Rory

by Vanessa Devereaux

  She saw an almost finished painting standing on his easel. It was Flynn, Natalie, and Emily. It was gorgeous and was the most lifelike thing she’d ever seen. She ran her hands over the brushstrokes. Rory was a very talented artist. Another half-finished painting stood on the floor. This time it was a horse with a mountain as a backdrop. She ambled over to another set of paintings and began flipping through them. One of Shane’s new baby, one of the craft shop, and then she swallowed the lump in her throat. One of Ryan. She’d never seen it before, and it took her breath away because it was so beautiful.

  She ran her finger around his face, over his lips, almost as if she was touching him in person again. A tear ran down her face. His eyes looked back at her and then she lost it. She screamed, finally realizing all the grief she’d held back all these years just needed to come out.

  Chapter Eleven

  Rory sat bolt upright in bed. He’d heard a woman screaming, and it hadn’t been in his dreams.

  Cass.

  He leapt out of bed and ran across the hallway to her room, but the bed was empty. He heard sobbing coming from his art studio. Whatever was she doing in there at this time of night?

  Rory ran down the hall. Flinging the door back, he saw her sitting on the floor holding his latest painting of Ryan. Her tears had dropped onto it, now smearing the paint and sending it streaming down the canvas. It looked ruined, but for some reason he couldn’t be angry with her.

  “Cass, what are you doing in here, honey?”

  She looked around at him. Her face already puffed and her eyes red from crying.

  He got down on his knees and put his arms around her.

  “It’s almost like it’s really him and that he’s come back from the grave,” she sobbed.

  “It’s taken me all this time to get the courage to paint this. I didn’t think I could do it, but then I thought if I didn’t do it soon, and with each year that passed, I might forget how he really looked, and I’d never capture the true Ryan ever again.”

  Rory fingered Ryan’s hair as if he was brushing away a piece from his baby brother’s eyes. So handsome and way too young to die. Maybe it should have been Rory. And maybe Ryan should be here now with Cass.

  “Why did he have to try and save my father?” sobbed Cass rocking back and forth now.

  “Because that’s who he was. That’s who my parents raised him to be.”

  “He should have let him die. He was a worthless drunk. He should have let me go in there like I’d planned.”

  Rory kissed the top of her head, smelling the fragrance of the conditioner he put in her hair and remembered what had happened between them in the shower. Ryan looked back at him from the painting.

  Sorry buddy but she’s so beautiful, and I’m only human.

  “He loved you, that’s why he did it,” said Rory. He knew deep down she’d loved her father, but anger and grief sometimes made you say things you’d one day regret.

  “But he’d still be here with you, with your mom and brothers. And my dad and I would be gone from your lives.”

  “Don’t ever say that, honey, because Ryan saved you for a reason.”

  For me to one day love….

  He had to stop himself from thinking like that. That wasn’t what fate had planned. He wasn’t supposed to really end up with the girl of his dreams.

  “I’ve ruined your painting of him,” said Cass, trying to correct the smudges on the canvas.

  He lifted it from her hands.

  “It’s nothing that can’t be fixed. A little dab of paint here and a little there and it’ll be back to its original condition.”

  Shit, if only life was as easy to put right as a few brushstrokes.

  “Now, let’s get you back to bed and just close your eyes and get some rest.”

  ****

  Maybe having a good cry had been just the thing she’d needed because the following day Cass felt a whole lot better. Rory had helped her back to her room and tucked her into bed and promised he’d stay with her until she fell back to sleep. It had taken awhile, and she couldn’t imagine how he’d been able to get up at the crack of dawn like he had.

  When she was out of this stupid cast, she was going to help him to no end. Cook breakfast, do the laundry, vacuum the house. If he wouldn’t let her pay him in money, she’d pay him in chores

  She turned the page of the local newspaper and took a sip of coffee when she heard the back door open and in walked Rory complete with cowboy boots and hat. If ever two things were made for a man with Rory’s height and rugged good looks, it was cowboy attire.

  “Looks like Flynn and I have another fence to mend. You going to be okay here on your own all afternoon?” he asked her.

  “Sure, I’m going to get to work on my jewelry kit, and then if all goes well I’ll buy another one at the craft party tonight.”

  “Don’t let me forget that you need a ride into town for that.”

  “Lacey could take me, she said anytime I needed a ride to call her.”

  “No problem because I’ll go to the bar with Flynn and Shane while you girls are partying.”

  “Partying, really? Let’s hope there’s no dancing.”

  He smiled.

  “And is it still okay if you take me into Missoula tomorrow for my first doctor’s appointment?”

  “It’s perfect because I’m going to take a few paintings into one of the galleries there. It looks promising that they might take a few on consignment.”

  “That’s great, Rory. You’re so talented. They should give you your own show.”

  “I don’t know about that,” he said pouring himself a mug of coffee. “Plenty of gifted artists around town these days.”

  “But there’s only one Rory Malone.”

  And when they made you they broke the mold.

  ****

  Rory usually had no problem listening to his two brothers talk about their wives, Liam, or the baby due in December, but tonight it was grating on his nerves. He took another swig of beer. It wasn’t that he’d grown less tolerant of this sappy talk. He was restless—no he was broody. Shit, that was just for women wasn’t it? Cass was the catalyst for his change in attitude.

  Since she’d come back into his life, he’d realized what he’d been missing all these years. He too wanted to talk about his son’s almost first smile, his wife’s belly getting so big and round, and the baby inside her kicking him in the back in the middle of the night.

  “You’re very quiet tonight,” said Shane.

  Rory looked across the table at his brother. He hadn’t realized he’d been deep in thought until he’d heard him speak.

  “I guess I’m tired.”

  “You want us to take turns looking after Cass?” asked Flynn. “I’m sure Emily would like having her around, and it might give her and Natalie a chance to spend time together and do girlie stuff.”

  “Yeah, same goes for Lacey,” said Shane.

  Rory shook his head. “Nope, that’s fine. You two have enough to deal with. I’m the single guy with no responsibilities.”

  Shit. Had that sounded as bitter as he’d thought?

  “So how are you keeping Cass entertained at night?” asked Shane.

  He was blushing. He could feel his cheeks burning, and he wanted to run the cold beer bottle over his face to hide the evidence. Did they know exactly how he’d entertained in the shower? Of how he hadn’t stopped her from giving him the dream blow job? Their own baby brother’s fiancé. God, they’d be disgusted.

  They both looked at him in much the same way they had as kids when they were waiting for some advice to roll off his tongue.

  “I watch TV, she reads. She’s making jewelry. It looks like she has a real talent for it.”

  “Does she like living in Tacoma?” asked Flynn, taking a handful of peanuts and setting them down on the space in front of his beer bottle.

  “I guess so. She doesn’t talk about it a lot,” said Rory.

  “I think it would be great
if she moved back here so we could keep her eye on her just in case she ever needs anything again,” said Shane.

  “Yeah, like right now,” said Flynn. “Makes me sick to my stomach to think someone could drive off knowing they’d hit someone.”

  “They’ll find them, don’t you worry,” said Shane. He looked at his watch. “I guess it’s just about time to collect the ladies.”

  They’d left their trucks at Emily and Me and walked down the road to the bar. As they headed outside, Rory pulled up the collar on his jacket. A cool breeze had picked up since they’d been in the bar. Shane waved to a few guys as they headed down the street.

  “Lovely evening Sheriff,” they called to him. “And we’ll be sure to vote for you next week.”

  “Sure is,” he called back. “Be snowing and ski season again before we know it. And thanks for the vote.”

  Election, snow…ski season. Time did go by in the blink of an eye and so did your life when you didn’t have anyone special to share it. He really was in a downer mood tonight. He had to snap out of it.

  Flynn opened the door to the store and the sound of women chatting and laughing greeted Rory. The craft parties had begun with just ten women, now it was up to thirty. He nodded to a few of them as they headed out past him.

  “Goodnight to you, ma’am,” he said touching his cowboy hat.

  Shane was now lifting Liam in the air and making him squeal. Flynn was rubbing Natalie’s belly. Sickening, totally sickening, but he so wanted to do the very same things.

  “Uncle Rory, you look sad. Are you sad?” Emily pulled on his arm.

  “No honey, I’m just tired.”

  “Come and look at what Cass and me made tonight.”

  She was a girl who wouldn’t take no for an answer, so he let her guide him over to the table at which Cass was still sitting at. She was putting the finishing touches to a blue stone necklace. It was beautiful just like her.

  “Hi Rory,” she said looking up. She really was the prettiest girl he’d ever seen.

  “We used this kit, but Cass used the blue stones. Isn’t it pretty?” asked Emily.

  “Most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen,” he said still looking at Cass and not the necklace. She looked at him, and all he wanted to do was take her home and make love to her.

  “Why don’t you wear it,” Cass told Emily.

  “But you made it,” said Emily.

  “Yes, for you. It matches your skin and hair coloring perfectly.”

  “Okay then. And next week we’re making felted soap, so don’t forget.”

  Emily took the necklace and then leaned over and kissed Cass on the cheek.

  Cass hugged her. Rory smiled. She’d always been so kind to his niece, often shouting at people who made fun of her because of her Down syndrome.

  “Mom, Dad, look! Cass said I can have the necklace…it’s so pretty,” said Emily running over to her parents.

  “Did you have fun tonight?” asked Rory, placing both hands on the back of the chair.

  “I really did, and if you don’t mind while I’m back in town I’d like to do this every Thursday night.”

  “You sure can and maybe we can convince you to stay and do it for the rest of your life.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Cass knew she had to keep up some defense while she was living under Rory’s roof or she’d give in and not want to go back to her life in Tacoma. She could easily fall under Rory’s spell and stay but then realize that Timber Creek wasn’t her future and break his heart when she left. That was something she’d never do to Rory.

  She’d purchased two jewelry kits at Emily and Me, and she didn’t know whether it was some sort of therapy for her or not but she loved it.

  “Earrings,” said Rory picking up one of the kits. “You really have a talent for this sort of thing.”

  “Maybe I should start a business when I get back to Tacoma. I mean something on the side for extra money.”

  For the first time since the accident, things were beginning to look up instead of down. Maybe it’s because she had Rory by her side.

  “That sounds like a good idea. A couple of people have told me to start selling my work online.”

  “You should do that. Hey, maybe we can have our own Web site, Rory and Cass.”

  She wanted to add Malone. It wasn’t that farfetched, after all, her name would have been Cass Malone.

  “You want anything to eat?” asked Rory.

  She shook her head. “I’m still full. Your mom served lemonade and the best tasting scones I’ve ever eaten and served them with Emily’s huckleberry jam.”

  He smiled. He had three jars of it sitting on the pantry shelf.

  “If you’re going to work on your earrings I think I’ll do some painting before I turn in for the night.”

  ****

  Rory stepped back from the easel and checked his progress. He hadn’t worked on anything since the call about Cass and her accident, and now he was finding the ideal way to relax and get the kinks out of his shoulders. He had the feeling that Cass now understood that nothing sexual could go on between them. They could be best friends, family almost, but never lovers.

  The sky needed to be just a tad bluer. He mixed the perfect color on the palette and turned when he heard the door opening.

  “So what do you think?” she asked pointing at her ears.

  “Best looking ones I’ve seen.”

  She hobbled into the room so he could take a closer look.

  “And this is beautiful,” she said leaning over to look at his work.

  Her t-shirt fell away from her chest. She wasn’t wearing a bra. His fingers remembered every little contour of them, the fullness and weight, the tightness of her nipples.

  He swallowed, feeling himself grown hard again.

  “Maybe I should paint your portrait one of these days,” he said hoping she’d stand upright and he could forget about her gorgeous body.

  “I don’t know if I could sit still long enough,” she said, finally standing. “Have you ever painted anyone naked before?”

  “Them or me?” he tried to make light of the question to take the edge away from where this might be leading. Darn, he thought all the sexual tension was history.

  “I guess both you and the subject.”

  She ran her finger down the side of his face. With each little touch he grew harder and harder until sitting on the stool was downright painful.

  She glanced down at his crotch, obviously seeing the bulge. Cass didn’t say anything but took off her t-shirt. Rory swallowed. She wasn’t making this easy for a man.

  His balls pulled and now his dick twitched as she lowered her skirt and then dropped her panties and worked them both over the cast.

  “Make love to me,” she whispered.

  “It’s not that I don’t want to but…”

  She stopped him from saying another word but putting her index finger over his lips. She leaned over and kissed him.

  “I want you, and I know you want me too.”

  Rory moved her hand away. “You were my brother’s woman, and I’m too old for you.”

  “Ryan would want it this way. A man who’s as wonderful as you, kind and caring, to do this for me.”

  He was weakening. She was right. His brother wouldn’t want her getting sexually involved with a guy who didn’t care for her. And he cared for her all right.

  She’d unbuttoned his shirt and pulled it away from his chest before he’d realized it. She ran her hands over his belly.

  “Maybe we should wait until your leg heals.”

  “I can’t wait that long.” Her breath was minty fresh as she spoke mere inches from his nose and mouth.

  She unzipped his pants and pushed her hand over his erection. That simple gesture had made him cross over into the dangerous point of no return.

  He stood, took off his shirt and then pulled Cass into his body, hoping he wasn’t hurting her leg. He kissed her, his tongue sliding over his lips, a
nd then into her mouth.

  She hadn’t been wrong when she’d said he wanted her. He didn’t just want her, he wanted her big time.

  Rory ran his hands over her butt, pushing her mound against his erection, hoping she’d know just how much her body excited him.

  Condoms…bathroom…he’d have to leave her for a few minutes to go get one.

  “I’ll be right back just need to go get some boy’s stuff.”

  While he was in the bathroom, he took off his jeans and boxers and then grabbed a condom and returned to his studio where Cass was bending over looking at more of his artwork.

  Shit. That ass, round and smooth, stuck up in the air like that was a beacon to him.

  He tore open the condom and sheathed himself before creeping up behind her. He kissed her neck, rubbing his hands over every inch of her body. He held her breasts while massaging his cock up and down her crack, almost losing it in the process.

  He playfully bit her earlobe where the homemade earring dangled from it. This wasn’t quite how he’d envisioned making love to Cass, but that view from the door had made him lose his mind. This is how he wanted it to take her.

  “Spread your legs for me,” he said.

  She slowly moved her foot to the right and he eased his hand in between their bodies, slipping down her crack. This time he fingered her pussy opening. She was wet, very wet. That was good. He slid his finger inside her, feeling her heat and tightness.

  Shit, she was so tight. The thought of slipping his dick into that space almost made him come. He had to get inside her ASAP.

  “Bend over, honey.”

  Cass leaned over and held onto the chair in front of her. He glanced at her hands and noticed that her fists were white where she was holding on so tight.

  “You nervous? Because if you are…”

  “Just fuck me, okay?”

  He’d never heard her use that word before. It hadn’t shocked him but in a way excited him more. It had brought out the big alpha male in him. In one swift thrust, he speared her pussy with his cock, but then realized something he never would have guessed about her.