A TEMPORARY MARRIAGE: PART ONE (AVALON BAY ROMANCE SERIES Book 1) Read online

  A TEMPORARY MARRIAGE

  PART ONE

  AVALON BAY ROMANCE SERIES

  VICKY DEAN

  PUBLISHED BY:

  GOLDMINEGUIDES.COM

  Copyright © 2015

  VickyDean.goldmineguides.com

  This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is entirely coincidental. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places, events and situations either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used factiously.

  All rights reserved. No parts of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any means without written consent from the author.

  TABLE OF CONTENTS

  THE WILL

  AVALON BAY

  THE PROPOSAL

  AUNT MAGGIE GETS BUSY

  THE DECISION

  GOODBYE NEW YORK

  RETURN TO AVALON BAY

  A WEDDING

  PARIS

  TAKING IT ALL IN

  THE LOIRE VALLEY

  THE DORDOGNE

  THE WILL

  “This is a joke, right?” Richard Gallagher looked at his attorney, and best friend, Philip Grady in shock. “Tell me it’s a hoax.”

  “It’s no prank. I’d love say it was, but your grandfather was quite clear about what he wanted.”

  Richard was angry and in shock, wondering how his grandfather could do something so crazy. It certainly made it easier to understand why Philip had insisted on seeing him in private for the reading of the will.

  “And he just did this a month ago. Was someone manipulating him?” Richard said.

  “I tried my damndest to talk him out of it,” Philip started.

  “But you failed,” Richard finished, slapping his hand down on the desk that was in between them.

  “Don’t shoot the messenger, man, I’m just repeating what he said,” Philip countered.

  Richard stood and began to pace the room with his clenched hands deep inside his trouser pockets.

  “Look, your grandfather said that he was at his wits end trying to get you to settle down and start a family. He said he wanted heirs to inherit all he’d built. And that your womanizing and affairs were bad for business. I told him that you and Cassie were out of touch, not even really friends, but he was insistent upon it. Mentioned something about running into her at the craft market last month and they got to chatting. He said now that her mother was living back in the town she should spend more time here.” Richard watched Philip as he said the words and sensed that he was just as confused by it as he was.

  “That has nothing to do with me,” Richard spat, as he continued pacing back and forth.

  “I know, but he told me that he sensed it in his bones—that she was the one for you. Said he’d known it since she was a youngster and it was time to force your hand.”

  “He was always fond of her. She used to make him laugh with her tomboy ways. But she was what twelve, thirteen years old at the time?” A picture of the young Cassie flashed through his mind. Blonde braided hair and bangs hanging in her corn flower blue eyes that framed a happy, freckled face with a mouth open laughing displaying braces and two gapped upper front teeth, and long colt legs dressed either in shorts or dungarees.

  “Doesn’t she live in Manhattan now?” Richard asked.

  “Yes, she does. Works for a big hotel chain and according to her mother, she seems to be doing pretty well.”

  “Does she know about this?” Richard asked, hoping that she didn’t. Perhaps there was a way out of the ugly situation if she was clueless about it.

  “No, not yet,” Philip said. “I called her, saying that I needed to see her about your grandfather’s will, but didn’t go into any detail. She is actually on her way to Avalon Bay, will be here tomorrow.”

  “Why did you call her?” Richard asked irritably.

  “Look, Richard, your grandfather is my client. I have to abide by his wishes. She doesn’t know what I have to tell her—yet.”

  “Good. This makes no sense. She hasn’t lived here for what fourteen- fifteen odd years. Her life isn’t here; she’s a big city girl now.”

  Richard glanced around the office without really paying attention to anything that was in it; his thoughts were lost in the unjust feeling he had about his grandfather’s will. Eventually he walked over to the red wood bookcases and turned around, leaning on them and crossing one leg over the other and then folding his arms.

  “Your grandfather was of the opinion she’d be better off here near her mother,” Philip said.

  “How would he know that? It’s ridiculous! Under no circumstances will she agree to it, why would she?”

  “Do you really know that?” Philip asked. He leaned back in his black leather chair and singled out a page from the will, “There’s a lot of money at stake for her. And as for your part, you only have to stay married for one year, and convince everyone you’re marrying for love.”

  “You make that sound simple. It’s not,” Richard said.

  “Granted, you’d have to put your playboy days behind you for a bit, but I recommend just getting it over and done with. No other option, really.”

  “Why would she agree to this, Philip?”

  “Who knows, Richard? She’d be free to leave after a year. Maybe it’d be worth her while.” Philip stood up and walked around his desk and handed a page that had the specifics to Richard. He felt bad about it, and clearly Richard was out of sorts about it.

  “This is out of the ordinary, Richard, I don’t blame you for being unable to grasp it.”

  Richard took the proffered typewritten legal document and began to read it, his dark brown eyes scanning left to right on the page in astounded silence and disbelief. Had his grandfather gone insane at the end of his life without him realizing it? It certainly seemed that he may have. Of course, he’d always had plenty of ideas about how Richard should do things, but he’d never meddled to this extent before.

  “So, she’ll be here tomorrow. What then?” Richard asked.

  “She said she’d call me, and she also offered her condolences to you. She was actually on her way here for her mother’s birthday party.”

  “Good grief, I wonder how on earth she will react to this,” Richard said as he ran a hand through his long, dark hair, leaving one curly strand sticking out.

  “Well, I would suggest that if you want any chance for this to work and for Cassie to accept, you had best start curtailing any relationships you may have with any of your flock as of this moment.”

  Richard groaned and Philip patted his back.

  “Come on, let’s go for a drink,” Philip offered. “I think we could both use one after this conversation.”

  ***

  Cassie looked at Donald as he stared at her, a bit desperate looking. “You’ll be fine,” she said, reassuring him.

  “Whenever you aren’t here, something goes wrong,” he said. “And when I try to fix it, they just ask for you.”

  Cassie laughed at the Nights and Weekends Manger who took her place at the Royal Oak Hotel, downtown Manhattan, whenever she took a few days off—a rare occurrence.

  “I’ll only be gone five days,” Cassie said seeing the increasingly worried look on Donald’s face. “And any major problems John Halstead will still be here.”

  “He always seems to be busy in meetings with the hotel chain management these days. I reckon he’s about to be promoted and you’ll get his job as General Manager,” Donald said.

  “Well, I certainly wouldn’t say ‘no’ to that job,” Cassie said and smiled at Donald. “In
fact, when I get back from California I’m due for my job review.”

  She loved her job as Assistant General Manager. Meeting interesting people and always being busy, taking on a new project or concern made it so there was never a dull moment. Of course, there was stress, but Cassie was okay with it because it came with the territory, not to mention her hopes of getting promoted to the General Manger, eventually.

  “Rather you than me. I wouldn’t be able to deal with all the stress of having that amount of responsibility,” said Donald as the frown on his forehead etched deeper at the thought of Cassie’s imminent departure.

  “Come on, Donald,” she said with a slight laugh. “You always tell me I should go out and socialize, not work so much. Well, now I’ll be forced to. I might even have to talk with someone on the plane,” she teased.

  “You laugh, but please tell me you have cell phone reception in this small town you’re going to.”

  “It’s in Northern California, not the middle of nowhere,” she said.

  “Okay, I surrender, have fun and tell your lovely mother hello, and happy birthday. She doing good?”

  “She seems to be doing great, yes.”

  “Anything aside from the party planned?” Donald asked.

  “Actually, one thing,” Cassie said. “I got a call from an attorney out there. There’s something about a will and me in it for a gentleman that passed away, a man I used to love talking to when I was just a kid and still living there. Strange, huh?”

  “Intriguing,” Donald said, raising his eyebrows in a way that made Cassie laugh. “Maybe you’ll become an instant millionaire.”

  “Then I could possibly make a dent in all the repairs to the hotel,” Cassie retaliated. Then she started laughing and looked at her watch. “I don’t really think that some storybook event like that would ever happen in my life, Donald. But I’ve got to go so I can get to the airport.”

  Sitting at the airport, waiting for her flight to be called, Cassie couldn’t help but think about Avalon Bay and all the memories her home town evoked in her. It was the place she’d had fun with, was sad to leave after her father had died of prostate cancer back when she was fourteen. That seemed so long ago, almost like another time.

  Her mother Kathleen, ridden with grief and having no family of her own in the area save her brother-in-law William, upped sticks and moved to the east coast to Staten Island, New York to be close to her sister Margaret and her husband Harold Byrnes. At the time, Cassie had been devastated, first at losing her father and then at leaving all she’d known behind and moving so far away. But her mother found it too painful to be surrounded by so many memories of her late husband so she thought it would do them both good to start afresh. Her mother had told her, “Cassie, you have a tried and true spirit. I know you’ll transition quite easily to city life.” And she had, throwing herself into the challenge of a new neighborhood and school with her normal gusto.

  Now, her mother Kathleen and her Aunt Margaret were both residents of Avalon Bay, owning and operating a small café together, and each determined to enjoy life on their terms, both being widowers now. They were like two peas in a pod, almost like twins.

  Six weeks ago when she’d flew out for a quick visit thanks to a great airfare sale, she’d run into Mr. Gallagher at the local craft market. It was the first time she’d seen him in almost fourteen years, but as they chatted the years seemed to fall away. He was charismatic and despite being a bit slower because he was in his nineties, he was as feisty as she recalled him being as a child.

  “You should move back here to Avalon Bay, Cassie. We need young, inspirational people like you around here, not just a bunch of old men like me,” he’d said, squeezing her hand and giving a soft, croaky laugh.

  “Well, I love my job in Manhattan, Mr. Gallagher, so I think we’ll have to settle for visits.”

  “What is it that you do?”

  “I’m the Assistant General Manager of the Royal Oak Hotel,” she said.

  “I’ve stayed there a few times. Lovely place,” he said.

  She’d gone on to talk about her job and her love for the hotel industry. He kept asking questions, making her laugh at their whimsical nature.

  “What would your ideal dream be?” he asked.

  She laughed, but answered honestly. “To own my own hotel, I guess, but I don’t see that ever happening so I’m going to shoot for being a GM at one.”

  “Always believe in your dreams, Cassie. Never let them go,” he’d said. “Why don’t you come out to the ranch tomorrow and bring your mother and aunt with you. Richard would be delighted to see you after all these years and to see what a beautiful young lady you’ve grown into.”

  “I’d love to, Mr. Gallagher, but I’m flying back to New York in the morning.”

  “Well, next time you’re here then.”

  “It’s a date,” she’d replied happily. And that had been the last time she’d seen him. Three weeks later he’d gone to bed one night and never woke up.

  She couldn’t imagine why he’d include her in his will. So mysterious, she thought. Still, she’d find out soon enough.

  AVALON BAY

  Although less than an hour’s drive from San Jose International Airport, Avalon Bay was a coastal treasure that felt as if it were worlds away from any big city. As Cassie got nearer, she enjoyed the stark differences between the scenery compared to the cities. She saw lazy sheep meadows, vast expanses of golden grazing cattle fields, and clapboard cattle ranches. So different, but still so interesting to her. These things were a part of who she was.

  On the outskirts of town, she noticed an attractively built new house that had a sign that read: Created and Custom Built by Gallagher Construction.

  A small chime sounded out and she looked at the clock. 5:00 on the dot. That bell had always rung at 5 PM every single day, in remembrance of some event from the past, although she couldn’t recall what at that specific moment.

  Cassie drove through the main street where she passed small art galleries, arts and craft shops, the general store, various offices and small restaurants and turned up into a small street of pastel painted cottages. She parked in the side driveway of her mother’s and aunt’s home, grabbed her suitcase from the rental car’s trunk, and walked up to the front steps of the home, taking out her key. She knew that they’d still be at the café for another hour, at least, so she let herself in, eager to relax. For something as non-taxing as a plane ride, it always tired Cassie out a bit when she made the cross-country trek.

  Taking advantage of a glass of Merlot wine and the fragrant scent of the begonias that lined the front porch, Cassie sat back and enjoyed the fresh, slightly salty air. There was something so calming about the scent of a coastal town like Avalon Bay, a place that had managed to stay relatively vibrant despite the other flailing coastal towns when the economy had taken a downturn.

  Cassie’s thoughts drifted off to Mr. Gallagher and the will, so curious about it. She’d wait to call Philip Grady in the morning, as it was already early evening. For that night, it was relax and chat with her mother and aunt when they got back to their home.

  The Gallagher’s assets were well known and highly sought out by many people from across the country, even the world. They owned a dairy farm and ranch of over 250 acres of stunning open pasture land rolling upward from the sandstone cliffs of the Pacific coast—cliffs that were sculpted by weather and wind into unique and picturesque forms. The ranch also comprised of a mile of ocean frontage accessing the best abalone picking and fishing on the Coast. The ranch was renowned for producing outstanding cheeses and other dairy products. She presumed his grandson Richard would inherit it now.

  Just as the sun began to set over the bay her mother and aunt arrived home.

  “Cassie, how wonderful to see you,” her mother said as she bent down and wrapped her in her arms, kissing the top of her head.

  “Well, it couldn’t have come at a better time. Work is crazy,” Cassie said. “It’s
great to have you back here so I have reasons to come visit.”

  “Just move back here then, problem solved,” her mother said. Cassie could see that she was only half kidding.

  “Another glass of Merlot, Cassie?” asked Aunt Margaret.

  “Certainly not, Maggie,” her mother admonished. “I put a bottle of bubbly in the fridge this morning to celebrate Cassie’s home coming.”

  “Ah, well done, Kathleen, I’ll fetch it now,” she said as she bustled off to the kitchen.

  Cassie was amused. She’d been gone six weeks and her mother spoke like she was a soldier returning from war, gone for several years, not several weeks.

  “How was the trip?” her mother asked, sitting down and leaning in toward her.

  “Fine, but I’m exhausted. I hope nothing is planned for this evening.”

  “No, we thought you’d be tired, so we’ll just have a light supper and early night, if that’s all right with you.”

  “Couldn’t be more perfect, Mom. Thank you.”

  Her Aunt Maggie came back with the bubbly and the three toasted and started to laugh. Kathleen could tell that something was on her daughter’s mind and eventually asked her what it was.

  “Is everything okay, dear? You were here not that long ago, and while I’m happy to have you here, of course, I just want to make sure you’re well.”

  “Well, I got a curious phone call the other day,” Cassie said.

  “Who from?” her mother asked.

  “Philip Grady.”

  “Philip Grady, the lawyer in town?” asked Aunt Maggie.

  “Yes,” Cassie said, enjoying the surprise on their faces.

  “What on earth did he want?” Kathleen asked.

  “Well, he wants to talk about Mr. Gallagher’s will.”

  “Mr. Gallagher’s will,” both women said in unison, as they sat looking at her in astonishment. They reminded Cassie of the Doublemint Twins that used to be on commercials.