"Don't, Jo!" Cassie stopped up her ears.
"Don't beat up on me anymore, please. Everything you're saying is true,
but I still have to do this. And in staying, I have to have faith that no one else will ever know the truth."
"Rest assured, my lips are sealed forever. And Tyler looks nothing like
Austin. That's certainly in your favor."
Cassie almost smiled.
"Oh, but he has a lot of his ways. He's as stubborn as a mule."
Jo Nell answered her smile.
"That description fits you, too, my friend." "Look, I've got to go,"
Cassie said, glancing at the clock.
"It's way late, and Tyler'll be wondering where I am."
"Ah, he'll be all right. Stay a while longer. I'll get us some more
coffee."
' "Thanks, but no thanks. I really do have to run. I'm going to the
hotel tomorrow to try to get my sea legs." Cassie grabbed her purse, kissed Jo Nell on the cheek and headed for the door.
"Oh, by the way, Austin's seeing someone."
Cassie pulled up short and swung around, her eyes wide.
"How do you know?"
"Heard it in the shop." Jo Nell angled her head and stared directly at
Cassie.
"That's good news, right?" "Of course," Cassie said in a breathless tone. "That's the best news I've had all day."
"I'm glad you feel that way."
Shivering, Cassie walked out the door.
t i /~^ VJOOD morning, Paul."
The doorman tipped his hat.
"Top of the mornin' to you, sir." "How's the family?" Austin asked just
before stepping into the hotel's revolving door.
Paul's plain features beamed.
"They're good, sir. Thank you for asking."
"You give them my best," Austin said, just before the door swallowedhim, then turned him loose on the other side, where he almost ran intoone of the Jasmine's most frequent and contented guests.
"Ah, Mrs. Gerald, you're looking great today."
She also beamed.
"Why, thank you, Austin. Henry and I are about to browse the antiqueshops one more time." She rolled her eyes.
"Sounds like a winner. Hope you don't melt, though."
She flapped a fat hand, whose fingers were jammed with diamond rings.
"Lordy, so do I. Have you ever seen it so hot?"
"No, can't say that I have."
She fanned herself with one of the old-timey fans that were provided inthe rooms.
"I guess we'll all survive."
"We have no choice," Austin responded with a smile, making his waytoward the elevators, his eyes missing nothing of the goings on in thelobby of this small but upscale hotel.
Great food. Great service. Great smiles. That was the Hillcrest motto,and it had paid off. Instead of talking about Wall Street, as so many ofthe other hotel chains were doing, he and Wilma talked customer service.
Pleasing the customers started at the top, with management, and filtereddown to the lowest staff member. Each had a reason for being there and aspecific job to do. Austin made sure no one shirked that duty, includinghimself.
He had spent the night in his condo, something he rarely did since he'dbecome responsible for this hotel. He had a suite here, as well as amakeshift office, opting not to use Wilma's, as he expected her back soon.
Now, as he made his way into his cubbyhole and sat down, his gaze landedon the open folder on his desk. He sighed, thinking that the pendingland deal in New Orleans hadn't gotten nearly the time and attention itdeserved.
But then, it wasn't his responsibility to sweat the details. His friendand attorney, Randall Lunsbury, was in charge. If it hadn't been forRandall, there wouldn't be a deal.
Austin thumped his pen idly on the papers before. shutting the folder.He wanted to get excited about the venture, but he wouldn't allowhimself to do that yet. It was still in the raw, so to speak, and untilhe had a chance to visit with Randall again, he'd best contain hisexcitement.
At least Wilma had given her consent, which had been the first bighurdle.
Thinking of Wilma brought a frown to his face. He was concerned abouther health. She didn't look well, hadn't looked well in a long time. Thefact that she hadn't been supervising the day-to-day running of theJasmine spoke volumes.
He didn't mind the added responsibility, but coupled with the other twohotels, he was spread a bit thin. Because the Jasmine was thetop-grossing hotel in the small chain, it required more attention,especially as it was beginning to show signs of physical wear that wouldsoon have to be attended to.
With that thought in mind, Austin got up and walked to the window thatoverlooked a portion of the parking lot and the grounds. His gaze homedin on the latter which were green and luscious this time of the year.Perfect was the word that came to mind.
However, if he were to walk throughout the facility, the word imperfectwould come to mind. Austin rubbed his chin. Clearly, he faced a dilemma.If the land deal in New Orleans materialized, then renovations on thisfacility would have to take a back burner.
Thank goodness he didn't have to make that decision today or anytime soon.
He twisted around and eyed the folder, hoping it would lure him back tohis desk. No such luck. Where he wanted to be about now was at the farm,breaking in a horse, feeling the sweat oozing from his pores, cleansinghis mind and body.
Unfortunately, that was not to be, at least not until the day was over.He had other pressing business that couldn't be ignored. The manager wasout ill, and the chef had resigned, which meant he had to find anotherone ASAP, because a huge wedding ceremony and reception were imminent.
With that in mind, Austin was about to turn away from the window when hesaw her.
"Cassie."
When he realized her name had come out sounding like a sigh of longing,colorful expletives filled his mind. He didn't move, though, nor did hetake his eyes off her.
She had on a pair of purple pants and a matching vest. Even from wherehe stood, the vibrant color of her outfit enhanced her understatedbeauty.
Then, when she began to walk toward the back entrance, he watched as hersilky, layered hair moved in rhythm with her body. She oozed a naturalsexuality, more potent because she seemed totally unaware of it.
Too bad he wasn't.
Something happened inside him in that moment, something so powerful thathe couldn't ignore it. His gut tightened, and he got hard, so hard thathe felt the pressure from his zipper. That was when he jerked his eyes off her and stalked back to his desk.
Shit fire and save the matches!
What was he thinking? He wasn't. That was the problem, just like it hadbeen the problem that evening nine years ago on the beach when he'd. No!
He'd promised himself he wouldn't travel down that path again,especially since he had finally met someone who stirred his interest.
Her name was Sherry Young. She was an interior designer who was his age.
Though he hadn't been seeing her long, he sensed she was interested,which made him feel good.
After Alicia's death, he had felt so empty, so depressed, the way he'dfelt after his tryst with Cassie, that he couldn't imagine becominginvolved with anyone ever again.
But time had healed, as promised, except for that evening.
"Can it, McGuire," he said aloud. Even if he wanted another taste ofthat forbidden apple--which he didn't, of course--it wasn't going tohappen.
He just wondered how much longer Cassie would hang around town. Herpresence was great for James and Wilma. For him, it was a pain in theroyal ass.
He didn't like having the past dredged up and rubbed in his face.
Guilt. Every time he looked at Cassie, that was what he felt. Ah, tohell with her, he told himself. She would be gone again soon, and hecould go on with his life.
Cassie stepped into her mother's office, feeling suddenly and totallyoverwhelmed. Maybe part of that feeling stemmed from having noticedAustin watching her.
To hell with him. Surely he had something better to do than spy on her.Her heart thumped wildly in her chest. She had lied to Jo Nell.
In spite of everything that had happened, he did disturbher--physically, at least--making her long for a magic she would neverknow or feel again. That brief time in his arms. Tension suddenlybunched Cassie's shoulders as she switched her mind's gears. But heralternative thoughts weren't much better.
She felt trapped, first by her marriage to Lester, now by the commitmentto her mother. But she would thrust aside her selfish fears and insecurities and make the latter work, for Tyler if for no other reason.
But there was another reason; she wanted to stay. While no doubtfrightened by such a bold move, she was willing to gamble on her secretremaining just that.
When she had told Tyler they were going to stay in Jasmine, he'd let outa whoopee.
"Really, Mom?" he'd asked, his eyes sparkling and his face animated.
"I take it you like that idea?"
"That's cool. Papa said he'd take me camping and fishing."
Cassie almost choked. Fishing? Her daddy? No way. That image just didn'twork for her, but what did she know? Having his grandson around mightloosen James up a bit. And being around her daddy would be good forTyler. He needed a man in his life.
No more thoughts about the family, she told herself, determined to,concentrate on the task in front of her. Wilma had given her notesgalore concerning her daily duties at the hotel. First thing, Cassieintended to go through those. She still had doubts that she could fillher mother's shoes, but she had made the commitment, and it was too lateto renege, despite Austin's unsettling presence.
In order not to think about him, she quickly picked up a folder labeledImportant, opened it and began perusing its contents.
"Good morning."
The sound of his gravelly voice, along with his unexpected presence,caused her to jump visibly. April, her mother's secretary, wasn't at herdesk, which had apparently given Austin carte blanche just to walk in.Maybe he had it anyway. After all, this was as much his hotel as hermother's.
Cassie heart sank, for more reasons than one.
"Morning," she responded, hearing the breathlessness in her voice.
Damn, she would have to do better than this or she would be a basket case.
But how could she? He looked so in control, leaning against thedoorjamb, using it as a prop for his sexy body.