to outsiders involved in Rhett’s business.”
“I understand,” Cassie assured the youngest Corrigan. “I’m only around until Carreen comes back to work.”
“I’m not coming back.”
Her jaw dropped. “But . . . you have to,” Cassie sputtered. “Rhett expects you to. I came into this job knowing that it was temporary.”
Carreen swallowed, looking pale and fragile. “I’ve taken care of Rhett his whole life. Changed his diapers. Taught him to ride a bike. Really cranked it up when I showed him how to throw a spiral and a spitball, much less the finer workings of how to ask a girl on a date. I even taught him how to drive. Since he’s been acting, I’ve taken care of everything for him. I’m tired of it.
“I’m ready to do something for me. If cancer has taught me anything, it’s to live in the moment and be happy with what I’m doing. Well, I’ve always wanted to be an interior designer. When I’m well, I’m going back to school and earn the certification. I can schedule clients around the kids’ hours at school. It’ll allow me to be creative. Best of all, I’ll work for myself.”
Carreen sighed. “I love Rhett to pieces, but I’ve been a second mom to him all these years. I’m ready to cut the apron strings and follow my own dreams.”
“That’s why you wanted to meet me,” Cassie said. “You needed to see firsthand if I could handle Rhett and his affairs.”
Carreen nodded. “I thought you could from the moment he first mentioned you. Then when Breck came to visit and started talking about The General, I got more scoop from him. Even at that, I needed to check you out in person.”
She took Cassie’s hand. “Now that I’ve seen you and Rhett interact, I know you’ll handle anything he throws your way. Because of that, I’ll tell him when he gets back.”
“Tell me what?”
CHAPTER 15
Cassie awoke to TJ standing next to her face, his large eyes inches from hers. She scratched his head as he kneaded the pillow, wondering why she ever bothered setting an alarm. The orange tabby had only let her down once—the morning of her almost-interview at Merriman Smith. Cassie figured if she hadn’t run late, she would never have met Rhett.
She padded into the kitchen and warmed TJ’s breakfast in the microwave. The furball had her trained better than she ever would him. Cassie returned to her bedroom and threw on running clothes. She slipped out the door and did some stretches. An old hamstring injury nagged her at times so she was always careful to warm up.
Rhett joined her as she began her run.
“Morning.”
She’d discovered Rhett ran three mornings a week and he’d fallen into a pattern of accompanying her on those days. Since it was five-thirty, they had the neighborhood to themselves.
Cassie enjoyed the rhythm of their relationship. Running. Business. Usually eating lunch together to go over various items. She’d also taken part in the weekly poker party again. Instead of feeling awkward about being the token female, she let go and enjoyed it. Her life was shaping up, with Rhett accepting she would be his assistant for the foreseeable future.
He’d been angry and upset when he’d overheard Carreen’s words about leaving because of the love he had for his sister. After he calmed down and Carreen explained things to him, he was all for the move. He promised Carreen that he would line up plenty of clients for her and even promised that she could re-do his entire house if she wanted.
They jogged up a steep incline, both of them putting a little extra muscle into it. As usual, Rhett let a mile or so pass before he started up a conversation.
“You talk to the people at the ACS again yesterday?”
“Yes. They liked the ideas from last week’s meeting and they’re ready for us to go full steam ahead. Both Becky and I are meeting with them a couple of days after Christmas.”
“That soon? I thought you’d probably take a week or two off so you could go see your family.”
She shook her head. “Rhett, I haven’t been on your payroll for long. I haven’t accrued that kind of time off. Besides, airfare is expensive this time of year. I hadn’t made plans to go home.”
He stopped in his tracks. “Not go home? Cassie, that’s foolish. Nothing here’s so pressing that I couldn’t give you some time off. I can give you a salary advance if—”
“No.” Cassie kept running so Rhett caught