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A low ding sounded from Solette’s pocket, and she pulled her cell phone from it to check the display. Myriad emotions washed over her at the sight of Joe Sr.’s name. He was looking after their son that day, and he had invited Solette to have dinner with the two of them.
She chewed her bottom lip for a second. “I might need to leave an hour early if that’s all right.”
Cason eyed her. “Why?”
She blinked at him. “Cason, I don’t have to tell you my business.”
He seemed about to say something else but thought better of it. “Maybe I’ll need you to stay late.”
She started for the door. “I’m leaving early.”
To her shock, he somehow caught her before she could get out of the room. They wrestled a bit, Cason losing the struggle but catching himself by falling against her and pinning her to the wall.
“Cason! You could have hurt yourself.”
He was so close. His collarbone brushed her lips, and she turned her head. His knees dipped, bringing his pelvis in line with hers. She gulped air to try to calm down. Cason found strength to stand straight again. The man’s determination knew no bounds. One big hand slammed against the wall to hold himself up while the other gripped the back of the chair. Solette jumped at the noise.
“Stay,” he said.
“I-I have to go.” She tried to squeeze out from between him and the wall, but she wasn’t strong enough to get him to back off.
Steps sounded in the hall, and Solette froze. The doorknob rattled, and Cason pulled back, almost toppling over before Romy entered the room and caught his brother. While the two spoke, Solette made her escape. She headed downstairs to the first floor of the mansion. Cason could get mad for her insisting on leaving early, but he could get over it. She wouldn’t risk entangling her emotions any more than necessary since she wouldn’t see any of the Sartoris after this job officially ended.
“Solette, you’re going?” Shakarri called as she entered the front hall holding a wobbling toddler by the hand. Funny how much like Cason he looked at that moment. “I thought we were going to enjoy your company at dinner.”
Solette winced. “I’m sorry, but I have plans.”
Shakarri grinned. “Not a hot date?”
Solette flushed. It was a good thing it didn’t show on her darker skin. “Um, no. I mean, I’m meeting a friend…with my son.”
Ezio’s wife smirked in disbelief. “I’ll bet you have a sweet boyfriend that’s just crazy about you who you don’t want to tell us about. That’s all right. I’m not mad at you.”
She chuckled, and Solette imagined it never occurred to her that anything could happen between Solette and Cason. The bell rang, and Goro appeared out of nowhere to open the door. Bambi stood on the front step, wearing a low-cut blouse and far too much flashy jewelry for early afternoon.
She bounced into the house with a bright smile when she spotted Shakarri and her baby. “Hey, girlie. How’s my little angel?” Bambi bent to tickle the baby beneath the chin. Solette wondered if she remembered his name. She called over her shoulder, “Bring my bags, Goro. I’m going to be here the entire time Cason is in the hospital and after he gets out.”
Shakarri had gone cold. Solette figured out early on that Bambi wasn’t her favorite person. “He’s not going to be in there that long, Bambi. Just overnight as long as everything goes well.”
Bambi waved a hand, bracelets jingling. A puff of strong perfume permeated the air, making Solette’s nose itch. “That doesn’t matter. I’m going to be here for my honey.”
Shakarri stuck a hand on her hip. “It’s funny how you weren’t here when it looked like Cason was going to die and during the time he was in a coma.”
Bambi pouted. “That’s not fair. I called and called.”
“Called?” Shakarri snorted. “If the man I love was in the hospital, you better believe I’d move heaven and earth to get to him. Nobody would stand in my way. And you didn’t call until after you heard he was awake. Then it was all ‘my Cason, my Cason.’ Please, I know what you’re after, and you better trust and believe if I have anything to say about it, you’re not going to be the next Sartori.”
Solette’s mouth fell open. She realized what she’d done and snapped her teeth together. Trying to inch closer to the exit, she hoped neither woman would notice her. Yet, her ears burned to hear more. Was Shakarri saying Cason and Bambi didn’t have an understanding, or was it just that Shakarri hated the blonde?
At Shakarri’s harsh words, Bambi flushed, and the false cheeriness flew out the window. “I know what you’re doing.” To Solette’s surprise, she pointed at her. “You’re just trying to get another one of you in here. Well, I’m not going to let that happen. Cason belongs to me.”
Solette gaped. “I have nothing to do with this. I’m an employee.”
Neither woman paid her any mind. Shakarri let go of her son’s hand, and the baby wobbled then plopped down on the floor on his well padded behind. Shakarri stepped closer to Bambi. “What do you mean ‘one of you’?”
Solette heard the warning in Shakarri’s tone, but apparently Bambi didn’t. She refused to leave well enough alone and drop the conversation. “You know exactly what I mean! One of your kind. You people. Bla—”
Crack!
