Love Me Tender (29 page)

Following a long afternoon meeting at a winery, Dave returned to his hotel in Penticton and decided he'd rather have room service than eat alone in a restaurant. He called in the order, then thought about phoning Cassidy. He missed hearing her voice, but if he phoned now she'd think he was checking up. She'd specifically said she wanted to talk later—and try out phone sex. That was worth waiting for.

Instead, he dialed Jamal Estevez. Jamal, like Dave, was into basketball and occasionally helped him out coaching the high school team. Today, he'd filled in at the after-school practice.

Jamal answered. “Hey, man. Good practice. I'm heading home now.”

“Thanks again for filling in.”

“No sweat. Gave me a chance to pick up a couple servings of Mitch's lasagna. Karen says it's the best in the world. So I'm gonna be getting a nice thank-you from my wife tonight.”

“Too much information,” Dave said, chuckling. “Married life suits you.”

“Sure does. I still wake up every day almost scared to open my eyes, in case I'll find out the past year and a half has been a crazy dream. Never imagined I could have this kind of life.”

Dave knew a bit about his friend's past: a crappy childhood, police work, a decade of undercover assignments, a battle against alcoholism. A happy marriage and home life was likely the last thing Jamal had believed possible for himself. “Good thing you met Karen.”

“Can say that again. A woman sure can change a guy's perspective on life.”

The conversation turned to the basketball practice, and they discussed the players until Dave's dinner arrived. He ate a decent steak and drank a beer, watching the news on TV. After, he pulled out his laptop, checked e-mail, and typed follow-up notes from his meetings.

Then he called Robin on her cell. After several rings, she answered.

“Hey, Dad. Had to find my phone and wipe butter off my fingers. Cassidy and I are watching
Flicka
.”

“Cassidy and you?”

“We're having a sleepover at her place.”

“Is your mom okay?” he asked anxiously.

“Mom's fine, but she's with Evan in the hospital.”

“My gosh. What happened to Evan?”

“We had this car accident, but—”

“You had a
car accident
?!” he yelled into the phone, rushing toward the bathroom to grab his toiletry kit so he could toss everything in his duffel and drive home.

“This car, like, kind of crashed into us. But I'm fine. Just a little bruised from the seat belt, but Cassidy put Traumeel on it, and I've taken aspirin. I'm really fine, Dad.”

Thank God. “How about Evan?”

“He has a concussion but he should be okay. We're going to phone Mom and check when the movie's over.”

After relief came anger. “Did it occur to any of you to tell me about this accident?”

“We planned to call after the movie. Mom and Cassidy and I decided we'd wait, because we didn't want you worrying and driving home.”

Robin was his daughter. He had a right to know the moment anything bad happened to her. Cassidy might not get that, but Jessie damned well should. He tossed his suit jacket helter-skelter into his duffel. “But I want to be there with you.”

“You can't come
here
.” She sounded horrified. “It's a
sleep
over. Girls only.”

Cassidy's voice said, “Let me talk to him, Robin.” And then, “Dave, she really is fine. We're having a nice relaxing evening, just the two of us. Oh, and Merlin as well.”

A moment later, Robin was back on the phone. “Yeah, Dad. We're taking it easy because we both had a rough day and Cassidy's MS is acting up a little.” And then, quickly, “But she's
fine
too. Honest. You don't have to worry about us.”

He sank down in a chair. “Of course I have to worry about you. I love you, sweetheart. People worry about the people they love.”

“I know. That's why we worry about you too. We don't want you driving all this long way back when there's no reason to.”

“Rob, you're the child. You're not supposed to worry about me.”

“But I do. Though not as much as I used to before Cassidy came. I wish she was your for real girlfriend.”

“Robin!” he heard Cassidy say.

He refrained from saying that he wished so too. “Let me talk to Cassidy again.”

A moment later, Cassidy said, “Tell me you're not going to drive back and wake us up in the middle of the night.”

“And crash a girls' sleepover? I wouldn't dare.”

She chuckled.

He said, “Robin said you had a rough day too. What happened?”

“A longer list than usual of odds and ends. Nothing I couldn't handle. And when Jess phoned—she called me when she couldn't get through on your cell—I asked Sam to come in early and mind the shop, and he was happy to.”

“You're making me feel superfluous,” he grumbled, half serious.

“Never.” The warmth in her voice, even over the phone, cheered him up. “How did your meetings go? Oh, wait a sec.” He heard her say to Robin, “I'm going to talk business with your dad for a few minutes. Want to let Merlin out, since we have the movie paused? Don't go outside yourself, not in your PJs.”

He gave her a quick summary of his successful meetings, then asked about those “odds and ends” at the inn. She gave him a rundown and he let out a low whistle. “Man, you did have a busy day. You did great, Cassidy. But how do you feel? Honestly.”

“Tired and my leg's acting up. A pseudoexacerbation. No biggie. Robin and I are taking it really easy, like Dr. Young said to do.”

Thank God she was being sensible. Gradually, she was coming to terms with her disease.

“I'll give you back to Robin,” she said. “Night, Dave.”

He spoke a few more minutes to his daughter. After wishing her good night, he put his phone down and went to gaze out the hotel window at the darkness of Okanagan Lake.

Cassidy had run his inn with capable hands, and she was giving his daughter a fun, relaxing sleepover after a car accident. The woman was impressive.

And he loved her. What the hell, there was no denying it. Was there any possibility that she could feel the same way, and their relationship could have a future?

Jamal had said that a woman could change a guy's perspective on life. Karen's love had turned a tough-guy loner into a small-town happily married man.

Could Dave's love change a free-flying wild goose into . . . What did he want Cassidy to be? Could he imagine asking her to be his wife, Robin's stepmom, an intrinsic part of his family? When he lost Anita, he hadn't believed he could ever again open himself up to the risk of such pain and loss. He still wasn't sure he could.

Nor was he sure that Cassidy could ever be happy with a life that, to her, would no doubt feel limited and confined.

 

 

Friday morning, Dave couldn't wait for Cassidy to get to work. His meetings—all successful—had run late yesterday, so he hadn't called her when he finally got back to town. It was amazing how much he could miss her in two days. He only hoped she felt the same.

When she came into his office at ten to eight and closed the door, her smile was bright.

He strode purposefully toward her and, without even saying good morning, pulled her into his arms for a long, steamy kiss.

When they finally surfaced, she said, “Mmm. You should go away more often.”

“I missed you.” He studied her face, feature by feature. Cassidy Esperanza. The woman he'd like to spend the rest of his life with. Was there any hope she'd come to feel the same?

Her face softened. “Missed you too.”

There was genuine affection in those blue-gray eyes. He was sure of it. But how deep did her feelings run? Was she willing to let herself love? Would she ever let herself believe in the kind of things Jamal had thought were so impossible for him, until he'd met Karen? Love, a home, a family . . .

“Dave? What are you thinking?”

Things he couldn't share with her. Not yet, anyhow. He forced a quick grin. “That I'd like to show you how much I missed you, but someone might walk in. So let's talk business.”

They sat in comfortable chairs and he said, “The hotel looks great. All ready for Halloween. Thanks for doing that, as well as handling everything else that came along. I couldn't have done better myself.”

She gave a pleased smile. “Thanks.”

“You're sure you're feeling okay?” His intent gaze rested on her face. “That pseudoexacerbation went away?”

“An evening's rest with Robin, and a good night's sleep fixed me up fine. Yesterday was a pretty easy day too and I felt fine.”

“Thanks for looking after Robin so Jessie could stay with Evan.”

“No problem. I'm glad the swelling in his brain went down and he could go home.”

“Me too. He's a good guy.”

She cocked her head. “Do you genuinely like Evan, or are you just, you know, adapting, for the sake of Robin and Jess?”

“I genuinely like him. Always did.” Remembering Evan back in school days, he shook his head. “Man, was he an odd kid. An egghead, didn't go out for sports, never fit in, and made no bones of the fact that he wanted to get out of Caribou Crossing.”

“Huh. So, how come you liked him?”

“Because of how he was with Jessie. He'd have done anything for her.”

“But they didn't date?”

He shook his head. “Evan didn't date, didn't even hang out with the other kids except for Jessie. She didn't date either, though she socialized a lot.”

“But she dated you, obviously. I mean, she did get pregnant.”

“Uh . . .” Oops. Off balance, he rose and walked over to straighten one of Robin's drawings. As much as possible, he always avoided lying, even when he couldn't tell the whole truth. Best to keep his back to Cassidy, though, as she had that knack of reading his face. “Yeah, she did get pregnant.”

“Miriam Bly once told me that she and Wade didn't even know their daughter was going out with you. They kind of expected her and Evan to start dating.”

Jessie and Evan never dated; they just had sex one night, and the condom broke. “I've heard her say that before.” Searching for more truth to share, he said, “Evan spent a lot of time at their house. He and Jessie were best friends ever since grade two.” He strolled over to where Merlin had curled up on the floor and squatted to pet the dog.

“Hmm. So they were more like sister and brother? But then he came back ten years later and they fell madly, passionately in love? That sounds a little . . .” Her voice trailed off.

He wasn't going to offer a comment.

“No, wait—” she started, then broke off.

Dave glanced over his shoulder, to find her staring at him. No, he wouldn't ask.

Slowly, she said, “I hope this doesn't hurt your feelings, but Jess's mom seems to think she maybe did have feelings for Evan back then, and harbored them over the years.”

He swallowed, then ducked his head again and stroked Merlin. “Maybe she did.”

“But then why would she have sex with you?” Her words were soft, as if she was speaking to herself. “She's loyal, responsible. So are you. If you suspected that Jess was interested in another boy, you wouldn't have dated her. Would you?”

Dave's hand had fisted in Merlin's close-cropped curls. The dog raised his head and stared questioningly at him. Dave stared back, hunting for words. “We were teenagers. Teens do stupid things.”

It was quiet in the room. He imagined he could hear the racing thud of his own heartbeat.

“Oh, my God,” Cassidy breathed.

His body taut with tension, he turned his head and stared over his shoulder at her. “What?”

Her words came out slowly. “Who is Robin's father?”

He struggled to keep his face expressionless. “What are you talking about? I am.”

“Her biological father. Is it Evan?”

Scowling, he said, “Shit, Cassidy. Why would you think that?”

“Dave?” She came over to him, where he squatted by the dog, and held out her hand. “I promise I won't tell anyone. Please don't shut me out.”

Oh God. It wasn't his secret, or at least not his alone. And yet he loved Cassidy. He glanced down at Merlin, who was still gazing questioningly at him, and then back up at Cassidy. Her eyes held compassion, not judgment. He sighed wearily. “I don't want to shut you out.”

He put his hand in hers and let her pull him to his feet.

“Is it Evan?” she asked again, softly.

Decision made, the tension eased from his shoulders. “Yes.”

“Does he know?”

“Now. He didn't back then.”

“She didn't tell him? Did you know, when you married her?”

“Yes, of course.” Another sigh. “It's complicated.” Hearing his own words, he curved his lips in a small, wry smile. “Obviously.” He led Cassidy back to the chairs and they both sat. “Jessie and I had gone to school together forever. She was a good friend. I asked her out once, but she said she wasn't into dating. I found out later that she had a crush on Evan, even though they never actually went out.”

Cassidy's brows lifted in an unspoken question.

“They had sex once, that's it, and the condom ripped.” He shook his head. “Jessie was always so perky, so spunky. Until the day she came to me crying because she was pregnant. Evan had no idea. He'd left town right after they'd had sex. He had a scholarship to Cornell University. Anyhow, she told me she wanted a guy's opinion, from a friend she could trust.”