“Have her call me if she changes her mind. And don’t even try to get out of here without saying goodbye.”
“You sure are getting bossy now that I’m leaving,” Cam shot back as she disappeared into the hall.
Checking the time, Cassie made a quick stop in the employee lounge to grab a bag of chips and a soda. She’d skipped breakfast and lunch, but she couldn’t ignore the growling of her stomach any longer.
She’d only had a few minutes with Janie before they left for work that morning, but it was long enough to learn the fire had consumed two buildings. One had been the home to several of the town’s homeless. Two young men had died. From what Kurt had learned, both had been in the foster care program until a few months before. With no money and unable to obtain work, they’d done what they could to survive. The knowledge had hit Cassie hard.
She and Eric’s wife, Amber, had worked with Annie at the MacLaren Foundation, a non-profit organization established to make certain kids exiting the foster care system had the needed skills and resources to make it once their state funding ran out. Prior to the foundation’s help, many of the children turning eighteen prior to the end of the school year lost funding before they’d obtained their high school diploma, reducing their chances of finding work. She wondered if this was what had happened to the young men who’d lost their lives last night.
The fires had officially escalated from vandalism to murder, compelling the fire chief and the police chief to establish a joint task force. Its sole purpose would be to find, arrest, and prosecute those responsible.
Vowing to call Annie to see if something could be done for foster children in Cold Creek, Cassie closed her office door, letting her thoughts drift back to Matt.
He and Kade had left for Crooked Tree early that morning, leaving her with an ache that grew with each passing hour. Dinner had been tense, neither of them contributing much to the conversation. Even though they’d said nothing, she felt certain Cam, Kade, and Lainey picked up on the strained vibes between Matt and her. Afterwards, he’d driven to her place, escorting her upstairs. Staring at each other, neither seemed willing to be the first one to speak.
“I’ll call you, Cassie. There’s still more to say.”
“You made it clear what happened earlier tonight was a mistake. If you don’t think we have a chance, just tell me. Don’t leave town with me wondering.”
Stepping forward, he placed a hand against the door, forcing her back. “I don’t think either of us believes it’s the end.” He lifted her chin with his finger. “At least I don’t.” He studied her face, knowing he’d hurt her. “I was a jerk earlier and I’m sorry. I was angry with myself, not you. Being near you and not having you is harder than I expected. The last thing we need is to jump into a physical relationship before we work through the past. We need time to figure this out, make certain we’re ready to try again. Can we at least agree to that?”
Could she do this? Give it her best only to have him walk away again? “All right. What do you suggest?”
“I’ll be in Montana with Kade for a few days. I need to schedule the trip to the northwest with you and Skye. We’ll carve out some time together while we’re away. In the meantime, I’ll call you…probably more than you want.”
The last caused her mouth to curve into a smile. “I doubt that.” She could talk to him all day, every day, and never get tired of it. “The rest sounds good. Really good.”
Nodding, he lowered his head, brushing his lips against hers, then stepped back. “I’d better leave before we give the neighbors a show. I’ll talk to you tomorrow.”
Stepping inside, she listened to the sound of his footfalls on the stairs, then peeked out the window, waiting until he drove away before heading for bed. The pain in her chest had eased with his words. Talking didn’t guarantee they had a future, but it was a start.
Pulling herself from thoughts of the night before, she placed a hand on her heart—the heart Matt already owned.
******
Crooked Tree, Montana
Kade kept the phone between his ear and shoulder, listening to his wife’s travel plans. Brooke moved from division to division, dealing with team productivity and transitioning new businesses into the corporation. Glancing up as the door opened, he turned away, looking for another moment of privacy.
“Oh, looks like he’s still on his call.” Skye motioned Gage and Ivan Santiago forward, waving to chairs around the small table a moment before Matt joined them. “Sounds like he’s finishing up. May I get you anything to drink?”
“Water would be great,” Gage replied, Ivan nodding in agreement.
“I’ll be back in Fire Mountain about the time you leave. Let’s plan a couple days away when you return… Sounds good… Love you, too.” Hanging up, he turned toward the visitors. “Sorry to keep—” He halted, taking a good look at the man sitting next to Gage. “Ivan?”
“Kade Taylor. I had no idea you worked for the MacLarens.” Standing, Ivan walked toward him, pulling Kade into an embrace, then stepped back. “It’s been a long time. You’re looking well.”
“As are you,” Kade answered.
“My understanding is all divisions are led by someone from the MacLaren family.”
“It seems we have some catching up to do. Mother obviously has said nothing to the family, but my father is a MacLaren.”
Ivan’s brows lifted as his eyes grew wide. “You are right. Aunt Reyna has said nothing. Yes, you and I have much to talk about.”
Kade’s gaze shot to Matt, Skye, and Gage, all signaling their confusion. “Ivan is my cousin. It’s been a long time since we’ve seen each other.” Turning back to Ivan, he motioned for him to take a seat. “We’ll talk over dinner tonight.”
“Excellent. Now, it seems we have business to discuss.”
******
Matt, Skye, and Gage sat in the bar, nursing their after dinner cocktails as Kade and Ivan continued to talk in the restaurant. Skye had heard a little of Kade’s background from her father, but hearing him discuss it openly with Ivan gave her a different perspective.
“So Kade’s mother never told her family about Rafe being his father?” Matt asked, shaking his head.
“Appears not. Kade Santiago Taylor MacLaren…now that’s a mouthful.” Gage tipped his glass up, sipping his drink, wondering what other surprises would surface. The MacLaren family continued to intrigue him. His hooded gaze shifted to the woman beside him. Each time he met Skye, he left more impressed.
“Yes, it is. Dad has been open with us about his love for Reyna Santiago and his ignorance of fathering Kade. Hearing it from Kade has given me a new understanding of what he went through growing up.”
“Cassie and I split up before Rafe mended the riff with Jace and Heath. This is the first I’ve heard the story.” Matt leaned back in his stool, crossing his arms. “They sure don’t seem to have any issues now.”
Skye chuckled. “They’ve become tight, although the relationships were strained for several months. Of course, Kade’s announcement about his parentage impacted everyone.”
“I’d imagine it was hard for you.” Gage watched her expression. She seemed to have nothing but affection for her older stepbrother, a man no one knew existed until a couple years before.
“Mitch took it the hardest. Giving up his spot as top dog didn’t sit well with him. They’ve had a few missteps, but I think he and Kade have reached an understanding. And now we learn Ivan and Kade are cousins.”
“A wicked we,” Matt joked. “It’ll be interesting to see how this affects the association with Double Ace.”
“It can’t hurt and could be a big help going forward. We all have the same goals, and now there’s family involved…unless the uncles have an issue with it,” Gage said.
“The uncles?” Skye frowned, leaning closer to Gage.
“It’s complicated. There are several investors in Double Ace, but the three Santiago brothers own the majority of stock. Ivan’s father, Javier, is
more of a silent majority owner. He lets his two brothers make the decisions regarding rodeo stock and cattle exports to the United States. Ivan may own a small amount of stock, but it’s his father and uncles who have the power. He works for them.”
“Could the uncles cause problems?” Matt asked, already aware of the complicated ownership.
Gage shrugged. “Who knows? So far, they’ve been supportive and have embraced the partnership. They’re also increasing their shipments of beef into the U.S. That segment seems to be monopolizing most of their time.”
“Do all the shipments still come through the Houston stockyard?” Matt swirled the remaining ice in his glass, deciding against a refill.
“They do. I hired a second crew because of the increase in beef cattle shipments.”
“Sounds like a good problem,” Skye commented, doing her best not to stare at Gage’s profile. Strong and angular with a straight nose and full lips, she hadn’t taken the time to appreciate his good looks until now. His thick brown hair, streaked with strands of gold, always seemed to be in need of a trim, resting below his collar and falling into his eyes. And what gorgeous eyes. A piercing deep green with flecks of golden-brown, they seemed to be ever watchful, missing little. Tall and muscular, he projected an air of confidence and power without trying. She bet he’d left a string of broken hearts across America during his rodeo days.
“We’ll see. The increased shipments just started. That’s why Ivan flew to Houston, so he could observe and report back to his uncles.”
“Why would a few additional truckloads of cattle cause so much interest?” Matt’s gaze narrowed.
“Good question.” Gage didn’t elaborate. He had his own questions and was determined to get answers.
“Here they come.” Skye set her empty glass down, watching Kade and Ivan approach.
“Everyone ready to head out?” Kade asked, glancing at his watch. “Hope we didn’t keep you waiting too long.”
“Not at all. It gave us a chance to swap stories and learn more about the two companies.” Skye picked up her purse, wishing she’d had more time to learn about the intriguing man next to her. Gage Templeton had many layers, and she found herself fantasizing about peeling back each one.
******
“Hey, it’s me.” Matt stretched out on the motel bed, an arm behind his head.
“Hey.” Cassie’s sleepy voice assailed him, making him wish they were in the same room, in the same bed.
“Did I wake you?”
“Not really. I’ve been reading…about ready to turn off the light.” She didn’t say she’d stayed awake as long as possible, hoping he’d call. She felt like she did when they’d first started going out—excited, giddy, and scared. “How did the meeting go?”
He tried to think of an appropriate word. “Enlightening.”
“That sounds intriguing. What did you get enlightened about?”
“Kade Santiago Taylor MacLaren.”
She chuckled. Kade never used his full name, and had only started using MacLaren instead of Taylor in the last few months, obstinately sticking to the last name his mother had made up so other children wouldn’t tease him about his lack of a father.
“He explained it all to you?”
Matt took a few minutes to explain about Ivan and the relationship between him and Kade.
“It took us all by surprise.” Matt shifted on the bed, sitting up to rest against the headboard.
“That’s quite a coincidence. You know, none of us have ever met his mother. I believe her name is Reyna. Kade told Brooke she lived in Mexico and never married. A few of us girls wondered if Rafe would get in touch with her after his divorce.”
“A few of you girls, huh?” He chuckled, picturing the MacLaren women sitting around, speculating about Rafe and his love life.
“You know how it is when a few of us get together, sharing wine. The topics are endless.” She laughed, then grew quiet when Matt didn’t respond. “Are you still there?”
“Yeah, I’m here.”
She could hear him breathing, and if she didn’t know he was a couple states away, she could almost believe he sat next to her.
“Did you ever talk about us?” He breathed out the question, his voice low, seductive.
The question hung between them while Cassie thought back to the evenings she’d spent with Brooke, Amber, Dana, and Lainey, talking of lost loves and future opportunities.
“A little,” she whispered.
“Were we a taboo subject?”
“No, not really. It’s just that talking about you was difficult for me. To be truthful, I tried to forget you ever existed.”
“I can understand that, Cass. I didn’t talk about us much, either.”
The silence grew once more, neither knowing where to go from there. It would be easier if they were in the same room, able to see each other’s reaction and not rely on voices alone. For now, this was all they had.
Cassie cleared her throat. “Did you get a schedule arranged for the northwest trip?”
Matt was glad for the change of subject. “I hope to finalize it tomorrow. Our first stop will be Othello, then Ellensburg. I’ll send you the schedule as soon as Kade approves it. I’m looking forward to seeing you.”
She hadn’t been far from his thoughts since he left Cold Creek. He knew what he wanted, but the odds of making it work after such a tough breakup were slim. The only couple he knew who’d made it work were Eric and Amber. Matt sensed Cassie would be willing to give it a second chance. Knowing her, she’d give it her all, doing whatever she could to make it work. He would be the one who’d have a more difficult time with it. As much as he still loved her, he had no intention of putting up with her selfish, inconsiderate actions a second time.
It would be a learning experience for them both, especially if she thought she’d be getting back the same Matt who walked out of her life and didn’t look back. He’d also changed. He’d always been strong and knew what he wanted. The problem was the degree he would allow himself to change in order to please Cassie. He’d allowed her desires to take control, suppressing his own for the sake of harmony. That had ended when he left.
“Same here. I miss you, Matt.” She tightened her grip on the phone, hoping she hadn’t exposed too much.
“You know, this isn’t going to be easy. We’ve both changed, hopefully matured. We may not make it.”
If he gave them another chance, she had no intention of screwing it up a second time, but she also knew the odds weren’t in their favor. “Eric and Amber made it.”
“Yes, they did, and it was a long shot.” His voice was controlled, matter-of-fact, as if they were talking about meeting for a burger.
Her stomach twisted as she began to comprehend what he may be saying. “Have you changed your mind about trying again?”
“No. I just don’t want to hurt you.”
“That goes both ways, Matt. Why don’t we meet in Othello and see what happens?”
“Works for me. I’d better let you get some sleep. Goodnight, Cassie.”
“Goodnight, Matt.” She set the phone next to the bed, placing her open palm on her stomach to loosen the knot. This would not be some fantasy of two lovers coming back together after being forced apart. Matt was right. It would be hard and it may not work, but it was the one shot she had. Nothing in the world could keep her from trying.
Chapter Fifteen
“Hi, Annie. It’s Cassie. Do you have a few minutes to talk?”
“Of course. What’s going on?” Annie could hear the concern in her stepdaughter’s voice.
“Do you remember the fires I mentioned to you the last time we spoke?”
“Of course. Did they catch the person responsible?”
“No, it’s gotten worse.” Cassie explained about the deaths of the two young men and how the area had nothing similar to the MacLaren Foundation to support those leaving the foster care program. “I checked on both of them. They’d lost their funding and left
the system a few months before. They were living in an abandoned warehouse, eating scraps, and still attending high school.” Her voice broke. “Oh, Annie, it makes me sick thinking about it.”
“Let me talk to Heath and see if there’s a way to get something started in Cold Creek. I don’t know anything about the legalities or possible funding, but you know we’ll do what we can. Are you able to work on it from your end?”
“I’ll do whatever I can. With Cam gone, I’m not sure who to talk to about working with the locals.”
“I suppose it would be Kade, or possibly Matt. Let me talk to Heath and get back to you. It may be a few days, though.” Annie hesitated a moment, then ventured on. “Are you comfortable working with Matt on something like this?”
Although Annie couldn’t see it, Cassie smiled at the comment. “Yes. We could work together fine. In fact, well…I think we may be trying to work through the past. It’s way too soon to know if it will work between us, but it’s a start.”
“Oh, Cassie, that’s wonderful.”
Cassie paused a moment, debating whether to bring up what continued to trouble her. Annie had always been the voice of calm, giving good advice, withholding her opinions unless asked.
“Annie, do you know why Dad did this to me?” The question almost choked her, the sense of betrayal still so raw.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Tell me what’s bothering you.”
“He knew how much it would hurt me to hire Matt, make him my boss. The only reason I can come up with is he’d like me to quit, find a job somewhere else.” Her voice cracked on the last, her grip on the phone almost painful.
“Oh, honey. I’m certain that wasn’t his intention.” Annie shifted the phone to her other hand, understanding Cassie’s confusion. “He thinks you’re doing a great job. I can’t speak as to the reasons for hiring Matt or making him your boss, but I’m certain they’re sound. At least from his viewpoint. You aren’t thinking of quitting, are you?”
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