“Hello, Mom. What are you up to this afternoon?”
“Nothing too strenuous, believe me. Nothing to worry about.”
“Here, Mrs. Walsh.” Cassie stood. “Take my seat.”
“Now, aren’t you sweet?” His mother sat. “Thank you, Cassie.”
Cassie turned to him. “Ty, um. I guess I’ll see you later?”
“I’ll see you at six,” he said.
She made her way over to the Sales Center, probably happy for the escape. His mother looked like she was plotting something and he could probably guess just what was on her mind.
“Say it,” he said when it was just the two of them.
“Say what?” she asked, all innocence.
“Say what you want to say about me and Cassie.”
“Then there is a you-and-Cassie?” Her eyes twinkled. “I knew it!”
“All right, fine. I’m taking her to dinner tonight. So I guess that means we’re dating.”
“Hmm. Dinner. Not just another romp out at your love shack?”
“Jeez, Mom. Will you quit it?”
She grinned at him. Actually grinned. “When you blush you look just like you did when you were a little boy.”
Ty rolled his eyes. “Did you want a latte or a sweet tea, Mom?” He stood. “I’m just about to get myself something.”
“Hmm. Maybe one of those blended ice things. It’s getting warm out here.”
Ty just nodded and went into the coffee shop. Lettie caught his eye as he passed, and that woman had the same glint in her eye as his mother did. Great. He had to make sure nothing got around about Cassie. The last thing she needed to worry about was more gossip. Wasn’t that what brought her to Cypress in the first place?
He couldn’t help but be grateful for the tabloid reporters, as slimy as they could be. If it weren’t for them, he never would have met her.
***
“Where is he taking you?” Harmony asked as she searched for something to lend Cassie.
“The Boathouse.”
Harmony’s face lit. “I took Rick there for our first date! Well, it wasn’t really a date but he did eat gator for the first time that night.”
Cassie shivered. “Gator? What is with this place?”
“They have other things too, Cassie. Shrimp po’boys and oysters and steaks and burgers. I think you’ll like it.”
“What’s it like? Fancy?”
“God, no. Jeans and a pretty top should work.” Harmony turned back to her closet. “I have some shirts my mom gave me.” She pulled out a gorgeous turquoise top of gauzy material. “Here. The stuff she gives me is always on the bohemian side of things.”
Cassie took the blouse. It was soft and sheer. “This is beautiful. Thank you.” She set it on the bed. “I haven’t met your parents, Harmony. I though they lived here.”
“They run the Recreation Café out on the nature trails most of the year. They live in their RV, though. In fact, they’ve been up in Orlando for the past couple of weeks.”
Cassie nodded. “I wondered why they weren’t at the picnic.”
“My dad gets wanderlust now and then and he leaves the kids he trained in charge of the place.”
“Hmm. Maybe after I destroy Jake’s faith in me I can go work for your father.”
Harmony’s brow furrowed. “Don’t say that. Your brothers are not going to lose faith in you.”
Cassie sat down on the bed. “I’m a screw up. I always have been. Only now my poor brothers have to clean up my messes.”
“They love you. I can see that. Why can’t you?”
Cassie thought for a minute. She did feel the affection from them. Even Rick was more open around her than he’d ever been.
“I do see it. I’m just afraid that when I leave, things will go back to the way they were.”
“You’re leaving?”
“Aren’t I? I don’t want to overstay my welcome.”
“You couldn’t.” Harmony sat beside her and wrapped her in a hug. “You’re the sister I never had, Cassie. I love having you here.”
“Even after I left the Institute a mess?”
Harmony waved a hand. “Mess, shmess. Becky got a handle on things as soon as she got back.” She smiled. “No lasting damage.”
“That’s good.” Cassie blew out a breath. “I just feel like I’m drifting. Just like Bill said.”
Now Harmony looked pissed. “Don’t get me started on your father, Cassie. He’s selfish and controlling and you don’t need that in your life. Not when you’re trying to figuring things out.”
“My God, you get me.” Cassie smiled. “I’m so glad my brother found you.”
Harmony shrugged. “It was mutual. We butted heads and then fell in love.”
“Just like that, huh? Sounds too easy.”
“It wasn’t easy at all.” Harmony laughed. “But nothing worth having is easy.”
“Are you asking about me and Ty? Subtle.”
“Hey, subtlety isn’t my thing. I work with plants, Cassie. There’s no innuendo or tiptoeing around. They’re either thriving or not.”
“Easier to figure out than people, I bet.”
“Way easier. But I see something between you and Ty. And not just heat.”
“Heat?” Cassie thought of the look he’d given her across that table this afternoon. “Yeah, there’s that.”
“He’s a good guy. He has a lot on his plate, though.”
“His niece and visitation. I get it.”
“You know about that?”
“I know he wants Riley more than they get her. We haven’t talked too much about it, though.”
“You should take a boat ride with him. Get him out on the water and just watch him open up.”
“He’s a real nature boy. That’s true.”
“Or maybe just get him out to the tent-cabin?”
Cassie stared at her. “You know.”
“Yes, I know. We all know.”
She clutched at her heart. “I’m so sorry, Harmony. I didn’t mean to bring my mess down here.”
“What mess?”
“Gossip. It can get pretty nasty.”
“No one is gossiping. Not about you and Ty, anyway. I just meant the family knows. Your brothers and me and Claire. That’s all.”
“Tammy thinks something’s up, too.”
“Oh, Tammy always thinks something’s up. You watch. One of these days she’s going to fool around and fall in love herself.”
Cassie doubted the woman would give a guy the chance at her heart, but maybe Harmony was right. She knew Tammy much better than Cassie did.
“Maybe she’s just a Lettie in training,” Cassie said.
Harmony gave a dramatic shudder. “Save us from another Lettie!”
They shared a laugh and Cassie felt that connection again. She would miss it when she left. But she would leave. That was never in question. She’d prove herself to her father and get back to her life. And all of this in Cypress? The warmth and the lake. Her family and Ty. It would all make for nice memories.
She was determined to make a few more memories tonight, though. With Ty.
Chapter 13
Ty picked her up at six on the dot. She smiled as she walked to the front door. He had told her he was a boy scout. She opened the door and took a long minute to just drink him in. He wore oxfords and khakis and one of those Henley shirts she just loved on him. It hugged his upper body just enough to show her the fine build she knew was underneath.
“Hey,” she said.
He ran his gaze over her. Harmony’s top was a little snug across her breasts but the color was so pretty and it grazed the top of her jeans. It was a good thing Harmony had filled her in on the place, or she would have been way overdressed if she’d worn any of the outfits she’d brought with her. When she thought about it, she hadn’t touched much of the stuff in her luggage since she’d been here.
“You look nice,” he said with a grin. “Casual suits you.”
“Casu
al, huh?”
They shared a smile. They both knew he’d seen her in way fewer clothes than this.
“I’ll see you guys later,” she called into the family room.
Rick and Harmony made some sound of agreement and Cassie stepped out onto the porch. The air was still warm and the scent of orange blossoms was heavy.
“Wow, that smells good.”
“The wind shifted. There are orange groves just south of Cypress.”
“Okay, nature boy.” She went up on her toes and placed her nose right in the hollow of his throat. “Mmm, you smell good too.”
He flicked a glance toward the house, and then took her mouth in a kiss. He tasted as good as he smelled and she wrapped her arms around his neck. When his hands cupped her butt, she leaned back with a grin.
“Getting ahead of ourselves, are we?”
He shook his head at her. “You’re the one who did that sniff thing you do. It drives me crazy.”
“Sniff thing? I’ve done that before?”
“When you cuddle close you do.”
She bit her lower lip. “I don’t know if I should be flattered or embarrassed right now.”
“Flattered, believe me.” He released her and waved her ahead of him. “Let’s go before I forget my manners.”
Smiling like an idiot, she hurried to his truck. He opened the door for her, of course. He always did. She slid into the seat and waited for him.
He got in and started the truck. “We’re going to take the perimeter road around the lake. The Boathouse isn’t technically on Cypress property but it’s a favorite with residents. Lots of townies, too.”
After about ten minutes he took a turn-off to the right. They followed a winding road, which led through the woody growth toward what looked like little more than a sprawling shack by the lakeside.
He stopped the truck next to a big beat-up SUV and turned to her. “Here we are.”
“This is The Boathouse?”
“Yep.”
The restaurant boasted a lone dock to the rear with a few small boats tethered to it. But lights shone inside the shack and she could hear music on the warm air as she stepped out of the truck.
The Boathouse was loud and crowded and filled with wooden picnic tables.
“This looks like a fun place,” she said.
“It is. The food’s delicious, too.”
They greeted the hostess, who showed them to a table near the wide screened windows. Ty sat on a bench across from Cassie. It felt like they were still outside; the chirps and croaks of whatever lived in the woods were loud through the screens.
“It’s a little primitive, huh?”
Ty nodded. “Do you like it?”
She smiled. “I’m finding I like getting back to nature.”
He growled softly at her. “A beer okay?”
“Sure.”
A server stopped by their table and Ty ordered their drinks.
“And an order of gator tail,” he said.
She waited until the server left to slant him a look. “Gator? Harmony warned me about that.”
“It’s delicious.”
“I’ll take your word on that.”
“The sauces are good, too. Sweet and hot.” His hazel eyes sparkled. “Like you.”
She flushed from his simple words. “Ty, you’re magic with that tongue.”
“I’ve been told that.”
She couldn’t help but remember just what he’d done with that tongue. He’d licked and sucked and kissed her all over.
“How quick is the service in this place?”
Ty just grinned as the server brought them their beers and plates.
It turned out the sauces were very yummy but she still wouldn’t try the gator. The catfish was delicious, though. And something she’d never had before. As they shared a dessert of the best key lime pie she’d ever tasted, she thought about what Harmony said. Was she putting down roots here? Did she want to?
“So what do you think?” Ty asked her.
“I like this place, Ty. I’d come again.”
His brows arched and she laughed.
“Stop that. You’re a naughty boy. I’m going to tell your mother.”
“Please, don’t,” he groaned. “Did I tell you she calls the tent-cabin my love shack?”
“Seriously? Wait. You’ve had women out there before. Of course you have. You’re not a choirboy.”
“I haven’t, Cassie. Not until you.”
“So it’s my love shack, too.” She grinned now. “Then let’s get going.”
***
Ty felt like his skin was too tight. Just a few words from her, given with just the right look, sent him into overdrive. He couldn’t pay the check fast enough. She stood there by the table as he scribbled his signature across the slip, looking so good in her tight jeans and pretty top. All through dinner he’d caught glimpses through that peekaboo shirt. The shadow of her bra strap. A hint of cleavage. Even her delicate collar bones looked sexy in that shirt with the dim lighting at the Boathouse. She was right. They would definitely come here again.
“Come on,” he said, trying to keep the urgency out of his voice.
He managed to keep to the road as he made his way to the tent-cabin. When they got there he shut the engine off and turned toward her.
“Are you sure about this?” he asked.
He’d about die if she said she wasn’t but he was a gentleman. He would never want to pressure her.
“Sure about what?” she asked, her eyes wide.
He snorted. “You know what, Cassie. I’m not going to take advantage.”
She came closer, a small smile playing on her lips. “Come on, Ty. You know you can’t take advantage of me if I’m taking advantage of you.”
There was an edge to her words but with her fingers teasing his chest through the V in his shirt he was damned if he could figure it out right now. Instead, he crushed his mouth to hers.
She tasted like citrus from the pie and sugar from just being her. When she sucked on his tongue, his eyes nearly rolled back in his head. His dick grew so hard so fast he could hardly breathe.
Pulling back a bit, he cursed softly. “Ah, Cassie.”
She put her hands on the sides of his head just the way he liked and nibbled on his lips. “Let’s go inside the love shack.”
His laugh came out as a groan when she put her hand on his crotch. Easing away from her, he opened the door and she slid over with him. The girl could move fast, which he saw when she took his hand and hurried toward the little wooden porch.
When they got inside he shut the door and pulled his shirt up and over his head. He felt like he was on fire and the sooner he got his clothes off and his body on hers he would begin to feel some relief.
“As much as I like that shirt you better take it off,” he said, coming closer.
Her lips parted and she did as he said. “Anything you want.”
“Anything?”
She began to shimmy out of her jeans as he toed off his shoes. Settling on the bed, she eyed his chest.
“You are so pretty,” she said.
“Pretty?”
She nodded. “Yes. Those dimples. Those eyes. And that body.”
It was his turn to shake his head. “I can hardly find the words to describe how beautiful you are, Cassie.”
Delight was clear on her face and he knew it was the right thing to say. She’d probably been with enough bull-shitters to know one when she saw one. He sure wasn’t one. Looking at her in her bra and panties, he had no reason to be.
He came closer, and then shoved his pants and boxer briefs to the floor. Dropping his pants next to the bed, he came up and over her. They kissed again, her arms wrapped around his neck as she made the most delicious noises.
“Ty.” She nibbled on his neck. “Mmm, I love the way you feel against me.”
He grunted something in agreement and undid the tiny hook at the front of her pretty pink bra. He’d only glimpsed her breasts b
efore but, damn, they were the prettiest he’d ever seen. Round and pale and tipped with tight nipples a little bit darker than her lips.
“You’re so beautiful, Cassie.” He bent his head and licked one nipple. “So sweet.”
She arched and he covered one breast with his hand as he suckled the other. The lace of her panties was wet when he touched her. Her flesh was scalding hot. He had to get inside her before he came all over her soft skin.
Reaching over the side of the bed, he grabbed his pants and searched the pocket for the condom he’d put there.
“You’re prepared?” she asked, laughter in her voice.
Her eyes were bright as he stared down at her.
“Boy scout, remember?”
She smiled and he kissed her again. Her lips clung to his so sweetly when he pulled away. As he sheathed himself she slid off her little panties. When he looked down at her, primed and ready, he could just stare. She was completely naked now, and he couldn’t imagine a sexier sight. Toned curves and smooth skin and a rosy flush he knew he put there. Without waiting another second, he slid all the way inside.
She cried out, her body arching as she took all of him. She was so tight he had to hold himself still before everything was over too fast. They might have kidded around about getting all hot and bothered in his truck but this was more intense than anything he’d experienced with any other girl back then. And nothing with any other woman since could compare to the way he felt when he was inside Cassie.
He moved inside her, fast and hard, and she began to moan. Bracing himself on his arms, he held himself off her as he rotated his hips with every thrust. He knew he touched every nerve inside her. He could feel her climbing higher and higher.
She clutched at him instead of the headboard tonight, her fingers wrapped around his biceps as she rose. When she came beneath him, sobbing his name, he nearly shouted his own climax. A few more thrusts and he joined her, feeling as though every bone and every muscle melted away as he sank down on top of her.
With his head on the pillow, he faced her. Her eyes were closed and she breathed through parted lips. His own breath was still coming fast as his heart hammered.
“You okay?” he managed to ask.
Her eyes opened and they were as dark as the midnight sky. “Oh, yeah. Ty Walsh, you have some impressive moves.”
Cypress Corners Boxed Set (Books 1-3) Page 45