Groom On The Loose. Christine Scott

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ for Niki before she’d ended their engagement.

      Greg took another swig of coffee, trying vainly to wash down the lump of emotion that seemed to have caught in his throat. The truth was he’d gotten used to Cassie, to calling her, seeing her. He’d grown accustomed to her voice. It was as smooth as silk and as sweet as honey. Except when she was irritated—which was more times than not.

      A smile teased his lips. He had to admit, he liked watching that tiny crease, the one between her golden brows, form whenever she was angry. And he liked to watch her struggle to control her temper—and fail. The verbal battles he’d had with Cassie these past few weeks had taken his mind off his own problems.

      He’d never felt better, more alive…in months.

      The workers struggled with a table at the far corner of the yard, dropping their burden on the grass beneath the shading branches of a large pin oak tree.

      “Are you sure that’s where the table’s supposed to go?” Greg called out to them.

      One of the workers, a young man with a head of dark, curly hair, pulled a sheet of paper from the back pocket of his jeans and studied the paper with a frown. “Yes, sir. It says right here—table number four, under the oak tree. Cassie’s orders.”

      Greg sighed. “Well, she should know.”

      “Yes, sir,” the worker agreed. With a nod, he continued his job and ignored Greg.

      Three weeks ago, Cassie had marched into his life—by his request, he reminded himself—and had turned it upside down. She’d gone through his house, inspected his bathrooms, measured his floor space and listed his home’s deficiencies. Like a drill sergeant, she’d taken control, giving orders and expecting him to follow them. And, by golly, he’d done exactly as he was told.

      He’d put his complete trust in her.

      He glanced at his watch again. He just hoped he wouldn’t be disappointed.

      

      The lobby of the hotel was large, with high atrium ceilings and pink marble floors. Potted palms were scattered about, complementing the red and green furnishings in the lounge area where Cassie was to meet the lawyer, Mr. Benning.

      She shot an impatient glance around the lobby, but saw no one resembling Mr. Benning, who had described himself as a middle-aged, slightly heavy, slightly balding lawyer.

      Just when she was about to give up, a breathless voice sounded behind her. “Ms. Andrews?”

      Cassie whirled around, spotting a short, pudgy man hurrying toward her. “Mr. Benning?”

      He nodded as he removed a neatly pressed handkerchief from his breast pocket and mopped his perspiring hairless head. He’d exaggerated the slightly bald part, Cassie noted wryly. “I’m sorry I’m late,” he said. “It was a difficult night.”

      “Sorry to hear that,” Cassie murmured politely. It wasn’t unusual for a person to have problems adjusting to travel.

      Mr. Benning glanced around the quiet lobby. He pointed to an empty set of table and chairs. “Why don’t we have a seat?”

      Cassie led the way. She felt his assessing gaze follow her. Self-consciously, she tugged at the hem of her lemon yellow sundress. Not knowing how much time she’d have to spare, she’d come dressed for Greg’s party. Now she wished she’d worn something a bit more professional.

      They took their seats and faced each other awkwardly across the table. Mr. Benning was the first to speak. “Ms. Andrews, once again, let me say how sorry I am for your loss. You and Mrs. Reynolds must have been close friends.”

      Her throat tightened. Cassie nodded, not trusting herself to speak. The pain was still too fresh. She watched as Mr. Benning lifted a briefcase onto the tabletop. Locks snapped open, startling her. Cassie took a deep breath, willing her strained nerves to be calm.

      “As I mentioned over the phone, our meeting is in regard to Mr. and Mrs. Reynolds’s estate.”

      Cassie leaned forward in her seat. “Mr. Benning, I don’t care about the estate. I want to know about Jessica. Is she all right? I promised Melanie—” Her voice caught. She paused, allowing herself a moment to compose herself, then continued, “I need to be sure she’s taken care of.”

      Mr. Benning gave her a considering glance. “Ms. Andrews, let me assure you, I believe Jessica will be in very good hands.” He pulled out a pair of glasses and perched them on the edge of his nose. Glancing at her over their rims, he said, “First of all, you’ve been named executor of the Reynolds’s estate.”

      “Me?” Cassie asked, pointing a finger to her chest.

      “That’s right.” He shuffled through a stack of papers. “You’ve also been named sole guardian of Jessica.”

      “S-sole guardian?”

      Mr. Benning nodded and handed her a pen. “As guardian you will assume full custody of Jessica. I’ll need your signature on these papers.”

      Pen in hand, Cassie stared at him, letting the shock settle over her. Melanie had named her as legal guardian of her daughter? The idea seemed overwhelming, impossible.

      “Mr. Benning, surely there’s someone else more qualified to take Jessica. What about John’s family?”

      Slowly, Mr. Benning removed his glasses. “There is no one else, Ms. Andrews. Mr. Reynolds was raised in the foster care system, as was Mrs. Reynolds,” he said. “It was the Reynolds’s final wish that you were to be given full custody of their daughter. Now if you feel that you are unable to take on this duty…”

      As the lawyer’s words droned on, Cassie struggled to draw a breath. An icy fist had gripped her chest. Panic, pure and simple, lay at the root of her troubles. She was twenty-five years old, just starting her own business and living in a one-bedroom apartment. She didn’t know how a baby would fit into her life. She wasn’t being selfish. Just honest. She doubted her own maternal capabilities.

      “Mr. Benning, I don’t think I can do this,” she said, interrupting his speech. “I’ve never taken care of a baby. I don’t know if I could handle the job.”

      “I see.” He sat back in his chair, looking disappointed.

      Cassie stared at him uncertainly. “What’s going to happen to…to Jessica if I don’t assume custody?”

      He sighed. “She’ll be turned over to Social Services. Chances are good she’ll be adopted by a young couple looking for a child.”

      “And if she isn’t?”

      He spread his fingers in a helpless gesture. “If she isn’t adopted, then she’ll be put into the foster care system.”

      The words shook her. Cassie sat in numbed silence. She recalled the late-night talk sessions she’d had with Melanie in college. The times when her friend had revealed the painful memories of growing up unloved and unwanted in foster homes. Cassie wondered how she could live with herself if she allowed her friend’s child to be put in a situation where she might repeat her mother’s own fate.

      “Baby СКАЧАТЬ