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Cassie checked the clock for the hundredth time, thinking...My God, why do Mondays drag? She sighed and attempted to focus on her work. Yet a disturbance in the normally pin-drop quiet work-zone of her office distracted her again.
“Kyle Worthington. Dude, what’s up? Good to see you, bro,” one of the guys was saying. His voice filled with obvious happiness at seeing the sales rep from the other night. They talked for a bit, joked, and laughed loudly, until she heard her name mentioned.
Groaning, she sank deeper into her chair, hoping the sterile, beige cubicle walls surrounding her would somehow magically keep out intruders.
“Cassie, what a surprise.”
She inwardly groaned and sat up straight to face him. “Kyle, right?” she said, forcing a smile.
He gave her a brilliant one in return. “Hey...” he began slowly and then paused, as if collecting his thoughts. “I was thinking after our dinner the other night...”
Cassie shot a look to her nosy co-worker in the opposite cube. The woman’s eyes widened at what definitely sounded like a date for them.
“...the way you talked about Salem and missing home during Halloween...”
She focused on Kyle; her curiosity piqued.
“My family is hosting a thing...Well, it’s not a thing. And they’re not hosting it entirely. It’s part of an island-wide, weekend celebration. A Fall Festival, to be precise.”
Cassie arched a brow, waiting for him to finish his pitch.
“The place is Last Chance Beach. I know...it sounds like just a beach, but it’s actually an island. My grandmother runs a B&B and antique shop out there. Has for decades.” Kyle cleared his throat. He tugged at his starched collar, his face looking a bit dewy. “I’ve been called in as reinforcement to help with some of the events planned at the inn. A haybale maze and pumpkin patch. You know...Halloween stuff.” He kicked imaginary dirt on the carpet. “And I was wondering...Would you like to come along with me? You know...get your Halloween fix since you won’t be going home to Salem this year?”
It was all Cassie could do not to gape at him, open-mouthed. This guy had a giant set of balls if he thought one order of veggie quesadillas earned him the right to ask her to go away with him for the weekend. She’d heard of Last Chance Beach. Everyone had. It was a vacation island, hours away by car. Not a day trip. Not a nice time for a couple of hours, then see ya later sort of destination. Kyle Worthington was asking her to go away with him. AKA have a tryst.
“Why would you ask me something like that? We literally just met,” she managed to say without scoffing. Or punching him.
Kyle rested his arm casually against her partition wall and leaned down to speak softly. “I’ve been watching you. For a while now.”
Cassie stared at him in stunned disbelief. She cracked a saucy grin, as her dark humor clambered to be let loose on the outrageous salesman. “Statement like that will get you anything from a misdemeanor to life in prison, depending on whether you’re a stalker or a serial killer.”
Kyle’s expression went blank. Then he burst out laughing. His blue eyes watered as he held his stomach, gasping for breath. “Woo. You are so right. That sounded really bad. Let me start again. I’ve seen you around, and I enjoyed your company the other night, Cassie Corwin. I think you’d have fun while celebrating your favorite time of year. We’d both have fun. That’s it, nothing more. I’m nowhere near as exciting—or depraved—as you think I am. As I said, my grandmother has a B&B. Sandpiper Cottage. Look it up. You’d have your own room. Nothing creepy. I swear. I was just trying to be nice.”
Cassie leaned her chair back, considering him. Huh...Self-deprecating humor? Plus, straight to the point when challenged. Not a hint of sleaze after that first fiasco of a line. She let her guard down a bit. “That’s nice of you to think of me, but I’m swamped right now, as you can see.” She indicated to the stacks of books and papers on her cluttered desk.
Sadness crept into those impossible blue eyes. “Sure. I get it.” He backed away with his hands up. “Offer stands if you change your mind. I’m leaving Thursday and staying on until Monday morning. I’ll be driving, but I can certainly spring for a plane ticket if you’d prefer. Festival kicks off on Friday night with a Halloween dance.”
He came forward again, placing his business card before her. His drop-dead gorgeous smile returned. The one that short circuited her brain the other night at the restaurant.
Cassie couldn’t help but think she’d never met a cover model, up close and personal. Dude should be a firefighter on a calendar, not a pharmaceutical sales rep.
***
“WHAT DOES THAT MEAN, you need to fumigate for bugs?” Cassie held the cellphone away from her ear and mouthed a curse. “You know I have a dog. That can’t be good for either of us, right? I understand. That’s why you’re recommending we move out for the weekend. But that’s not convenient.”
Her landlord wasn’t a jerk. In fact, he was a good guy, trying to keep his tenants safe. But why this weekend? When I’m overworked, stressed, and struggling with being alone.
She jotted down the instructions on when spraying would begin and how to prepare. Also, how to collect the money the landlord was offering to help pay for her inconvenience. She hung up, tossed the phone, and huffed an exasperated sigh. Another lost weekend. Even worse, she’d be spending it alone in some drab hotel with her dog. Big woof.
Odin—her goofball of a Great Dane—watched her from his favorite place on the loveseat. Ears perked; his massive black head erect as if waiting for her to explain why she was upset.
“What do you want from me? It’s not my fault. Not like we’d be carving pumpkins or having a costume party.”
A bomb detonated in Cassie’s brain.
What the heck? Did Kyle Worthington possess some sort of supernatural powers of manifestation? Somehow conjuring up this glitch in her life so she’d go away with him?
She snatched up her purse from the coffee table and dug through it until she found his business card. Her fingertip slid over the expensive linen-like cardstock, his name and title embossed in slate blue. Kyle S. Worthington, Senior Sales Representative. Even his card screams class and old money. The polar opposite of who she was and where she came from.
The other night at the restaurant, Kyle had been the only one wearing a two-hundred-dollar shirt, starched and meticulously ironed, with gold cufflinks. Okay...so he’d ditched the tie, but no doubt it, too, likely cost more than she spent on groceries in a week.
Dare I consider his offer to visit Last Chance Beach?
Odin whined and tipped his regal-looking head.
“What are you suggesting, big guy? You don’t even know the man. He’s not like anyone we’ve ever met. Certainly not like anyone I’ve ever dated.”
Cassie scowled when the dog continued to stare as if judging her.
Was that necessarily a bad thing, that Kyle S. Worthington was different than any of her exes? Every relationship she’d had crashed and burned. Cinders and smoke. Salt the doorways and sage the entire place so they couldn’t come back.
Yet was she brave enough to take a huge leap out of her comfort zone? Family members. Kids. Happy, smiling people, buying pumpkins, and apple cider. And *gasp* getting their faces painted like fairies and cats.
Cassie flopped back into her chair, stewing.
She was a self-proclaimed loner. Tough as nails. Street smart. A gifted researcher who kept her head down, worked nonstop, while her heart remained walled off in a tower. It was the only way not to get burned again.
Odin dropped his head to the armrest and gave a sad, little groan.
“Yeah...and it’s the only way not to have any fun either.”
Apparently, even her mother was living a better life. Living in Oregon with an off-the-grid-type guy with horses and goats. Not that she blamed her. Her father was toxic. Rarely sober and always looking for a handout. Hardly the type of person you wanted to find you. It’d been years since Cassie tried to be his daughter. The experience leaving a bitter taste in her mouth for anything more from him.
With a ragged sigh, she scooped up her cellphone and did a quick search for Last Chance Beach. A vacation island paradise where dreams go to live again and love is found when it’s least expected.
Oh, dear God. She rolled her eyes and made a gag face.
“Places to stay,” she muttered under her breath as her eyes darted across the screen. “B&B’s...” She clicked and scrolled. “Huh...Sandpiper Cottage. Innkeeper, long-time resident, Haddie Marshall.”
Cassie’s heart gave a little lurch at the idyllic pic. The woman she assumed was Kyle’s grandmother—a real salt-of-the-earth looking type—smiling brightly from a whimsical porch. Flowerpots, wicker chairs with throw pillows, windchimes, and a big Yellow Lab.
Charming. Not a mansion or limousine in sight.
She looked to Odin. “What do you say, big fella, you wanna go to the beach this weekend?”
***
“KYLE?”
Cassie Corwin’s breathless voice drifted through the speaker system of Kyle’s sportscar.
“Cassie, yes. What a nice surprise,” he rushed to say. Excitement coursed through him. “What can I do for you?”
She hesitated. “I was thinking about your offer the other day...to visit Last Chance Beach.”
Kyle held his breath, sensing victory.
“I’d like to take you up on that offer. If it’s still good.”
“Certainly, it’s good. I’m glad to hear you had a change of heart.” His wide smile would not be denied. “Although there’s one problem. It’s Thursday, and I’m already on my way.” He glanced in his mirrors as he eased out onto the highway.
“No worries. I prefer to drive myself.”
He schooled his enthusiasm, though his head soared into the clouds. This changed everything. Word of the day? Pivot!
“There’s just one thing...”
“Anything. Name it,” he fired back.
“I have a dog. Would it be okay to bring him? He’s friendly. And quiet,” she quickly added.
“Sure, bring your puper. Gran’s Sandpiper Cottage is super pet friendly.”
“Gran?” she murmured in a low, sexy voice. “That’s sweet. I can’t wait to meet her.”
Kyle sped past a sign for a store selling lottery tickets, and he made the instant decision to peel off and buy one. Today was his lucky day. “I’ll text you the address when I stop in a few.”
“No need. I’ve already done my research.”
Clever lady.
“Good,” he said. “When shall I expect you then?”
“Friday around noon, if that works. If not,” she hedged.
“No. Friday is great,” Kyle said, exuding confidence, though inside he was running with his hands in the air.
“Okay...” She released an audible sigh. “Until tomorrow then.”