Page 72 of The Rented Bride

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“Look who’s here,” Bobby announced as Cassie entered her mother’s house. “Aunt Cassie!” her niece Olivia cried. Half a dozen younger children cried out and rushed her.

Cassie tossed her purse onto the carpet beside a curio cabinet, then braced herself for the onslaught and allowed the kids to tackle her to the carpet. Their giggles and cries of delight salved her soul as nothing else could. This is what life was all about. A moment later, Bobby’s large hand reached down and pulled the first urchin off her, then another until he grasped her arm and pulled her to her feet. He was her younger brother, but not so little anymore. Six-two, and underneath the lumberjack beard, the Adams family cleft chin.

“Go and play, squirt,” he said to the last of the children. Five-year-old Cathy flashed a saucy look then stuck out her tongue and darted away.

“They’re almost too big for that anymore, Cass,” he said. “And you’re not getting any younger.”

“Thanks a lot,” she said as she scooped up her purse. Only a brother would dare say such a thing.

“Cassandra.”

Cassie turned toward her mother. She emerged from the kitchen with Cassie’s oldest cousin Sophia two steps behind. Cassie hurried forward and hugged them.

Her mother pulled back and Cassie said, “Papa’s not home?”

“No, he’s on a long haul out of state. Georgia, I think.”

“Isn’t papa getting too old to drive a big rig on such long hauls?” Cassie asked.

Her mother snorted. “You act as if fifty-nine is old.” She frowned. “You look tired.”

Cassie smiled. “Just busy. Once this party is over I’ll be able to rest a bit.” And once she could sleep rather than tousle with Trent all night long in her dreams.

“Then Sunday you should come for mass and lunch.”

“I said I would take it easy. I didn’t say I had the day off.” How was she going to explain her return to Colorado?

“You need to go to church. You can work in the afternoon.” Her mother turned and headed back into the kitchen.

Sophia nodded toward the dining room. “How about some wine?”

“Perfect.” Cassie followed her into the dining room. The extra leaf had been put into the table and it dominated the center of the room.

“Who all is coming tonight?” Cassie asked.

“Half the family. The youngest kids will be eating in the kitchen with some of the older kids.”

They reached a small sideboard on the far wall and Sophia poured two glasses of white wine, then handed Cassie a glass. Cassie sipped as Sophia picked up a corkscrew and began scoring the foil capsule on an unopened bottle of red wine.

“She’s going to be upset when you don’t show up on Sunday,” Sophia said.

“God, what does she have planned now?” Cassie asked. “Because I have to get back—” She stopped before she said too much.

“Back to what?” Sophia pulled the foil cap from the wine, set the bottle on the sideboard, and positioned the corkscrew on the top of the cork. “Or should I ask, back to whom? It wouldn’t, by chance, be the owner of that sexy voice I heard the other night?”

“Like I said, it’s just business.” It wasn’t a lie, even if she did wish there was more than just business between her and Trent.

“Come on, Cassie. Remember who you’re talking to.”

“Don’t ask anything because I have nothing to tell,” Cassie replied.

Sophia glanced over her shoulder. “Don’t let your mother hear you or she’ll call in Father Victor to hear your confession.”

“Why do you think I have anything to confess?”

“The more you deny it, the more I know you’re hiding something juicy.” Cassie opened her mouth to reply, but Sophia cut her off. “I know that look, Cass. You’ve got other plans for Sunday. If I were you, I wouldn’t tell her and then just not show up. She’s a human lie detector.” Cassie blew out a breath and Sophia laughed. “That’s what you get for telling her you have time to rest on Sunday.”