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  Dakota had been my girl since we were kids. We did everything together, even experimented with drugs. But while I needed to stay clean to be a fighter, Dakota let the drugs take hold.

  As I sprinted to Highland Boulevard, I cursed everything. I was familiar with the address she gave Vince, I’d pulled her out of there several times before. 972 Highland Boulevard was a drug den.

  Several potheads were hanging out on the front stoop when I got there. One of them, a scraggily guy with bleached dreadlocks, looked familiar. I yanked him up from his seat and pressed him against the wall of the building.

  “Where is she?” I demanded.

  “Oh hey man, I remember you. Gabriel, right? Like the angel,” he said as he drifted off.

  “Where’s Dakota?” I asked, shaking him.

  “Oh yeah, Dakota. Probably on the second floor with the other dopers.”

  I dropped him and pushed past several people to get into the house. I took the steps two at a time as they groaned and creaked under my weight. The long hallway had several open doors, but I didn’t know which one Dakota could be in.

  “Dakota!” I called out, hoping she hadn't passed out or worse.

  “In here,” she said.

  Following her voice, I entered a room at the end of the hall. It was like many others I had been in before to rescue her from. The rooms were either dumps with dirty mattresses strewn around or they were partitioned off into makeshift rooms with vinyl folding doors.

  “Just keep following my voice, Gabe,” she said.

  Her voice led me to a closed brown vinyl accordion door. I slid it open and found her lying on a ratty mattress. The smell of vomit was in the air. Dakota’s long dark hair was matted and wet from sweat, and she looked thinner than I remembered.

  “It’s okay, Dakota,” I said. “I’m here. I’m going to take you home.”

  “This is home,” she said with a laugh, her voice hoarse. “I’ve spent more time in here or in places like it over the years than I have in my own apartment.”

  My brow wrinkled, hearing her speak. It was the clearest I had heard her in a long time. I looked at her green eyes and was surprised to find them clear.

  “Are you clean?” I asked.

  She nodded slowly. “Been clean for two weeks now.”

  “Then why are you here?”

  “Because I didn’t know where else to go,” she said. “I had to get clean. I’m pregnant. This baby needs a fighting chance.”

  “Pregnant,” I said as I tried to remember the last time Dakota and I were together.

  “Relax, it’s not yours,” she said.

  “You have to get out of here. This isn’t the place for a pregnant woman. You know I love you, Dakota, I always have. Let me help.”

  I picked her up, cradling her in my arms and carrying her down the stairs and outside. The cool night air made her shiver.

  “You’re the best thing that ever happened to me, Gabriel. I’d probably be dead by now if it wasn’t for you.”

  “I’m taking you home. To my home,” I said as I walked up the street with her in my arms. “Marry me, Dakota.”

  “You’re fucking crazy,” she said as she laughed.

  “Marry me and I’ll take care of you for the rest of your life.”

  Present Day

  I couldn’t let Cassie stay in that shithole knowing the kind of things that happened in places like that. It wasn’t safe, and I’d be damned if I was going to sit by and let something happen to her. I cared too much about her and I knew the things that went on in that neighborhood. She deserved better.

  Chapter Six

  Cassie

  “That arrogant ass,” I grumbled.

  I continued flipping through the TV channels, looking for a distraction, but nothing caught my eye. I pulled my feet underneath me on the couch and stewed as I thought about Gabriel. He put me in such a bad mood, I couldn’t think about anything else but what he said.

  You don’t have a choice.

  Each time his words repeated in my head, I came up with something good to say back to him. Why didn’t this happen earlier when he was here? Instead I got lost in his blue eyes again. Those dark blue eyes...

  Dammit! Not again!

  Behind me, I heard Becca unlocking the series of locks on our door as she came home. Becca worked two jobs. During the day, she worked at a satellite office for the Canyon Cove Housing Authority a few blocks from the apartment, and then in the evenings she waitressed at a hip restaurant downtown. She stepped inside and dropped her messenger bag on the cushion next to me, then turned on the lights.

  “You’re sitting in the dark again?” she asked.

  “You know how expensive electricity is. And I’m not in the dark, the TV is on.”

  She shook her head, laughing, as she grabbed a glass, filled it with water, and took a sip.

  “I’m sure your mother would have something to say about that,” she said.

  “Yeah, well my mother has plenty to say about a lot of things,” I said, laughing. “How long are you home?”

  “I’ve got to leave in twenty minutes. Why? Everything okay?”

  “Everything’s fine,” I said with a shrug. “Just wanted to talk.”

  “I know that tone, Cassie. You sure you’re alright?”

  “Yes, don’t worry about me. Go get ready for work. It can wait until you get home from the restaurant tonight.”

  “I don’t know. Aren’t those your work clothes? You always change as soon as you get home. Something’s going on,” she said.

  Becca looked at me over her glass as she took a quick gulp. She was torn, but the last thing I wanted was for her to be late for work. I gave her a big smile and waved my hands, motioning for her to go upstairs.

  “Really, I’m fine,” I said. “Don’t worry about me. Go get ready for work.”

  “Okay, I’ll go,” she said. “What about your cousin? Didn’t you say you have a cousin in Canyon Cove? Have you called her yet?”

  “No, I haven’t. My mom emailed me her number, but I feel a little weird reaching out to her after all this time.”

  “You’re being silly, Cassie. Just call her. You said you were close once, that never changes. Call her.”

  Becca ran up the stairs and the sound of the shower came on. I didn’t mind being alone, but Gabriel had me so frustrated, I needed someone to vent to. But how could I vent to someone I hadn’t seen in over a decade?

  Picking up my phone, I opened up the email from my mother and looked at Ashley’s number. It had been so long, I felt weird reaching out to her. At the bottom of the email, my mother had attached a picture of Ashley and I together when we were teens.

  In the photo, I was wearing a pink shirt and was smiling directly at the camera. Ashley was sticking her tongue out at me as her hands reached for my neck. I laughed, remembering that day and how much she and I shared together. It was one of the last times I saw her. She moved away a few weeks later.

  I missed her. It had been years since I really thought about her, but seeing that picture reminded me of how close we really were. Without hesitation, I tapped on the phone number and listened as Ashley’s phone rang.

  “Hello?” Ashley said, answering.

  “Ashley! I can’t believe you sound exactly the same!” I said, laughing.

  “Wait, this can’t be! Cassie? Is it really you?”

  “Yes! I’m so sorry, I was so surprised to hear your voice that I didn’t say who I was.”

  “You didn’t need to, you sound exactly the same too. How long has it been?”

  “I don’t know, maybe ten years. Maybe longer. My mom gave me your number. She spoke to your dad and said you’re in Canyon Cove.”

  “Yes, I’ve been here a couple of years now. What about you? Last I heard, you and your mom had moved to the middle of nowhere.”

  “We did, we moved to Crosswicks years ago, but I had to get out of there. I’m in Canyon Cove now.”

  “Get out! Then you have to mee
t us,” she said. “I’m out with a few friends right now for dinner. Do you know where Mirabella’s Café in the Town Center is?”

  “Of course, that’s not far from where I work,” I said.

  “Then come meet us and we can catch up in person. I can’t wait to see you.”

  As I hung up the phone, Becca came back downstairs in her t-shirt and jeans, obviously ready for work.

  “Hey, I just got off with my cousin. I know it’s out of the way, but could you drop me off at Mirabella’s Café?” I asked.

  “No problem. I’m glad you’re meeting her. I think some fresh air will do you good. But when I get home you’ll have to tell me everything that happened.”

  “I promise, but not until then. If I start talking about it now, I’ll go crazy again,” I said laughing.

  “It’s about your boss, isn’t it?”

  “You have no idea,” I said, rolling my eyes.

  I breathed in the chilly night air as we stepped outside and walked to Becca’s red pickup truck. As Becca drove towards downtown, I tried to push Gabriel out of my mind. Tonight was about catching up with family, not about Gabriel, his lips, that body, or those blue eyes.

  * * *

  The lights from Mirabella’s Café glowed through the tall windows of the restaurant. Mirabella’s was one of those places I had heard a lot about, but hadn’t had a chance to visit. They served a little bit of everything, but everyone raved about their pastries and desserts.

  It was located in a small strip mall just a few blocks from the gym, near the bus stop. Becca pulled up in front of the restaurant and I jumped out of the car so she could speed off to work.

  Walking towards the entrance slowly, I scanned the inside of Mirabella’s looking for Ashley’s familiar face, but didn’t see her. The restaurant had dark-green metal ceiling tiles and rust-colored walls. Clusters of antique frames hung on the walls, giving the restaurant a relaxed vibe.

  As I pulled open the door, Ashley popped up from her seat at a round table in the center of the restaurant and waved me over. She looked just like I remembered her with dark wavy hair and almond shaped eyes.

  “I can’t believe you’re here,” Ashley said as she hugged me tight. “You have to come over and meet Xander and Jacob sometime. I hate leaving them, but the girls practically drag me out of the house to meet them every so often.”

  “Hey, I understand you’ve got a hot husband and beautiful baby, but you need some girl time,” one of her friends said, laughing.

  “Cassie, that’s Jackie, we went to school together,” Ashley said.

  Jackie was beautiful with brown hair and a creamy complexion. She pulled a chair over from a nearby table and put it between her and Ashley.

  “Come sit here, Cassie,” Jackie said, patting the seat. “I want to hear about the man who gave you that watch.”

  “Oh? Let me see,” Ashley said. “You didn’t tell me there was a man.”

  I laughed as I sat down and Jackie pulled the sleeve of my sweater back further, then nodded approvingly.

  “Who said there’s a man?” I said.

  “No one buys themselves a watch like this,” Jackie said.

  “She’s right, Cassie. That reminds me of something Xander would pick out,” Ashley said.

  Next to Ashley, an attractive woman with grey streaked blonde hair let out a low whistle. “That there is definitely a billionaire gift,” she said with a Southern drawl.

  “Cassie, this is Tara, and if she says it’s billionaire approved, then you’re holding out on us,” Ashley teased.

  “Okay, okay, you’re right,” I said, laughing. “It was a gift from a man, a wealthy one. I’ll say that much.”

  “Deborah, you’re working at that fancy department store, right? What do you think this goes for there?” Tara said to the woman next to her.

  Deborah had black chin-length hair that swung forward as she took a better look at the watch. She shook her head and smiled at me.

  “All I know is it says Cartier,” she said, smiling. “Now if you don’t mind, I’m sure Jackie and I would both like to know how you met Mr. Cartier.”

  “You and Jackie? What about me?” Tara said.

  “You have Mason. You don’t need another boyfriend,” Deborah said.

  “Ha! Yeah, Mason,” Tara said. “He’s ancient history. There’s too much that happened in the past for us to move forward. Besides, you’re one to talk. What about Mr. Sexy?”

  “I don’t even know Mr. Sexy’s name,” Deborah said with a wistful sigh. “Hopefully that’ll change very soon.”

  “Right, which leaves me as the only one without any prospects here,” Jackie said. “I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. Where’s my billionaire?”

  Everyone laughed, but then the last woman at the table, seated between Jackie and Deborah, leaned forward and cleared her throat. She had long, curly red hair and when she leaned back, I noticed a very visible baby bump.

  “Now Jackie, you know I tried,” she said. “I thought you and my brother-in-law Brent would be perfect together, but you didn’t even give him a chance.”

  “Oh Samantha, not him again,” Jackie said. “I told you, he’s just not my type.”

  “You didn’t even give him a chance,” Samantha repeated.

  Jackie sighed. “I just know, okay?” Jackie said before turning back to me. “Besides, this isn’t about that, this is about Cassie and her Cartier watch. How did you meet him?”

  “I think I’d like to hear more about everyone else. You’re all much more interesting than I am,” I said.

  “Uh-oh,” Ashley said. “I know that voice. She’s hiding something from us.”

  “Spill it, Cassie! Inquiring minds need to know,” Tara said, smirking.

  “He’s my boss,” I said as I looked around the table, unsure what to expect. “But I don’t know what’s going on to be honest. This job is really important to me and I’m afraid I’m going to fuck things up.”

  Ashley put her arm around my shoulders and leaned in to whisper.

  “Come with me to the ladies room,” she said.

  We excused ourselves and Ashley led me out to the back door of the restaurant. She wrapped her arms around herself briefly before quickly giving me a hug. It felt like old times.

  “I thought it was better if we were outside. I didn’t want anyone to hear me,” she said.

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Absolutely! It’s just what you said about your boss really hit home with me.”

  “Well, I’m already pretty uncomfortable with it, but earlier Gabriel drove me home and demanded I move into his apartment. There’s just no way I’m doing that,” I said.

  “Hold on, Cassie. I know this might sound crazy, and I’m sure plenty of people would argue with me about this, but maybe you should hear him out.”

  “Why? Because he’s a billionaire?” I said as I rolled my eyes. “I could care less about that.”

  “His being a billionaire is exactly why you should hear him out. I know you, Cassie. If all he was to you was your boss, you would have told him to go to hell by now. You didn’t. And you accepted that watch from him. You like him, don’t you?”

  “Yes, but what does that have to do with his being a billionaire?”

  Ashley shrugged. “They’re different. I worked for Xander when we first got together and trust me, it was hard on me too. I didn’t want to have a relationship with my boss. But he also had his own issues he needed to deal with. I took a lot of leaps of faith for him and I’ve never regretted a second of it. My dad used to tell me to trust my gut, and it was from doing that that I met the love of my life. I think maybe you need to trust your gut too.”

  I shook my head just to disagree even though I had a feeling she was right.

  “What’s the worst thing that can happen if you move into his apartment?”

  “What if things don’t work out? Then I’ll lose my job and have no place to live on top of that. Mack said Gabriel liked pl
aying games, what if that’s all he’s doing with me?” I asked.

  “What’s your gut say?”

  “My gut is an idiot, Ashley. My gut is saying to just go along for the ride. I want him to be more than my boss, but my head--“

  “Don’t listen to your head. Sometimes we need to throw caution to the wind and just go with it. Listen, Cassie. I know how you are. I know you’re going to fight him and be honest, if you do and he keeps coming back for more, doesn’t that mean something?”

  I thought about what she said for a moment then slowly nodded. “You were always the more level-headed of the two of us. I don’t know how I managed without you for all these years.”

  “Just listen to your gut, Cassie. That’s all I’m saying.”

  “I’ll try,” I said. “You know me, I overthink things and I can’t help that. I can’t just listen to my gut. But, for you, I’ll try.”

  Ashley laughed and opened the door to the restaurant.

  “I’ll have to tell you all about how Xander and I started dating one day. Let’s just say I’m not always level-headed,” she said. “Now let’s get back inside before they send out a search party for us.”

  Chapter Seven

  Cassie

  “Cassie? Cassie, you up?” Becca said.

  Becca’s voice came through the thin vinyl door. I was still in bed, but it slowly dawned on me why she was there. Somehow after dinner with Ashley and her friends, I had completely forgotten that Gabriel said his driver, Stan, was going to arrange for movers in the morning.

  I grabbed the black yoga pants I had dropped on the floor before going to bed and pulled them on. As I slid open the door, I grabbed an oversized purple sweatshirt that was on top of my dresser.

  Becca was in her restaurant clothes, jeans and a T-shirt with a red and white trolley on it. Her light brown hair was pulled back into a messy bun. With her hair back like that, her freckles became more pronounced. She always worked Saturdays at the restaurant so she could make more tips.