Secrets from Her Past: Scandalous, Book 2 (3 page)

He shrugged. “I admit, looking back, that was harsh, but damn it, Evie, she caught me off guard and I wasn’t in the mood to listen to her excuses for coming home. She’s been gone over ten years and only shows back up when she needs a place to hide? She’s changed. She’s too…”

“Rich? Beautiful? Unattainable?”

Dylan turned back to the cabinet and pulled it away from the protective packaging. “Snotty.”

After a moment’s silence, Evie burst out laughing. “You’re jealous.”

He froze, his hands gripping the cabinet. “Excuse me?”

“Jealous. You heard me. She left town, made a big name for herself and you stayed behind.” Evie crossed her arms over her chest. “Didn’t you two always have a goal of leaving town, marrying and never looking back?”

“Those were teenage pipe dreams.”

Evie shook her head. “Maybe so, but you still wonder what would’ve happened had you left too.”

So maybe he had, but he wasn’t sorry he’d stayed in town. He loved living on the beach and only minutes from the city. And he was especially thankful now that he had his home back because this house was literally right on the beach. The backyard was a postcard and it was all his.

“Is that all you came over for?” he asked, not bothering to hide his irritation.

“My, my. We’re extra cranky today.”

He couldn’t help his grin. “You’re such a smartass.”

“All part of my charm,” she said with a wide grin. “I came to see if you needed help, actually.”

Dylan took in her cotton capris and T-shirt, and smiled. “So you did dress to work. In that case you’re going to get a lesson in cabinet installation.”

Evie groaned. “I was hoping something along the lines of painting.”

He moved to the base cabinet and smacked his hand on the edging around the open top. “Nope. First we do the grunt work, then we work on the pretty.”

As well she knew, considering she was an interior designer.

“Fine, big brother.” She threw her arms wide and sighed. “Where do you need my muscles?”

Dylan laughed and proceeded to put those “muscles” straight to work.

Corinne pulled her BMW into the parking spot at the rehab facility and took a deep breath. She hadn’t been home in so long the guilt ate at her. But her parents had very good reasons for wanting, needing her to keep her distance.

Reasons only the three of them knew about. Reasons that could never be discovered. Which meant the longer she stayed around, the more likely the truth would be revealed.

She readied herself to see her parents even though her mother’s health wasn’t the greatest. Corinne had been in contact constantly over the years, so she knew what to expect and not to expect upon this initial greeting.

A couple years ago Corinne had flown her mom and dad to meet up with her at her small flat in England. That was the last time she’d seen either of them. Every day that had passed since she’d left she missed them. Even though she’d created a life, a very successful life until about six months ago, she still missed that closeness, that bond that only parents could provide.

And now, here she was, only moments from seeing them and she was a total coward. Even though her father swore he never doubted her innocence for a second, she prayed that was the truth. She couldn’t bear seeing disappointment in his eyes. To know she’d let down someone that she loved.

Like Dylan.

His expressive eyes had held not only pity, but they’d also been full of accusations and hurt. She could hardly stand to look at him last night when he’d been in her bedroom.

But she’d gone beyond looking. She’d kissed him senseless and damn near rubbed her whole aching body against him, silently begging him to make use of that bed behind her.

Once upon a time Dylan was the one she could lean on, trust and share her fears with. But that was ages ago and she only had herself to lean on right now. It was time to suck it up and get tough, or life was going to run her over.

Corinne got out of her car and hit the button on her remote until the chirp of her bimmer indicated she’d locked it. Even though she’d grown up in this town, she didn’t feel at home. Matter of fact, she hadn’t felt like calling any place home in a long, long time.

Oh, she’d loved places she’d visited and a few she even owned properties in, but nothing had ever felt safe or secure enough to refer to as home. The only time she’d ever thought of a residence as a sanctuary was when she’d lived in this town years ago with her parents, before that fateful night when the truth was revealed to her, completely altering the path she’d so wanted to travel.

But the decisions her parents had made, she had made, were for the best. No matter the hurt that they’d caused.

Corinne hadn’t been in this facility before, but as she entered there was an elderly lady looking out the door and another woman at a small desk. Assuming she was the greeter, receptionist, or whatever, Corinne went up to her.

“Could you tell me what room the Robertsons are in?”

The lady obviously knew who Corinne was, if the sneer on her face and the critical stare meant anything. Apparently she was aware of the scandal—thank you, media.

“Room 105.”

“Thank you,” Corinne said with a smile.

No matter how rude people were, she’d always been taught to treat everyone with respect, and all she really cared about was her parents.

Corinne shifted her designer bag up onto her shoulder and headed down the middle hall toward her parents’ room.

Month after month she would deposit money in a special account she shared with her mom and dad in order for her father to pay the necessary bills. She hated the thought of her mother being ill and needing extra care, but whatever it took to provide for the people who loved her, she’d sacrifice. They’d already done so much for her it was beyond measure.

Corinne paused outside their door and knocked before turning the knob and easing the door open. The sight waiting for her nearly had her choking on tears.

Her mother was in her wheelchair and her father was feeding her. At the sound of the door opening, her father turned, dropped the spoon into the bowl of peaches and came to his feet with a wide smile.

“Cori.” He crossed the room and wrapped those big, strong arms around her, lifting her off the floor as he’d done when she was a kid. “I can’t believe you’re really here.”

Tears fell—she couldn’t stop them. “I’ve missed you,” she sniffed. “You don’t know how much.”

Her father leaned back, swiped at her damp cheeks and shook his head. “Please don’t cry, Cori. It’s all going to be all right.”

Was it? Because now that she was home after a grueling year, she wasn’t so sure it was. After seeing her mother in a wheelchair and unable to even feed herself, Corinne didn’t know how to feel, how to act.

“Hi, Mama.” She crossed the room and took a seat in the chair her father had just vacated. “You look beautiful today.”

Her mom’s eyes held unshed tears. “Oh, my beautiful girl is home. I wish I could stand and hug you.”

Corinne leaned forward and wrapped her arms around her mother. “I’ll hug you for both of us. I’ve missed being with you guys.”

“I’m so glad you’re home,” her mother said through tears. “Now step back and let me look at you.”

Corinne stood, but reached down to take her mother’s fragile hand. Once upon a time those hands had planted flowers, they’d wiped tears, they’d baked pies. But now they lay lifeless on the arms of her motorized wheelchair. Raw emotions swept through Corinne as she hiccupped more tears.

“Oh, honey.” Her father came up beside her, wrapping his arms around her shoulders. “It’s going to be all right. You’re here now where people love you.”

She wasn’t so sure of that, considering the cool welcome she’d received at the grocery, the bank and a few moments ago at the desk. But she’d keep that to herself. Seriously, if the people of this town knew her at all, they would know those bogus charges were ridiculous and she’d never, ever done drugs at any point in her career. Yes, she’d seen plenty of models use them from time to time, but she could honestly say that she had not been one of them.

“I hate to tell you this, but your mother and I were just about to go down to her therapy,” her father told her, turning to look her in the eye. “Would you like to walk down with us? It’s only about twenty minutes.”

Corinne smiled. “How about I just wait right here for you guys?”

The last thing she wanted was to disrupt her mother’s routine. Corinne would give anything for her mother to be able to use her arms and legs again.

“You promise?” he asked.

Corinne smiled up at her father. “I promise I won’t go anywhere.”

As her father wheeled her mother out of the room and down the hall, Corinne sighed, taking a seat in the wingback chair. She propped her purse on her lap and pulled out her phone to check email. Just because she was back home didn’t mean her life back in Miami had stopped.

As she was scrolling through emails, her agent’s ringtone filled the room.

Corinne slid the lock over and answered. “Hi, Kate.”

“Corinne. You made it home okay?”

She smiled. Her agent had been so much more than just a watchful eye for business, she’d been her friend, her confidante, her sounding board. Kate had been there for her through so many years, Corinne always felt immediately comforted at the soft tone of her voice.

“I’m home. Actually just got to the rehab facility to see my parents.”

“Oh, then call me when you can talk.”

“This is fine,” Corinne assured her. “They had to step out for Mom’s therapy so I’ve got some time now. You sound a little off. Everything okay?”

Kate sighed. “No, it’s not, and I have some bad news.”

Corinne gripped her cell. “What? Just tell me.”

“I’m afraid that three of your four contracts will not be renewed.”

Corinne froze. “But…why? I mean, I assume because of the scandal, but why now? This has been going on for months.”

“Yes, but they didn’t want to drop you in the middle of the hearings because it would look bad for their companies. This way they can just say the contract came to an end and they were ready to part ways.”

“How can they just drop me?” Corinne asked, trying to hold in her anger, her tears, but most of all her fear. “And which ones decided they’re too good for me? They can’t do this, Kate. I can’t afford any more of a loss. I’m already drowning in legal fees as it is.”

“I’m sorry, Corinne. My hands are tied.”

Kate was an agent who was known as a shark in the industry. Her hands weren’t tied. She could’ve fought for those contracts, but she hadn’t. Which meant it wouldn’t be too long before Kate dropped her as well.

How the hell did she move on now? Her main ally had cut her off, though Corinne shouldn’t be surprised. When all of this controversy had first come around Kate had been worried about what such backlash from the media would do to both of them…but Corinne had gotten the feeling Kate had mainly been worried about Kate.

Looked like the shark in the industry had turned on her number one client.

Corinne hung her head, clutched her phone and willed herself to keep breathing through the gut-wrenching pain. There wasn’t much she could do right this moment, other than enjoy her visit with her parents. They didn’t need to know her current situation had just gone from bad to worse. They had enough to worry about.

But Corinne knew one thing for sure, she needed a game plan, and fast, before her life spiraled even more out of control.

Chapter Three

Dylan stopped himself before he could round the corner into the small apartment in the main building of the rehab facility where Inez and Carl lived. He’d been visiting them since Inez had had her stroke.

And now that the new owners had taken over the facility, Dylan planned on being here every single day. But he honestly hadn’t meant to run into Corinne here, and since he’d come in the back way, he hadn’t even seen her fancy sports car in the lot.

But it was her voice that had stopped him, and the pure dread and worry lacing her voice that had him listening. And the bombshell about her being dropped and financially strapped was an utter shock to him.

Granted, this was none of his business and he was being completely rude, but Dylan stood in the doorway, unable to move because he was too busy listening to Corinne’s private conversation. He glanced behind him to make sure no one was coming down the hall. The last thing he needed was for someone to see the new carpenter with his ear to the small apartments so he could get all the gossip.

There was only one person’s gossip he cared about.

He shook his head and cursed himself. Damn it, no. He didn’t care about her gossip. Her questions just caught him off guard, that’s all. That, and the fact he hadn’t known she was here.

He’d been hoping to catch Carl and Inez before they went to therapy so he could inform them he’d be around more often. It might be best if he just came back later when they were back and hopefully Cori was gone.

“No, I’m not going to flip out,” he heard her say. “Is that why you didn’t tell me before? You knew and thought I’d just…what? Go all diva on you? Kate, you have to know me better than that.”