How Cassie Got Her Grind Back(Divine Creek Ranch 23)(135)

“Yep. She needs time to rehydrate and catch her breath.”

They waded into the crowd, apologizing to her new fans, family, and friends as they bracketed her and drew her out to a small tiled patio, which was secluded from the rest of the seating area.

She was flushed, a little shaky, and drenched in perspiration. She was also positively jubilant. For the first few minutes, she let them hold her while she processed the excitement. The crowd beyond the fence didn’t sound as though it’d diminished at all as he finally said, “Did you see Bill in the crowd?”

“He was here?” she replied, her eyes wide. “I never saw him.”

“He stayed in the shadows,” Ivan said. “And slipped out when your aunt spotted him and made a beeline for him, looking as though she wanted to hit him with her purse.”

She giggled and then let out a long breath. “Wow. Why would he come? Even before the three of us tied the knot, I told that pot-stirring pendejo I knew he’d lied to my father about your father and my mother having an affair because he wanted you two out of his way. I’m still mad at myself for falling for his act. Master manipulator motherfucker.”

“Such language,” Ivan murmured. “Are you planning to kiss us with that potty mouth?”

She glanced up at them and then started giggling since she so rarely ever used such language. Samson was grateful for the tension breaker as they both laughed along with her.

As it had turned out, Bill had been responsible for many of the punishments Cassie had been subjected to because she’d had contact with the two of them after her father had forbidden it. Bill had more or less bartered serving as an informant for the privilege of having her father keep her close to home and under control until he’d come back home from college. To show his thanks for toeing the line, her father had encouraged his relentless pursuit of her. Her dreams of attending a performing arts college had never been taken seriously by either of them.

“Knock, knock,” Rudy said quietly as he peeked around the wooden privacy gate. “Cassie, it’s nearly time. I have a few requests for encore performances of one or two of your songs,” he said mildly, handing her the scraps of paper. “They love your music, mi hija! I’m so very proud of you.”

As they escorted her through the gate, she looked a little overwhelmed but enjoying the moment. Presley Ann was waiting for them on the other side, practically dancing on tiptoes. “I private messaged the video to my friends. They’d love to meet with you when it’s convenient for you.”

Cassie’s eyes rounded, and she looked around the crowd. “Are they here?”

“No, they’re in Nashville right now, but they’ll be visiting soon, I’m sure. They really want to talk to you, honey!” she squealed and then hugged Cassie.

Ivan glanced at Samson, uncertainty in his voice. “Nashville?”

Presley Ann hugged her again, and then Cassie turned to them. “I hear worry. There’s nothing to worry about. Yeah, I’d love to write songs for…Presley Ann’s friends. That would be freaking awesome. But do I want all the other stuff? Not so much. This is totally cool tonight, but I would rather be on the creative end of things and let someone else deal with the attention and clamor. That’s not me.”

Relieved to his core, Samson tipped her chin up and kissed her. “We’d deal with anything for a chance to watch you grasp your dreams.”

Ivan nodded, looking as though he was trying to swallow the lump in his throat. “Yup. We would. I’d love to watch that happen.”

Cassie sighed and took both of their hands in hers. “You dunces. My dream is already in my hands, right now. This…” she said while gesturing to the crowd. “This is just the icing on the cake.”





THE END