Single Man Meets Single Mom

by Jules Bennett

  “Ian, I can’t... We can’t...” Words were useless because her mind was telling her one thing and her body was telling her another. “I just met you.”

  “You’re attracted to me.”

  She couldn’t deny the statement. “That doesn’t mean I should act on it. I don’t just go around kissing strangers.”

  “After you learned my name this morning, I was no longer a stranger.”

  Those dark eyes held her gaze. Even without a word the man exuded power, control. Derek had been so laid-back, so uncaring about everything that this was quite a change.

  And Cassie would be lying if she didn’t admit the fact that Ian was the polar opposite of her ex turned her on even more.

  “You’re only here for a short time,” she went on, crossing her arms over her chest. “We can’t just...you know.”

  “Have sex?” he asked, quirking a brow.

  Oh, mercy. The words were now out, hovering in the air, and from the smirk on his face, she was the only one feeling awkward at this moment.

  “Yes, that.” Dear Lord. It wasn’t as if she hadn’t had sex before; she’d had a baby, for crying out loud. But she couldn’t discuss something like that with him. Now she felt foolish and juvenile. “Acting on sexual attraction isn’t something I normally do.”

  That was an understatement, considering she’d had sex with one man and that had been her husband. What if she did throw caution to the wind? What if she had some sordid affair?

  Seriously? Was she contemplating that? She was a mother—a mother to a little girl. What kind of example was she?

  “You’re thinking too hard.” Ian started to step forward, but he stopped when Cassie held up a hand.

  “Don’t. I can’t think when you’re touching me.”

  “I’ll take that as a compliment.”

  Cassie rolled her eyes. “You would.”

  “See? You know me already.”

  One of them had to think rationally. Apparently it would be her. She maneuvered around him toward the opening of the stable.

  “You’re going to have to keep your hands and your mouth to yourself.”

  Those tempting lips curved into a smile. “You’re no fun.”

  “I don’t have time for fun, Ian.”

  And more than likely he was the proverbial good time back in L.A. She could easily see him hopping from one party to the next, beautiful women draped over his arm, falling into his bed.

  Cassie flicked the main switch to light up the pathways between the stalls. The brightness from the antique horseshoe-style chandeliers put a screeching halt to any romantic ambience that had been lurking in the darkening stable.

  When she turned back around, Ian had his hands on his narrow hips, his focus still locked on her. There was a hunger in his eyes she’d never seen from any man before.

  Without a word, he closed the gap between them. Cassie’s heart had just started to settle, but now it picked back up again. She should’ve known better than to think the intense moment would pass.

  Ian framed her face with his hands and brought his mouth to within a fraction of an inch of hers. “A woman who kisses, who responds to my touch without hesitation, has pent-up passion that needs to be released.”

  His lips barely brushed hers. “Come find me when you’re ready.”

  Ian walked around her, leaving her still surrounded by that masculine scent, his arousing words and the tingling from his touch still on her lips.

  She’d known the man twelve hours. There was no way she could handle him being on the grounds for two more months. She was a woman—a woman with needs.

  And a part of her wondered just what would happen if she allowed herself to put those needs first for once.

  Three

  Two days had passed since she’d been up close and personal with Ian, but Cassie was more than aware of his quiet, yet dominating, presence on the estate. She’d seen him from a distance as he talked with Max. She’d found out she’d just missed him on the set of one scene she’d gone to watch, but she refused to admit she was wondering about his schedule, about when she’d see him again. Feel his body against hers.

  She refused to fall for another man who set her hormones into overdrive, so where did that leave her? Considering a fling?

  Groaning, she made her way from the stables to the main house. The sun was making its descent behind the mountains and Emily was at her weekly sleepover with Tessa and Grant. After witnessing the shooting of the engagement scene over the past couple of days, Cassie was feeling more and more nostalgic.

  She missed her mother with each passing day; seeing Rose’s life depicted in the film had Cassie wanting to feel closer to her. And with Emily away for the night, this was the perfect opportunity to reminisce and head up to the attic, where all her mother’s things were stored.

  Rose’s unexpected death had shaken up the family in ways they’d never even imagined. As teen girls, Tessa and Cassie had really taken it hard, but they’d all been there for each other, forming an even stronger bond. But Cassie still ached for her mother’s sweet smile, her encouraging words and her patient guidance.

  Because right now she truly wanted a mother’s advice. Ian had her completely tied in knots. When he’d left her in the stables two days ago, Cassie had never felt so torn, so conflicted in her life. And he hadn’t approached her since. What was up with that? Had he changed his mind? Had he decided she wasn’t worth the trouble?

  Why was she even worried about this anyway? No doubt Ian was used to those flawless women who had been surgically perfected. More than likely Cassie’s extra pounds and shapelier curves were not what Ian was looking for in a...fling? What was he doing exactly with his flirting? Where had he expected this to go?

  Never mind. He’d thrown out the word sex like nothing. Cassie knew exactly where he was headed with his flirting.

  Leaving the attic door propped open, Cassie headed up the narrow wooden staircase. At the top she flicked on the small light that was so soft, it really only set off a glow on one wall. But that was the wall where her mother’s boxes were stacked.

  In the silence of the evening, Cassie was all alone with her thoughts, her memories. She pulled the lid off the first bin and choked back tears.

  How could anyone’s life, especially that of her beautiful, loving, vivacious mother, be condensed to a few boxes? All the memories, all the smiles, all the comfort Rose Barrington had offered to the world...all gone. Only tangible items remained stored neatly in plastic bins.

  Cassie couldn’t help but smile. Her very organized mother wouldn’t have had it any other way.

  After going through pictures from her parents’ simple, elegant wedding day, Cassie knew the wedding dress was around. Tessa actually planned on wearing it for her upcoming vows, and Cassie couldn’t wait to see her baby sister in their mother’s gown. Just that image was enough to have her tearing up again.

  This film was certainly wreaking havoc on her emotions, that was for sure.

  Cassie kept searching through storage bins, looking for a box or a folded garment bag. Would the crew need to duplicate that dress for the wedding scene? More than likely they’d already researched pictures to find inspiration for the costumes, just as they had for the settings.

  Cassie had been itching for a chance to look through the old photos again herself.

  Moving from the bins, Cassie went and looked inside the narrow antique wardrobe, where she discovered a white garment bag. Slowly unzipping, so as not to tear the precious material inside, Cassie peeled back the bag and pulled out the classy gown she’d been hunting for.

  The dress had been preserved so that the cream-colored material was still perfect. Tessa would be just as beautiful a bride as their mother had been.

  Cassie had thought about wearing it for her own wedding, but her ex had insisted on getting married at the courthouse. She should’ve known then that he wasn’t the one. Not that there was anything wrong with a small civil ceremony, but Derek had k
nown she’d always wanted a wedding in the small church where her parents had married. She’d wanted the lacy gown, the rice in her hair as they ran to their awaiting car...the special wedding night.

  None of those young-girl dreams had come true.

  Unable to resist, Cassie stripped from her jeans, boots, button-up and bra and pulled on the strapless floor-length dress. A straight cut with lace overlay may be simple to some, but the design was perfect to Cassie.

  Smoothing a hand down the snug bodice, Cassie went to the antique mirror in the corner. If she fell in love one day—real love this time—maybe she could wear it. Wouldn’t that be a beautiful tradition? Rose, Tessa and Cassie all wearing the same gown. Perhaps if the material held up and the gown was well preserved again, little Emily would one day walk down the aisle wearing the dress her grandmother had.

  If it weren’t for baby weight, the frock would fit perfectly. Unfortunately, right now her boobs threatened to spill out the top and lace was definitely not a forgiving material, so her curves were very...prominent.

  Behind her, the attic door clicked. Cassie turned, her hand to her beating heart as footsteps sounded up the stairs. No time to cover up all her goods, so she kept her hand in place over her generous cleavage.

  “Hello?” she called.

  Ian rounded the landing and froze. He took in her state of dress—or undress, really—of course zeroing in on where her hand had settled.

  So much for her evening of reminiscing. Could fate be any more mocking? Dangling this sexy stranger in her face when she knew full well that nothing could or should happen?

  “What are you doing?” she asked, keeping her hand in place and trying to remain calm. Kind of hard when she was on display and just the sight of the man had her heart accelerating.

  “I wanted to apologize for the other day,” he told her, coming up the last couple of steps. “I never force myself on a woman, and I didn’t want you to have that impression of me. But if I’m going to be here any length of time, and I am, we need to clear the air.”

  Clear the air? Cassie sighed and prayed because she had a sinking feeling they may be there for a while.

  “Well, now’s the perfect time because if that door latched all the way, we’re locked in here.”

  Ian drew his brows together. “Locked in?”

  “The door locks from the outside. That’s why I had left it standing open.”

  Pulling up the hem of the dress with one hand and trying to keep the bodice up with the other, she moved around him down the steps and tugged on the handle. She leaned her forehead against the door and groaned.

  “I didn’t know,” he murmured behind her.

  Cassie turned and looked up the steps to see Ian looking menacing and dangerous—in that sexy way only he could—standing at the top. His muscles filled out his long-sleeved T, those wide shoulders stretching the material, and his dark jeans fit his narrow hips beautifully.

  She knew firsthand exactly how that body felt against hers. Knew just how well he could kiss a woman into forgetting her morals.

  In a house this size, with only her father living here and his bedroom on the first floor, no one would hear them yell until morning, when they could open the small window and catch someone’s attention.

  Risking another full-body glance at Ian, Cassie knew she was in big, big trouble. Her attraction to him was the strongest she’d ever felt toward a man. But it wasn’t so much the level of heat between them that scared her; it was the quick onset of it. It felt as if she had no control over her own reaction. She’d been helplessly drawn to this intriguing man. How could she trust her emotions right now? He was honestly the first man to find her desirable since her ex. Was he just a sexy diversion or were her feelings more in-depth than that?

  Earlier tonight she’d flirted with the idea of a fling, but now the reality of being trapped with Ian made her heart flutter and nerves dance in her belly.

  Her gaze met his. Crackling tension vibrated between them in the soft glow and the silence.

  And Cassie had all night to decide what to do with all her attraction and the hungry look in Ian’s eyes...

  * * *

  Ian stared down at Cassie, struck by those creamy exposed shoulders, that poured-on, vintage-style wedding gown molded to her sweet curves. From his vantage point, he could see even more of her very exposed breasts and most impressive cleavage—even though she was trying her hardest to keep gravity from taking over the top of that dress.

  Mercy. Being straight in front of her had been torture, but this angle offered a much more interesting, gut-clenching view. Not that he was complaining.

  Being stuck in an attic with Cassie would be no hardship because he’d caught a glimpse of the passion she held beneath her vulnerability. And there wasn’t a doubt in his mind that her war with herself stemmed from some past hurt.

  Cassie attempted to cross her arms over her breasts, which only tortured him further, because she failed to cover the goods and actually ended up offering him an even more enticing view. Was she doing this as punishment?

  “Text Max and have him come to the main house and ring the doorbell. Dad won’t be in bed yet.”

  Ian shook his head. “Sorry. I only came over to apologize to you, so I left my phone in my trailer to charge.”

  Groaning, Cassie tipped her head back against the door and closed her eyes. “This isn’t happening to me,” she muttered. “This cannot be happening.”

  Ian had to smile. Of all the scenarios he’d envisioned on his short walk from his trailer to the main house, he hadn’t once thought of being stuck for hours with someone so sexy, so unexpected, and wearing a wedding dress to boot.

  This couldn’t have been scripted any worse...or better, depending on the point of view.

  Cassie lifted the dress and stomped back up the steps, her shoulder slamming into him as she stormed by.

  “Wipe that smirk off your face, Ian. Nothing about this is comical.”

  “Can’t you call someone with your phone?” he asked, turning to face her.

  Cassie propped her hands on her hips. “No. I came up here to be alone, to think.”

  Damn, she was even sexier when she was angry. But getting too wrapped up with Cassie Barrington was a dangerous move. She wasn’t a fling type of girl and he’d pushed too hard in the stables. Had she given in to his blatant advances, he knew she would’ve regretted it later.

  He needed to do the right thing and keep his hands off her. He was here for two main purposes: keep Max happy and sign Lily so she didn’t go to his rival. Period.

  But his hormones didn’t get the memo, because the more he was around Cassie, the more alluring and sexy she became. Of course, now that he’d seen a sample, he had to admit, he wanted to see more. That dress... Yeah, she looked like a 1950s pinup. Sexy as hell, with all the right curves and none of that stick-thin, anorexic nonsense, and she was even hotter with a slight flush from anger.

  For the past two days he’d seen her working with her sister, training the horses and driving him unbelievably mad with the way her lush body filled out a pair of jeans. He’d seriously had to get his damn hormones in check and then approach her with a much-needed apology for his Neanderthal tendencies.

  But now that he was here, those hormones were front and center once again, overriding all common sense and rational thoughts.

  “How did you know I was up here?” she asked. “I figured all the crew was either in their trailers or back at the hotel.”

  “I ran into Grant on my way to your cottage. He told me you were here. As I was coming in the back door, your cook, Linda, was going out for the night and she said you mentioned coming to the attic.”

  “You came all this way just to apologize? I’m sure you would’ve seen me tomorrow.”

  Ian shrugged, shoving his hands into his pockets. “True, but I knew too many people would be around tomorrow. I assumed you wouldn’t want to discuss this in front of an audience. Besides, I think we need to
address this spark between us and figure out what to do with it since I’ll be here several weeks.”

  Cassie threw her hands in the air. “Could you at least turn around so I can put my clothes back on?”

  His eyes traveled down her body, darting to the pile of clothes behind her, zeroing in on the leopard-print bra lying on top.

  “Sure,” he said, trying to get the visual of her in that leopard bra out of his mind before he went insane.

  Fate may have landed him up here with the sassy, sexy Ms. Barrington, and fate also provided a window directly in front of him, where he was afforded a glorious view of Cassie’s reflection as she changed. Of course, that made him a bit of a jerk, but no man with air in his lungs would look away from that enticing view. This evening just kept getting better and better.

  Cassie would probably die before she asked for help with the zipper, so he didn’t offer. And she didn’t have any trouble. As the dress slid down her body, Ian’s knees nearly buckled.

  Lush didn’t even begin to describe her. Her full breasts, rounded belly and the slight flare of her hips were a lethal combination.

  “As I was saying,” he went on, cursing his voice when it cracked like that of an adolescent. “I realize that neither of us was prepared for the instant physical attraction—”

  “You’re delusional,” she muttered as she tugged her jeans up over her hips and matching bikini panties.

  “But just because I find you sexy as hell doesn’t mean I can’t control myself.”

  Her hands froze on her back as she fastened her bra. Apparently his words had struck a chord. She glanced up and caught his gaze in the reflection. Busted.

  “Seriously?” she asked with a half laugh. “Why did you even turn around?”

  “I didn’t know the window was there.” That was the truth.

  “And you weren’t going to say anything?”

  Ian spun around—no point in being subtle now. “I’m a guy. What do you think?”

  Rolling her eyes, Cassie shrugged into her shirt and buttoned it up with jerky, hurried motions.