Woody put his hands up in a submissive gesture while grinning. 'Sorry, mate, she only sprung it on me tonight too. I knew nothing about it.'

Kayden's reaction might have seemed polite to those who didn't know him but by the pressure Cassie felt as his grip tightened as he controlled himself, she knew better.

'Woody has commitments, Ella; he knows a few days are simply out of the question. The resort is a little too far for him to get back quickly if I need him home. In saying that, I'm sure you and he will try and work out a compromise.'

Ella touched Kayden on the arm. 'I'm sure you could manage for a couple of days without him, Kaydie darling. It would be easier if I knew what you two do over there. I could send you some paid help to replace him.' She spoke sweetly.

Kayden smiled politely, taking her hand off his arm and patting it before letting her go. 'You know it's not something I care to discuss, Ella. Good try though.'

She glared at Cassie. 'I bet your playmate knows,' she said in annoyance and waved her hand in a huffy, dismissive gesture. 'Have your little secrets,' she said, walking off irritably.

Woody was embarrassed. 'Sorry she's in a bit of a mood tonight. A few drinks and she'll settle down.'

'Don't apologise for her, Woody. It's exactly that feistiness that appeals to you, right. Well, in the bedroom anyway.'

'Cassie,' he said, laughing. He got that she was kidding with him but wow, she had it right.

Kayden was laughing too as Jason came to join them, wanting to know what was so funny. When Kayden told him, he laughed so loud Cassie thought he was going to bring everyone over.

'I've scratched my head for months trying to work out what the hell he sees in her and goddamn it if Cassie hasn't found the answer within five minutes of meeting her,' Jason remarked.

Woody was still grinning and put his arm around Cassie. 'You're too aware for your own good, young lady. Now, I better go find my livewire and get her drunk.' He winked and followed Ella inside.

Jason brought Cassie and Kayden another drink. They went and sat in the gazebo while she heard stories about the cold-hearted Ella. Ethan brought his new girlfriend over to meet Cassie and joined in. After a while she noticed Jason didn't have a woman in tow, hanging off him like the others did.

'Your girlfriend was unable to come tonight?'

'My type of female doesn't frequent nice parties like this,' he laughed. 'I prefer the fun without the commitment. These girls here all know the drill. If I want someone, I'll choose one at the end of the night. Or not.' He watched to see if it shocked Cassie. It reminded her of the first time she had met him and how he had acted so excited when he thought she was a whore. She smiled, realising what he meant.

'Then you should have brought a couple of your ladies of the night to this party. It might have been fun to see Ella's face, seeing as they dress just as she does,' she giggled.

Kayden took her drink, laughing. 'That's enough for you, young lady. Woody wouldn't be impressed if he heard you put his Ella into their category.'

Jason passed Cassie his. 'It's okay, Cassie. You can drink mine. I'm loving you tonight, girl.' He kept laughing.

Conor and Ethan saw them having fun and wandered over with their women who had latched themselves to them. They were very sweet and glowed when given attention; nevertheless they didn't seem that interested. The two females were good friends and chatted for a while between themselves, then went to the powder room together. Jason threw an arm around them both and walked with them inside, reappearing back outside again within minutes, holding another bottle of rum. When he returned, he squeezed back next to Cassie, finding her far more entertaining than anyone else there tonight.

'What did I miss?' he smiled, filling up their glasses again.

Cassie laughed at his fun attitude. 'I was just wondering why we had a party when we're all out here together under the gazebo on our own again.'

Jason pinched her cheek gently. 'Because we would sooner just be with you, silly.'

Conor and Ethan toasted Jason, confirming he was right.

'But why agree to the girls and this?' she gestured to the guests.

'For you, so you didn't feel overpowered by us blokes,' Conor said, grinning. 'It must be hard for you only having guys around you all the time.'

'And here I was worried about the opposite, thinking you must miss not having a woman around.' She rolled her eyes.

'We have one: our new little sister,' Jason grinned. 'When we need a woman in that way, we just disappear. You'll get used to us.'

'So, Woody must need a woman in that way because he hasn't come back. Is that what you mean?' she asked earnestly and they all burst out laughing.

'I think she's got it,' Kayden said as he refilled their shot glasses again.

A funky song came on so Jason and Cassie started singing it together and jumping around dancing. When it finished, she plonked down next to Kayden, laughing. 'I think I've drunk too much all ready. You better drink mine if you want me to last the night,' she said, handing him her full glass.

Kayden was enjoying her as much as the men were and never did take that drink of hers. Or the next, or the next. They continued drinking and ended up playing cards until the wee hours of the morning. Cassie's glass of rum seemed like a bottomless pit that someone kept filling before she'd even finished it. Her concentration was trashed, so she and Jason were close to even although neither of them were considering giving in. The other players kept sculling nips of rum while the crowd around them became more boisterous and the game kept going. They had two hands left when Woody came downstairs to see what the racket was all about. Seemingly annoyed with the state she was in, he growled at Kayden for allowing the game to go on, enticing Cassie to get so drunk.

'One more hand, Woodsta, then we stop. I have to win,' Cassie slurred.

Jason tried to explain to Woody that the bet was for Cassie to give them all a back massage, insisting that she had to stay for them to win this hand. They were hardly making sense and kept making Cassie laugh. Woody took the drink off her, sculling it himself and replacing it with a coffee. She took a sip of the strong brew and the room started to swim, so that was it for her. 'I'm out, guys. Can't spin and play at the same time,' she moaned.

Getting up was more difficult. Slithering down the pillar, she grabbed Woody, who only just caught her. 'She's bloody paro. Who's been making those drinks?'

The guy that made them 'fessed up. 'We were just trying to help your boys, man,' he said, and Jason and Ethan tried to high-five each other, missing hands completely.

'That's real mature, Jason,' Woody said. 'Kayden, get up and look after your woman.' Kayden stood up and came over to help with Cassie. He was a goner as well. Jason and Ethan both passed out on the table leaving Conor to help sort out Cassie and Kayden.

He put his arm around Kayden. 'I'll take the boss, you grab the girl,' he slurred at Woody.

'We'll take them up to the guest room,' Conor suggested and Woody nodded.

Conor and Kayden staggered up in front of them and as Cassie neared the top of the stairs, she felt suddenly ill.

'I think I'm going to throw up, Woodsta.'

'Shit, Cassie. You sure?'

'Yep!'

He grunted and made a detour to the bathroom. When he came back for her, she had just started splashing her face and gargling with mouthwash. Even that made her dry retch. He frowned, seeing the shape she was in and suggested a walk.

'No! You have your girlfriend here. Don't be silly. I'll be fine.' Standing up with some scrap of dignity left, she tried to make it to the door but Woody caught her again as she stumbled. 'I'm fine, Woodsta. Your dream date is waiting. Just take me to Kayden.'

'You're too far gone to go to sleep yet. Damn those guys! Jeez, I leave any of them for five minutes and they are up to no good.'

'They're incorrigible but I love 'em,' she slurred.

'Well, your boyfriend's no better. He should have been watching you.'

'Woodsta, he's my boyfriend but he doesn't own me. I have to learn for myself. Go play nice with your friend. I'm fine really,' she mumbled, thinking he understood.

'You don't need to learn how to become a bloody alcoholic, Cassie. None of us expects you to drink like this. You only need just enough to get happy and then you have to learn to stop.'

She nodded as he walked her down the stairs and out the front door. They walked for a very long time down a path before turning back. She was starting to walk better and her head wasn't nearly as fuzzy.

'Thanks, Woodsta. You're a real sweetie,' she said without the slur. It felt good to feel a little normal again.

He stopped and lifted her head to the moonlight. 'Wow, not only are you looking better but I could actually understand all you said that time. What possessed you to drink so much, Cassie? I've watched you and you always know when to stop. What's eating you up?'

She sucked in a gulp of air, thinking about this afternoon. 'Kayden explained to me today that I'm different from other girls. You know, immortal like you guys. Your girlfriend Ella; she looked at me as if I was a freak and I felt like one. I'll never again be normal like she is. Against her, I felt so insignificant, plain and inadequate. I was angry with myself for feeling like that so I kept drinking to make me forget. I'm no princess anymore, Woodsta. I used to have the prettiest clothes, shoes and makeup. Once I could have stood next to someone like Ella and felt an equal. I'm so sorry, I don't mean to hang it on your friend but it just made me remember and I feel so stupid now I've sobered up.' Cassie watched the change in his expression. 'You're disappointed in me, aren't you?'

'Cassie, I'm not disappointed. I just didn't know you missed the dressing up bit. You never seem to worry and I never thought it might be a part of who you are. I never gave it consideration that there might be a part of your life that you did enjoy and miss. At the casino I remember now how perfect you looked with your uniform on and not a hair out of place. Sometimes boys can be so insensitive.' He ran a hand through his hair, pausing to find the right words. 'Sweetie, we have more money than you can poke a stick at and you only have to ask us and you can have anything you want. You shouldn't ever be made to feel inferior to anyone. I'll organise our designer to pay you a visit. Cass, you are our family now, the little sister we never had. Now I know how, can you please let us spoil you just a little in return for the joy you give us?'

She pulled him down and kissed his cheek. 'You are all so terribly sweet and that was just selfish of me to want more. Then again, if you're offering, maybe a couple of nice girlie dresses to wear to your parties would be more than enough and really appreciated. But I would like to work the cost of them off somehow. You know, maybe teach you how to play cards or something,' she stirred.

He laughed and gave her a hug. 'Whatever makes you happy, Cass. But it's not necessary.'

'Yes, I know but I want to and I promise I've learned my lesson about the alcohol and won't be so stupid next time.' They walked back to the house, arm-in-arm. She looked up to Woody like the brother she never had and felt closer to him at this moment than she had ever thought possible. It was as if they had formed an unspoken bond. It was nice to have such a good mate who saw her at her worst yet still cared.

He took her to Kayden and pulled back the covers while she got in. He kissed her head as he covered her up.

Kayden felt her and holding her gently, cuddling in. 'I missed you, sweetheart,' he whispered.

Cassie looked back up at Woody. 'Sweet dreams, Cassie.' He grinned caringly as he went out and closed the door. She felt so much better and happier now and went to sleep dreaming about pretty clothes.

Next day while having breakfast, Cassie looked outside at the weather. It was a lovely sunny day and not one to sit around, Cassie took Kayden's hand and dragged him outside. Grinning, she pointed to the trail bikes in the shed. 'Never been on one. Feel like some fun?'

Kayden shook his head as his men joined them, inquisitive to see what she had spotted that was so urgent.

'Unless you sooky la-la's want to stay home and play nursemaid to your hangovers,' she stirred them They were all bright-eyed and itching to be out there. She could see it on their faces.

'Well, I'm in. What about you lot?' Kayden asked hearing no answer. They had already started pulling them out, arguing about who was going to take which one. As the dirt bikes roared into life, Cassie started to shake with nerves and excitement.

'You okay, sweetheart?' Kayden asked as he cuddled her.

'Just nervous-excited.'

They went for miles. The bush kept changing from thick trees and scrub to just a few sparse bushes. The only thing that didn't change was the red dirt that flew up around them. They found some sand dunes and that was the best fun of all. The fine red dust puffed around them in a cloud, making visibility difficult but not once did it deter the riders. They slipped and slid their bikes up and down the mounds, barely missing each other. Cassie squealed and laughed, enjoying every bit with the skylarking daredevils.

Arriving home, the majority of the dirt was hosed off. The rest of it washed off as they threw each other into the pool. Afterwards, they sipped wine and chatted while the bubbles in the spa did their job. There was a real bond of friendship forming. Cassie was becoming a part of them all, feeling them as they did her.

Later, lounging on the deck, Cassie asked Woody what he was still doing here. 'Aren't you meant to be on your way to Cable Beach Resort with Ella?' The minute she said it she wished she could have retracted it. The mood of the group changed as soon as the words left her mouth. Everyone stopped eating and looked at Woody.

Kayden frowned. 'Actually I hadn't given it any further thought as I would have laid a bet this was just another one of Ella's ploys to pull us apart, man. Are you really going to see this nonsense through?' Kayden asked with a serious, boss-like tone.

Jason could not help himself. 'What, you're not serious? You're really going to take off? What happens if we get a call out? Jeez, Woody mate, Ella hates us. Get involved with her kind and you can kiss what you do with us goodbye.'

'Shut up, Jason,' Woody growled. 'You don't know what you're talking about.'

Kayden intervened. 'Woody, it is your life and we can't stop you if you choose another path except Jason is right! I saw the look she gave Cassie last night: utter contempt. I won't have her around upsetting our balance.'

'So you're the only one who can have a girl fulltime. That's so much bullshit, Kayden.'

'There are girlfriends and then there other types of girlfriends who just want you as a possession. She has so much power over you already, what do you think will happen when she has you reeled in, hook, line and sinker?'

Woody's knuckles where white with anger.

Cassie started this argument and was determined to try and turn it around to give Woody a chance to see the real Ella. 'Woodsta, her world is far different from your sweet self. You are tall and handsome. The stereotype, women like her go for; however not as an equal but as a pet by her side. She'll make you so excited to be with her that you won't see the clouds for the stars until it is too late. Once she has you, the sex will turn off. Next thing you'll just mope around her waiting to do anything she asks to get back what you once had. After she has taken away your confidence and spirit, she will then take on a lover and it will destroy every bit of manhood you had left. I've seen this happen firsthand with my own sweet mother. I know you don't want to hear this but you, my handsome friend, are far too good for a woman like her. You're too close and wrapped up to tame Ella, to make her fall fully in love with you and accept you for all you are.' Cassie sighed, feeling his sadness but also his need. 'The only way it would be different is if she saw what you really did. A woman like her needs to feel you are above her, yet your laws prevent her ever being told what you do. On the other hand, let's say you did choose another path to be with her. I don't know how you can make her proud of you while working say, in her daddy's business when he's still the boss and you're just the employee.'

He had his head down.

'Woody.' Jason made him look up at him. 'There is only one way to find out if she's the real deal, man. Go, but with your eyes open this time. Turn off the gushy damned sex for a couple of days and just be with her. Talk to her, have fun and see if she is really what you want. You have to work out, bro if she means more to you than all us. Find out for all our sakes because she's an absolute pain to be around lately.'

'He's right, Woody,' Kayden said. 'She's even started to piss me off the way she's demanding to know more. Try as I do, I don't trust her and you have to have been around long enough to see through an act. You deal with that every time we travel through the portal. All I will add is that if you go and I call, then you'd better be back here double time or don't bother coming back at all. I'll know you've made your bed and best of luck to you.' He had an irritable tone to his voice.

Woody stood up, just as angry, ready to give Kayden a mouthful and then snapped his mouth closed and stomped back into the house to throw some clothes in an overnight bag and left.

None of the guys attempted to follow him in or buck up at what Kayden had said. She could feel they were just as disappointed in Woody as Kayden was although the look Kayden flung at them, daring any of them to support their friend, was enough to shut anyone up. He would have told them to go with him being in the mood he was in, and they knew it.

Tension was thick in the air. Even so, Cassie refused to let Ella spoil a day that had been one of her best days ever. The trail bikes had been an absolute blast. She jumped up. 'Come on, guys, do we really need Woody to have fun? Let's go play some cards and get drunk, seeing as the big guy's not here to growl at us tonight.'

She tugged at Kayden until he stood up and let her drag him inside. The boys followed, even though their hearts weren't in it. Cassie didn't care; she was determined to take their minds off it one way or another.

Conor went to the cellar and dragged out more wine. This was poured out while the hands where dealt. Only this time, Cassie let them win, acting like a ditsy blond girl. They started having fun with her daft behaviour and even though they knew she was letting them win, they needed silliness to cheer them up. She started to get very tipsy, only this time she slowed right down like Woody had told her to, keeping her head in the game. It was hard though because of the fun she was having.

'Let's play strip poker,' she giggled, thinking that that would make it even more fun. Now, I'll start wining. She grinned mischievously to herself knowing the thoughts of Woody still gnawed away at them and the men just needed some entertainment. Hell, we all do. She had to think of something totally mind-blowing to stop them thinking for just a while.

Kayden held her face in his hands. 'You are so very cheeky, honey. We will play your game, only because it's our turn to amuse you for a while,' he laughed, knowing she wouldn't lose a scrap of clothing herself if she started to play for real.

Cassie picked up the cards and shuffled. 'Okay, here's the deal. The loser takes a piece of clothing off. Once you get down to the jocks, you nominate someone else to strip. That way it will keep us half decent,' she said as she dealt the first hand.

What came next was a real surprise and very, very sneaky. The men all conspired against her and Conor lost every hand and started nominating her.

'Kayden he's cheating!' she winged, and giggled as she removed her top.

He just smiled but in his eyes she could tell he was enjoying himself far too much to stop the game just yet. He was so naughty but she had started it and even though it had backfired, she was enjoying flirting with him and watching the fun he was having. Conor lost again and they started clapping for her to remove her skirt.

'This is so not fair,' she laughed. 'You guys are in so much trouble after this game's over. You know I'll get you back.'

Jason roared, laughing at her. 'It will be well worth it, girl. Now get your gear off,' he said teasingly.

She stood and turned up the music, slowly dancing as she unzipped her skirt. She let it drop before seductively sitting on Kayden's lap and hugging him.

He lifted her in his arms as he stood up. 'Show's over, boys.' He started heading with her to the stairs. 'Come, my lovely, the fun is only just beginning.'

'You are so right about that, boss,' Jason said as the three of them sprung at them, snatching her out of his arms and running outside to jump in the pool with her. Kayden had no choice but to give in and jump in to save her. They wrestled and struggled until they where spent and sobered up somewhat. She could see they were a lot happier again now and over the Woody thing. It was time she relaxed and just enjoyed their company again. They lay in the pool for a long time talking until Kayden saw Cassie yawn and shiver. 'That's it for us, guys, I'm taking my princess to bed.' He heard no argument this time. The boys were just as tired as they were.

It was way past midnight when Cassie finally dried off her hair and flopped into bed. Kayden eased her over to his warm body and cuddled her. 'Thanks for tonight. We really needed you, sweetheart. You came through for all of us.' He rubbed her head gently, soothing her into a deep sleep as he worried silently what he would do if Woody really didn't return.

Missing in Action.