He’d said the wrong thing. Disappointment blazed from Cassie’s face and left him feeling less than the man he knew he was. “You’re right. I’m sorry.”
Cassie sent him a sad smile. “When I was younger, Dad told me you can’t expect loyalty from people if you don’t give it. If you haven’t learned that by now, Noah, you never will.”
There was a wariness in her gaze, an inevitability that made his heart clench tight. If he stood any chance of rebuilding his relationship with her, he had to let her see who he really was.
Letting someone close had only happened once. Tasha had spent time with his family, been privy to information no one else knew. She’d used that information against him, almost destroying his relationship with his grandparents and bringing him to breaking point. But he had more faith in Cassie. She wouldn’t use what he told her against him, wouldn’t pretend to be anything other than herself.
Noah sat on the edge of a wooden seat. “Six years ago, I was engaged to a woman I thought I loved. But she told a competitor about a major acquisition my grandfather was about to make. Our competitor made an offer for the same company and bought it for a ridiculous price. They immediately stopped supplying our core product and nearly bankrupted Granddad’s business.”
He looked across the lake, drawing on its stillness to keep him centered. “What my fiancée did was wrong, but what it did to my grandparents was worse. The stable family we’d built was almost destroyed. Granddad was scrambling to raise money to keep his business operating. Grandma was so stressed she had a heart attack. After my parents died, I swore I would keep my grandparents and brother safe. By letting Tasha into my life, I didn’t do that.”
“You weren’t responsible for what happened.”
“I shared information with Tasha that no one else knew.”
Cassie studied his face. “She must have known what she was doing was wrong.”
“She knew the person who bought the company. She said it was an honest mistake.”
“But you didn’t believe her?”
“No. Tasha didn’t make mistakes like that.”
“Did you start your own company to help your grandparents?”
Noah nodded. “By the time everything was settled, they were exhausted. Granddad sold his business and invested in mine. What happened made me wary of trusting anyone.”
“I can understand that. Is your Grandma okay now?”
Noah gripped the tongs so tightly that his knuckles turned white. “She died two years ago. The damage from the heart attack permanently weakened the muscles in her chest. She passed away peacefully in her sleep.”
“I’m sorry.” Cassie reached out and touched his arm.
The warmth of her hand centered him, gave him the courage to continue. “Working for Wilson Enterprises could take your career to a different level. At least promise me you’ll think about it.”
She started to say something, then frowned at the barbecue. “Do you want me to check the steak? It smells as though it’s burning.”
Noah spun around, flipped the meat, and switched off the grill. When he turned back, Cassie was gone.
He just hoped she didn’t feel the same way as her father. Because, regardless of what her dad thought, money was important to a lot of people.
Cassie wipeddown the outdoor table. Over dinner, Noah had told her more about his fiancée and his life with his grandparents. It must have been difficult growing up without his mom and dad. Especially when they sounded like amazing people.
Her childhood was almost the polar opposite of Noah’s. From what he’d said, his family vacations on Shelter Island were the closest to her everyday life. Her mom and dad were different and, looking back, she felt blessed to live a simple life.
“Would you like me to clean the barbecue now or in the morning?”
Cassie looked over her shoulder and smiled. “Neither. You’ve already done enough for one night.”
Noah slung the dish towel over his shoulder. “I’m grateful you took pity on me and invited me to dinner.”
“I couldn’t leave you to fend for yourself when I had enough steak for two people. I’ve got something else you might like, too.”
“If it’s a letter of intent to work with Wilson Enterprises, I’ll be thrilled.”
“It’s better than that.” Cassie laughed at Noah’s dramatic sigh. “I bought one of Megan’s strawberry ripple cheesecakes this afternoon. Would you like a slice?”
“That sounds like the perfect way to end the evening. How is Megan?”
