Page 41 of The Rented Bride

One might also call it stubborn and arrogant. In the last twenty-four hours, he’d mocked and deceived her, even fired her. To top it all off, he would soon marry her. Maybe he was just crazy. Like her.

Ace entered, carrying a tray with two plates filled with blood pudding sausages, sautéed mushrooms, and tattie scones, and another platter bearing grilled eggplant, peppers and tomatoes. Another staff member followed and set a carafe of coffee and a sterling silver creamer on the table along with china coffee cups.

James started eating as she poured coffee. Cassie had to admit, breakfast smelled heavenly. She pulled her plate closer and took a bite of what she figured had to be the tattie scone.

“Potato,” she said.

“Mashed potatoes, to be exact,” he said.

“They’re delicious.”

He smiled. “My wife Addy loved them. I miss her,” he said around a bite of sausage. “When she died I lost the best part of me.”

“You never remarried?”

He shook his head. His smile softened. “You remind me of her, sweets. Trent, so much like me. Falling in love with a beautiful woman with a smile like an angel, and eyes that stir a man’s soul.”

“I see where Trent gets his charm.”

Guilt pricked. She was falling under the old man’s spell. Was deceiving him really the right thing to do? Everyone died. Someday she would lose her parents, probably an older sibling. But death had always been an unreal, very distant inevitability. Now, however, she was staring the grim reaper in the face.

Light footsteps sounded in the hallway and a young lady entered. “Uncle James.” She smiled broadly and hurried to the table.

He twisted in his seat and gave her a hug. “What are you doing here so early, lass?”

“Mom got the message last night that Trent is engaged. We didn’t even know he had a girlfriend.”

Cassie’s tummy did a little tumble.

“He kept it secret.” James nodded toward Cassie. “This is his fiancée. Cassie, meet Evie O’Hara. Her mother was a friend of Trent’s parents, and Evie here is my goddaughter.”

Cassie smiled. “It’s very nice to meet you, Evie.” The girl couldn’t be more than seventeen. Pretty with wide almond eyes and a soft lilt to her voice. “Are you hungry?” Cassie asked.

She shook her head, and said, “No, I wouldn’t mind some coffee, though.”

Cassie glanced at James who gave a slight nod, and Cassie smiled. “A woman after my own heart.” She pulled one of the empty cups closer and poured the coffee, then set it front of the seat to James’ left.

Evie sat down and poured in a liberal helping of cream followed by two scoops of sugar, then stirred. She took a sip then set the cup down and said, “My mom said you took over the planning of Uncle James’ birthday party.”

Cassie sipped her own coffee and nodded. “That’s right.”

“I guess Trent is lucky to be engaged to a party planner.”

Cassie laughed. “I would say so.”

“Lucky indeed.” James winked at Cassie.

Annie entered the room. “Good morning, everyone.” She sat on James’s right, reached for an empty cup and poured herself coffee.

“Hey, Annie, how are you?” Evie asked.

“Good. Are you still touring universities?”

“Yep, I’ve got it narrowed to a few. I still want to visit the University of Colorado in Boulder.” Evie shifted her gaze to Cassie. “I still can’t believe you and Trent are getting married. How long have you known each other?”

Cassie’s mind went blank. She and Trent hadn’t talked about any of those details. How long did a couple date before they got engaged, a year, two, five?

“About a year,” she said.