******
“Just sign here, Mr. Garner. Would you like your wife to sign as an additional driver?” The same woman stood behind the counter, a knowing smirk on her face.
“My what?” Matt looked up from signing his name, his eyes wide.
Gripping his arm, Cassie stepped beside him, leaning in close. “I don’t need to drive, sweetheart. When I stopped by earlier to check on the car, this nice woman offered to add me. You so seldom let me drive, I declined.” She kissed his check, letting her lips linger a moment longer than necessary.
“Uh…good idea.” He could feel the heat rise as his eyes narrowed, although they held a hint of humor. “I’ll be the only driver, ma’am.”
“Well, if you’re certain, here is the key. The car is parked in the second row back. Thank you for renting with us, Mr. Garner.”
Slipping an arm through his, Cassie leaned against his side as they walked away from the counter. “Thanks…honey.”
“You told her we’re married?”
“A small lie. You weren’t here and I thought the best way to find out about your flight was to check for a rental. She didn’t give me details, but at least I knew you were still joining me.” The catch in her voice signaled her concern that he might not show up.
Finding their car, he set down the bags and unlocked the doors, turning her toward him. “Cass, I told you I’d be here.”
“You did. The flight and arrival time would’ve been good information.”
“Duly noted for the future.” Placing a soft kiss on her lips, Matt tossed the bags inside, more than ready to get on with their weekend. “Hungry?”
“Starving.”
“I know the perfect place. We’re staying a few miles north. It’s a beautiful hotel on Puget Sound with a great restaurant.” As soon as the words were out, he winced, realizing he may have said too much.
“You’ve stayed there before?”
“Once.”
“For a rodeo?” She couldn’t recall any rodeo where a hotel north of the airport would be convenient. Most cowboys camped in their trailers or stayed in a cheap motel close to the grounds. Just one reason he’d travel to such a romantic spot came to mind. “Forget it. I don’t want to know.” She focused her attention on the scenery whizzing by, wishing he’d never told her about it.
Reaching across the seat, he pried one hand from where she gripped them in her lap. “You know, Cass, if this is going to work, we have to accept that each of us have had other people in our lives. I won’t deny there have been other women, and I’m certain you’ve had other men.”
She snorted. Her social life since Matt had been packed with family dinners, cocktails with girlfriends, ballgames with co-workers, and a couple weekends at the family cabin. She’d dated little, and none had resulted in a real relationship. No one had been able to clear her heart of Matt.
“Cassie?”
Swinging her head toward him, she kept her face neutral. Letting him know how little experience she’d had since him didn’t appeal to her. “What?”
“You dated Kurt, and I’m sure there were others. I can live with that. Can you do the same with me?”
“Sure, Matt. Not a problem.” Pulling her hand from his, she stared straight ahead, trying to get the visual of Matt with another woman out of her mind. Berating herself for being so ridiculous, she glanced at him, seeing the hard line of his jaw, the twitch of a vein in his neck. “The truth is I’ve dated, but not that much. School, then work and family took most of my time.” Shrugging, she plastered on a smile, keeping her eyes bright and voice light. “Never met anyone worth the effort. I’m certain my experiences are quite the opposite of yours.”
The confession surprised him. Gorgeous and talented with a great sense of humor, Matt figured she’d had quite the time after he left.
“You avoided relationships?” His voice held no inflection.
“Didn’t you?” she asked.
He hesitated a moment, thinking of the last few years. “I suppose. Moving from town to town didn’t allow for more than casual hookups, and besides, I didn’t have the interest. I’ve had two relationships since you, lasting no more than a month or two, and both were in Houston. Neither felt right. I broke off the last one not long ago.” He didn’t explain, deciding she could figure out the timing and reason behind it herself.
She fell silent after his confession. He didn’t know if it was a good or bad sign. He wanted to take her to bed, make love until they were both senseless, and let her know how much he still desired and loved her. It might be too soon, yet perhaps taking her to bed would be the best move he could make—reminding Cassie how good they were together instead of allowing her to wonder about the women from his past.
Shifting in his seat, he focused on the traffic, trying not to read too much into her silence. The reality of how tough a second chance with Cassie would be slammed into him. They’d been each other’s first love, learning about passion and pleasure together. He held no doubts about what he wanted from her, and it wasn’t a short-term fling. This would either be their one chance to correct the mistakes from their past or bury whatever love they still held for each other and move on. There’d be no half-way for them. They were either both in or it would be all over.
******
“It’s as beautiful as you said, Matt.” Cassie stood on the outside balcony of her room, letting her gaze take in the churning water and distant islands. Her logical mind knew his decision to have separate rooms made sense. Her rebellious heart felt differently.
Coming up behind her, he rested his hands on her waist, stopping short of wrapping his arms around her to draw her close. No matter his desire to take her to bed, he didn’t want to rush it before they’d had a chance to air out the hurt from the past.
“Would it be all right to take a walk?” Turning, she stepped around him, feeling as if she were in a cage. Lunch had been excellent, the conversation pleasant, yet she couldn’t escape the feeling that if she made one misstep, disappointed him in some way, their time together would be over. “I need to get out of here for a bit.”
“Sure. There’s a path along the shoreline. As I recall, it ends near a marina and picnic area.” Opening the door, he followed her into the hall, punching the elevator button. “Is everything all right?”
“Fine.” She leaned her back against the elevator wall. “We’ve been cooped up in the car or in meetings so much, I just want to take advantage of the gorgeous weather. I’ve heard it can change in an instant.” Flashing him a smile, she reached over to take his hand. “Will we have time to take a ferry to one of the islands?”
Threading his fingers with hers, he felt the warmth sweep through his body, bathing him in a sense of peace he hadn’t known in a long time. “We can do whatever we want. The next three days are about us and nothing else.”
The afternoon flew by as they visited one site after another, ending at a cozy restaurant with a great view in the Pike Place Market. Drinking mojitos and snacking on a variety of appetizers, they began to share their lives since they’d been apart.
“Tell me more about what happened?” Cassie picked up a piece of calamari, popping it into her mouth.
“What happened with what?” His brows drew together as he used a finger to brush a crumb from the corner of her mouth.
“Why did you quit the rodeo?”
“It’s more like it quit me.” Gazing at the water, he remembered his last ride, wincing as if the injury had occurred that day. “It was a saddle bronc event. I’d almost finished the ride on a strong horse who bucked like a sonofabitch. I felt good…too good. One second, I was solid in the saddle, and the next, I was on the ground, pain ripping through my neck and shoulder. Thoughts of healing and getting back into the arena were dashed by one doctor after another. I must have met with six, each one telling me the same thing.”
Leaning forward, she fingered the straw, drawing up a small amount of the mojito. “What did they say?”
�
��Another injury involving my neck would mean some level of paralysis, maybe total. Still, I wanted to try again. It took Pops hauling me home to kick some sense into me.” He shrugged, as if the career-ending injury hadn’t affected him.
“I didn’t know you’d gone home.” Her family had insisted on mentioning Matt whenever he went home. She’d learned of his injury months after he’d left the circuit, but not that he’d gone to Fire Mountain to heal.
He reached over, grasping her hand. “You weren’t supposed to know. I asked Pops to keep it quiet, let me heal, and decide my next move before I had to face friends.”
“Dad would’ve offered you a job.”
Dropping her hand, he leaned back in his chair, his gaze narrowing. “Do you honestly believe that after what happened between us? He would’ve been more likely to punch me out than offer help.”
Cassie studied him, getting a glimpse into how much he’d lost by leaving for the rodeo. He hadn’t turned his back on just her. He’d turned away from a family he’d known his entire life.
“He saw you as a son. No matter what happened between you and me, Dad would’ve been there for you.”
“Maybe…maybe not. Regardless, I didn’t want or need his charity. I wanted to heal and get out of there with as few people knowing as possible.”
Cassie didn’t know what to think of the pain she saw on his face. He’d picked the rodeo over her, gone his own way, and made it without anyone’s help. Still, he seemed unsettled, as if his achievements meant nothing.
“You’re right. Knowing my family, I’m certain they would have rubbed the failure in your face, encouraging you to hunker down and hide from the world. Seems like a reasonable response to me.”
His gaze swung to her, his eyes blazing until he saw her mouth tilt up and her eyes sparkle with mischief. She started to laugh, punching him in the arm. “It’s good to know you finally snapped out of it and took the job Dad offered. Trust me. He doesn’t make those offers without thinking them all the way through. Whatever you did at Double Ace, you must have impressed the brothers.”
His eyes widened. “Really? You’re happy I’m your boss?”
Finishing her drink, she stood, crossing her arms. “Garner, you will never be the boss of me.”
Chapter Eighteen
“To a wonderful weekend,” Matt said, lifting his glass, touching the edge of Cassie’s before bringing it to his lips.
“And great sex,” Cassie murmured under her breath, causing Matt to choke. Patting him on the back, she sent him a knowing smile. “Thought I’d throw that out.”
Coughing, he stared at her. “If that’s a challenge, I’m definitely your man.”
Sometime over the last ten hours, they’d settled into a comfort zone they knew well. Joking, mocking, and teasing each other without malice, daring themselves with unsubtle barbs.
They’d finished dinner and settled into a booth in the restaurant’s bar, Cassie drinking port wine and finishing the last bite of double chocolate mousse cake while Matt nursed an Irish coffee. The time they’d been apart slipped away. He found himself wondering how he’d ever left her and lived these last few years without any contact. Paying the check, he held out his hand, his eyes darkening.
“Let’s get out of here.”
Neither spoke as they entered the elevator. When the door slid closed, Matt tightened his hold around her waist, drawing her to him, ravaging her mouth as he pinned her against the wall. His hunger wasn’t subtle and neither was hers, each taking as much as possible within the space of a few floors. Hearing the ding signaling a stop, they broke apart, both trying to control their ragged breathing.
“It’s our floor,” Matt ground out. Gripping her hand, he fumbled with his key card, pushing the door of his room open and kicking it closed. Cradling her face in his hands, he stared into eyes that left no doubt about what she wanted. “My room tonight. Yours tomorrow.”
The words were barely out before Cassie drew him down, covering his mouth with hers, letting him know how much she wanted him.
Their frantic hands were everywhere, unbuttoning clothes and tossing them aside. Backing her against the wall, Matt lifted her arms, wrapping a hand around her wrists and pinning them above her head, never losing contact of his mouth on hers.
Cassie moaned as his lips burned a trail along her jawline to the hollow at the base of her neck, sucking lightly before moving lower. Drawing in a breath, she arched into him, wanting and needing more.
“Matt…” she breathed out as his mouth and hands worked their magic.
Lifting her into his arms, he settled her on the bed, stretching alongside, allowing his hands to rediscover the body he’d craved for far too long. Rising up, his hands continued to roam as he stared down, seeing her reaction to his touch. His breath caught, his hunger for her growing with each caress.
Unable to hold back any longer, he wrapped his arms around her, taking her mouth with his, and on a deep groan, made the sweetest love of his life.
******
“You’re going to kill me,” Matt rasped out, his eyes still closed, as Cassie stroked her hand down his chest to his stomach, being rewarded with an understandable reaction, even as the rest of his body refused to budge.
Leaning forward, she kissed her way from his chin to his chest, exploring with her hands, tracing the path of an unremembered scar.
“How did you get this one?” Her touch felt light as she fingered the angry red mark along his side.
“Bareback event. I got thrown into the fence. It looks worse than it was, but it kept me out of competition for a couple weeks.”
“And this one?” She leaned down to kiss a short, jagged scar on his other side.
“Stupid action on my part. I intervened when a guy pulled a knife on one of my buddies. They’d been joking before the guy got angry. I didn’t know there were a couple cops in the bar or I would’ve stayed out of it.”
“And your buddy?”
“Not a scratch.” Reaching down, he wrapped a hand around her wrist, tugging her up and into his arms. “I’m starving.”
“Me, too.” Her eyes sparkled as her brows arched.
“For food…” He planted a slow, hot kiss on her mouth, then rolled off the bed. Moving toward the bathroom, he held out his hand. “Join me?”
******
“Breakfast never tasted this good.” Matt shoveled another bite of eggs and hash browns into his mouth. He’d gone for the biggest combination plate the restaurant offered, but he didn’t think it would be enough.
Shaking her head when the waitress offered a refill, Cassie sat back, enjoying the sight. The shower had taken much longer than normal, but she wouldn’t have asked for anything different. Their night together had been wonderful, and he gave her more of the same this morning, all of it beyond her expectations. He’d learned a great deal since they’d last shared a bed. Knowing she had to push such thoughts aside, she gazed out the window, wondering how she measured up to his other lovers. Would she be enough after all this time?
Pushing her empty plate away, Cassie grabbed her purse, reaching inside for a credit card. Matt’s hand shot out, halting her motions.
“Don’t even think about it. This weekend was my idea.” Bringing her hand to his lips, placing a kiss on her palm, he stopped her half-hearted protest. “I’ll let you pay some other time.”
Some other time. She liked that, hoping it meant he’d become as invested in working this out as her. Even if she hadn’t grown in experience, Cassie knew better than to believe sharing a bed, no matter how sweet and satisfying, meant the end to the hurt they’d caused each other. It had taken several long talks, but she’d begun to understand his decision to leave hurt him as much as her.
“Where to next?”
“Let’s take the ferry to Bainbridge Island. There are a few shops, a great bakery, a waterfront trail, an art museum…” His voice trailed off when he saw the sparkle in her eyes begin to dim. Taking a breath, he reached for her h
and. “It was nothing, Cassie. One of my rodeo buddies moved back to the island after an injury. I was already in Washington for the Othello rodeo, so I took a couple extra days to visit. Although he wasn’t up for taking me around, his neighbor was.”
“A female?”
“Yeah.”
“Pretty?”
“Well, yes. For eighty, she was quite attractive, and a lot of fun. She—”
Slapping his arm, they both laughed, then Cassie’s face sobered. “I need to get used to you having a past that didn’t include me. It just seems strange. The worst part is it emphasizes how much I didn’t do in the time you were gone. You’ve experienced so much. All I’ve done is work.”
“And volunteer at the foster care foundation. We both took a different path, which is good, Cass. We can share our experiences with each other, build from where we are. Come on. Let’s start by exploring the island and see what I can remember.”
******
Holding hands, they slowly walked through the airport to Cassie’s gate, the air between them filled with tension and unanswered questions. Matt hated to see her leave with so many unknowns between them, yet he had no choice. She’d be going back to Cold Creek, her current home. He’d see her off, then fly out an hour later to Fire Mountain. Neither had talked of the biggest issue hanging between them—their future.
“Well, here we are.” Cassie tightened her hold on Matt’s hand, looking up to search his face for some kind of validation he’d enjoyed their weekend together. He gave nothing away. He’d been all she could want—charming, fun, a gracious host, and a wonderful lover. The look in his eyes warned her he had something on his mind.
Matt glanced at his watch. “We have a few minutes before you board. We need to talk.”
Cassie could feel a knot of unease take hold in her stomach, building into a cold lump as he walked toward seating several yards away. Dismissing his gesture for her to sit, she released his hand.
“What is it you want to say?”
He could see her expression change from hope to curiosity to apprehension. Raising a hand to her face, he stopped when she took a step back and waited.
No Getting Over You Page 16