A Little Night Music

by A. E. Easterlin

  Another hug, and Cash strode to Sarah’s desk. In typical take-charge fashion, he told her to take the afternoon off. Her assistant’s concerned expression riveted to Kate. The unspoken question made her smile. Acknowledging Kate’s brief nod, Sarah retrieved her purse and hurried to the elevator.

  “Sarah, promise me you’ll be careful?”

  Her assistant nodded, stepped onto the elevator, and held the door-open button.

  “I’ll call you if anything happens. I don’t expect you tomorrow unless you hear from me, okay?”

  Cash cocked his head. “Kate? The door?” he reminded with studied patience.

  She locked herself in the office and leaned against the door. One minute he was here; the next he was gone. She already missed him.

  After he left, Kate sat at her desk and made a futile attempt to concentrate on work. Her mind kept going back to what the officers had said about Clark. Unbelievable that she could be so wrong about him. How could she ever have loved him?

  Now, another man was becoming important in her life. He made her feel safe. More than that—he made her feel cherished.

  Alone, she had only her own reserves to draw upon, and she couldn’t get down to work until she peeked into the reception area and saw the security guard sitting at Sarah’s desk. May as well get something accomplished. She had the remainder of the day.

  Finally, she settled at her desk, reserved River Stadium, and negotiated a reduced rate, figuring it was good unless Cash’s contacts could do better. She flipped through her planner. A caterer, a florist, an event rental agency. She’d worked with them all before. They were efficient and reasonably priced.

  No seating required for this venue, VIP area was a must, and a late, intimate dinner with a few wealthy contributors might be a nice touch. Perhaps at that new French bistro, Marcel’s. The list of donor names and addresses saved in her documents file would number about twenty. With Allison and Brodie, Cash and her, twenty-four. She’d see if they could have a private room.

  Between phone calls, her mind circled to Clark. And to the photographs of those two unfortunate young women. Had she in some way caused their deaths? A grim weight clutched her heart, and guilt washed like a tsunami over her. How could she have been so easily deceived? Had there been signs? Anything that would point to Clark’s psychopathic tendencies?

  No. No way. Kate wished she’d asked the officers the dates the women had been murdered. They’d said “recently,” but was it before or after her time with Clark? Not that it mattered. Dead was dead, and there was nothing she could do for them now. Still…

  He’d been a master of deception. But the cancer connection? Was she the key, or just another of the chosen lookalike victims?

  Nausea erupted in her stomach, and she cradled her head in her hands and dropped them to her desk. The horror of it. Murder. Two young, promising lives snuffed out. Beyond imagining.

  Shaking the horror down, she focused back on her work.

  After making good progress on the concert plans, Kate sat back from her computer with a weary sigh and checked her watch.

  Cash was five minutes late picking her up.

  Absorbed in her planning session, she was interrupted by male rumblings in the vicinity of Sarah’s desk. Her ride had arrived. In spite of the deepening drama surrounding her, the thought of his nearness warmed her blood. She wanted him with her. Wanted him close.

  As she hurried to the door, the image of Suzanna’s sweet face played in her mind. God, she hoped Suze was safe—on her way to her grandmother’s.

  Opening the deadbolt and swinging back the door, she found Cash looming in front of her.

  “Is she gone? On her way?” Kate anxiously clutched the front of his shirt.

  He nodded. “The guys took her to the airport. Poor kid was wiped. Couldn’t get her out commercial—too late to book a flight today. I talked to the administrator to put in for vacation time, and when I told him what was going on, he offered to have his son fly the munchkin to Oklahoma on his private plane. Kid flew in Afghanistan. Knows what he’s doing.”

  Thank God. With Suzanna safe, she could concentrate on helping the police capture Clark. They wouldn’t want to endanger her, but she was positive she could draw Clark out. She was the hive to his honeybee. Sooner or later, he would come home to his queen.

  “Private aircraft worked out better. No names on a flight manifest. Makes it harder to track down than a commercial liner. Don’t think Burgess would think about a private carrier. Hope not, anyway. Too busy hiding from the police. And Ray’s mom is delighted. The school promised to send her work to me. You about ready?”

  “Yeah. Surprisingly enough, I got a lot done this afternoon.”

  “Been thinking. Burgess knows where you live, and he knows I’m next door. It’s not the smartest move going back there. It might pose a hardship for you, but if you could work from another location, we could hole up somewhere, maybe throw him off. Buy the cops some time to find him.”

  “I suppose I could do that. If you have about twenty minutes, I could transfer the info I need to a thumb drive, then use my laptop. Are we going to a hotel? The business centers at most places have anything else I would need,” she said.

  “A few days in a hotel somewhere out of the city would work. Any place special you want to go?”

  “Wait, I can’t leave the city. I’ve got too much to do. We only have a few weeks before the gala, and there are zillions of details to finalize. And the preliminary figures for the scholarship grants, colleges to contact, not to mention visits to the four finalists. We can’t go. I won’t allow him to ruin this for those families.”

  “Sarah?” he suggested hopefully.

  “She’ll be a big help, but the donors expect my personal attention. I can’t delegate everything to her.”

  “All right…I’ll book us in the tourist district. You being a native, Clark wouldn’t expect you to fight the crowds in that part of town. We can blend, rent a car he doesn’t know, slip in and out if we need to. But understand, you do what I say, when I say. I won’t take chances until Burgess is in custody.”

  “Agreed. I promise not to make this any harder on you.”

  Light flashed in his blue eyes as he pressed a brief kiss on her lips. “That’s my girl. I hope you don’t mind, but I packed a few things for you while Suzanna got ready for her trip to grandmother’s house.”

  “Mind? Are you kidding? You’re a life saver. All I have are what’s on my back. And I so crave a long, hot shower.” Perhaps he’d like to join her. Visions of Cash running his soapy hands over her body flashed unbidden in her mind.

  She zipped open the bag. He’d stuffed two work outfits, lingerie, shoes, her gown and robe, jeans, and a couple of T-shirts into her suitcase.

  No cash. She could always hit the ATM at the hotel or at a branch downtown.

  Before she locked her office, Cash’s hand curled around her neck under her short fall of hair. He pulled her close, his forehead resting against hers, and spoke in a calm, steady voice. “Hey, lady. Everything’s going to be all right. Promise. Let’s don’t make this any harder than it has to be. I’m going to take care of you. Keep you safe. The cops are going to catch this guy, and it’ll all be over soon.”

  “God, I hope you’re right,” she said, and handed him her suitcase.

  Cash promised she’d be safe. She believed him.

  He was as good as his word.

  Chapter Seventeen

  They checked in at the Plaza, unpacked, and Kate opened the room-darkening draperies and gazed at the scene below. People hurried on individual missions, bumping elbows, oblivious a killer was in their midst. Their world was so normal, hers such a nightmare.

  Cash came behind her and folded her in his embrace, his strength giving her strength. His warmth giving her warmth. She leaned against his chest and smiled up at his ruggedly handsome face. Stubble outlined his chin, skin pulled taut over the elegant lines of his cheekbones. So beautiful a man, strong
and confident. Her heart skipped a beat as he appeared to gaze down into her eyes. What she saw there took her breath away.

  With a slight shiver, she turned, let her arms cradle his waist and move up the tight muscles of his back, and held on.

  “Cash,” she began.

  “Shh,” he answered.

  Gentle fingers loosed the buttons of her blouse and peeled it back to expose the thin lace of her bra. Ivory, leaving little to the imagination and everything to the very thorough tactile examination of her breasts.

  “So lovely,” he whispered.

  His hands cupped their weight, thumbs caressing her pebbled nipples. For a moment, she stiffened.

  “No,” he murmured. “You don’t ever have to be ashamed. His tongue traced the shell of her ear, down her neck, to the sensitive hollow of her throat. “Let it go. Those dragons have been slain forever.”

  As he eased the sexy confection she called underwear to the side, he ran the backs of his knuckles against the delicate flesh. “Never again, sweet Kate. The only thing I want between us when I touch your breasts is the passion I arouse in your body. The fire I unleash in my own. No more hiding, no more doubt. You are the most exquisite woman, in every way, I have ever known.”

  He kissed her there. Over her heart. Stealing it, and sparking tiny currents of desire as his lips claimed and feasted.

  “You have magic fingers. Gentle, for such a strong man. I never thought I would allow a man to touch me…there. It’s nice. It feels so good.”

  “Kate,” he began. “I want you. I want you so damn much.”

  The fire burned hot, and she could feel the evidence of his wanting, hard and long against her belly. What started out sweet and tender didn’t stay that way. His hands were everywhere, unsnapping her bra, tossing it aside. Unzipping her skirt, sliding it down her hips until she was naked in his embrace.

  “No fair.” she fumbled with the buttons of his shirt, fingers clumsy with her quickening desire. She wanted him every bit as much, needing the heat of his skin, hardness of muscle. Her brain clouded and filled with nothing but the feel of him, the smell of him, and the craving for him.

  Cash took over and in seconds was as bare as she. Skin to skin, his fingers traced her body, followed by his hot, moist mouth. The cold air in the room caused shivers as it danced over her heated skin. He kissed her—she kissed him—like the crashing waves of an incoming tide. Relentless. Unstoppable.

  He backed her against the wall, lifted her leg over his hip, and ground in. Her other leg followed, and in an instant, she was impaled.

  Kate wrapped her arms around his shoulders, buried her face in his neck, and moaned as he found his rhythm. God, he felt so good. How had she ever existed without this man? This act? It was fast. It was rough. It was amazing.

  She moaned his name. Her body jerked with every thrust, air forced from her lungs, his name an involuntary prayer on her lips, until he shifted down and took one of her breasts in his mouth. His lips closed around her nipple, and he pulled hard until she whimpered.

  Kate’s body grew slick with sweat as her core tightened around him, gripping in magnificent friction. Cash’s hands grasped her behind, adjusting the angle, and when he did, he hit a spot of infinite pleasure. It felt so good she cried aloud, her body carrying her to a place she’d never been. The muscles in her channel tightened, gripping him, until the fire of it built into excruciating ecstasy.

  “That’s it, lady. Don’t hold back. Let go. Come with me.”

  His hips pistoned, driving deep inside, powering into her until she exploded, the climax rolling through her in wave after wave, and she whimpered, “Hold me. Hold me.”

  “Not letting you go, lady. Never. Not in a million years.”

  Cash drove into her until he buried himself to the root and groaned his own release. His mouth slammed down on hers, and he thrust his tongue to the back of her throat, and his voice ground out her name. Over and over and over.

  Her limbs trembled, heart pounded, mouth latched onto the meat of his shoulder. She bit and sucked, until a grunt escaped his throat.

  His legs locked, chest heaving, struggling for breath. Coming down, he paused, slowly pulled out, and moved his thigh between her legs, supporting her weight. His forearms bracketing her head, eyes closed, his expression sated as he traced the shell of her ear, over her cheek to rest his forehead against hers until they somewhat recovered.

  “Damn, woman. You’ll be the death of me,” his tone affectionate, he lifted her damp hair from her neck, and nuzzled her cheek.

  She couldn’t answer, she was too busy sucking in air.

  Then he swung her into his arms and stalked to the bed. As he deposited her in the middle and followed her down, his big body rolled onto her. Reaching for the duvet, he covered them, his arm pulling her close. Kate smiled, her head over his erratically beating heart. She travelled her hand down the ridges and valleys of his stomach until she cradled him in her hand.

  Cash grunted and placed his hand protectively over hers. She kissed his chest right over his heart. Laying her head on his chest, the steady beat of his heart made her feel safe and sated.

  They slept.

  ****

  Kate burrowed in the center of the bed, tired yet blissful. They’d slept and made love all night long, and for all intents and purposes, she was out. Sensing a presence, she opened one eye to a grinning man dripping water on her face and looking extremely satisfied with himself.

  “That’s just mean,” she croaked. “You interrupted a really good dream.”

  He threw back his head and laughed, blue eyes sparkling in the soft sun of the morning. “Dreaming of me, sweet stuff?”

  Kate rolled and stretched her arms above her head. “Maybe,” she teased.

  “Yeah?” Cash crawled onto the bed, stiff-armed on each side of her shoulders, and bent into a long, wet, morning kiss.

  “Umm. You taste like toothpaste—all minty and fresh.”

  “Yeah? You taste like sexy woman, my favorite flavor.”

  She ran her fingers through his wet hair and drew him down to her clinging lips. This was the danger zone, but what could she do? In her arms—her arms—lay the most beautiful man God ever created. Sweet, caring, loving, a wonderful father, a hero. It wouldn’t do any good to ignore her feelings or pretend it wasn’t happening. Because “it” was. She was falling in love with Cash. No, that was dishonest. She was already in love with him.

  And that scared her.

  What if he wasn’t in love with her?

  What if…

  “I can almost hear what you’re thinking.” he said, as he appeared to stare into her eyes and combed her hair back from her face with long, steady fingers. “I know it happened fast—probably a lot faster than either of us is comfortable with. But lady, I’ve been there before. I had a good woman, a good marriage, so I know what it feels like. I had her taken from me, and it took a hell of a long while for me to be ready again. But I’m here. I love you, Kate, and I want to be a part of your life and have you a part of mine. You’re scared. I get that. We can take it slow, honey. I’ll give you all the time you need, but I have to know if you’re with me. Suzanna and I…”

  She stilled the words coming out of his mouth with the tips of her fingers. Tears welled in her eyes, a lone stream of salt and joy coursing from the corner.

  “Shh. Kiss me, Cash. Kiss me and prove this is real. I’m a little afraid, I admit it, but I won’t run away from this…from you. I lost faith that a man like you existed, and then one day you and Suzanna burst into my life. And I began to hope again. You tore down the walls I’d built to keep the world at bay. They turned out to be made of straw. I’ll gladly become a part of your life, because you have become the heart of mine…I love you.”

  “I love you.” His voice was husky. “I will always love you.”

  He did what she asked—kissed her until she believed it was real, until her fear disappeared. Kissed her until all her hurts and doubts drained swee
tly away.

  They napped, ate, and showered. Lounging in hotel-provided spa robes, Kate pecked on her laptop while Cash placed a call to Oklahoma City. She watched his face brighten when Suzanna answered.

  “Suze? How’s my girl?” His smile was warm as he checked on his daughter. “Gram took you shopping? Why doesn’t that surprise me? Yeah…everything’s fine here. No, baby. They haven’t caught him yet, but I’m sure they will soon. Put Gram on the line, will you? Yeah, baby, Kate sends her love… Me, too. Bye.”

  She came over to wrap her arms around his neck. “Okay?” she mouthed.

  Cash nodded and patted her arm with one hand as he spoke with Ray’s mom, pausing between questions. “I’m not sure how long this is going to take. You’re taking precautions? Don’t call this number if anything comes up. Contact the office, but only if you really need me. I don’t know what resources Burgess has at his disposal, but I don’t want a frequently called number to alert him of where Suzanna might be. No, I don’t think she—or you—are in danger. Just being careful… Love you, too. Take care…Bye.”

  “She sounds like a very nice woman,” Kate said.

  “She is. She’s missed seeing Suzanna since Ray passed. But bi-annual visits were the best we could do. You’ll like her. And she’ll like you.”

  “You don’t think she’ll resent me? I mean, you having me in your life and Suzanna’s, after losing her daughter?”

  “Nah. She knows the score. The last few years, she’s been after me to get married again, make a real home for her granddaughter.”

  Married.

  A trill of excitement bubbled in her blood. After Clark, she’d assumed marriage was out of the question for her. Now, with Cash, a home, a family could be a very real possibility again. She raised her glance to his. Those piercing blue eyes steady on her face, she wondered if he could indeed read her mind.

  “What?” he asked as he pulled her into his lap and braced her back with his crossed knee. “Did you think I would take you, tell you I loved you, and not have marriage on my mind? That’s who I am, lady. A homebody. I like a good time as much as the next guy, but a good time for me is defined by days and nights spent with the two people who mean more to me than anything in the world. You. Suzanna.”