By the time he pulled the dazed and confused me out of my vehicle, I was as bedraggled as a person gets and still determined to make it to my interview, missing pump and all.
“I think maybe that’s why Rhett wanted to give me a chance. He saw I was determined to go through with the interview, despite the awful circumstances.”
“What about moving onto his estate?”
“I didn’t weasel my way into the gatehouse. Please don’t think that. Rhett gave me the Range Rover you’d driven to do errands after he saw my beat-up ride. I told him not to do it. I knew my neighborhood was not the type to leave that kind of car sitting unattended. I was right. Someone stole it that first night.”
“Was Rhett mad?”
Cassie thought. “Not really. But he saw the dive I lived in and offered the gatehouse to my roommate and me since it was empty. It was a very gracious offer. Since we would be working closely together, it made sense, so I took him up on it. I can assure you that I’m saving money for a place of my own, and Jolene and I are also paying Rhett rent. I’ll be long gone before you come back to work, Carreen.”
Carreen sipped at her water again. “I hear Breck’s taken with you and your roommate.”
“Breck’s just a bad boy with a good heart. I like spending time with him. Jolene is totally gone over him. Breck’s probably never dated someone like Jolene. She’s a smart-ass with a mouth on her but she’s good as gold. They seem an unlikely couple but then again, how many are like that in real life?”
Cassie paused. “I know as Rhett’s older sister, you want to protect him, Carreen. I also realize I’d be awfully skeptical if someone as off the wall as I sound instantly inserted herself into my brother’s life so fast. In all honesty, all I want to do is the best job I can while you’re recovering. I need the work. I need the experience. I’ve got to have something better than Manny on my resume and having worked for Rhett will hopefully open up job opportunities for me.”
Cassie’s lip trembled. “I can’t go home to Texas. There’s nothing for me there. I may not have realized the dream I once had but no one said I couldn’t change my dreams. I may never act in a Hollywood film but I can have a part in putting someone in one. Hey, if behind every successful man there’s the little woman who helped get him there, then I’m going to hold to the twist on that. For every successful actor, there’s an agent or assistant who made his life right so he could give it his all up there on the screen.”
Cassie sniffed. “If that means I’m going to book Rhett’s hair appointments and clothes fittings and take Shep to the vet and read scripts and get him to appointments on time, then I will be the best damned assistant out there.”
Carreen’s eyes held a satisfaction lacking before now. Cassie’s heart sang, knowing she had won Carreen’s approval.
She heard the front door open again. “Hello? Carreen? It’s Scarlett.”
In walked a girl in her mid-twenties with a knockout figure and Rhett’s eyes and mouth. She had legs that probably went up to Cassie’s shoulder. Cassie estimated she was easily six feet tall.
She plopped next to Carreen’s chair and took her sister’s hand. “Hey, sweetie. How are you today?” Without waiting for an answer, she looked over and sized up Cassie. “I’m Scarlett. Carreen’s giant baby sister. I have everyone at UCLA Law School terrified of me but Carreen still thinks I’m about twelve and shouldn’t even be dating.”
Cassie laughed, warming immediately to Scarlett. Her own best friend in high school had that Amazon height and Rocki had been just as blunt and in your face. “I’m Cassie Carroll. Rhett’s new assistant.”
Scarlett frowned. She immediately looked at Carreen, her eyes flashing with anger. “He replaced you?” she exploded. “What kind of asshole brother would do that?” Scarlett glared at Cassie.
“The kind who has a career going strong and can’t afford to wait around for me to get well,” Carreen threw out. “I’ve begged Rhett to hire someone, Scarlett. Cassie is sweet and efficient and did not deserve what you just said. Apologize—or you can leave right now.”
Scarlett flushed a dull red. “I’m sorry,” she told Cassie. “Nothing personal. Just closing ranks, I guess. We’re not used