Authors: Cheryl Douglas
“Thanks, sis.” Katie drew a deep breath. “I really want you to be a part of my daughter’s life, Cass.”
“Your daughter? You’re having a little girl?” The image of a little girl with big brown eyes and dark ringlets popped in to her head. The Ross sisters had looked so similar as children that people often mistook them for twins. Would her niece look like they did when they were babies? Cassidy didn’t know, but she was certain she wanted to find out.
“Yeah, can you believe it?” Katie half giggled, half sobbed. “I just know she’s gonna be a daddy’s girl. You should see how excited Lee is.”
“Then you two are…” She didn’t know how to voice the question, but she suspected she didn’t have to.
“We’re both still clean, if that’s what you’re asking. I’m telling you we’re not the same people we were back then. Can’t you and Drake give us a chance to prove that?”
“I can’t speak for Drake, but I’m willing to think about it.”
“Speaking of Drake, have you seen him lately?”
“No, I haven’t.” They’d exchanged phone calls and emails since he left the hotel, but he had been respectful of her decision and hadn’t tried to convince her to come back to Nashville. She had no idea whether he’d moved on with someone else and didn’t feel she had the right to ask.
“Are you…” Katie cleared her throat. “Still in love with him?”
Cassidy had never stopped loving Drake and knew she never would. “Yes.”
“Then what are you waiting for, Cass? Put the poor guy out of his misery already.”
“What are you talking about?”
Katie sighed. “Mama told me he calls the apartment at least once a week and he’s sent you flowers a bunch of times. Apparently, he even asked if he could come and visit you a couple of months ago, but you said no.”
“I wasn’t ready to see him then.”
“But you are now?”
She’d considered it, but she had no idea how he would respond if she just invited herself to his home. “Maybe.”
“What the hell are waiting on, girl? Mama’s fine now. She tells me you’ve even helped her start a new business.”
Much to Cassidy’s surprise, her mother had been interested in graphic design for years and since the physical therapist suggested typing could help her to regain mobility in her hands, she’d started working on the new laptop Cassidy bought for her as soon as they returned home. Within four months, she was working almost full-time designing everything from book covers to ads and promotional material for clients. She’d been sober since before the stroke and Cassidy could tell she was finally happy and proud of her accomplishments.
“Yeah, it turns out she’s really talented. In fact, she’ll be able to live off her own earnings soon.”
“That’s great. So back to you and Drake.”
“Please don’t push.”
“Fine, but will you at least call the man while you’re in Nashville?”
“If I agree, will you back off?”
“Yes!” Katie giggled. “But only if you promise to call and let me know how it goes, Auntie Cassidy.”
For the first time in years Cassidy felt like she had a sister again. “Fine, but don’t wait up.”
“Does that mean what I think it means?” she asked, squealing. “Are you planning to spend the night with him?”
“Mind your own business.” Cassidy pulled into the parking lot of Titan Records. “I gotta go. I’ll call you tomorrow.”
“Can’t wait. Hey, I love you, sis.”
Cassidy smiled. “Me too.”
***
Drake cursed the ringing phone that pulled him away from his computer. He was tempted to ignore it, but curiosity got the better of him. His heart nearly stopped when he saw the name on the call display.
Cassidy.
He reached for the phone. “Hey, pretty lady. What’s up?”
“Hey yourself, stranger. I was wondering if you’re too busy for company.”
Drake stood up, thrusting his hand through his hair. “You’re here, in Nashville?”
“I’m turning down your street in fact.”
He looked out the window, hoping to see her car. If she was playing some kind of joke on him he would never forgive her. “You’re serious?”
“Of course, I am.” She laughed. “I was just gonna show up on your doorstep, but I… uh, thought you might be entertaining and I didn’t want to intrude.”
He chuckled. “You thought I had another woman over?” He hadn’t been with anyone since he left their hotel room that night. She’d told him not to wait for her, but moving on without her wasn’t an option. So he’d thrown himself in to his work and tried to be satisfied with the occasional phone call and email from Cassidy.
“Do you?”
“No, I’m alone.”
“Is Dora there?”
“No, I gave her the day off.” He smiled. “Why do you ask?”
“I thought it might be nice to see her. How about Caleb? Is he there?”
“Now why the hell are you asking me about him?”
She laughed. “Just to see if I could still get a rise out of you.”
Oh, she could. In more ways than one, but he wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of admitting it. “Just get your sweet little self over here already. Have you had dinner yet?”
“No, maybe I could take you out?”
“You know what, I’d rather have you all to myself. Dora made some homemade pizza. Why don’t I pop that in the oven and open a bottle of wine?”
“Sounds perfect.” She hesitated. “I can’t wait to see you, Drake.”
His heart did a crazy little flip-flop in his chest. “Me too, sweetheart. I’ll call the gatehouse to let them know you’re coming. See you in a few.”
Drake was whistling for the first time in forever as he walked out to the kitchen to turn the stove on. He punched the button to contact security and told them he was expecting a guest. Taking the pizza out of the fridge, he popped it in to the oven before wandering over to the mirror in front of the door.
He grimaced when he saw his reflection. Faded jeans, graphic print T-shirt, not exactly the way he wanted to present himself tonight, but the hum of a car engine told him a shower and change of clothes were out of the question.
She bounded up the steps, her enthusiasm apparent as she threw herself in to his waiting arms. “I’ve missed you so much,” she said, squeezing him hard around the neck.
Drake was speechless as he buried his face in her hair, inhaling her scent. He’d waited so long to hold her in his arms again, it almost felt like a dream he never wanted to wake up from. “I missed you too, angel.” It was another minute or two before he finally released her. Holding her at arm’s length, he said, “Damn, you look good.” He hadn’t seen her look this happy or content… ever. He couldn’t quash the fear that she was here to tell him in person that she’d finally found the place she belonged and it wasn’t with him.
“Thanks, I had a job interview today.”
He pulled her farther inside before closing the door. “You did? Why didn’t you mention anything to me about it when we spoke last week?”
“I wasn’t sure it was going to go anywhere and if it did, I kind of wanted it to be a surprise.”
“Okay, so fill me in. How did it go?” He took her black wool trench coat off and hung it in the closet. She was wearing a trim two piece black suit with knee-high boots. The high heels were tipped with silver and he couldn’t help but wonder what she would look like wearing those boots and nothing else.
“Oh,” she said, her eyes travelling to the wood burning fireplace in the living room. “It’s nice and warm in here. You mind if I get comfy before I give you all the details?”
“Be my guest.”
She leaned on his shoulder as she unzipped the tall boots and set them against the door. “Better,” she whispered, before biting her lip and reaching for the buttons on her blazer.
He swallowed as his eyes followed her movements.
Sliding the blazer off to reveal a lacy black camisole, she reached around him to hang her blazer on the nickel door handle behind him.
He nearly groaned when her full breasts brushed against his arm, but it wasn’t until she lifted her hair, stretching her arms above her head that he grabbed her by the waist. “You’re killing me here. You know that, don’t you?”
“I’m just wondering what a girl has to do to get a little kiss from you,” she whispered, licking her lips.
“You sure as hell don’t have to ask me twice,” he muttered before taking her mouth. He teased her lips with his, relishing the taste he had been fantasizing about for months. “God, I’ve missed this.”
“Me too,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Really?” He wanted to believe that, but things seemed to be going so well for her lately he feared she may be coming to the realization she really didn’t need him to make her life complete. Too bad he couldn’t say the same.
“Of course.” She stood on her toes to press a quick kiss to his lips. “I’m famished. Is that pizza ready yet?”
“Yeah, it should be.” He took her hand and led her into the kitchen.
“Can I do anything to help?” she asked.
“Um, I think Dora left a salad in the fridge. I’ll open the wine if you could toss that.”
“My pleasure,” she said.
He watched her move freely around his kitchen without asking where he kept the items she needed. Obviously, she and Dora had spent a lot of time together in this room when she’d been staying with him. It was so easy for Drake to imagine her living here, building a life with him.
He peeked into the oven, turning it off when he was noted the cheese was bubbling and the crust was nicely browned. Reaching for a bottle of her favorite red wine from the built-in rack at the end of the breakfast bar, he reached around her to get the corkscrew from the drawer. He couldn’t resist dropping a quick kiss on her neck, making her smile and squirm in response.
“I’m glad you were free tonight,” she said, adding a little salt and pepper to the salad.
“I’m free every night,” he said, smirking.
She laughed. “You’re such a liar.” When he didn’t respond, she stole a glance out of the corner of her eye. “Have you been, uh, dating much?”
He smiled when he saw a blush stain her cheeks. “Some.”
“Oh,” she said, sinking her teeth into her bottom lip. “Anyone serious?”
“No.”
“Hmm.”
Drake decided to put her out of her misery when it became obvious she wasn’t going to ask the question she was dying to know. “There are some functions when it makes sense to bring a date. It’s just easier, if you know what I mean.”
He opened the wine, pouring some into each of their glasses before putting an oven mitt on to extract the hot pan.
“You mean you bring someone so you won’t have to ward off advances all night?”
He chuckled as he set the pan on the stovetop. “Something like that.” Grabbing some plates, he headed over to the large, round table in the middle of the eating area to set them out.
She was walking toward him with the wine glasses in hand when she stepped in to his path. “Is there anyone special in your life right now?”
“Yes.” He smiled when she looked disappointed at his response. “You.”
“Really?” she asked, looking hopeful. “There’s no one else?”
“Baby, don’t you know by now? No one could ever compete with you in my mind.”
Seeming pleased with his response, she kissed his cheek before setting the wine glasses down on the table. “I heard Tori’s new song hit number one this week. Congrats, Mr. Producer.”
“Thanks,” he said, stacking the pizza on a serving plate. “But Tori’s such a pro. She probably could have produced that album herself.”
“That’s not what Evan Spencer said,” Cassidy said, smiling. “According to him, you’ve been a machine lately. Working all hours of the day and night, producing some of the best music of your career.”
He frowned. “When were you talking to Evan?” He counted Evan among his closest friends. Why wouldn’t he have told him if Cassidy had reached out to him?
“That’s the interview I had before I came here,” she said, sitting down.
He brought the pizza to the table and set it down before regarding her carefully, trying to figure out where this was going. “You said interview, not meeting. Does that mean you’ve given up on getting the record deal?”
She gestured to the seat next to her. “Why don’t you sit down and I’ll tell you about it.”
He couldn’t shake the feeling she’d kept this to herself for a reason. Maybe she knew he wouldn’t like the plans she was making for her future if they didn’t include him. “Okay,” he said. “I’m listening.”
“You know that Titan and a few other labels have bought some of my songs, right?”
“Of course I know that. Hell, “Demons” made it all the way to number one.” He smiled. “Made me wish I’d been the one to produce the damn thing.”
She reached for a piece of pizza. She took a small bite, chewing carefully, as though she wanted to take her time for a reason. “I’ve realized a lot of things about myself and my family over the last six months, Drake. My mama hasn’t been the only one healing. I’ve done a lot of healing too.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He could barely breathe as he waited for the words that would seal his fate.
“I had no business accepting your marriage proposal the first time you asked me to be your wife.”
His gut clenched. That had been the happiest moment of his life, bar none. And now she was telling him she wished it had never happened?
“I was still struggling with my addiction, dealing with the trauma from my childhood and trying to figure out my place in the world. I thought being your wife would give me a sense of identity, but that wasn’t fair to either one of us.”
He knew it was selfish, but he wouldn’t have minded if her identity had been wrapped up in being his wife and the mother of his children. “Go on,” he said quietly.
“I started to heal during the year I lived at the center, but I didn’t realize how important it would be for me to go back to the scene of the crime, so to speak.”
“Your childhood home?” he asked. She’d shared some of the details of her childhood with him and he knew it had been pretty horrific by any standards.
“If you can call it that,” she said, rolling her eyes. “It was really just a grungy little apartment with second-hand furniture, but I realized I had to stay there to exorcise my demons.”