Callie Endicott - A Father For The Twins

Perhaps this was Cassie Bryant’s attempt to salvage Glen’s future after life with a difficult mother, but he was only thirteen and should grow up to make his own choices.

“I see.” Adam controlled the impulse to say she shouldn’t put such rigid expectations on any kid; it wasn’t his place, even if he disagreed with her. Besides, he knew little about the situation. “College and medical school cost a great deal.”

His comment may have hit home since Cassie began digging her fingernails into the palm of her hand. He realized she was pretty in an understated way, though she’d made no attempt to jazz herself up. To him, a huge part of a woman’s beauty came from attitude—an inner something that made him sit up and take notice. He didn’t know about Cassie—it was as if she was concealing herself behind a carefully constructed mask.

“I know it’s expensive,” she said at length. “I’ve started a savings account for both their educations.”

“They might not need it if they become successful as models. By the time Tiffany and Glen graduate high school, they could have enough in their trust funds to pursue a career of their choosing.” Adam hadn’t been able to keep the emphasis off their , but Cassie didn’t seem to notice. “And this is one of the few options they have at this age to work,” he added.

“I don’t know if he’ll be interested,” she said, “but I’ll discuss it with him.”

At least that was more than Adam’s parents would have been willing to consider.

“Why don’t you talk to Glen right now?” he suggested.

Cassie’s mouth tightened and he wondered how she’d present the idea to her nephew. Positively or in a way that would make it appear unattractive? Glen was an engaging adolescent who might have an opportunity to make a decent amount of money; Adam hoped his aunt would play fair.

Half an hour later, she returned. “Tiffany is excited, which is no surprise, and Glen wants to think about it.”

Adam had an impulse to speak with Glen himself, to ensure the youngster had been adequately informed about the possibilities. But that was a knee-jerk reaction to his parents’ plan for his life. Having this particular problem with objectivity wasn’t something he’d anticipated in his decision to become an agent. He and his partners had weekly bull sessions where they discussed issues, so he should bring it up at the next one.

Adam continued questioning Cassie on various details, including the kids’ health and whether their father might prove an issue in the future.

Cassie shook her head at the last question about Tiffany and Glen’s father. “He’s married and doesn’t know about the twins. I hate to admit it, but Marie was one of those women who thought he was going to leave his wife for her, when he simply wanted fun on the side.”

“You sound cynical,” Adam observed.

Cassie stuck out her chin, seeming defiant. “Maybe I am, about love and relationships, at least.”

“Then you aren’t planning to marry in the near future.”

Her eyes opened wide. “Do you need to know that to represent my niece and nephew?”

“I’m sorry, of course not,” he apologized. “Frankly, I’m still working out exactly how being an agent is supposed to go. You know that I’m fairly new to this side of talent representation?”

“Yes,” she acknowledged, relaxing slightly into her chair. “I’ve done research on Moonlight Ventures. You and your partners might not have a huge amount of experience as agents right now, but you have contacts and name recognition. I imagine it will more than compensate.”

“I’m glad you feel that way.”

* * *

CASSIE HAD ALMOST told Adam Wilding he could take his personal questions and eat them for lunch. His apology and disarming explanation had eased the moment and she was glad she hadn’t given in to the temptation.

As much checking as she’d done, she wasn’t sure whether a talent agent needed to know a lot about clients and their family. An employer couldn’t ask certain details, but an agent obviously needed to have a different connection with a client. And she had to be careful because it was best for Tiffany and Glen if she wasn’t antagonistic toward the man who could play a significant role in their immediate future.

However, she shouldn’t be overly trusting. Adam Wilding and his partners hoped to make money on Glen and Tiffany. That didn’t make them bad people, but money wasn’t the only thing that was important; she wanted her niece and nephew to have full, balanced lives.

“From my research, I understand you don’t have a family,” she ventured.

Adam glanced up from the computer where he’d been entering information. “No. Why?”

“It just means you may also lack experience dealing with kids, but I suppose you don’t necessarily need it to be an effective agent.”

He gave her another one of the smiles that must have won him plenty of modeling contracts in the past. “I don’t believe so. In any case, experience with your own children is completely different than dealing with them in the business world.”

“True.”

She wondered what Adam’s views were on marriage. The research she’d done on Moonlight Ventures and its partners suggested he’d been linked with a number of beautiful women, though no one serious since his fiancée’s death years earlier. Her hidden romantic side wanted to speculate that he was still nursing a broken heart, but logic said the truth was probably much more prosaic...not to mention it was none of her business. Did all women turn into hopeless daydreamers when they met Adam Wilding?

“No one is going to release information about us, are they?” she asked, forcing her mind into the moment. “Such as where we live and other details?”

“The agency has strict confidentiality rules. We have security procedures in place to be sure that only legitimate employers can look at photos of our underage clients. Even then, we just post name and age. No other personal data is placed on a computer connected to the internet, so you don’t need to be concerned about hackers. Nonetheless, I can’t guarantee that someone in the media won’t get curious about you as the twins’ guardian or want to know more about them beyond their official biography. Especially if they become well known.”

Cassie winced involuntarily.

Her carefully cultivated privacy might be at an end. Of course, she could torpedo the whole project, but that didn’t seem fair to her niece and nephew. Any money they earned would be a big help toward college expenses.

Glen had become a demon researching which universities to attend and had been talking about top schools in different parts of the country. Out-of-state tuition was high and there were no guarantees he’d get a scholarship. Though Tiffany’s ambitions were less established, having a nest egg would help, whether she stayed in modeling or decided to do something else.

Adam leaned forward in his chair. “How soon do you think Glen will decide if he’s interested?”

“Probably by tonight. If so, I’ll call the agency in the morning. He doesn’t procrastinate, but he’s mature for his age and wants to weigh the pros and cons.”

“And Tiffany?”

Cassie shrugged. “She already knows what she wants. Tiff is a love. She’s also smart and has a good sense of humor. While she was nervous before coming in today, she’s over that.”

“Then I’ll draw up a representation agreement for her and one for Glen, in case he says yes. They should be ready in a few days.”

“I’ll have my godfather check them over. I don’t mean to sound suspicious—”

“You sound careful,” Adam returned. “It’s nice that you aren’t tearing into this like a stereotypical stage, er, aunt .”