His younger brother, Matthew, followed more slowly. He was an inch taller than Roarke and filled with bulky muscle from his days as a linebacker playing college football. “Get ready for the drama,” he warned with a roll of his eyes.
Cassidy dropped onto her heels and ignored Matthew’s comment. A breathless flurry of words rushed from her mouth. “You’re not going to believe this. I can’t get in touch with the wedding planner. She should have been here at eight o’clock this morning. Eight, Roarke. It’s now”—she glanced at her watch—“eight thirty. Eight thirty. Where is she? What if something happened to her? What am I going to do? I don’t—”
“Cassidy.” If he didn’t stop her now, she would have a complete meltdown. Her behavior was partially his fault. He became her legal guardian at the age of eighteen. As the only girl and the youngest, he’d always given in to her theatrics and tried to fix all her problems, and she expected him to do the same right now. He steeled himself for the pre-wedding melodrama and tried to defuse the situation. He placed a hand on either side of her face. “Calm. Down.”
Cassidy took several deep, quivering breaths. “I’m sorry. I’m just so nervous. Everything has to be perfect.” She gnawed the corner of her upper lip.
“No, it doesn’t,” Roarke said, keeping his voice calm and steady. “Even if it’s not, it’ll be fine. Got it?” She continued to gnaw on her lip and nodded her head. At least he was getting through to her. “The wedding’s not until tomorrow night. Give it another thirty minutes, and if Sheila doesn’t call or isn’t here by then, we’ll call her, okay?”
Cassidy nodded vigorously. Crisis averted.
“Thank you for everything, Roarke.”
Cassidy wrapped her arms around his torso and pressed her cheek to his chest. He enveloped her in his arms. Her words of gratitude were about more than today. Everyone said he’d sacrificed so much, but he never saw it that way.
After his father passed away in a plane crash and it was discovered his lover was on the same flight, their mother withdrew into herself and within months died of a heart attack. Older family members insisted she died of a broken heart.
Roarke hadn’t taken the time to analyze the whys and wherefores. With his younger siblings now orphans, and as the oldest, he’d felt a responsibility to do what he could to make sure they remained emotionally healthy. The original plan had been to have them move in with family since his first year at MIT would soon start. Instead, Cassidy and Matthew begged to be with their older brother. He rented an apartment, and the two moved up to Massachusetts to live with him. At the age of eighteen, he became a full-time student and the legal guardian of his younger siblings.
“You’re welcome, princess. I’m just happy we found someone who would put up with you.”
She smiled up at him. “Me, too.”
Breakfast consisted of Roarke’s pecan pancakes and Matthew’s “famous” loaded omelets filled with cheese, sausage, ham, and sautéed onions, green peppers, and mushrooms. Matthew and Cassidy sat at the breakfast bar, while Roarke stood on the opposite side.
Matthew mussed his sister’s hair. “I can’t believe you tricked poor Antonio into marrying you.”
Cassidy smoothed her hair back into place and cut her eyes at her older brother. “I didn’t trick him. He loves me.”
“Yeah, until he realizes you have no intention of learning how to cook.”
“Did you miss the part where I said he loves me?”
“You know how those island men are.” Matthew shoveled food into his mouth.
“I know all you care about is feeding your face, but Antonio’s not the same. Besides,” Cassidy smirked, “he’s not concerned about my cooking in the kitchen. It’s my cooking in the—”
“Whoa, whoa!” Matthew dropped his fork. “Slow your roll. I’m not trying to hear that.”
“Please keep any cooking outside of the kitchen to yourself,” Roarke added.
Cassidy shook her head. “The two of you are ridiculous. How many times have I listened to you brag about your conquests? I’m twenty-three. I’m getting married. It’s not like I’m still a virgin. I—”