He flicked a glance at Cassidy and his smile widened. “So did you?”
“We did. Me and Mom found the perfect little house. It’s got three bedrooms and there’s two bathrooms plus a little powder room off the entry. There’s a park right across the street and it’s just a couple blocks from the café, so Mom can walk to work. Me, too, once the baby is older. Do you have time to, you know, come and see it?”
Beau looked at Cassidy and she read his expression,easily read his thoughts. They didn’t have time. They were trying to catch a murderer. And there was the not-so-small matter of trying to keep from getting killed.
“We can be there in an hour and twenty,” he said. “That work for you?”
“Oh, that would be so great. The real estate lady said anytime today would be good for her. And the house is empty, so if you like it, we could move in right away.”
“You’re the one who has to live there, sweetie. Let’s just make sure it’s in good shape, okay?”
“Okay. You should see Evie, Beau. She’s the best little girl. She’s already sleeping most of the night.”
“That’s good. We’ll make this work, I promise.” There was a smile on Beau’s face when he hung up the phone. “She says the baby is doing great.”
“I love babies. I can’t wait to see Evie again.”
Beau’s gaze swung away from the road back to Cassidy. For an instant something warmed in his eyes; then it was gone.
The hour-and-twenty-minute drive to Pleasant Hill passed quickly. The entire time, Beau kept watch to make sure they weren’t followed.
They met Josie, Missy, and the baby at the house. The Realtor, Diane Ellison, was a busty redhead with a friendly smile. As Missy had said, the single-story home on Shady Lane was just a couple of blocks from the restaurant, nothing fancy, but from the outside, at least, it appeared to be in good condition. And as Missy had said, a shady little park with benches beneath the trees sat just across and down the block from the house.
Cassidy held little Evie while the Realtor gave Beau, Missy, and Josie a tour of the interior, which, being empty, made an inspection fairly easy. The house was only ten years old, with an open kitchen, a breakfast bar and eating area that looked into a family room with an antique brickfireplace. There was a fenced yard out back and a two-car attached garage.
Cassidy gently held the sleeping baby in her arms as she glanced around the house, which had new carpet, drapes, and paint, and included a refrigerator in the kitchen, plus a washer and dryer. The house looked good, and if repairs came up, the cost wouldn’t be a problem for Beau.
The tour ended and the small group walked back into the living room. “So what do you think?” Missy asked Beau. When he wasn’t looking, she grinned at Cassidy, turned so she could see Missy’s fingers crossed behind her back. Cassidy grinned back. It was obvious how much mother and daughter loved the house.
“If you like it,” Beau said. “Then I like it, too.”
Missy’s eyes teared. All of them smiled in relief. Cassidy gave Missy a secret thumbs-up, growing more and more fond of the teenage girl who’d had to grow up too soon.
Beau focused his attention on the Realtor. “Make it happen, Diane, and soon. All cash. No contingencies. Just like we discussed.”
Missy squealed and threw her arms around Beau’s neck. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!” Half the women in town had a crush on Beau, but Missy seemed to see him more as an older brother, a healthy relationship Cassidy was sure pleased him greatly.
Missy took the baby, cuddled her, and tucked the soft pink blanket around her. “You want to hold her, Beau?” Before he could answer, the girl settled little Evie in his arms. Beau looked down at the infant and the expression on his face hurt Cassidy’s heart. He should have had children in his life. He deserved it. He turned and smiled at her; then his expression slowly changed. His features went from soft to hard, and whatever he’d been thinking was gone.
He handed the baby back to Missy. “As soon as the sale closes, you can move in. Josie, you need to call the movingcompany, arrange for them to pack your things. Tell them to send me the bill.”
Josie just nodded, a little shell-shocked at their good fortune. “I’ll call them right away.”
Beau checked his watch. “We have to get going.” He set a hand at Cassidy’s waist, urging her toward the door. “Keep me posted.”
The drive home to Dallas was a mostly silent journey, though Cassidy wasn’t sure why. Beau seemed to be somewhere far away, and wherever it was, it wasn’t warm and fuzzy.
Unease slipped through her. Whatever Beau was thinking, she was sure it wasn’t good.
Chapter Twenty-Nine
All the way back to Dallas, Beau kept replaying the scene in his head, him holding the baby, Cassidy looking at him with a soft smile on her face, him smiling back.
Like a lunatic, he thought now, a guy caught up in something he didn’t completely understand and would never experience.
That kind of thinking was over, long in the past. It had died with Sarah, and he wouldn’t allow it to return.
Memories arose, long summer days on campus, he and Sarah making plans, talking about having a family, how many children they wanted.
