Spring Into Love

by Chantel Rhondeau

  “Well, you can’t deny you’ve blazed a trail.”

  “Like you’re so perfect.”

  “I don’t pretend to be. Look, Drew, we agreed to just be friends and business partners. No more. Let’s keep it that way.”

  In the moment of deathly silence that followed, a voice inside her screamed, Idiot! This is your last chance! You’ll lose him forever.

  But then Drew spoke in a tone so cold it literally made her shiver. “You’re right. I don’t need this crap. Anything more than being friends and business partners would end up being a big pain in my butt.” He signed off without a goodbye.

  Casey padded back to her room, muffled her face against her pillow, and cried until dawn.

  Chapter 28

  Between building codes, contractor’s delays, and unexpected repair problems, it looked like the North Cove Performing Arts Academy would not open for another couple months. The daily meetings with Casey that Drew used to look forward to were now something he avoided. Whenever possible he took care of things without her and had his secretary call Casey with updates or questions.

  He continued to provide transportation and after-performance dinners for her dance group’s trips to New York City, mainly because he wanted to make sure Josh traveled with a safe driver and had a proper meal. But he no longer joined them. The silent response on Casey’s end told him she got the message loud and clear. She’d probably call it one of his games. Too bad. Drew wasn’t about to follow any woman around like a hound dog.

  And being with her just plain hurt too much.

  To everyone’s surprise the dance group made it all the way to the finals on Got Moves. Even though their season would not be televised until January, word got out. Regional papers and even the TV news carried stories about the kids they dubbed “Casey’s Cove Corps.”

  All of a sudden Drew’s shy, anti-social son was a celebrity. The North Cove Dance Academy’s email was so clogged with messages from fans in the live TV studio audience that Casey had to set up a Facebook fan page just for the Cove Corps. Drew was proud as hell of Josh, but he could also see the pressure building now that everyone was watching.

  Today Josh would be performing with Casey’s dancers at a Halloween pumpkin festival on one of the biggest farms in the North Fork. Drew planned on spending the day with him there, even though it meant seeing Casey. But between the crowds and festival activities, he would likely be able to scoot around her.

  How ironic. This awkwardness because of their emotional involvement was the very thing that had made Casey balk when Drew had first suggested buying a building to house her studio. He remembered assuring her it wouldn’t be a problem. But back then he’d been so certain the one having trouble letting go would be Casey, not himself.

  Now as Drew and Josh prepared to leave for the festival, his formerly quiet son yammered on about his plans to explore a haunted corn maze with ten-foot-tall stalks after the performance. When Drew could get a word in, he said, “You head on out to the carport. I’m going to check on Grandpa and let him know where we’ll be.”

  Drew sauntered to his father’s wing and found Andrew Sr. parked in front of the TV with a bottle of Jack Daniels on the end table next to him. Not good. After telling him where they were going, he added, “Why don’t you come along with us?”

  “With you and the kid?”

  “His name’s Josh. And everybody else at the festival will be applauding him when he dances. Maybe it would be nice if his grandfather did, too.”

  “I wouldn’t want any son of mine doing that ballerina stuff.” Andrew Sr. turned back to the television.

  Drew picked up the remote, switched off the TV and stepped in front of it. “You are a heartless, selfish prick. For your information, it takes balls to go onstage and risk complicated moves only a supreme athlete could achieve. My son has performed them on a TV show millions will see. And the best part about it? He loves doing it. You know why I say that, Dad? Because I never loved any of the things you forced me to do. I might have, if you would’ve left me alone instead of pushing me and pushing me so hard I used to lie awake half the night before a Little League game, terrified I might strike out or make an error and you’d be ashamed of me.”

  His father waved him off. “You coddle that boy. Sure, I was tough, but that’s what made you the man you are today.”

  “The man I am? Such a man that at the age of thirty-two I still do everything my father says. Even if it ruins my life.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Remember the stupid nonsense with Amber Von Alston? Sometimes I think you faked those heart pains on the golf course just to get me to do it.”

  “Oh, that.” He chuckled.

  “Were you faking it?” Drew stepped in, his face close enough to his father’s to silence his laugh.

  “I don’t remember. What difference does it make?”

  “Difference? The difference between me being happy or miserable. I finally fall in love with a woman and I leave her hanging so I can go play games with Amber. And she saw me at Amber’s party, Dad. So I lost her. I lost the only woman I ever wanted.”

  His father watched Drew a moment. “Is she one of Amber’s friends?”

  “No. She worked for the caterer Julia hired. A horrible coincidence.”

  “Got involved with a waitress, huh? Where’d you meet her?”

  “She sometimes works as a waitress, but she’s Josh’s dance teacher.”

  “The one who’ll be running that artsy place you’ve been working on?”

  Drew nodded.

  “She gonna be there today?”

  “Of course.”

  “I’d like to meet her.”

  “You already have. When she was waiting out front by the car a few weeks ago.”

  Andrew Sr.’s eyebrows came together as he thought about it. “That skinny, mousy-haired thing?”

  “Yeah. Her.”

  His father stood. “All right. I suppose it’s time I got a look at what’s going on with these two boys I got.”

  ***

  Since Casey’s group would be one of two competing for the final prize on Got Moves this Thursday, Casey thought it best to keep them sharp with a Saturday performance in addition to their rehearsals. She stood with her dancers near a platform that served as a stage in the huge barn already filled to capacity with folks from North Cove and other nearby towns eager to see the Cove Corps. She gathered her dancers for a group hug, a ritual they shared before every show.

  Paige put a hand to her queasy tummy. “I think it’s worse when people in the audience know you.”

  “Yeah,” Emma said. “Like my little brother will probably call out my name and jinx me.”

  “That’ll be after I slip and land on my butt.”

  “Face it. We’re going down.”

  “Stop it, you guys.” Casey patted their backs. “Just focus on the dance as we rehearsed it, and you’ll do great. And don’t worry about whether or not we win the final prize. What you’ve already achieved is amazing. I’m so proud of all of you.”

  Casey understood too well the fear of things going wrong. Of seeing your luck go south even after you’ve given it your best. Life wasn’t always fair. She’d learned that lesson, but wasn’t about to dampen their dreams with even a trace of her cynicism. The same cynicism that was giving her cold feet over the elaborate performing arts academy Drew was building.

  Sure, she’d had an enthusiastic hand in shaping it, but now that it was becoming a reality, her anxiety and doubt started taking over. Running dance classes and her little Cove Corps was one thing; heading an arts center with a multi-faceted school, a studio-theater and a charitable outreach program seemed like more than she could handle. Drew had even bought a nearby farmhouse he wanted to turn into a twenty-room bed-and-breakfast to house students coming in for residential summer programs.

  Scariest part of it was if Casey failed this time she would not only be letting her kids down and screwing up on
her own dream—she’d be failing Drew.

  Because this dream also belonged to him.

  Standing on the side of the room in her jeans, sneakers and hoodie, she couldn’t help peeking out the corner of her eye at him now. Drew sat on a card chair in the front row. He wore a denim shirt that made his eyes look even bluer. The open collar accented his wonderful jaw and sexy Adam’s apple. Rolled up sleeves showed his muscular forearms, one hand holding a jack o’lantern Josh had probably picked out.

  Casey loved Drew’s hands. So strong and warm. Hands that knew just how to touch her.

  At two o’clock sharp Hannah Gibson, a reporter from the local newspaper, walked on the stage, mic in hand. She told the crowd about the exciting day she’d had when Casey allowed her to travel along with the Cove Corps last week and go behind the scenes for their appearance on Got Moves. “Now, here they are. The Cove Corps!”

  The group danced three of the pieces they’d done for the live TV audience, and each garnered wild applause. Josh, who did the most gymnastic moves, had them cheering throughout. Clearly star potential.

  Casey peered at Drew again to catch a glimpse of that proud papa look on his face. He must have sensed her watching him because at that moment he met her gaze and rewarded her with a smile that sent shivers clear to her toes.

  It took her a while to recognize the familiar-looking man sitting next to Drew. His father. Aside from his blue eyes, he and Drew were miles apart in appearance. She wondered if his presence today was a first. Drew had once told her how troubled he was over his father’s rejection of a grandson who would never be the kind of boy Andrew Sr. preferred.

  Casey missed those intimate talks she used to have with Drew, often while cradled in his arms after an exhausting round of sex. Four weeks had passed since Drew’s late night phone call when he’d asked her for another chance and she’d refused him. And every day she questioned her decision. No matter how hard she tried not to, she still loved him. And sometimes she needed him so badly she thought any amount of heartache he’d cause her down the road would be worth it just to have him back for a little while.

  After the show, people clustered around Casey with praise and friendly wishes. Drew did not join them, but gave her a quick thumbs up—from a distance. She met her kids near the makeshift dressing room to soothe any boo-boos, remind them of rehearsal schedule and collect costumes. Then she beat a quick path toward her car.

  Luckily, Natalie had a catering job today, Parker was mulching his peach trees, and Jiao had gone to visit relatives. No one to push her into staying.

  Or so she thought.

  As Casey walked to her car she felt someone trailing her. She slowed her steps and, while watching parents and children laughing at the clowns and pumpkin puppets, she turned to see who it was.

  Drew’s father stepped toward her. He was alone. “Damn, you walk fast. Casey Richardson, right?”

  She nodded. “Hello, Mr. Byrne. Enjoy the performance?”

  “I’m not much on that sort of thing, but I can certainly appreciate what great shape those kids are in. Whew. Tired me out just watching.”

  “Glad you came. I’m sure it means a lot to Josh.”

  He nodded silently, looking her over. Not in a sexual way. More like a boss or a teacher deciding if you’re up to snuff. Finally he said, “I did something that got my son furious at me.”

  “Really?” This was an odd thing to share with her. A twinge of caution rose.

  “Ya see, I tricked him into doing what I wanted. Hardly the first time, but this one came out all wrong because he said you saw him with Amber Von Alston and thought what went on between them was real.”

  Heat suffused her cheeks. “Why are you telling me this?”

  “Because my son’s been ornery and miserable lately. Told me he finally fell in love and now he’s lost you because I made him mess it up with this scheme around Amber. So I guess I owe it to him to try and fix it.”

  Casey froze, dumbfounded by his words. Drew was in love with her? Could it be true? Maybe Parker was right.

  Andrew Sr. pointed to the costumes in her arms. “Putting those in your car? You’re not leaving yet, are you?”

  “Well, I—”

  He touched her elbow and started forward. “Come on, I’ll help you. Then we’ll go back and have some apple cider. Not my preferred drink, but…”

  Should she? Where would this lead? But if his father was right, she’d treated Drew unfairly. All because she was so sure he would break her heart. Meanwhile she was allowing him to fund a studio that would provide her with a career and a purpose. She heard herself saying, “All right.”

  They reached her beaten up 2000 Honda Civic.

  “You’re driving around in this?” he said.

  Casey loaded the costumes into the trunk. “I love this car. Been driving it for years.”

  “Looks it.”

  On the way back they passed a hay tunnel, an inflatable bounce house, a haunted trail and kids at a table painting scary faces on themselves. There were tractor hayrides and a corn maze, goats and sheep wearing orange ribbons, pony rides, squawking ducks and chickens to feed.

  People Casey knew and some she didn’t stopped her with warm wishes for the group and congratulations. They offered her donuts, pumpkin pie, roasted corn and jellied apples. All of which Andrew Sr. accepted and polished off while mumbling appreciative sounds.

  They finally saw Drew and Josh getting out of a wagon that was returning from the fields.

  Josh waved. “Hey, Grandpa! Look at the pumpkin we got.”

  “Figures he’d pick one that weighs a ton,” Drew said, carrying a huge pumpkin wider than his torso.

  “Casey!” Josh bounced toward her, chattering about the haunted trail through the cornfields.

  A slight crease formed between Drew’s eyebrows when he saw her with his father. “Got to get this thing to the car.”

  “I’ll take it for you.” Andrew Sr. reached for the pumpkin.

  “You sure you can handle this, Dad?”

  “Don’t insult me, son.” He grabbed the massive pumpkin and heaved it up on his chest. “Josh, you come with me. Get your dad’s keys. You can open the trunk for me. And we’ll stop at the face-painting table on the way back. I can make you look like a real ghoul.”

  Andrew Sr. cut his eyes to Casey with a quick, but meaningful glance and walked away with Josh. Leaving her with Drew.

  She just stood there shuffling her feet like an idiot trying to figure out what to say. Should she apologize? Should she explain? “I…I wanted to talk to you.”

  “About?”

  Us. But she couldn’t quite get the word out. Especially when she remembered him saying exactly that to her in the limo the night he’d tried to make her believe his story about Amber. Her mind went numb. Everything she considered saying sounded wrong.

  “Casey Richardson.” Monica Bickles came rushing toward her. “Welcome me back.”

  Casey went pale. Say hello to the real Madame Lumina. “Monica. I don’t believe it. How was Tibet?” she asked, hoping her friend would get wrapped up talking about her trip instead of mentioning tarot readings. And the favor Casey performed for her with the Fourth of July raffle winner. Who just happened to be standing right here.

  “Cold and windy,” Monica said.

  That was it? The girl who usually talked a blue steak had no more to say about her big trek in the wilds?

  Then Casey saw why. Monica clearly wanted to be introduced to the eye candy standing here. “Monica, this is my friend Drew Byrne.” Casey gestured. “Drew, Monica Bickles.”

  Monica shook his hand and said, “I do psychic tarot readings in case you’re ever interested.” She turned to Casey. “By the way, I heard you were great.” She laughed, giving Drew a winning smile. “While I was trekking the mountains of Tibet, Casey filled in for me as Madame Lumina.”

  Casey wanted to crawl into the nearest hole.

  Drew’s teal blue eyes turned to ice. He glared a
t Casey, turned, and marched away.

  “Did I say something wrong?” Monica asked.

  “Talk to you later, Monica.” Flooded with guilt, Casey bounded after him. “Drew, wait. I can explain how it happened.”

  He kept walking but tossed words over his shoulder. “My father never told you that horse’s name, did he?”

  “No.”

  “And you weren’t really trying to reach another client when you called me in Saratoga.”

  “No.”

  “That was right after you dumped me for Ravage. Guess you called me to gloat over bringing down the big guy.”

  “Are you kidding? I was devastated after seeing you with Amber. I only wanted to know if you ever actually cared for me.” Some people noticed them arguing. Casey purposely lowered her voice, not wanting to make a scene.

  He stopped. Casey was about to elaborate on how it all happened, to tell him the truth about how she felt for him and beg him to understand. But the face he turned on her was so cold and hard she masked her feelings and instead said only, “But you made it pretty clear I was just another tiring female.”

  “I’ll say. And a liar.” He snorted a laugh. “And you called me a liar. Punishing me like I’m a monster who plays women.”

  “That’s not how—”

  “You’re the one who’s a player. Just another manipulative bitch. Well, you got a dance studio out of me. Guess that’s what you wanted all along.”

  “I never…I tried to pull out of that plan. You talked me into it. Even barged into Natalie’s kitchen to convince me.”

  “An actress, too.”

  “Fuck you. If I had—”

  Drew showed her his back. “Hey, don’t I know you from somewhere?” he said to a redheaded woman in tight jeans who strolled by as if on cue.

  The woman gave him a pert smile. “No, but maybe you should.”

  He flicked a glance at Casey and said, “See ya around.” And strolled off making cutesy talk with his new target.

  A lump of emotion filled her throat. Casey made herself turn and move her feet toward the parking area even though it felt like a Mack truck had landed on her.