Last One Home (27 page)

“How’d it go?” her friend asked, carefully studying her.

Nichole covered her mouth for fear she was about to break down and cry. “Better than I expected,” she whispered, and then swallowed down a sniffle. “My sister is heading to a hoedown this weekend,” she said, in an effort to make light of the conversation. The last thing Nichole wanted was to sit by this beautiful pool and cry. And yet that was exactly what she was doing—tears leaked from the corners of her eyes and wove crooked paths down her cheeks. How could she have been so insensitive to her own sister?

All week Cassie had worked feverishly to put Steve out of her mind, but it hadn’t worked. She couldn’t wait to see him, and a week had never dragged on for so long. Nothing felt the same without him at the construction site, running the project.

Saturday morning, Cassie was up early. The Hoedown was being held in an airport hangar, and a lot of work had to be done in order to get the space ready. Several other volunteers arrived to work off their hours by putting up long folding tables and chairs, placing red-and-white checkered plastic tablecloths across the tables, and then setting the tables, lining each place setting up perfectly.

To the front of the hangar was a mechanical bull quartered off with stacks of hay. In the middle of the room were tables displaying items for the silent auction. Cassie was touched by the number of companies and individuals that had donated. It made her hope that sometime soon she’d be in a position to help others in the same way she had been lent a hand up. At the other end of the hangar was a stage with room for the band, plus a faux jail for funny pictures. People could stand behind the bars and have their snapshot taken.

Steve had said on Wednesday he’d definitely see her at the Hoedown. She could only hope nothing had kept him in eastern Washington longer than he anticipated. His electrical company was one of the major sponsors, so she was pretty sure he’d make at least a token appearance.

Cassie feared that telling Steve about the letter from Duke had upset him. He’d grown quiet after asking her what she intended to do, and it wasn’t long afterward that he’d made a convenient excuse to end the conversation.

By the time the work crew finished with the setup, it was mid-morning. Cassie didn’t have a chance to relax, though—she was scheduled to work at Goldie Locks until three that afternoon. Amiee had gone camping with her friend Claudia’s family for the weekend. It was her daughter’s first camping experience and she was excited. Claudia was back to being her BFF—or was that BAE?

The apartment felt empty without her when Cassie returned from work. After quickly showering, she dressed and paid special attention to her hair and makeup. This was a big night for Habitat and for her, and she wanted to look her best.

Steve had said he wanted a dance. He’d just been making conversation, but her mind had blown it up into something it was never meant to be. One night she’d actually dreamed of them dancing together. Steve’s arms had been around her, holding her against him as though he never intended to let her go. The dream had been so good that when she woke, she had wanted to hang on to it for as long as possible, lingering in bed with her eyes closed, reliving it. Several minutes passed before she forced herself out of bed.

Once she was dressed and ready, she drove to the Hoedown. By the time she arrived back at the hangar, her stomach was in knots. It wasn’t nerves about her job for the night—that would be fun—it was all about seeing Steve. It felt like weeks, months, when it had been only a few days since she’d last seen him.

By six-fifteen the first guests started to arrive. Fourteen Bones, the local barbecue restaurant, had set up shop in the parking lot, with three huge portable barbecues. The scent of mesquite and smoke filled the evening air.

One of Cassie’s assignments was to greet the guests and escort them to their tables. Although she kept a look out for Steve, she didn’t see him anywhere.

Once everyone was seated, volunteers from the restaurant and Habitat worked inside a large tent outside the hangar, preparing the appetizers of stuffed jalapeños, crispy fried chicken wings, and plump pink skewered shrimp. Cassie helped dish up the trays of food. Every chance she got she peeked outside, scanning the hangar, but Steve wasn’t anywhere in sight.

By the time dinner was served, she’d lost hope that he’d been able to come. Something at the job site in eastern Washington must have prevented him from leaving. Her heart was heavy with disappointment.

Still, there was work to be done, and she couldn’t allow herself to be too distracted. This Hoedown, she’d learned, was one of the major fund-raisers for Habitat for Humanity, and seeing that she had a vested interest in its success, she needed to give her full attention.

With or without Steve.

During the buffet dinner, Cassie was responsible for replenishing the large bowls of cole slaw for the two buffet lines. At first it hadn’t sounded like much of a job, but to her surprise she was continually hurrying to and from the makeshift kitchen, carting out bowls.

Most everyone, she noticed, had come dressed in cowboy and cowgirl gear. The men wore Stetsons and boots and many of the women had donned fringed vests, red neck scarves, and fancy, colorful boots.

Cassie was too busy working to pay much attention. At one
point, however, she saw a familiar face—an unwelcome one. It was that woman Britt, the one who had seen to it that Cassie had lost her job at CenturyLink Field, and who Steve was involved with. She was with an older gentleman and there was enough resemblance for Cassie to guess the man was Britt’s father.

The band, which had been warming up earlier, took the stage and an announcer stepped forward. Cassie was busy carting empty serving dishes into the kitchen and didn’t pay much attention until she heard Steve’s name announced. She held a tray of corn bread and nearly stumbled when she saw a male figure move toward the front of the room. Steve had arrived at the Hoedown, after all.

As Steve climbed the steps leading to the platform, he glanced her way. When he saw her, he momentarily paused. Their eyes met and locked. In that brief half second, Cassie’s heart leaped straight into her throat. It was then that she realized Steve had been looking for her, too.

While introductions and announcements were made, Cassie finished her duties. Megan Victory from Habitat’s office thanked the volunteers for their participation. The cleanup crew would take over from this point and she was free to go or to stay, whichever she wished.

Earlier Cassie had been smart enough to bring a change of clothes. She quickly escaped into the ladies’ room and slipped off her red T-shirt with
Soon to Be Home Owner
scripted across the back. She put on a buttoned blue checkered shirt that was about as western as her closet held, and a pair of blue jeans. She didn’t have cowboy boots, so sneakers would have to do.

By the time she reappeared the music had started and couples had taken to the dance floor. It seemed Steve was waiting for her, because the instant she reappeared she made eye contact with him. He was on the other side of the dance floor, but right away
he started walking toward her, weaving his way between couples, sidestepping around the dancers.

Cassie met him halfway.

They stood in the middle of the dance floor, doing nothing more than foolishly gazing, wide-eyed, at each other. Neither spoke as the music swirled around.

“I didn’t see you,” she said quietly.

“I arrived late … dinner was already served.”

His eyes held hers. One of the dancers bumped into him and apologized.

“We should dance,” he suggested, reaching for her.

Cassie stepped forward into his arms. “Sorry, I’m … I’m not much good at this.”

He ignored her protest, pulling her close to him. He held her the same way he had in her dream. Their feet barely moved. If this wasn’t heaven, she decided, then it was pretty darn close.

Cassie closed her eyes, wanting to savor each moment, hold on to it before this happiness that bubbled up inside of her fizzed away and vanished.

“I missed you,” he whispered, close to her ear.

The words washed over her. She wanted to tell him how empty her world had felt without him, but discovered she couldn’t speak. It was better that way. She had too much on her plate to add romance to the mix. Still, for one night, she would indulge.

“Have you decided about Duke and Amiee?” he asked.

She lifted her head in order to look into his eyes. “Are you worried I’m going to let Duke back into my life?” she asked. “I’m not that stupid.”

He grinned and seemed to relax his grip on her. “I didn’t think you were.”

“I’m going to wait until Amiee is thirteen, then I’ll let her decide if she is interested in reconnecting with her father.”

He nodded. “That seems like a good decision.” Then he
brought her head back down close to his shoulder and whispered as he had earlier, “I thought about phoning you every day.”

“But you didn’t.”

“No. But I wanted to. Talking to you, being with you—it’s addictive.”

Wrapped in the warmth of his words, Cassie smiled. This was what she’d hoped to hear, and at the same time it was the very thing she feared. Although she was reluctant to admit it, she had strong feelings for Steve. He was constantly on her mind. And yet she couldn’t allow her thoughts or her life to get tangled up in him. Not when she had so much else happening.

After all these years she had finally found a connection with her sisters. Cassie needed her sisters, they were her family, her last link with her roots. Now, at last, the first tentative steps had been taken. Little by little, Cassie was gaining the stability she’d so wanted to give her daughter. As tempting as it was, she couldn’t allow her heart to get involved with Steve. Not yet. Not when she had so much else to accomplish first.

“You’ve been messing with my mind,” Steve added.

She lifted her head long enough to look up at him. She wanted to say something but didn’t know what. Tonight, all she wanted was this one night. She didn’t want to mislead Steve, but she was selfish enough to indulge in this warm romance fantasy. Even Cinderella had one night with her prince.

His arms squeezed her closer as if to absorb her body into his own. “I have dreamed of this moment, of holding you like this.”

Cassie thought of her own dream.

Just then someone tapped hard against her shoulder. Cassie lifted her head to find Britt standing next to her. “My turn,” Britt said, smiling sweetly at Cassie and Steve.

“Britt?” Steve said with a frown. He didn’t release Cassie.

“You haven’t danced with me even once,” she protested. “In fact, you’ve barely said hello. Dad wants to say hi, too.”

“Then let me talk to your father.” Steve reached for Cassie’s hand and steered her off the dance floor and toward the back of the room to where the older man who’d accompanied Britt sat. He left Britt to trail along behind.

Joe Osborne stood as Steve approached. Smiling, he extended his hand. “Good to see you, Steve.”

“You, too, Joe.”

The other man looked pointedly at Cassie and then his daughter, who had joined the small group. Britt glared at Cassie.

“This is Cassie Carter,” Steve said, introducing her to Joe.

“Hello, Cassie,” Joe said, his smile genuine and warm, even while his daughter stared daggers at Cassie. Both men either didn’t notice or chose to ignore it.

“It’s a good thing you’ve done here,” Joe told Steve.

Steve brushed off his words. “I didn’t do much of anything. It’s the volunteers who put all this together.” He made a gesture with his hand toward the area around them. “Volunteers like Cassie.”

“You work for Habitat?” Joe asked, turning to her.

“I’m working on building a home for my daughter and me,” Cassie explained, not wanting Britt’s father to misunderstand. “I’m one of the recipients of the generosity.”

“Oh.” Surprise showed in the older man’s eyes.

“Yes,” Britt said, “Cassie is one of the charity cases.”

Her words were met with a strained, uncomfortable silence.

“So that’s how the two of you met, then,” Joe said, covering the awkward pause that followed.

“Yes,” Steve answered, reassuring Cassie with a glance. “And I’m grateful.”

“I am, too.” Cassie wasn’t about to let this spoiled rich girl intimidate her. Steve had his arm wrapped around her waist, as if letting it be known that the two of them were a couple.

“Good to see you, Joe,” he said, moving to step away. “Now I’d like to take my girl back to the dance floor.”

My girl? Oh goodness
. She glanced up at him, wishing she could slow things down a bit.

“By all means,” Joe said, and sat back down and reached for his glass.

Just before she turned away, Cassie saw Britt slump down in the seat next to her father, fold her arms over her chest, and glare at Cassie. It was funny—it looked more like something Amiee would do than something a grown woman would do.

As they made their way back to the dance floor, Steve said, “Good girl, you held your own.”