just wanted you to know that.”

  Cassie swallowed hard and glanced at Nash again. His features were stoic.

  Years ag
o her mom had made her clothes...when she wasn’t drunk. Was her mother really on the road to recovery? She asked, “Can I visit you?”

  “Not yet. But I’ll call you soon and give you another progress report. I promise. I want to make sure I’m strong and ready to be a proper mother when I get out.”

  If her mother wasn’t drinking, maybe she’d keep her promise. “It’s good to hear from you,” Cassie assured her mom, her voice catching and tears coming to her eyes. “Call me whenever you want. Do you have my cell number?”

  “I do. It’s on my approved list of contacts. You take care of yourself, baby. I have to go.”

  Her mother clicked off and Cassie suddenly felt as lost as she had when her mother had gone to jail.

  And now...now she had to face Nash.

  Nash had gotten up and dressed. He sat on the bedroom chair, his gaze piercing as it targeted her. She imagined his expression was similar to when he questioned a witness in one of his investigations. She knew he wanted some sort of explanation. Just how was she going to explain this?

  Instead of trying, she said, “It’s complicated.” He’d once told her that about his situation.

  Apparently that wasn’t enough for Nash and she hadn’t expected it would be. But her response had bought her enough time to take a deep breath.

  “That was your mother?” he asked.

  How could she put all of her story into words? Moreover, how could she say she’d been afraid to tell him?

  Nash’s reaction to her silence wasn’t patience. As if he wasn’t willing to wait for her to find the right words, he asked, “What the hell is going on?” Anger was evident in his tone.

  Feeling self-conscious, Cassie tugged the sheet up over her breasts. She didn’t want to feel any more vulnerable before him right now. She felt too shaky, too exposed, too naked.

  Finally, she raised her gaze to his and didn’t flinch when his brown eyes locked to hers. “My mother is alive. She’s living in Travis State Prison.”

  Nash looked as if someone had sucker punched him in the solar plexus. “Did I hear you right? Your mother is in prison?”

  Cassie nodded, unable to explain further since her throat was tightening, her chest was seizing and tears were burning her eyes.

  He stood. “You didn’t think I’d want to know this?”

  Before Cassie could find any more words, before she could even think about where she wanted to begin, Nash pulled his car keys from his pocket. “I have to go.”

  Her throat was so tight, her heart so panicked, that he’d left before she could pull herself together enough to get dressed. Not knowing what else to do, she dragged the sheet around her to the doorway of her room. But when she got there, she heard the bang of the front door. He was gone and she didn’t know when she was going to see him again...if ever.

  * * *

  Cassie worried all day, not just about her own feelings or about her mother. She worried about Nash. She thought maybe he’d call or stop back in. But he didn’t do either. At one point in the afternoon she couldn’t stand the waiting. She took fresh towels into his room and saw that his laptop was still there along with a briefcase. He certainly wouldn’t go back to Biloxi without them.

  She checked in guests around four o’clock—a businessman and a cowgirl who was following the rodeo circuit. They both signed up for supper, so Cassie made a dinner any traveler would enjoy. As she planned it, she knew that if Nash came back for supper, he’d like what she made. She served the fried chicken and mashed potato dinner family style with cranberry-orange salad and a steamed veggie mix. Dessert was easy enough—chocolate cupcakes with chocolate icing.

  But even cooking couldn’t keep her mind off Nash. He wasn’t back at the Bluebonnet by seven...or even by eleven. By one in the morning, Cassie was more than frazzled. She was panicked and sick at heart. She prayed that nothing had happened to him. She’d tried dialing his phone number over and over, but he wasn’t answering. Her messages asking him to call seemed to become more desperate and she hated that about them.

  She rose early the next morning and mixed a batch of cinnamon rolls. While the dough was rising, she found Nash’s registration form in her file and called his friend’s number.

  Dave Preston answered with a laugh. “What’s the matter, Nash? Did you lose your cell phone?”

  Cassie was calling from the landline and she knew Dave Preston had seen the ID—Bluebonnet Bed-and-Breakfast.

  “No, Mr. Preston, this is Cassie Calloway at the Bluebonnet.”

  “Something hasn’t happened to Nash, has it?” Dave asked, obviously concerned.

  “There hasn’t been an accident or anything like that.”

  “That’s a relief. But why are you calling? Further references?”

  “No. But I’m worried about him. We had a...fight of sorts and he didn’t come back last night. I have no idea where he might be and I’m worried sick. I thought maybe if you tried to call him, he’d answer.”

  “I see,” Dave said.

  “I just need to know that he’s okay. I need to talk to him, but if he doesn’t want to talk to me, tell him I’ll understand.”

  “I want to make sure I understand this,” Dave responded. “Nash has become more than a guest at your bed-and-breakfast?”

  “Yes, he has. We’ve become quite close over the last few weeks. But there’s been a misunderstanding and I want to be able to explain to him why I...why I wasn’t completely honest with him.”

  She heard Dave sigh. “Nash believes there’s honesty and then there are lies. He calls it like he sees it.”

  She didn’t need to be told that. “Can you see if you can get in touch with him?”

  “I’ll try. Do you have a number I can text you if I do reach him? I don’t want to get in the middle of this, but you deserve to know if he’s okay.”

  She rattled off her cell number, then added, “Thank you.”

  “No thanks necessary. I’ll be in touch.”

  When Cassie replaced the handset on its base, she at least felt less alone. Dave Preston sounded as if he really cared for Nash. If that was the case, she’d just have to wait for his text.

  * * *

  When Nash’s cell phone buzzed, he was just coming awake after lying atop the spread in a two-bit hotel for the night. He knew his phone couldn’t have much battery left. His charger was still back at the B&B along with his laptop and the rest of his things. He was going to have to go collect them this morning whether he wanted to see Cassie or not.

  Could she be trying to call again? Did he care if she was? His heart hurt just thinking about it.

  Taking the phone off the nightstand, he saw Dave was calling him. “What’s up?” he asked his friend.

  “The bigger question is—are you still alive?” Dave asked with some sarcasm.

  “Since I answered the call, I guess I am,” Nash retorted.

  “Well, that’s good to know because now I have to text Cassie and tell her you’re still kicking.”

  “Cassie? What do you have to do with Cassie?”

  “Apparently she’s worried about your hide. Apparently she dug out my number and called me. She asked me if I could find you because you weren’t answering her calls. Is that true?”

  Nash puffed up his pillow behind him and closed his eyes. “Yeah, it’s true.”

  “Do you want to tell me why?”

  “No, I don’t.”

  “Do it anyway because now I’m in the middle of this.”

  “What did she tell you?”

  “Not enough, and I’m tired of playing twenty questions. What’s going on, Nash?”

  “She lied to me.”

  There was a beat of silence before Dave asked, “What about?”

  “I was under the impression her parents were dead. That’s what her neighbor told me. But it turns out tha
t’s not true. Cassie just let me believe it because her mother’s in prison.”

  “Whoa.”

  “That’s all you have to say?”

  “I have a lot more to say but you probably don’t want to hear it.”

  Nash groaned. “I know that won’t stop you.”

  “You’re right. Just let me put a scenario in front of you. Just say, you fall in love with a detective.”

  Nash was about to cut in, but Dave stopped him. “Let me finish. You fall in love with a detective. You aren’t one in this case. However, your father was locked up in jail for God knows what crime, and you were afraid you’d lose her if you told her.”

  Shifting restlessly on the bed, Nash was uncomfortable with Dave’s example. “If I loved her, I’d have to eventually tell her.”

  “Yes, that’s true. But how much time is enough time? And how deeply in love do you have to be before the person you love can handle the truth?”

  Nash didn’t have an answer to that. “My phone’s ready to cut out. I don’t have my charger.”

  “Isn’t that such a good excuse not to listen to me? Think about what I said, Nash, and then go talk to Cassie. I know Sara hurt you. But don’t use this as a barrier to keep from feeling again. I’ll text Cassie that you’re still alive.”

  The screen on Nash’s phone went black. It matched his mood exactly. He had to go back to the B&B for his things, so he might as well talk to Cassie if she was there. If she wasn’t, he’d be on his way back to Biloxi. After he returned to Mississippi, he’d give Ben Fortune a call. If a meeting was going to take place with other half siblings, he’d drive back here again for it. That just didn’t seem as important as it had been. Neither did his investigation.

  He didn’t even want to think about that right now. His mind was buzzing with what he’d say to Cassie if he saw her.

  A half hour later, he was climbing the steps to the B&B when a man and a woman came out. They were talking to each other. The man said, “That’s the best breakfast I’ve had in a long time.”

  “Cassie certainly knows how to cook. I’m looking forward to tonight’s meal. Are you going to be there?”