One Summer Evening - One Summer Evening Part 56
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One Summer Evening Part 56

Austin?"

His blunt question caught her so by surprise that she'd had to scramble for a suitable response. She'd finally answered with a question.

"What makes you think that?"

Tyler shrugged.

"You always holler at me when I mention him."

"Why, Tyler Sullivan, that's not true, and you know it. I've never

hollered at you."

He gave her a sheepish grin.

"Well, you know what I mean."

He was right: She did know what he meant, but she wasn't going to

address it.

Besides, this conversation had gone far enough.

"Look, I like Austin just fine. He's a nice man, but I don't want you to

be a nuisance to him or become too attached."

"Why?" Tyler asked with childlike sincerity.

"He likes me a lot."

"I'm glad," she said lightly.

"He told me he'd like to have a son just like me one day."

Swell.

While that conversation had set her teeth on edge, Cassie had refrained

from saying another word. Despite the fears pounding her from all sides,she remained determined to stay in Jasmine. Given that, she had come toterms with her fragile emotions and vulnerability where Austin wasconcerned.

Had she fallen in love with him? Yes. She had always loved him. Thatlove was what had driven her to pursue him that long-ago evening, making it impossible for him not to make love to her.

Yet she couldn't act on her heart's desire. Even if her parents couldget beyond Austin's betrayal and accept them as a couple, she couldn't.She simply couldn't risk Austin finding out that he was Tyler's father.He would feel betrayed and angry, no telling what he would do.

Besides, this mental torture she was putting herself through regardingAustin was futile. He wanted her in his bed; he made no secret of that.But that was all. He had never spoken the word love.

If he had, it wouldn't change anything, not when there was such a fineline between love and hate. She couldn't ignore her guilt, either. Shehad denied Austin one of life's most precious gifts--a son. His son.

Stop it, Cassie! Stop torturing yourself. Instead, she should savor thememories of that night in Austin's arms, when she'd felt so secure, soloved, and make those memories last a lifetime.

While they might have slept together, they could never live together.

Because of that, her secret was safe. Rational thinking told her that.

What she had to worry about was Lester and how to handle him. Hispresence had her back in limbo. She was damned if she left and damned ifshe didn't.

For now, she had only what Austin had told her to cling to" that ifLester stepped out of line, he would be back behind bars.

Hopefully her ex would think long and hard before he did anythingstupid.

Too, he had to know that he wasn't dealing with a scared young girlanymore, one who was willing to go through hell to make her marriagework and to provide a father for her child.

That young girl was no more.

When it came to James, she had no qualms, although it saddened her thathe had sided with Lester. While she hadn't taken her daddy to task forhis betrayal, there was, nonetheless, a definite change in the air whenthey were together.

It was only a matter of time before she would confront him, but for now,she kept her mouth shut. She had considered taking her mother into herconfidence, but Wilma's failing health had nixed that.

Besides, her mother was only interested in her taking care of the hotel,which was another problem. Hopefully Austin had gotten out of the landdeal and put the money back into the company.

Thoughts of the hotel forced Cassie back to the renovation plans on herdesk.

She was anticipating and preparing for the rescheduled meeting with thearchitect and contractor the day after tomorrow.

She had yet to inform Austin about it. A sudden smile flexed her lips.It would be interesting to see what happened. Unconsciously, she glanced at her watch, then moaned. It was too late to do any serious work; she

might as well go home.

Her daddy was the first person she saw when she let herself into the Wortham mansion.

"Hi, Daddy," she said, half smiling.

He didn't return the smile.

"Are you alone?" he asked.

"Yes, why?"

His eyes narrowed.

"Tyler's not with you?"

Panic, sharp and hot, jabbed her in the stomach.

"No. You mean he's not here?"

"No." Something akin to fear changed the color of his eyes.

"But you ... you were supposed to pick him up, like always."

"Someone called my secretary and said you were getting him today."

Cassie slammed a hand against her heart.

"Oh no!"

"Now, now, calm down. It's probably nothing, just a misunderstanding."

"A misunderstanding!" she yelled.

"How can you say that, when we don't know where he is?"

"We'll find him," James said in his still-unflappable tone.

"What about Austin?"

"I just called him. He hasn't seen him, either."

"Oh no," Cassie said again, sinking onto the bottom step of the stairs,

feeling like all the blood had just drained from her body.

"It's Lester," she said in a broken voice. "He's ... he's taken my son." "I'll call the police," James said.

The tall, lanky man sat down in a chair in Austin's office, and blew out

his breath.

"This is the hottest fuckin' summer I've ever lived through." "You and everyone else," Austin said, scrutinizing his longtime friend, Hank

Medford, who had once been a cop. Now he was a private detective, in business for himself.

"Mind if I take my tie off?" Hank asked.

"Why the hell do you have one on?"