“Really? Yeah, I guess he would. Never forget the look on his face when I won all that cash.”
Whew.
***
Drew winced at the noise level inside the Escalade stretch limo. He’d had no idea what he was getting himself into when he offered to provide transportation plus join the three other parents who accompanied Casey and her dance crew the day of the Got Moves competition performance. It amazed him how much chaos could be created by three twelve-year-olds, one ten-year-old, one nine (Josh), one fifteen and two fourteen-year-olds.
At least this was the return trip. This morning on their way to Manhattan, Aaron got carsick and threw up. Emma cried because her brother told her she’d look fat on TV. Filipa and Krissy had an argument about something or other. Josh and Brendan drank soda and made burping sounds. Paige had a mini-breakdown because she forgot to bring her good luck charm. And it seemed like at least three had to go to the bathroom every time they passed a service station.
All day Drew had worried like hell, thinking these kids would never make it through a performance in front of a live TV audience. He’d started planning what to say to console Josh, who had his heart set on at least getting into the semi-finals.
But the most remarkable thing happened. By the afternoon when the taping of the actual show took place Drew witnessed a total transformation. The kids went into their dance and all the hysteria vanished. They performed their moves with the power and pluck of Olympians on Red Bull.
When ear-splitting applause rang out at their finish, he turned to Casey. She looked every bit the part of sexy, hip dance director. Instead of her usual jeans, tights or sporty dress she wore a silky low-cut mini-sheath that hugged her taut curves and red stilettos that emphasized her lethally gorgeous legs. Plus, the excitement of the day had brought a sparkle to her eyes and a heightened color to her face, making her look even more beautiful.
He bent close to her ear and spoke beneath the din of cheers. “I can’t believe they actually pulled it off. They were such a mess on the way up here.”
Casey laughed. “That’s what continuous rehearsals do. Ingrain the dance so deeply in the body and mind that repeating it is like returning to a familiar path through the woods.”
He loved the way Casey said things. And the way she laughed. And the way she handled the kids. And…everything about her. “Think they have a chance of making it to the next round?”
“Absolutely.” She grinned. “Of course I am a little biased.”
“Only trouble is if they don’t get eliminated today I’ve got to face Heather’s wrath.”
“But won’t she be proud of Josh?”
“At the risk of sounding like one of those uncouth folk who go around criticizing their ex in public, I’ll just say Heather prefers Josh to succeed within the boundaries of her control.”
“Please tell me she won’t pull him out of the group now.”
“I won’t let her do that to him.” A pang of sorrow gripped Drew as the reality struck him that when the Cove Corps did finally get eliminated from the show it would mean sending Josh away to live with his mother in Germany. Sure, he’d known all along that day would come, but he hadn’t known parting with his son would be like ripping out his own heart.
He glanced at Josh now, sitting in the far back of the limo with Aaron and Krissy, looking at the phone video replay of their performance for the hundredth time. They’d even shown it to the waiters at The Porter House in Midtown, the restaurant where Drew treated the whole crew to dinner. The staff made a fuss over the kids, calling them celebrities and bringing their table a big plate of complimentary Porter House cookies.
By the time they closed in on home turf on Long Island’s North Fork the noise level subsided. Drew had purposely instructed the driver to first drop off everyone besides Casey. Although Josh would be in the car, he thought he could at least walk her to her door and have a few brief moments alone with her.
Yeah, so he was hoping for an appreciative kiss. But after they’d dropped off everyone and headed toward her brother’s strange homestead where she now lived, Drew feared Casey would find some excuse for slipping quickly away from him. The way she always did these days. And frankly, he thought it was time to change that.
Casey sat next to him the whole ride home. Her skirt rode up, leaving her sexy gams right under his gaze, the left one pressing against his thigh, making him so hard he had to toss Josh’s jacket across his lap so he wouldn’t embarrass himself. She smelled of some floral scent mixed with coffee and something that was just her.
Drew peered at his son on the seat in the back of the stretch. Far enough away for him to have a private conversation with Casey. Plus Josh had fallen asleep.
Still, Drew kept his voice low. “I need to ask you something.”
Casey turned to him, her face so close it took all he had not to grasp the back of her neck and dip his face toward hers until that luscious mouth was on his.
“About?” she asked in a businesslike tone that pulled him out of his sultry thoughts.
“Us.”
Her face showed a flash of panic, then she masked it quickly. “Us? As in?”
“As in—what happened? Why did you turn against me?”
“I’m not against you, Drew. We’re partners in—”
“Don’t pretend you don’t know what I mean. You liked having me in your bed every night. And every morning it took at least forty minutes to peel ourselves out of each other’s grip. We used to have those long talks, telling each other things we hadn’t told anybody else. What we had was so good. Then all of a sudden you stopped answering my phone calls. And when we finally talk you give me this made-up bullshit about Taz Ravage. Then you snarl at me and say I’m a womanizer, when you knew my past all along. And that didn’t stop us in the beginning. We came so close to something real, Casey. But suddenly you wanted to get rid of me. Why?”
He waited as Casey stared down at her hands that happened to be fiddling with the strap of her pocketbook. Obviously weighing her answer, she took a deep inhale, then breathed out. “I don’t like to be lied to. Or used.”
“What in hell is that supposed to mean?”
“Do you remember that night we were supposed to go the Plaza?”
His brows snapped together. “This is all because I broke a date?”
“Of course not. That night you called me to break our date for your”—she cleared her throat—“business emergency, I decided to help out my friend Natalie by working as a server for her catering company. She was hired to cater a party at the home of Julia Von Alston. The party was for her daughter Amber.”
Drew felt as if all the air had been sucked right out of his lungs. Casey was at Amber’s party that night?
“So,” she continued, “it wasn’t just that you lied to me, but also that I learned you had a real girlfriend. Someone who was more than just a playful diversion for you. As I clearly was.”
“No. You’ve got it all wrong.” But he remembered the stupid show he’d put on to convince the Von Alstons and everyone at the party that he and Amber were practically engaged. Everyone including Casey.
She did a palms up. “Hey, I had no claim on you. No right to say how many women you could see. We hardly knew each other. We were just having fun, right? A few weeks of casual sex. But I got bored and needed to move on. I just don’t—”
“Stop it, Casey. I know you’re lying. You’re not too good at it.”
“Unlike you.” Her voice quaked. “Some business emergency.”
“It wasn’t a lie. That party was business. The whole thing was an act. All part of a stupid game.”
“Oh, that much I got. Loud and clear. Which is why I quit playing.”
“Not with you,” he growled.
“Shhh. You’ll wake Josh.”
“You don’t understand. I did it for my father.”
She let out a fake giggle. “Your hands on her butt and your tongue down her throat was for your dad?”
/> He raked his fingers through his hair. “Von Alston had a big contract up for renewal with Byrne Trucking. I was playing golf with my father. He tried to convince me I needed to do this pretense around Amber because her mother would like us to marry. When I argued with him his heart acted up. He’s already had two heart attacks, and when he fell to the ground on the golf course I got scared. He’s a stubborn bugger and refused to go to the hospital unless I agreed to play the Amber game. So I did.”
“Very creative. But it’s not necessary, Drew.”
Why had he ever let his father talk him into it? The contract got renewed. Amber moved on from her jockey to a Wall Streeter. Her mother was still pushing for Drew, but at least he could act like the rejected guy and go away. “You don’t believe me?”
“Well, it’s a pretty convoluted story.”
“I’m not making it up. It’s true.”
“If it’s true I feel sorry for Amber.”
“Don’t bother. Amber’s as tough as nails. She only wanted me in Saratoga to cover for her while she boinked some jockey. Just using me like I used her.”
“Sounds like you make a perfect pair.” Her tone was flat.
And the finality in it sent a cold loneliness through him.
Drew had to make her understand. Had to bring back the Casey who’d wanted him. He knew she did. Hell, in that first month they spent together he could tell she was crazy over him.
He considered telling her he loved her, but if she thought he was lying about Amber would she believe him? Her face was a closed mask right now. She’d probably just call it a ploy and shoot back with some cynical remark.
Before he could decide how to get through to Casey the car stopped. Drew cursed. They had arrived at Parker’s residence.
The driver spoke through the intercom. “Which of these buildings do I go to?” This morning Casey had been waiting at the end of the drive.
As Drew tried to figure out how to describe the greenhouse to the driver, Casey grabbed the duffle bag at her feet and opened the door. “I’ll get out here.”
Drew caught her wrist. “Casey, wait. I—”
“Are we home, Dad?” Josh’s sleepy voice cut through.
Drew turned to him, loosening his hold, and Casey pulled her hand away.
“Almost, Josh,” she said. “You did a super fab job today, buddy. And, Drew, thanks so much for all your generous help. I’ll let you know when Randall calls about the mirrors. Goodnight.”
Two barking dogs came running. Josh moved to the front of the limo and yelled after her. “Miss Casey, are we gonna rehearse in the morning? We’ve got to be ready for the next show.”
“Take a day to rest. I’ll call everybody tomorrow.”
Chapter 27
Skipper and Reef escorted Casey through the dark to the L-shaped greenhouse. The oblong section was a beautiful glass-covered conservatory filled with flowers and foliage. She and Parker lived in the short end, which resembled a makeshift backwoods cabin.
At the door her brother stepped forward and took her heavy duffle bag. “Long day, Casey. You must be tired. How’d it go?”
“My kids did great. Made it to the next round. So I’ll be working my buns off this week to create a new dance for the challenge the judges gave us.”
“Congratulations. Bet you go all the way to the finals.”
“I can’t even think that far ahead.” She didn’t want to talk about her day. She wanted to be alone to mull over the totally surprising discussion with Drew.
With a heavy sigh Casey sank into a wooden chair at the round garden table that occupied the center of their main room. Actually, their only room besides her own. Parker had cleaned out a storage area and put up a door, making a little private space for her.
“Something wrong?” he asked. “Or are you just tired?”
“Just a bit frazzled, bro. Could use a cup of your chamomile and lavender tea.”
“You got it.”
Casey shucked off her red stiletto heels, grateful Parker was one of those rare men sure enough of his masculinity that he wasn’t afraid to be nurturing. She hoped he’d find the right woman one day because she knew he’d be a great father.
As she watched him brew the tea made from dried herbs grown in his garden, her mind whirled with thoughts of her upsetting conversation with Josh’s father.
We came so close to something real, Casey.
What we had was so good.
What did he mean? Was he saying he wanted a real relationship with her? Certain things Josh had said in passing told her the boy thought Casey was his dad’s girlfriend. Would he think that if Drew had other women? But would Josh know? Or was Drew merely concealing his latest exploits from his son?
Aargh. She almost wished Drew hadn’t opened up on the subject. Telling her that story about his father and saying Amber didn’t mean anything to him. Making it sound like he really did care. It only confused her. Prolonged the torture.
It would be better if he’d just show up at the studio with another woman on his arm. Get it over with. That way she could simply wash her hands of him and be done with the whole mess.
Before tonight she thought she had washed her hands of him. And yet here she was, once again agonizing over whether or not there was still a chance for the two of them to share the kind of love she’d always dreamed of. The kind she once thought they’d had—before Amber’s party reminded her of his true nature.
No. Getting involved with a chronic womanizer was a recipe for pain.
Parker set a mug of hot tea in front of her. As Casey breathed in the fragrant steam and took a sip, she considered asking her brother why he believed Drew was in love with her. Could Parker’s hunch be right?
But Casey wanted so desperately for Drew to be in love with her that she didn’t dare get her hopes up. Didn’t dare venture into that dangerous territory. Because if she got slammed to the ground again she wasn’t sure she had anything left in her to pry herself off the carpet one more time.
***
When Casey’s cell rang at 2:10 a.m. she knew immediately who it was. “Hello, Drew.”
“Casey. We didn’t get a chance to finish our discussion.”
“Hold on a sec.” Casey didn’t want to have this conversation here in her little room where only plasterboard separated her from where Parker slept.
Through the dark she tiptoed out of their living area and into her brother’s glass house of plants. She hadn’t slept at all, and the spicy scent of dianthus had a refreshing effect. That and the bright half-moon overhead. She heard an owl hooting outside, the peaceful swooshing of trees, and crickets trying to hang on as autumn settled in.
Firm in her resolve, Casey took a seat on a crate next to a dracaena and started right in before Drew had a chance to muddle her thoughts again. “So, Drew, I know you’re an alpha male who needs a lot of women, and I have no right to judge your lifestyle, but I do have a right to choose my own. And I don’t want to be romantically involved with that kind of man.” There. She said it.
“But I’m not seeing anyone else.”
“That won’t last.”
“Listen, Casey. I know what I did with Amber was pretty stupid, and I’m sorry. I don’t blame you one bit for being angry with me.”
“I’m not angry anymore.” Only devastated. Why did she have to be the kind of person whose wounds took so long to heal?
“You don’t believe my story about the party, do you?”
Memories flooded her mind of Drew in the Von Alston’s backyard, his body draped around Amber’s. “About your father telling you which women to sleep with?”
His voice pitched higher. “I haven’t slept with Amber. Well, yeah, I have, but that was a long time ago. And it never meant anything.”
“I’m really not interested in—”
“Just hear me out.”
“Drew, we’ve been over this.”
“Both my dad and Amber’s parents would like me to marry Amber. That’s never go
nna happen, but it doesn’t hurt to put on an act now and then to keep them happy. And that’s all it was.”
“Sounds very manipulative.”
“Well, it’s the only way to handle a father who’s a world class manipulator. And stubborn as hell. But I love the tough old bird. And I owe him. He started our trucking business, and even though I was coerced into taking it on, it’s been awfully good to me. Each day I count my blessings for that. I live a privileged lifestyle. I can treat my son to special things. I can do all sorts of things. Like buy a dance studio.”
“You know how grateful I am for that. And I fully intend to pay my share of rental for—”
“Save it. That’s not why I said it. I just want you to understand why I have a tendency to give in to my father’s demands. And in this case, geez, he was still pushing me while he lay on his back holding his heart.”
Casey heaved an exasperated sigh. “I’m sorry about your father’s heart condition, but where are we going with this?”
“I never meant to hurt you, Casey. I want another chance. We came so close to something great, something real.”
Tears came. She blinked and felt them tickling her cheeks. Was she a fool to turn him down? She wanted so badly to have him back, to have the dream romance she’d always fantasized about.
But hadn’t she learned by now? This was Jeff all over again, only much worse. Jeff had only been a small taste of love; this was the full-blown, mature, deluxe version that would leave her shredded when he tired of her.
And wasn’t that what he’d told Madame Lumina? That all his women get to be tiring after a while. “Why did you lie to me, Drew? Why didn’t you just come out and tell me you had to play act with another woman for your business?”
“Oh, right. Like you wouldn’t have crucified me for that.”
“Don’t make assumptions about who I am or how I’d act.”
He let out a snort. “Like you’re not doing that to me? You’ve decided I’m an unreliable player who can’t sustain a relationship.”
Spring Into Love Page 167
