Page 8

Chapter Eight

Cat

After driving around in circles, I find myself parked in front of the clubhouse entrance again. Sighing, I take a swig of coffee and dial Anthony Rossi’s number, vowing to figure out where the upper-level parking lot is later.

Ringing echoes through the car, and I switch the audio over to my earphones.

“Good morning, Cat,” Tony’s friendly, energetic voice greets me, and I groan internally.

“Morning, Tony. Is now a good time to talk?” I ask, lifting the cup to my mouth in an attempt to get some much-needed caffeine.

“It’s the perfect time. But before we start, I want to reiterate how sorry I am for your loss. Dottie was only my client for a few years, but she was one of my favorites.”

An ache blooms around my heart, leaving me with a sinking feeling. “She was my favorite, too,” I say softly. “Aunt, not client.”

Tony chuckles and paper shuffles in the background. I can only assume he is pulling out Aunt Dottie’s folder. “I’m not sure if you knew this, but your aunt was quite the financial wizard.”

Pausing, the coffee cup resting against my lips, I murmur. “No, I wasn’t aware.”

“She left you a sum total of thirty million dollars in financial assets, personal property, family heirlooms, plus whatever the profit will be from the sale of her home.”

I gasp and immediately start coughing as the coffee goes down the wrong pipe.

“Are you okay?” Tony asks, concerned.

Still coughing, I push out one word at a time. “One. Second.” Then I sneeze. Repeatedly. Not three dainty sneezes that sound cute, but the kind that feel like your head is being ripped from your body.

I know. It’s weird.

“Bless you,” he repeats until the last sneeze, a hint of laughter in his voice.

I clear my throat and attempt to talk. “I’m sorry. Did you say—” I say through more coughs.

“Thirty million? Yes,” he answers. My heart pounds like a runaway freight train.

This could be the answer to the massive amount of debt my father left me when he died.

Raising my hand to my chest, I force myself to take deep, slow breaths.

The heaviness I’ve gotten used to carrying eases a bit, and I’m left with the sensation of floating.

“However, there is a stipulation she was firm upon. One that you must meet in order to receive the inheritance.”

And just like that, I come crashing to the ground again.

His voice has taken on a neutral tone that makes the hair on my body stand up. The train in my chest lets out a blaring horn, and steam blows in my ears. “A stipulation?”

“Yes. She wrote you a letter explaining.” When I don’t say anything, he continues. “You should get it this afternoon; I sent it to your office. I thought you’d prefer to read it privately, rather than have me read it to you.”

I silently nod. “Cat? Is that okay?”

“Sorry,” I force myself to speak. “Of course. I appreciate your consideration.”

“So the clause,” Tony clears his throat. “Although unconventional in today’s day and age, it isn’t unheard of.”

I swallow hard and take a sip of coffee, trying to rinse the sand from my mouth. “Aunt Dottie could be a bit unconventional, so it’s not that big of a surprise.” A giddy hysteria bubbles up.

“Oh, well, that makes this a tiny bit easier to say. So the stipulation requires you to…”

At that exact moment, a text from David lights up my screen, making my heart jump.

David:

I want to apologize in advance for making your life difficult in the near future.

“…within the next six months.” Tony’s voice runs in the background, just as my screen lights up again.

David:

I probably won’t be very cooperative.

I hate social media, but not for the reason people think.

I hate it because it takes me away from the little time I get to spend with Scarlett.

His last words make my breath hitch as a rush of tenderness fills me. How am I supposed to keep things professional when a man allows himself to be vulnerable with something so personal?

And not just any man, but this one.

A tinge of longing so deep causes a stabbing sensation in my heart.

What would it feel like to have someone love me as much as David loves his daughter?

“Cat, did you hear me?” Tony asks, his voice full of concern.

“I’m sorry. A text came through just as you were talking. I only heard you say something about ‘six months’.”

A sigh comes through the phone, and I’m pretty sure if he were sitting in front of me, he’d be squeezing the bridge of his nose. A wry grin lifts my mouth.

“So the stipulation requires you to be married within six months from the time of notification,” Tony rushes out. “That is, of course, if you aren’t married already. Are you married?”

My brows shoot up to my hairline, and my mind races. Tears prick the back of my eyes. “Is this a joke?”

“I’m sorry, it’s not. Your aunt had some valid reasons, plus the others she put in the letter.” Tony responds kindly.

“I don’t understand. Why would she do something like this?”

“Dottie loved you very much, Cat,” Tony says softly. “Read the letter and then call me. We can talk a bit more about it—”

“Thank you, Tony,” I say curtly, running a trembling hand through my hair. “I have to head into the office.”

“Catherine—”

I hang up the phone and drop my head on the steering wheel, and the tears I’ve been holding back pour from my eyes.

“Aunt Dottie, I don’t understand,” I sob, a burning sensation spreading throughout my body.

This is too much to take in. I couldn't care less about the money.

What’s tearing me apart is that the one person I loved and trusted most just betrayed me.

A soft knock pulls me from the sadness that threatens to drown me.

“Cat,” David’s voice is gentle. “Are you okay?”

Swiping the tears from my eyes, I put on my best smile. “Give me a second, please.”

From my peripheral, I see David backing up from the car and turning away from me. Waiting until I’m ready. Pulling down the sun visor, I gently dry the wetness on my cheeks, before smoothing out under my eyes.

Inhaling and exhaling, I grab my bag and push the car door open.

“Good morning!” I force my voice to be cheerful, and David turns to face me. “I got your texts.”

When I meet David’s eyes, there’s a swirl of emotions staring back at me, and for a moment I’m pulled back to my twelve-year-old self telling my crush my family is moving.

Today, anyone would know I’m not okay. But the hazel eyes staring back at me have me falling into a bout of deja vu.

Breaking eye contact, I head toward the clubhouse tunnel entrance. David’s footsteps quicken, and I can feel his warmth as he moves beside me.

Just like when we were kids, I know he wants to pull what’s wrong out of me, but like then, he knows I have to be ready first.

“Perfect,” he teases. “Then we won’t have any surprises.”

“I doubt that,” I snark. When I turn to find his raised brow, I add. “I’m pretty sure Scarlett and Emmy will bring lots of surprises.”

“Those two.” He chuckles, running a hand down his face, and a real smile tugs at my lips.

“I can’t wait to spend time with them. They’re going to be the highlight of your social media account.” When he doesn’t respond, I quickly add. “If you’re okay with that. There’s a few things I’d like to talk to you about. The biggest one is being clear about what you’re comfortable with.”

A warm hand gently grabs my arm, halting me. Tiny shivers course through me, leaving my body humming. My pulse races. Glancing up at the man next to me, emotions I haven’t felt in decades come rushing back.

His gaze, the color of warm brandy, drops to my lips, and for a moment, time stands still.

Is it possible to relive the same moment twice in one lifetime?

Last time, we were eye level, and children. But the feeling is the same. The longing to feel his lips on mine is overpowering and surprising.

David clears his throat and slowly pulls his hand back, leaving its warmth still lingering on my arm. “It’s important to me that I protect my daughter.”

“Of course! I wouldn’t dream of having it any other way, David.” My words come out slightly breathless, and I clear my throat. “I’d like to talk with Finn too.”

“Finn? My agent?” He asks, his brows shooting up.

“But only if you approve,” I add. “I just want to get his perspective on your history. Nothing else.”

“Sure. But be careful.” He grins ruefully. “He may get it stuck in his head that he needs to do some matchmaking.”

After that conversation with Aunt Dottie’s attorney, a matchmaker may be just what I need.

“I thought that was only with his players.” I chuckle, unable to avoid the idea that’s starting to form in my mind.

“He’s gotten a bit out of control.” David laughs. “It wouldn’t surprise me if he somehow thought he could help people other than his clients, too.”

David's words wrap around me like a cocoon, and I work to shake them off quickly. There is no way I’d marry someone just to claim an inheritance.

Even if that inheritance is thirty million dollars.

“I’ll make sure to keep up my guard when talking to him and only keep the focus on you.” I wink. An unreadable emotion enters his eyes, but it’s quickly gone. “Can you text me his number?”

His hand pauses over the locker room handle, and he nods.

“Perfect. After I talk to him, I’ll text you to arrange a day for us to get together.”

“Sounds great.” David pulls on the handle, and I make my way to the elevator. “Hey, Cat?”

The softness in his voice catches me off guard, and I turn to face him. “Yes?”

“If you need someone to talk to, I’m a good listener.”

The corner of my lip curls up. “I remember.” We stand there staring at each other, both of us lost in the past.

“Flirting,” Logan Miles teases. He pulls the locker room door out of David’s hand and walks around him.

My cheeks flush, and I see David shaking his head. “I’ll talk to you later.” I shyly grin and start walking again.

“Talk to you later,” David responds. I don’t turn around to look, but I can feel the weight of his gaze on me. After pressing the call button, I glance back toward the locker room one last time. David’s gone, but the feelings resurfacing aren’t.