by Lori Foster
She whipped around so fast, her tangled hair flew out and her breasts jiggled. “I do not lie, damn you, and you owe me an apology.”
Confusion swamped Pete. “Then what was your sister talking about?”
Cassidy scrubbed both hands over her face. “Duke and Holly came over the other day. Duke’s an athlete and boring beyond belief, especially when he starts gabbing on about football, but Holly worships the ground he walks on. At one point I zoned out and Duke is hell-bent on believing I was mooning over a guy.”
“Were you?”
She frowned and blushed at the same time. “Yeah, but he’s not a…a boyfriend.”
“Who is it?” Knowing she’d mooned over some guy put Pete in a killing mood.
The way she crossed her arms under her breasts plumped them up like an offering. She thrust her chin up, adding to Pete’s suspicions. Then, taking the wind right out of him, she said, “You.”
“Me?”
“I told you he wasn’t a boyfriend.” She paced away, came back. “Remember you said we were both thinking about sex? Well, I was. I suppose Duke knows the look and he wanted to tease me.”
A queer little feeling settled into Pete’s stomach. She’d been thinking about him. He really did need to get this all sorted out. “So Friday night, when you didn’t ask me to dinner even though you had enough beef for four, and you didn’t come over to watch the movie with me, it was because your sister and Duke were visiting?”
“The steaks were for them, yeah.” She rolled one shoulder. “But I wouldn’t have watched the movie with you anyway.”
“Why not?”
Her look told him that should have been obvious. “Because I was already…well, lusting after you. I didn’t want to put myself through that.”
His damn heart ached. “I’m sorry.”
She waited two seconds, then shrugged and scampered back into bed. “Trust me. You’ve made up for all my suffering.”
Pete pulled her up to sit on his lap, arranging her so she faced him, her legs folded at either side of his hips. Holding her thighs, he asked, “Your sister insinuated that you’d forgotten about them?”
Wiggling her bottom, Cassidy grinned. “You sure you want to keep talking about this? I can think of better things—”
“Cass.”
Rolling her eyes, she sighed. “After all your teasing, I totally forgot about them coming over. I was on my way out the door when they showed up. I was going to go to the theater and see a cheesy movie and eat popcorn until I was sick, but I lied and told them I was going for dessert.”
“Aha.” Pete smiled widely. “I thought you didn’t lie.”
“I don’t.” She smoothed both hands over his chest, leaned down and kissed his nose. “Not to you.”
She started to sit up again, but Pete pulled her back for a longer, more satisfying kiss, then allowed her to settle against him. The position was nice, with her knees drawn up by his hips, her belly flush against his. He smoothed his hands over her bottom, offered up so nicely. “So they were here alone in your place?”
“Yeah, why?”
Should he admit it? He grunted at himself. He wanted her to always be truthful with him, so he had to be truthful, too. “I think I heard them making whoopee.”
Cassidy started in surprise, but Pete held her secure. “That’s insane. Not in my home!”
“Afraid so. I heard a lot of sexy moaning.”
“Oh, God.” She covered her face.
“I assumed it was you.”
Her head jerked up. “That’s why you kept asking me who I was seeing?”
“Yep.” Pete grinned, tightened his hold, and said, “But when you insisted you weren’t seeing anyone, I assumed you were playing solitaire.”
“Who moans over solitaire?”
His grin widened. “You misunderstand. I heard those moans, Cass. I thought you were…alone.”
She still looked confused.
Sighing, Pete said, “I thought you were flying solo. Taking care of business. All alone.”
In slow progression, confusion gave way to understanding and her eyes flared. “You thought—!”
“Yeah.”
It was probably the toothy grin that got to her. She punched him. Hard. Groaning, Pete grabbed his ribs, then had to grab her to keep from getting another shot.
“Jerk!”
When he laughed, she tried to scamper away. Pete wrestled her down, making a point to let her come close to slipping away, again and again. He liked wrestling with Cassidy. The match finally ended when he got her flat on her back, used his knee to open her legs, and thrust inside her.
They both went still, breathing hard. Cassidy struggled to get her hands free, only to wrap them around his neck. “You win,” she told him huskily.
Pete pressed his face into her shoulder. He wasn’t wearing a rubber and no way in hell would he do that to her. “Promise me you won’t move.”
“But I want to move. I want you to move.”
“I’m not wearing anything.”
“Oh.” She nudged his shoulder. “Well, go get something.”
“In a second.” Pete smoothed her beautiful hair away from her face. “So?”
“So what?”
Watching her expression, Pete pressed in a little tighter, making Cassidy inhale sharply. He knew he was playing with fire but he was willing to use whatever coercion he could.
“Can your mysterious boyfriend accompany you to the benefit?” Though the question sounded light, Pete’s apprehension was so great, his lungs hurt. He couldn’t recall anything mattering quite so much to him.
Cassidy froze. “It’ll be boring.”
“Maybe I’ll liven it up a little.” Shit. She probably didn’t want that. He frowned and started to retract that statement when she smiled.
“That’s what I was thinking the other night when Duke accused me of daydreaming about a guy. I kept thinking if you were there, it wouldn’t be so bad.”
Ah damn, now she had him feeling all mushy inside. Softly, he urged, “Then let me be there.”
“It won’t just be Duke and Holly tonight.” She stared at his chin while chewing her bottom lip. “Mom and Dad are going to the benefit, too.”
Every muscle in Pete’s body drew so tight, he felt brittle. He wasn’t good enough for June and Ward? “You’re afraid I’ll embarrass you.”
“No!” She rushed to reassure him, then scowled. “How could you even think such a stupid thing?” Just as quickly, she softened. “Mom and Dad are great and I’m sure they’ll like you.”
“Then?”
She let out a long, grievous sigh. “It’s a dressy thing. A formal event at the country club. Dad will probably break out his tux.”
“I promise not to wear shorts.” How he’d find something appropriate on such short notice, he didn’t know. Gil would probably have a variety of tuxes in his wardrobe, though, and they were about the same size…
Cassidy was laughing. “I wish we could both wear shorts. I’d sure be more comfortable in them.” She sighed, then said, “If I invite you along tonight, will you please get a damn condom?”
At least she wanted him sexually. As Sam and Gil had assured him, he could work from there. And he’d start right now. He’d take her five ways to Sunday, make her scream, beg. He’d devastate her with pleasure. “Yes, ma’am. Be right back.”
But as Pete finished rolling on the condom, Cassidy said, “I have, you know.”
He turned to face her. She was sprawled in the bed, sleekly muscled, strong in ways that only a woman could be. Damn, he adored her. “Have what?”
“Thought of you.”
“Yeah?” He stretched out next to her.
“While flying solo, I mean.”
Pete’s heart all but stopped. Well, hell. He looked at her, knew he was lost, and fell on her like a starving man. Later. He’d devastate her later. For now, he just had to have her.
Chapter Six
She still couldn’t believe Pete wanted
a date with her and her family. Didn’t that signify…something?
Since he left early that afternoon, she used the remainder of the day to buy new pantyhose—a chore that made her grimace—and while she was out, she decided to have her hair trimmed a little more. Not just because Pete noticed, she assured herself, but because she’d like it.
By the time the beautician finished, her once witchy, waist-length hair now hung to just below her shoulder blades. Still long, but much tidier and more manageable.
Cassidy located her one and only black dress at the back of her closet. She removed the dry cleaning bag and tugged it on over her head. It was a simple dress with sleeves, a high, round neckline, and a straight fit that fell to just below her knees.
It was…comfortable.
Seeing herself in the mirror was almost depressing. Give her a scythe and a hood and she’d pass for Death. Cassidy groaned and dug out her black heeled pumps. They didn’t help. Now she looked like a cross-dressing Death.
To make matters worse, Pete knocked on her door before she had time to consider any alternatives. Not that she had any, owning only that one black dress. It’d have to do. She hoped Pete wouldn’t turn tail and run when he saw what a formal misfit she was.
For once, he came to her front door, and when Cassidy opened it, she almost fell over.
Pete wore a tux.
Her gaze traveled all over him and still she couldn’t take it in. All spiffed up, he didn’t even look like Pete. He looked good, no two ways around that. Just…different, not her Pete anymore.
And she’d once thought she wanted a guy who wore suits? How stupid.
He was busy fiddling with a black tie. “I’m lousy at this crap. Never done it enough, I guess. Can you help?” He looked up then and got caught. A frown pulled down his brows and Cassidy waited for him to question her choice of dress.
“You cut your hair again?”
Whoa. No mention of her black tent? She cleared her throat. “Technically, the beautician did.”
He forgot all about his tie. Releasing the tie so it fell to his chest, he propped his hands on his hips and glared. “Why the hell do you keep cutting it?”
Beyond Pete, Cassidy saw her mother and father pull up to the curb, and behind them, Duke and Holly. Oh boy. Let the fun begin.
Oblivious to their audience, Pete caught her shoulders to regain her attention, then moved her back so he could step in. “I like it long, Cassidy.”
“It’s still long.” Nervously, Cassidy watched as her family plus Duke approached, all of them very attentive. Her parents had expected to deal with one nonconforming boyfriend. Now they were faced with two.
“Not as long as it used to be.” Pete looked bedeviled, then blurted, “Was it something I said? Because if it was, forget it. I love your hair.”
“No.” Cassidy tried to quickly explain that her parents were right behind him. “Uh, Pete…”
He wrapped his hands in her hair, crushing fists full as if savoring it. “I don’t want you changing on me, Cass. I adore you just as you are.”
Her mouth fell open.
Pete stepped closer. “I adore you enough to get into this damn monkey suit to impress Ward and June—though God knows I have no idea about this stupid tie, so you’re going to have to help me with it.”
From behind Pete, Duke said, “I can do that if you like.”
Pete turned, saw the crowd, and gave a sheepish grin. Both Duke and her father wore tuxes, and to Cassidy’s surprise, Duke looked very comfortable in his.
“Let me see,” Pete said. “You must be Duke, because you’re definitely not Ward.”
“Right in one.” The two men shared a hardy handshake.
“And this has to be Cassidy’s pretty little sister, Holly.”
Holly twittered a laugh. “That’s me,” she said, then realized she’d just complimented herself and blushed.
Pete cleared his throat and faced her father. “And you must be—”
Fighting a grin, her father stuck out his hand. “Not Ward.”
Pete winced. “Sorry. I was just, uh…”
“Going by Cassidy’s description? She’s told me that before, too. Where she sees a resemblance, I’ll never know.”
Relaxing at the easy banter, Pete accepted his hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Mr. McClannahan.”
“Anyone who adores my daughter has to call me Frank. And this is my wife, Gina.”
The obligatory greetings were performed without Cassidy’s help. She sank back against the wall and closed her eyes. Pete said he adored her and everyone had heard. He’d noticed her hair again when no one else did. And he didn’t notice her hideous dress, even though both her mother and Holly were there, providing awesome comparisons.
Her mother said, “Cassidy, he’s right. You’ve done something to your hair.”
“Twice,” Pete pointed out.
“It looks lovely,” Gina said, earning a frown from Pete, and when Holly agreed, he looked ready to fume.
Duke stretched out his massive arms to include everyone and herded them inside. “Why don’t we move this indoors? We have a little time before the benefit starts.”
Cassidy remembered the purpose of this blighted soiree and launched into compliments aimed at Duke. He kept Holly at his side while reciprocating. “I usually only dress up for weddings and funerals. But considering how much time I spend in sweaty jerseys, I like to trade up every now and then.”
Near Cassidy’s ear, Pete murmured, “This feels like the latter.”
She shushed him. “Mom, Duke has the record for touchdowns at his college. Isn’t that impressive?”
“Very,” Gina said.
Duke pulled Pete around and began knotting his tie. “Thanks. I was pretty pleased about it.”
Holly beamed at everyone. “He also made the dean’s list.”
Frank gave his attention. “Excellent. What’s your major?”
With the tie finished, Duke threw his arm around Pete’s shoulder, nearly knocking him off balance. “Business. If I don’t make it in football, I’d like to open my own sporting goods store. Maybe build up to a chain.”
“Good plan,” Pete said, then scowled when he noticed Cassidy was staring at Duke.
The differences in the two men hit Cassidy. Both were big and strong, but next to Duke, Pete looked leaner, more refined. Definitely more handsome—but then, that was just Cassidy’s opinion. Holly, apparently, felt just the opposite.
Because Pete kept giving her odd looks, Cassidy said, “I’ll put on a pot of coffee.” She ducked out of the room, anxious for a moment to herself. Pete had said he adored her. It wasn’t love, but it was better than a quick fling. Maybe she could build on that.
She had her back to the kitchen entrance, waiting for the coffee to finish, when warm male hands slid around her waist. Pete’s scent enveloped her, so warm and familiar. Curse the stupid benefit—she’d rather lose their clothes and cuddle in bed.
Next to her ear, Pete rasped, “Why the hell do you keep staring at Duke?”
Did he sound jealous? No, that was absurd. Because she wasn’t about to tell Pete that she’d been comparing them, she shrugged. “He looks different in a suit. Nice.” She twisted around to face him. “My parents will be pleased.”
“He doesn’t normally wear a suit.”
“What an understatement. Duke is a jock through and through. But that business degree surprised my parents.” She smiled. “I think old Duke is full of surprises.”
“You like him?”
She realized she did. How could she not like Duke when he was so good to her sister? “You know, I really do. He’s not flighty like I thought. He’s got a plan, and a backup plan. And he’s going after what he wants.”
Pete groaned, then tucked his face against her neck. “You know, Cassidy,” he murmured, and she could feel his lips on her skin, “I was thinking there were a few things—just small things—that you could possibly change about yourself. What do you think?”
Heat rushed into her face. “The dress is awful, I know.”
Pete straightened. “What?”
Holding out the sides of the hideous tent, she repeated, “This dress. But it’s the only black thing I own.”
Confused, Pete shook his head. “I like you better in shorts, sure, but you look great no matter what you wear.” He smoothed his hands up and down her sides. “You’re such a goal-oriented person.”
What that had to do with her dress, Cassidy didn’t know. “Sensible Cassidy, that’s me.”
“Sleeping with me wasn’t all that sensible. You told me so yourself.”
“I’ve changed my mind on that. Sleeping with you is one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.”
“Yeah?” He started to grin.
From behind them, her father said, “Well, I think we can segue right into good-byes.”
Cassidy gasped, Pete turned, and they both saw that it wasn’t just her father standing there. Her mother, Holly, and Duke were all within earshot. Well, hell. Couldn’t they have made a little noise? Cleared a throat? Whistled?
Without missing a beat, Pete asked, “Is it time to go already?”
Frank stepped into the kitchen. “For us, yes. But my daughter looks tortured at the moment, so perhaps she’d like to skip it.”
All eyes turned to Cassidy. She wanted to shrink in on herself. “Uh, no. I’m all right. Really. I can—”
Duke smiled. “We’re getting along fine, Cassidy. You don’t need to run interference, though Holly and I both appreciate the effort.”
Gina hooked her arm through Frank’s. “It’s not that we don’t want your company, but I think Pete has a few more things to say.” Gina turned to Pete. “Cassidy has always been an overachieving tomboy. Put her in a dress and she’s miserable. She’ll be happier staying here and, ah, working things out with you.”
Cassidy groaned. Her mother’s attempts at matchmaking weren’t all that subtle.
Her father sent her a fond look. “My sensible Cassidy. She’ll have things squared away in no time.”
Just what was she supposed to square away? Pete?
Pete left the ball in her court. “Whatever you want to do is okay by me, Cass.”
No way did she want to go, but she’d feel guilty if she didn’t. “You’ve already rented the tux…”