Forty and Free: A Sweet Romance Series Bundle - Books 5 - 8

by Blake, Lillianna

How damaging could one woman really be?

  Chapter 3

  Cassie shoved her shoulder into the door. When it didn’t budge, she shoved her shoulder into it harder. Finally the door swung open. It wasn’t that she’d forgotten her key. The door always stuck. Just like everything else in her shoebox of an apartment, there was something wrong with it. And the landlord had no interest in fixing anything since she’d established a payment plan for her rent. That payment plan often consisted of promising him a large chunk of money from the sale of her next painting.

  She hadn’t been lying to the man earlier when she’d said she was flat broke. The electricity and water were only still on because of credit cards that hadn’t been maxed out yet. She always found a way to balance her debt, but it was beginning to crush her.

  Of course her friends offered the friendly advice that she needed to get a job. Many even offered her positions, but that would be surrender.

  She’d made a choice in her twenties that her life would be about her passion—her art. Because of that, she declined proposals, avoided pregnancy, and never once considered buying a house in the suburbs. She wanted her freedom and she’d made a lot of sacrifices to maintain it.

  But now, all of that seemed to be for nothing. She’d been close to bankruptcy before but never this close.

  She dropped her purse beside the pile of bills on the foyer table and cringed at the sight of what she needed to go through. It wouldn’t be long before everything fell apart. Then what? Would she crash on a friend’s couch? At forty-one she couldn’t imagine having to beg for a place to stay.

  Though there’d be plenty of reason to, she didn’t regret the choices she’d made. She only wished that she had enough confidence to make more of a name for herself—maybe if she had more business sense.

  She sighed and collapsed on the threadbare couch she’d had for far too many years. A blanket strewn over it was enough to hide the bare patches.

  The saving grace about her life was that she didn’t require much. While her friends wanted certain things in order to be happy, all she ever wanted was a canvas and some paints. With that, she could create her own paradise.

  As she closed her eyes and tried to think of anything other than her debt, she brushed a hand across her pocket and felt the ridge of the business card beneath the denim. She fished out the card and stared at it. Of course it’s a scam. She rolled her eyes and started to crumple up the card.

  But, what could it hurt to look into it?

  She smoothed out the card and grabbed her laptop from the side table. Lucas Morgan wasn’t a hard person to find. In fact, he was the first suggested search result. Several news articles confirmed that he did exist and that he was, in fact, a very successful businessman with several companies to his credit. The more she found out about him, the more certain she was that the offer had to be a scam. Still, she decided to call the number on the card, just to be sure.

  She dialed the number. Surely no one would answer.

  “Morgan Industries, how may I direct your call?”

  She sat up straighter on the couch. “Is this a real place?”

  “Excuse me?”

  “Is this a call center or is this a real business?”

  “It’s a real business. Do you have the wrong number?”

  “No, I don’t think so. A guy that works there gave me this card. He said he was Lucas Morgan’s assistant. I’m sure it’s some kind of scam. So I guess you should be aware that there’s some guy wandering around the east coast claiming to work for your company.”

  “Do you mean James?”

  “I didn’t catch his name.”

  “Glasses, green pants?”

  “Does he always wear green pants?”

  “Almost.”

  “Yes, I guess that’s him.”

  “What is your name?”

  “Cassie Reed.”

  “Oh, we’ve been waiting for your call, Ms. Reed, let me put you through.”

  “Seriously?”

  “Just one moment please.”

  Cassie was greeted by monotone hold music. It calmed her nerves as she waited for the call to connect. Would anyone really go to all this trouble to scam her?

  A male voice came on the line. “Cassie, I’m so glad to hear from you.”

  “So, the offer is real?”

  “Yes, it is. I can assure you.”

  “I don’t understand why a man like Lucas Morgan wants to hire me.”

  “Trust me, it’s better if you don’t try to figure him out. All that matters is that the offer stands. Are you willing to accept?”

  “Well, when would I need to be out there?”

  “As soon as possible.”

  “I’d have to make some arrangements and—”

  “I know you’re about to be evicted, Cassie. Just let the apartment go; we’ll make sure you get set up in a new place after the job is done.”

  “Why?”

  “Why?”

  “Why would you do all of that for me? Are you sure that you have the right person?”

  “I’m quite certain. We’re aware of the inconvenience of having to travel across the country and we want to make sure that you are comfortable with accepting the offer. If there’s anything else we can do to make you more comfortable, all you have to do is ask. We have a ticket ready to fly you out to California whenever you accept. I can assure you, Ms. Reed, that this is an opportunity you don’t want to turn down. Mr. Morgan is, however, anticipating your response as soon as possible.”

  “What if I get out there and I change my mind? Am I just going to be stuck in California?”

  “If at any time you want to terminate the agreement, all travel needs will be paid for. There isn’t really a risk here. Not only will you have the chance to make a very generous salary, your work will likely be featured in a few magazines, and Mr. Morgan will recommend you to several of his associates.”

  “See, that’s what I don’t understand. It seems like you’re trying far too hard to convince me.”

  “It seems that way because I am. Mr. Morgan wants you, and it’s my job to get him whatever he wants.”

  “He sounds like a charmer.”

  “He’s a very good man with high expectations. I’d hate to disappoint him. So what do you say? Can I set up a time for you to fly out?”

  Cassie looked over at the table full of bills and wondered what she had to lose. She certainly wouldn’t mind letting the apartment go. Aside from that, it was an opportunity for an adventure. She loved to travel and hadn’t had the chance to explore a new place in a very long time.

  “Alright. I accept. Now what?”

  “Can you leave tomorrow?”

  “Yes, that would be fine.”

  “Then there will be a car at your apartment to take you to the airport. The driver will have everything that you need for your flight.”

  She swallowed hard and gripped the phone tight in her hand. It occurred to her that there was a risk—a risk that she would get to California and find out that she’d been duped.

  “Cassie?”

  “Yes?”

  “I’ll text you the details. Are you going to be there tomorrow to meet the driver?”

  The pipe in the wall behind her began to rattle so loud that she jumped. “Yes. I’ll be there.”

  “Fantastic. I’ll let Mr. Morgan know that you’ve accepted. If you have any questions please feel free to call me on my personal number.”

  She fought through her dazed mind to grab a pen and paper to jot down the numbers he rattled off to her.

  When she hung up the phone, her entire body buzzed with the impact of the decision she’d just made. Not that long ago picking up and moving across the country would have been just another way to spend her time. How had she gotten so settled over the years?

  Chapter 4

  Lucas forced his eyes open and stared at the ceiling. His life had become a succession of different ceilings in different cities. Despite the fact that h
e owned several properties, he spent most of his time in hotels. Each one had a slightly different ceiling. Most people wouldn’t notice, but he’d discovered that there were several different shades of white.

  He counted down from five. With each number he recalled the country and location where he was about to fall sleep. If he didn’t go through this ritual, sometimes he would experience a bit of panic when he woke up. It was disconcerting to have no recollection of his place in the world.

  He sat up and wiped at his eyes. The sun wasn’t up yet. No matter how late he went to bed, he always set his alarm for before sunrise. He didn’t like to miss one.

  After a quick shower he consulted his computer and phone. As always there was about an hour’s worth of work to complete before his work day would even officially start. As he waded through the various messages and e-mails he noticed one marked urgent from James. Instead of listening to it first, he dialed James’s number.

  “Hello?” James’s voice was sluggish with exhaustion.

  “James. You left me a message.”

  “Which you didn’t listen to?”

  “Is it about the artist?”

  “Yes.” He yawned. “She’s accepted.”

  “When does she arrive?”

  “Tomorrow evening. Will you be here?”

  “No, that won’t be possible. Just make sure she’s comfortable.”

  “Are you sure that you want her to stay at the residence?”

  “I’d prefer it, but if she’d rather stay at a hotel, take care of that for her. It’s better for security and privacy if she stays at the house.”

  “I understand.”

  “Make sure that the guest wing is prepared for her, and let the staff know that she is to be provided with anything she needs.”

  “That’s a little overboard, don’t you think?”

  “Not at all. I want to be sure she’s comfortable. What else do they have to do when I’m not there?”

  “You’d be surprised how much effort it takes to maintain your estate.”

  “Well, I suppose I might need to hire new staff if they can’t handle it and cater to a guest of mine.”

  “I hear you, I hear you.” James chuckled. “I’ll make sure she gets everything she needs. And I’ll also keep a close eye on her.”

  “Don’t make a big deal out of it. I don’t want her to feel uneasy.”

  “I’m just looking out for you.”

  “I know you are, but she’s not an invader, she’s my guest. Sometimes you’re a little too overprotective. Are you forgetting that I’m able to take care of myself pretty darn well?” He opened a web page and searched Cassie’s name.

  “Are you forgetting that I know you pretty darn well?”

  “Maybe not as well as you think.”

  “You’re looking at her picture right now, aren’t you?”

  Lucas’s eyes widened. He pursed his lips and closed the website. “You have nothing to worry about. She’s not my type.”

  “Uh-huh. Okay. When she accepted the offer she asked for direction on what type of mural you wanted.”

  “Just set her loose to paint.”

  “No preference?”

  “You don’t seem to get it, James.” He opened the website up again. “I want her on my walls.”

  “We’re not talking a self-portrait here, are we?”

  “No. For someone as smart as you are, James, sometimes I wonder if you can think farther than your nose. I don’t want her to create something from my imagination, I want her to create something from hers—pure, one-of-a-kind, and one hundred percent Cassie Reed.”

  “If you say so. I’ll let her know. Anything else?”

  “Yes.” He paused, then cleared his throat. “Check in on Emma.”

  “I’m sure she’d rather hear from you, sir.”

  “I know that. It’s just not an option right now. It’s too difficult for me to talk to her when I’m away. Just check in on her, okay?”

  “I will. I’ll let you know when Cassie is settled.”

  “Thanks.”

  He hung up the phone and looked at the picture before him. Cassie, with all of her rough edges, was not his type at all, but James was right; something about her left him incredibly curious.

  He stood up and stretched. It was time to face the day. Managing several companies and the politics of it all exhausted him, especially when it was so long between times at home. Ten years before, in his early thirties, he would have been thrilled to have a potential merger in the works. Now, all he thought about was how long it would take to iron out all the details.

  “I really am getting old.” He looked in the mirror at his reflection.

  The jet-black hair that was once his pride had two thick strokes of silver in it. He considered dying it, but couldn’t get over the thought of its being a very feminine thing to do. As days blended into weeks and a year went by with his barely noticing, he’d begun to realize that he was passing his prime.

  Of course, there were still plenty of women waiting to date him, but that wasn’t what he wanted. They wanted him for what they saw in magazines and read about in the gossip pages. They wanted him for his status and the luxury he could provide. None of them bothered to get to know him. Well, aside from one, and even she—despite her insistence that she’d be different—had buckled beneath the pressure of his life.

  He stared into his own gray eyes and sought the purpose hidden in them. Was this really all he was meant for? Travel? Wealth? Influence? He blinked and forced himself to look away.

  “Introspection is a distraction.” He straightened his tie and grabbed his briefcase.

  Chapter 5

  You’re really going?

  Cassie stared at the text from her friend Angela, then sent one back.

  Yes. In about an hour.

  I hope this checks out.

  If it doesn’t, I’ll just spend some time in Cali.

  What about the wedding?

  Don’t worry, I’ll be back for it.

  She smiled at the thought. In all the years she’d spent in relationships, there was one thing she’d never doubted—the power of love. Her version of love seemed to be just a little more free than that of most women she knew.

  She believed that she could love in the moment with all of herself and that most likely, there would come a time when those moments would pass. It didn’t sadden her as it did many of her friends. Instead, each time a relationship ended, she experienced the excitement of what might come next. As a result, she’d never truly experienced the heartbreak that most of her friends had—not as an adult, anyway.

  With that in mind, Cassie logged into Forty and Free, a singles website for singles over forty. She wanted to check to see who might be available in the Beverly Hills area. While she was there painting, she might as well get to know a few new people. She made a post about her visit to California and her desire to meet some singles, then shut down her computer.

  Before she knew it, she was on the plane and in the final descent.

  “California, here I come.” She grinned as she looked through the window.

  She stepped off the plane and found that the airport was quite busy. The more she wanted to regret her decision, the more she was thrilled by the opportunity. If she had the chance to explore California, that would be fine with her—maybe even better than finding a car waiting for her at the curb.

  She didn’t get more than a few feet, though, before she saw a sign with her name on it. When she saw it, she thought about dodging the man in the chauffeur’s uniform. Freedom, as always, was very tempting to her. But she’d made a commitment, and as nice as James had been to her, she didn’t want to get him in trouble with a man as powerful as Lucas Morgan.

  She walked up to the chauffeur with her bag slung over her shoulder.

  “I’m Cassie.”

  “I’m Frank. I’ll be your driver. If you come with me to baggage claim—”

  “I don’t have more baggage.”
<
br />   “Are you certain?”

  “Yes.” She laughed. “Just this one. I travel light.”

  “I see. Right this way, then.” He tucked the card with her name on it under his arm and led her out of the airport.

  She’d never had an escort before, or a car waiting to pick her up, unless it was a friend. She settled in the back seat and began trying out all the buttons. The windows slid up and down. The sunroof opened and closed. The radio got louder, then quieter. It was far different than the barely limping-along car she drove.

  “I could get used to this.” She laughed and opened the sunroof again. She tilted her head back against the seat and gazed out at the sky above her. It was in transition from afternoon to evening—streaked with every shade of sunset. She held the memory of it in her mind so that she could paint it later.

  About an hour passed before Frank turned down a long winding road. At first she thought he might be lost as there was nothing but rolling hills on either side of them. Then her eyes widened at the sight of the massive home that they approached.

  “Is this a hotel? I thought I’d be staying at the house.”

  “No. This is Mr. Morgan’s primary residence, Ms. Reed.”

  “Oh.” She realized her mouth hung open. “Only he lives here?”

  “And his staff.” Frank looked through the rearview mirror. “You’ll have a wing to yourself.”

  “A wing?” She laughed.

  Her laughter faded when his expression didn’t change. She swallowed hard as the car rolled to a stop beside a large fountain that featured dolphins and mermaids intertwined, carved from what looked to her like pure ivory.

  “Maybe this was a mistake.” She tightened her grip on her bag. What if I can’t paint anything he likes? Will he expect me to pay him back? The thoughts plagued her as Frank opened the door for her.

  “Miss? Are you going to come out?”

  “I’m not sure.” She bit into her bottom lip.

  The front door opened and James stepped out—in a different shade of green pants.

  “Cassie!” He waved to her and smiled. “I’m glad you’re here.” He paused at the edge of the driveway. “Are you going to get out of the car?”