Redemption (12 page)

The drive to Starbucks would take all of a few minutes, so Bryan knew he should just wait until they were there before he asked her to be his co-conspirator. Cassidy was staring straight ahead, an unusual expression on her face. He could tell she was thinking about something. Maybe he shouldn’t have fixed her hair. Maybe he freaked her out. She wasn’t like anyone he’d spent time with in recent years, Miranda included. He needed to break the silence before it became no-turning-back awkward.

“Hot chocolate, huh? No coffee?” he asked, putting on his best friendly smile.

“I’m not really a fan of coffee. I like tea, though. But coffee,” she made a face, even sticking out her tongue a little, “is gross.”

Bryan couldn’t get over how huggable she was. The fact that life hadn’t beaten every ounce of innocence out of her, turning her into someone as jaded and cynical as himself was confounding to him. Despite how he felt inside, he found himself smiling. Cassidy intrigued him, and he wondered if there was any way to bottle some of her magic to bring back to California.

“We’re here,” he said, parking.

“That was fast!” She unbuckled her seatbelt and climbed from the vehicle. “Hmmm. I like this Jeep.”

“It’ll do,” Bryan quipped.

Cassidy linked arms with him, more in a friendly than a romantic way, and tugged him toward Starbucks. “The suspense is killing me, Bryan. Let’s go inside so you can get to the real reason why you texted me. Plus,” she grinned at him, “I’m freezing and really don’t want to stand out here any longer than I have to.”

She ordered their drinks, grabbed a sandwich for Bryan, and insisted on paying.

“You bought last time,” she said. “Don’t even think of arguing with me.”

He put his hands up in mock surrender.

They were able to find a table near the back, away from the noise. As they settled in, Bryan thought about how to best broach the subject of their fake date without insulting her. Sitting with her, seeing her face to face, staring into those mesmerizing blue eyes, he realized how big a jerk he really was for even thinking to ask her to do this.

“Feel free to say no,” he said.

“You haven’t even asked. How can I say no?” She smiled and sipped her hot chocolate. “Eat something.”

“Fine.” He took a bite of the sandwich. “Happy?”

“Getting there.” Cassidy leaned forward on one arm.

“Okay. Here’s the thing. You know about the situation with Miranda.” He swallowed hard. It had been a long time since he’d said her name out loud.

She nodded, and he noticed a softening in her eyes.

That’s good,
he thought.
I can use that.

Bryan continued, “And I really do not want to see her tomorrow with that guy Derek.”

“I can understand that,” she said. “So what does this have to do with me?”

Admitting how he felt was harder than he thought it would be. He took a deep breath. “Showing up alone makes it worse.”

“Oh, I think I see where you’re going with this,” Cassidy began. She smiled. “Are you asking me to be your date?”

“No pressure, not a real date with expectations,” Bryan answered quickly. “Just to, you know, make it more bearable. But if you don’t want to, I completely get that.”

“Sure.”

“It was probably wrong of me to even ask. Forget about it,” he continued to ramble. “I’m sorr-”

“Bryan, I said okay,” she interrupted. “I’m alone, too. Why not?”

“Yes?” he asked.

“Yes,” Cassidy repeated. “I don’t see why you couldn’t just text me. I’m pretty certain that Carrie already has us paired up for the night, anyway. She’s always got to have everything perfectly organized and,” she laughed softly, “symmetrical.”

Bryan relaxed. She would make the ordeal - having to see Miranda - endurable. With Cassidy, he knew he could stay distracted. He took another bite of the sandwich she’d bought. It was amazing to him that she had such genuine concern for him. It had been years since they last saw one another. Bryan estimated that Cassidy had been sixteen or seventeen at the time, caught between being a teenager and a woman, still wearing braces, unsure of herself. He looked with wonder at the person she’d become. Confident, beautiful, caring. Everything he didn’t deserve. Everything he could ruin just by association.

“Well?” she asked.

“Huh?” He’d wandered again.
Crap.

“You do that a lot, you know. I’m talking to you, I think you’re listening since you’re looking
right at me
, but your brain is someplace else. Where does it go?” Cassidy narrowed her eyes and waited.

Bryan shrugged. “Just thinking.”

“Fine, don’t tell me. But here’s what I was asking when you were, once again, not listening,” she paused and gave him playful smile. “I was wondering if you’ve got anyone back in California.”

“I suppose.” He thought of Mara. What was she to him, his lover? “I’ve been seeing someone for about six months.”

A strange look passed across Cassidy’s face, but she concealed it behind another dazzling smile. “Tell me about her.”

“Her name’s Mara. She’s pretty. We have a good time,” Bryan said. “What do you want to know?”

“Does she take care of you?”

“In her way,” he answered honestly.

Cassidy pondered that. “Hmmm. Is she coming to the wedding?”

Bryan shook his head. “No, she’s busy with some big deal at work. I’m on my own.”

“Oh,” Cassidy began, sipping her drink, “subject change?”

“Fine.” Anything to get away from talking about Mara with her. Something in him didn’t feel right about it. Not like he was cheating on Mara, but more like it would contaminate Cassidy somehow. He went back to eating so he could keep his mouth full.

“I have another question.”

He rolled his eyes. “You have a lot of questions.”

She giggled. “Why does that girl look familiar to me?” Cassidy leaned very close to him and pointed discreetly. “That one, behind the counter. She must’ve just gotten here.”

Bryan turned his head to look. At the same instant, the girl glanced in his direction, and her green eyes widened. He recognized her instantly. Her long, brown hair was pulled up into a ponytail for work, and there was a distinct air of mischief about her. The last time he’d seen this particular girl, her face had been bloodied, she was crying, and the terror she felt for her sister made her entire body tremble. He’d had to hold her just to keep her from breaking apart.

Lainey Reid.

Slowly, he looked back to Cassidy. “It’s Miranda’s younger sister.”

“Oh. She’s coming over,” Cassidy said, grimacing.

“Fantastic,” Bryan mumbled.

“Roemer, you punk! You’re in Jersey and didn’t call?” Lainey smacked his arm and grinned.

She looked too much like her sister.

Breathe. This will be good practice for tomorrow.

“Hey,” he said, standing and giving her an uncomfortable hug, “just got here, Laine. Nick and Carrie asked me to photograph the wedding. He wanted me out early so we could hang a bit.” He scratched the back of his head. “How’ve you been?”

“Since Jerry the wacko? Fine now. Miranda’s okay, too. She conned me into transferring back to Jersey and staying at the house with her. So, now I’m going to St. Thomas Aquinas and working here part-time.” Lainey gave him another hug. “It’s good to see you again. Not loving this, though.” She waved her fingers in the air to indicate his facial hair.

“Right?” Cassidy stood and extended her arm. “Hi, I’m Cassidy Baker, Carrie’s cousin.”

Lainey eyed her suspiciously. “Uh huh.” She crossed her arms and turned back to Bryan, missing Cassidy’s eye-rolling. “So, you’re here until next weekend. Have you seen Miranda? We should all get together or something. I’m sure she wants to see you. It’s been, what, a few months since you guys have talked to each other, right?”

“No, I, uh, haven’t called her. Carrie has managed to take care of that part,” he grumbled.

Cassidy could sense his tension. Sweat beaded on his forehead. She swore she actually heard his heart rate increasing. She needed to do something. Putting a hand on Bryan’s chest to stop him from speaking, she made her move.

“Let me explain, Lainey,” she interrupted. “Tomorrow is my birthday, and my cousin planned something
very special
to help me celebrate.” She linked arms with Bryan and rested her head on his shoulder, definitely a romantic gesture. “Bry, here, has graciously offered to be my date for the evening.”

“I see,” Lainey said, an unhappy tone to her voice.

“It should be a wonderful night, right Bryan?” Cassidy looked up at him and flashed her most brilliant smile. Turning back to Lainey, she continued, “Carrie did invite your sister, so I suppose I’ll be seeing her tomorrow.” Not normally so confrontational, she was riding some adrenaline high. Cassidy let go of Bryan’s arm and leaned in a bit closer. “Unless she, you know, isn’t up to it.”

Lainey’s eyes were all but shooting lasers, she was glaring so hard at Cassidy.

“Of course. Now I remember. She did mention she was going to something for Carrie’s cousin.”

“Anyway, it was
so nice
to meet you, Lainey. I don’t remember you from when I used to come for the summers to visit Carrie,” Cassidy paused. “Your sister, I remember. I guess she didn’t bring you when we all went out. Hmmm. Maybe we can get together sometime, like you suggested.”

“Maybe.” Steam poured from her ears. “I’ve got to get back to work. Bryan, you’d better not leave without seeing me again, or I will never forgive you. Cassidy, you enjoy your visit.”

“Oh, I’m not visiting. I moved here. So I guess I’ll be seeing whole bunches of you, then. At least whenever I come to Starbucks.” Her smile was triumphant at the look of shock on the other woman’s face. She pulled on her coat. “Come on, Bry. Let’s let Lainey get back to work. See you around.” Linking her hand with Bryan’s, she tugged him toward the door and waved over her shoulder.

Lainey stood frozen to the spot.

“Bye, Lainey,” he said, hiding his smile as they headed out the door.

Cassidy was still holding his hand when they got to the Jeep. “Is she still watching?” she asked.

He turned to face the vehicle, taking out his keys and casually glancing back at the Starbucks. “Yes,” Bryan answered, amused.

“All right.”

Without warning, Cassidy wrapped her arms around his neck and squeezed. She kissed his cheek, still holding on. Bryan had been completely unprepared for this. Her conversation with Lainey, and now feeling her arms around him. Even through her winter coat, he swore he could feel every inch of her pressed against him. Bryan shivered, and it wasn’t from the dropping temperatures outside. He threaded his fingers through her hair, lowered his head to her shoulder, and held her even more tightly.

It felt like he was holding on for dear life.

All too quickly, she moved away. An emptiness filled Bryan, not only physically, but on some new emotional level. Though he wanted to reach out and grab her again, he resisted.

Just a friend. Leaving in a week.

“That should do,” Cassidy said and climbed into the Jeep.

“Do?” Bryan asked, getting in next to her.

“She’ll report back. Your cover is secure,” she answered, shrugging.

His heart sank a bit. “Thanks. And about that thing with Lainey in Starbucks -”

Cassidy frowned. “She should’ve been more considerate of you. It made me angry.”

“Lainey’s not so bad, really. I’ve known her since she was little. She just wasn’t thinking it would bother me,” he said, defending her.

“I’m sure.” Cassidy sounded skeptical.

He cocked his head to the side. “Thank you, though, for doing what you did.”

“Like I said, she made me angry. What she said was insensitive.” Cassidy put her hands up and shook her head. “Let’s just head back to the house. Carrie will be home from work soon. She can call Nick; maybe we can order a pizza and rent a movie or something.”

Bryan’s brow furrowed. How easily she’d managed to weave him into her life. In a way, a normal night with friends sounded like just what he needed. Even if it was just pizza and a movie. It frightened him, though. If he spent too much time with them, what would it do to him when he left?

But, then he’d have Mara again. It was strange, the way she’d almost faded from his mind. Soon enough, he’d be back in her world. He could think of this next week as a break from his real life and glimpse of what might have been. He might not deserve to have this all the time, but a few days wasn’t asking too much. Besides, what else was he going to do? Sit alone at the hotel? He was always alone.

And, if he could be honest with himself, he really just wanted to spend more time with Cassidy. Who was looking at him and waiting for an answer.

Crap. Pizza. That was what she’d been talking about.

“Sounds good,” he said. “As long as you can promise me pepperoni.”

Cassidy winked. “I think I can make that happen.”

B
astion and Luscid had followed Bryan and Cassidy the entire day. He liked her spunk, especially when she stood up for Bryan with that Lainey girl. It had been hard not to materialize and get involved when he sensed his rising stress hormones. Then Cassidy jumped in, saved the guy’s proverbial butt, and left with a much calmer version of the man.

Now the two angels leaned against the wall, casually watching the group eating dinner. Bastion kept a close eye on Bryan. He noticed a slight change in his expression. When he arrived with Cassidy, he was smiling and relaxed. Something about him seemed distant now, filled with hesitation. Though the others kept trying to draw him back in, he only withdrew further.

He also noticed that he was not wearing Mara’s gift.

A deep chill settled on him, and Bastion knew that it had nothing to do with the falling temperatures outside the house. He turned to Luscid.

“She’s here,” he said, voice low.

“Mara?” Luscid asked, standing straight, on alert.

“Yes. Keep an eye on Cassidy. I’m going to -” Bastion stopped mid-sentence. An overpowering scent of lotus filled the room. Mara was most definitely there, remaining invisible, messing with Bryan. He’d removed the pendant, so she had no choice but to come to him. There would be no way to manipulate and control him without it.