Cypress Corners Boxed Set (Books 1-3)

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Cypress Corners Boxed Set (Books 1-3) Page 44

by JoMarie DeGioia


  “Algae, huh?” Cassie shrugged. “I guess that would be very green.”

  Ty threw her a smile as Marge and Marigold laughed from the rear.

  “I know they’re looking at builders who specialize in eco-friendly energy,” Ty said. “Like they did with some of the solar homes, everyone would be able to convert if they want to. Once it’s in place, of course.”

  “So where did you put that alligator?” Cassie asked.

  “What alligator?” Marigold asked.

  Cassie turned to face the sisters. “Mr. Walsh helped my brother Jake when an alligator insisted on trying out the adventure courses.”

  Marigold laughed again. “The adventure courses? Oh, I wish I was brave enough to try them.”

  “It’s just running and swimming, Marigold,” Marge said. “I’ve done the circuit that equals a half-marathon several times.”

  This didn’t surprise Ty in the least. He reasoned that Marge could run circles around Jake if given half the chance, not to mention around himself.

  “I’ve seen you out at the courses too, Mr. Walsh,” Marge went on. “Very impressive.”

  Cassie shifted and Ty could almost feel her watching him.

  “Impressive, huh?” she asked.

  “Oh, yes,” Marigold said. “Marge told me he could vault over the obstacles as fast as Jake Chapman.”

  Cassie clicked her tongue. “You’ve been holding out on me.”

  Ty shrugged. “Maybe I’ll get you up on the climbing wall, Cassie. Show you some pointers?”

  “Pointers? Where to place my hands, you mean?”

  He chuckled and then coughed to cover up his reaction. He knew he was playing with fire but it was fun to tease her, and not just when they were alone in the tent-cabin.

  “I wouldn’t mind some pointers myself,” Marigold said. “Why, just the other day Lettie was talking about your physical prowess.”

  “Prowess?” Marge asked. “With what?”

  “Hmm, I’m not sure,” Marigold answered. “Something about the stamina of a young man needing to find an outlet.”

  Cassie stiffened, and then turned with a jerk to face forward. Ty just nodded and changed the subject.

  Luckily, the sisters were only too able to fill the silence as more of the wild property revealed itself. By the time he’d reached the far end of his planned route and turned back, he was more than ready to deposit the three of them safely back at the Sales Center. Then he belatedly noticed that his tent-cabin was visible from this side of the path.

  “What’s that little shelter?” Marigold asked. “And what is it doing all the way out here?”

  “That’s Ty’s tent-cabin, Marigold,” Marge said. “You stay out here often, Mr. Walsh?”

  “Often enough,” Ty answered.

  “It’s very remote,” Marigold observed. “What on earth do you do to occupy yourself?”

  Ty nearly swallowed his tongue. “I do okay,” he managed to say.

  He heard a soft snicker from Cassie’s direction. “I bet you do all kinds of okay.”

  Her comment got another round of laughter from the sisters. God, if he was playing with fire Cassie was holding the matches. Talk turned back to the scenery and habitats, and Ty felt the ground grow a bit more steady beneath the nubby tires of the gator. What was it about this girl that put him so off balance?

  When he risked a glance at her, he knew just what she was thinking. Would she want to come back here with him tonight? There was unfinished business between them after all. Sure, they’d given a lot to each other last time but Ty wanted more. More sex, sure. But more Cassie.

  And tonight, he hoped to have her.

  ***

  Cassie smoothed her damp palms over her borrowed khaki shorts as she sat in the courtyard of the coffee shop. Harmony had given her one of her cast-off Institute T-shirts, too. It was soft as silk and obviously worn to within an inch of its life. The sage green color was pretty but she felt like she was wearing a costume. The Keds were her own, along with the pretty underwear that felt like her only links to her past life. After the wild and rugged tour she’d taken this morning? This was so far from laying out on the beach in Monte Carlo. That was for sure.

  Not to mention how she’d felt when Ty’s gaze had fallen on her again and again throughout the tour. They might have been the only two people in that funny cart-truck thing, considering the heat zinging between them. Although maybe the Atkins sisters figured something out, too. When Ty returned to the Sales Center, they’d both looked at her like they were dying to ask just what Ty got up to out at the far lakeshore. No way was she going to open up to those two. Although very different they both seemed sweet. Still, they palled around with Lettie. That woman thrived on gossip and she was very good friends with Ty’s mother. Two very good reasons for Cassie to keep her mouth shut.

  As if on cue, Lettie lifted her glass of iced tea in Cassie’s direction. She returned the gesture with her bottle of sparkling water, and then sighed. Life in the fish bowl that was Cypress Corners. Still, not a tabloid reporter in sight.

  She looked at the Sales Center across the street, relieved that she didn’t have to give a tour today. She really wasn’t good at it. It wasn’t that she couldn’t remember all the key points Rick had drilled into her head. She just found it didn’t interest her. Rick had told her to take the day off after the tour with Ty, for whatever reason. He’d told her to go grab a cup of coffee too, which was weird.

  “Hey, sis!” Jake called, raising a hand.

  Suddenly Rick’s insistence made sense. Another set up, not that she could imagine what part Jake would play in it.

  “Hi, Jake. What’s up?”

  Jake nodded a greeting to Lettie, and then sat at Cassie’s table. “Cass, I need to ask you a favor.”

  She crossed her arms and leaned back. “Oh? Rick put you up to this?”

  Jake’s eyes widened but she knew he was faking. “Put me up to what?”

  “You can’t shit a shitter, Jake. Tell me what’s up and I won’t be forced to hurt you.”

  Jake laughed. “Damn, I’d forgotten how sharp you are.” He rubbed the middle of his chest. “I remember you could punch pretty hard for a girl, too.”

  “So tell me.”

  “I’d like you to come work for me at the adventure courses.”

  “Doing what?”

  “Handing out equipment. Having people sign the waivers before participating. Making sure the fridge is stocked with drinks and the counters with power bars. That kind of stuff.”

  She thought for a minute, and then nodded. “I know you guys have all gone out on a limb to find me someplace to work. Harmony and Rick have already done their best so you’re up next.”

  Jake leaned forward. “We want you to stay here, Cassie. I know I love having you here.”

  She blinked away the tears that suddenly filled her vision. “I like being here but I don’t belong.”

  “Why the hell not?” He looked around, and then lowered his voice. “Why not? Your family is here. Not in Europe and certainly not in Boston.”

  She acknowledged his words with a shrug. “But I don’t have a place, Jake. I don’t fit in.”

  He studied her, her face solemn. “This isn’t about work.”

  It wasn’t a question and they both knew the answer anyway. “I have to figure out what the hell I’m going to do with the rest of my life.”

  “Are you quoting Bill? Give me a break.”

  “He’s right though, isn’t he?”

  “No, he’s not. Listen, I’m glad he sent you down here. It’s been great just knowing you’re close by. Seeing you almost every day.”

  “Family stuff.” He nodded and she felt the love coming from him and smiled. “Claire told me you’re trying for a baby.”

  A grin spread across Jake’s face. “Yeah. It’s a tough job but I’m up to it.”

  She punched him in the arm. “All right, all right.”

  Something caught Jake’s eye and she
followed his gaze to see Rick crossing the street toward them. An uneasy feeling skittered over her.

  “Is this an intervention?” she asked.

  Jake laughed and waved Rick over. “No. Do you need one?”

  “Nope. Not in the market for one, anyway.”

  “Hey there,” Rick said. “I hear you’re going to work for Jake?”

  She smirked at Jake, and then faced Rick again. “Looks like it.”

  Rick grinned.

  “You don’t have to look so giddy about it. Isn’t enough that you pawned me off on Ty this morning?”

  “I’m sure he was happy to take you.” He seemed to catch his own words and scowled. “That’s not that I meant.”

  Laughing at his distress, she waved a hand. “Lighten up, Rick. I didn’t think you meant anything by that.”

  Rick looked relieved but it was Jake who nudged her with his elbow.

  “You’re seeing him, though?” Jake asked.

  She bit her lip, unsure of just what to tell her big brothers. “We’ve been talking.”

  Jake slanted her a look. “Talking?”

  She bristled. “I’m not getting into this with either of you.”

  “Cass, you’re a big girl,” Rick said. “I’m not going to tell you what to do.”

  “Then why do I feel like you are?”

  He shrugged. “I just don’t want you to get hurt.”

  “Like you said, I’m a big girl. If Dad thinks I can get along down here, shouldn’t that be reason enough to let me make my own decisions?”

  He rubbed the back of his neck. “Speaking of Bill, he’s been emailing me.”

  Jake cursed. “He’s always emailing you. The question is, are you answering him?”

  “No. But he’s been asking about you, Cassie. Has he called or texted you?”

  “Nope,” she said. “And I like it that way.”

  “I hear you,” Rick said. “You do know he’s due for a visit in two weeks. He’s coming down Memorial Day weekend.”

  “In two weeks?” Cassie did the math in her head. That would be almost a month to the day since her exile. “Why?”

  “Meeting with investors before the summer heat moves in.” He lifted his chin toward Jake. “They want to see the additions to your course and discuss the new alternative energy incentives with me.”

  “Two weeks,” she said again. “Tell you what, I’m not going to worry about him now.”

  Rick shook his head. “You haven’t been here for one of his visits, Cassie. He swoops in with his usual bluster like a hurricane.”

  “He’s an energy vampire, sis,” Jake put in. “Just sucks the life out of you.”

  “He can’t do anything else to me, guys. He cut me off. He sent me away.” Her throat tightened but she wouldn’t shed any tears for Bill Chapman. Not in front of her brothers. “He washed his hands of me.”

  “If you say so,” Rick said. “Just be on your guard.”

  “Yeah,” Jake added. “No one can get to you like Bill.”

  “I know.” She pushed her hair back off her face. “I don’t have a place, Rick. I’m on borrowed time. I know that.”

  Rick’s eyes softened. “You always have a place here, Cassie.”

  It was just about the same thing Jake said and it really affected her. Tears pricked at her eyes again but she just nodded. “Thanks.” Even if she didn’t believe either of them, the sentiment still made her heart swell a little bit.

  Rick apparently took his lead from her and dragged the subject away from their father. “Now, about Ty.”

  “Oh, don’t you start,” she said.

  Rick shrugged and came to his feet. “I’m going to see if I can steal my wife away to grab some lunch. See you later?”

  It was a question and she knew what he was getting at. It was about Ty again.

  She smirked at him and he laughed softly. Jake laughed too and grabbed her bottle to take a sip. She liked hanging with her brothers. She might not have a place but she sure felt good around them. With Claire and Harmony and even Tammy. And then there was Ty.

  Would he ask her to make good on all that innuendo she tossed his way during that tour? She grabbed her bottle back from Jake.

  A girl could hope.

  Chapter 12

  Ty walked out of the Institute and saw Cassie sitting with Jake. She laughed at something her brother said, tossing her head back. She looked so pretty and relaxed in that moment his stomach clenched. He really should figure out a way to get rid of that tension that always seemed to cling to her. Almost always, anyway. She’d seemed pretty relaxed once he pleased her a couple of times. Jeez, was he going to start beating his chest now?

  “Hey, Chapmans,” he said with a wave as he stepped up to their table.

  “Hi, Ty,” Cassie said, a smile still playing on her lips.

  “Hey, Ty.” Jake eyed his sister with an expectant look on his face. “You gonna tell him, sis?”

  “Tell me what?” Ty sat down and leaned his arms on the table. “Don’t tell me another critter ran you off the road. I thought you weren’t giving tours anymore.”

  She rolled her eyes, looking adorably put out. “It didn’t and I’m not. Jake is all puffed up because he swooped in and pulled my butt out of the fire.”

  “Not a fire, exactly,” Jake said. “Cassie’s going to come work for me at the adventure courses.”

  “Yeah?” Ty grinned. “Maybe you can spot me.”

  Cassie’s eyes rounded for a second but Ty managed to keep his expression even. What was he doing, teasing her in front of one of her brothers?

  “I’m going to be working in the shed, Ty. Unless you plan on extreme shopping and form signing, I think you’ll be okay on your own.”

  Ty chuckled and leaned back. “Okay. Do you start tomorrow?”

  She sighed. “I suppose. My new boss takes the title to a new level.”

  “Hardly,” Jake said. “I’m easy. Just ask Claire.”

  “Not touching that one,” Cassie said.

  Ty saw the spark of family connection between them, and it seemed even stronger than it had been at the picnic. She was feeling more at ease around them and it looked good on her.

  “I plan to run the course tomorrow afternoon,” Ty said. “I’ll see you there.”

  She nodded. “Jake’s going to show me the ropes. Literally.”

  “And harnesses, sis. You need to know the safety stuff, too.”

  “Why?” she asked.

  “Because you’re going to be answering questions when people come to the shed. Don’t worry. There are notes you can refer to.”

  “Great. More notes. Maybe I’ll go work for Ty.”

  “Doing what?” Jake held up his hand. “Never mind. I don’t want to know.”

  Ty just stared at them for a beat. Did Jake know he and Cassie were…whatever it was they were doing?

  “Look what you’re doing to Ty,” Cassie said with a mock-scowl. “You’re going to scare him away.”

  “I don’t think you’d like working for me anyway,” Ty said. “Lots of critters. Not to mention bugs and snakes and gators.”

  She held up both hands. “’Nuff said, man. I believe you. The relative safety of the shed will be fine, thanks.”

  Jake stood, stretching his arms over his head. “I’m going to head over to the swim club. Are you finished Ty, or do you have another tour this afternoon?”

  “Nope. I’m done.”

  “Then why don’t you come? Maybe Cassie can join us?”

  “Swimming in April?”

  “The water is geothermally heated,” Ty said automatically. “Very comfortable.”

  “Even so, I think I’ll pass. You can go, Ty. You don’t have to keep me company, you know.”

  “I was just going to get myself a drink.”

  “Then I’ll leave you two kids to your malted.” Jake winked and grabbed her bottle of water. “Get two straws, Ty.”

  Cassie punched her brother in the arm and Jake feigne
d injury. It reminded Ty of the time before his dad died. When he and Tracy could kid around with each other. He missed that. He missed her, too. Even a messed-up Tracy was better than no Tracy at all.

  “Hey, where’d you go?” Cassie asked.

  Ty glanced over to find her watching him closely. He mentally shook himself and managed a smile. “Just thinking about brothers and sisters.”

  Her lips parted, and then she shook her head. “I’m not going to pry.”

  “You’re not prying. We’re friends, Cassie. You can ask me anything.”

  “You’re thinking about your sister, aren’t you?”

  Ty nodded. “She’s been gone over two years and I still miss her.”

  “Sure. When I think of all the time I wasted running away from my family it makes me feel all twisted up inside.”

  He cocked a brow at her. “Are we finally having the talk we never got around to Sunday night?”

  She smiled, her cheeks turning a little pink. “Maybe. Although I think a rain check is in order.”

  “Yeah?”

  She gestured around the populated courtyard and shrugged. “Lots of ears around here.”

  “True. I have nothing to hide, though.”

  “Maybe you don’t.”

  “Then come to dinner with me tonight. We can go to the Boathouse. Excellent seafood.”

  “And then maybe a trip to your tent-cabin?” she asked softly.

  Her voice caressed him in all the best ways. He gave a short nod and she smiled.

  “Okay, then. You can pick me up at Rick and Harmony’s.”

  “Six okay?”

  “Sure. That will give us lots of time to talk.”

  He was glad there was a table between them because the look in her eyes told him she wasn’t thinking about talking right now. And neither was he. Just the thought of what they could share tonight made him want to grab her right now.

  “Cassie, dear.” His mother walked up to the table, a bright smile on her face. “Isn’t this nice?”

  “Hello, Mrs. Walsh,” Cassie said. “How are you?”

  “I’m just fine.” She turned to him. “Ty, aren’t you going to say hello to your mother?”

 

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