by Tracey Smith
I realize now that I have been a pawn all these years and that your great-uncle had been tracking you for a long time. You will see it all in the file. I will leave it for you.
I am sorry that I am too much of a coward to stay and explain all of this in person. I am sorry for every part I played in the deaths of the people in your family. Mostly I am sorry for bringing you back to Cedar Hollow. Leave while you can.
Dean Woodard
The parting words were chilling, Cassidy shuddered as they sunk in.
“Where’s the file?” Ben asked. He stood and walked to the desk rummaging through the papers that were scattered around.
“That must be what he was looking for.” Cassidy said softly, still seated on the vinyl chair by the door.
“You think it was missing?” Ben asked, stopping abruptly in his search.
“Yes. Whoever is trying to kill me got to the file first. Maybe that’s why Mr. Woodard left in such a hurry.” Cassidy said in a detached way.
“It’s time to go to the Sherriff.” Ben declared.
For the next several hours Ben and Cassidy answered questions for the Sherriff, showing him the letter and explaining everything that had happened until that point. They had lunch delivered from Jenny’s Diner, then continued with the inquisition late into the evening. When they finally headed back up the mountain it was almost dark.
“I never thought I’d say this, but I’m glad to be back at the house.” Cassidy laughed, as they pulled up.
“It’s been a long day.” Ben agreed as they got out of the car.
“Do you think Sherriff Lockwood is going to be able to figure out who’s behind this?” Cassidy asked.
“I don’t know. But if he doesn’t I will.” Ben vowed. “Are you hungry?” He asked as they climbed the porch steps.
“A little.” Cassidy admitted. When they entered the house they stepped into complete darkness. No light was coming from the any room on the first floor. It reminded Cassidy of the first night she’d arrived. She rubbed her arms to chase away the goosebumps.
“I called Lucy at lunchtime and explained why we were stuck in town. I told her not to prepare dinner because I didn’t know when we’d be back.” Ben explained. “I’m sorry. We should’ve grabbed something before coming back up the mountain. I totally forgot.”
“I’m sure we can manage.” Cassidy said as they made their way to the dark kitchen. Ben flipped the switch on the wall and bright light flooded the room.
“I must warn you I’m not nearly as good a cook as Mrs. Owens.” Cassidy teased.
“I know a thing or two.” Ben winked as he crossed to the fridge. He rummaged around for a moment and then produced a large covered bowl.
“My specialty!” He declared carrying the bowl to the stove. He retrieved a pot and poured the contents of the bowl inside. “Reheated vegetable soup.” Ben smiled as he turned on the stove.
“Impressive.” Cassidy laughed as she grabbed some glasses from the cabinet and fixed two ice waters. Ben joined her at the table.
“How are you holding up?” He asked earnestly. He placed his hand over hers on the table.
“I’m… processing.” Cassidy answered honestly. She still felt overwhelmed by all the information she’d learned in the last few days. It was a lot to take in.
“I bet you’ll be glad to get back home and away from all this.” Ben said quietly as he stared at their hands on the table.
Cassidy wasn’t sure how to respond. Regardless of the danger at the moment, leaving was the last thing on her mind.
“I don’t know.” She said after a beat of silence. “Without Mr. Woodard here I’m not even sure how the estate transfer will be handled. I guess I need to find another attorney.”
“That could take a while.” Ben said hopefully.
“I’d be ok with that.” Cassidy said softly, looking up into Ben’s fiery green eyes.
“Me too.” He smiled at her and she felt a thrill of awareness surge through her.
“Cassidy, things have been different since you arrived.” Ben told her, tracing circles on the top of her hand with the pad of his thumb. “I’m not sure that I want them to go back to the way they were.” He admitted staring intently at their joined hands. “I never realized how lonely I was until I met you.”
“Neither did I.” Cassidy whispered. “I knew I was beginning to feel restless, unfulfilled. But when I look at my life now I realize how empty it is. I guess it was easier when I didn’t realize it, but now it seems like it would be unbearable to go back to that.” Cassidy couldn’t believe how honest she was being with him and with herself. She’d never allowed herself to be this vulnerable before.
“You don’t have to go back.” Ben said softly. His eyes were pleading. Her heart was racing almost as fast as her mind. She wanted to scream that she would stay forever, that she never wanted to leave, but regardless of how empty it may seem she did have a life back in Chicago.
“I can’t just quit my job.” Cassidy said reluctantly. She wasn’t able to completely disconnect from reality, even if she wanted to.
“No, of course not. I didn’t mean that.” Ben agreed quickly. He shuffled his feet nervously under the table. She realized this was hard for him too.
“You know, I’ve never been to Chicago.” Ben said with forced casualness.
“You should come visit, I’d love to show you around.” She encouraged.
“I’d like that.” He smiled.
“Maybe I could stay through the fall season.” Cassidy suggested. “Just to get things in order with the property.” She added anxiously, not wanting to sound too presumptuous.
“I’d like that too, and then maybe I could come visit Chicago for a while.” Ben added. Cassidy smiled with relief, reassured that neither of them wanted this to end. He intertwined his fingers with hers and brought her hand to his lips. The oven timer dinged. Ben stood from the table and ladled the soup into bowls.
“Dinner is served.” He bowed playfully as he placed the bowl in front of her.
“A girl could get used to this.” She laughed.
“I wouldn’t get used to it, Miss St. Claire, we work hard around here.” He said sternly but his eyes danced playfully and a smile teased the corner of his mouth.
“Oh I’m well aware, Mr. Riley!” Cassidy assured him. “Speaking of which, do you think there’s enough hot water for a bath?” She asked hopefully as she sipped her soup.
“I’m sure we can manage.” Ben smiled guiltily. “Cassidy, I have to admit something. There’s always plenty of hot water.” Ben looked over at her sheepishly.
Cassidy’s mouth dropped open. “You mean to tell me you made me haul buckets of water across the backyard for nothing?” Cassidy demanded.
“It wasn’t for nothing.” Ben shrugged, barely containing his laughter. “You put on quite the show. Have you ever considered entering a wet t-shirt contest? I bet you’d win.” He teased.
Cassidy slapped his arm. “You’re awful!” She knew she should be angry, but she couldn’t quite hold back her own smile, his sexy grin was too contagious.
“Isn’t that why you like me?” Ben winked and flashed his crooked smile, which earned him another slap on the arm. Cassidy crossed her arms over her chest and glared at him.
“I am sorry.” Ben chuckled. “Please don’t be mad.” He tugged at her clenched arms and she released them, smiling at him and rolling her eyes.
“That’s ok.” She shrugged, taking another sip of soup. “You made up for it with your sexy farmer striptease.” She smiled at the memory.
“My what?” Ben laughed, practically choking on his own spoonful of soup.
“Oh like you didn’t know I was watching when you took your shirt off.” Cassidy challenged.
“You were watching?” Ben probed, looking at her intently. She blushed instantly. She knew that look in his eye, she’d seen it before.
“I couldn’t look away.” She admitted huskily. The energy between them sizzled.
This was one of the things she loved about being around Ben, the friendship and the passion. She’d never experienced a dynamic like this in any of her past relationships.
“Ready for that bath?” He asked suggestively.
“Thought you’d never ask.” She replied smiling seductively. She stood from the table and carried their bowls to the sink.
“Leave them.” Ben whispered against her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist and hugged her back to his chest. She could feel his erection pressing against her backside as he nuzzled her neck.
The dinner dishes forgotten, she turned from the sink and followed him up the kitchen stairs into an unfamiliar hallway. Cassidy had never been to this wing of the house before. Ben took her by the hand and led her down the dark corridor. Cassidy glanced behind her and noticed a set of double doors at the end of the hall. She assumed that must be the master suite where Mr. and Mrs. Owens lived. Ben turned a corner as the hall veered to the right and finally came to a stop in front of a solitary door that stood alone in a little alcove.
“This is my room.” He said quietly. “There’s something I wanted to grab.” He explained as he opened the door. Cassidy followed him inside. Ben turned on a desk lamp which cast a very dim glow across the room. The room was round with high ceilings. Bookshelves lined all the walls except for a portion of curved windows covered in heavy drapes. Cassidy realized this room was inside one of the turrets on the house. A solitary bed stood like an island in the middle of the room, along with a large mahogany desk buried beneath volumes of books and a small leather sofa.
“This was the family library.” Ben explained. “It had been closed up for years until I discovered it. I don’t sleep well and I started coming up here every night to read. I have a room downstairs off the kitchen, but Lucy got so tired of finding me asleep on the couch in here that she finally insisted I move my bed upstairs a few years ago.” Ben smiled.
Cassidy skimmed her hand along a row of books as she read the titles. This was a side of Ben that she’d never imagined.
“Got it.” Ben said, holding up a small gift bag. He crossed the room with a shy smile on his face and handed the bag to Cassidy.
“I picked this up at the mall in Montgomery. I thought you might like it.” He shrugged nervously as he handed her the bag. Cassidy felt tears spring into her eyes, not since her parents had anyone ever bought her a gift before when there wasn’t a holiday that called for it. She looked inside the bag and the tears spilled over as she laughed.
“Bubble bath!” She exclaimed as she pulled the bottle from the bag.
“It’s not much.” Ben said sheepishly.
“I love it!” She assured him as she threw her arms around his neck and hugged him. It was the most thoughtful gift anyone had ever given her.
He hugged her tight, the tension draining from his shoulders. “I’m glad you like it.” He whispered against her hair.
“You know the only thing better than a bubble bath?” Cassidy asked as she slowly pulled away, allowing her hands to slide down his muscular chest.
“What’s that?” Ben asked keeping his hands securely on her waist so that they were still pressed hip to hip.
“A bubble bath for two.” Cassidy answered taking his hand and leading him out of the room back into the hall.
Her confidence waned as they approached the bedroom. This wasn’t spontaneous. It wasn’t just about succumbing to passion, after everything that had been said between them tonight this was about something more. Cassidy was suddenly anxious, she could feel her heart racing as she opened the door with a trembling hand. Ben followed her into the room.
He closed the door and stepped up behind her. She stood immobilized in the middle of the room. He reached up and swept her long blonde hair to one side. His fingertips skimmed the nape of her neck and the sensation went all the way through her. Her tension melted away as she felt his hot breath against her skin.
She leaned back against him as he placed a kiss just below her ear. He slid his arm around her waist placing his hand flat against her stomach to pull her back tighter against him. She could feel his excitement pressing into her and she moved her hips to rub against him. His hand slid lower.
With his other hand he began to undue the buttons of her sweater, agonizingly slowly, as he kissed and nipped at her neck. Finally when the last button was undone he slid his hand inside grasping her breast. She moaned and rocked her hips back against him. He slid his hand down to cup her through her jeans. She let out a soft cry.
Abruptly he released her spinning her around in his arms and capturing her mouth with his in a searing kiss. She collapsed against him and he held her tight kissing her thoroughly.
Slowly he pulled back and looked into her eyes. His eyes were searching, hopeful and a little bit awestruck. He kissed her once more softly on the lips then smiled playfully as he bent down to retrieve the gift bag that she’d dropped at her feet.
“Ready for that bath?” He asked. She could only nod she was still dazed from his kiss. He grinned as he took her hand and led her to the bathroom.
He went to the tub leaving her standing in the middle of the tile floor. She watched as he adjusted the temperature of the water and then added the bubble bath. Frothy water began filling the deep tub.
She shifted her feet anxiously as she watched him prepare the bath. Her nerves were back. She pulled at the edges of her unbuttoned sweater trying to cover herself. He turned from the tub and moved toward her with a single-minded determination.
Without a word he gently reached out to slide her sweater down over her shoulders. She let it slip from her arms. He traced a finger down the center of her chest and her stomach muscles quivered. He slid his hand around her back and found the hook on her bra. He snapped it open with his fingers and her bra fell away from her. He tugged it down her arms and tossed it on the floor with her sweater.
He cupped her breasts gently pulling on her nipples then slid his hand down past her bellybutton to the edge of her jeans. He undid the button and slowly knelt down in front of her as he pulled them down along with her panties and helped her step out of them. Her knees trembled. He stood slowly as he trailed his eyes up her body skimming his fingertips along her sensitive skin. She stood before him naked and exposed. She could feel his eyes on her.
He reached up to remove the bobby pins from her hair and dropped them to the floor. He ran his fingers through her hair spreading the thick golden waves over her shoulders.
“You’re beautiful.” He whispered as he kissed her neck. She felt a catch in her throat. No one had ever said that to her before with such genuine sincerity.
He glanced over his shoulder at the full tub and turned toward it to shut off the faucet. Cassidy stepped up beside him. It was her turn.
She reached up and caressed the side of his face, trailing her thumb across his bottom lip. She stood on her toes to bring her mouth to his, placing a feather soft kiss on his lips. She then kissed his jaw, his neck, the dip between his collarbones. Her hands slid down his chest to the edge of his shirt.
She grabbed the hem and pulled it over his head. Beneath was rock solid muscle. She explored the contours of his chest and arms, examining his body intimately. He stood before her, silently watching her. She ran her hands down his abdomen to the button of his jeans. She knelt before him and heard him suck in a ragged breath. She looked up at him from under her lashes and smiled. She undid the button of his jeans and pulled them down.
His erection sprang out and she gripped it in her hand, flicking her tongue against the tip of it. She ran her tongue up and down the length of him and felt his knees shaking. She loved that she could make him tremble.
He moaned as she took him inside her mouth. Over and over she drew him into her mouth, reveling in the feel of silk over steel. She could feel his body pulsing and her rhythm increased as his need did. Finally he grasped her shoulders and brought her to her feet.
“If you don’t stop I’m going to take you
before we ever get into this bath.” He growled holding her at arm’s length. She smiled and stepped around him, stepping into the hot bath.
She turned to face him, still standing in the tub and beckoned him to join her. He stepped in next to her and they sat down facing each other. He stretched his legs beneath her and she wrapped her legs around his waist. He put his hands on her hips and pulled her up against him so that she straddled his lap. She could feel his hard, pulsing excitement rubbing against her beneath the warm, bubbly water.
He reached his hand up to drizzle warm water over her shoulders. It ran down her breasts in rivulets. Her nipples hardened. He leaned her back in his arms, cradling her head as he dipped her long blonde hair back into the water. She allowed her back to arch and her body to float on the surface of the water as he ran his fingers through her hair, massaging her scalp under the warm water. She wrapped her legs tighter around his waist pulling their bodies together so that his erection rubbed against her center creating an erotic friction below the water.
He leaned forward to take one of her breasts in his mouth, teasing the hardened nipple with his tongue. She continued to allow her body to be pliant in his arms, while her legs held fast to his waist. He kissed her exposed throat and finally brought his hot mouth down over hers. She took his tongue inside her mouth and came alive in his arms.
She sat up wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing him deeply. She rocked her hips beneath the water so that she slid up and down against his hardness. He grasped the sides of her face delving his tongue inside her mouth then ran his hands down her torso until they’d reached her waist. He grabbed her hips, lifted her up and pulled her down onto his long hard shaft. She cried out as she took all of him inside her. She clung to him, their bodies entwined as they moved in a sensual rhythm. Water sloshed from the tub all around them.
Suddenly Ben stood, holding Cassidy against his chest with her legs still wrapped around his waist. He stepped from the tub and carried her to the bed, still buried deep inside her. He laid her back, coming down on top of her with soapy bubbles still clinging to his wet overheated skin.