The Texas Millionaire's Runaway Wife by Mary Malcolm Page B

girl. He could see Cassie in her vulnerable green eyes.
    He knew he should stay away, but the idea of Cassie facing her family’s issues alone, facing whatever this new trauma was without anyone at her side made him want to rescue her, lift her from this wreckage and lock her in a tower where she could be kept safe
    He could make it better. He could let her out of this arrangement and allow her to spend time with her family. But memories of the past month outweighed thoughts of generosity.
    Then, of course, there was Tatiana. Their earlier conversation took away all sympathy Stephen felt for Cassie immediately. All women were alike. Just like his father had warned. Cassie needed money for her family; Tatiana wanted payment for her silence.
    As he read, Annie moved near him, but not close enough to touch. She merely sat and listened. His heart warmed. He wasn’t made of stone. She reminded him so much of his cousin. It was evident she was there, she saw the world in her own way, she only needed someone to help her express it better. God his heart went out for this family. For Cassie.
    After a few more minutes, the little girl crawled into bed and closed her eyes. The excitement of the day shining bright on her wiped face and overly red cheeks.
    Tucking the book back into place, he stepped out of the bedroom to find Cassie sitting on the floor in the hall, head in hand and legs crossed in front of her. He slid to the floor on the opposite wall.
    “Is she all right?”
    “She seems fine,” he answered, calculating how much it would harm him to reach forward and touch her leg in support. In the end he decided the price was too high. “Napping now. Probably tired from her adventure this morning.”
    Her lashes glittered as she looked up toward him. “I-I don’t know.”
    Vulnerable. And alone. And terrified. This woman didn’t resemble the fiery, angry woman from earlier. This one looked ready to crumble under the weight of pressure on her shoulders.
    Her family teetered on the edge of insanity and in Cassie’s mind, she was somehow responsible. Stephen knew what that felt like.
    A moment passed and Liz’s voice, ripe with alarm called them both into the living room. Cassie visibly steadied herself, squaring shoulders and wiping all looks of vulnerability from her eyes as she rose to meet this new challenge.
    “Can I—” Stephen started to ask, but was silenced by the stony look on her face. He couldn’t help, it seemed to say, or she wouldn’t be able to continue.
    He realized then how similar they were. He’d hardened his heart to love for fear of how it would destroy him; she’d been destroyed by the love she’d refused to harden herself against. Rising, he walked behind her.
    Liz sat on the edge of the couch, newspaper spread on her knees, hands shaking. “Cassie. You. I—”
    “Shh, Liz, what is it?” The way she straightened her posture reminded him of a boxer ready to face his opponent in the ring. She was braced for whatever came next.
    He felt nothing but fierce pride for her in that moment.
    “You’re. You’re...”
    The words seemed caught as the woman’s eyes sharpened and suddenly pierced Stephen.
    “Married,” she finished.

Chapter Eight
    All the guilt, all the angst of what Cassie had tried to cover up bubbled over in the form of unstoppable laughter at her sister’s accusing tone. She snorted and pulled her hand to her lips. “I am.” The laughter continued as tears rolled down her cheeks. She grabbed her side as a stitch took hold. “Oh, Liz. You found out?”
    Her eyes never left Stephen. “An announcement in the paper. That’s how I find out my only sister, my baby sister is married.”
    Cassie’s eyebrows shot up as she turned her eyes to Stephen. Of all the nerve, how dare he?
    “Wait, wait a minute.” He held up his hands. “We had an agreement, Cassie, and part of that was that this would be public.”
    God she hoped Liz hadn’t caught the agreement part. A quick