Because he didn’t love her in return.
And she could never spend her life with a man who didn’t love her. She had grown up in an environment that was filled with too much love to want something less for herself.
She closed her eyes to blot out the advice her mind was giving her. Get out while you can do so without getting your heart shattered. Take your memories and go.
Cassie opened her eyes, knowing she would take the advice her mind was giving her. This was Brandon’s world and hers was in the Bahamas. Instead of staying the two weeks she’d originally planned, she would let him know after dinner on Sunday that she would be leaving in a week. It was important that she and Parker resolved the issues between them, and she was looking forward to meeting her other siblings. After that it was time to move on. The more time she spent with Brandon, the more she yearned for things she could not have. Already her love for him was weakening her resolve and undermining her defenses.
It was time for her to make serious plans about returning home. There was no other way.
Brandon walked off the patio and back into his home to answer the ringing telephone. He stood in a spot where he could still see Cassie as she swam around in his pool.
The two-piece bathing suit she was wearing was sexual temptation at its finest, and he was quite content to just stand there and stare at her. But when his phone rang again, he knew that wasn’t possible. He reached on the table to pick it up. “Yes?”
“Brandon, this is Parker.”
He wondered when Parker would get around to calling him back. They had been playing phone tag for the better part of the day. He understood Parker had been in meetings most of yesterday, and Brandon and Cassie had left the house early this morning when he had taken her to breakfast and later on a tour of South Beach.
When she had mentioned that she had a taste for Chinese food, they had dined for lunch at one of his favorite restaurants, an upscale and trendy establishment called the China Grille. After lunch, instead of taking in more sights, he had done as she requested and had taken her to the cemetery where her father was buried. He had stood by her side when she’d finally got a chance to say goodbye and then he had held her in his arms while she cried when her grief had gotten too much for her.
Afterward, they had returned to his place to take a swim in the pool and relax a while before getting dressed for dinner and the South Beach night life.
“Yes, Parker, I’m glad we finally connected.”
“I am, too. How’s Cassie?”
Brandon turned and glanced out the bank of French doors to stare right at her. She was no longer in the water but was standing by the edge of the pool, getting ready to dive back in. It was his opinion-with the way she looked with the sunlight made the wet strands of her hair gleam, and her body made his breath catch every time he saw it, naked or in clothes-Cassie was every man’s fantasy. That was definitely not something her oldest brother would appreciate hearing from him.
“Cassie’s fine and is out by the pool. She wanted to take a swim before we go out to dinner.”
“Everyone is looking forward to meeting her tomorrow,” Parker said.
“Glad to hear it. I had a hard time convincing her of that, but I did, which is the main reason she’s here in Miami.”
“Just so you know, I haven’t mentioned it to Mom.”
Something in Parker’s voice forced Brandon to ask, “But you will, right?”
“I don’t think that will be a wise thing to do at this point.”
Brandon didn’t like the sound of that. Chances were Bonita would be home since she rarely left the house on Sundays. And, for that matter she was rarely sober after lunchtime, as well. “And why not, Parker? I’ve been totally up front with Cassie since she discovered our association and I’m not going to have her start doubting my word or intentions about anything. If Bonita will be at dinner tomorrow, before I agree to bring Cassie, I need a good reason why you won’t be telling Bonita she’s coming. That wouldn’t be fair to either of them.” He knew Cassie could hold her own against anyone, but in this particular situation, he felt she shouldn’t be placed in a position where she had to.
For the next ten minutes Parker explained to Brandon why he’d made the decision he had, and after discussing it with his siblings, they felt Bonita being caught unaware would be the right approach to use. “That might be the right approach for Bonita, but what about Cassie? I can see an ugly scene exploding, one I don’t like and wouldn’t want to place her in.”
Brandon rubbed his hand down his face. “I’m going to tell her, Parker, and explain things to her the way you have explained them to me. It’s going to be her decision as to whether or not she still wants to come.”
“And I agree she should know, which is the reason I wanted to talk to you. So when will you tell her?”
Brandon sighed deeply. “I’d rather wait until in the morning. I don’t want anything to ruin the plans I have for dinner,” he said, fighting for control of his voice. He still wasn’t sure not telling Bonita was the right thing, although he understood Parker’s reason for it.
“Please inform me of Cassie’s decision one way or the other,” Parker said. “If she doesn’t want to join us for dinner at the Garrison Estate tomorrow evening, then we can all get together and take her out somewhere else. Mom will wonder why we’re not eating Sunday dinner at her place though, so either way, she’s going to find out Cassie’s in town and that we’ve made contact with her. I just think it’s best if we all stand together and face Mom as a united front.”
“I understand, Parker, but like I said, it will be Cassie’s decision.”
Nine
Frowning, Cassie stared over at Brandon. “What do you mean Bonita Garrison doesn’t know I was invited to dinner?”
Brandon sighed. He had known she would not like the news Parker had delivered yesterday. “Considering everything, the Garrison siblings felt it would be best if she didn’t know,” he explained.
From where he was standing, with his shoulder propped against the bookshelves in his library, he could tell that Cassie, who was sitting on a sofa, was confused by that statement.
“But it’s her house, right?” she asked, as if for clarification.
“Yes, it’s her house.”
“Then am I to assume she’s out of town or something and won’t be there?”
“No, you aren’t to assume that.” He saw the defiant look in her eyes, a strong indication as to what direction this conversation was going.
“Then I think you need to tell me what’s going on, Brandon.”
He sighed again, more deeply this time. What he needed was a drink, but that would have to come later. He really did owe her an explanation. Straightening, he crossed the room to sit beside her on the sofa. His gaze locked on her face when he said, “Bonita Garrison is an alcoholic and has been for years. She’s always had a drinking problem and John’s will only escalated the condition. Like I told you before, considering the state of their marriage, I think she had an idea he was having an affair, but she didn’t know anything about you. That was one well-kept secret.”
Cassie’s frown deepened. “Have any of her children suggested that she seek professional help?”
“Yes, countless times. I understand John even did so, but for the longest she wouldn’t acknowledge she had a problem. She still hasn’t.”
Cassie nodded. “But what does that have to do with me? Wouldn’t seeing me in her home uninvited, the person who is living proof of her husband’s unfaithfulness, push her even more over the edge?”
He reached for her hand. “Parker and the others are hoping it doesn’t. Their relationship with her is strained and has been for some time. I’m talking years, Cassie. They’d decided, and unanimously I might add, that they want to meet you, build relationships with you, include you in the family mix, and they refused to sneak behind their mother’s back to do so. They believe it’s time to mend the fences and move on, and want Bonita to see that as a united group they plan to do just that, with or without her blessings.”
He chuckled. “I’ve known those Garrisons most of my life and this is the first time they’ve ever been in
