The Texas Millionaire's Runaway Wife

by Mary Malcolm

  Then the car slipped.

  Stephen didn’t know how far it plummeted before wrenching to a stop again, but it’d been far enough to instill a deep dislike, which stayed with him over the years.

  The only time he’d ridden in an elevator and not broken into a deep sweat since then had been in Vegas. With Cassie.

  Of course, they’d made out like teenagers in the elevator that time, but he’d not ridden in one except out of necessity ever since.

  At his desk, Stephen looked over the day’s schedule. Light, comparatively. And hopefully no surprises like yesterday.

  He’d have to schedule in a time to meet with the land developer for the Freemont area. Last week, he’d gotten the last signature to acquire the buildings. The developer had been lined up since the beginning and Stephen needed only to sign over the paperwork and the job would be done.

  It felt nice. Secure, even, to finish out these projects. He turned on his computer and let it power up as he penciled in plans for the rest of the day.

  He had to do one thing before anything else. Something he’d thought about since talking to Cassie yesterday. He wasn’t just a stand-in figure at Magnolia Bransford. Growing up, he had an autistic cousin. Watching his family deal with it was the biggest reason Stephen helped grow Magnolia Bransford into what it became. And he knew from experience that the years Annie went without help would only set her back.

  As incredible as Magnolia Bransford was, Stephen knew what Cassie had no way to know...it wasn’t enough. It took a few phone calls, but he got everything lined up. Family counselors, therapists, play counselors, even a sitter who specialized with autistic children to give Liz some time away.

  Liz and Annie were all Cassie talked about when she wasn’t talking about baking. It was cruel to take away her bakery, but he knew what his world was like. It’s why he had wanted to protect her from it for a while, at least. The whole reason he’d asked her to keep their relationship secret.

  Normally he’d have Gayle make the plans, but Annie wasn’t due to start at Magnolia Bransford for another few weeks. This was personal so for once, he did it himself.

  Hanging up the phone, everything set, Stephen worked through the e-mail in his inbox.

  The front door chimed and he assumed Gayle would settle her things then come talk to him about his schedule. A knock at the door startled him. He glanced at the monitor, but the angle wasn’t right to see who was there. Definitely not Gayle. Though, there was something familiar about the silhouette of the woman.

  “Come in.” He pressed his hand close to the silent alarm as he waited.

  A small, delicate looking hand pushed open the door followed by a woman he’d hoped never to see again. “Tatiana,” he said in surprise ripe in his voice, “What are you doing here?”

  “Stephen, we need to talk.”

  ****

  After Cassie made arrangements at Just Desserts for Graciella to take over for the short term, she headed to Liz’s house. It was time to fess up. She wasn’t giving up the bakery, but neither would she be doing the thing she loved most in the world, so she had to let her sister know what was going on.

  Only, when she saw her sister, she couldn’t. Liz used to be the most vibrant, most beautiful person Cassie knew. Golden blonde hair, shiny light blue eyes, she had flawless creamy skin and always walked with a bit of a bounce. Now, her hair was faded, never styled, and there was no shine in her eyes. She didn’t spend as much time in the sun anymore, either—Annie had light sensitivity issues—so Liz’s skin now had a slightly grayish pallor and she walked with a shuffle.

  All in all, she’d lost her former glory, or at least the shine she once had. It would be cruel to put more on her plate. Cassie loved Liz more than anyone in this world. She would never add to her burden. So instead she suggested they drink tea and relax.

  They’d scarcely settled in for a cup when the front door chimed. Annie took that moment to knock over the teapot. “You clean up, Liz. I’ll get it,” Cassie said, already out of her seat.

  At the door, a man dressed in a tie and a navy blue windbreaker held a package out to her. “Liz Eden?”

  “No,” Cassie said, “I’m her sister.”

  “That’s fine, sign here.”

  At the kitchen table Cassie worked a knife under the flap.

  “Cassie, who was at the door?” Liz asked from across the counter.

  Cassie pulled the corrugated box open and picked at the stubborn pieces that kept her from peering inside. “A courier. Were you expecting anything?”

  “No. But I’m intrigued. Or horrified. You don’t think it’s anything to do with Annie, do you?” Liz walked around and plunked down next to her sister.

  Cassie patted her arm. “I’m sure it’s fine. Let’s just see. Maybe it’s something from Magnolia Bransford. Or, maybe you won the British Lottery, or have a Nigerian Prince indebted to you.” She raised her eyebrow, which made Liz laugh.

  “Maybe. I’ve been looking for Prince Charming for years. No reason to assume he couldn’t be from Africa.” She stared at Cassie for a moment. “You look good today. You’ve got a certain glow or something. Are you finally getting over Stephen?”

  An involuntary smile cracked her face. Cassie had to fight the urge to break down and tell the truth. She took a deep breath. “I’m feeling good. Excited for you and Annie.”

  Liz smiled and nodded.

  Opening the package, Cassie pulled out a paper with instructions and an itinerary. She glanced quickly over the text before her brow furrowed in confusion. Why would Stephen do that? How the hell was she supposed to explain this to Liz?

  Not to seem ungrateful, the idea of Annie and Liz getting extra assistance before she even started at Magnolia Bransford left Cassie warm and excited, but it also left her with a lot of questions.

  Another lie, she realized with pain deepening.

  “It seems Magnolia Bransford is sending some help for you and Annie before she even starts. How exciting is that?” She hoped her face looked as excited as her voice sounded.

  “Help like what?” She took the paper, glancing over the pages her eyes getting wider and more excited as she read. “Do you think this is a mistake? This can’t be real. Home assistance, babysitting, tutoring, there’s even a spa day in here for me with a complete itinerary for what Annie will be doing while I’m there.” She looked up from the letter, eyes glowing. “Cassie, I haven’t been to the spa in thirteen years. I don’t think I’ve even shaved my legs in the past month, much less thought about spending a day getting,” she pointed to the letter, “a massage, facial, pedi, mani... Where did all this come from?”

  “I don’t think it’s a mistake, it has your name, was brought to your address. I think someone is looking out for you. Maybe this is their way of helping Annie transition a little easier. Maybe this is their way of helping you see that help is available and that you can have a life.” Cassie brushed a hair away from Liz’s face. “Why are you crying?”

  She wanted to cry.

  She wanted to hit something.

  “I just never thought things would work out.” Liz looked at Cassie. “I’m the big sister and it feels like you’re always taking care of me. I’ve been a mess since Annie was little, and even worse after Sam left. I’ve been living on eggshells for eleven years and never thought I’d have a chance for a normal life. But look at this.” She pointed to the part about her getting nights off. “I love my daughter, Cassie, but I’ve felt like a prisoner for her entire life. I don’t even know if I know how to live any differently anymore.”

  Cassie pulled her sister to her shoulder. “You deserve to have a good life. You deserve so much more than you’ve had.”

  ****

  It was still early when Cassie left Liz’s house. She’d given Abigail specific instructions for what to do with that food and as she drove to downtown Fort Worth, she wondered if they’d been followed.

  Of course, they’d been followed. Abigail didn’t seem the type of w
oman to not follow instructions. A smile curved Cassie’s lips. Things with Liz were painful enough, she had to have some joy in her life.

  If that joy came from torturing Stephen Sands, even a little bit, then she’d take it where it came.

  A tiny niggling of guilt played at the edge of her mind as she thought about all he did for Liz. He’d been nice. Thoughtful. Generous, even.

  Which didn’t seem like him. Cassie couldn’t help but wonder if he had some ulterior motive for what he’d done. No matter what his motive, Annie would have a better chance, Liz would have the help she needed and Cassie should feel nothing but pure gratitude for all of it.

  And she did. Which left her confused about how she felt about Stephen and more determined to find a way to shorten their “marriage.”

  She wondered about the dinner tonight. The Travis Building was an upscale office complex with a restaurant on the top floor nestled into the heart of downtown right on Sundance Square. Cassie did not own a single piece of clothing that would be proper for dinner there. Pulling into one of the parking lots off of Commerce, Cassie got out and crossed the street to the Moonbeam Boutique. She’d passed it every time she’d come to downtown, but had only wandered in once.

  The dresses were beautiful, vintage style sophisticated looks.

  She’d fallen instantly in love. Then, she’d glanced at the price tag on a flowy yellow strapless that had caught her eye.

  She’d fallen instantly out of love.

  That had been months before. If she was married to Stephen Sands and he was so concerned about her acting the part, by God, she’d look the part.

  Cassie didn’t want to disappoint her husband. If they were to have dinner out, she’d dress the part. Plus, it’d fit into her plans. Spending his money wasn’t the way to bring down Stephen Sands. No, if he wanted to humiliate her, which Cassie suspected was his motive behind this whole business, then Cassie would have to torture him in kind.

  She’d be the perfect wife. Dress the part, act the part, be so over the top wonderful that if he tried to do anything openly to hurt her, he’d come out the bad guy.

  Not that he would. No, Stephen would exact personal, private torture.

  Like that kiss.

  Her lips still tingled.

  An hour later, she wandered away from Moonbeam Boutique with four shopping bags and a goofy, happy smile on her face. She’d never shopped off the rack before.

  It felt marvelous.

  And she now had the perfect short, fun green vintage dress for tonight. She’d also bought a pair of heels so exotic and wild they made her itch to wear them all day.

  Before today Cassie hadn’t realized she was a shoe girl. Now she had five new pairs, plus a pair of knee-high sky blue boots with red flowers on them that reminded her of her childhood.

  They’d look perfect with the new canvas colored, low bodice dress. One more trip and she’d be done in downtown.

  She had to find something for Abigail. Stephen might think it proper to not thank people for what they did, but after what Cassie had asked of her this morning, a big thank you seemed more than appropriate.

  She stepped through the shop door of Shocolot, her favorite hand-dipped chocolate store. Of course, before today all Cassie had bought was a handful of chocolates at a time. She’d never had the luxury to throw away money before.

  Now it wasn’t her money to waste.

  She bought a two-pound box of mixed truffles, bonbons and dipped fruits before heading back to the house where, cars lined the driveway.

  Cassie smiled at what she knew was happening inside.

  Still, opening the door she was greeted with so much chaos and cacophony she felt giddy at the prospect. Children ran in circles around the milling adults, people held paper plates filled with food and sounds of laughter and wild noise filled every inch of the entryway.

  “Mrs. Sands,” Abigail said as she made it to the front door. “Everyone began arriving and I set out the food, just as you asked. There were more than I expected, so I made extra, I hope that is okay.”

  Cassie leaned in and hugged the nervous looking housekeeper. “This is perfect, Abigail. Here.” She thrust the bag of chocolate into her hands.

  “Where should I put this?” she asked.

  “No.” Cassie dodged two children chasing through the entranceway, “This is for you.”

  Uncertainty filled Abigail’s blue eyes. “I don’t understand.”

  “It is a thank you.”

  “I don’t understand.”

  Cassie laughed. “Abigail, those are chocolates. I wanted to thank you for setting this up. Why don’t you take a break? I’m going to bring my bags up to my room then call my husband home for lunch. Does he ever do that?”

  She shook her head, still looking confused about the gift. “No, he generally does not come home until late. Mrs. Sands,” she looked around the room, “I don’t think he’ll be happy about this.”

  Cassie had first had Abigail donate the majority of their breakfast to the soup kitchen where she volunteered, then asked Abigail to invite the local churches Mommy’s Day Out program over to the house for lunch. Had even supplied her the number...she donated cupcakes to their monthly fundraisers, after all. Stephen would be apoplectic.

  Sounds of crying filtered in from another room and two of the mommies rushed to see what was going on.

  “My husband will be pleased,” Cassie assured Abigail. “He wants to branch out in the community. We had so much breakfast left over this morning it seemed a shame to waste it. Plus, I couldn’t think of a more deserving group of people than all these mommies. Could you?”

  Abigail shook her head. “No, but I never would have expected Mr. Sands to want all these people in his house.”

  “Our house,” Cassie assured as she took a few steps up the stairs. “Abigail, you’ve done a wonderful job. Please, really, go take a break.” The woman nodded and walked away.

  A crashing sound filtered up the stairs.

  If the house survived the children, Cassie would be shocked. Glancing down over the banister, she laughed at the chaos. No, Stephen would not be okay with this. There had to be at least twenty children and twelve or thirteen mothers. The oldest child looked to be four, maybe.

  Unexpectedly, a pang of remorse cut at Cassie’s heart. While she wasn’t past the age of having children, her years were getting shorter and shorter. If this thing with Stephen went on for too long, she’d lose her chances entirely.

  Sure, she could adopt. Cassie had never been against that, but the idea of never feeling a child grow inside her made Cassie sad. The sight of a very pregnant mother comforting her two-year-old in the corner drove that feeling deeper home.

  She had to get out of this. She’d have to get away from Stephen and move on with her life. Something she should have done the minute she left him.

  Now, she wondered if there had been something else that held her back. Not any more. This had to end. And not over the year or two that Stephen promised. No, she’d be the perfect wife, but this would end.

  She needed time to start her life.

  She needed time to find Mr. Right, settle down and have a few kids of her own. To do all that, she had to convince Stephen she was not worth staying married to. Not by acting out or rudely or anything that could be construed as her trying to ruin their arrangement, but rather, organically.

  In her room, she pulled the cell phone from her pocket and dialed his office number. “Gayle, I need to speak with my husband.”

  The older woman let out an almost indiscernible huff as she patched the call through.

  “Cassandra, I’m in the middle something, what do you need?”

  “I wanted you to come home for lunch,” she said.

  The line went quiet. “I don’t do that, Cassie.”

  “I think you should today. There are some people here I’d like you to meet.”

  “Why are there people in my house? Who’s there, Cassie? The attorney shouldn’t be the
re until three. What’s that noise?”

  Another crash. “I’ll see you at noon.”

  Chapter Seven

  It wasn’t right! It wasn’t fair! Cassie had felt certain the mommies and children would push Stephen over the edge. Yet when he walked in the door, he embraced the situation.

  Bastard!

  Cassie had retreated to the kitchen to help Abigail make sandwiches and when she returned, she found Stephen sitting at the now-extended table with a precocious three-year-old little girl propped on his knee. The girl’s name was Handley and she had curly blonde pigtails and big blue eyes.

  She giggled as Stephen told her a story.

  How could this be? Cassie thought for certain inviting twenty toddlers and their over-extended mothers over for the morning would send Stephen into a tailspin. And once she’d found out some of his more expensive artwork had been destroyed, she felt even more certain her position as his wife would be drawing to a close.

  But no. Instead he’d spouted some hoo-hah about the artwork being replaceable, then talked to the mommies about how he’d wanted to build a park near their church for the kids to play in.

  Argh!

  Still, he did look cute with the kid on his lap. Handley held up fingers and talked excitedly about something not even Cassie could make out. Stephen nodded his head in serious understanding and rubbed the little girl’s back as she went on.

  “Lunch is ready,” she finally announced from her spot by the door.

  The children and mothers settled at the table as Abigail brought out sandwiches, sliced apples and juice to go around. Cassie settled into the only open chair, right next to Stephen. Her knee barely brushed his as she sat, but it felt as if she’d been branded by his heat.