Free The Texas Millionaire's Runaway Wife by Mary Malcolm Page B

for the Freemont area. Last week, he’d gotten the last signature to acquire the buildings. The developer had been lined up since the beginning and Stephen needed only to sign over the paperwork and the job would be done.
    It felt nice. Secure, even, to finish out these projects. He turned on his computer and let it power up as he penciled in plans for the rest of the day.
    He had to do one thing before anything else. Something he’d thought about since talking to Cassie yesterday. He wasn’t just a stand-in figure at Magnolia Bransford. Growing up, he had an autistic cousin. Watching his family deal with it was the biggest reason Stephen helped grow Magnolia Bransford into what it became. And he knew from experience that the years Annie went without help would only set her back.
    As incredible as Magnolia Bransford was, Stephen knew what Cassie had no way to know...it wasn’t enough. It took a few phone calls, but he got everything lined up. Family counselors, therapists, play counselors, even a sitter who specialized with autistic children to give Liz some time away.
    Liz and Annie were all Cassie talked about when she wasn’t talking about baking. It was cruel to take away her bakery, but he knew what his world was like. It’s why he had wanted to protect her from it for a while, at least. The whole reason he’d asked her to keep their relationship secret.
    Normally he’d have Gayle make the plans, but Annie wasn’t due to start at Magnolia Bransford for another few weeks. This was personal so for once, he did it himself.
    Hanging up the phone, everything set, Stephen worked through the e-mail in his inbox.
    The front door chimed and he assumed Gayle would settle her things then come talk to him about his schedule. A knock at the door startled him. He glanced at the monitor, but the angle wasn’t right to see who was there. Definitely not Gayle. Though, there was something familiar about the silhouette of the woman.
    “Come in.” He pressed his hand close to the silent alarm as he waited.
    A small, delicate looking hand pushed open the door followed by a woman he’d hoped never to see again. “Tatiana,” he said in surprise ripe in his voice, “What are you doing here?”
    “Stephen, we need to talk.”
    ****
    After Cassie made arrangements at Just Desserts for Graciella to take over for the short term, she headed to Liz’s house. It was time to fess up. She wasn’t giving up the bakery, but neither would she be doing the thing she loved most in the world, so she had to let her sister know what was going on.
    Only, when she saw her sister, she couldn’t. Liz used to be the most vibrant, most beautiful person Cassie knew. Golden blonde hair, shiny light blue eyes, she had flawless creamy skin and always walked with a bit of a bounce. Now, her hair was faded, never styled, and there was no shine in her eyes. She didn’t spend as much time in the sun anymore, either—Annie had light sensitivity issues—so Liz’s skin now had a slightly grayish pallor and she walked with a shuffle.
    All in all, she’d lost her former glory, or at least the shine she once had. It would be cruel to put more on her plate. Cassie loved Liz more than anyone in this world. She would never add to her burden. So instead she suggested they drink tea and relax.
    They’d scarcely settled in for a cup when the front door chimed. Annie took that moment to knock over the teapot. “You clean up, Liz. I’ll get it,” Cassie said, already out of her seat.
    At the door, a man dressed in a tie and a navy blue windbreaker held a package out to her. “Liz Eden?”
    “No,” Cassie said, “I’m her sister.”
    “That’s fine, sign here.”
    At the kitchen table Cassie worked a knife under the flap.
    “Cassie, who was at the door?” Liz asked from across the counter.
    Cassie pulled the corrugated box open and picked at the stubborn pieces that kept her from peering inside. “A courier. Were you expecting anything?”
    “No. But