“Father, wait. What is the purpose of this now? Aunt Reyna is happy here. Kade is doing well and is part of a successful family. What is to be gained by confronting her?”
“The truth, my son. A family cannot exist on a bed of lies.”
Ivan let the last settle in his mind, knowing he had one other matter of importance to discuss. For now, it could wait.
“Ah, my handsome nephew has returned.” Aunt Reyna entered the study, a broad smile on her face as she opened her arms to Ivan. “You have come back sooner than expected.”
Stepping away, Ivan studied her face, his own tense, knowing the conversation awaiting them. “You look well, Aunt Reyna.”
Her gaze wandered over him, assessing. “You, my nephew, appear tired. Are my brothers pushing you too hard?” She glanced at Javier, her brow raising.
“They do keep me busy.”
“Ivan came home to tell us of some news, Reyna. Please, sit down so he may tell you what he has learned.”
Looking between the two, Reyna shrugged, her curiosity peaked. “So tell me, Ivan. What is this news you have for me?”
Ivan loved his aunt, having no desire to cause her pain. He sat near her, leaning forward, attempting to close the distance between them, his voice softening. “My meetings took me to Crooked Tree, Montana. Did you not live there for a time?”
Tilting her head, she willed herself to relax at the mention of Kade’s birthplace, the town where she’d met and fallen in love with his father. “Yes. I am certain you remember your cousin, Kade, and I lived there for many years.”
“I remember.” Hesitating, Ivan shot a look at his father, accepting the nod as reassurance to continue. “We have a new partnership. One which we believe will produce many years of profits.”
“That is good, Ivan. What does this have to do with me?”
“The company is MacLaren Rodeo. The man in charge is Kade MacLaren.”
Reyna’s heart jumped into her throat at the mention of her son, even as her face showed no hint of the turbulence building inside. They knew. She could see it in their eyes. The secret she’d kept locked away for so many years had found its way out, as she knew it eventually would.
Instead of feeling fear or condemnation, as she had when her father had learned of Kade, a sense of relief claimed her, giving her life a renewed strength.
“So you saw your cousin after all these years. How is he?” Her question, simple and direct, caught both Ivan and Javier by surprise.
“Is that all you have to say, Reyna? Ivan learns Kade’s father is a MacLaren, not Thomas Taylor as you insisted, and you sit before us as if the news does not affect you?”
“Why should it? I’ve always known the true identity of my son’s father.”
Ivan pursed his lips so as not to laugh at his aunt’s audacity. She’d never been a woman to trifle with, and she continued to prove it
“Why the charade, Reyna? I do not understand the deception you felt necessary?” Javier stood, walking around his desk, resting a hip against the edge. “Was there ever a Thomas Taylor?”
Tucking her shawl around her, she raised her chin. “I am certain there is a Thomas Taylor somewhere. He is just not my son’s father.”
Looking toward the ceiling, Javier pinched the bridge of his nose, letting out a groan. “I do not understand why you did not tell Father the truth?”
She sighed. The one brother who’d always supported her, even when their father had shunned his unmarried, pregnant daughter, Javier had been there for her. When their father cut off her funds, Javier had set aside part of his own, sending it to her every month until Kade graduated from high school. When even their mother refused to acknowledge them, Javier had. He’d visited several times, bringing presents for his nephew, accepting him.
“Even then, the MacLarens were well-known and quite wealthy. Rafael, Kade’s father, had left the family, moving to Montana to find his own way. He worked hard and did well. Rafe did not need to be forced into marrying a woman he didn’t love, accepting a child he didn’t want.” Her unwavering gaze held his. “Our father would have used his family’s status against us. I could not let that happen.”
“Aunt Reyna, are you so certain Rafe did not love you? That is not the picture Kade gave me of his father.” Ivan moved toward her, resting a hand on her shoulder.
Shaking her head, she glanced down at her hands clenched tight in her lap. “I do not wish to speak of him. He is in my past. It is as it should be.”
“There is one other piece of news you need to hear.” Ivan had not even told his father of his agreement. He could no longer hold it back. “I made a promise to Kade to escort you to Fire Mountain for a visit.”
“But—”
“He insisted and I gave my word. You will meet his wife. Would you not like to meet your daughter-in-law?” Ivan’s eyes crinkled at the corners, although he held his smile in check. “If you do not agree to go willingly, I will bundle you into our private plane.”
“I will also go. I want to meet this Rafael MacLaren, see the man who took so many years from my sister’s life.” Javier crossed his arms, the decision made.
Standing abruptly, Reyna’s face signaled the horror she felt at Javier coming face-to-face with Kade’s father. “It is not necessary for you to go. I will travel with Ivan.”
“Oh, but it is necessary. Pack what you need. We will leave once Ivan concludes his business in León.”
******
Cold Creek, Colorado
“At least your weekend in Aspen went well.” Cassie sat on the edge of the bed, cradling the phone between her ear and shoulder, catching up with Janie. Tomorrow morning, she’d have breakfast with Skye and Matt, then they’d part ways. She and Matt would fly to Seattle, while Skye flew home to Crooked Tree.
“We had a wonderful time. We weren’t back five minutes before Kurt’s boss called, telling him about the change. I haven’t seen him since.”
“Isn’t it the promotion he wanted? He’s now Jerrod’s assistant arson investigator, right?”
“For now. It may not stick once they find the person responsible for the fires. The fire chief told him it might become permanent, but made no promises. What they need is another person to help Jerrod, and Kurt’s the only one with the training. He’s excited about the opportunity to put his training to use. You know, there was another fire while we were in Aspen.”
“They didn’t call Kurt to drive back?”
“Nope. I guess the chief figured they’d have it taken care of before we could drive back to Cold Creek. We heard about it on the news. Thank goodness no one was hurt this time. I hope they find the person responsible and put him away for a very long time,” Janie ground out, knowing most people in town felt the same.
“You sound certain it’s a guy.” Cassie knew the statistics on arsonists. Most were male teens or men. Although women were known to set fires, they weren’t the typical arsonist.
“I don’t have a clue. According to Kurt, Jerrod believes it’s a man, probably in his twenties, and local. Someone who loves to watch the flames, maybe someone with emotional problems. Although I’d think that would be a given,” Janie snorted. “Kurt is anxious to solve the puzzle and find the person responsible.”
“At least he won’t be in the middle of fighting the fires for a while. The one near our apartment opened my eyes to how brutal and dangerous it can be.”
“Kurt doesn’t talk about it, but I don’t believe he even considers the danger. He has several scars from his job, the most visible on his neck. They don’t deter him, though. It’s his job and he’ll do it, no matter what.” His dedication was one of the characteristics she loved most about him, even if it put him in danger. “Enough on Kurt and the fires. Tell me about you and Matt.”
“Nothing to tell. We’ve been working all week, doing the best we can to keep our personal plans separate. You are the only person who knows we’re going to Seattle, and Matt isn’t happy about it. I assured him you wouldn�
��t say anything to anybody. You haven’t, have you, Janie?”
“Well…maybe to one person.”
“What?” Cassie held the phone closer to her ear. “Who?”
“Kurt. I may have mentioned Matt had a romantic weekend planned in Seattle.”
Cassie groaned, falling back on the bed.
“I’m sorry, Cass, but he won’t tell anyone. He’s happy for you and Matt.”
“I guess there’s nothing we can do about it now. Please make sure he doesn’t let it slip to anyone.”
“Are you afraid it won’t work out?” Janie’s voice grew soft with concern.
“Of course I’m afraid. He still expects me to be the same self-absorbed college girl from his past. I don’t know if I’m up for going through this again. What if it doesn’t work out?”
“You’re up for it. If it doesn’t work out, at least you tried, and that’s the best anyone can do. Besides, you’re not the same person. Once you graduated, moved back to Fire Mountain, and started working with the foster kids, your priorities shifted.”
“I never took much interest until Annie and Amber took me to one of the foster kid events. It had always seemed like any other cause that needed my family’s support. Meeting the kids in person made it real for me. That’s when I understood how I’d taken my family for granted, expected so much when these kids had so little…” Her voice trailed off, remembering the kids and how grateful they were for any amount of help.
“The fact you’re trying to set up a similar program in Cold Creek is proof of how committed you are to the foster kids. Go to Seattle, have a great time, and don’t worry about the ‘what ifs’. Remember, Matt is probably as scared as you. He doesn’t want to fail again, either.”
“Thanks, Janie.”
“For what? I’m telling you how I see it. You’re a great gal. Matt would be lucky to win you back, and you’d better believe he knows it.”
******
Houston, Texas
“I went over each truck twice and didn’t find anything unusual, Gage. Maybe you’re looking for trouble where there isn’t any.” Thad Montgomery sat in Gage’s living room, a cold beer in his hand. “If the truck will be here a few more days, I can get in touch with my friend who owns the retired field dog used by the DEA. Maybe we’ll catch something.”
Thad had left the DEA to establish his own corporate investigation company with a couple former agents. They’d done well, growing rapidly, foiling more than one drug smuggling operation the DEA had been unable to crack. Sometimes you had to work outside the system to make a bust happen.
Gage scrubbed a hand down his face. “It’s not necessary. Maybe you’re right and I’m spooked for no reason.”
“Could be, but your gut instincts have always served you well. Just because I didn’t find any evidence doesn’t mean something isn’t going on. I’ve seen every type of contraband hidden in places you’d never believe possible. Drugs, cash, people…you name it and it’s been smuggled.” Thad drained the last of his beer, crushing the can. “If what you suspect is true, they’ll show their hand. No one can keep an operation like that quiet forever.”
“The odd part is I believe Ivan has suspicions of his own. I did every kind of check possible on the company before I started. Each report showed a sterling business record for the Santiago family.”
“What about the partners?” From his conversations with Gage, Thad knew a little of the structure.
“From what I know, they have nothing to do with the operational decisions. Believe me, nothing happens at Double Ace without the Santiago uncles knowing about it. If they’ve moved into another business, I’d be surprised if the other partners know anything about it.”
“They’ll get their cut, smile, and not ask questions.” Thad’s chuckle held a cynical edge. He’d seen it before. Silent partners raking in tens of thousands of dollars, acting shocked when they learned the money came from illegal activities, then becoming outraged when criminal charges were filed against them. Deniability didn’t account for much when the whole operation tanked. “Let me know if you need anything else. The offer stands if you decide you want me to bring in the dog.” Standing, he headed toward the door.
“Thanks, Thad. I trust what you’ve done and appreciate the time you’ve put into this.” Closing the door behind his friend, Gage decided he needed to put his suspicions behind him. Three shipments and three inspections by Thad. Not one had shown signs of the illegal activities he expected. Time to concentrate on other matters, such as the woman he couldn’t seem to get out of his head.
Skye MacLaren had called that morning, asking if he’d be available to meet with Cassie, Kade, and her the following week in Cold Creek. Until the new man started, Gage needed to be the front man for Double Ace. He had no problem with it, except it involved being around the one female who fascinated him more and more with each meeting. The last thing he wanted was to become interested in another woman. The one other time he’d let his guard down, he’d ended up with a broken marriage, an empty bank account, and debts he’d known nothing about. It had taken a few years, and he still had a few loose ends, but he’d emerged a better and stronger, if more cynical, man.
There’d be no issue if Skye were the type for a casual fling with no strings and no future. He didn’t have to ask to know the answer. Nothing about her said one-night stand, and he had no interest in anything else. Being a MacLaren didn’t help, either. He needed to stay clear of her and any entanglements jeopardizing the work he’d put into making the partnership a success. Losing a potentially lucrative deal over a woman wouldn’t happen. Not even for one as beautiful, witty, and intriguing as Skye MacLaren.
Chapter Seventeen
Seattle, Washington
Gripping her purse in one hand, her computer case in the other, Cassie walked through the incoming passenger terminal, her gaze fixed on the visitor waiting area. Searching the crowd, her chest constricted, as it had throughout her flight. She followed the signs to the baggage area, seeing no sign of Matt.
Picking up her one piece of luggage from the moving carousel, she stepped outside, taking a seat on a nearby bench. A cool, refreshing breeze fanned her face, the smell of saltwater ramping up her excitement and anxiety. Sliding out her phone, she checked for messages. Nothing.
She replayed their last conversation in her head, not remembering if he’d mentioned his arrival time. Five minutes later, Cassie stood at the rental car counter—the agency Matt had mentioned, almost as an afterthought, when they’d parted after breakfast that morning.
“Yes, Mrs. Garner. Your husband has a car reservation for eleven this morning.” The woman looked over the top of her glasses at Cassie. “He didn’t mention you as a driver. Should I add your information now?”
“No, that’s not necessary. Matt usually drives.” Cassie cringed at the lie she’d told to learn what she needed. Based on his reservation time, his flight wouldn’t be landing for a while. “Thank you so much. I’ll just wait for his plane to arrive.”
Cassie could feel the woman’s gaze burning into her back on the way to the waiting area. Lying had never come easy to her and she guessed the woman knew the truth. At least it got her what she wanted.
Most Saturdays, she went into the office for two or three hours, using the quiet time to catch up on correspondence. At least she could put the wait to good use. Glancing at her phone, she read the messages, sent off a few replies, then slid it back into her purse, her thoughts drifting to Matt. As expected, the butterflies she’d finally tamed roared to life. Excitement mingled with apprehension. This could be a new beginning or a final crash and burn. She wouldn’t let herself think of the latter.
******
“You’ll need to put that away now, sir.” The flight attendant passed by his seat, nodding toward Matt’s laptop. “We’ll be landing in a few minutes.”
Closing it, he tightened the seat belt, resting his head against the seat. He’d spent the last few days doing his best to
dampen his anticipation of time alone with Cassie. It would be unwise to expect too much from this weekend. Old hurts were hard to overcome, an old love harder to rekindle.
Desire had never been an issue between them. Making love to her would always be a pleasure, never a hardship. Making it work over time, keeping the desire going, and not falling back into old patterns would take a lot of work. Their efforts could go south in an instant, leaving them wishing they’d left their relationship where it had been—in the past.
Grabbing his bag, Matt walked straight through the terminal, looking through the large window and spotting Cassie sitting on a bench. Making his way outside, he stopped in front of her, careful to keep his hands at his sides.
“Hi.” Cassie breathed out, forcing herself to stay rooted in place. She wanted to wrap her arms around him and plant a kiss on his lips. It would have to wait.
“Hi, Cassie. I hope you had a good flight.” Short and to the point. No emotion involved at all, which was what he wanted until he saw her smile fade.
She nodded, gripping the handle of her purse.
“I guess we should get the car.” Reaching out, Matt grabbed her bag, pulling it along as she walked beside him. The confused look on her face made him wonder if she already thought spending a full weekend together had been a mistake. By the way he’d acted, he wouldn’t blame her.
“Stop.” Letting go of the bag, he slipped Cassie’s bags from her shoulder, setting them on a nearby chair, her dismayed look almost comical. “I forgot something.” Wrapping an arm around her waist, he tugged her close. “I’ve wanted to do this all week.” Lowering his head, he kissed her, ignoring the promises he’d made to keep his distance. Groaning as she melted into him, he deepened the kiss, wishing they were alone instead of standing on a public walkway. Breaking the contact, he rested his forehead against hers. “Better?”
“Much,”’ she whispered, taking a reluctant step back.
He chuckled, glad to see the light return to her smile.
“All right. Let’s get that car.”
No Getting Over You Page 15
