Page 66 of Burning Caine
Samantha
Mysisterdrovetooslowly. Always had and always would. But I appreciated the ride to the charity gala all the same.
We’d spent the day together. She’d helped me find the perfect dress—pale blue silk chiffon with wrapped bodice and full skirt which billowed as I walked—and paired it with crystal-studded heels and clutch to match. We’d gone to a movie, and she’d done my hair and makeup. It was the perfect girls’ day, which I’d be following with the perfect girls’ night.
It was time to turn a corner, and this evening was the first step. I’d have a carefree evening, eat way more than I should, and definitely drink more than I should. There would be handsome men to dance with who wouldn’t expect anything after the gala was over.
“Thanks for everything today, Cass.” I closed my eyes and turned my face to the sun, feeling its warmth on my face.
“C’mon, you gave up your life to come home and help me. This is the least I can do!” The fabric of her headscarf rustled as she fiddled with it.
Keeping my eyes shut, I reached over to squeeze her arm.
“You don’t understand how much it means to me. Seriously, you’ve had some big-time growth.”
Opening one eye, I cast a sidelong glance at her. “This conversation is getting too serious, Cass.”
“I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately, Sam. When was the last time you stuck around through the tough times?”
“This is why you told Kevin to stay with the kids while you drove me? Another lecture?”
“Not at all! Think about it! After Mom died, you should have been living your FBI dream, but you quit instead. After your divorce from Matt, you sold everything and moved out of the state. Christ, when Dad left, you ran away from home, and you were only five!”
“What the hell?”
She slowed in front of the Convention Center, pulling over near the top of the stairs. Dozens of well-dressed people milled about the main doors of the two-story gray concrete building, and even more were heading down to the riverside.
She shifted the car into park and turned to me. “I’m not making my point clearly. Thing is, I’m proud of you. I know it’s hard for you to be here, but you’re here anyway. It means more than I can say.”
“You have kind of a shitty way of saying it.”
“This cancer thing’s given me some real perspective, Sam. I’m not immortal. None of us are. And I worry about you.”
I resisted running a hand over my perfect makeup and took a deep breath. “Do we have to go over this again? Right now?”
“No, I’m sorry.” Her lips tightened, and she looked away from me. “Nathan came by last night. I should have talked to you about this earlier, but he’s worried about you.”
“Worried?”
“You may not be safe. He thinks you have a stalker.”
I shook my head. I must have misunderstood. “Did you say a stalker?”
“If he’s there tonight, that Italian guy from The Train Station, I want you to call me. Or better yet, one of your cop friends.” She put a hand on my knee.
“You’re kidding me, right?”
“Nathan said he almost got into a fistfight protecting you in the most exclusive restaurant in town.”
I put up a hand to stop her. “First of all, his name’s Antonio and he’s working on a claim with me. He came by to say hello while Nathan was talking to the kitchen about dessert. We were having a simple discussion.” Complete lie, but she didn’t need to hear the details. “Second, Nathan was the one who got in his face. He wasn’t protecting me. Do you seriously think I need protection from anyone?”
“Maybe.”
“Cass, I can kick the ass of pretty much any man I meet. You understand that, right? And as for those two, there was enough testosterone coming off the pair of them they could have fueled a small city.”
“Sam, I know you’re strong. But you remember Vincenzo? You let him get away with—”
“Tell you what. If you see Nathan again before I do, tell him to keep his nose out of my fucking business.” I shoved the car door open and got out.