Reaching His Heart: The Sartoris Book Three

by Tressie Lockwood

  Solette stood near one of the serving tables talking to Shakarri and Sonya. His sister-in-law and Solette seemed to get along well. Cason took in the dress Solette wore, a modest white one with a simple neckline that showed just a hint of cleavage to whet his appetite. The soft material moved with her curves and flowed gently when she walked. His first thought when he had seen her in the dress was that she looked like an angel, and then he came to his senses.

  In contrast, Bambi’s dress was hardly there. She left little to the imagination. Cason had always liked that about her, the confidence in her beauty, the passion she displayed when they were lovers. She’d always been willing to try whatever popped into his head. Yet, tonight, his gaze kept slipping back to Solette. Why the heck did she have to look so vulnerable? Even him with his legs not back to one hundred percent strength and his face still a tad bit puffy after the surgery, he felt something rise inside when he looked at Solette. It irritated him.

  Well, never mind. He would enjoy doing exactly what he had been fantasizing about for months now. Cason searched for his brothers and found Romy staring a hole into the back of Sonya’s head. He had the feeling she was ignoring him. Ezio held court with several suits. His brother never turned off business mode unless Shakarri wrangled him.

  The music turned to something softer, and Bambi appeared at his side and leaned over so he could get a good look down her dress. He gave her the satisfaction of looking, but surprisingly, nothing stirred within.

  “You shouldn’t be alone on your night, Cason honey. Should I sit on your lap so we can have a little fun?” She giggled in her high-pitched way. “Or we could sneak off to go back to the mansion. No one will notice.”

  He blocked her when she seemed about to make good on the first offer. “You’re saying no one at the party my brothers threw for me would notice if I was here or not?”

  She gasped. “No, I didn’t mean it like that.”

  Cason stood and leaned heavy for a moment on his canes. Yes, he had plenty of strength to do what he wanted.

  Bambi smothered a squeal of delight. “So we are getting out of here.”

  “No.” He didn’t explain anything else but stepped around her and headed across the room. In a short while, he stopped behind Solette. She hadn’t seen him coming, but his sister-in-law did. The speculation in her gaze wasn’t lost on him, but again, he wasn’t in the mood to explain himself. “Dance with me.”

  Solette jumped and whirled around. She tilted her head back, exposing a slender neck he’d enjoyed with nips and caresses months ago. He often wondered if her warm skin tasted as good as he recalled. Her wide eyes showed how nervous she was, not at all relaxed in an environment he was used to, but Cason wondered if it had to do with something else—or someone else.

  “What?” she murmured.

  Her lips captured his attention, and he repeated his demand while studying them. He felt more than saw her tremble. Bingo, exactly what he had wanted. Now to feel her in his arms.

  “Cason, you—”

  “What?” He raised his eyebrows. “I’m too weak to dance? Is that how you see me?”

  “No, of course not.”

  “Come. I’ve been saving my energy, and this song is perfect.” He led the way and expected her to follow. When he turned around, she stood before him, sending furtive glances to the left and right. He grinned and let go of one of the canes. Just as it swayed to fall, one of the attendants caught it and whisked it away out of sight. “There’s the little mouse I know and…”

  She swallowed. “And?”

  “…I’m intent on capturing her.” To demonstrate his plan, he reached out and dragged her to him. Their bodies touched, and a thrill flashed through his system. Her curves fit him even though she was so much smaller. She almost curled backward over his arm, an attempt to put space between them. He showed her with his expression how futile her efforts were and how much he liked the chase.

  Her full lips parted. “You’re just playing games with me, Cason. I’m not a toy.”

  “All women are toys.”

  She gasped. “You can’t mean that.”

  “Can’t I?”

  “You’re saying it for shock value. I’m not feeding into it.”

  “Ah, I see.”

  She frowned. “What do you see?”

  “You prefer to keep your fantasy that I’m a decent man who just needs a decent woman to straighten me out.”

  “Don’t flatter yourself.” She snapped her teeth together as they swayed to the music. Oh how satisfying to feel her body moving with his. He wished he could take her home to his bed now, to use what was left of his energy for lovemaking.

  “Don’t get quiet now,” he teased. “You were going to let me have it. You always pull back before drawing blood.”

  “Is that what you like?”

  “I’m not sure. Try me.”

  She glared instead, and he grinned. Sometimes he forgot to be angry, and a little of his old joy in life peeked through when he was with her. Not that he would admit that to another human being, least of all her.

  “No?” He shifted his weight a bit and touched his lips to the top of her head. A satisfying tremor shook her, and he suppressed another smile. No need to give onlookers ideas about him. “We could go to a private room.”

  She brought her hands up to his chest but must have realized if she pushed him, he might not be able to recover. For the moment, he was fine with her thinking he was so weak as to let himself fall in the middle of a party. At least it kept her in his arms.

  “I’m not leaving the party.”

  He looked down at her, eyebrows raised as if he couldn’t figure out what the problem might be. “You’ve spent the better part of six months in my room, most of it in my bed.”

  A small unfeminine-like growl escaped her. Then again maybe it was feminine—like a feline. “Don’t make it sound like we were…”

  “Like?”

  She sighed. “You’re enjoying yourself with this party, huh? I’m glad. Your family has been very excited about your progress.”

  “Uh-uh, beautiful. We’re not making this about my family.” He glanced over her head and met eyes full of rage that were focused on them. His curiosity rose. “Who is the man killing me with his eyes over there?”

  Solette stiffened and then glanced over her shoulder. He watched as she went through some internal struggle, but he wasn’t entirely sure what it consisted of. After a moment, she turned back toward him and stared off into the distance beyond his shoulder. “I’m sure your people did a thorough background check, Cason. You probably know all there is to know about him.”

  “I’m asking who he is…to you.”

  She paused again, and he tightened his hold on her waist. He was tempted to go even farther just to hack off the guy but decided to wait for Solette to explain.

  “He’s a friend.”

  His patience thinned. “What kind of friend? Are you lovers?”

  “No.” She answered quickly, then must have thought better of it. “We—”

  He lowered his voice. “Did you bring him as protection?”

  Her gaze flew to his. “I don’t know what you’re insinuating.”

  “I beg to differ. Should I hazard a guess?”

  “Stop teasing me, Cason, or we’re going to stop dancing right now.”

  “Teasing is all a part of the fun. I thought you said I should get back to the way I was, that I should find happiness in life again.”

  She looked to his left. “You have Bambi for the kind of fun and happiness you’re looking for.”

  “Jealousy doesn’t become you, little mouse.”

  She wrenched from his arms, and Cason had no choice but to let her go. He nearly lost his balance as she whirled away from him and stormed across the dance floor. Romy noticed and started for him, but Cason held up his hand. His brother stopped, but his gaze never left Cason. Irritation rose in him. He was sick to the gills of having them feel sorry for him. How much pr
ogress did he have to make before Romy stopped looking at him like that?

  Cason adjusted the cane in his left hand and leaned heavily on it. He was tired and cranky. Over the last few months, it felt like he hadn’t slept more than four or five hours a night, sometimes three.

  He’d pushed himself beyond belief, even when Solette or one of the others weren’t looking. Yet, she still turned from him. Granted tonight was the first night he made a real push to repeat what they had started in the beginning, but he had remained confident that she desired him. Was this person the one standing in the way? Shakarri had allowed him on the guest list at Solette’s request and after his background was checked. Cason knew he was Joseph’s father and where he worked but not much more than that. Nothing he was interested in knowing, like how she felt about him.

  He started in the direction Solette had disappeared, but Ezio blocked his path. For an instant the two of them stared each other down. Cason’s fingers tightened on the knob of his one cane until they ached. He gritted his teeth and clenched his jaw.

  “Is she why you’ve been making so many changes?” Ezio demanded.

  Cason feigned ignorance. “She is my nurse, and you hired her.”

  “You know what I’m talking about,” Ezio roared, and half the crowd glanced over at them. His older brother made an effort to calm down. “Don’t tell me you’ve been fooling around with her, Cason. I told you staff is off limits, especially her.”

  Cason raised his eyebrows. “Especially? What’s your problem with Solette? That she’s—”

  “Go ahead and say it.” A vein popped out on Ezio’s forehead.

  Cason forced a laugh like he could care less. “Don’t worry, fratello. I don’t plan on marrying her. Just like I told Solette, I’m nobody’s hero. Never was, and I’m certainly not now. That little mouse is the kind of woman who needs rescuing, and I’m not in the business.”

  Instead of looking appeased, Ezio appeared shocked. Cason reviewed what he had just said and couldn’t find anything his brother would have a problem with. He wasn’t going to marry a gold digger or anyone Ezio considered unsuitable. He’d just said so, so why was Ezio staring at him dumbfounded?

  “I said—” he began again.

  “I heard you.” Ezio spun on his heel and marched away. Cason had no choice but to blink after him, wondering what that was all about. Then the ache in his right leg grew intense, and he looked around. He caught an attendant’s eye and tapped a finger against his cane. Within moments, the man brought him his other cane, and he made his way across the ballroom floor toward an exit.

  Once he gained the hall, he moved to a nearby bench and sat down. He rubbed out the ache in his leg and searched his pocket for his pain pills.

  “Cason, sir” a deep voice said.

  Cason, who had closed his eyes for a second, opened them to find his new bodyguard holding out a bottle of water. Up until then, Cason ignored the man. He’d tried his best to forget his name, but it had stuck anyway.

  “Thanks.” Cason spoke around a mouthful of pills and a swig of water. “Neil, did you see which way Solette went?”

  “Yes, sir.” The man’s head turned on a thick column of a neck, indicating to the right down the hall.

  Cason waited a bit longer until the pills kicked in and stood. “Don’t follow me.”

  “You know I can’t obey that order, sir.”

  Cason ground his teeth. “Quite calling me sir. It’s Cason.”

  “Sure.”

  Cason grumbled. He knew this idiot was just as stubborn as Solette, and he’d be “sir-ed” until he felt like he wanted to punch him in his thick neck. Didn’t the man worry about his job? Or maybe both he and Solette knew Cason was less likely to fire anyone than Ezio was. Ah, well, it didn’t matter. He knew how to manipulate people and get them to do what he wanted, which of course was why he never had to get rid of anyone in the first place.

  At the end of the hall, he discovered a connecting passage with a few opens doors on either side. A shadow shifted beyond one of them although he couldn’t yet see inside. He decided to try there, and as he approached, he picked up the sound of angry voices.

  “I didn’t do anything, Joe, and you don’t have any right to accuse me anyway.” That was Solette, and Cason’s chest tightened at the slight tremor in her voice. This wasn’t the sound of desire as he had heard in her when he spoke with her. She sounded frightened.

  Cason picked up the pace and came in line with the doorframe. The sight that met his gaze made him forget what he had declared to his brother just moments ago and what he had been saying to Solette all along.

  Chapter 12

  Joe Sr. stood in front of Solette with fingers wrapped around her throat, forcing her to tilt her head back. Even with the distance between them, Cason could see he squeezed to frighten Solette. Once or twice, she coughed as he cut off her air supply. She dragged at his arm to try to pull it away, but she was no match for his strength.

  Her big brown eyes were even larger, and she visibly shook from head to toe. What made Cason forget everything was in seeing a single tear tread down her cheek as if she fought not to lose control of her emotions.

  “I work for him, and there’s nothing between us,” she insisted when she could breathe. “He was just having fun at his party.”

  “I don’t believe you!” Joe Sr. raged. He gave Solette a little shake that made her cry out. “We’re getting married, and I’m not going to stand by while some guy puts his hands on you. I don’t care how much money he has. You belong to me. I bought you with that ring, and I’m going to seal it with the papers.”

  Cason crossed the floor to reach them, and without giving it a second thought, swung one of his canes. It cracked Joe Sr. in the arm, and he stumbled sideways, letting go of Solette. Her knees gave, but she caught herself and moved out of Joe Sr.’s reach.

  “What’s your problem?” Joe Sr. shouted, rubbing his arm.

  Cason swung again. This time Joe Sr. raised his hand to block the blow, but Cason brought up the other cane and jabbed him in the stomach. Joe Sr. doubled over, and Cason brought the first cane down on his back. Joe Sr. hit the floor and rolled over right away to get out of the way of another of Cason’s blows.

  Cason moved over him and pressed the tip of a cane against Joe Sr.’s throat. His eyes widened in shock and fear. “You’re crazy, man!”

  Cason snarled at him. “Just giving you a little taste of what you did to Solette. You’re going to marry her, but you’re going to make her afraid? You’re going to hurt her like that? I may be less than the man I was before, but so help me if you touch her again like you just did, I’ll crush your throat with this cane. Try me.”

  Joe Sr. recovered himself at the threat and knocked the cane away. He sprang up toward Cason, but when he reached his feet, he crashed into Neil’s steel chest and fell on his rear again. Cason moved out from behind his bodyguard, who had jumped in front of him to make sure Joe Sr. didn’t reach him. He made his way over to Solette’s side.

  “Sit down before you fall,” he ordered.

  Her eyes glistened with amusement and unshed tears. “Same to you.”

  Cason discovered the room was like a living area in a home, complete with couches and a coffee table. There was even a bar in the corner but no one managing it, and the drinks were under lock and key. Too bad. He felt like he could use something stiff about then.

  He sat down next to Solette, who reached to massage his leg but froze in mid-movement to look toward Joe Sr.

  “Get him out of here,” Cason ordered Neil. “Make sure he’s off the property before you come back.”

  “Right away, sir.” Neil’s big hand wrapped around Joe Sr.’s nape.

  “Get your hands off me,” Joe Sr. demanded. “I can sue you for this. I said get off me. I’m calling the cops.”

  Cason ignored him and turned back to Solette.

  “By all means, let’s call them,” Neil said. “Let me do the honors.”

&nb
sp; Their voices faded. Cason leaned against the couch back and shut his eyes. He then slitted them to take in Solette. She still appeared shaky, sitting on the edge of the couch as if she expected more drama at any second.

  “You caused me a lot of pain.” He grunted to give emphasis to his complaint. His leg did ache, but not as bad as he led her to believe. “You could make up for it by giving me a massage instead of just sitting there.”

  She popped up to rub his aching thigh. “I’m so sorry, Cason. I didn’t mean for this mess to happen at your party. We were back here talking, and I didn’t think anyone would be disturbed.”

  He stilled her hands with one of his and tilted her chin higher so she would look at him. Her smooth cocoa skin didn’t bruise easily, but he suspected the spot where Joe Sr. squeezed was sore. He ran a thumb gently over it, and she trembled.

  “Are you afraid of me? I’m not going to hurt you the way he did.”

  Her eyes widened. “I know. You’re grumpy pretty often, but I can read people really well.”

  He frowned at her. “Can you read yourself?”

  “What do you mean?”

  “You’re silly enough to think you’re inconveniencing me by putting yourself in danger with that loser. If you tell me you’re going to marry him, I’ll be happy to inform you you’re a fool!”

  She winced and looked away. “I never told him yes.”

  “My guess is you never told him no either. Why?”

  She didn’t speak.

  “Solette.”

  She clenched a small fist under his hand and turned her chin away from his touch. “You said you’re not a hero, so don’t get into it. I told you I can take care of my own business.”

  “And that was another lie.”

  She quivered with outrage.

  “You’ll stay on at the mansion as my permanent nurse.”