Those were good days. Before the River Walk was built to its full grandeur with shops and restaurants and galleries, she and Audrey would come to the Truckee with her parents and have a ball. Her gaze flowed over Ally. She wanted the same kind of upbringing for her little charge. She wanted to provide her with summer days full of fun. She didn’t want to cheat the child out of anything.
Grabbing two pastry boxes from the back of the van and stacking them in her arms, she and Ally headed toward the restaurant. Both wore lavender Sweet Susie’s T-shirts. “Stay right by my side, Ally.”
“’Kay,” she said, and stayed close enough to bump legs with Susanna a few times. The kid really listened.
They carefully made their way past workmen and trucks as they approached the restaurant. Susanna spotted Casey in front of the double doors. “Oh.” Her heartbeats ramped up. His back was to her and he was speaking to someone she couldn’t see, but she’d know the cut of his jeans and the breadth of his shoulders anywhere. That mane of blond hair touching his shoulders was hard to miss too. Every time she caught a glimpse of him, she had the same darned reaction. He hadn’t mentioned he’d be here, but then, she didn’t really know how he spent his days. Overseeing the completion of the restaurant was one of the reasons he’d come to Reno.
She slowed her steps just as Casey moved to the side and turned her way. Her focus shifted to the man standing beside him. “Ah...oh, wow.” A gasp swallowed her next words. Oh boy, this was unreal.
“Auntie, there’s Casey!”
“Yes, that’s Casey,” she managed to whisper. With Zane Williams, in the flesh. Oh boy, she was a big fan of the country superstar.
Casey strolled up, casual as you please. “Hi. I see you made it.”
She gulped, then nodded.
He lifted the boxes out of her arms instantly. “This here is Zane. Zane, I’d like you to meet my neighbor, Susanna.”
He whipped off his trademark cowboy hat. “Howdy, Susanna.”
Zane Williams had actually spoken to her. Thinking became a chore. “H-hi.”
Casey set his hand gently on Ally’s head, ruffling her hair. “And this little cutie is Ally. She helps Aunt Susie with the baking.”
Zane bent to shake Ally’s hand. “Nice to meet you. You like baking, do you?”
“Yes. I helped every day.”
“Well, that’s real good.”
Zane looked up at Susanna and captivated her with his dark brown eyes. “I hear you bake some mean ol’ muffins.”
“Oh, uh, yes. I hope the crew likes them.”
“The crew? Heck, I’m starving for one myself. Casey tells me there’s none better.”
She slipped a glance to Casey and he lifted a brow, studying her. So what if she was a little starstruck?
“Well, let’s go have one then,” Casey said. “I think Zane should get first dibs, don’t you, Susie?”
She nodded. “Sure. Of course.”
“Follow me,” Zane said. “The main room is completely done. We’ll eat in there, if you don’t mind the noise.”
This was totally surreal. Now, she’d finally have something exciting to tell her grandchildren. The day she got tongue-tied meeting her idol.
Susanna took Ally’s hand and they entered the restaurant. She was immediately captivated by the workmanship and attention to detail in the interior. A cascading waterfall adorned one corner of the room made to resemble the Truckee River. Once the water was turned on, it would be magnificent. Teakwood and earth-toned walls brought warmth to the contemporary style. The buttery leather booths were enclosed enough to enjoy a private conversation without everyone overhearing.
Workman came and went. Voices and the sound of hammers banging away reached Susanna’s ears.
“We’ve got a team working on the kitchen and a banquet room in the back,” Casey said. “Then the appliances go in, outdoor patio covers go up and the place is done.”
“Have a seat,” Zane said, taking them to a corner booth.
Casey set the cake boxes down and helped Ally slide in. He waited for Susie and then took a seat next to her. Zane entered the booth on the other side. He began speaking again. “I never thought I’d be going into the restaurant business, but heck, I’m branching out. And I’ve got Casey here in charge. Anything goes wrong, I know whose butt to kick.” A smile lifted his lips. One hundred percent genuine, he came across just like the charming man she’d seen on country music award shows. A few years ago, she’d even managed to go to one of his concerts when he was playing in Lake Tahoe.
“I’d like to see that,” Casey said out of the corner of his mouth. “You’ve never whooped me, not once.”
Susanna found her voice. “You two know each other...I mean outside of this project?”
“Hell, yeah, we do,” Zane said. “We sorta came up through the ranks together.”
“Before this guy got too big for his britches,” Casey said, “he used to play at some of the rodeos. I had to endure his singing while we were on the road. That was what? Fourteen years ago now?”
“Something like that. I got lucky back then.”
“Sure enough, you did. Now look at you, opening a doggone Southwest Asian fusion restaurant.”
“The world didn’t need another barbeque rib place.” He laughed and Casey reacted with a shake of his head.
“Well, hell, I hope you know what you’re doing. Hate to see this place go belly up.”
Zane nodded, but the grin left his face and his gaze dropped to the tabletop. “I’ve been through much worse, my friend.”
“Hey, man, I know.”
Despite the background noise, stony silence deafened her senses. Just about everyone in America knew about Zane Williams’s tragic loss. Two years ago, his wife and unborn child had died in a house fire while he was performing in London. He’d taken it hard and had dropped out of the limelight, cancelling his European tour to return home and grieve. But last year he began performing again and his loyal fans embraced his return to country music. He was more popular now than he’d ever been.
Casey opened the cake box and shoved it toward Zane. “Have one. You’ll feel better.” It was a move only a good friend could get away with. Susanna’s eyes widened and she held her breath.
Zane stared him down and then glanced at her. “Charming, isn’t he?”
She smiled. “You noticed?”
He smiled back and melted her country music-lovin’ heart. Trading smiles with Zane Williams? She would’ve never guessed.
He dipped into the box and came up with her cinnamon coffee cake muffin. One bite and he began nodding. “This is really good.”
“Thank you. It’s a customer favorite. I’m glad you like it.”
“Do you have a shop around here?”
“Not yet,” she said, focusing on the sight of Zane Williams gobbling down her muffin. Lord have mercy. “I hope to one day. I run my business from home right now.”
His gaze dipped to her shirt. “Sweet Susie’s?”
“That’s me.”
“I like the logo. You’ll get your shop one day. Just keep working at it.” He shifted his gaze to Casey. “Have you invited Susie to the grand opening party yet?”
Casey’s mouth twisted and he shook his head. “No.”
Zane faced her again. “You have to come as my guest. I’d love to have your opinion on the restaurant when it’s up and running.”
“Really? I’d love to come.”
“Glad to hear it. Casey, if we’re all through with the briefing, I’d best be going. You three stay and enjoy yourselves.” He rose from his seat, put on his signature hat and glanced at the cake box. “I think I’ll grab another one of these if you don’t mind.” He decided on a double chocolate muffin. “Nice meetin’ you, Ally. Susie, see you at the party.�
��
“Bye-bye.” Ally waved at him.
“Very nice meeting you too,” Susanna said. Still in dreamland, she watched Zane walk away. “I should knock you to the moon for not telling me he would be here,” she whispered to Casey.
“Didn’t seem to matter. You charmed him silly,” Casey said, his voice rough as gravel.
She blinked. “Did I? I wasn’t trying to...I...”
“Yeah, well, that’s the thing about you...you don’t have to try.”
Five
“So you’re having my brother over for dinner,” Audrey said matter-of-factly over the phone.
Susanna sat on the sofa in her gray sweats, feet tucked under her and cell phone to her ear, enjoying a few minutes of calm while Ally napped. She crinkled her nose. She loved Audrey to pieces, but she didn’t want to talk to her about Casey. “Yes. On a dare. We’ll see if he likes my turkey meatloaf. It’s sort of a thing...never mind.” She sighed. “I owe him more than a meatloaf dinner.”
Her nose crinkled again. That didn’t come out right. “I mean, he’s been a big help these last few days.”
“Oh? How so?”
Susanna explained about the oven repair and the offer he made to supply his crew with her muffins until the restaurant was finished. “And he introduced me to Zane Williams today. My gosh, Audrey. I didn’t know Casey knew him at all.”
“Well, he’s building his restaurant. Of course he knows him.”
“But, they’re friends. As in drinking buddy friends.”
“Yeah, Zane and Casey go way back.
“So, how’s Ally doing?”
An image of the sleeping bundle popped into her mind. “She’s doing pretty well. Every day gets a little better for her. I’m happy about that. I think she’ll like having a birthday party. Mindy is coming and a few other neighbors.”
“It’s a great idea and I’m sorry we can’t come. Next weekend we’ve got a benefit dinner at the ranch. You know we’d be there otherwise.”
“I understand. I didn’t give anyone much notice. I got the idea just the other day. I want her to feel at home here.”
“You’re doing a fantastic job with her. I wouldn’t trade motherhood for the world, but it isn’t easy.”
“Thank you, but you’ve got more experience at it than I have.”
Audrey laughed. “Yeah, a whole five months more. I hardly think I’m doing fantastic. Yesterday, the little peanut woke me up in the middle of the night and I was so groggy that after I diapered her, I put her jammies on backwards and didn’t realize it until the morning.”
Susanna smiled as sentimental feelings washed over her. “I miss you living next door.”
“I miss you too. Say hello to Casey for me tonight, will you?”
“I’ll be sure to, Audrey. Say hi to Luke. Love ya.”
“Love ya, too.”
Susanna hung up the phone and bittersweet memories filled her mind. She rested her head back against the sofa cushion and thought about growing up on Meadow Drive, her parents, her friends. Her thoughts drifted to Casey and she remembered how much she’d always admired him. She’d hold her breath whenever he walked into the room and prayed no one would notice. Her crush was ruthless. She couldn’t tell a soul about her feelings, but he was always inside her head. Lately, the night they’d shared hadn’t strayed far from her thoughts either. It was hard not to get lost in the memory now. She went to Casey’s house in the dead of night, sobbing uncontrollably, sick inside after learning the truth about her father’s illness. She needed comfort, needed to make the pain clawing through her gut go away.
She couldn’t face the agony alone.
Casey spoke gently and patiently in a tone that wasn’t typical for him. She clung to him as they walked to the living room, her legs moving awkwardly and barely holding her up.
Casey sat first and guided her down. She plopped next to him, practically on top of him, the weary sofa cushions giving way from the weight. But she couldn’t stand to break the connection.
He absently rubbed her bare arm. “I’ll help you any way I can.”
His strokes ignited a slow burning fire that seared away her pain for the moment. A slight lift of her head brought her gaze to his beautiful blue eyes. She raised her hand to touch his bristly cheek, then leaned in to touch her lips to his.
Too soon, Casey pulled back. “Suse, what are you doing?”
“Please don’t refuse me this,” she whispered over his mouth. “You offered to help me. This is what I need tonight.”
When he started to protest, she answered him by sweeping her tongue over his bottom teeth. “Don’t stop kissing me,” she pleaded.
“Are you sure?”
Boldly, she slipped her hand underneath his T-shirt and caressed his washboard abs impatiently. “Yes.”
“Damn.” His fingers dug into her waist as he plunged his tongue deeper into her mouth.
His kiss left her wanting more.
His kiss told her he meant business.
His kiss removed any niggle of uncertainty in her mind.
He lay down on the sofa, pulling her along with him so that she was pressed on top of him. He murmured in her ear, “This is crazy.”
She lifted her blouse over her head. “Crazy and wonderful.”
His gaze touched on her breasts in the white lace bra and her nipples hardened even tighter. And an odd thought struck—she wondered if she measured up to the women he’d had before her.
His eyes finally met hers. “You’re pretty, Susie.”
“I didn’t think you’d ever noticed me.”
“Hell...I’ve noticed. But you’re my sister’s—”
She put her finger to his lips. “Shhh...don’t say it. Don’t think about anything but this.”
A hint of doubt crept into his eyes but then, as if he’d made his decision, he executed a perfect roll on the sofa that landed her underneath him. She took his weight, relishing the feel of hard muscle and gorgeous man. He rose up and his hands worked magic removing her clothes. She lay there nearly naked but for her panties. “Apparently, I’m not thinking at all,” he murmured.
His mouth moved lower to brush kisses over her breasts. She didn’t know such pleasure existed. Her back arched to offer him more and he moved lower, still planting hot wet kisses along her torso until he reached her most tender, aching spot and he kissed her there too. Torrents of pleasure ripped through her at lightning fast speed. Meeting her lips again, he kissed her as his fingers found her core and applied sweet pressure there. She shattered into a thousand pieces. It was heaven, this new and amazing feeling of complete release.
From then on, Casey treated her like something precious. Sheathing himself with a condom, he slipped inside her and she muffled a moan to hide the pain of stretching to accommodate him. She looked at Casey above her, his eyes darkened with desire, his face beautifully determined, thrusting her, making love to her and tears filled her eyes. Beyond experiencing the immense pleasure of her body joined with his, she found the solace she needed to make it through the night.
“Oh, Casey,” she whispered, allowing the memory to fade away. She’d always keep the secret of that night close to her heart, but there was no going back. She had to deal with the present now. She’d resumed a tentative friendship with Casey and he was coming to her house for dinner tonight.
That was her new reality.
* * *
An hour later, when Ally woke from her nap, she helped Susanna fill three online orders by carefully handing her the muffins that went into each box. Susie was patient with her and believed Ally enjoyed being her Aunt Susie’s helper. The time they spent working together created a special bond between them. “Thanks for the help, sweetie.”
Ally smiled wide, puffing out her chest. “I didn’t
drop any this time.”
Susie ruffled her hair. “No, you didn’t drop a one.”
Once all was set with the online orders, Susanna drove her packages to the post office. On the way home, right before pulling the van into the driveway, she caught sight of Casey and beautiful, dark-haired Lana Robards sitting on his doorstep, acting all chummy. The twins, Darlene and Darryl, were happily distracted playing with Charger on the front lawn.
Lana tossed her head back and she and Casey both started laughing, her hand touching Casey’s arm as if they’d just shared a joke or something.
Susie clenched the steering wheel and gritted her teeth. She pulled into the garage, parked the van and sat there, battling opposing emotions. She should be relieved that Casey had other neighbors to take up his time. She didn’t want him here. What difference did it make to her if Lana was talking to him? He could talk to or date anyone he wanted. She could deal with it.
Maybe he wanted to blow off their dinner tonight.
That would be fine with her.
“Auntie?” Ally’s sweet voice broke into her thoughts. “Out?”
Geesh, a full minute had passed since she’d parked the car. “Yes, we’re getting out. Hold on, I’ll be there in a second.”
She climbed out of the van and made short work of unfastening Ally from her car seat. Setting her down, Susanna closed the door and came face-to-face with Casey on her driveway. “Oh!” She jerked back. Seeing the puppy, Ally squealed and ran right over to him.
“Hi,” he said to Susanna. “Did I scare you?”
She peered over his shoulder. No Lana in sight. “No, it’s not you. I have a lot on my mind.”
“Busy day?”
Well, yeah. Considering she’d woken up in his house, baked up a storm, made her deliveries, met a megastar country singer and battled shocking emotions seeing Casey talking to her divorcée neighbor. “You could say that.”
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