by Stacia Wolf
Helping her into the truck, he realized he was starting to get used to this heightened sense of awareness he experienced whenever Cassie came near.
* * * *
"Cass."
"Mmm?” She rolled her head toward Mike, the comfortable drowsiness receding at the sound of his voice.
"We're here, Cass. You dozed. You should go to bed."
Oh, yeah, bed. With warm hands and hot breath traveling all over her skin, kneading, touching, probing. Especially probing.
Except Mike meant she'd go to bed alone. No fun there.
"Cass."
She opened her eyes. He hovered a few inches away. His sandalwood-laced all-male scent did delicious things to her insides; she felt moistness gathering in her juncture.
The instant he noticed her watching him, he pulled back. Great, he still meant to be a Boy Scout where she was concerned.
She blinked, trying to dispel some of the grogginess. She didn't want the night to end. She felt close to Mike, and something inside her that always ached didn't hurt right now. The pain was gone.
But she could tell by the stiffness of his body that he felt uncomfortable. She should take pity on him and let him go.
"By the way, thanks for sticking up for me with your mom. I heard some of what you said."
He frowned. “She needed to be reined in. She didn't have the right to say those things about you."
Cassie'd heard Jessie call her ‘a woman like that.’ Like what? Someone who slept around? She snorted at the thought. “Yeah, like my one lover makes me a woman of loose morals."
"One lover?"
Cass winced. Damn, busted. She wanted to smack her groggy brain. How worldly and sexy could a one-man woman be? “I meant this year.” Gee, Cass, that was lame.
She felt Mike's eyes traveling over her face. “You're a rotten liar. You always have been. At least when not on the phone.” He didn't linger on his reference to her ‘dirty book hour.’ “You're almost thirty and you've only been with one guy? What about all the guys you dated in high school and college?"
Her laugh felt bitter. “The ones Cal always ran off before anything serious happened? I guess I let him, though. I wanted to save myself for the right guy. I wanted to do better than my mom. And since the divorce...” Her voice faded and she grimaced. “I picked the wrong guy to date. Found out that he was married before we became intimate. Unfortunately, he happened to be my new boss. Hence the move home."
She heard Mike shift in his seat, then felt his hands on her shoulders, turning her toward him. Her bare flesh sizzled at his touch. Her eyes flew open at the shock of it.
"And since then?” he asked.
His face seemed so close; all she needed to do was lean in. “I don't suppose I could distract you with a kiss?"
"Cass.” The tension in his body told her that she'd turned him on. “Behave."
He placed his hand over hers. The heat of his touch immediately sent her pulse off the scale. The sudden rush of blood through her body made her dizzy with desire, made her dream of what she'd do with him.
"Cass,” he said again. “You've been home for six months. Why haven't you been with anyone?"
She wanted to tell him exactly why so badly she shook. But she couldn't. How could she explain that the only guy who caused butterflies in her stomach, her heart to flutter and her pulse to pound was him? He might bring up the ‘sister’ thing again, and she'd die of humiliation.
"Nothing's felt right for me. I want things to be right this time, not because someone else believes they are."
His eyes, mostly hidden by the shadows across his face, widened. “Is that what Ken did? Convince you that you two belonged together?"
She nodded, and he kissed her forehead. “Damn, Cass, you shock me."
"I do?” She lifted her eyes to his, her heart tilting at the tenderness in his gaze.
"Yes, you do. I keep thinking, ‘I know Cass, I've known her all my life.’ But you're constantly surprising me. Like now. You're saving yourself."
Her face burned. How embarrassing. She'd always tried to present a more modern, up-beat personality. More like her mom, who everyone loved, except not as over-the-top as Lucia. She forced out a laugh. “That's me. Waiting for Prince Charming."
Mike's mouth twisted. “And you thought Ken was it?"
She rubbed her knuckles on her forehead. She still felt rummy from her nap, and Mike's questions hit too close to home. “He was the closest I've found that...” The words dried up. She couldn't say what she really felt.
He was the closest guy I found that could come near to making me forget about you. She couldn't say that. Instead, she punted.
"...that I felt comfortable with. I don't feel confident when it comes to sex. If I'm not at ease with a guy, when he starts pushing for more, I tend to run."
How humiliating to have to confess this, all of it baldly true. But Mike, always a Boy Scout, rose to the occasion. He stroked her cheek with the back of his fingers. “Cass, you're a sensitive person, you always have been. I'm guessing that you need a pretty strong emotional connection to be truly in tune with a guy. Once you find the right person, the rest will work itself out."
What had started as a way to distract Mike from her real feelings became something else, an insight into herself. “Do you really think so?” she asked. “It could be that simple?"
Mike chuckled. “Finding the right person is seldom simple, honey. We tend to get sidetracked along the way.” He frowned, and Cassie knew he was thinking about his failed marriage.
"Is that what happened to you?"
He nodded as his fingers trailed over her cheek, down her throat, settling on her collarbone, tracing the sensitive area over and over again. Her body trembled; a tiny flutter shook her. But she did her best to hide her response, unwilling to break this new level of emotional intimacy that surrounded them.
"I think so. At first, I believed she was the one for me, but that barely lasted past the honeymoon. She became restless and soon the criticism started. I didn't take her out enough, I was gone too much, I didn't make enough money. I shouldn't have been surprised that she cheated on me, but it still hit me hard."
Sympathy for him welled up inside her. “I'm sorry.” I know what it feels like to have that happen. But she kept silent. Right now, she had his sympathy. She didn't want his pity. Instead, she pressed a soft kiss to his cheek.
The kiss was a mistake. As her lips touched his cheek, she felt him stiffen, and knew that he'd detected her accelerated pulse, her shallow breathing, the excitement that coursed through her. He sat back in his seat, taking a deep breath. “You must be tired,” he said. “I'll walk you to your door."
As Mike got out of the car, Cassie decided to let it go for the night. If she pushed too hard, he'd withdraw totally, his discomfort overriding his need to help her, and himself, out of unwanted romantic entanglements.
Loud yipping erupted from near Mike.
"What the—!” He twisted around. A tiny brown streak shot out from one of the bushes, and Cassie immediately recognized Suzy. Her shock at her pet being outside held her still, then she jumped out of the car to corral the dog.
"Suzy! Come here. Quiet!” she commanded as the tiny dog continued to bark at Mike, who she obviously saw as an intruder. After a minute Cassie finally got a hand on her and lifted her into her arms.
"How did she get out?” Mike asked.
"I don't know.” She looked over at the side gate, but it was shut. “They have a doggie door so they can come and go outside as they please.” She could hear the other two barking from the living room. “The others are still inside. I don't understand this."
Looking at the house, she felt a sudden, uneasy tension in her stomach. “I didn't leave all the lights on."
He frowned. “You might have had a break-in. Use your cell phone and call the police.” He headed for the front door.
Realizing his intent, she grabbed his arm. “You can't go in. Someone could still be in
there."
"Cass, I'll be fine. Whoever let Suzy out is probably gone, or running out the back door. Call the police and wait here.” He jerked on his arm, but she didn't let go. Fear for him pounded through her.
"No, I won't. I—"
Suddenly the front door flew open. “Cassie, honey. And Mike. Hello.” Jake smiled at them, apparently unaware of their stress. “And you found the little rat. When I got here, she flew out the door and wouldn't come in. I finally gave up."
Cassie entered the house, holding Suzy. Mike followed her, shutting the door behind him. Apparently he'd forgotten he'd meant to only walk her to the door.
"Dad, what are you doing here?” Cassie asked.
Her father's eyes darted from Mike to Cassie, then settled on a point over Cassie's shoulder. Uh oh. She knew that look. Her brother would get that same scheming gleam in his eyes. But apparently Jake didn't want to discuss it in front of Mike.
"Just came by to see my darling girl. Hope you didn't mind me letting myself in."
"No, Dad, of course not.” She set Suzy down on the couch, and she immediately yipped softly, demanding Jake's attention.
He ruffled Suzy's fur. “This dog's rotten, Cassie. Have you thought of a frontal lobotomy for her?"
Mock-growling, Cassie frowned at her dad. “She's fine the way she is. She just happens to have good taste in people."
"Yeah, me earlier,” Mike groused.
Jake chuckled. “Then she does have good taste.” His expression sobered. “Cassie told me what was going on here, Mike. I expect you not to take advantage of the situation."
Cassie groaned, even as Mike nodded. “Dad!” She could feel two pools of color flaming on her cheeks.
His brows knitted together. “Cassie, I'm still your dad, and I have the right to lay down the law.” Leaning forward, he kissed her cheek. “Well, it's late. I'll talk to you later.” With a tuneless whistle, he let himself out.
Mike turned speculative eyes to her. “I wonder what he's up to?"
Cassie shrugged. “He's a Prescott, not a Delistraty, so it can't be too bad."
Mike laughed. “You've got a point."
Cassie nodded, distracted by his sparkling brown eyes. Mike's nearness drove all thought of her parents out of her mind. Instead, she reversed her decision to let Mike off the hook for tonight. This might be her best opportunity to work him out of her system. Briefly she thought of that ‘sister’ thing. Time to face her fears.
She popped an orange mint into her mouth, trying to gain courage. “Remember what we were talking about earlier? About me needing to find someone I could connect with, that I could feel comfortable with, before I could work everything out? Well, I think I've found him."
Drat, her intentions must have showed in her eyes, because Mike backed up hastily. “Cass...” he began.
What the heck. In for a penny, in for a pound. “That guy's you, Mike."
And with that, she launched herself at him, wrapping her arms around his neck. Then she planted her lips on his and held on for dear life.
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Chapter Five
A tazer couldn't have stunned Mike more than Cassie's kiss. It shot through his defenses, tore away all logical thought, devastated any counterattack he could have launched. Her touch and the feel of her hungry, greedy mouth against his made him think of total surrender, not girding for battle.
Battle. The only thing he could think of fighting right now were her clothes to gain access to the lushness they covered.
His mind fought for some sanity. He gripped her shoulders, pushing her back. Her swollen mouth lifted into a cat-who-had-tasted-the-cream smile. “Do I still feel like a sister to you?"
"A sister?” His hormones raged through him so strongly that those words didn't make sense.
"Yes, Mike, a sister. You told me once that kissing me was like kissing a sister.” Her mouth twisted. He could see the hurt in her eyes.
He shook his head, trying to understand. “Did I say that?” He could still taste her and her little orange mints. He couldn't keep things straight when she invaded his every thought.
"Yes, you did, at my high school graduation party. Right after I kissed you.” She smiled slightly, and his eyes were drawn to her mouth.
"I remember. Yeah. I was trying to convince myself that was how I should think of you. I was trying to stay away from you. Our parents, Cal, your social status..."
"You're so hung up on that. I don't care if my grandparents are the freaking Kennedys or trailer trash. Either way, I'd still be who I am."
Before he could react, she kissed him again, her tongue teasing his. When she pulled back, a challenging smile graced her delicious mouth. “So here's the question. Do you still think of me as a sister?"
Her question hit him low in the gut. She'd told him so much about her past and insecurities that he wasn't fooled by her flippant behavior. She wasn't as worldly as she pretended. She needed reassurance as to her sexual attraction.
"Honey, I've never thought of you as anything other than the sexiest pain in the ass I've ever had to endure."
Her laughter melted him, and her arms wrapped about his neck, crushing her breasts into his chest. He couldn't resist; he pulled her tight against him. Before his self-restraint totally snapped, he tried one more time to talk sense into one of them. Gripping her shoulders, he held her away from him.
"We can't do this. Your brother's my best friend. We're friends. I don't want to ruin that."
Her tongue darted out, moistening her lips. His groin tightened at the thought of it flicking over his body, tasting and exploring, traveling downward...
Damn, the heat she generated with one swirl of her tongue.
"Thanks to your little ruse about us seeing each other, everyone already think we're sleeping together,” she said. “Why not do what they believe we're doing anyway?"
She leaned into him, and he didn't pull away. He couldn't fight her logic or her affect on him. After all these years of wanting her, he couldn't battle his feelings any longer.
He met her halfway.
Their impassioned breaths tangled as his mouth devoured hers. He couldn't get enough of her. He gripped the back of her neck and pulled her closer, deepening the kiss. Her scent filled him, an exotic mix of spicy perfume and orange breath mints. He'd never get that out of his mind, he knew. One whiff and it would be an instant aphrodisiac.
An ache built inside his chest, a welcome, tantalizing feeling that spread quickly downwards, hardening him to the breaking point.
He thrust his tongue into her mouth, and she swirled hers about his, a fleeting, titillating caress. With a moan, he nipped softly, scraping his teeth across it. Her tiny groan sighed into his mouth, and he knew at that moment that he had to have this woman, more than any other he'd ever met, or his existence would cease.
His free hand trailed a tender path from her delicate ear over her throat, then slipped under her tank top and bra and coursed over the top swell of her breast. Cassie whimpered against his lips, the sound a sexual cry for more. She pressed herself against his hand, demanding his touch, and he gladly obliged, cupping her breast, massaging the tender globe, feeling a heady rush of arousal as Cassie bucked against him, making it clear she needed his caresses to satisfy the need that matched his burning ache for her.
He'd never get enough of her, taste her deeply enough, fill himself with her enough. No, he'd die dissatisfied, but maybe for this moment he could still the constant craving.
It took Mike several moments to recognize a sudden, persistent ringing sound as a phone. With a groan, he pulled his mouth off hers, wishing like hell that the world hadn't intruded on them. Yet he needed to stop this, before they went too far.
"Answer that,” he said, but she tried to capture his lips again. He gripped her shoulders, putting some distance between them. But it didn't matter how far he held her away. He couldn't forget how she felt fused against him, greedy, wanting, wrapping herself around him
.
She shook her head as the phone continued to ring. “I'm not going to, so you might as well kiss me again."
Growling his frustration, he strode over to the phone and picked it up. No way would he let this progress any further. Sleeping with Cassie would mean nothing but trouble.
Now all he had to do was convince the rest of his body. And most of his heart.
He fumbled the phone up against his ear. “Hello?"
"Mike.” Cal. Damn. “We need to talk, but not right now. Put Cassie on the phone."
"Cal...” he began. He needed to understand why the hell his best friend was so angry.
"Later. Right now, I have a client who needs some help. I need Cassie to meet with her tomorrow. I hope you're not balling her right now, because I haven't had a chance to break them yet. So put—"
"Holy hell.” The words hit Mike like ice water. He jerked the phone away in disgust. His best friend was now setting himself up as his enemy. He felt bile rising in his throat. He couldn't handle this, how this farce had suddenly turned the world against him. First his mother, now Cal. His best friend.
"Cass, it's your brother.” He handed her the phone. “I'm out of here. I'll talk to you in the morning."
"Mike...” she began.
He couldn't discuss Cal's crass words with her. They echoed in his brain, twisting his stomach into knots. But if he left her like this, he'd be as insensitive as Cal. She deserved better.
He crossed to her and pressed a kiss to her forehead. “Cal's wanting you to help him with a client. Whatever he wants, I'm going with you."
Her mouth opened up as if to protest, but he held up a hand. “No argument. Let me know what time tomorrow, and I'll come pick you up.” He kissed her parted lips swiftly, then got himself to the door before he could linger on how erotic the faint taste of oranges was on her mouth.
* * * *
"I'm only saying that getting involved with Cal's clients isn't safe.” Cassie felt herself subjected once more to Mike's glare as they walked through the King County Courthouse, heading to the cafeteria. Cal would meet them there between court appearances to fill Cassie in.