“Yeah, and he owes five grand to the guy they work for.”
She chewed on her lower lip. “I’m on my way. Which hospital?”
Ryan provided the details and Cassie ended the call. She headed back toward the hotel, scanning the traffic for a vacant cab.
She walked to the closest bus stop. Where were the cabs? A bus might be the fastest way to travel the short distance to the inner-city hospital.
Lord, thank You for protecting Sean from more serious injuries. I’m glad he contacted Ryan and I pray they’re getting on okay.
Cassie hopped on a crowded bus and stood in the aisle. She gripped the handrail as the bus stopped and started up the congested street.
Why did Sean want to see her? She assumed Ryan was at the hospital because Sean had contacted him.
Her heart broke over Sean’s situation. He desperately needed help before it was too late. Was this beating a wake-up call for him? Would it make him realize his life was a mess and he needed professional help?
Before long the bus stopped outside the entrance to the busy hospital. Cassie located the ER, and the lady at the reception desk gave her Sean’s room number.
The curtain around Sean’s cubicle was partly open. She stood in the doorway, watching the brothers. Ryan sat beside Sean and they appeared engrossed in their conversation.
Cassie stepped inside the room, and Ryan gave her a toe-tingling smile.
She pressed her lips together. “I’m here.”
“That was fast,” Ryan said.
“I was at the quay when you called.”
She walked over to the bed and pulled up a chair on the side opposite Ryan. Sean had two black eyes and a bandaged nose. “Sean, you look awful.”
“This isn’t my finest hour.”
“What happened? Ryan said some guys beat you up.”
He nodded. “I owed them money and didn’t pay up in time.”
“What are you going to do? Have you got the money to pay them?”
“Nope and I’ve gotta get out of here, disappear for a while.”
She frowned. “Running away didn’t fix your problems last time.”
“I don’t have a choice. These guys will be back, and I’m scared about what might happen next time.”
Ryan stood. “Do you want to spend the rest of your life on the run, looking over your shoulder and wondering when your past will catch up with you?”
He shook his head. “I don’t have the cash and they’ll be back to get me. I need to disappear for a long time.”
“There’s another way,” Ryan said, sitting back in his chair.
Cassie met Ryan’s gaze. She missed his warm looks and heart-stopping smiles.
Ryan switched his attention to Sean. “I think it’s time you started dealing with your problems.”
“You can’t make me go to rehab.”
“I know, but if you want to get your life back on track then it’s a good option.”
She nodded. “Ryan’s right. I managed to overcome my problems and you can do it, too, if you really want to.”
“It’s not a short-term quick fix and there are some excellent programs available that run for several months.”
“I don’t know.” Sean’s eyes widened. “I need to get out of here real soon. When can I get discharged?”
She moved closer to the bed and placed her hand over Sean’s. “It’ll be a tough ride, but we can help you through this.”
Ryan nodded. “Your doctor told me there’s a rehab unit in the hospital. They have a bed available, if you want it.”
“Please, Sean, this is your fork in the road,” Cassie said. “One of the most important decisions you’ll make in your life.” She held his hand. “You can beat this and we can help you beat it.”
Sean closed his eyes. “I gotta get out of here.”
“Mom and Dad will be here soon, and you promised me if Cassie was here you’d see them.”
Tears escaped from Sean’s eyes. “I’m scared that I’m not strong enough to do this.”
“Think about the alternative,” Ryan said. “Do you want to be beaten up again?”
“If you work a program, you’ll be off the streets and safe for a few months,” she said.
“The staff will look after you and help you to rebuild your life. There’s a program located near the beach, not far from where I live, and I’ll be able to visit you,” Ryan said.
“That sounds like a good plan.” She smiled. “Your parents could drive down and visit, too.”
Sean opened his eyes and sucked in a deep breath. “Cassie, do you think I can do it?”
She nodded. “And so does Ryan.”
“I sure do. It’s your best option.”
“Actually, it’s your only good option,” Cassie said. “When you recover you’ll thank us for convincing you to take this step.”
“Okay,” Sean conceded. “I’ll give it a try. But if it doesn’t work—”
“Don’t say that,” she said. “It will work. Every day I’ll be praying for you.”
“What about the money?” Sean asked.
Ryan frowned. “We’ll work something out. All you need to think about is getting better.”
A nurse entered the room. “It’s time for your arm to be x-rayed.”
Ryan stood. “Cassie, would you like to have coffee?”
“Yes, please,” she said. “We’ll be back soon.”
The nurse nodded. “He’ll be away for at least half an hour, maybe an hour.”
Cassie followed Ryan out of the room.
“There’s a café next to the main entrance,” she said.
“Okay, let’s go.”
She walked beside him along the corridor. “I can’t believe he has agreed to go into rehab.”
“God has answered our prayers.”
She glanced up at him. “Have you been praying a lot for Sean?”
He nodded. “I have faith that God will help my brother conquer his problems, and I know I need to forgive Sean for a whole lot of stuff.”
She stopped walking, stunned by his words. “Does this mean you understand why I want to forgive Sean?”
His smile lit up his eyes. “I think so.”
Wow. He shared her faith, and she struggled to contain her joy. “I guess we’ve got a whole lot of stuff to talk about over coffee.”
“Yep.” He reached for her hand.
She tucked it in his and strolled with him to the café.
His gray eyes sparkled. “Are you hungry?”
She perused the menu. “A burger with a side salad will do me.”
“Same here, but I’ll have a side of fries.”
They placed their orders at the counter and found a quiet table in the corner.
She wriggled into a more comfortable position in her wooden chair. “What happened? Did Sean phone you?”
He filled her in with the details.
“I can’t believe they beat him up in broad daylight on a busy city street.”
“These guys must be professional thugs. I hate to think how my brother got caught up with them.”
“No wonder he’s scared. He’s fortunate he wasn’t more seriously hurt.”
“During his initial medical assessment he admitted to the staff that he has a gambling problem. One of the doctors spoke to me about the short-term rehab clinic in the hospital.”
“So he can transfer to the clinic tonight and move to a longer-term rehab program soon?”
He nodded. “But it’s important he voluntarily agrees to go. After we eat, I’ll talk to the staff and sort out the paperwork.”
A waiter arrived with their drinks.
She sipped her latte. “What time are your parents due?”
“In about three hours. I’ll wait here at the hospital for them, and they’ll stay at my place for at least a few days.”
“How did they react to the news?”
“They’re shocked but relieved that Sean has agreed to seek help.”
“What about the five grand?”
He frowned. “I’ll talk to my lawyer about how to deal with that particular problem.”
A waiter placed their burgers on the table.
Her stomach rumbled. Lunch had been a long time ago. “May I say grace?”
He nodded and closed his eyes.
“Lord, please bless this food. We’re thankful Sean’s safe and we pray he’ll work the programs and recover fully from his problems. Amen.”
“Amen,” he said.
She smiled. “I assume you’ve been seeing Simon a lot.”
“I’ve been attending the Sunday morning service.”
“Really?” She took a bite from her cheeseburger.
He laughed. “I’ve been meeting with Simon and a couple other guys for breakfast before the service, and they’ve helped me understand a few things. I’m sorry I gave you a hard time over my brother.” He met her gaze, warmth emanating from his eyes. “Please forgive me.”
“I forgive you.” Lord, thank You for answering my prayers.
They chatted about church and the things he’d been learning. He polished off his burger and wiped his mouth, then turned serious. “So where does this leave us?”
She lowered her gaze, picking at her salad. “You were right about the resort job.”
“What do you mean?”
“I’m a recovering alcoholic, and I’m always going to have a weakness in that area.” She pressed her lips together. “I thought I could get over the temptation, be strong enough to never fall off the wagon, but it’s not true.”
“Cassie, I understand—”
“Do you, really? This will be a lifelong struggle for me because I’m tempted to drink when I’m stressed or something bad happens.”
He let out a slow breath. “I want to help you and support you.”
“My life is complicated.” She held his gaze. “I’m not proud of a lot of things I’ve done in the past.”
“I can’t claim to have a perfect past, either. What matters is the present and where we can go from here.”
She twisted her hands together in her lap. “We need to talk about a few things.” Like the fact she had committed to moving to Queensland in a few months.
“Do you want to take a walk through the gardens?”
She nodded. “Thanks for dinner.”
“My pleasure.” He glanced at his watch. “We’ve got time before Sean’s due back in the ward.”
She placed her hand in his and walked outside into the rose garden. Fairy lights lit up the enclosed area and bench seats were positioned along the winding paths.
“Cassie, I’m sorry I walked out on you at the holiday house.”
She stopped and faced him. “You were angry.”
“Sean’s behavior was the final straw. I needed space to think and deal with stuff. I also know Sean brought up the Vegas thing as a decoy.”
“Yep. He successfully distracted us and made his escape.”
He nodded. “I’m thankful God brought you into my life. Your faith challenged me to look at my life. My priorities have changed.”
She walked beside him along the path. “I’m so happy you and Sean are on the way to rebuilding your relationship.”
“When I saw Sean injured by the side of the road, I realized he needed my help. I finally understood the prodigal son parable.”
“I know what you mean. Dad being sick in the hospital gave me a big wake-up call. What if he had died before I had a chance to mend our relationship?”
“There’s nothing like the prospect of death to shake us up.”
She nodded. “I realized my prejudices against my father had clouded my judgment. I obsessed about all the bad things and ignored the good.”
“Like me with Sean. All I saw were problems. I didn’t acknowledge his potential to grow and change into a better person.”
“You know, I spent years trying to gain Dad’s approval.” She paused beside a fountain. “I learned the hard way that God’s approval is what matters and, in the end, Dad proved he had more faith in me than I’d ever imagined.”
Ryan took hold of her other hand and gazed into her eyes. “Cassie, will you give me another chance? I can’t promise I’ll always do the right thing because I’m far from perfect. But, I can promise to love you.”
Her heart melted. He loved her and wanted to be with her, even after everything that had happened.
She threw herself into his arms, snuggling her head against his broad chest.
“Oh, Ryan, I love you so much.”
He tilted her chin and his mouth enveloped hers in an emotion-charged kiss.
She wound her arms around his neck and deepened the kiss, reveling in his closeness. This was where she belonged.
He raised his head and brushed a lock of hair off her forehead. “I love you, Cassandra Beaumont, and I’d like to have the privilege of spending the rest of my life with you.”
“I love you, Ryan Mitchell.” She gazed into his eyes. “I want to wipe the slate clean and start over.” She reached up and sealed the deal with a kiss.
He stepped back, concern shadowing his face. “Are you sure there isn’t something you’ve forgotten to tell me?”
She lifted a brow. “Oh, you know about my job?”
“Had you forgotten?”
“Only momentarily, I’m a little distracted.”
“Hmm. I could distract you further.” He kissed the tip of her nose.
“That wouldn’t be hard.” She weaved her fingers through his hair.
“What’s the deal with your job?”
The job. She switched her brain into gear. “I’m moving to Queensland after Laura and Greg’s wedding. Yesterday I visited Dad and signed my employment contract.”
“I thought his doctor had ordered him to rest.”
“He can’t help himself, and this new venture is separate from the main company.”
“So, what are we going to do?”
She frowned. “I love you, and I don’t want to live a thousand miles away from you.”
“Me, neither.” He traced his finger along the curve of her cheek.
She wrapped her arms around him. “We’ll have to pray about it. I’m sure God has it all worked out.”
Chapter 17
Cassie wriggled her toes in the sand on Manly Beach and Ryan draped his arm around her waist. The flash from the camera brought a smile to her lips.
Laura held up the skirt of her bridal gown. “These photos had better be good because the sand will ruin my dress.”
Greg laughed, picked up his bride and carried her further up the beach. The photographer positioned them for more photos.
Ryan held Cassie’s hand and whispered in her ear. “Let’s go for a walk along the beach.”
“Why?” She tipped her head to the side. “What if the photographer needs us?”
“I already checked, and I can steal you away for a short time. We can walk on the sand toward North Steyne, where there are fewer people around.”
“Sure.” She left her shoes behind and fell into step beside him, hitching up the skirt of her silk bridesmaid dress. The midday sun warmed her bare arms. Waves rolled into the shore, the salty foam creating ripples on the firm golden sand.
Ryan led her to a secluded section of the beach. A group of surfers were catching the breaking waves out in the deeper water.
He drew her into his arms, raising her chin with his thumb. “I’ve made plans
tonight for a romantic dinner overlooking the beach.”
Her heart danced to a faster beat.
He reached into an inner pocket in his jacket, removing a small navy blue velvet box.
She inhaled a few sharp breaths, her heart overflowing with love for the man holding her hand.
He dropped down on one knee in the soft, dry sand, his warm eyes capturing her gaze.
“Cassie, I love you with my whole heart.” He opened the box, revealing a sparkling sapphire-and-diamond engagement ring.
She gasped. “It’s stunning.”
He nodded. “I want to spend the rest of my life with you, grow old with you. Will you do me the incredible honor of marrying me and becoming my beautiful wife?”
“Yes.” She blinked away tears. “I love you, and I want to marry you as soon as possible.”
“A fabulous plan.” His gentle hands slipped the ring on her finger, the sunlight catching the sapphire facets surrounded by diamonds. He stood up and took her in his arms.
“Wow, it’s perfect.”
“I’m glad you like it.” He trailed his fingertip along her cheek, and lowered his head.
His soft lips teased hers, enticing her to deepen the kiss. She closed her eyes and parted her lips, welcoming his sweet embrace.
Moments later he pulled back, his gaze intense. “We need to set a date. Soon.”
Cassie nodded and raised her hand, admiring her engagement ring. Ryan had spared no expense.
“You can’t keep your eyes off your ring.”
“It’s beautiful, and it represents our love.”
“Why don’t we have a small, intimate wedding soon, and have a big celebration when we launch the new resort?”
“But the resort might not be ready for months.” She smoothed the skirt of her dress.
“Since I’ll be managing the redevelopment, I can assure you the project will run on schedule.”
She met his warm gaze. “I’m so glad you accepted Dad’s proposal.”
“It’ll be good to do something less stressful for a while. I like the idea of focusing on one project and seeing it through to completion.”
“You’ll be working shorter hours.”
“I know.” His smile broadened. “I’ll have lots of time to spend with my bride.”
Her Tycoon Hero Page 17
