Harlequin Special Edition January 2015 - Box Set 2 of 2: A Royal Fortune\Claiming His Brother's Baby\Finding His Lone Star Love by Judy Duarte

Author:Judy Duarte
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2014-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Eight

Late on Sunday afternoon Lauren and Mary-Jayne arrived with pizza and sweet wine for their regular monthly get-together. Since Lauren’s engagement and Oliver’s birth they didn’t catch up as often as they used to. However, they always made the most of their Sunday catch-up. It was over her first glass of wine and second slice of pizza that she told them about Tanner.

“That was him?” Lauren asked incredulously, eyes popping. “The boy on the beach?”

“Yeah...that was Tanner.”

M.J. let out a long whistle. “What a tangled web we weave. Who would have thought that your first love would end up being the jerk’s baby brother?”

“It wasn’t love,” Cassie corrected, ignoring the gibe about Doug. “We were kids and I only met him twice. And it was just a kiss.”

“A kiss you’ve never forgotten,” Lauren reminded her.

Cassie shrugged. “Every girl remembers her first kiss.”

“Yeah,” M.J. said and laughed. “But most of us would rather forget it. If I could erase the memory of Bobby Milton and his sweaty top lip I would do it gladly.”

M.J. pretended to gag and they all giggled like teenagers. It felt so good to be with her friends. They shared a bond that had lasted decades. They’d rallied around her when Doug had been killed and then when Oliver was born. And she needed their support now, more than ever.

“So, are you going to kiss him again?” M.J. asked bluntly.

Cassie almost spat out her drink. “Of course not.”

“Why not?” Lauren said. “He seems very nice and he’s clearly interested in you.”

“Because there’s no point,” she said quickly. “He’s going back to South Dakota in a few weeks and the only thing I have time for is finding a new home for me and my son.”

“A lot can happen in a few weeks,” Lauren said and smiled. “Take it from me. It only took me that long to fall in love with Gabe.”

“That was different,” she said, holding on to her impatience. “Since you were looking for a relationship and I’m not. All I want is to find a home where I can live and raise my child. Do I like Tanner? Yes. Is he gorgeous and sexy and wonderful with Oliver? Yes. Do I think there’s a future there? No. He’s Doug’s brother and that’s simply too big a complication.”

“Who are you trying to convince?” M.J. asked with a raised brow. “Us or yourself?”

Cassie ate some pizza and ignored her friend’s gibe. They’d support her regardless. That was the way of best friends. “I know what I’m doing,” she said.

But didn’t believe it for a minute.

* * *

On Monday morning Tanner arrived at the house at nine o’clock with a painting contractor. The two men walked around the house discussing walls and ceilings and which rooms needed doing while Cassie remained in the kitchen with Oliver and felt like a spare part.

It’s not my house... Remember that.

When the contractor left Tanner came into the kitchen and stood on the other side of the counter. “He’ll be back on Wednesday morning.

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