The Texas Millionaire's Runaway Wife (9 page)

Not to seem ungrateful, the idea of Annie and Liz getting extra assistance before she even started at Magnolia Bransford left Cassie warm and excited, but it also left her with a lot of questions.

Another lie, she realized with pain deepening.

“It seems Magnolia Bransford is sending some help for you and Annie before she even starts. How exciting is that?” She hoped her face looked as excited as her voice sounded.

“Help like what?” She took the paper, glancing over the pages her eyes getting wider and more excited as she read. “Do you think this is a mistake? This can’t be real. Home assistance, babysitting, tutoring, there’s even a spa day in here for me with a complete itinerary for what Annie will be doing while I’m there.” She looked up from the letter, eyes glowing. “Cassie, I haven’t been to the spa in thirteen years. I don’t think I’ve even shaved my legs in the past month, much less thought about spending a day getting,” she pointed to the letter, “a massage, facial, pedi, mani... Where did all this come from?”

“I don’t think it’s a mistake, it has your name, was brought to your address. I think someone is looking out for you. Maybe this is their way of helping Annie transition a little easier. Maybe this is their way of helping you see that help is available and that you can have a life.” Cassie brushed a hair away from Liz’s face. “Why are you crying?”

She wanted to cry.

She wanted to hit something.

“I just never thought things would work out.” Liz looked at Cassie. “I’m the big sister and it feels like you’re always taking care of me. I’ve been a mess since Annie was little, and even worse after Sam left. I’ve been living on eggshells for eleven years and never thought I’d have a chance for a normal life. But look at this.” She pointed to the part about her getting nights off. “I love my daughter, Cassie, but I’ve felt like a prisoner for her entire life. I don’t even know if I know how to live any differently anymore.”

Cassie pulled her sister to her shoulder. “You deserve to have a good life. You deserve so much more than you’ve had.”

****

It was still early when Cassie left Liz’s house. She’d given Abigail specific instructions for what to do with that food and as she drove to downtown Fort Worth, she wondered if they’d been followed.

Of course, they’d been followed. Abigail didn’t seem the type of woman to not follow instructions. A smile curved Cassie’s lips. Things with Liz were painful enough, she had to have some joy in her life.

If that joy came from torturing Stephen Sands, even a little bit, then she’d take it where it came.

A tiny niggling of guilt played at the edge of her mind as she thought about all he did for Liz. He’d been nice. Thoughtful. Generous, even.

Which didn’t seem like him. Cassie couldn’t help but wonder if he had some ulterior motive for what he’d done. No matter what his motive, Annie would have a better chance, Liz would have the help she needed and Cassie should feel nothing but pure gratitude for all of it.

And she did. Which left her confused about how she felt about Stephen and more determined to find a way to shorten their “marriage.”

She wondered about the dinner tonight. The Travis Building was an upscale office complex with a restaurant on the top floor nestled into the heart of downtown right on Sundance Square. Cassie did not own a single piece of clothing that would be proper for dinner there. Pulling into one of the parking lots off of Commerce, Cassie got out and crossed the street to the Moonbeam Boutique. She’d passed it every time she’d come to downtown, but had only wandered in once.

The dresses were beautiful, vintage style sophisticated looks.

She’d fallen instantly in love. Then, she’d glanced at the price tag on a flowy yellow strapless that had caught her eye.

She’d fallen instantly out of love.

That had been months before. If she was married to Stephen Sands and he was so concerned about her acting the part, by God, she’d look the part.

Cassie didn’t want to disappoint her husband. If they were to have dinner out, she’d dress the part. Plus, it’d fit into her plans. Spending his money wasn’t the way to bring down Stephen Sands. No, if he wanted to humiliate her, which Cassie suspected was his motive behind this whole business, then Cassie would have to torture him in kind.

She’d be the perfect wife. Dress the part, act the part, be so over the top wonderful that if he tried to do anything openly to hurt her, he’d come out the bad guy.

Not that he would. No, Stephen would exact personal, private torture.

Like that kiss.

Her lips still tingled.

An hour later, she wandered away from Moonbeam Boutique with four shopping bags and a goofy, happy smile on her face. She’d never shopped off the rack before.

It felt
marvelous
.

And she now had the perfect short, fun green vintage dress for tonight. She’d also bought a pair of heels so exotic and wild they made her itch to wear them all day.

Before today Cassie hadn’t realized she was a shoe girl. Now she had five new pairs, plus a pair of knee-high sky blue boots with red flowers on them that reminded her of her childhood.

They’d look perfect with the new canvas colored, low bodice dress. One more trip and she’d be done in downtown.

She had to find something for Abigail. Stephen might think it proper to not thank people for what they did, but after what Cassie had asked of her this morning, a big thank you seemed more than appropriate.

She stepped through the shop door of Shocolot, her favorite hand-dipped chocolate store. Of course, before today all Cassie had bought was a handful of chocolates at a time. She’d never had the luxury to throw away money before.

Now it wasn’t her money to waste.

She bought a two-pound box of mixed truffles, bonbons and dipped fruits before heading back to the house where, cars lined the driveway.

Cassie smiled at what she knew was happening inside.

Still, opening the door she was greeted with so much chaos and cacophony she felt giddy at the prospect. Children ran in circles around the milling adults, people held paper plates filled with food and sounds of laughter and wild noise filled every inch of the entryway.

“Mrs. Sands,” Abigail said as she made it to the front door. “Everyone began arriving and I set out the food, just as you asked. There were more than I expected, so I made extra, I hope that is okay.”

Cassie leaned in and hugged the nervous looking housekeeper. “This is perfect, Abigail. Here.” She thrust the bag of chocolate into her hands.

“Where should I put this?” she asked.

“No.” Cassie dodged two children chasing through the entranceway, “This is for you.”

Uncertainty filled Abigail’s blue eyes. “I don’t understand.”

“It is a thank you.”

“I don’t understand.”

Cassie laughed. “Abigail, those are chocolates. I wanted to thank you for setting this up. Why don’t you take a break? I’m going to bring my bags up to my room then call my husband home for lunch. Does he ever do that?”

She shook her head, still looking confused about the gift. “No, he generally does not come home until late. Mrs. Sands,” she looked around the room, “I don’t think he’ll be happy about this.”

Cassie had first had Abigail donate the majority of their breakfast to the soup kitchen where she volunteered, then asked Abigail to invite the local churches Mommy’s Day Out program over to the house for lunch. Had even supplied her the number...she donated cupcakes to their monthly fundraisers, after all. Stephen would be apoplectic.

Sounds of crying filtered in from another room and two of the mommies rushed to see what was going on.

“My husband will be pleased,” Cassie assured Abigail. “He wants to branch out in the community. We had so much breakfast left over this morning it seemed a shame to waste it. Plus, I couldn’t think of a more deserving group of people than all these mommies. Could you?”

Abigail shook her head. “No, but I never would have expected Mr. Sands to want all these people in his house.”

“Our house,” Cassie assured as she took a few steps up the stairs. “Abigail, you’ve done a wonderful job. Please, really, go take a break.” The woman nodded and walked away.

A crashing sound filtered up the stairs.

If the house survived the children, Cassie would be shocked. Glancing down over the banister, she laughed at the chaos. No, Stephen would not be okay with this. There had to be at least twenty children and twelve or thirteen mothers. The oldest child looked to be four, maybe.

Unexpectedly, a pang of remorse cut at Cassie’s heart. While she wasn’t past the age of having children, her years were getting shorter and shorter. If this thing with Stephen went on for too long, she’d lose her chances entirely.

Sure, she could adopt. Cassie had never been against that, but the idea of never feeling a child grow inside her made Cassie sad. The sight of a very pregnant mother comforting her two-year-old in the corner drove that feeling deeper home.

She had to get out of this. She’d have to get away from Stephen and move on with her life. Something she should have done the minute she left him.

Now, she wondered if there had been something else that held her back. Not any more. This had to end. And not over the year or two that Stephen promised. No, she’d be the perfect wife, but this would end.

She needed time to start her life.

She needed time to find Mr. Right, settle down and have a few kids of her own. To do all that, she had to convince Stephen she was not worth staying married to. Not by acting out or rudely or anything that could be construed as her trying to ruin their arrangement, but rather, organically.

In her room, she pulled the cell phone from her pocket and dialed his office number. “Gayle, I need to speak with my husband.”

The older woman let out an almost indiscernible huff as she patched the call through.

“Cassandra, I’m in the middle something, what do you need?”

“I wanted you to come home for lunch,” she said.

The line went quiet. “I don’t do that, Cassie.”

“I think you should today. There are some people here I’d like you to meet.”

“Why are there people in my house? Who’s there, Cassie? The attorney shouldn’t be there until three. What’s that noise?”

Another crash. “I’ll see you at noon.”

Chapter Seven

It wasn’t right! It wasn’t fair! Cassie had felt certain the mommies and children would push Stephen over the edge. Yet when he walked in the door, he embraced the situation.

Bastard!

Cassie had retreated to the kitchen to help Abigail make sandwiches and when she returned, she found Stephen sitting at the now-extended table with a precocious three-year-old little girl propped on his knee. The girl’s name was Handley and she had curly blonde pigtails and big blue eyes.

She giggled as Stephen told her a story.

How could this be? Cassie thought for certain inviting twenty toddlers and their over-extended mothers over for the morning would send Stephen into a tailspin. And once she’d found out some of his more expensive artwork had been destroyed, she felt even more certain her position as his wife would be drawing to a close.

But no. Instead he’d spouted some hoo-hah about the artwork being replaceable, then talked to the mommies about how he’d wanted to build a park near their church for the kids to play in.

Argh!

Still, he did look cute with the kid on his lap. Handley held up fingers and talked excitedly about something not even Cassie could make out. Stephen nodded his head in serious understanding and rubbed the little girl’s back as she went on.

“Lunch is ready,” she finally announced from her spot by the door.

The children and mothers settled at the table as Abigail brought out sandwiches, sliced apples and juice to go around. Cassie settled into the only open chair, right next to Stephen. Her knee barely brushed his as she sat, but it felt as if she’d been branded by his heat.

He flashed a smile as he passed Handley back over to her mom. “What a great idea, Cassie. I can’t believe you surprised me like this in the middle of the day.” Leaning over, he pursed his lips waiting for a kiss.

With all those eyewitnesses, Cassie had no choice but to meet him. She pressed her lips to his and waited for an embarrassing display of affection.

It didn’t come.

For the second time in the day, she felt a pang of disappointment as he pulled away. “I thought you’d be pleased.” She’d thought he’d be livid.

Still, she flashed a smile as she took a bite from her pb&j. The peanut butter stuck to the roof of her mouth and she worked her tongue up to free it. Stephen cracked a smile and leaned toward her. “Having trouble there, wife of mine?”

“Nfing I tank candle.” She took a gulp of juice, hoping it would free the sticky substance, but it didn’t. Stephen, she noted, had opted for a cheese sandwich instead. Lucky jerk. She smiled again, but felt oozy jelly at the edges of her lips.

The children excitedly ate and chatted while the mothers took their time enjoying the day of luxury. Sure, breaking away from the church basement to spend a day in a millionaire’s home didn’t scream luxury, but as Cassie looked around, she noted the relaxed look on their faces. The women actually seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Huh, how did that happen?

Her phone rang. “Sthuse me.” She stepped away from the table.

Once out of sight, she popped her index finger deep into her mouth and wiped the peanut butter into a napkin. “Hello?” she answered finally.

“Mrs. Sands, how lovely to hear your voice. How are you today?”

Who...? Then, she realized. “Mr. Giles, how are you? Were you able to file the claim? Will your car be taken care of?”

His deep voice sounded sexy and smooth as chocolate as he replied, “My car will be fine. How are you? Any pain, are you feeling well?”

“I’m fine.” She glanced into the dining room to see Stephen engaged with several of the mommies. Taking her chance, she walked into the somewhat quieter hallway and sat on a leather wing-backed chair. “I wanted to apologize again, I feel so embarrassed about yesterday. I hate having run into you like that at my husband’s business.”