Page 36 of Reaching His Heart (The Sartoris 3)

How long has it been since I left the mansion? Three weeks? It’s not him. Of course it’s not him. Stop thinking about him, Solette!

She grumbled at herself for having arguments in her head regarding Cason. How many times had she told herself she was twenty kinds of a fool for almost throwing her life away on Joe Sr. just to resist caring about Cason. Of course, she’d been considering Joe Sr. before she started to have strong feelings about her former

boss, but that came from years of abuse that must have rattled her stupid brains. She was thinking clearer now.

Yeah, right. You’re thinking so clearly, you’re hoping the flowers are from Cason.

“Ma’am I have flowers for you,” the deliveryman said. “If you’ll sign here.”

Solette tried her best to calm her emotions while she signed, but her gaze was all for the little card stuck among the Peruvian lilies.

“Mom, look!”

Solette dragged her gaze away from the flowers to see where Joseph pointed and gasped. Several men in black stood near the street, big men with massive chests and arms. Most of them stood with stiff postures and forbidding expressions. A couple wore dark sunglasses she couldn’t see beyond. She counted six in all, and her throat dried.

“W-were they out here earlier?” she whispered to Joseph.

“No way!” He almost bounced with excitement. “I would have noticed. Where’s Mr. Cason? He’s got to be around.”

While Joseph’s head swiveled back and forth as he searched for some sign of Cason, Solette resisted looking around. She hadn’t thought Joseph noticed the attraction between herself and Cason, but she should have known better. Joseph hardly missed anything. Besides, every time she had brought her son to the mansion, Cason insisted on feeding him ridiculous stories to stimulate Joseph’s imagination. Of course Joseph claimed he had found secret passages in the mansion with Cason, but Solette hadn’t believed him. Her son had been just as disappointed as she was to have her position come to an end, but she was glad for his sake so he wouldn’t come to love Cason and be hurt.

When the deliveryman left, Solette continued to stand on the front steps. She speculated about the men in black as she tugged the little card from amid the flowers.

These are so you will keep me in your head. – Cason.

She frowned. Self-centered jerk, the man couldn’t even say anything nice, like I miss you or, come back so we can finish what we started. She clenched her jaw and fought against the bitter disappointment. Sure, she wanted to see him and be with him but not if he didn’t care or she was just a body to be conquered—worse, if he thought she was the best he could do after his accident.

A scuffle at the street brought her head up, and she gasped again. This time, she recognized Joe Sr.’s car. Just as he was climbing out, the men in black surrounded him. One of the men held the door while gesturing to the driver seat.

“You’re at the wrong address,” the man said in a tone that said ignoring him would be a critical error. “Back inside.”

Joe Sr.’s temper flipped on in an instant. “Who do you think you’re talking to? I’m right where I’m supposed to be. I’m visiting my girl, and you’d better get out of my way.”

Another of the men stepped forward. “You don’t have a girl in this neighborhood. Get back in your car before I fold you into it—painfully.”

Joe Sr. began cursing and calling to Solette, but she was in such shock she couldn’t move. Beside her, Joseph was cracking up, holding his stomach. “Dad, don’t take that. Show him what’s what,” he called excitedly.

Solette swatted her son’s arm. “Don’t incite him, Joseph. Besides, aren’t you worried about your father?”

“Nope, they won’t hurt him. They just want to scare him. Mr. Cason knows he’s my dad.”

She put a hand on her hip. “Oh, he’s protecting you, huh?”

Her son blinked at her. “Mom, he’s protecting both of us!”

“How would you know?”

He didn’t get the chance to answer because Joe Sr.’s shouts of angry outrage caught her attention again.

“This ain’t over, believe that.” He slammed his car door and started the engine. The men in black straightened and stepped out of the way as Joe Sr. tore off down the street. Meanwhile, another car slid into the vacated spot left by Joe Sr.’s car. This one, a sleek black BMW.

Solette’s heart sped up then seemed to stop completely when one of the men rushed over to open the door and Cason stepped out.

“Mr. Cason,” Joseph shouted and ran to him. “I knew you would visit us.”

Cason grinned and held up his car keys. “Hey, Joseph. Wanna take her for a spin?”

“You know it,” Joseph shot back.

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