Embezzled Love (7 page)

Chapter Seven

Monday morning, Cassie put the finishing touches on her make-up. Evan had called last night and said he'd return on Thursday, and she couldn't believe how much she missed him. The sound of water passing through the pipes indicated Carson had turned on his shower. She'd heard him come in late last night and wondered why the change of habit. Usually he went right from the desert to the station and caught a later train. Sharing the commute today gave her the opportunity to tell him all about meeting Evan and their newly formed plans.

Cassie applied the last bit of mascara, and then shimmied into her favorite black sheath. Together with a red jacket, the outfit was the most striking ensemble she owned. She slid one foot and then the other into her high heels, turned to the mirror, and made sure her dress hadn't done something horrible like catch in her pantyhose.

"Cassie," Carson called from outside her bedroom door.

"In here! C'mon in, I'm dressed."

Carson entered, resembling someone from a fashion magazine. He always looked like a million bucks in any of his stylish suits. His hair, still slightly damp from his shower, was slicked back except from a stray lock hanging in boyish fashion on his forehead. Cassie started to reach out and brush the strand back, but recoiled. He'd hinted his intentions to cross the fine line between friendship and courtship once before when he and his wife argued, but as a married man, he was off limits.

She greeted him with a smile. "Good morning… and what are you doing here? It's Monday. I didn't expect to see you until I got to work."

"I decided to stop by and pick up my Rolex. Have you seen it?"

"No." She shook her head. "I haven't been in your room. Are you sure you left it here?"

"Positive. I noticed on the ride home that I forgot to put my watch on. I always keep it on the dresser."

"Hmm, I don't have any idea where else it would be."

Carson's brow furrowed. "That watch cost me a lot, Cassie. Was anyone in my room this weekend?"

She was taken aback. "Surely, you don't think someone stole it."

"Well, I have no other explanation. Are you missing anything?"

"Not that I'm aware… at least not that I've noticed. Maybe you just misplaced your watch. I'm sure it will turn up."

"I certainly hope so," he grumbled as he left her room.

His bedroom door slammed so hard, the pictures on Cassie's wall jiggled.

* * *

In the living room, Cassie sat with Carson and a very handsome policeman who filled out the report on the missing timepiece. Carson described the watch down to the scratch on the back casing.

 "So," the officer smiled at her. "Can you tell give me the names of all the people that were in the house this weekend?"

Her cheeks warmed at being caught staring at him. Now his intent gaze made her uncomfortable.

"Well," she tapped her chin with her forefinger. "I had my family over for a barbeque. Of course, my mother lives here, but I'm sure Carson doesn't suspect her." Hopefully the tone of her voice didn't reveal the anger she felt. How could Carson think anyone in the house would steal from him? He was like part of the family.

Cassie rattled off a list of names. "My brother, Frank, his wife, Kara, my sister, Alaine, her husband Jay, me…"

The officer jotted down notes then glanced up. "To your knowledge, were any of those people in the room where the watch was supposedly left?"

Cassie thought for a minute. Jay had a habit of stretching out on Carson's bed and watching T.V. Did she really want to implicate him? He wasn't her favorite person, and if he didn't do it, he wouldn't have anything to fear. A niggling doubt simmered in her brain. Jay probably was the culprit. She wouldn't put it past him.

 "My brother-in-law was in there watching TV part of the day," she blurted.

The officer finished his note taking, closed his tablet, and then stood. "I'll file this report and contact everyone present the day in question." He turned toward Carson and extended a hand holding a business card. "If you have any questions or think of anything else that might help, please give me a call."

Carson glanced at the card. "Thank you, Detective Green."

A detective! Impressive. His title explained why he wasn't in uniform. Cassie saw the man to the door and closed it behind him. Where were men that good looking and broad shouldered before she committed to Evan?

She took a deep breath then turned and confronted Carson. "Well, I hope you're happy. Now everyone will be questioned and embarrassed at being accused of being a thief."

Carson's brow rose. "Not everyone! I didn't hear you mention Evan."

She glared at him. "I can't believe you would expect me to point a finger at him. My God, Carson, he's coming back to live with me. What possible motive could he have for stealing a watch and returning to the scene of the crime?"

Carson shrugged. "If I knew filing a police report would upset you this much, I would have just forgotten the whole thing. I'll probably never get my watch back anyhow. Oh, and by the way, I've decided it's best if I commute rather than stay here during the week. Now that Evan's moving in, you'll need your privacy anyhow."

 "You don't have to move." Her mouth gaped.

"I know, but being apart from my wife isn't helping our marriage. Let's just consider my move a strategic relocation." He smiled but sadness filled his eyes.

Cassie stepped forward and hugged him. "Remember you always have a place here if you need one… and I'm so sorry about this whole watch issue.

"Don't worry about it. I needed a new one anyhow." He hugged her back, tighter and longer than necessary.

* * *

Cassie picked up her office phone. "Cassie Fremont, may I help you?"

"Cassie, I can't believe we got a call from the police department last night. What's going on?" Alaine sounded near hysterics.

"Well, I'm sure they told you that someone stole Carson's Rolex."

"They mentioned that, but surely Carson doesn't suspect us?"

Cassie plotted her response. She needed to say just the right thing. "I don't think they suspect you personally, but since a report was filed, they have to ask questions of everyone who was there."

"Why did you tell them Jay was in the bedroom?"

"Well, he was."

"I know, but you made it look like he took the watch."

Cassie grimaced. She feared having her sister know Jay was her prime suspect. "I didn't mean too. I just answered the officer's questions and your husband was the only one that I knew had been in the room."

"Is Carson sure that he even left the watch at your house?"

"He insists he did. I've looked everywhere and so has he. He had to file a report for insurance purposes, so I wouldn't worry about it. It's just a formality."

"It may be a formality to you, but I don't appreciate you making my husband out to be a thief. I realize you don't care for him, but this is totally unnecessary."

"This has nothing to do with how I feel about Jay, I only—" Cassie held the receiver mid-air as Alaine hung up with a clunking thud. "I only answered the questions as they were asked," she continued, her smug tone playing to empty airspace. "If Jay isn't guilty, then he has nothing to fear. So there!"

Frustrated with the whole situation, Cassie chewed her bottom lip. She might act indifferent, but she hated having anyone mad at her.

* * *

Cassie waited patiently at the bottom of the escalator. Airport security had curtailed any possibility that her renewed meeting with Evan might resemble anything seen on the big screen. Somehow, not being at the arrival gate to greet someone as they exited the airplane took away a large part of the pleasure… like the romantic moment between John Wayne and Susan Hayward when they reunited in a recently-watched movie.

 She strained to see over the crowd, spied Evan and waved. Her heart skipped a beat as he neared the bottom of the moving staircase. She chuckled, noting he wasn't easy to miss in his big cowboy hat. He looked out of place among all the business suits and briefcases.

Evan stepped forward and swept her into a big hug. "Hi, purdy gal. Doggone if I didn't miss you a whole bunch." His lips claimed hers in a kiss—reminiscent of the same movie with John Wayne and Susan Hayward. Cassie didn't want the moment to end but they were in the direct line of people trying to exit.

She pulled away. "Whoa, cowboy! Welcome home. Let's get out of the way. We can continue that kiss when we get back to the house." She turned him toward the baggage claim area and locked her arm through his. "Let's go get your suitcase. I'm so glad to see you."

While waiting for his bag, Cassie glanced around at the other couples. Having someone to share her life again, after so long, felt nice. Being independent had its advantages, but there was something to be said for having a partner. She tightened her grip on Evan's arm and held her head high. In his nicely pressed cowboy shirt, sharply creased jeans, and that big ol' hat, he caught the eye of quite a few ladies. Cassie's heart warmed. He belonged to her.

Evan chattered the entire drive home about his trip. He'd officially closed his business, visited with Marlene, saw his sister, and of course, missed Cassie more than she could imagine. He caressed her knee. "Saying I'm happy to be home sounds strange since Texas was my home for so long, but this feels right. Now, my place is wherever you are."

He had a way with words, for sure. If she wasn't driving and the car didn’t have a console, she'd scoot closer like she did on high school dates, but she'd have to wait for cuddling until they got home. So excited to see him and hear about his trip, she totally forgot about the watch incident.

* * *

At home, Cassie unpacked Evan's bag while he stretched out on the bed. She'd cleared a spot in her large closet for his clothes, and while she put his things on hangers, she relayed the story about Carson's watch and his decision to cease renting a room from her.

"I'm afraid Alaine is really mad at me for implicating Jay." Cassie raised her voice so Evan could hear her from inside the closet. "I told her I didn't do it intentionally, but she still hung up on me." Evan didn't need to know how Jay always scrounged for money to support a drug habit and probably took the timepiece to hock. Sadly, the man was a loser.

She peeked around the door. "You didn't bring much with you. Where are the rest of your things?"

With his bent elbow resting on the bed and his head supported on his palm, lamplight shone in Evan's eyes. He didn't respond right away, and she found it peculiar he didn't comment on the missing Rolex. Of course, he had no reason to steal a watch. Besides, how would he even know the missing piece was on Carson's dresser.

"I'm gonna have to make another trip back to get all my stuff." He interrupted her thoughts. "The fellas needed the truck and tools to finish up the last of the contracted jobs, and I was so anxious to get back to you, I decided to fly home instead of wait. I'll make a flight reservation later this week and then drive my pickup back with all my stuff… tools and all."

She came and sat on the bed next to him. "Then it will be official. You'll become a real Californian."

"Yep, I reckon. I worried you might be upset…me takin' another trip and all. In the meantime, you and I have to put our heads together and think up a name for our new business."

"Our business?" Cassie tilted her head.

"Sure. Why not? Your home is a showplace. We could build an office right on the back, and I could make a few improvements in the landscaping to show off my style. Before you know it, you can retire on what we're gonna reel in."

She digested his words. "But I have a really good job, and I've invested a lot of years in getting where I am."

"You gonna tell me you wouldn't like to live a life of luxury?"

Cassie winced, remembering how she felt on Monday mornings…wishing she were rich. The thought had some appeal. "Who wouldn't want to live that way? I just didn't know you planned on making your business here, in my house. I figured you would find work doing your landscaping with an established company and think about starting your own business later on down the line."

"Why wait? I don't want to work for anyone else. I like being my own boss. You can come and go as you please, work when you want, and lay up when you don't feel like getting out of bed."

How could she argue his point? After all, she had invited him to share her home. Still reeling from that impetuous decision, she certainly didn't plan on having to make a business decision, in addition. "Well, I guess we can give it a try, but…" What the hell? She'd already taken an unplanned plunge, what were a few more laps in the pool? "I have to keep my present job…at least for a while."

Evan rolled over on his back and stared at the ceiling. "First things first, I have to get my stuff out here. I'm running a little short on cash at the moment. I have to go back and collect money from the jobs the crew's finishin' up. Could you loan me enough for a return plane ticket and a little spending money?" He propped himself back on his elbow and waited for her response.