The things we do for love. (3 page)

Chapter 3.

Cassie reached the door, the same door that was being pounded on forcefully. she took a breath, that did nothing, and then reached for the handle with shaky hands as she reluctantly opened it.

And there he was. Cassie’s heart skipped a beat. Luke Pearson. Tall, dark and handsome with a face like thunder. Jaw clenched tight, skin flushed and eyes spitting barbs. There was no denying that he was mad. No, not just mad but livid, he was fit to bust a gut.

She had seen him mad a few times during the court case but this was way above all that. Cassie felt the weight of impending doom settle on her shoulder’s.

Cassie swallowed hard as all the colour drained from her face. And she actually thought that she might faint. She stared up at him, eyes wide, mouth dry.

“Where is she?” His voice was deep and low, menacing. His six-foot frame towered over her. Cassie took an involuntary step backward.

“I…”

He was far too close for comfort. She could hear her heart beating around under her ribcage like a frightened animal and the blood soared in her ears. Not that that had anything to do with fear and everything about how her body seemed to respond to him the minute he was close.

“I know she’s there.” He told her and then shouted out, looking towards the stairs. “Are you going to come out and face me, or are you going to let your sister take the fall again.”

“I…” Cassie tried again. Luke turned back to her. Something flashed in his eyes.

“She should be the one coming here to face me not you. She’s a coward.” Luke accused.

She felt the heat rise on her skin. She could smell his spicy aftershave and the natural musk of his own skin.

“Um.” Cassie began.

What could she say? She did not know what her sister had done yet and she was mesmerised by those deep glittering blue eyes. They were impressive, even when they were sparkling with menace and anger.

“Are you going to get her down here or do I have to shout at you.”  Luke asked her.

Her own Hazel eyes stared up at his uncompromisingly hard face. Even this angry he was quite beautiful. It was just a shame that Faye had messed things up. Why was life so unfair?

“What happened?” she asked now, ignoring the other comments. He was right after all and if she tried to defend Faye then he was pick on her again for it and tell her how wrong she was to do it. He had done that a few times.

“Haven’t you had her committed yet?” He asked scathingly.

“She doesn’t need…” She instantly bristled but Luke cut her off.

“She doesn’t need you to give her permission to act the way she does.”

“I do not.” Cassie straightened her spine defensively.

“You clean up her mess. You sort everything out. That’s just like giving her permission. Stop bailing her out.” Luke demanded angrily.

Why was how she dealt with her sister making him angry? Why should he care one way or the other? He had told her this before too. A couple of weeks ago outside the court house after he had won his case and was awarded damages from Faye. Damages that Cassie had had to pay.

“Look, whatever has happened I am sure we can sort it out.”

“You’ll deal with it like a good little nurse maid.” Luke scorned. She wanted to defend herself but Luke was right.

“Please.” She sighed. She was tired. She wanted all this with Luke Pearson to be over. Not his fault, all Faye’s. she just couldn’t seem to leave well enough alone.

Not content with waking up this particular tiger she kept creeping up behind him and pulling on his tail and then throwing Cassie into his path to deal with it.

“Do you know what that insane nutter of a sister has done?” Luke asked her furiously. Cassie searched his face. This was bad, even for Faye this was bad.

“I…” She stopped.

“Well.” He demanded. “Where is the little psycho now?” He asked her. “Is she hiding in there?”

“Please no name calling. Just tell me what she has done so I can sort it out and we can all move on.” Cassie crossed her arms over her chest in a protective gesture.

“You want to know what she has done? She…” Luke raked a hand through brown hair and the pointed at her before huffing and shuffling whilst dropping his hand. Then with a shake of his head he said. “No, let me show you.” Luke reached out and grabbed her upper arm in a death like grip and pulled her from the doorway.

She let out a cry in alarm at the sudden movement being thrust upon her. But Luke paid it no attention.

Hard biting fingers dug into her flesh and she winced as she was marched out of her front garden and onto the quiet suburban street beyond her front gate.

He abruptly let her go as if she were contaminated with something nasty and catching. She oddly felt bereft. She shook it off, in other circumstances, not that it mattered now, there really was no chance.

“There was no need for –” Cassie stopped in her tracks. All thoughts seized and froze as her heart skipped dejectedly in her chest, and her mouth went dry.

Oh Faye, How could you? It was the only thought that Cassie could formulate in her mind because all other thoughts emptied her head and jumped ship. In sick horror she took in the scene that met her eyes.

Luke’s car, Luke’s very expensive car, had been repainted using spray paints. With words that should never be printed or spoken out loud. They were accusing him of being a… and a… and wishing his… would fall off.

Cassie put her hands up to her cheeks as they grew warm and she felt her insides grow icy cold. She actually wanted to sit down and cry.

“I…” she stopped. What could she say? What should she say?

“She is quite the little artist, isn’t she?” Luke asked her in scathing tones.

“I…”

“The interesting use of colours is quite eye catching, Don’t you think? No one is in danger of missing it. And the handwriting is very legible. I particularly like that capital D at the start of that word.” He pointed in the direction of one of the words scrawled across his vandalized car.

“I…”

“How about the use of that word? The one beginning with P…” Luke stopped.

“I…” She stopped again, completely lost for words as she took in the neon pink, yellow and green. The dark black and glow in the dark orange paint writing out words that were just awful and some that she had never even heard of but knew they probably did not have nice meanings.

“The other side is just as artistic.” Luke assured her. “I think you would particularly like the word that begins with a W…”

“I….” Cassie tried to shake the numbness that had invaded her brain.

“Where is she?” He asked her. She couldn’t tell him. He would go into the house and probably kill her, of that she had no doubt. In fact, she was in danger of going into the house and killing her.

“Out.” She lied and she heard Luke give a sneering scoff. She wasn’t fooling him. He knew that she was lying to protect her sister.

“It will need to be stripped and repainted. It won’t be cheap.” Luke told her in clipped tones. Cassie turned to look at his angry face. She could see a pulse beating in his neck and she watched the tightening of his jaw. “This isn’t about the money.” He told her. “She needs to learn she cannot behave like this.”

“I…” come on, she chastised herself, get your brain in gear.

“This is not normal behaviour.” Luke tried again. Something else he had already told her. And she knew that he was right, but she was her sister and well… it’s what sister’s did. Wasn’t it?

“How…?”

“At least you look mortified at her behaviour. That’s something I suppose.” He stopped and stared at her for a moment.

The anger dissipated a little and she noticed that a sad look replaced the anger in his eyes as he cast them over her shocked pale face. “They have special places for people like her you know.” He told her quietly.

“How do you know that it was Faye?” she asked him.

“It was Faye.” He told her, his voice lower, calmer now as he studied her.

“It could have been someone else.” But Cassie knew that it wasn’t. Not unless Luke made a habit of crossing swords with mad demented women, and she had a feeling that he did not.

“Ah…” he said. he made it sound like he had just had a revelation and instantly Cassie felt her defences come up.

“Ah… what?”

“Ah… nothing.”

“Ah… something.”

“You are going to defend her again, aren’t you?”

“This might not have been her.” She tried and Luke gave a little harsh laugh before he shook his head. His lips thinned and he took a step closer to her. He seemed to waver for a minute before he took the step back.

“She was seen.” Luke punctuated his words through clenched teeth.

“I can’t go on someone’s word. I will need proof.” Cassie jutted out her chin and lifted her head with bravery that she did not feel.

Faye really did not deserve to be defended, Cassie knew that.   But, for better or for worse, she was her sister and Cassie still felt the need.

Luke reached into the inside pocket of his grey suit jacket and slowly pulled out a disc. He waved it in the air triumphantly, holding it firmly with lean tanned fingers.

Chapter 4.

He wore no rings, she noticed, not for the first time. She tore her eyes away. What was wrong with her?

This wasn’t the time to start swooning over someone. Especially if that someone was Dr Luke Pearson. After all, he hated her and her sister. Cassie could not blame him for that. Given everything Faye had thrown at him, in some instances, quite literally.

“She was filmed, with her two friends, dumb and dumber on cctv.” Luke lifted a sardonic eyebrow and she opened her mouth but he cut her off. “And yes I am sure that it is her. That hair colour of hers is very eye catching.”

Yes, it was. Very pink, very blue, very bright, very bold. Damn it. Not that she thought that it could possibly be anyone else. Only Faye could do something like this and not see it as wrong.

“I’m sorry.” She began, already thinking about damage control.

“You’re sorry.” Luke said incredously.

“Yes.”

“You are not the one that should be sorry. Stop taking the blame for her. She should be the one to be sorry.”

“And she is.” Cassie assured him, though she had a feeling that was not true.

“Is that because when you go back into the house she will cry and tell you she’s sorry and she’ll beg you to forgive her and like an idiot you will.” Luke threw at her and she stiffened.

“I…” But she stopped, he obviously did understand the dynamics of their relationship. That unnerved her, he had evidently studied them closely when they had been together, in the courtroom. Of course he had, he was a doctor. He had probably studied everything in microscopic detail.

“Would you like to watch it?” She was asked. Cassie shook her head mutely. She did not need to, not really.
Luke would not have come here had he not had one hundred percent proof. She had learnt that much about him. “Are you sure?” Luke asked her with a contemptuous smile on his face. “It is fascinating to watch. Well worth sitting through it. I must warn you that it does go on a bit.
Forty-two minutes and twelve seconds to be exact. But the ending makes it all worth it.”

Cassie felt her face grow even hotter, if that were possible, she must look like a lobster by now. Never a good look on anyone, she decided.

That light headed feeling was back again too, the one that invaded her brain and made her feel suddenly unwell.

“Please…” She took a breath as she tried to assemble her thoughts. There was nothing for it. She was going to have to pay for the damages and, looking at the car it was going to be substantial. “Why don’t you get it repaired and send me the bill.” She told him as she took a breath. “I will take care of it. I give you my word.”

She did not like the look in his eyes and turned to go. If only. How many times had she had that thought over the last couple of months?

She finally had met someone that made her heart flutter and her sister had mucked it up even before Cassie had even met him.

She was going to have a serious word with Faye. Not that that would make a difference, it hadn’t up till now. Faye would continue to be Faye.

“Have you ever thought of having your sister committed under the mental health act?” Luke threw at her departing back. “I know a really good doctor she could see.” Cassie stopped and turned to face him.

“She got angry, that’s…” She began but she knew it was for nothing. Cassie knew Faye was wrong and so did Luke. In fact, most people would have had her arrested by now but Luke had held off.

Of course Cassie was grateful for that but she wandered why he had not. He would have been within his rights to do so. Even more so after seeing what she had done to his car this morning. That had to come under criminal damage surely?

“That seems to happen a lot.” She was cut short. “It’s not normal. You know that.”

“Look, I know she can be…” What? A little naughty? A trifle difficult? A tad challenging?

“She needs help.” Luke tried again, but all Cassie could hear was him picking on her sister. Warranted, it may be but, it wasn’t very nice.

“She got angry.” She tried again.

“Yes, you said. Maybe anger management will help. I know someone in that field too.” Of course he did. He smiled at her then, and it even looked sincere.

In different circumstances, she thought again and then pushed it away. Faye had made different circumstances impossible.

“Look, I said I will sort it.” She told him firmly.

“You need to get her help.” Luke told her again. “Keep burying your head in the sand does her no favours. You are enabling her.”

“Excuse me.” She felt her anger stir.

“Her behaviour is your fault.” Luke accused her.

“My fault?”

“Yes, your fault. You allow her to get away with it. She doesn’t have to face the consequences because she has her patsy to do that for her.”

“That’s not true.”

“Yes it is. If it wasn’t, she would be standing where you are right now. It should be her standing here taking the rap and not you.” Luke’s eyes challenged her to deny what he was saying. Of course, she could not. He was right.

“Look I said I was sorry. I said I would pay for it.” She told him.

“How about you start acting like her sister instead of like her fall guy.” Luke told her.

“How dare you.”

“Yes I do, I dare. And, I am going to continue to dare. It should be her down here facing me. Instead she’s hiding out in there.” He pointed back at the house. “Whilst you are taking a verbal beating from me. And let me tell you, I hate being put in that position. This isn’t your fault it’s hers. It is her I want to be shouting at not you.”

“She might not even be here.” She bristled.

“She’s in.” Luke told her firmly, knowingly.

“I will talk to her. There really is no need to continue with arguing over this. I will sort it.”

“So that’s it? She causes mayhem and big sis mops up the mess. Are there any repercussions for her or do you take care of everything for her?” Luke laughed derisively. “What a good little sister you are?” he condemned and she bit down on her lip to stop herself from saying something that she might end up regretting. There was room for only one badly behaved sister and Faye already had taken that job.

“I…” What could she say. Luke was right after all.

“It is a good thing that we abolished capital punishment in England, isn’t it? You would be happily led to the gallows for her, wouldn’t you?” Cassie straightened her back, still Luke towered over her. She was only five two, or there about.

“Look, I am sorry.” She tried again. “It really is unnecessary to be trading insults. I will sort it.” She said, careful to keep her voice calm.

“These last few months dealing with your sister, I have noticed what a right mother hen you are. You do everything for her. Has it never crossed your mind that it is not helping her.” Luke said.

“Please.” She tried again.

“You spend most of your time assuring her that it’s okay. It is not okay Cassie. She treats you like dirt, you get that don’t you. She hides behind you and you let her.”

“No, you don’t understand.” Cassie instantly defended.

“I took her to court to teach her a lesson and you came along and made it feel like I took you to court. I hate that you put me in that position Cassie. You need to stop doing that.”

“I don’t need –”

“Yes you do.” Luke barked and she jumped at the sudden explosiveness of it. Her heart beat furiously in her chest. “You do need Cassie.” He said in a quieter tone. He stepped closer to her. “There is nothing wrong with needing.”

Cassie felt the heat in her cheeks and her blood soared in her ears. The atmosphere around them seemed to change and Cassie had the feeling that he was no longer talking about Faye. “And by the time that this is over I am going to make damn sure that you understand that.” He promised her.

“Please.” She whimpered and stopped.

“Please what Cassie?” Luke’s voice dropped, becoming sultry and Cassie shivered. She crossed her arms protectively across her chest.

“I will talk to her.” she tried again.

“And what do you think that will do?” Luke asked her taking another step closer to her so that she could feel the heat of his body and smell that delicious aroma of his aftershave and his skin.

“I…” she looked up at him, trapped in his gaze. She felt his fingers brush her upper arm. Her skin reacting to the touch instantly, her body humming instantly from the contact. It wasn’t fair, she decided again.

“By the time this is over I am going to make damn sure that she doesn’t walk all over you anymore. You got that Cassie. It ends.” He made it sound like a threat and Cassie felt that familiar shiver run through her.

“Just let me deal with her.” She tried again.

“You had your chance, too late. It’s my turn.” Luke promised her. This didn’t sound good at all. What was he planning? This couldn’t be good for Faye.

“I am not going to argue with you. We are done.” She turned to go.

“She is not worth it you know. Perhaps I should just press criminal charges instead. She needs to learn.” He baited her.

“No.” Cassie turned back to him then. “Please. I will talk to her. I will stop her from coming near you. I promise.” She begged him fearfully.

“And how are you going to do that. Follow her around twenty-four seven. Put her on tag.” Luke scoffed scornfully. “You cannot police her and you know it.”

“I will talk to her. You have my word I will make her stop.”  The trouble was Cassie had no way of making good on that promise and Luke had learnt that depressing fact. He had seen it first-hand these past couple of months.

“Your methods are not working. I am sorry but she needs a kick up the backside. You are either incapable of doing it or you don’t want to be capable of doing it.” Luke turned and strode from her and Cassie followed him.

“Please, let’s just come to an amicable arrangement.” Cassie tried again, desperate to stop Luke doing something terrible to her sister. As bad as Faye was, she was still her sister.

“Amicable and your mentally unstable sister don’t seem to fit well together.” Luke told her sternly not breaking his stride.

In desperation Cassie reached out to stop him and she grabbed at the hem of his jacket and pulled, putting her body weight into stopping him. There was a sickening tearing sound. Luke stopped abruptly and Cassie slowly looked down.

Horrified she looked at the rip at the seam of his suit jacket. It went halfway up the back seem of his expensive suit jacket. Cassie felt sick, she let go of the material as if it had burned her and she took several steps back.

“O…” Cassie said and swallowed hard.

“What is it with your family. Would you like to come over to my house and wreck it?” Cassie cast shocked wide eyes up into Luke’s warm blue eyes. Even when they sparked with anger he still had very nice eyes she noticed. She cursed Faye again.

“That was an accident.” Cassie defended herself. “I did not intend to rip your jacket. I could sew it for you.” Cassie suggested.

“No thanks. Why don’t I send you the bill for the car and I will let you have this one for free, seeing as its your first offence.” Luke stared down at her for a long time. “I’m not a monster.” He defended himself and sighed as he brought up a hand and for a split second Cassie thought that he was going to run his fingers through her hair.

She shivered slightly in anticipation and Luke dropped his hand. “Let’s hope we can stay out of each other’s way.” He told her wearily. He suddenly looked very tired and drained.

Cassie nodded silently. She opened her mouth to say something but then closed it again. What could she possibly say? Were there enough words to make this okay? “I meant Faye.” He said.

“I will talk to her.” She said again. Luke turned and strode toward his car, as he did so he slung over his shoulder.

“This isn’t over between us though. I will be back.” He promised. she watched Luke slide into his car and drive off.

The anger etched on his face had said it all and something in Cassie died at that moment.

She mulled over his last comments and wondered what he had planned. She knew that he had tried to convince her that her sister needed professional help, had even offered to help her get it. Cassie had refused, Faye wouldn’t like it.

Cassie sighed as she turned to go back into the house. It wasn’t fair, she had met the most wonderful man, a man that ticked all the right boxes for her, and Faye had messed it all up.

There would never be a chance that much was clear. Cassie turned to walk back to the house feeling empty and hollow inside.

Damn Faye and her inappropriate behaviour…