Page 52

Apparently, Cas hadn’t made all the confessions he was going to make tonight.

“Nick hates us because Hunt loves us. Nick tried to bankrupt my father to hurt Hunter. He wanted to bring Hunter to heel.” Cas had learned, from Hunter’s experiences, from Mo, and from Monique’s demand for a pre-nup with claims on Cas’s father’s business before trotting him up the aisle, that taking his medicine in one gulp resulted in the least long-term pain.

“Bring Hunter to heel how?” She selected a second slice of pizza. “Four slices for me, six for you. We agree now.”

“Or what?” He loved how she negotiated sharing. He figured it was being one of five sisters.

“I demand half.”

“Deal. Nick is every bogeyman you’ve ever met come to life, an emotional vampire. He wanted to destroy Hunt and take over his business.” Bitterness burnt Casildo’s throat. Nick had got too close.

“Anna didn’t tell me any of this.”

“She’s the best thing that ever happened to Hunt.”

“You believe that, yet you’ve been at his side since childhood,” she said, leaning into him. “Hunter would hate you to feel beholden to him.”

“Beholden’s the wrong word when it’s family. You know that. Hunter is family. Dad and I tried to deflect Nick’s attack before we called Hunter. A truckload of cash was needed.”

She cocked her head to one side and studied him with the solemnity of a judge about to sentence. “You gave him your savings.”

“You guessed.”

“I put two and two together. You earn a decent wage, you don’t have a profligate lifestyle, but you have a secret passion you’ve been working at for years.”

“I was the logical child to help.”

He’d been the only child with fast access to savings. Hunter’s hands were full with his own company, Maha had tipped all her funds and energy into paying off her share of the childcare centre she ran with a friend, and Zahra was an intern at a busy public hospital juggling work and motherhood. Cas still battled private demons that he hadn’t been able to save his father.

“It wasn’t enough. Despite Dad and my reservations, Hunt would have been gutted if we’d lost the building without asking for his help.” And maybe Cas needed to think about that flashbulb moment.

“What’s the plan?”

Cas didn’t pretend not to understand her question. It was a relief to let go of his fears of jinxing his plans, to accept that doubt was the unwanted shadow for anyone working in the creative industries. His dreams were safe with Beatriz. He liked the weight of her leaning against him.

“It was a temporary loan. The idea is that Dad rearranges his portfolio.” He snorted. “I learned about that from my studies. “Then he buys Hunter out and gives me back my nest egg.”

“Can he do that?”

“He’s done it. Barring final legal hiccups, the money will be in my bank account before Anna and Hunt re-enter the country. Not that either of us are counting days.”

“How do you feel about it?”

“I have to do this, Beatriz. I need to prove to my dad and myself I can.”

“Why your dad?”

“Mo and I talked about that. Fathers cast long shadows. You always want to please them. Or at least not disappoint them.”

“I watched your dad last Saturday night. He loves you and Maha, and”—she seemed to search for a word—"he was so happy being with you. Hard to improve on that. I’d say he’s proud now.”

“We’re a business family. I’m the only child without a business.” He knew his father loved him. He wasn’t so sure he was proud of him. “I haven’t made promises to anyone, but I’m making connections, appointments.”

And you make me feel positive.

Another flashbulb moment he wasn’t prepared for.

“And your worry about jinxing it is for those suppliers and other small businesses.” She lifted his arm and draped it around her shoulders, snuggling against his side. “I knew there was a reason I liked you.”