MILLIONAIRE'S SHOT: Second Chance Romance (24 page)

But then cold reason snapped her back to reality.

“Rachel will never give up her rights,” she said slowly. “Grace is how she controls you.”

“I know,” Alex said. “But that’s stopping now. It’s not fair to Grace. And it’s not fair to you.”

She blinked, still finding it hard to believe. He was finally going to pay off Rachel? The woman would be gone? “So we won’t have to meet on a plane somewhere?” she asked, her voice shaky. “Because I have to admit, I was considering it.”

He skimmed a tender finger over her cheek. “That won’t be necessary.”

“What did you offer? Lots of money?”

“Half of everything,” he said. “And the estate,” he added, as though an afterthought. But there was a tiny moment when his eyes flickered, and she saw the regret he was working hard to conceal.

She jerked backwards. “Your home! But you can’t do that! You love it there. Won’t she take money?”

“I’ve already tried. Many times. And she knows what I treasure most. So she can have it. Maybe now she’ll finally be happy.”

Cassie just stared, struggling to absorb the enormity of what he was giving up. Her throat felt thick and a coldness clamped around her chest. Then his features blurred and she realized she was crying.

“You can’t do that.” She pressed her wet face into his shirt. “It’s not right.”

“It’s the only way,” he said. “She’s getting worse. More manipulative. Grace is always worrying about her mother’s reaction, the body image issues. Rachel lacks a normal mother’s feelings.”

So Gramps had been right. Grace did fear her mother. But Alex already suspected that. She should have realized he understood the situation. And had already analyzed it to pieces. Still…to give up his family estate.

“Where will we live?” she asked, raising her head. “Where could you possibly be happy after that?”

“Wherever you are,” he said. “Some place with a good school where Grace can finally make friends. But away from here. Maybe Kentucky. We’ll be fine.”

But the muscles in his shoulders bunched and she realized it wouldn’t be as easy as he made it sound. Of course, he’d want to move away. He wouldn’t want to drive by the Sutherland Estate every day and see Rachel ensconced in his ancestral home. That would only make him bitter. Maybe he’d turn bitter anyway. Maybe he’d regret such an enormous sacrifice.

“If Grace is happy and you’re happy,” he added quickly, as if reading her mind, “I will be too.”

She studied him, silent for a moment. He did look younger, more carefree, the sparkle in his blue eyes almost brilliant. And maybe he would be happy. It would be easier for her. She’d already moved away before and done okay, even though she’d been aching for Alex. But this time she’d be with him. And Grace.

But not Gramps. He’d be all alone. In striking range of a very rich and vindictive woman.

“What about Gramps?” She glanced over her shoulder toward the thin figure waiting by the path. “Will he be all right? Living this close to Rachel?”

“No.” Alex gave an emphatic shake of his head. “We’ll have to persuade him to move with us.”

Her breath escaped in a relieved sigh. She should have known Alex wouldn’t desert her grandfather to face Rachel’s wrath alone. “I don’t mind being poor.” She rose on her toes and wrapped her arms back around his neck. “I can get a new job, maybe teach riding lessons, train a few horses. We’ll get by.”

He chuckled and she could feel his mouth smiling against her hair. “If you want to, sweetheart,” he said. “But we won’t be that poor. Just not as rich. In fact, we should buy your grandfather’s horses. Maybe look for a club where we can play polo.”

She gave a delighted nod. It was wonderful he’d consider picking up a mallet again. He was too good a player to walk away from a sport he’d enjoyed. And no wonder he wasn’t worried about Santiago trashing the college sale. Gramps no longer needed a buyer. In fact, her grandfather would be able to relax and ride for fun. They’d all live together as a family and he could work as much or as little as he wanted. It was all so unbelievably wonderful, she was almost weightless with joy.

“We should celebrate,” Alex said. “Go out for dinner. Just the two of us. Or maybe go up in the plane.” His hand cupped her bottom. “Fly somewhere, like Kentucky.”

“To look at properties?” she asked.

“Exactly,” he said. But he gave a mischievous grin and when he tugged her between his hips, it was obvious he was thinking of far more pleasurable things. And quite honestly, that was fine with her.

The plane dipped a silver wing then smoothly, almost imperceptibly, banked toward the left. Cassie pressed closer to the window, peering down at the acreage below. They’d already flown over four lovely properties, none of them a fraction the size of the immense Sutherland Estate but still attractive homes.

This particular property was every bit as impressive as the others and the barn had a brick courtyard with adjoining paddocks. The grass looked lush and inviting, and best of all a sparkling ribbon of blue separated two adjoining fields. Grace would love riding Freckles across the brook, and numerous trails crisscrossed acres of leafy forest.

“The brook is the boundary,” Alex said. “And the adjoining field and forest aren’t for sale. Definitely unsuitable. Just like the rest we saw today.”

She straightened in her seat. His agent had sent coordinates for ten properties, all in Kentucky, but so far Alex hadn’t been very enthused. Of course, his expectations were way higher than hers.

He kept checking his watch and using the intercom to converse with the pilot. Obviously nothing would ever compare to his estate but his lack of enthusiasm left a sinking feeling in her stomach.

“Having second thoughts?” she asked.

“Not at all.” He gave a reassuring smile. “But I want to get back to Grace.”

“You worry about her being with Rachel? Even for an hour or two?”

“Santiago is there until eight,” Alex said. “As long as I’m home by then everything will be okay.”

He hadn’t really answered her question but the grim line of his mouth revealed his concern. It was probably fortunate that Freckles wasn’t stabled at the Sutherland barn yet, although it was bizarre to have to worry about a horse that belonged to Rachel’s daughter.

But Cassie and Alex had found Freckles together. Had gone off on a private plane ride, just like now. And clearly Rachel believed in retaliation.

She rubbed her hands over her arms.

“Cold?” Alex draped his arm over her shoulders. “We can adjust the heat.”

“No, it’s fine.” But it was impossible to block her darker thoughts. Gramps was home alone with the horses, and he had mentioned some untimely events. And Rachel had stabbed Alex once. Long ago, but still…

“Rachel wouldn’t drive over to Gramps’ house again, right?” she asked, tilting her head. “Has she received your offer yet?”

Alex was silent for so long she thought he might not answer.

“I’m not sure,” he finally said. “But if she’s given the estate as well as assets, she should be content. She always wanted the property. And if she feels like she’s won, there’d be no reason for her to hurt your horses…or anyone else.”

“What?” Cassie’s heart slammed against her ribs. “You’ve considered that possibility? About her hurting Gramps, or me?”

“I have thought about it,” Alex said bleakly. “That’s why I have safeguards in place.”

“But that’s not why you’re giving up your home, is it?” she asked.

“No,” he said. “I’m doing what’s best for Grace.”

She pressed her fingers together. Nine years ago he’d given up their relationship for his daughter so it wasn’t completely shocking he’d walk away from the home he loved. And it was admirable he’d sacrifice everything now, except sometimes she felt like an extra in a movie. And that he was willing to send her away based on his beliefs about Grace.

“It’s okay,” Alex said, squeezing her shoulder. “We’ll find a new home. One that’s safe from Rachel. And I’m not going to talk about her, or complain. She’s still the mother of my child. Just know that I’ll take care of the situation.”

Like he took care of everything else, she thought, with a shade of sadness. Whatever was best for him. And Grace. She stared down at her hands, stiffly folded on her lap. “I know you took care of finding that job for me,” she said slowly. “The one at the Center. When we were checking out Freckles, I couldn’t understand why Wally knew Grace’s age.”

Alex shrugged. “That wasn’t really a secret. You said you never wanted to see me again. I just made it easier.” But his hand on her shoulder tightened and she could feel his tension.

“I didn’t know though,” she said. “Gramps let it slip this morning.”

“What does it matter?”

She stared back down at her clasped fingers, not quite sure why it bothered her. All her life, Alex had handled things. He had the money and the power, along with an ingrained belief that he should always do his duty. He fiercely protected his own, and once he made a decision it was a done deal. And usually that had been a good thing, working in her favor…until it hadn’t.

“What if I hadn’t wanted to leave?” she asked. “What if it would have been better for me to stay and help Gramps? Would you have arranged for a more tempting offer?”

He shrugged, but it wasn’t a gesture of confusion. He knew exactly what he’d have done. She eyed him, letting him know she wanted an answer. Knowing he wouldn’t lie.

“It was better if you moved away,” he said. “Easier. So, yes, there would have been a better offer.”

“Easier for who?”

“Easier for Rachel,” he said. “And therefore better for Grace.”

“Darn, I should have held out for a bigger offer.” She tried to sound flippant but it was hard to hide her sense of betrayal. Which was ridiculous because of course he’d always choose what was best for Grace. She knew that. He’d never pretended otherwise.

Now it was Rachel who was receiving an offer. Rachel who no longer fit into Grace’s life…and there was no way for Cassie to ever get back those lost years with her grandfather. No way to completely forget how desperately she’d longed to move home.

She stared down at her clenched hands, trying to shake off her resentment. She could have come home any time and visited. For a while, her grandfather had even offered to pay the travel costs. She was the one who always found reasons to stay away. That couldn’t be blamed on Alex.

But Cassie’s emotions were bubbling now, spurred by a growing sense of insecurity and the knowledge that she’d never be first in his life. And if Grace didn’t want her around, what would he do then?

Alex though, seemed to think everything was perfect. Already his hands were moving back over her shoulders, his mouth skimming over her throat, a tease of fingers and lips that sent heat zapping to her core. Interesting that he could arouse her so quickly when she really wasn’t in the mood for sex. What she needed was reassurance.

“Didn’t you ever want to call me?” she asked, her voice cracking. “Didn’t you wonder how I was doing? Especially in the beginning.”

He stilled as if realizing she was still upset, then pressed his mouth against her ear. “Every day,” he said. “But your grandfather made me promise not to.”

Cassie winced. She remembered Gramps saying he’d told Alex to stay away. Hadn’t realized that included her as well. And Alex took his promises seriously. One thing his parents had drilled into him was that a Sutherland never shirked their duty.

“But how could you just…stop thinking about me?”

“I couldn’t,” he said. He cradled her face, his eyes boring into hers. “And every Monday, I’d receive your activity report and I despised myself for reading it. And every month I’d send your grandfather plane vouchers and pray you’d come home. Yet pray you wouldn’t. When you landed that job in California, I knew you had moved on. And it didn’t seem right to watch over you anymore.”

“Wait.” She jerked backwards. “You had reports? From Wally?”

“No, the Sutherland team of investigators.”

She still gripped her fingers, not sure if she was annoyed or comforted or simply shocked that he dealt with investigators. He spoke about them casually too, as if he used them on a regular basis.

“The reports were confidential,” he added. “Wally never knew the extent of my interest. That promotion you received was fairly earned.” He reached for her hands. “I just needed to make sure you were okay. Without breaking my word to your grandfather. Please forgive me?”

She thought about it for a moment then gave a little nod. “I find it strange that you have investigators though. Guess I don’t know much about Sutherland Holdings.”

“We invest in a broad range of equity securities. We don’t actively manage anything. But we always need strategic intelligence.”

“They weren’t peeking in my windows or anything, were they?”

“God, no. Nothing like that.”

“But where were they?” She tilted her head, curious now. She couldn’t remember ever having the sense that someone was watching her. “The grounds are monitored. Strangers can’t just wander around. So how did they know what I was doing?”

“Well,” he said, tracing the underside of her wrist with his thumb. “It was so long ago I barely remember. And I was busy with a takeover at the time so details are foggy.”

She gave a disappointed nod. It was a long time ago and he was a busy man.

“But I remember on July 4,” he went on, “there was only a skeleton staff working at the Center. And you were holding a horse for a farrier and he noticed your boots were getting worn.”

“And a few days later,” she said quietly, “Ariat sent us a shipment of boots.” Everyone had been ecstatic when the company had sent boxes of boots to the Center. For advertising purposes, they’d claimed. And there had been eight pairs exactly her size.

“And the week before Father’s Day,” he went on, “you were hitchhiking to town on your day off because you wanted to find a gift for your grandfather.”

Cassie gave a little nod. It had started to rain, a cold damp wetness, and she’d been so depressed thinking of Gramps and Alex and his new baby. But a woman in a Ford truck had picked her up and they’d ended up going for an impromptu lunch and having a delightful time. And she’d figured she must have a guardian angel somewhere.