“We can have normal, Cassie. I came from normal. I know normal. I want normal. My job is a perfect one to raise kids. They can see new and interesting places on those shoots. We can live anywhere. Get as far from LA as you want.
“I can stay home during the school year and coach Little League and go to dance recitals. Hell, I could do that all the time. I have beaucoup money that could last us forever.”
He gazed intently at her, his gray eyes stormy. “I need you to say yes to me, Cassie. Nothing works without you. Nothing will be right. I need you. I want you. I love you.”
Her wall of resistance crumbled. “I need you, Rhett,” she whispered. “More than I’ll probably ever admit.”
He grinned. “You just did, babe.” He kissed her every which way then. Soft. Hard. With longing and desire. With passion and love and hope for tomorrow.
“I’m a better man with you, Cassie.” He glanced down at the lime green sweats he’d stripped off before falling into bed and saw TJ had nestled in them during their lovemaking. “Despite my recent fashion faux pas.”
Cassie followed his glance. “I was wondering about those and the biker T-shirt. I know they couldn’t be Gloria’s.”
“They’re Lenny’s. I’ll be sure they’re washed and returned to the Pussycat Lounge. He’ll probably want to wear them when he’s breaking heads of rowdy customers.”
“Oh, that reminds me. Breck took a little visit down there last night with a few of his stunt friends. Looking for Zoe.”
“Who’s Zoe?”
Cassie nodded. “I didn’t think you’d remember. Gloria said she took you out hand in hand after slipping you the GHB.”
“I’m sorry. I don’t remember anything other than getting drunk and waking up in an alley.”
“Gloria seemed to think Zoe’s lowlife boyfriend spotted you or your car and talked her into helping him out. Breck went over to . . . remedy things.”
He groaned. “I’ve seen Breck fix things before. How bad was it?”
She grinned. “You have your credit cards back, minus the cash. Breck couldn’t establish what you had on you. Your car also is safely in the garage, all parts intact.”
“And?”
“The boyfriend has left town. With Zoe in tow. And a promise to call the cops if they reappear.”
“Breck is talented,” Rhett admitted. “He’s always been pretty rough and tumble, even before the military, but he’s learned an awful lot from the stunt guys he works with.”
Cassie grew serious. “Breck’s talents lie in other directions, too, Rhett.”
“What do you mean?”
“You know that outline you read? The one you were interested in contacting the writers about? Well, you’re sleeping with one of them—and your best friend is the other.”
He glanced around. “You mean Shep and TJ pounded out that treatment?”
She punched him in the arm. “Get serious, Corrigan.”
Rhett focused on her as it dawned on him. “You’re not kidding. You and Breck put that together. For me.”
Cassie nodded. “You’ve already looked over the outline and character sketches. We’ve completed about a third of the script.”
He eyed her appreciatively. “Hmm. If I’m married to one of the writers, do I get a discount on the property? ”
“Only if you agree to work for scale and a percentage of the profits.”
Rhett fired back, “There might not be any profits, Cassie. If we set up a production company and film it independently, I can bankroll that but it’s quite a departure for me. I don’t know if the public’ll buy me as some slick assistant district attorney, much less a widower and possible serial killer.”
“You haven’t read the script, Corrigan. It’s tailor-made for you, by us. Breck and I are huge movie buffs. We see everything. We know what works and what doesn’t.
“Trust us.”
Rhett’s eyes gleamed. “Trust my two favorite people? That’s the easy part, sweetheart.”
He climbed out of bed. Cassie couldn’t help but admire his washboard abs and tight butt. And he was hers. It didn’t seem real. Cinderella had nothing on Cassie Carroll.
“I need a shower and then I want to take my girl ring shopping.”
“Really?”
“You bet. This is a joint effort. If you’re going to wear the ring, you need to help pick it out.”
Cassie leaped from the bed and threw her arms around him. “I am so happy.”
“Baby, you—”
The loud rapping at the door startled them both. They sprang apart like guilty teenagers caught by their parents.
“Mr. Corrigan? Are you awake? We’ve got a problem.”
Cassie barely recognized Mimi Morgan’s voice, usually so bright and cheerful. Instead, she heard how strained and tense the cook sounded.
“What is it?” Rhett called out.
“There are . . . people. They want to see you. Now.”
“Grab that shower and get dressed,” she told him. “I’ll throw on some clothes and handle it.” She smiled sweetly but Rhett caught the deadly look in her eyes. The phrase about a mama bear defending her cubs came to mind.
Rhett was glad he had Cassie on his side.
CHAPTER 28
Cassie hurried down the stairs, concerned because of what she’d heard in Mimi’s voice. The older woman always radiated calm. She had heard Mimi get after Breck for not eating his vegetables, as well as sharing some of her special casserole ingredients with Leo. If Mimi had a problem with whoever was downstairs, Cassie would have the same problem. In spades.
She turned the corner toward the kitchen and found the cook pacing back and forth in the foyer, her face bright red, her eyes glassy with unshed tears.
“I can be packed within an hour, Cassie, if that’s what you want,” Mimi said curtly. “If . . . they will let me into my room.”
Cassie cocked her head and listened a moment. Loud voices jabbering in Spanish floated from the kitchen. Immediately, she grasped the situation. She placed a hand on Mimi’s shoulder and squeezed it.
“You aren’t going anywhere, Mimi, other than the supermarket. Rhett mentioned not five minutes ago how he had a craving for your almond-crusted tilapia. If you wouldn’t mind running out and picking up a few fillets, I’m sure he would be delighted.”
When Mimi hesitated, Cassie said firmly, “I’ll handle Consuelo.”
Mimi frowned. “And the others?”
“The whole crew. I promise.” Cassie gave her a conspiratorial smile. “This could take a while. You might want to catch an early movie before you pick up that fish.”
Mimi nodded sagely. “I leave the situation in good hands, I see.”
“The keys are in the Rover. Take it.”
Mimi bit her lip to hide a smile but didn’t quite succeed as she left the house. Cassie took a deep breath and headed toward the kitchen. She marched in and stared down the group gathered around Rhett’s table. Cassie could hear Breck’s “Go, General!” urging her on.
Taking the offensive, she locked eyes with an older woman with graying hair who sipped on a cup of hazelnut roasted coffee.