Blaze's Second Chance (The Sinclair Men) (9 page)

Cassie couldn’t believe what Chris had put this woman through.
The nasty little shit
.      

“You can never tell anyone what I just told you. As far as I’m concerned our conversation never leaves this table,” Erica said.

“Of course.”

“There is one other thing, and Chris never knew,” Erica said and drained her glass. “Do you remember me taking a leave of absence?” Cassie nodded and wished she could tell the other woman to shut up. She figured Erica needed to tell someone about her ordeal with Chris Sinclair. Cassie, having her own past, would be the perfect candidate. “That time spent with him had consequences. I was two months pregnant when I miscarried. The baby was never supposed to be.”

Cassie and Erica finished their chocolate torte and left the restaurant two hours later.

“I’m really sorry to unload all my baggage onto you,” Erica said as they walked back to Cassie’s car.

“Please, don’t. I hate myself for not keeping in touch with you. I’m so sorry I wasn’t there for you during your crisis.” Cassie started the engine up and pulled into the queue of traffic.

“It would seem no woman is immune to the Sinclair charm,” Erica said into the silence. Cassie dropped her back at the beach house she was staying at with friends before travelling the short distance down the road to the Sinclairs’ place. She thought about Molly and everything she’d learnt in the last few hours.

Two more cars had pulled up in the time she’d been away. Gathering her purse, she got out of the car. She heard the shouting from the front of the house.

Chapter Nine

Blaze stared at his family and the nightmare that was unfolding. Could have been just last night when he had Cassie alone and almost naked in his arms? Blaze Junior was in bed for his afternoon nap. Blaze was thankful his son wouldn’t be able to hear the yells of his family. Cassie had been gone all morning, and it was three in the afternoon. He’d wanted to spend the day with her and his son. David advanced on Blaze, who tensed when he watched Chris stand between the fight about to happen.

“Get out of my way, son,” David said.

“You don’t know what you’re doing,” Chris said.

Luke and John had turned up over an hour ago, and the fight between sons and father had begun. Molly stood in front of her two boys, while David looked ready to do murder. Blaze’s younger brothers had come to take Molly away. They’d found a nice little house on the edge of the city. She had a shot at being happy before David pulled her deeper into depression. Three weeks away had been all about spending time with the family he hadn’t seen in over three years. Since he’d married Francesca, he had tried to spend as little time in one place with her as possible. But Chris had said it was imperative he come. All Blaze had witnessed was argument after argument.

“You don’t deserve her, David,” Luke shouted.

“Will you boys stop this?” Molly screamed at the men, who ignored her pleas.

“When did you stop calling me ‘dad’?” David asked.

“When you no longer deserved the title,” John said.

“Face it,
dad,
you never loved mum. We’ve had to take years of you telling her how she’d always come second best. How she couldn’t cook as well as your first wife and how she could never compare to that woman. Our mother is the best person you could have ever had. No other woman would have dealt with all of your shit for so long,” Luke shouted and pushed away from Molly. He charged up to David and prodded him in the chest. “So if you want to give me a good thump to show me how manly you are, then do it. Because I would relish the opportunity to show you what kind of scum you actually are.”

Luke stood glaring at his father. Both men looked so much alike. They were the same height and build. The only difference between the two was the aged look on David. Blaze held his breath and saw Cassie come round the back, her face pale as she took in the scene.

“I’m sorry to interrupt. You could hear the shouting ‘round the front, and I imagine half the town could hear you,” Cassie said, her keys shining in the sunlight.

“Who’s this? One of your tramp slut women?” Luke growled in his father’s face.

Blaze watched as Cassie stormed over to his younger half-brother. Before David could react, Cassie pushed Luke away, defusing the situation immediately.

“Excuse me? You insult a woman and don’t have the courtesy of doing it to her face?” Cassie pushed Luke again, and he was not expecting the shove and ended up on his ass.

Blaze held his ground, knowing to interfere would be seen as something other than wanting to help the woman he cared about.

“What do you expect me to think with that bastard?” Luke asked and got to his feet glaring at Cassie. Blaze felt his heart go out to her, the way she stood between the two men and stopped the situation from having serious adverse effects. If David or Luke took a swipe at each other neither would ever be the same again.

“You could have the decency that every other human being has, and say, ‘Hello, I’m someone Sinclair. And you are?’” Cassie even held out her hand. The humour wasn’t lost on him.

Luke went beet red and rubbed his hands on his jeans. “I’m Luke Sinclair.” He took her hand. “And you are?”

“I’m Cassie Walker. Pleasure to meet you.” Their hands parted, and she stepped from between them. “I know this is none of my business, but if you go down this road there’s no turning back.”

“What do you mean?” Luke asked.

Blaze glared at his younger brother’s back. He saw and heard the difference in Luke. The guy was interested in the beautiful woman who stood close.

“If you both starting hitting on each other with fists. The whole father and son thing will change. If you fight, then you lose any friendship you could have.” Cassie stared at each man and moved away. Blaze held her gaze as she walked across the lawn.

“How do you know?” John asked.

“Because it’s what happened with my brother over ten years ago. I haven’t seen him since.” Cassie let her bombshell out, and she walked straight past him into the house. The silence outside was deafening. Blaze knew the next three weeks could tear apart any form of family he ever had. He loved all of his family, and he’d hate to see it go.

“Please, just leave it,” Molly said. Blaze looked at the woman who’d done her best to raise the boys who weren’t her own. She’d done a fantastic job. He thought about his time with her as a mother over the years. She’d never demanded he call her mum. The pictures of his own mother had remained in place. In fact his dad hadn’t allowed his wedding photo with Molly to be placed in any visible place.

He glanced out at the lawn and saw everything in a new light, as if the blindfold had finally been taken off him. David stood in the middle as always. Chris and Trent on the one side glaring at the man who’d helped create them. Luke and John were on the other side with Molly. And Blaze stood on the same side as Chris and Trent. Is this what it had been like growing up?

Molly forever trying to join the two families together. All the quick memories he had of his time growing up and his father with Molly. Not one major happy memory came to mind. His heart shattered for the young woman Molly had been. There weren’t many years between him and the woman who’d tried to raise him.
About fourteen years
. There were couples in the world with that age gap.

Molly had lived the past twenty-five years always being and feeling like second best. A lump formed in his throat, and he forced the tears to remain at bay.

“I can’t leave it, mum. We love you, and we want to see you happy,” Luke said.

“I can make her happy,” David shouted.

Blaze moved the short distance until he was
standing
in front of his father. “I think you need to take the time to understand what’s happening.” He turned to Molly. “I’m sorry if I’ve ever done anything to contribute to your pain.” He focussed on his father. “Mum died over twenty-five years ago. I loved her, and at first I missed her. That is a long time to hold onto someone. Molly isn’t second best. She’s an amazing woman and a person I’d be proud to call mum.” He hugged his dad. “Don’t keep her just because you’re afraid of being alone. Molly deserves someone who loves her.” He nodded at his dad and walked over to Molly. Blaze embraced the woman he’d always blanked. Tears were running down
from
her eyes. “I love you, mum.” He kissed her cheek and went in search of the woman he loved.

He found her in her room packing a suitcase.

“What are you doing?” he asked.

“Getting the hell out of here. I didn’t sign on to be some referee or to listen to a family feud,” she said.

Blaze watched as she folded items of clothing, and he glanced at the clock to make sure his son would still be asleep. He shut her door behind him.

Within seconds he held her in his arms. “Let it out,” he said.

“What?”

“I know you, Cassie. Let the pain out. I’ve got you.” Blaze held her as the first wave of sobs came. Her tears called to the protective part of him. “That’s it. I’ve got you, and I won’t let go.”

“Seeing your brother and that down there brought back that night,” she said the words between each sob. He carried her to the bed and held her.

“Do you want to tell me about it?” he asked. She paused for a time, and Blaze didn’t think she’d confide in him.

“My dad was a drunk. He’d come home and start cursing at mum. That’s what it started as, a few nasty comments about how she looked and how no one else would love her. One day he came home and started using his fists. This happened for a few years. My brother, Daryl, was eighteen and about to graduate. He let loose on dad. The fight was bloody. Anyway, Daryl left, and I haven’t seen him again.”

The story was a short but horrid one.

“What happened to your parents?” he asked, wanting to know more about the woman in his lap. Her body felt so good cushioned against him. His dick was hard and throbbing. He wouldn’t use it or try to turn the situation to his advantage. Being near her was pleasurable enough.

“My dad died in a drunk-driving accident. Ironic as it was the first time my dad had been sober in years. He loved to drink. My mum died of cancer a few years later, not long after I graduated from high school.”

“You never thought to get in touch with your brother?”

“He left years ago. I never knew where he went, and I never had the money to look. I figured he’d have come back for me or at least left me some information to get in touch. I guess he never wanted to be found.”

Her tears had subsided, and she stared up at him.

Fucking hell, I love this woman.

The thought came to him. Instead of scaring him the thought calmed him, as if he’d known all along how he felt, and now he could admit it.

Scary considering how little he really knew of her and the situation between them.

“I’m sorry about what you saw down there,” he said. He’d do anything to keep her in his arms a few more seconds.

“Don’t worry about it. You couldn’t control it.” She ran a hand through her hair, and he got the scent of strawberries.

“Can I ask you another question?” Blaze had been worried about this all morning. Every time he looked at his son, he wondered if he’d be a problem for Cassie. Blaze didn’t know what he’d do if Cassie couldn’t get past his connection with Francesca.

“I’m all ears. I owe you after crying all over you.”

He didn’t tell her how he’d gladly have her any way she’d come.

“The reason you didn’t spend the day with me. It didn’t have anything to do with my son, did it?”

Her saw the shock in her eyes as she pulled away from him.

“No. I’d made plans with Erica. This was before our agreement to give us another shot.”

Phew
. His heart slowed.

“That’s good,” he whispered.

“Did you really think Blaze Junior would be a problem? How petty do you think I am?”

Blaze shook his head. “I don’t think you’re petty. I know I hurt you back then and thought he’d be a reminder of what happened.”