No one lives as a Baxter. They survive
Curious and startled, Kyle Avery, CEO of Mama Avery Foods, didn’t know what to make of the summons that was sent by her mother, Virgilia Avery. After all, Virgilia had been dead for two years. She arrives at one of South Florida’s exclusive private islands where she meets the elusive Cass Baxter,
head of Baxter Chemicals, and learns of the nearly 40-year love he and Virgilia shared. As she struggles to understand the secrets they had to keep in order to survive, Kyle comes face to face with the man who loved her and left her years before, Brandon Hall. But for Kyle and Brandon, finding their way back to each other means reawakening the danger that ripped them apart in the first place and that could cost someone’s life…
Excerpt
Cass sat in his car, and waited. Fifteen minutes later, she walked down the street toward him.
He practically jumped out of the car in front of her, giving her a bit of a start.
“What are you doing here?” Virgilia squealed.
“I’m about three hours early for our date.”
Virgilia sighed. “Look, Cass, I don’t think that’s a good idea.” Even though she said the words, her heart was begging her to take them back, but she had to be realistic. “Look, last night was fun and everything. I just don’t think it’s a good idea that we see each other. This has the potential to be aó”
“Wonderful thing that neither of us expected.” Cass looked into Virgilia’s eyes. He knew what she was saying was true, but for the first time in his life he was feeling something he couldn’t describe. His heart was beating stronger than ever and he didn’t want it to stop. He knew that without his Lila, it would. There was no way he was going to let those words come out of her mouth, much less let this go. “Lila, I like you a lot, and I know you like me. I’m still the same guy you were with last night and you are the same woman who practically jumped in my lap during the movie yesterday.”
“I did not practically jump in your lap,” she denied, falling for his bait.
“Well, I wanted you to.” He teased, giving her a wide grin. “Look, I don’t want to stop this, put this on hold, or end this. You work for my family…so what?”
“So what? You’re a Baxter. You’ll be head of the business one day and that comes with expectations, Cass.” Virgilia looked in his eyes, and saw them shining as brightly as ever. She had to make him understand. “Look, I’ve seen this movie before. Your family won’t approve of you dating the help.”
“I thought the movie we saw yesterday had a big shark in it.”
Virgilia smiled, despite herself. “Cass, I’m serious.”
He stepped closer and pulled her to him. “I can tell, and I don’t care what my family thinks,” he said. He knew she was about to say something else and sighed. “Look, Lila, I can’t explain it. I just know that if I don’t explore these feelings I have for you, I’ll regret it for the rest of my life. I don’t want to live like that and I know you don’t either, do you?”
Virgilia bit her lip and shook her head. She wanted to be with him, but her mind warned her it could end badly, even worse than she thought, but that voice wasn’t as strong as it once was. She closed her eyes and decided to throw it aside; this man, Cass, whom she’d just met was worth the risk.
“Okay,” she said.
His eyes lit up. “I just have one question…do you have that maid outfit with you?” He gave her that mischievous grin. “We have about three hours to kill and I think it could come in handy.”
Feeling bolder than she ever knew possible, Virgilia smiled. “I can think of a few things we could do to kill the time. Follow me…”
