Not What It Seems (Escape to Alaska Trilogy) Read Free

at the conclusion you were engaged?”
    “It never occurred to him that I’d turn down Jonathan’s proposal.” Cassidy continued to pace, hands fisted, temper raging. “Jonathan is such a wonderful catch: partner in a prestigious law firm, secure future. And such a splendid example of manhood would father the most remarkable children. If I married this brilliant lawyer and extraordinary male specimen, Dad’s personal project would be complete.”
    “Cassidy, you’d better sit down or you’re going to pop your aorta.”
    “I’d like to pop Jonathan’s aorta. That sleazy character stole my partnership.” Cassidy unclenched her fists, imagined her hands around the enemy’s scrawny neck.
    “So what’s next?” asked Jeannie, leaping to her feet and guiding Cassidy back behind her desk.
    “I honestly don’t know.” Cassidy slumped in her chair, rubbed her temples, and with a hoarse voice, bitterly whispered, “I worked my fingers to the bone for that partnership, and then my entire future disappeared into thin air with Dad’s announcement.”
    “I can’t imagine anything so horrible.” Jeannie shook his head. “Doesn’t your father realize Jonathan’s a player and a womanizer?”
    “Nope. Jonathan has completely fooled Dad.” Cassidy rested her elbows on the chair arms and tented her fingers. “Dad brushed aside all my hard work, never recognized any of my accomplishments. He’s totally fixated on marrying me off to the first suitable candidate and demanding grandchildren as his due.”
    “Who would consider Jonathan to be a suitable candidate for marriage? An alley cat would win a morals contest with him. And I cannot visualize Jonathan as a father. In fact, the concept frightens me. He’s so incredibly irresponsible. He couldn’t care for a goldfish, never mind care for a child.”
    “Probably kill the goldfish in a matter of days.” Cassidy grinned.
    “He would never remember to water a house plant. Kill it just as quickly.”
    “He could manage to kill a silk plant.”
    Cassidy and Jeannie burst into laughter. Soon, they were wiping tears from their eyes.
    “Goodness that felt good. I can’t remember the last time I spared a moment to laugh.” Cassidy grabbed another tissue from the box inside her top drawer.
    “I never penciled it into your appointment book,” mumbled Jeannie, dabbing her tears, and then she met Cassidy’s eyes.
    That set the two of them off again.
    “To hell with it. Let’s go for a drink.” Cassidy tossed her soiled tissues into the garbage can, dug her handbag out of the bottom drawer, and leapt to her feet.
    “We can’t just walk out of the office at eleven o’clock in the morning and head to a bar,” exclaimed Jeannie, the voice of reason.
    “Why not? Nobody appreciates my hard work, so I might as well go AWOL. Nobody will even miss me.” Cassidy grabbed Jeannie by the arm and dragged her toward the door. “And nobody should drink alone.”
    Four hours later, Cassidy and Jeannie, slurring some of their words, staggered slightly on their way outside to meet the cab that the bartender had called for them. During their drinking spree, they’d formulated a foolproof plan. Now, Cassidy looked forward to an independent future out from under her father’s thumb.
     

 
     
    Chapter 2
     
    Cassidy Donahue breezed through security at the Chicago O’Hare Airport and then strode down the concourse. Her plan just had to work.
    “Please, God, I can’t be too late. Please, please, please.” She whispered the prayer aloud while she raced toward her boarding gate. A wheeled cabin-sized Louis Vuitton canvas suitcase followed her like an obedient puppy.
    Cassidy ignored the maze of travelers and the surrounding airport hubbub and concentrated on her destination. She shuffled along behind an exceptionally tall gentleman for several seconds, and then swerved to the left attempting to slip past him and continue onward. A teenager, head down and furiously texting on