Chapter Eleven
Cassie was nervous. She and Derek were on the way to meet with his mother, and butterflies had taken up residence in her stomach. Although Marie West had been a warm, wonderful woman and Cassie doubted that had changed, what she now knew about her father’s behavior made today awkward. Cassie wasn’t responsible for her dad’s choices, but she felt sick anyway.
“Hey.” Derek reached over the center console of his SUV and placed a hand on her jean-clad knee. “What’s wrong?”
“What if she blames me? She should blame me. She should hate my whole family!”
“Cass, my mother doesn’t have it in her to hate anyone. Least of all the woman who makes her son happy.” He turned toward her and winked before returning his gaze to the road.
She breathed out and tried to relax. Thirty minutes and some traffic later, he pulled off at the exit. They ended up in a nice neighborhood with an eclectic mix of homes, some old, others renovated with new windows and siding.
He pulled up and parked in the driveway of one of the newer-looking homes, with white clapboard paint and black shutters.
“Ready?” he asked.
“Yep.”
He came around to the side of the car and walked with her up the walk, ringing the doorbell. A few seconds later, a familiar woman opened the door. Marie had a few more wrinkles on her skin, a couple of strands of gray in her dark hair, and a wide, welcoming smile on her face.
“Derek, Cassandra! Come in, come in!”
After they stepped in out of the cold, Cassie found herself enveloped in a big hug. “It’s so good to see you again,” Derek’s mother said.
“I feel the same way.” She stepped back and smiled at Marie.
She hugged Derek next. “Let me take your jackets.”
Marie hung their coats in the front hall closet and led them back to the kitchen. The inside of the house was a new as the outside, a beautifully decorated dark wood kitchen with state-of-the-art appliances. Marie had always loved to cook, so Cassie assumed this room got a lot of use.
The three sat at the kitchen table, a slice of homemade lemon meringue pie and coffee in front of each person. Good memories returned, of Marie giving her homemade treats after school, with milk instead of caffeine.
She dug into the pie. The lemony tart taste exploded on her tongue and she moaned. “Delicious.”
At the sound, Derek shot her a warning look.
She snickered to herself. She hadn’t meant to make an arousing noise, especially in front of his mom, and she cleared her throat.
“Mom, I thought I’d go change some of the higher ceiling lights while you two talk.” He rose and took a long sip of coffee before starting to walk out.
“Be careful on the ladder,” Marie said.
Derek all but rolled his eyes. “I will.” He winked at Cassie and disappeared out the kitchen entry.
This man, she thought, well aware of the growing feelings she had for him. And just look how far they’d come, her sitting in his mother’s kitchen.
Cassie knew how hard it was for him to leave her alone with his mother. But he had. Which meant he trusted her, she thought, her heart full.
She turned to Marie, who studied her through wise eyes. “Thank you for seeing me,” Cassie said.
“Are you kidding? From the time Derek mentioned your name, I couldn’t wait to see what a fine young lady you grew into.”
Cassie blinked in surprise. “You really don’t … hold it against me? What my father did?”
“Honey, we aren’t responsible for the sins of others.”
“I’m so sorry. I’m also grateful you feel that way. You were a big part of my childhood, and it would break me if you hated me now.”
Marie grabbed her hand. “On to other things, really.”
“Okay. Okay.” She sniffed before she could break down.
“So Derek tells me you’re writing a series of articles about him.” She leaned back in her seat.
Cassie rubbed her hands together, her excitement over her choice assignment coming through. “I’m almost ready to start working on them. I just need your perspective on what he was like as a child, how he’s changed, if he has. Things like that.”
“Well, let’s see, he was a handful as a toddler, into everything.” Marie smiled at the memories. “But he was also a good boy. He wanted to please both me and his father. Always willing to help around the house and at work.”
Cassie took mental notes of everything Marie said. So far none of it surprised her. Derek was a decent man who took care of his friends and family, but he also had no problem digging into things he had no business doing … like her brother’s life.
She blew out a puff of air. Since he’d been truthful with her, she’d tried to be grateful for his honesty and not angry he’d gone digging. Especially since he’d had good reasons. Reasons that included taking care of her. Cassie had been, and still was, torn by that revelation. She shouldn’t have any loyalty to her family. After all, they’d shown her how little she mattered to them. But how did you throw away a lifelong belief of what family was supposed to mean?
Yet how could she blame Derek for anything he did before he’d been involved with her, or for looking into her brother’s past indiscretions?
“Cassandra, what’s wrong? You haven’t heard a word I’ve said.” Marie broke into her thoughts.
Cassie blinked and focused on the woman in front of her. “I’m sorry. I guess I have a lot on my mind. Let’s get back to Derek.”
The other woman nodded.
For the next twenty minutes, they talked about a variety of things. Derek’s grades—all As, his preference for math and the sciences, lack of athletic ability as a child, him finding the gym and boxing and building muscles as an adult. And his desire to give back now that he had so much. It was interesting to get his mother’s perspective on her son. She was obviously proud as she should be. She’d raised a wonderful man.
They talked about how losing his father had both hurt and defined him. He’d channeled the pain into a drive to succeed to make his father proud and provide for his mother to make up for the loss.
“He also nursed anger I wasn’t aware of until recently,” Marie said pointedly.
“At my father?” Cassie asked.
Marie nodded. “He believed that had we not been let go, we would have had health insurance and his father might have survived. What he doesn’t understand—or didn’t until I told him—was that his father was a stubborn mule. Who’s to say he’d have gone to a doctor in time?”
Cassie nodded. “I understand your point and it’s generous. Really.”
“Don’t get me wrong. I don’t appreciate being accused, blamed, arrested for something I didn’t do. I’ve lived with that pain and stigma all my life, but I’ve dealt with it. I think Derek is still learning.”
As Marie spoke, guilt and embarrassment suffused Cassie. “I’m sorry,” Cassie murmured again. It was all she could do.
The very thought that her father had lied ate away at her as Marie patted her hand.
Cassie was determined to find out why her father had lied and damaged a good woman’s reputation, even if she had to confront him herself. She knew her mother would never do it.
* * *
After leaving his mother’s, Derek drove by the high school he’d attended. As it turned out, school was closed for a Superindent’s Day, but the janitor remembered Derek and was happy to let them take a walk around. Cassie wanted to see where he’d spent his formative years, as she called them, and he figured why the hell not?
Although he’d been busy changing high hat light bulbs for his mom, he’d also spent time eavesdropping on the women. His mother had been her usual kind self, but she’d been honest, too, when Cassie mentioned her father. And though it was a fair conversation, Derek had felt Cassie’s discomfort, which way outweighed his mother’s pain. She had clearly overcome the past. Derek had made more progress recently.
For Cassie it was still raw. Nothing but time and, maybe someday, an explanation would help.
After they strode down the halls with the now green lockers and he’d pointed out the science lab, they ended up in what used to be the computer lab. These days, the classrooms had smartboards and were much more high-tech. Kids had computers and laptops at home. Derek didn’t know what the kids at this school could afford, but it was obvious things had been upgraded well.
“Can you imagine if we’d gone to school together?” Cassie asked, looking around the room that was now a normal classroom.
“Maybe I’d have had more time to get you to notice me,” he said with a wink.
“Oh, I’d have noticed you,” she murmured, wrapping her arms around his neck.
“Yeah?” He rubbed his nose against her cold one. “Think you’d have been brave enough to sneak a kiss?”
“I’d regret it if I didn’t because now I know what I’d be missing.” She threaded her hand through his hair and looked into his eyes.
“Damn straight,” he muttered, and covered her lips with his, sliding his tongue into her mouth. She opened eagerly, and the kiss went on for a good long while, long, seductive sweeps of their tongues, meshing of mouths, and more.
His heart pounded hard in his chest as he pulled away. After the last twenty-four hours, Derek knew one thing for sure. He wasn’t falling in love with her. He was already there.
It didn’t matter what her family thought, what had happened in the past between them. All that mattered was her.
“I love you,” he heard himself say, unable to hold the words back now that he’d acknowledged them.
Her eyes opened wide. “You do?”
A smile pulled at his lips. “You don’t believe me?”
She leaned back, her arms around his neck holding her steady. “No, I do. Want to know why?”
He cocked an eyebrow, wanting to hear her say it. “Why?”
“Because I love you too.”
The words wrapped around his heart. Damn, he’d never have believed it. If, back when he’d gone to this school, someone had told him he’d find his other half in the princess across the yard, he’d have died laughing, sure someone was playing a joke on him. But what he felt for her was far from funny.
He kissed her again, locking his lips over hers and losing himself in her sweetness, tongues tangling. He nipped on her lower lip, and she pressed herself against him, jacket against jacket, heat sweeping through his body, his cock at attention.
This wasn’t the best place for his declaration, but it was their place and he owned it. He swept his hand into her hair and kissed her again, hard and with urgency, until they heard a loud banging on the door.
“Come on, kids,” the familiar voice of the janitor called. “Time to go.”
He broke the kiss and laughed. “This could have happened way back when too.”
She grasped his hand and met his gaze. “We’d have been too young to appreciate what we had,” she said, her eyes warm and glazed with a combination of arousal and happiness.
“Point well made,” he said. “We’d better get going or the janitor is going to drag us out.”
She laughed and let him lead her out of the room, through the school, and into the frigid air.
* * *
Derek spent the night with Cassie in his bed. He made love to her slowly, savoring the feel of his cock bare inside her, sure of his feelings. Knowing she felt the same way. He’d never used those words with another woman before, and speaking them to Cassie felt right.
He didn’t sleep much; he was too hyped up. He’d been open with Cassie. He’d been honest. And he finally had faith that they could work through the past on their terms. She wanted the same thing he did. To move on together.
He’d woken her earlier, his tongue between her legs, tasting her, savoring her, bringing her over the edge, not once but twice before he found his way home, coming inside her. Losing himself in her and finding himself all over again.
Derek rose to light streaming through the window in his bedroom. The sun matched his mood. He’d never felt so light or free.
He was about to wake her up when his cell rang. He jumped up to get it before it woke her.
“Hello?”
“Derek, it’s Kade.”
“Hey. What’s going on?” Because Kade didn’t normally call this early. “Something with Blink?” Derek asked.
“No. You know how Lexie collects the articles we’re all mentioned in?”
He rubbed the back of his neck, suddenly anxious. “Yeah?”
“You have a problem. I know you had faith in Cassie, but I told you to be careful.”
The muscles in his neck bunched into tight knots. “Fucking spit it out,” he muttered.
“There’s an article on the Take a Byte website about you.”
Derek shook his head. “That doesn’t sound right. She would have told me.” He glanced at the bed. Her bare shoulders peeked out from beneath the comforter; her brown hair was splayed across his pillow. So innocent-looking.
“Yeah? Would she also have told you she was going to do a trash piece on your mother?” Kade asked.
“Excuse me?” Derek asked, his voice rising.
Cassie jumped up, her bare breasts bouncing and teasing him before she grabbed the comforter and covered herself. “What’s wrong?” She turned sleepy eyes on him.
He held up a hand, indicating she shouldn’t interrupt. “Go on,” he said to Kade.
“The story of how your mother worked for the Storms, was fired for stealing family jewelry, arrested … all of it laid out for the world to read.”
His stomach clenched in dread. “Fuck. Thanks for the heads-up. I’ll call you later.” He turned to face Cassie.
“What is it?” she asked, concern in her voice.
“Take a Byte ran an article about me.”
She blinked in surprise. “What? No. That’s impossible.”
“Well, somehow all the information about my past, growing up the son of the gardener and maid, my mother labeled a thief for stealing family jewelry, her firing and arrest, is out for public consumption. All of it,” he said, his anger and fury rising with every word.
Her eyes opened wide. “What’s the byline?” she asked, jumping out of bed, bending down, and searching through her clothes. She popped up again with her phone in hand. “Byline,” she said again. “Who wrote the article?” she asked, scrolling through her phone.
“Kade didn’t say.”
She studied her phone, gaze narrowing. “Anonymous. The byline says fucking anonymous.” Frustration shook her body.
Her naked body, and he knew they had to get dressed. Before he could make the suggestion, she sat back down in bed and scrolled through her cell phone. “Dixon, it’s Cassie. I know it’s the weekend but it’s urgent. Who wrote the article about Derek West, and why wasn’t I informed first?”
She listened, her shoulders straightening as indignation rolled through her. “I’ll kill him,” she muttered. “Thanks,” she said into the phone. “I’ll be in touch.”
She tossed her phone on the bed and met Derek’s gaze. “I didn’t write it.”
“I know.”
“But you thought it for a minute, didn’t you?” she asked, hurt in her voice.
He shook his head. “In the second in which I found out, I didn’t know what to think. All I knew was that my entire life had been revealed to the public by your magazine. I didn’t connect any dots.”
“Well, I didn’t do it. I wouldn’t.” She pulled the blanket up around her as a shield. “But I know who did. Dixon said they were told it was an executive decision and under no circumstances was I to be told. Or else jobs would be on the line.” Her face was flushed with anger. “My brother. He’s the only one with the ability to override me. The only one who could threaten job security and my people would believe him.”
“Jesus,” Derek muttered. The gall of the men in that family knew no bounds. He recalled his conversation with the PI. “Cassie, remember I told you if there was anything you needed to know about your brother, I’d tell you?”
She nodded, her shoulders slumping as she prepared herself for another blow. “What is it?”
“Your brother spent his time in Europe romancing women, then stealing from them.”
“God.” She rubbed her palms against her eyes before meeting his gaze. “I wonder if my father knows.”
“I’m sorry, princess.”
She shook her head, knowing what she had to do. “No. I’m sorry.” She climbed out of bed and began to dress.
“What are you doing?” he asked, confused by her behavior.
She glanced up. “I’m going home. You need to help your mother cope with this mess. If she doesn’t know, she needs to. And if she already knows, she’s probably beside herself. And hating me,” she muttered, pulling on her panties.
“Cassie, wait. Take a shower, think things through.”
“Think what through? Without lifting a finger, I’ve destroyed your mother’s life. That’s what you get for going against your better instincts and letting me interview you. Letting me into your life.”
“Hey.” He strode over and grabbed her shoulders. “It wasn’t you.” Even as he’d heard the news, he hadn’t jumped to that conclusion.
He knew her. He loved her. And she loved him, which meant she wouldn’t deliberately hurt him.
“It might as well have been.” She’d slid on her jeans and buttoned them, then pulled her sweater over her head. “I have to go confront Spencer. I can’t let him run roughshod over my life. He has no right. He not only did a hit job on your mother but he undercut me. He knew I was planning a series on you, and he deliberately scooped me.” She tossed her bag over her shoulder. “I want him to look me in the eye and tell me why. And then I am going to quit.”
“Wait. What?”
She strode over to him, lifted herself onto her tiptoes, and pressed a kiss on his lips. A soft, fleeting kiss that felt suspiciously like good-bye. In a very final way.
“I’m sorry. Please tell your mother that too. I’m sorry that bringing me into your life caused such incredible pain.”
“Cassie,” he said in a deep voice he barely recognized. “What aren’t you saying?”
She shook her head, eyes full of tears. “I need to go confront my brother. And you need to think about whether it’s worth having me in your life, because I can guarantee you, Spencer won’t stop if we’re together. And you deserve a lot more than a life of humiliation.” She started for the door.
And because he was stark naked and really did need to make sure his mother prepared for any fallout, he had no choice but to let Cassie go.
For now.
* * *
Cassie went from flying on top of the world to dragging at the bottom. She couldn’t believe her brother could do something so low, so underhanded … so uncaring and awful. He’d betrayed his sister, hurt people Cassie cared about, and showed his true colors in a spectacular way.
She’d had one blissful night with Derek, sharing their feelings, believing in hope for the future, only to have everything shattered in the light of day.
She couldn’t stay with him. She had to confront her sibling, and Derek needed to think. She shuddered at the possibility of him leaving her, but could she really blame him if he did?
She left his place and took a cab to Penn Station, a train to her parents’ local stop, and an Uber to the street she’d grown up on. The trip gave her time alone to think and stew, for her anger to brew and grow.
She went immediately to her old home, assuming she’d find her brother there. She banged on the door, hit the doorbell, and banged again, well aware her brother wasn’t a morning person.
She started the process all over again, knocking hard on the door with her knuckles when Spencer flung the door open wide. He wore jeans and nothing else, his hair stood up on end, and he looked like he’d just rolled out of bed.
“Jesus, Cass, what the hell?”
She pushed past him and walked inside, not surprised to see in the short time he’d lived there he’d already put his own masculine touches on her once feminine home. Dark leather replaced her lighter touch, and there were no pretty plants around either. But this wasn’t a call to discuss his choice in décor any more than it was a social call.
“How dare you. Where did you get the nerve to run a story in my magazine without my approval? And you chose the subject you knew I had plans for!” she said, her voice rising. “You played dirty. You went into the mud and rolled around in it with people I care about, in a magazine that isn’t a gossip rag. How fucking dare you?” she asked, pushing hard at his shoulders to make her point.
“I need coffee for this,” he muttered. Unfazed by her outburst, he turned his back on her and headed for the kitchen.
“Want coffee?” he asked, as if this were a normal morning between them.
“No! I want answers!”
He popped a K-Cup into his single coffee brewer and turned to face her. “It was a damn good article. Did you read it?”
“Oh my God.” It was like dealing with her father but on steroids. Christopher heard and did what he wanted, and his son was no different, except Spencer left severe damage in his wake. “Let’s take this one thing at a time. Why did you steal the subject of my article?”
“You snooze, you lose.” The coffeemaker let out a hiss of steam, and Spencer turned to add milk to his cup. He swung back to her and raised his cup in a mock toast. “To me. Because you wouldn’t have hit on the important points. You’d have extolled the virtues of the gardener’s kid and ignored where he came from and the family scandal. In other words, all the good stuff.”
It was obvious she wasn’t going to get anywhere with him on the subject of poaching her article, so she turned to truthfulness instead. “Marie didn’t steal from Mom.”
Spencer took a sip of coffee. “What makes you so sure?”
“Because my gut tells me so. I trust her. I knew her and so did you! She was there for us growing up.”
“Sit down, Cassie. I’m going to explain the facts of life to you,” he said in a cool, condescending tone.
She blinked, taken off guard by his change in tone. She lowered herself into a chair at his table, listening only because she needed the information. Not because he’d told her what to do. “I’m listening.”
“You’re a Storms. He’s nothing. Your loyalty is to your family, something you seem to have forgotten. I’m going to make sure you don’t.”
She narrowed her gaze. “Ignoring the elitist crap in what you said, what’s your point?”
He shook his head. “So what if she didn’t steal? She played an important role in protecting me. I took Mom’s necklace. Dad jumped to the conclusion that it was Marie, and it was easier to let him believe it than to explain I’d pawned it.”
Her mouth grew dry at his cavalier explanation. “Why? We have trust funds! Why would you need to steal from your mother?”
Spencer had the grace to look sheepish, his cheeks red. “I burned through it. I knew Dad would have a fit, so I took the necklace. Mom called from her trip and asked him to have it fixed, but it was missing Dad blamed Marie. Mom believed she’d misplaced it.”
Cassie blinked. And blinked again, certain she was in an alternate universe. “And you let him,” she whispered, horrified.
But then she remembered Derek’s information on what Spencer had been up to while he was abroad, and his entire ugly existence was confirmed.
He was a selfish narcissist who believed he could do no wrong. That was the only explanation for Spencer’s behavior. And as for her father, he hadn’t deliberately framed an innocent woman, he’d believed his own actions to be justified.
“Why did Dad let me and Mom think they quit?” she asked.
“Because you and Mom have soft hearts. He said you would be devastated if you knew the truth, so he wove a lie you’d fall for.” Spencer shook his head. “But Dad’s way is not my way. I’m happy to tell you the truth now.”
She pressed her pounding temples. “So you were against me seeing Derek because—”
“The same reasons I said. He’s beneath you. You’re a Storms.”
“And he’s a constant reminder of what you did. You’re also jealous because he’s successful and you’re a sycophant who lives off of others,” she said in disgust.
Spencer didn’t seem the least fazed by her description. He didn’t care how he succeeded as long as he did.
She pushed herself to her feet, anger pulsing through her. “I’m through. Dad and Mom need to know the truth.”
At least her mother did. Cassie wouldn’t let her mom go on believing her husband had deliberately destroyed the lives of the West family. She’d looked broken when Cassie had told her. Defeated. At the very least, Cassie could restore her faith.
And maybe get Spencer out of his position of authority at Storms Consolidated while she was at it. Christopher had often covered for his son, but this was extreme. And Cassie had to believe he’d throw her brother out on his entitled ass once he knew.
“Dad won’t care,” Spencer said, full of confidence, contradicting her hopes. “He put me in charge. He wants me to succeed.”
Yep. Narcissistic and a lot crazy. Cassie ignored him. Even if her father chose to ignore the past, the board would care. Somehow, someway, she’d save her grandfather’s company from Spencer’s destructive hands.
She had to. Because after today, the company might be all she had left.
* * *
From Spencer’s, Cassie headed next door to see her parents. Her father wasn’t home, but her mother was happy to see her. She sat her down and explained the conversation she’d had with her brother. The truth brought her mother to tears. Relieved tears that her husband wasn’t the monster they’d both feared, and angsty pain-filled tears that her son was capable of such callous, destructive behavior. Cassie hugged her mother, feeling all the same conflicting emotions, wishing there was something they could do to change the past. Knowing there wasn’t anything that would undo the hurt Spencer had caused.
“You can’t take on his behavior as your own,” her mother said, squeezing both Cassie’s hands tightly in her own.
“But I can make it easier on Derek’s family to keep the past where it belongs. If they don’t have to see me, to deal with our family in any way, they can put it behind them.” Pain ripped through her chest, but they deserved better.
“Honey, I take it you’re in love with the man or you wouldn’t be so emotional.”
Cassie blinked back tears and nodded.
“Would you walk away from him if the situation were reversed? If his sibling had done something to me?” her mother asked.
“No. I’d fight for him.”
“So why aren’t you fighting for him now?” her mother asked.
“I told him to take time, to think. He deserves to make a decision about us with a clear head.”
Her mother rolled her eyes. “Fine, but if he’s a smart man, he won’t let you go.”
She laughed. “You’re biased.”
“Maybe, but I’m only speaking the truth.
She hugged her mother before easing back. “You’ll talk to Dad? Tell him everything?”
Her mother nodded. “Oh, yes. I have every intention of having a long-overdue conversation with him about your brother. Among other things.”
Cassie was about to stand when another question came to her. “The other day, when we met for lunch, you said you overlooked a lot. Did you mean it?”
A sigh escaped. “I suppose I meant we accept the person we love for who they are, flaws and all. Your father has many, especially as a parent. But he’s not all bad. And I try to nudge him in the right direction when I can.” She paused. “Does that help explain?”
Cassie nodded. “It does.” She agreed that you had to accept the other person for who they were. But with her father’s behavior, it still wasn’t what she’d want in a relationship. But Cassie understood her mother better. “I love you,” she said, hugging her mom again.
“Go live your life,” her mother urged.
More than anything, Cassie wanted a life with Derek. At the very least, she wanted the chance to see if they could make it work long term. But first she needed to find a way to tell Derek what her brother had done.
And she needed time before she could decide how to do just that.
* * *
Derek stood in his mother’s kitchen, a printed copy of the online Take a Byte article on the table. He paced the floor, unable to sit still, a host of emotions rushing through him. Anger at Spencer, frustration at his inability to do anything about the revelations. Once out there, there was nothing he could do to prevent readers from delving into his and his family’s history.
And he worried about Cassie, because instead of sticking around, she’d rushed out, telling him to think about what having her in his life meant. As if he didn’t already know. She meant everything to him. Nothing her brother did or said would change that.
“Sit down,” his mother said, breaking into his thoughts. “You’re nervous and it’s driving me crazy.”
Leave it to his mom to make him feel like a child again. He lowered himself into his seat. “Are you okay?” he asked her. “Will you have trouble facing your friends, dealing with people?” He worried about her, especially with his father gone.
“Derek, I hate to break it to you, but my friends don’t read tech magazines, online or otherwise.” She picked up the papers and ripped them in half.
He sputtered, shocked by her cavalier attitude. “What if the networks or other media outlets pick up on it?” he asked.
“This is my life. It has been for years. Do you think just because it’s been made public it changes anything? I know I didn’t do this. Anyone who cares about me knows I wouldn’t do something like this. Other people can kiss my ass.” Her eyes twinkled with amusement. “I’m over it. I have been for years.”
She leaned over and grasped his hand. “I just wish I’d realized sooner that you weren’t.”
“Since Dad died, well, since Dad got sick, I’ve felt responsible.”
“You can’t put the world on your shoulders.” She patted his hand. “I’m not your responsibility, though I love you for looking out for me. And I appreciate you showing me this article in case it pops up in other places. I told you to let the past go.”
He managed to smile. “I have. Honestly.”
“Has Cassandra? How is she dealing with this?” his mother asked.
“Not well. For her this was a personal attack too. Her brother knew she was planning to write a series about me. He undermined her intentionally. Not to mention, she feels guilty that the past is being dredged up again. She wants us to take a break so I can think about whether she’s worth the aggravation.” He shook his head, still unable to believe she thought so little of them, of him, that she believed he’d walk away from her so easily.
His mother’s mouth dropped open. “You aren’t seriously doing that, are you?”
“Of course not. But I do need to somehow convince her she isn’t responsible for this. That neither you nor I hold it against her.”
“You young people. You make life so difficult. Overthink everything.” His mother waved a hand through the air. “Go get your girl.”
Derek smiled. It wasn’t as simple as his mother would like to believe. On the other hand, he didn’t intend to let her break them apart over her brother’s behavior either.
* * *
Derek tried to reach Cassie, but she’d turned off her phone. He spent the day hanging with Oscar, meeting his friends for dinner because they were worried and wanted to make sure he and his mother were okay.
The next day, he showed up at the office and texted her again before diving into work. He couldn’t concentrate, not since he hadn’t heard from Cassie, but he did his best to keep busy.
But no matter what, he was definitely heading to her place after work. Her time for ignoring him was over. And he damn well didn’t need any thinking time.
By the time Becky told him he had a visitor who preferred not to give his name, Derek was grateful for the distraction. And curious.
He glanced up as the door opened, and Christopher Storms walked in. Nothing could have surprised Derek more.
He rose from his seat. He didn’t know what the other man wanted, but he knew to meet him on equal footing.
“I see from your expression you recognize me,” Christopher said.
“I lived on your property for a long time.” And he hadn’t changed much.
His hair was thinner, his face more lined, and he could now see he and Cassie shared the same coffee-brown eyes.
“True.” Christopher inclined his head. “Can we sit?”
Derek nodded and lowered himself back into his chair. The back of his neck prickled uncomfortably. “What can I do for you?” he asked stiffly.
“When was the last time you spoke to my daughter?” Christopher asked.
Derek gripped his chair arms tightly. “Why is that your business?”
“Hang on.” Christopher held up his hands in a sign of entreaty. “Believe it or not, I’m on your side.”
“Explain.”
He ran a hand over his beginning-to-bald head. “Cassie came to see her mother. She was beside herself because her brother wrote an article about you. One that went after your mother, revealing our whole sordid past.”
Derek swallowed hard. And waited.
“She also told her something Spencer revealed. That he was the one who stole the necklace I accused your mother of taking.”
Derek reared back in his seat. “Excuse me?”
“My son stole the necklace I accused your mother of taking.”
“Stealing,” Derek spat.
Christopher’s face turned ruddy. “In my defense, I really believed she’d stolen it.”
“Guess you’re a poor judge of character,” Derek muttered, leaning forward on his desk. So far the information was interesting but didn’t warrant this visit. “So why are you here?”
“I can’t make it up to you, what I did to your mother. And the fact is, as my wife reminded me, I haven’t been a particularly good father to Cassie.” He shook his head, lowering it in shame. “I didn’t know what to do with a girl.” Yet another lame explanation. “Consider this as my way of making up for it. For a lot of things.”
“What is?”
He shifted in his seat. “A couple of months ago, we received an offer on Storms Consolidated. From a company I’d never heard of.”
Derek narrowed his gaze. “And?”
“I hired people to dig deeper. And I discovered that you made the offer. And I’m here to accept.”
Derek’s head spun. He braced his hands on his desk and leaned in. “Why?” He didn’t trust any offer this man made.
Christopher leaned forward in his seat. “Because my wife tells me my daughter loves you. And I’ve screwed up enough for one lifetime. It’s time to make things right.”
Derek swallowed hard. He had no pity for Cassie’s father, but he was her parent. And Derek would do anything for another day with his own father.
So he looked the other man in the eye and said the only thing he could to his offer. “I accept.”
* * *
Cassie spent the entire day in her bed, working on her laptop. If anything good was going to come of her brother’s confession, Derek’s mother would be exonerated, and to Cassie, that meant everything. Only after she’d finished the words could she go to Derek. She didn’t know if they had a future, but without the words, she couldn’t bring herself to try.
The phone rang in her apartment and she answered. “Hello?”
“Ms. Storms, this is Curt, the doorman at the front desk. There’s a limo driver here for you.”
“I’m sorry, what?”
“I’m going to put the man on the phone if that’s okay with you.”
Curious, she agreed. “Go ahead. Thank you.”
“Ms. Storms, Mr. West sent me. My instructions are to wait for you to change into something nice and take you to meet him for dinner.”
Shock and pleasure rippled through her in equal measure. He’d beat her to reaching out. Well, she could live with that. She had a lot to tell him, and she hoped he’d both understand and forgive. It had taken her awhile to hear what her mother had said and, more importantly, to accept it.
If the situation were reversed, if his family had hurt hers, she wouldn’t hold it against him. Hopefully this overture meant he felt the same way.
She hit save on her document, shut her laptop, and headed for the shower. The driver was waiting, and she had to freshen up quickly.
She chose the same white cashmere dress she’d worn the night of their first date, left her hair down the same way, and clasped the same gold chain around her neck. She hoped her choices would evoke good memories for him.
They did for her.
After applying her makeup and a spritz of perfume, she headed downstairs. Her stomach flipped with nerves, similar to the way they’d done that first night.
She wasn’t surprised when the limo pulled up to the restaurant of their first date. They were on identical wavelengths.
As the car parked, Derek stepped out of the front door of the restaurant. He met her at the curb. Helped her out of the backseat.
“You look beautiful,” he said as his hand clasped hers.
Her gaze swung to his. “Thank you,” she murmured. “You must be freezing.” He wore a pair of black pants and a white dress shirt, no jacket.
“It’s fine. Come. I reserved a private room in the back,” he said, a grin pulling at his sexy mouth.
“Derek! You didn’t have to do that again. But I’m glad you did.”
He led her inside though she knew the way, and walked to the back room. Their booth was there and they sat side by side, his thigh close to hers. Just being near him, inhaling his cologne, taking in his handsome profile, she knew what she wanted.
She desired Derek and a future with him.
The waiter came to take their order. “Same as first time?” he asked.
“Sounds perfect to me.” She was definitely in the mood for their steak au poivre, a baked potato loaded with sour cream, and creamed spinach.
Derek grinned her. “Me too.”
Without looking at the wine menu, he ordered a bottle of Miner Cabernet. The red wine had been delicious with their meal.
“I’m assuming that’s okay? If you still like wine, that is?” he asked with a wink before the waiter took his leave.
Her lips lifted in a knowing grin. She remembered her exact words here too. “I still prefer wine to beer. Though once in a while, sharing a bottle can be fun.”
Derek laughed, obviously pleased.
The waiter tilted his head and excused himself, pulling the door closed behind him, but he returned quickly and poured their wine, pausing for the ritual tasting.
Finally, though, they were alone.
“Well,” she said into the silence.
“Well.” He raised his glass. “To … us.”
Before she tapped her glass to his, she wanted him to know everything. She lowered the glass. “There are things I think you ought to know first.”
He raised an eyebrow. “Let me make this easy on you. Your brother was the one who stole the necklace, not my mother.”
“How do you know that?”
He leaned in close, wrapping an arm around her shoulders. “I had a visitor. Someone else who wanted to make things right.”
Her mouth went dry. “Who?”
“Your father.”
She swallowed wrong and began to cough. She picked up the water and took a few sips, waiting until she could speak again.
“Are you okay?” Derek asked.
She managed a nod. “I don’t understand.”
“Apparently, your mother had a long talk with him following your discussion with her.”
“What did he say?”
“Believe it or not, he told me Spencer stole the necklace.”
“Did he apologize?” she asked hopefully.
Derek let out a laugh. “No, I wouldn’t say that. Not specifically. He did, however, excuse his behavior by saying he really had thought my mother took the jewelry. And then he said he wanted to make things right. With you and with my family.
Cassie’s insides were trembling at the thought of Derek meeting with her father. “How?” she whispered.
“To make up for being a bad father to you, and to make things right by me, he accepted the offer I made on the company all those months ago.”
Her head was spinning with the information Derek had given her and the implications of it all. “Slow down. How did he know you made the offer?”
“Investigation.”
“Does that mean Spencer’s no longer chairman?”
Derek nodded, the pleasure he got from that change evident in the broad smile on his face. “Your father hadn’t yet finalized your brother’s transfer of power in writing. He was still in charge of the company, and of course, he still holds majority stock. He can make any decision he chooses. And he chose to sell to me. I, in turn, chose to throw your brother out on his entitled ass.”
“I’m speechless,” she murmured.
“Good, because I’m not finished. I have more to say.”
She blinked, sensing something big was coming. “What is it?” she asked.
“I’m signing the company over to you.”
“What? You can’t do that!” she said, her hands beginning to shake.
“I can. I only wanted it as a means of revenge. Storms Consolidated means everything to you. This way nobody can take it away from you ever again.”
Tears leaked out of her eyes. “Derek, no. That’s too generous. Beyond generous. Put me in charge if you want. I won’t argue. I’ll step up and make you money on your investment. That’s all I really want.”
He unwound his arm from behind her and turned so they were face-to-face. “You told me to think about what it meant to have you in my life. And that’s all I’ve done since you shut me out.”
“I didn’t…” She closed her mouth. Opened it again. “I did. But I needed you to consider how you felt about the baggage that came with me.”
He shook his head. “Silly woman. Does my past come along with me? My family?”
“Yes.”
“And if things were reversed, would you walk away from me?”
She shook her head. “Of course not.” She furrowed her brows, her forehead wrinkling. “I was being ridiculous.”
“You could say that.” He tapped her nose.
“I panicked. I spent the entire day working on a rebuttal article to what Spencer printed. I laid out the truth of what happened, with my brother’s faults and lies.”
“Princess, you can’t prove he did it. He could sue you for libel. Your best bet is to let my kicking him to the curb suffice as his punishment. That and I’m sure your father isn’t going to be funding his lifestyle anymore,” Derek said, sounding satisfied with that outcome.
“I can live with that.”
“Good. Now, I have a solution to you not wanting to let me gift the company to you.”
Her heart was beating rapidly in her chest, her love for this man growing exponentially with every word that came out of his mouth. Nobody had ever looked out for her before. Put her first. Cared about what she wanted in life and gone out of their way to make sure she got it.
“What’s your solution?” she asked.
He grasped her hand and held it tight in his. “Cassie Storms, I love you and someday I plan on marrying you. I realize it’s too soon, and we have a long way to go getting to know each other better and building something solid and real. But when I do make you my wife, what’s mine is yours. And then, you’ll take the company as a wedding gift.”
Her breath caught in her throat. Again. “Derek,” she said, hardly able to believe the words coming out of his mouth.
“Not what I want to hear. ‘Yes, Derek. I agree,’ is about all I’ll accept.”
Her heart felt full to bursting. “Yes, Derek, I agree.” She laughed and wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him close. “Because I love you too. And I can’t wait to spend my days … and nights with you. To build memories and work toward a future,” she said, happy tears building behind her eyes.
He slid his hand behind her head, pulling her close. “Promise me you’ll never pull away again. We have an issue, we talk it through.”
She nodded. “I just wanted you to make a clear, rational choice.”
“Well, I did. And I choose you,” he said and sealed his lips over hers.