At least not with the man who’d shattered her heart years ago.
Luke said nothing and Cassandra couldn’t take the tension, or the desire emanating from him, for another second. She went to the door and tapped the security panel to slide open the wall. Immediately, the blaring music surrounded her. Happy customers were all still milling about while singing along and drinking. Everyone continued on about their lives as if hers hadn’t just taken a drastic turn.
How was she going to get through the next few weeks before the wedding? She would have to stay busy. She would have to focus on work and not the fact that she still wanted the hell out of her ex-lover turned fake fiancé.
He’d wanted a fling and she couldn’t deny she wanted him, too. But at what cost? Because no matter how much they enjoyed themselves, even that small bit of happiness would be ripped away in the end, and Cassandra didn’t want any more heartache where Luke was concerned.
Eight
Luke called himself all kinds of a fool for the way he’d treated Cassandra. She deserved better than his pushy assumptions and now he had to do something to make up for his actions.
He hadn’t seen or spoken to her in a few days and he knew from talking with Will that Cassandra and Hannah were busy planning all things wedding. She was here for a job, not to be harassed by him. She’d come to him for help and he’d turned the tables on her by asking for something of his own. He’d wanted to prove to himself that he could be close to her and be completely unaffected. Then he’d wondered if he should take advantage of this prime opportunity for a little payback.
But that was a jerk move. How could he be cruel when Cass’s leaving long ago had obviously been the best thing for both of them? They were now successful in their own ways and had built happy lives, right?
Yeah, he owed her a damn big apology and he was going to do that right now. He shot off a quick text that he had a surprise for her and he would pick her up at noon.
Luke rested his arms on the railing of his balcony off his master suite and stared at his cell screen. Immediately, he saw she was typing a response. He thought for sure she would tell him no, or to go to hell...both of which he deserved.
I’m busy right now. Make it one.
That extra hour was even better. Now Luke could plan appropriately. His mind traveled back to the twentysomething guy he’d once been who’d wanted to give her the world. So much had changed in both of their lives and he found there was still a sliver of him that missed what they used to share. Not just the intimacy, but their friendship. He hadn’t even realized how much of a void her leaving had left until she’d returned.
Luke pushed off the railing and pocketed his phone. He’d made sure to let the managers of his bars know exactly where he’d be today in case of an emergency, but he had such competent employees, he didn’t worry one bit. They could certainly all manage without him for one day.
He didn’t recall the last time he’d taken an entire day off, but if anything warranted some time away, Cassandra sure as hell did.
With a little burst of hope and excitement, Luke put his plan in motion and started counting down the hours until he could see Cassandra again.
* * *
With a quick click of her mouse, Cassandra sent the rush order to the florist for all of the fresh blooms the local florist would need to create a masterpiece for Hannah and Will’s perfect day.
The penthouse echoed with the buzz at her door. She got up from where she was sitting at the corner desk and smoothed a hand down her pants. She’d been told to wear pants and boots, and to be comfortable. Now she was intrigued, and wondered if they were going hiking or if there was something else on Luke’s mind that she didn’t know about. He’d been cryptic with his texts when she tried to get him to tell her what was going on.
Cassandra blew out a breath and headed toward the door. She would have to face him at some time, and if they were going out, that was the best option. Staying in or being alone with him wouldn’t be smart at this point. She’d been dreaming of him these last few nights and all that did was leave her aching and wanting.
She had to shove aside all of that nonsense and focus on the job. There was no reason she couldn’t be friendly, though, right?
Cassandra flicked the lock on the door and opened it to reveal Luke standing there holding a large gift bag.
With a laugh, Cassandra eased back to let him inside. “It’s not my birthday, so what’s the bag all about?”
Luke stepped into the penthouse and set down the bag at her feet. He stood straight up and pointed to the tissue-filled gift.
“I wanted to bring you something to start off my apology, but flowers are overrated and I had no clue what to do.” He let out a laugh and raked a hand over the afternoon scruff on his jawline. “I figure you’re a wedding planner, so a planner would be useful. Then the lady at the store said you can’t have a planner without special markers, then she showed me this whole display of sticker things on a wall.”
Cassandra watched as he fumbled over his words and sought some attempt at an apology. She crossed her arms and simply waited for him to finish.
“So I had no clue what the hell you had or didn’t have, so I just told the lady to give me everything from that wall of stickers. Well, I didn’t have her give me the baby or expecting-mother packs because, well...for obvious reasons.”
Cassandra didn’t know whether to hug him for being so damn adorable, or inform him that planners and stickers weren’t quite the type of planning she did for a career.
But she absolutely loved the gift. She loved the gesture. She really hadn’t expected anything so sweet from him. Not only had he done something thoughtful, but he’d also shown his vulnerable side. Never once in all the time she’d known him had she ever seen Luke admit he didn’t know something, or venture into a territory that wasn’t in his wheelhouse. The fact that he’d gone into a store and stepped outside his obvious comfort zone all to show he was sorry...
And other than that one kiss, he’d never told her he was sorry for anything. Who was this new Luke and why was he being so damn perfect? She didn’t want to find him even more charming and adorable than usual. She could handle the sexy Luke, but the tender side... She wasn’t so sure what to do with that.
Cassandra bent down, pulled out the tissue paper and laughed at the sight of what was inside. “You really did go all out, didn’t you?”
“Considering I was a jerk the other night for propositioning you into a fake engagement...” He raked a hand over his hair and sighed. “I know you wanted marriage when we were together before, so that wasn’t fair.”
Cassandra stood straight up and met his gaze. There was something there beyond the apology she could clearly see. It was that other emotion she couldn’t quite put a label on.
“No, it wasn’t,” she agreed. “But this is where we are now.”
“I can’t help but think there’s something to explore here.”
His statement shocked her and immediately her heart kicked up. “What?” she whispered.
With a shrug, he took a slight step forward. “I don’t know, Cass. I just can’t help but feel that pull. It’s strong, it’s completely physical, but it’s there and damn difficult to ignore.”
In addition to that fast heartbeat, now she had a quiver of nerves curling in her belly. She’d obviously had those same feelings since she’d come back to Beaumont Bay, but now that they were out in the open, she didn’t know what to say.
“I’m not trying to make you uncomfortable,” he added. “And I don’t know what the hell I want, but you deserved an apology and I plan on making it up to you.”
Then Luke gestured toward the door, and suddenly, the moment was gone. “Ready to go?” he asked.
Just like that, he’d swept in here with the most adorable gift, given her a heartfelt apology, and admitted he wanted to explore something
more. Damn if she wasn’t in trouble here and she had no way out. The only way to go was forward and she hoped she didn’t get crushed in the process.
Cassandra pushed aside her fears because there was nothing she could do about them now. “Are you going to give me a hint as to what we’re doing?”
“Not one.”
She couldn’t help but laugh as she went to get her purse.
“You won’t need that,” he told her.
She froze and glanced over her shoulder. “No? Now I’m really intrigued.”
Cassandra grabbed her room key from her purse and slid it into her back pocket. Nerves curled through her belly at the anticipation of what Luke had in mind. This was the Luke she remembered—always doing sweet things. Granted, the passionate Luke from the other night was also familiar and damn difficult to turn away.
He’d admitted he wanted something physical. Could it really be that simple between them? After all the drama they’d been through, she really didn’t know.
But they did have a deal between them and she planned to hold up her end. A few more pictures on social media to keep this farce going wouldn’t hurt. Which reminded her to also grab her cell.
“I’m ready,” she told him after she’d gotten her phone. “Should we do a selfie now or is there something more exhilarating that will be a better backdrop than my hotel living room?”
Luke smiled, and damn it, he was irresistible...yet somehow she’d resisted him. She’d pushed him away, but since then, their attraction and sexual tension was all she’d thought of.
Cassandra wanted to rewind to the other night and just let go. What would have happened if she’d shoved aside those red flags waving around inside her head? Where would they be now if they’d just let this fling happen? They were adults; they weren’t the naive couple they used to be. Her eyes were wide open now...and she wasn’t sure she could keep resisting him.
“I have something more exciting planned,” he assured her. “Unless you want a quick kiss selfie?”
He waggled his eyebrows at her, still with that naughty smile in place. Cassandra crossed to him and smacked his chest.
“Nice try,” she told him. “I’ll wait to see what you have planned.”
“Does that mean no kiss?” he joked.
“Not right now. I’d like to see what you have in store and how we can spin it to our social media. That is the whole reason for this date, I assume?”
Luke’s smile faltered slightly. “When I planned this, I hadn’t given social media or other women a single thought. I just wanted to take a breather from everything and I figured you needed a break, too. And I wanted to see you smile.”
Oh, hell. When he said things like that, she couldn’t remember why she was ignoring her own desires. The man wasn’t just sexy and successful—he was kind and generous...and he clearly wanted her.
She had to get out of here or she would forget all the reasons she couldn’t get entangled with Luke Sutherland again. The bomb his brothers had dropped about Luke having a ring for her years ago had taken root in her mind and she thought about it every time her gaze caught the current band on her finger. Layer all of that information with her current emotions and she was a walking wreck.
“Everything okay?”
Luke’s question pulled her back to the present and Cassandra pasted on a smile. “Perfectly fine. I’m ready for more of my surprise. You know I love them.”
She bent down and slid the tissue paper back inside the gift bag, then took the heavy bag to the small dining table just off the living room. She still couldn’t believe he’d done all of that for her. Just that gesture alone had her heart softening. She couldn’t imagine how she’d feel at the end of this day. Maybe she would completely succumb to his charms and her needs.
Nine
Luke hadn’t known what Cassandra’s reaction would be, but he smiled when he saw her face light up as he turned onto the lane that led to his barn and pasture. He’d called ahead and had his stable hand get two of the stallions ready.
“Who owns all of this?” Cassandra asked as she looked out onto the fields lined with white fencing and horses dotting the horizon.
“I do.”
Her attention jerked to him. “You own all this land?”
Luke pulled up to the stable and killed the engine, then turned to face her. Her shocked expression had him laughing and swelling with pride.
“Did you think I just tended bar and partied all day and night?”
Cassandra stared for a moment before shrugging and turning back to the acreage. “I never thought about it. I mean, I just assumed if you owned all of those businesses, then you were married to those. How do you have time to come out here?”
“It’s just like anything else. I make time. And as much as I love my bars and all the people I meet, there are times when I need to get away.”
That was something that had changed since she’d left. He’d never made time for anything else other than work before that point. But he’d learned the benefit of taking a break, and now, he was taking time for her. Their outing had nothing to do with the fake relationship. There was no one around to care or see.
Cassandra smiled. “You always loved riding.”
“If I recall, so did you.”
She looked back at him with a sweetness in her smile and a softness in her eyes. “We always said we’d have a horse farm outside Beaumont Bay where we could escape. Looks like you did everything you wanted.”
Back then they’d discussed many dreams for the future. But he hadn’t been ready to put that ring on her finger and she’d wanted nothing more. He’d gone on to fulfill his every career goal. Wasn’t that what he’d wanted? He had the social scene and nightlife in Beaumont Bay, he had his businesses, plus a place to go and decompress when needed.
Clearly they hadn’t been on the same page back then. They’d both had dreams, but they’d branched off in different directions. Looking back, maybe that had been the best thing that could have happened to them.
Luke cleared his throat and reached for his door handle. “Let’s go have some fun.”
She was out of the truck before he could come around and get her door. The late-summer breeze surrounded them, sending her hair dancing around her shoulders. Cassandra lifted her face into the wind and closed her eyes. An instant punch of lust to the gut had him catching his breath. He hadn’t thought of the impact bringing her here would have on his mental state. Luke had just wanted to apologize and have a relaxing day.
He hadn’t taken into consideration all they’d discussed so long ago. At one time, this was exactly what Cass had dreamed of and what she’d wanted them to share together. He’d always planned on having a place where they could escape from their work and just be alone.
And that’s exactly what they were doing now, but definitely not under the circumstances he’d originally envisioned.
Without thinking, Luke reached for her hand and Cassandra’s gaze snapped to his. Now that he was holding her, he didn’t want to let go and it had nothing to do with faking this relationship. He couldn’t help how he felt. Turning off his desire for her wasn’t an option—it never had been.
He curled his fingers around hers and couldn’t help but feel an extra lick of lust when she returned the gesture. There was something building here that had absolutely nothing to do with the outside world and nothing to do with their business arrangement.
“I don’t remember the last time I went riding,” she told him. “This definitely gets you brownie points.”
“So I’m forgiven for the other night?” he asked as he led her toward the stable.
“There’s nothing to forgive. Things got heated, Luke. It’s bound to happen given our history.”
Maybe so, but their history had nothing to do with why he felt a pull toward her now. He was intrigued by the woman she’d becom
e and he wanted to learn more. He wanted to know what she’d been doing since she’d left. Maybe he was a masochist for wanting to spend more time with her, for wanting to uncover everything about their time apart. She was only back in town for a short time and Luke wanted to make the most of it.
But he had to remain guarded. She’d been such an intricate part of his world at one time and yet she’d walked away. Getting too emotionally involved now would be such a foolish, naive mistake. He knew better, and quite honestly, he still wasn’t looking for anything more than something physical.
“And given the attraction that’s still there,” she murmured.
Luke’s stomach tightened as she tacked on that bold statement. Considering she’d put the brakes on things the other night, he respected her enough to let her take the lead. If she wanted more, then he’d sure as hell give her everything she wanted. But if she only wanted to be friends while she was in town, then that’s what he would do, no matter his own desires.
Nobody had ever affected him like Cassandra and now that she was back in town, she had him mesmerized all over again.
He was doomed. That would be the end result of all of this. He might not be in love with her anymore, but that didn’t mean he didn’t want her. He wanted the hell out of her and the more time he spent with her, the deeper that desire took hold. It threatened to consume him.
As they stepped into the stables, Luke spotted the stallions at the end of the path. Their reins were looped around the hooks and the horses were all set to go. Luke had told his stable hand to make sure everything was set and then make himself scarce. Luke wanted privacy and he wanted Cassandra to enjoy her day without any interruptions.
“They are gorgeous,” Cassandra exclaimed as she headed toward the animals. “What are their names?”
“Carl and Stan.”
Cassandra laughed. “Those aren’t quite the horse names I was imagining. I figured like Thunderbolt, or something strong and powerful.”
Fake Engagement, Nashville Style Page 8