Read A Child's Heart (Trent & Cassie's Story) A River City Novel for Free Online

up
with for a weekend at the beach.”
    “I’m not going to have you treating us to a
vacation.”
    She rolled her eyes. “Did it ever dawn you that by
coming with me you’re making my weekend better?”
    “I’m not going to have you pay for some fancy hotel
for us, and I can’t afford it.”
    “Well, consider this. I have an offer from a friend
of a friend. Do you know Dallas Nixon?”
    “I know who she is, but I
don’t know her.”
    “Okay, this is complicated. Dallas is married to Rick
Makowllen, and his parents live at the beach. Next weekend, they
are coming up here for a golf tournament and will be staying with
Rick and Dallas. They want us to stay at their beach home.”
    Trent shook his head.
    “No, really. It’ll be fine. They have two guest
rooms, and when they found out it was Shawn, they were excited.
They want us to come. They live a few blocks from the beach, not
actually on the beach, but within easy walking distance.”
    “I’m not taking the hospitality from someone I don’t
know.”
    “Trent, be reasonable. You might not know them, but I
do. Karen Makowllen is one of the nicest people you’ll ever meet. I
didn't realize the Makowllens lived at the beach. But I do know
they were big contributors to your son’s fund.”
    “Geez. I don’t like taking charity from anyone. So
now I’m supposed to take more from someone?”
    “I shouldn’t have told you that. But this isn’t
charity. Tate and Ari run down there all the time with their little
girl. The Makowllens love having a houseful of people.”
    “No. I’m not doing it.”
    Cassie smiled and ran her fingertips lightly over his
forearm. His soft golden-blond hair made her want to stroke her
fingers through it forever. “Yes, you will, because it’s a chance
for us to be together, and for Shawn to go to the beach and play in
the sand. I want to build sand castles with you and Shawn.”
    “We’ve shared a few kisses, and you’ve been very
generous to Shawn. But there are a few things you should know, and
right now is not the time or the place.”
    She raised her eyebrows and stared at him. “Are you
still married?”
    They both spotted Shawn as he ran out of the gift
shop towards the restrooms.
    “No, I’m not married." His brow furrowed and he
watched his son disappear behind a men's room door. "Can we talk
about this later? I’ll call you this evening.”
    “I won’t get out of here until at least nine thirty.
That’s a little late for you.”
    “I’ll call you at ten.”
    She nodded. “We do need to talk, and not a
five-minute argument over accommodations, or sleeping arrangements
at the beach.”

 
    ~~5~~
     
    Damn. Why did Cas have to say
sleeping arrangements? Standing, Trent
stuffed his hands into his front pockets, hoping to camouflage the
effect she had on him. He quickly excused himself, went to the
men’s room, and hid in a stall. Taking a few deep breaths, he
attempted to clear his mind and focus on Shawn who had returned to
the gift shop. He washed his hands and practically ignored Cassie,
as he went to check on his son.
    “Daddy, they have this and this. And look at these.
We could do them together.” He picked up a three-dimensional puzzle
that was meant to be glued together.
    “That’s very expensive. Put it back and don’t touch.”
Trent knitted his eyebrows and pressed his lips into a thin
line.
    Cassie’s hand rested on Trent’s back, spreading
intense warmth over him. “The question that remains is, does Daddy
have time to put a puzzle like that together?”
    “I make the time to be with my son.”
    “Show me which one you like.” She picked Shawn up so
he could see the others on the shelf. He finally settled on the
dinosaur, which didn’t surprise her. She put him down and then
asked. “Did you choose a book?”
    Shawn scrunched up his face. “Kinda, but Daddy said
only one item.”
    She glanced over her shoulder. “He did say one book.
Which book did you pick out?”
    She was