by Vicki Green
I turn around placing my hands on his strong arms searching his eyes. “Shhh, its ok, Jesse. I understand.” He bends down and places his mouth over mine. I close my eyes as we kiss gently. I leave my eyes closed for a few seconds after he has pulled back. I slowly open them and he has the most beautiful look on this face. He removes his arms from my waist and puts them around my shoulders and pulls me into a hug. We stand there holding each other for a long time.
He whispers in my hair, “I love you, Cassie.”
I gasp. He loves me! I push my face into his chest, move my hands to his shoulders and squeeze. I can’t move. I’m afraid to move. I want to stay like this forever.
I slowly pull my face back from him and look up into his beautiful blue eyes. I have tears in mine that are threatening to fall. I bring my left hand to the side of his face. “Jesse, I love you too.” I lift up on my toes and kiss him with passion.
I don’t know how long we stood there kissing but Jesse slowly pulls away and puts his head against my forehead, so we can try and catch our breaths.
He leans back and takes my hands in his. “Why don’t you let me help you clean up so you can go rest,” he says. “The sooner my dad comes down to chat with me the better, then maybe he will leave tomorrow and we can have more time to ourselves,” he says waggling his eyebrows.
“Ha!” I say pushing his shoulder.
“Jesse? Why do you have a different last name than your Dad?” I ask him as he begins cleaning dishes. He turns his head to me and frowns. “I’m sorry, it’s none of my business.”
He shakes his head. “No, no! It’s ok. My mom and my birth father divorced when I was about three. I really don’t remember him at all. He never came around after he left. Mom and Thomas married a couple of years later. I’ve always called him dad. He’s always been pretty strict but has always loved me so I have had a really good life. Allie is his daughter from a previous marriage but we have grown up together and are really close,” he says smiling at me.
I walk over to him and kiss him on his cheek. “You’re so fortunate to have had a loving home to grow up in. I envy you.”
He stops what he is doing and turns to me. “Baby, I love you. I am gonna make you so happy you won’t remember what you missed out on.” He kisses me on my cheek. “Now go up and have a good rest.”
Once I am in my room and have changed into some pajamas I look at the bookshelf over by the bay window. I look through the books and find a book that looks interesting. I curl up on the couch, turning on the small lamp next to me and I begin to read.
I must have fallen asleep because loud screaming wakes me up. I sit up startled and look around. The screaming grows louder so I get up and go to the bedroom door. I open the door far enough so I hear them better.
I can hear Thomas. “You have no right to do that! What in the hell were you thinking? You’re not a cop. You’re no FBI and you certainly aren’t CIA. You can’t officially do anything once they’re caught. Oh, my….if your mom knew you were doing this she would HATE IT! I mean it Jesse! You need to stop this NOW, stop it before someone gets hurt or worse killed!” He screams.
It gets quiet, very quiet. Finally, I hear Jesse talking but his voice is too low to understand what he is saying.
I hear footsteps coming towards the stairs so I shut the door quietly until it’s almost closed. “Jesse, I am leaving in the morning. If you keep on, if you continue this, I am done with you. Do you hear me? Or do you even care?” Thomas asks.
“I care, dad. I love you and Allie. You’re my life and always will be. But I have to do this for mom. She deserves to have them pay for what they did. And, Cassie? She deserves for them to be put away for what they did to her, don’t you think?” Jesse asks in a quiet but serious tone.
“I hear what you’re saying, son, but is it worth your life? Is it worth the other lives around you, people you love? Think about that, will you?” Thomas asks sympathetically.
I shut the door completely, before I get caught and get into bed. It takes me a long time to fall asleep.
Chapter sixteen
I wake up the next morning and stretch my arms towards the headboard. I turn my head to the right to see Jesse’s side of the bed is empty and still made from yesterday. Jesse didn’t come to bed last night, not in here anyway.
I go to the closet and slip on my robe and quietly go downstairs. I walk into the living room and see Jesse asleep on the couch. On the coffee table there is a Jack Daniel’s bottle with not much left in it. Sigh.
I bring up my right hand and bite my index fingernail and look around the room. I get the afghan from the chair and cover him with it.
I stand there and look at him for a little bit. He looks so young when he is asleep. My heart hurts for him.
I turn to go into the kitchen to make breakfast and run into something hard. “Omph!” I say as I rub my head. I look up and see a small woman standing there and scream!
“Jesssseeeeeeee, Jesse,” I yell while I turn and run over to him at the couch.
As I am running over to Jesse, he has jumped up off the couch and is running towards me holding his head. I almost jump into his arms when we reach each other. I hold onto him for dear life.
“Shhh, baby. It’s ok. It’s my, um, sister?” Jesse says shaking his head.
I half turn in Jesse’s arms and look at the woman before us. She is looking at me while rubbing her head. She looks to be a couple of inches shorter than me, with hair color that is like Jesse’s and it flows down to her breasts. Her eyes are green, like mine, but are much darker. She’s really beautiful.
“Hummm, hi, Jesse,” she says as she raises her right hand slightly and waves. She looks at me and smiles.
“Allie, what are you doing here?” He looks around. “And why in the hell didn’t the alarm go off?”
She looks at him and smirks. “Well, I can’t tell you why your damn alarm didn’t go off, but I came to warn you that dad is coming here, like soon!”
Jesse looks at me and then back to her. He looks really angry. He pushes his fingers into his temples. “Quit yelling. I have a headache and you’re a little late for that! He got here last night and left in a gruff this morning. Thanks a lot for the warning.”
Allie looks down at the floor and then back at Jesse and me. “Oops! Sorry, I left as soon as I found out. Guess I was a little late.”
“Ya think?” Jesse scowl’s at her. He is not in a good mood.
She notices the bottle of Jack on the table. “Is that the reason for your headache??”
“What do you think?” He huffs.
Jesse puts his arm around my shoulder pulling me against him. “Alexa, this is Cassie.” He looks down at me. “Cassie, this is Alexa my older sister.”
I leave his arms and walk over to her with my right hand extended. “Hi, Alexa. I’m Cassie Morelli. I really am happy to meet you,” I say with a smile. Geez, I hope she isn’t like her dad.
Instead of taking my hand, she grabs me into a big hug. Oh, my! She pulls back with a big grin on her face. “Hi, Cassie, please call me Allie. Only my dad calls me Alexa. It’s nice to meet you too.” She smirks at Jesse. “And I am only three years older than you, twerp.” Then she frowns. “I hope dad wasn’t too rough on you guys,” she says looking between me and Jesse.
Jesse walks over to us and puts his arm around my waist. As I put my arm around him, I look up at him and smile.
“Oh, dad was dad. You know how he is. He was the way he always is with me and he wasn’t nice to Cassie at all. I got so pissed off after he went to bed that I drank until I passed out on the couch. Does that tell you anything?” He’s looking at Allie like he’s still mad. “I didn’t even hear him leave this morning and obviously he left without resetting the alarm. Dammit!” Yep, he’s pissed.
I am so uncomfortable right now. “Um, why don’t I go make us some breakfast?” I say pulling away from Jesse. “Maybe you all can talk a bit until I have it ready.” I smile. “I’ll holler at you
when it’s time to eat.” I give Jesse’s waist a squeeze and walk out of the room.
By the time I get everything on the table, Jesse and Allie walk into the kitchen laughing. “No, you took that from me, you meanie,” Allie says as she gives Jesse a punch in the arm. Jesses give her a playful shove. “Well, you took it from me first and it was mine in the first place, you thief!” They both start laughing at each other.
Allie stops and looks at the table. “Geez, are you planning on feeding an army? Look at all the food. I am in heaven!”
“Um, yeah, I guess I did get a bit carried away. But I wasn’t sure what you liked,” I said shyly.
I look around at the food on the table. Scrambled eggs, bacon, sausage, hash browns, toast, fruit, waffles and pancakes. Ha, well at least she should like something out of that!
We all sit down and start digging in. “Oh, my God this is fabulous,” Allie says with a mouth full of food. Jesse adds, “Wow, so you’re a great cook too, huh? Maybe we need to trade off and on with the cooking detail.”
He looks at me and gives me his gorgeous smile. Then he looks over at Allie. “So, how long are you planning on staying?”
Allie looks a little uncomfortable and squirms in her seat. “Ah, well, I’m not quite sure. I told the office I was taking a week of vacation soooo, I was hoping to stay for a while?”
Jesse looks at me and I shrug my shoulders and nod. “I think it would be great if you stayed. I would love to get to know you better,” I say smiling at her. Jesse looks at Allie and smiles. “I’m ok with that. I haven’t seen you in so long. Can’t wait to catch up.”
Allie is jumping in her seat. “Awesome! I was hoping you would say that. And, ya know, it’s your fault we haven’t seen each other in so long. With running all over the country after these guys. Geez, it’s a wonder you haven’t been killed by now you jackass!” She reaches over and punches him in the shoulder.
Jesse gives her a smirk, and I look over at him and smile. What I wouldn’t give to have a family, to have siblings I could horse around with and just love. I sigh.
“What’s wrong, babe?” Jesse asks me with a frown. I look at him with a half-smile. “Oh, nothing. I just love seeing how much you love each other. It’s sweet.” He reaches over and squeezes my shoulder lovingly.
We finish eating and all pitch in to clean up. Then, we head to the living room. I take a seat on the couch and Allie sits on the over-sized chair. Jesse looks at us and says, “Girls, I am gonna go into the office and do a little work, while you all chat.” Then looking at me. “If that’s ok, baby?”
Allie sighs. “Ah, baby, too sweet!”
I giggle and look at Jesse. “Sure, Babe. That’s cool.”
Jesse smirks at Allie then bends down and gives me a soft kiss on the top of my head before walking towards the office. “I won’t be too long, I promise,” he says over his shoulder.
Chapter seventeen
“So, what do you do for a living, Allie?” I ask as we settle in. She looks over to me and smiles. “Well, right now I am managing my dad’s office, but I really, really want to be an author. I have been writing stories for several years, I just haven’t had the extra time to try and publish them.”
“Wow, how cool! I would love to read one. What kind of stories are they?” I ask eagerly. Allies clears her throat. “They’re romance stories, kind of erotic, that’s why I have never shared my passion with Jesse or especially my dad. Oh, my God, my dad would absolutely disown me on the spot!”
I giggle. “Well, I will never tell him. I think he hates me anyway, at least it feels like it by the way he acted towards me last night.” I sigh.
Allie looks at me apologetically. “Oh, it’s not you Cassie, I’m sure! He’s just a stubborn man who hates what Jesse has been doing and just taking it out on you guys.”
“Why is he so upset that Jesse is trying to find his mom’s killers? I mean, I know it’s dangerous and seriously, I get that it’s putting him and you all in danger, but really I think Jesse’s passion for this is admirable. It seems like he has to do this maybe to get closure?”
Allie sighs and take a deep breath. “I know, I know. I am torn about it. I know Jesse feels he needs to do this, but at the same time, I’m so worried about him. I don’t think I could take it if anything were to happen to him. We’re so close. But I get where he is coming from. My mother is no saint, we aren’t close at all. I felt more loved by Claire than I do my own mom. He’s been at this for two years now, so much time gone. I hardly ever get to see him and he doesn’t talk much on the phone.” She sighs again and shakes her head. “I just miss him.”
“So, what does Jesse work on in there?” I say as I tilt my head towards the office. Allie looks over to the office. “Sorry, that’s really for him to tell you, I think. And I am sure he will.” She smiles at me.
“Fair enough.” I smile back. Allie bends over in her seat and puts her hands on her knees. “So, tell me about you guys. You’re really hitting it off, huh?” She smiles deviously at me.
I smile widely. “Um, yeah. Allie, I know I don’t know you or Jesse for that matter very well yet, but I am so falling in love with him. Is that crazy after such a short time with him? I just…I just can’t help it.”
Allie squeaks, “Squeeeeee!!!! Oh, my God! I am so excited and happy for you both! Jesse is a great guy and will make you so happy!” She jumps up and grabs me into a big hug. Wow! Umkay….that went well.
“And no, I don’t think that’s crazy. I think anyone can fall in love fast, if it’s the right person. Why do you think I write romance stories?” She smiles.
At that moment, Jesse walks into the room. Allie is still squealing loudly and hugging me to where I can’t breathe. “Are you all okay?” He asks with a perplexed look on his face.
Allie drops me and runs over to Jesse and pushes him back slightly, as she slams into him. “Oh, my God, Jesse! I am so happy for you guys!” Jesse starts laughing and looks my way. “Um, babe, what’s she talking about?”
I stand up and walk over to them and smile shyly at him. “Well I kind of told her we are together and she just sort of went crazy.”
Jesse starts laughing harder. “Ah, I see. Well you are getting to know my sister rather quickly. She gets really excited pretty easily.”
Allie finally lets Jesse go and comes and stands by me. She grabs my hand and holds it. “We’re gonna be the best of friends. We will spend hours getting to know each other, having sleepovers, girl nights and we will have soooo much fun!” She says looking at me and smiling so big. She really is beautiful.
“Ahem, so you’re saying that Cassie and I really won’t have much time together because you will be monopolizing all her time? Yeah, I don’t think so,” Jesse says smirking at her.
Allie laughs. “Nah, I will let you have plenty of time with your girl, after I leave and maybe, just maybe, a little time while I am here.”
“Gee, thanks sis,” he says with a frown on his face.
We spend the day talking about everything. I told her about my life growing up, the Café, my friends there and how I miss them so much. She tells me about how she hates her job and some day she will get the guts to leave it and follow her dream of writing.
“When this is all over, I really would like for you and Jesse to come meet my friends at the Café. You all will love them and I know they will love you too. They’re really the only true family I have,” I say eagerly.
Jesse scoots closer to me on the couch and puts his arm around me and squeezes. “We are your family too now, baby. Don’t ever forget that.” He kisses me on my cheek.
“Yes, we are and there is no getting rid of us,” Allie says matter of factly.
Later that evening, Allie stands and stretches. “Well, I am bushed. I think I will go clean up and hit the hay. Sleep tight and I’ll see ya in the morning.” She comes over and give us both quick kisses on our cheeks. Awwwww!
After Allie has gone upstairs, Jesse pulls me to him and turns us
towards each other. He begins kissing me all over my face. My forehead. My eyes. My cheeks. “Hmmmm, let’s go upstairs and get to know each other even better,” he says still kissing me. I wiggle a little. “Uh, um. Oh! Yes, um, okay,” I say incoherently.
Chapter eighteen
We make our way upstairs and I go stand by the bed. He backs into the door as he closes it. Looking at me with lust in his eyes, he starts to breathe heavy. He stalks over to me and I back up and hit the bed. Standing in front of me now, I look up at him. As he kisses me, he pushes me onto the bed until he is lying on top of me.
As our tongue’s dance together he brings his right hand up and cups my breast. He squeezes it then it makes his way over to the other to give it equal attention. I pull away from our kiss and bend my head back and moan, “UHHHHH.” He takes this opportunity to suckle my neck, so I lean my head to the right to give him more room. He starts kissing me down the side of my neck to my collarbone and whispers, “You have too many clothes on again.”
I push against his chest until he moves up. We both get up and remove our clothes hastily. We jump back into bed laughing. He moves on top of me, cups my face with his hands and looks into my eyes. “You are the most beautiful woman. I am so glad I found you and I will never let you go,” he says with tears in his eyes.
With my eyes watering now, I grab his face and pull him to me and crush my lips against his. As we kiss, he begins rubbing my right breast then pinching my nipple. I moan into his mouth.
His hand leaves my breast and moves down my body, slowly. It reaches my opening and he begins to rub me there. My hips buck in his hand as he takes his thumb and starts circling my nub, as he continues to rub me. I break from the kiss and look up to the ceiling, then close my eyes.