by Debbie Behan
When they sat back on the beach, they buried her in the sand. There was no way she could move so she just had to wait until they were bored without her and pulled her out. ‘That’s no fun,’ Jason said as he dug her out. ‘She can’t talk or laugh when the sand’s packed around her. Forget that stupid game.’
As soon as she was free, she ran to Kayden and just as she nearly got to him, Woody snatched hold of her and sat her back between him and Jason.
‘But that’s not fair,’ she whinged. ‘That punishment was only if you couldn’t be with the girls. It should be nullified now the scribble’s all gone.’
‘So does that mean you’re sorry for what you did to your friends?’ Woody said. ‘Are you actually going to say sorry, Cassie and give in?’ he asked.
‘When hell freezes over maybe,’ she said defiantly.
He put his arm around her. ‘I thought as much. Now, you still have one more penalty facing you, and that is the back massage. This time you’ll be watched, young lady, so no more drawing!’
Jason came back with beers. ‘We need a drink first. Cassie’s worn me out.’
Now I have to watch them all clink their bottles together and the rotten sods all drink to that. This is hardly over yet. She sat planning.
Woody felt her thinking. ‘I wouldn’t, Cassie. If you ever want to be back in your man’s arms again, behave!’ he said firmly.
She glanced over at Kayden and he was lying back comfortably against a log that had been washed up onto the beach, having a drink. He seemed amused that she didn’t give in and was waiting for her to act up again. He looked so inviting with the glow of the moonlight reflecting on his skin that she no longer wanted to play with the boys. She wanted to play with her man. She sighed, knowing she was just prolonging the inevitable. ‘Okay, who’s first for their massage?’ she asked, giving in.
Woody was the last one and when she finished she bent down to his ear. ‘Sorry, handsome. Forgive me,’ she whispered and kissed his cheek.
He rolled over and sat up, giving her a hug. ‘You can make me so frustrated and cranky, yet say four little words and I’m sucked in. I do but I’m not the only one you rattled tonight.’
She went over and knelt behind the others one at a time, whispering a message just for them before kissing them on the cheek as well. Ethan started laughing. ‘You must really want to be with the boss to have given in. Go on, I’ll let you off.’ He grinned and the others nodded.
She collapsed into Kayden’s arms, worn out. She needed to toughen up to be as strong as the guys but she knew Kayden would always be her safe haven.
The night was still young for the night owls so a game of cards was organised.
And me? Well, I need a drink, so agreed.
Chapter Twenty-Six
Just Too Hard
During the evening Cassie laid on the couch for some shut-eye. She had enjoyed her day and fell asleep listening to the guys joke and hang it on each other as they continued the card game. Dawn came and the light shone on her face, waking her. Getting up, she looked about for Kayden. Not finding him inside, she wandered outside, thinking he might already be up and had gone for a morning dip.
When she finally found him he was lying out on the beach and right there was every girl’s nightmare. A woman, although fully dressed, was wrapped in her man’s arms. Her whole body started to tremble as she went to confront him.
He woke, looked up at her and turned to look at the girl in his arms. ‘No, Cassie, it’s not what you think. I don’t know how she ended up here. I must have thought it was you.’
She shook her head in disbelief, unable to control her shaking any longer and she turned and ran out of sight to where she could calm down.
She heard Woody calling out to her as he headed towards her but she put her hand up angrily. He stopped, seeing by look in her eyes she would possibly inflict pain on anyone that came near her or attempted to stop her at that moment. She was so filled with anger!
He had no choice but to let her be until she had calmed down. She heard Woody and Kayden arguing. The chick jumped up, laughing as if it were a big joke. Cassie was so livid about her attitude that she had to really restrain herself from turning and zapping the stupid bitch. She needed to be on her own and didn’t feel up to an argument or lies. In a total trance, she turned her back on them all and the situation that she had no idea how to deal with.
Trudging through the scrub, she ended up at the wharf where a boat was getting ready to leave. The captain was on the deck smoking a pipe and when she asked if he would give her a lift to the mainland, he was very obliging. Most likely he felt sorry for her as she was still shaking uncontrollably and as white as a sheet. As the boat pulled away from the dock, she could see Kayden and the team arguing on the beach.
She watched, not really taking it in until her legs crumbled under her and she sat right where she was until they reached land. She was still numb and apart from the shakes, she told herself that she would get through this deceit.
She hiked back home and walked the long path up to the house. Inside it was cold and uninviting. Walking straight back out again, she decided she might be able to think better if she was with Starburst. Any comfort, other than human, was what she thought she needed. To her disappointment, when she reached the paddock, Tremaine was still there checking on the horses. I’m in no mood for him either! She sighed, changed her mind and detoured around him.
As she walked, her mind went into overdrive. Her past fears of not being worthy of her untrustworthy family and friends all jumbled around in her mind, mixed with the present. She had nowhere to go that she could think of. In her state of mind, she just couldn’t think past putting one foot in front of the other. She was unable to comprehend why Kayden would want another girl in his arms. She thought about their time together, reliving every minute and trying to find a break in the connection somewhere that she should have noticed.
Is it the boys? Is he jealous? Does he want to get back at me for mucking around with them last night? Or is his love all just a con to have me join his team? Her mind went round and round until it felt like it was going to explode.
She finally realised where she was and stumbled around in the brush before finding the lake. She couldn’t get rid of the thought of another woman wrapped in her man’s arms. As she thought it, a stab of pain folded her over and she screamed with the severity of it. She rolled up in a ball, trying to stop the pains that gripped her stomach. She felt delirious and was burning up with a fever. She rolled around with beads of sweat pouring off her face.
She had just been bitten by something and she realised that it must have been poisonous due to her reaction. She tried to get up a few times but kept passing out, the pain getting worse, until she felt a little nudge and opened her eyes to Starburst.
‘Go get help!’ she told him, rolling over and groaning. He must have felt she was upset to have come so far to find her.
* * * *
Coherent at last, she was glad when she woke and had been found. Kayden was in the chair next to her and she looked away, still angry with him. The nurse came in, confirming what she had already figured out, that a poisonous spider or snake had bitten her. She still had drips in her arm and complained about it while the nurse removed the thermometer from her mouth.
As Cassie expected, the nurse only took the thermometer from her before leaving. Now they were on their own again, Cassie shook even more, knowing she had to deal with what had happened.
Kayden looked irritably at her, stopping her fear and turning it to anger.
‘Why are you here, Kayden? Shouldn’t you be with your new girlfriend?’ she snarled.
She could feel him suck in his breath and she waited for what seemed like ages before he let it out. ‘I can’t believe you would think I would do that to you, Cassie. Obviously, our relationship isn’t that strong after all. I’ve jus
t come to let you know that I give up. You win. I am sick of you running every time something goes wrong. I’m sorry that silly little tart came and cuddled up to me but maybe you might try to understand a little of what I go through every time you kiss or hug one of the guys. It always has to be all about you or nothing. From now on, I’m your boss and that is it. The boys are happy for you to stay with them. If you wish to stay on as a member of the team, you’re welcome to but I don’t want you to come home.’
She glared at him with hatred. ‘Good! You’re just as painful. I’m sick of having to try to make you and your damned buddies happy. I’ll not be staying, so don’t flatter yourself that you’re worth waiting around for. Get out and don’t let the door hit you on your way out, you dirty rotten two timer!’ she added furiously.
After they released her from hospital the next day, she had no idea what she was going to do or what the day would bring. Woody stood waiting for her as she came out the front entrance. He took her arm and as much as she wished she could tell him where to go, she didn’t know where she was and needed him to drop her off somewhere that would lead her anywhere but back to Kayden’s.
‘Just drop me off on the highway, Woody. I’ll hike back to Perth and try to pick up where I left off. I was a fool to come back here and think that someone would …’ she ran out of bother. She was so over people not loving her the way she did them. She just wanted to give up.
‘Cassie, I have told you before, to find happiness you have to stop running. To stay is to fight for what you believe in. Stop being afraid and look your fears in the face. Stay the course. You know Kayden wouldn’t have done that to you and he’s not just angry with you at the moment. He is angry with us all but he’ll work through it. Come home with me, with us, where you belong. We are your family now and we want you with us.’
Tears streamed down her face. ‘Family! How can you say I’m family when I keep hurting everyone?’
‘Because we understand. We boys adore you!’
‘I’m just finding it hard because all I can see is her in his arms and it makes me want to just run and run and run until I’m too tired to see the damned image!’
‘Then we’ll do it together, around the property and out along the main road, every day. You’re not alone anymore, Cass. We’ll be your rock until you become one. How about it? Tell me what you have to lose. The road to Perth is just outside our front gate and if at any time you really don’t want to be with us anymore, I’ll take you myself.’
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Months to Heal
It had been four months since she’d moved in with the boys. Woody had been right. They were her world now and she loved being the centre of theirs. At last she had found the family that she always wanted. Kayden had stopped moping around and over the past few weeks had began to join them again, his personality surprising them all. He was jovial, funny and a joy to have around. Cassie didn’t love him anymore, he was just a boss and that suited her fine. Woody had become her friend and love, she adored the ground he walked on. He had seen her through so much and his friendship was beyond anything she had ever had. She could sit for hours and listen to him and most days they would just talk until dawn.
They had kissed a few times but she had not been able to go much further than that and she knew it worried him. She just needed a bit more time and he seemed to understand. Once they were in the kitchen and Kayden had walked in on him kissing her but he had just walked out again, not saying anything or showing any reaction. She knew he was over her too.
They continued to have wild parties and the house was always full of chicks and booze. It was an exciting time for Cassie. She was young and it was fun to cut loose, especially after the exhilaration of their missions. Her father was still causing trouble and Woody was always there for her if she saw him at a distance and it upset her.
Woody hardly talked about Ella anymore except when she rang him. Then he would be straight out to tell Cassie all about it. They were pretty well inseparable.
The morning after one of their wild parties, Kayden sent Woody and Jason on a reconnaissance mission. The mess from the party they had the night before was left for Ethan, Conor and Cassie to clean up. Well, that really just left Cassie; the other two were still entertaining two of the girls from the party in their rooms. She decided it was probably her turn to clean up anyway. Rolling up her sleeves, she went around the backyard, picking up empty bottles, cigarette butts and food scraps left over from a food fight.
Kayden came over and asked where Ethan and Conor were. After telling him they were busy with some chicks, she told him he could go up and see them if he wanted. He said he did not feel right disturbing them and had only come around to see if they wanted to go to the races with him. Seeing they were busy, he asked if she wanted to take off for a couple of hours to fill in the day instead.
They had been talking nicely again now, so she guessed it would be okay. After all, he was just her boss now.
There were horse races at Wittenoom and even though she was his second choice, she was glad to do something other than clean up on her own. They laid bets on the horses while Cassie sipped on an ice cola. It made the heat of the day more bearable. She had a lovely time and on the way home he asked her many questions about Woody and made her laugh a lot about stories of old. ‘Now you’re sleeping with Woody you would know that anyway,’ he said at one stage.
It came out of left field and she stared at him for a moment. ‘Woody’s not like that. We aren’t … I haven’t …’ She turned and stared out the window, not knowing what to actually say.
‘Sorry if you thought I was prying. I didn’t mean to put you on the spot. I just assumed you two were an item that was all,’ he said, sounding innocent enough.
Cassie turned to him and grinned. ‘That’s alright, I overreacted. It’s complicated,’ she said and just changed the subject.
After he took her home, he stayed and helped her finish cleaning up. The boys surfaced every now and then to see if Cassie was alright and then went back to their rooms. They had a swim after they finished cleaning and then opened a bottle of Moonjuice, sipping it in the warm spa. The bubbles and the drink relaxed her after what seemed like a long day.
‘You know I never touched that girl, don’t you?’ he asked, trying to smooth over their past.
‘Yes, I believe you now because you have no reason to lie anymore. Maybe even then.’ She was being honest because he was.
‘Then why did you leave?’ he asked. ‘I know it’s all in the past but I just needed to ask.’
‘It took a long time for Woody to help me work through that. At the time I just kept seeing her in your arms and couldn’t get past it. I guess we both had issues. Sometimes two people are just not meant to be.’ She lay back.
‘You must really love Woody. He’s been a good friend to you and you’ve never run from him,’ he said quietly.
‘I do love him dearly. He’s my best friend in the whole world and if I ever get the urge to run, he has brainwashed me to come get him. He runs with me until I have nothing left. I’ve never had so much devotion,’ she said.
‘Then what’s stopped you from committing yourself to him?’
She sat up angrily. ‘It’s really none of your business, Kayden. I shouldn’t have said anything. I have my reasons, just leave it at that!’
He moved towards her with a look in his eyes that she had not seen for many months and she backed away.
‘Don’t you dare!’ She flashed an angry look at him but he ignored her and slipped his arms around her. His lips came down hard against hers. He didn’t let her go until she stopped struggling. It was her body that finally gave her away, melting into him as her arms wrapped around his neck. He’d stirred up something she had buried deep inside. He pulled away, leaving her breathless. He watched her as she tried to pull herself together.
‘You’re s
till in love with me, Cassie. You can’t lie to me.’
She tried to get out of his grip. ‘No! No, I don’t, I love Woody now.’
His mouth came back down on hers, kissing her so gently and lovingly that it nearly broke her heart. Tears streamed down her face.
‘What are you doing to me?’ she cried when he let her go. ‘You will only hurt me again! You threw me away. Woody has stuck the pieces back together and now I have to be his. I can’t be disloyal to such love.’
‘Cassie, you don’t have to tell me how much I hurt you. I’ve lived with it every day and every night for months. I really thought you would be better off without me. I honestly wanted you to find happiness but I am still terribly and unconditionally in love with you too. I can’t be the good guy any more. I’m the evil boy come to steal you back any way I can and I don’t care if Woody beats the crap out of me—or you tell me to go—I’m here to get my woman back if she’ll have me. I don’t want you back just as my lover, Cassie. I want to marry you and be with you always. Will you marry me, Cassie? Now, today? We’ll drive somewhere and find a priest. Please make me the happiest man in the world and say yes.’
She put her head in her hands and sighed. ‘I thought you didn’t love me, Kayden. I’ve led Woody to believe he and I have a chance by letting him kiss me. I’m so confused.’
He came back over to her. Just his touch sent electrifying sensations through her. ‘We love each other, Cassie. We always have and always will. I’m going to go and let you work out how you want this to go down. But I‘ll not take no for an answer! I’m not letting go this time and if you’re unable to tell Woody then I will. It’s better he gets hurt now rather than later when he’s taken you to his bed. You have nothing to give him because you know you will always keep yourself only for me.’