by Tara Randel
Erin took two steps away, twirled around and rushed back to wrap Cassie in a tight hug. “Thank you,” she whispered fiercely, then ran off to the back of the house. As she did the other night, Cassie waited for a flicker of light inside. Only then did she slide back into the front seat.
“I’m exhausted.” She rubbed her neck, trying to ease the tension. “How often do you do this?”
“More often than I’d like.” He put the car in gear and drove off. “I called Erin’s folks. Assured them she was okay and told them I’d drive her home. I could tell by her father’s clipped tone he wasn’t happy.”
“I don’t think any parent wants to receive that phone call.”
“No. But it bothers me that they didn’t come get her themselves.”
“The family issues I’m worried about?”
“Probably.” He blew out a breath. Sent her a glance. “This wasn’t how I planned on ending the night.”
“While far from romantic, I’m glad you were there for the kids.” She turned toward him. “I think I got through to Erin.”
“In what way?”
“I told her I’d stick up for her to the chief if she made an appointment with one of the Klub counselors.”
“No kidding? She went for it?”
“She’s not as tough as she wants everyone to believe. Plus, she was legitimately scared.”
“Yeah. Tonight was a first for her.”
“As opposed to the others?”
He nodded. Cassie found the concern etched on his face as attractive as a full-blown smile. Anyone could rock the styled hair and those soulful brown eyes, but his support for the kids touched her heart.
“Take Kyle, for instance. Third strike.”
“Which means?”
“I have to pull him from the musical.”
“Ouch.”
“It’s tough, but I have to follow through.” He paused. “My brother and I had a tough childhood. Got into plenty of trouble. I learned a long time ago I can’t give in or the kids will walk all over me. I warned Kyle. Gave him plenty of chances. He made his choice.”
She reached over and took his hand. “I’m sorry, Luke.”
“It’s part of the job.”
From his own experience, Luke understood the consequences at stake for each and every child under his watch. Cassie may have gotten a crash course tonight in dealing with Erin, but she didn’t know how he stayed so strong, how he didn’t fold every time a kid needed help. Her respect for his stand grew leaps and bounds. He cared, more deeply than he would ever let anyone know.
“There is one thing that concerns me,” he said, breaking into her thoughts.
“What?”
“The stolen money from the Klub. I don’t believe Denny took it, but he wasn’t the only one with access. I figured out that Kyle and Erin were with him both times money went missing.”
She really hoped Erin had nothing to do with the theft. She’d sworn she hadn’t stolen from the convenience store, so Cassie could only have faith that Erin steered clear of any other shady business. “Who do you think took the cash?”
“I don’t know, but it’s time to find out.”
Cassie roused at the conviction in his voice. “Do I want to know how you’re going to prove it?”
“Probably not.”
* * *
THE NEXT WEEK flew by. Cassie held another songwriting workshop and the kids found time to work together on the television music. Denny seemed back to normal. Kyle hadn’t taken the news of his third strike well.
Two things, however, remained in the forefront of Luke’s mind. How to move forward with Cassie in this relationship and finding out which one of the kids had stolen Klub money.
He mentally reviewed the money situation first. The commonalities were Denny, Erin and Kyle. He’d already dismissed Denny as a guilty party, but remembered the boy’s crush on Erin. Young men had done worse than keeping a few bucks to impress a girl, but it didn’t feel right. He didn’t know Erin well enough to decide how much influence she wielded over Denny or if she’d pocketed the cash. Cleary she was troubled. And Kyle? He couldn’t stay on the straight and narrow.
He’d already put them to the test, albeit secretly. He’d asked Denny to run to the store, a task the teen had accomplished without incident many times before. When Luke gave him petty cash to cover the purchase, he’d balked, but Luke told him to handle it. He’d watched as the pack of kids went off together. Then he’d waited. But upon their return, Denny left the exact change. Really, Luke shouldn’t have been surprised now that Denny, or the real culprit, was on high alert. He should have realized solving this mystery wouldn’t be that easy.
Which brought him to his next quandary. How to move forward with Cassie? His instinct to trust Cassie in the romance department was hard earned because of his past mistakes with Tracy. Yeah, he could admit now that he’d made blunders, too, maybe put his career first. Now that he’d made the decision to dive into this new relationship, he wanted to treat Cassie right. Rusty after a lengthy period of not competing in the dating game, he’d suggested a picnic lunch at the park, hoping for time alone to get to know her on a deeper level, as well as work on her music.
On the following Saturday, just before noon, he walked out of Pointe Cafe with a large to-go bag in hand, nearly colliding with his cousin Dane.
“Whoa. Where’s the fire?” Dane asked as he veered out of harm’s way.
“Sorry, man. Got lots on my mind.”
“Yeah? Better be a pretty brunette with a braid.”
A vision of Cassie brought out a smile. “Bingo.”
“So, what, you planned lunch?”
Luke grimaced at his cousin’s amused face. “You already knew, didn’t you?”
“When you call Nealy for advice, it’s pretty much like talking to me.”
On a chuckle, Luke held out his hand. “I hear congratulations are in order. Nealy told me you proposed.”
Dane shook his hand. “And you acted suitably surprised, right?”
“Hey, I wouldn’t blow her big moment by admitting I knew beforehand.”
“Thanks.” Dane cocked his head. “So, what’s going on with you and Cassie?”
“Lunch. Some time alone. You know the drill.”
“Been a while, but yeah, I get it.” Dane stuffed his hands in his pockets. “So, you’re finally putting the past behind you?”
“I was afraid I might blow it with Cassie when she asked me if I’d forgiven Tracy. But keeping Cassie in my life is more important than holding a grudge.”
“Wise choice. It’s time you enjoy life.”
Luke restlessly shifted the bag in his hand, more than ready to get started on this new life. “I’m not arguing.”
Dane nodded. “Go on, then. Sweep Cassie off her feet.”
He grinned. “And I know the perfect way.”
Luke stopped by his car to retrieve his guitar and a blanket, then headed to the prearranged meeting spot. He spread out the blanket under the shade of a wide-limbed oak. Pink and purple flowers circled the base of the trunk, adding a burst of color, mingling with the sea breeze to create a natural perfume. Glancing at his watch, he realized he was ten minutes early.
The noonday sun sifted through the canopy of leaves, warming his shoulders under a short-sleeved polo shirt stitched with the Kids’ Klub logo. Was he underdressed in this casual shirt and slacks? Should he have made more of an effort? Cassie really had him twisted in knots for him to be worrying about his clothes.
“That frown better be because you’ve missed me,” Cassie said as she set her case on the grass. Her sunny smile matched the bright yellow sleeveless top she wore. Her braid flew over her shoulder as she plopped down beside him. Her fragrance, more potent than the nearby flowers, en
veloped him.
“I have missed you but you never make me frown.”
Cassie snorted.
“Okay, maybe once in a while.”
“You sweet-talker, you.” She leaned over to gift him with a quick kiss to the cheek. “I’ll take it.”
As much as he wanted to haul her into his arms and kiss her senseless, he’d decided to put the brakes on. More talk, less kissing for now. Especially in a public park, where rumors could start.
“I hope you’re hungry.”
“Starved. I met Erin at the Klub earlier. She made an appointment with one of the counselors.”
“I heard.”
“Since I kinda pushed her, I wanted to offer moral support.”
“So how’d it go?”
“Not sure. She wasn’t very chatty afterward. Said she needed to get home.”
“It’s a start, Cassie. A good start.”
“I hope.” She bit her lower lip. “I want her to figure her life out now before she gets into any deeper trouble.”
He leaned back on his elbows. “Let me ask you something.”
Cassie crossed her legs into a lotus position. “Shoot.”
“Do you think Erin had anything to do with the missing cash?”
She grimaced. “I wish I could give you an honest answer, but really, who knows what goes on inside a person’s head?”
“That’s my problem, too. I’m not sure who to believe.” He told her about his failed experiment.
“You didn’t expect it to be so easy, did you?” she asked with an amused expression.
“I did. Only because I want to get to the bottom of this.”
“That makes sense.” She tugged at a blade of grass. Ran it through her fingers. “A lot of Luke Hastings is at stake at Kids’ Klub.”
“Probably more than I even realize.”
“Because you care so much?”
“I told you my brother and I didn’t have an easy upbringing. Our parents weren’t around and when they were, we couldn’t rely on them, so we were troublemakers.” He paused. Decided to lay it all on the line. “When I came to Cypress Pointe and started teaching, I realized looking at certain kids in class was like looking in a mirror. I was so messed up over Tracy, I needed an outlet for the hurt, just like they did. Kids’ Klub became that for me.”
“You’ve probably saved many kids from traveling down the same road.”
“I hope so. When you invest in something so personal, it takes your heart and soul.”
“So your ex didn’t totally wipe you out emotionally?”
“No. But it was a long time before I figured it out.” He sat up, pulled up one leg and rested a forearm over his knee. A bee buzzed by and he absently brushed it away. “Given how I grew up, I wasn’t sure I wanted a family,” he said in a quiet voice as he stared over the vast green expanse of the park. “Tracy and I talked about it. Put it off. There were always excuses. I guess I look at the teens in the programs as the only children I’ll ever have.”
Cassie placed a hand over his. “But deep down you wanted one of your own?”
“Yeah. I did.” He drew in a breath. “My ex is pregnant.”
“Oh, Luke.”
“It’s funny. I think even from the beginning I was waiting for Tracy to somehow let me down, just like everyone else in my life had before her. Makes me wonder if I’d pushed her to be unhappy. To act on my worst fears.” He shook his head. “Even she saw that we shouldn’t have a family together. She was right.”
Cassie remained silent as he let the truth sink in. He’d never given them a chance. He’d been waiting for Tracy to disappoint him and in time, she’d achieved his self-fulfilling prophecy.
“I was angry, but now...I’m reconciled. She has her life.” He met her gaze. “Now I hope I have mine.”
Cassie’s features softened and he thought, yeah, maybe I want a life with this woman. He cleared his throat, “So, lunch?”
Blinking away the sheen in her eyes, Cassie reached over for the bag. “I’m ready.”
It didn’t take long to dive into the gourmet turkey and cheese sandwiches on focaccia bread. As they munched on chips, Cassie filled him in on a new idea for a song that had woken her in the early hours. He sipped iced tea from a tall cup, watching her animated face. Her muse was returning. Gone was the insecure songwriter he’d met mere weeks ago. Instead, a confident woman sat beside him. The woman who had made a name for herself, and would continue to be a success in the music world.
Once they polished off the last of the food, Cassie bagged up the waste and carried it to the nearby trash can, resuming her seat as Luke grabbed his guitar and nodded to her case. “Let’s write a song.”
She stilled. “Sure you want to do this?”
He got out a notebook. “Actually, I’ve come up with some thoughts.”
“Really?” She scooted closer. “Let’s see.”
He chuckled and opened the notebook. “It’s pretty rough.”
“I’m sure it’s great.”
“Maybe. The idea came to me this morning. It was still dark. I’d poured my first cup of coffee and wandered out to the deck. The sky grew lighter and then this spectacular sunrise, with all sorts of mellow colors streaking across the horizon, caught my attention. Insects started buzzing and I heard a dog bark in the distance. A fishing boat chugged through the water, leaving behind a foamy wake. It was like the world waking up around me so I came up with this theme. Life and love and finding your place in the world.”
Cassie took the notebook from his hands. Read over the page before digging a pencil from her bag. “There’s another layer here, Luke.” An intensity seemed to overtake her as she added her own words. Before long she glanced at him. “Now we have something.”
For the next hour they rearranged the words, came up with a stirring melody. He hadn’t been this creative in a long time. Writing songs for the news story was one thing, but this, writing with Cassie, was entirely another. He’d gone with his instincts and she’d taken it to another level. The old adrenaline kicked in. He knew as soon as they’d completed the song that she had another song for her album.
The last note Cassie strummed floated in the breeze, touching his soul. Once he’d thought no one could beat him and Tracy as songwriters. They’d been after commercial success, cranking out hit after hit. It had been a blast, been all he’d thought he wanted out of life. But he’d discovered otherwise. The Klub, with all the messy emotions of working with teens, spending hours worrying about finances and whether they could afford to buy the current property, filled the void songwriting left behind. He should be happy exactly where he found himself, so why did he feel like he was at a crossroads?
He watched Cassie scribble a few final flourishes to the page in her cherished songbook filled with music that would once again make her a star.
All she wanted was to be true to herself. And she’d succeeded. While he was honored to work with her, he had to question if he really wanted any part of the old life. The accolades. The invasion of his privacy. He didn’t miss that aspect one iota. What he valued was making a difference in troubled teens’ lives. Could he somehow have both?
Today showed him he could still write a lyric, tap out a melody. But music wasn’t his sole purpose any longer. His life was here, in Cypress Pointe, not clear across the country where Cassie made her music.
The sound of a car horn, followed by yelling, yanked Luke back to reality. Kids on bikes zipped by on a path, folks rushed about Main Street. People living their daily lives in this sleepy Florida town. A life he’d signed on to. A life that would never keep Cassie here.
“This is so great,” Cassie said as she returned her guitar to its case. “My manager is already going nuts over us writing together.”
“You told him?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” She turned quickly toward him, her braid whipping over her shoulder. “He’s relieved and knows the label will be thrilled.”
Which meant he’d become a public figure again. A place he didn’t miss and would rather not return to. “I’d really rather you took all the credit.”
“I can’t, Luke.” Her brow wrinkled. “Wait. Why don’t you want anyone to know we collaborated?”
“I’m not part of the life any longer, Cassie.”
“Still, it doesn’t mean you shouldn’t receive any recognition. Yes, we worked on this together but your observations gave it life.”
“Think of it as a gift.”
Cassie stared down at the page where they’d made notes. He couldn’t decipher her closed expression. Silently, she tore the paper from the notebook, slowly folded it in half. Stored it away in her guitar case. Leaving him to wonder just what she was going to do with their song.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
“PRACTICE WENT PRETTY GOOD, don’t you think?”
Erin absently nodded at Denny’s question, her mind a whirlwind following the late afternoon practice session. All week they’d been working on the music for the news story. Tomorrow after school she would be singing in front of her friends, reporters, cameras and, worst of all, her parents. Why had she mentioned the concert to them? Deep down did she want them to see her in a different light? Maybe finally have something nice to say to her?
They walked down Main Street, in the direction of the park. The burger she’d eaten for dinner soured in her stomach, like an elephant sat on her belly and pushed the food into her clogged throat.
“Erin?”
She glanced over at Denny, his eyes questioning behind his glasses. He was always so positive. Why couldn’t she be more like him, even though it irritated her at the same time?
“Yeah, I guess.”
“Thought you’d be more fired up about the solo. No one else but you was asked to sing alone.”
“Don’t remind me.” She placed her hand on her lurching stomach, sure she’d be sick. She never should have gone with Denny to the restaurant after practice, but he’d been so excited when she said yes. And after being accused of stealing money from the Klub, it was the first time in days he’d seemed like his old self. And when they walked to the restaurant, he’d taken her hand. A funny sensation had washed over her. She’d never felt it with another guy. Every time she was with Denny, she was all jittery and happy. While she liked it, she didn’t examine it too closely, afraid of what she might discover about herself. Or admit Denny was the guy for her. If she told him the truth about the missing money, would he hate her for keeping it from him? Help her instead of turning on her?
