“What?” She inquired.

“Someone to share my life with,” I mumbled. “I need to go.”

“No. Wait! You’re not making sense. Please stay, Logan. I’ve waited fifteen years to see you again. Just stay a little while. We don’t have to talk. Just let me be with you.”

My hand was on the doorknob, my feet prepared to step forward, but I struggled. I wouldn’t be back to see her again. As much as I resented her, she was my only living relative left. “I’m not staying for you, Selina. I’m staying for me.”

I gave myself close to thirty minutes before I said my goodbyes to my older sister. She was emotional, but I couldn’t help her. Maybe she’d changed. Maybe she’d gone through years of remorse and treatments. I could forgive for almost anything, but not for that, at least not until I was at peace with the loss of my parents. Maybe if I found someone to fill the void it would help. I wouldn’t know until that person came into my life and showed me it could be good. I’d already lost the best candidate. Getting over it would be my next feat.

Two months. That’s how long it took for Rockefeller James to get a trial date. I’d been subpoenaed as a witness for the prosecution. Since I turned in my paperwork I wondered if they’d sent one to Cassie. The thought of her being close caused immediate excitement, even though it was obvious she wanted nothing to do with me. Nevertheless, seeing her again might fill the void I’d had since she’d been gone.

I could hardly focus, and several times I picked up the phone to call her, but changed my mind at the last second. One thing was obvious when it came to Cassie, she meant a lot more than I first suspected.

The first day of the trial came and went, then the second, and still no Cassie. I was beginning to think she hadn’t been notified. Then, on the third day I saw her. Her face had filled out, looking the same way she had when I first laid eyes on her, before the drugs had taken their toll. She wore a pant’s suit, completely appropriate for a court appearance. One thing I noticed was the fact that she was alone. Surely her family wouldn’t allow her to come back to this place alone. Curiosity got the best of me. I made my way through a crowd of people and took a chance. “Do you have a minute so we could talk?” I asked.

As she turned around to look at me I could tell she wasn’t looking forward to our reunion. “I’d rather not.”

“Cassie, just hear me out. I know you’re angry with me, but what I did was for the best.”

“Let me tell you something, Agent Campbell. I’m a grown woman, and I’m fully capable of making my own decisions.”

I started to turn around and walk away before I heard her continuing. “With that being said I’ve had a lot of time to think about what I would say to you when I saw you again. I know why you took me home. What I don’t get is how you could let me go?”

I grabbed her by the arm and walked her into an area with less people. “Because I knew you were better off as far away from Las Vegas as possible. You needed to make amends with the people who loved you.”

“Maybe I didn’t need you to take me home. Maybe I would have done it eventually on my own.”

“I’m sorry I hurt you.”

“I thought you were different, Logan. I really did. I thought after all the shit I’d been through I’d met a man who would do anything to protect me from getting hurt. I thought you were safe to be with, but I was wrong.”

“No you weren’t. You don’t know how wrong you are about me.”

The tears in her eyes told me how much I’d hurt her, not that I needed reminders. “I can’t do this. I knew I’d see you, and I tried convincing myself I’d be okay with it, but I’m not.”

“I miss you,” I said like a plea.

She started to walk away. “I have to go.”

I was left scratching my head, looking like an idiot in the middle of a courthouse, all because I couldn’t keep it together. I sat in the courtroom staring at her two rows in front of me for the whole day. When it was finally adjourned, I walked outside, but waited for her to emerge. She saw me immediately and rolled her eyes. “You’re not going to give up are you?”

“Let me take you to dinner.”

“I’m not here alone.”

It was like a kick to the balls. Had she found someone so soon? “Oh, I didn’t think…”

She pushed me lightly on the chest. “Seriously? You thought I brought a guy with me?” She said the next comment in a whisper. “You think I’m easy?”

“I never said that.”

“Let me call my cousin and let him know I won’t be back for dinner. His wife is doing a shoot while we’re here. She’s a model.”

“I apologize for assuming.”

We started walking toward the parking lot. She walked ahead of me, and I hurried to catch up. “Where do you want to eat?”

“I don’t care. I’m starving. I came all this way and for the past two days I’ve been held up in a hotel. Today they call me, and I’m not asked to testify again. My stomach has been in knots. Did you see the way Rocky looked at me? I wanted to throw up.”

“I’m sorry. I haven’t noticed. The only thing I saw in that court room was you.”

She froze in place. “You can’t say things like that.”

I reached for her hand, pulling her closer to me, not giving a damn who saw us. “For two months I’ve been a miserable son of a bitch. I can’t get you out of my mind. I’ve waited for the moment when I’d see you again, and now you’re here, standing right in front of me.”

“For the past two months I’ve thought about a lot of things too. One thing I know for sure is that you and I can’t be together. We live in two parts of the country. Your work keeps you busy, and I’m trying to get my life together. Even if we tried, you and I both know it won’t work. Maybe it’s better this way. Maybe you dropping me off was the best thing that could have happened. At first I wanted to regret what happened between us, but I know it’s not possible. We were both in that hotel room. We acted on impulse and it was great while it lasted. You took good care of me. You kept me safe. Then you took me home, where my family welcomed me with open arms. Now I’ve got a second chance to make things right, and I’m determined to work my ass off until it happens.”

“You’ve put a lot of thought into this.”

She reached up and touched my cheek. “Maybe in another life we could have been good together, but you and I both know it’s over. I hate this place. My life is, and will always be in the country.”

“What about dinner?” I prayed she’d still spend time with me.

“What good will it do? You and I both know what will happen. We’ll have a couple drinks and reminisce about what could have been. Then one thing will lead to another and we’ll end up back at your place.”

I chuckled. “You act like that’s a bad thing.”

“It’s better if we quit while we’re ahead.” She leaned forward and kissed me tenderly on the lips. When she pulled away tears were forming in her eyes. “I wish you the best future, Logan. Whoever you end up with is a lucky woman.”

Then she was gone, hopping in a cab before I could somehow convince her to stick around.

Chapter 34

Cassie

I had to get away from him, not because he made me angry, or feel betrayed. I was over that. It was obvious why Logan felt the need to take me home. All his life he’d longed to have his family back. The idea of me severing ties with mine would never sit well with him. He did the right thing, whether I agreed with his choice or not.

I shielded my face to hide my breakdown from the cab driver. I refused to look out the window to see him standing there. I thought I could handle this, but who was I kidding? Ever since the last time I saw him, he'd consumed my thoughts. Once I accepted he'd sacrificed what we could have been for my safe return home, I got over the pain and agony he'd left me with. Until today. Seeing him in the flesh made everything I thought I'd let go come back.