Reunited in Good Hope (A Good Hope Novel Book 8) Read online

“Tell me about the classes you’ve taken at UWL.”

  Surprise had her kohl-lined eyes widening. “You don’t want to talk about college courses.”

  “I do.” The truth was, he found himself wanting to know all about her, and discussing things that interested her seemed a good start. “You and I have a lot in common. I was the first in my family to go to college. Tessa, my sister, ended up surpassing me in education when she obtained her JD, but I was the first Slattery to walk into a college classroom.”

  The confident façade slipped from Dakota’s face. “I-I didn’t feel as if I belonged. I really didn’t know what to expect. I was so afraid of failing. You know?”

  He nodded. Krew could identify with each of those feelings.

  “I worked to save money for school, and because of our family income, I qualified for a number of grants.”

  Never taking his eyes off of her, he took another drink of whiskey. “What about loans?”

  She shook her head, a rueful smile lifting her lips. “I know I could get them, and a lot of my friends have them, but I don’t want the debt. For me, it’d feel as if, when I graduated, I was starting out behind. I’ve felt that way my whole life. I won’t do it to myself.”

  “Fair enough.” He finished off the drink.

  Just listening to her brought back emotions he’d thought were in the rearview. Suddenly, the room seemed to close in.

  Krew put a hand on her arm, not ready for the conversation to be over. “What do you think about continuing this conversation out on the porch? It’s cool, but if you don’t have a coat, I have—”

  “Take your hand off my daughter.”

  Krew shifted his gaze from Dakota’s horrified face to Cassie in full mother-bear mode. Her earlier reaction had made him wonder. This only confirmed it.

  Cassie thought his interest in Dakota was romantic. She hadn’t seen the resemblance. She hadn’t pieced together what he had.

  She had no idea he was Dakota’s father.

  He suddenly wished he had another drink.

  Cassie stepped forward even as Krew wisely moved back. She took Dakota’s arm in a firm grasp, ignoring the man beside her daughter. Keeping her voice low, she told her firstborn, “You and I are taking a walk.”

  “M-om.” Dakota’s cheeks pinked with embarrassment. “I’m not a child you can order around.”

  The last thing Cassie wanted on her sister’s wedding day was to make a scene. But she, more than anyone else in the room, knew there was danger in Krew’s charm. She would do whatever needed to keep her daughter safe.

  You didn’t protect her from Clint.

  Guilt flooded her, the way it always did when her mind returned to that horrible period when she’d let Dakota down in a massive way. She should have stood up for her daughter and not been so willing to believe a boyfriend’s lies.

  Cassie shook away the image. The fact she’d made huge mistakes in the past only made her even more determined to do right by her daughter now.

  “Dakota. Please. I just want to talk.” Cassie met her daughter’s eyes and didn’t look away.

  Not even when Dakota slanted a glance at Krew.

  Krew didn’t protest. Cassie could only hope that it meant he wasn’t nearly as interested in getting together with her child as she feared.

  The thought of Krew flattering her daughter and impressing her with his money and charm had bile rising in Cassie’s throat. She knew how persuasive that smile could be to a naïve girl. Despite being in college, Dakota wasn’t schooled in the ways of men.

  She hadn’t been, either, Cassie remembered. Look where she’d ended up.

  Though attractive and outgoing, Dakota had rarely dated in high school. She claimed she was too busy with her studies. Cassie suspected her wariness had more to do with the poor example Cassie had set during her daughter’s childhood.

  “Okay. Sure.” Without waiting for a response, Dakota whirled and stalked to the front door, leaving Cassie no choice but to follow in her wake.

  After giving Krew a cold-eyed stare, she pasted a smile on her face and attempted to look relaxed while her insides trembled violently.

  Dakota stood at the rail of the spacious porch, her arms wrapped around herself.

  For the past week, the weather had been uncommonly warm, but tonight there was a decided nip in the air. Cassie ignored the gooseflesh that quickly covered her arms.

  “You embarrassed me back there.” Dakota’s chin jutted up. “Why?”

  Cassie wished she could chalk this antagonism up to simple mother-daughter friction, but the wall that stood between her and Dakota went beyond that. Dr. Gallagher had asked that she invite Dakota to one of their sessions, but so far Cassie had refused to take that step.

  Her newfound strength was too tenuous.

  “What were you and Krew discussing?” Cassie tried to keep her voice light and offhand, but failed miserably, the question sounding more like a demand.

  “Is that what you wanted to talk to me about?” Confusion blanketed Dakota’s pretty features.

  “He’s a lot older than you,” Cassie began hesitantly, not sure where she was going with this, but knowing it was a road she must travel. “He—”

  “I’m not going to hop into bed with him just because he gives me a couple of compliments.” Dakota’s brows pulled together in puzzlement. “Give me more credit than that.”

  “Good. That’s good.”

  “Can you get to the point?” Dakota rubbed her arms. “I’m freezing out here.”

  While an exaggeration, it was close enough to the truth to have the words hurriedly spilling from Cassie’s lips. “I want you to be careful with Krew. He’s used to women throwing themselves at him. While he’s rich and attractive, he’s—”

  “You can’t be serious.” Dakota frowned. “He’s fun to talk with, but he’s old.”

  Cassie controlled the urge to laugh aloud with relief. Dakota’s confusion was too honest to be feigned.

  “I’m sorry. You’re right. I don’t know what’s wrong with me. Let’s go back inside and enjoy the party.” Cassie turned back toward the door.

  “Wait.” Dakota stopped her with a light touch.

  Cassie looked from her daughter’s hand on her arm to her eyes, fixed squarely on the worn porch floor.

  Dakota lifted her gaze. “Thanks for the concern. I…I appreciate you looking out for me.”

  They walked back into the house together.

  Cassie wanted to take comfort from Dakota’s words. All she could think, though, was that her motherly concern had come a little too late.

  Chapter Three

  Krew couldn’t believe he’d gotten roped into being a celebrity judge for a children’s Halloween costume contest. The event, being held at the Good Hope Living Center, was for children two to ten, with the grand prize being five hundred dollars. Apparently, the cash had been donated anonymously as a way to spark interest in the contest.

  Even from all these miles away, Krew could practically hear his former teammates laughing. Instead of partying with friends, he was at a senior center waiting for a bunch of kids to stroll past his judging stand.

  Gladys had cornered him last night at the reception and asked him to judge. Anyone else he could have brushed off. But he remembered how, when he and his sister had knocked on Gladys’s door on Halloween, she’d always given them a big candy bar. One year, they’d each gotten two.

  Gladys was still amazing. From what he understood, not only had she spearheaded this contest, she was in charge of the holiday craft festival going on in the gymnasium.

  Though Krew tried to redirect his thoughts, they returned to his sister. Why hadn’t he kept in closer contact with Tessa? At the time, he’d told himself she had enough on her plate with her split from Owen and their daughter, Mindy, dying from a brain tumor. He wished he’d made more of an effort to be supportive of Tessa when she’d needed him the most.

  “Do you have plans for the evening?” The question broke throu
gh his thoughts as Gladys pushed a page with a list of contestants’ names in front of him.

  He recognized one name right off. Axl Lohmeier.

  “No plans.” He smiled. “What about you?”

  “Several friends and I are drinking wine and watching horror flicks.” She winked. “I like ’em scary.”

  Surprisingly, the idea held appeal, other than he’d substitute beer for the wine. Maybe Owen…

  He immediately banished the thought. Though Owen and Lindsay had delayed their honeymoon, since the next couple of months were the busy season for her floral business, Owen would want to spend any free time with his bride.

  “What movies do you have on tap?” Krew resisted the urge to check the time on his phone. Gladys had promised him the judging would take fifteen minutes tops. She hadn’t mentioned the need for him to arrive early and pose for pictures afterward.

  Gladys smiled. “I prefer the classics.”

  Krew raised a brow.

  “The Exorcist, The Shining and Nightmare on Elm Street.”

  Krew covered his snort of laughter with a cough. “That’s quite a mix.”

  “Ruby prefers Psycho and Rosemary’s Baby.” Gladys made a face. “Katherine is into zombies. Night of the Living Dead and Braindead are two of her favorites.”

  “Really.” Krew found himself intrigued. “Tell me—”

  A buzzing came from the watch on her bony wrist. “There’s the signal. The children are ready.”

  “Top three,” Krew murmured.

  “Correct. Those in the second and third positions will win a gift certificate to Blooms Bake Shop. The grand-prize winner will win the five hundred dollars.” Gladys’s pale blue eyes locked on his. “Some of these parents are struggling. They could really use the cash.”

  Krew nodded and picked up the pen he’d been given to make notes.

  The children—there had to be at least fifty of them—wiggled and jiggled past him to songs like The Monster Mash and I Put a Spell on You.

  Krew smiled at the baby dressed as a taco and the little boy who looked like a miniature Prince, complete with purple jacket and microphone. There were the expected witches, zombies and Little Red Riding Hoods.

  He had to admit Beck’s daughter, Sarah Rose, with her dark hair and fair complexion, made a perfect Sleeping Beauty.

  The baby taco and Prince were in the running for the top spot when Axl strode in. He was dressed in black leather with metal trim, and Cassie had darkened his hair and painted his face so his eyes looked sunken. Table knives protruded from his small hands instead of fingers. A perfect replica of Edward Scissorhands.

  The child strutted, rather than walked, past the judging table.

  Krew had to admit this one caught the eye. He moved Axl up on the list, beside baby taco and Prince.

  Cassie stood, anxiously watching from the sidelines with the other parents. He thought about what Gladys had said about some parents really needing the cash. If there was ever anyone who fit that description, it was Cassie.

  Though he owed Cassie more than he could ever repay, Krew told himself he would choose the winner based on merit.

  Still, when all the kids had filed past and it was time to make the call, Krew couldn’t help noticing that baby taco and Prince both had addresses on Millionaire’s Row, a pricey area just off the waterfront.

  Cassie’s address wasn’t too far from where he’d grown up. All three costumes were standouts. Any were worthy of the top spot.

  He quickly listed his first through third picks and handed the paper to Gladys.

  Dressed today as a witch in a long black gauzy gown with purple undertones, she cackled as she took the microphone and stepped forward.

  “On behalf of the Good Hope Senior Living Center and the Giving Tree, I thank you for coming out and letting us ooh and aah over your children’s amazing costumes. Your entry fee of twenty dollars will bring us closer to our annual goal of raising twenty-five thousand dollars for the Giving Tree. Thanks to your efforts we’re now only three thousand dollars from that goal.”

  Krew wondered how he’d missed that this activity was raising money for the Giving Tree. Had Gladys mentioned that fact?

  “Before I announce the top three, I’d like everyone to give a big round of applause to our celebrity judge, last year’s NFL most valuable player, our own Krew Slattery.”

  He’d expected the applause. In this part of the country, everyone loved their football, but he was surprised at the hooting and hollering that came from the residents of the Living Center.

  Gladys shoved the microphone into his face.

  “Say a few words,” she hissed.

  He rose to his feet. Over the years, he’d done so many interviews that he’d grown comfortable speaking in front of crowds. “It was my pleasure to serve as the judge today, especially knowing money raised from this event will go toward the Giving Tree. Not too many people are aware of this, but one year when my father briefly left the family and my mother was struggling to pay rent, the Giving Tree stepped up to help.”

  Even after all these years, that particular holiday season was imprinted on Krew’s memory.

  “My mom was able to buy food, some much-needed clothes for me and my sister and even Christmas…” Krew paused and glanced at the children gathered around. “Well, Santa helped Mom out with the toys.”

  He winked as the parents chuckled.

  Krew had to clear his throat as memories of that day, and those leading up to it, washed over him. His father had stormed out on Thanksgiving Day, drunk as usual, screaming insults at all of them. As Christmas had approached, life had been tough, made even more difficult because of his mother’s attitude.

  “My mother initially refused the items.” Krew had been in grade school at the time. He’d been hungry and had worn the same pair of jeans to school all week. “Until it was explained that the Giving Tree isn’t a charity. It’s simply neighbors helping neighbors who’ve fallen on hard times.”

  Krew paused for effect, his gaze scanning the crowd, lingering for half a second on Cassie, who shifted her gaze away. “My mother accepted the offerings, and we had a Merry Christmas. Which is why I’d like to donate three thousand dollars so the Giving Tree reaches its goal. And since my coach always taught me that you don’t stop just because you achieve something, I’d like to donate another twenty-five thousand on top of that to make sure that as many families like mine as possible can have a happy holiday.”

  The cheers that rose from the crowd wrapped around Krew, but he could only wonder why it had taken him so long to pay forward the good that had been done for his family that day.

  Though Cassie was seized with the urge to slink to the back of the room, she remained at the front, Axl’s hand clasped firmly in hers.

  She’d been stunned when she saw Krew was the judge. Cassie thought Mayor Jeremy Rakes was going to do the honors. But she also understood that Krew’s name brought a newsworthiness to the event. The problem was, after the way she’d acted at the reception and with him in charge of the final selection, she knew she could kiss any hopes of the prize money good-bye.

  Still, the hours she’d spent over the sewing machine last night had been a labor of love. The smile on Axl’s face when he put on his costume had made the effort worthwhile.

  “…Axl Lohmeier.”

  Cassie blinked. She wondered how much Axl had won. Maybe it would be enough that she could stop by the bake shop on the way home and pick up treats for the kids.

  “Ohmigoodness.” Ami rushed over to her and gave her a hug. “I’m so happy for you.”

  “Thanks.”

  Ami glanced down at Axl and the table knives sticking out where fingers should be. “Edward Scissorhands. So creative. It’s no wonder he won.”

  “Won?” Cassie’s voice pitched an octave higher.

  “Go to the front, my dear.” Gladys suddenly appeared, putting a hand on her back. “We need pictures of you and the little guy accepting the money.”
<
br />   Cassie’s stomach pitched. She was elated that she would have the extra money she so desperately needed. If only she didn’t have to accept it from Krew and be photographed with him.

  The things we do to survive…

  When they reached him, Krew ruffled the boy’s spiked dark hair and met Cassie’s gaze. “You dyed his hair?”

  Although the question held no malice, Cassie stiffened. “Temporary rinse.”

  Though he had to have caught her terse tone, his smile remained easy. “Congratulations.”

  “Pick up the boy.” Glady’s imperious tone rang out. “Then move in close. Krew, pause for a second as you hand Cassie the cash.”

  Cassie glanced at Katie Ruth Crewes, apparently the official photographer for the event.

  Katie Ruth, a perky blonde who’d been in Lindsay’s class in high school, was the editor of the Open Door, a weekly online newsletter.

  “It will help if you’re close together. Having Axl in Krew’s arms will add interest to the piece.” Katie Ruth’s smile wavered when Cassie gave no indication of moving closer to Krew. “Or you can stay where you are.”

  “He doesn’t have cooties.” Gladys stepped up to Cassie and gave her a not-so-gentle shove in his direction. “Pick up the boy, Krew. Let’s get on with this. The residents are eager for the trick-or-treating to begin.”

  Krew ignored Gladys’s directive. The only indication that he’d heard her was when he lifted a questioning brow in Cassie’s direction.

  “I wanna trick-or-treat.” Axl’s whine reminded Cassie that they needed to get this done and over.

  “You can pick him up.” As she gave the okay, Cassie did as Gladys instructed and stepped close to Krew.

  He smelled terrific, a mixture of soap and shampoo and some undoubtedly expensive citrusy scent that was worth every penny he’d paid for it. The scruff on his jawline only made him look more masculine…and dangerous.

  Cassie did her best to ignore him.

  Axl, who normally didn’t like being held by those who weren’t family, flashed his claws at Krew and growled like a tiger prepared to swipe. When Krew growled back, the boy’s peal of laughter had everyone smiling, including Cassie.