Romance Me: A Collection Of Standalone & First In Series Books

by Florella Grant

  The boss sighed and didn't reply for a few moments. Finally, he asked, "Is she alright?"

  Cassandra heard the other man ask about her and lifted her head. Anthony looked over to her as he replied. "She's scared and to be honest, I don't blame her." There was silence on the line until Anthony continued. "Listen, Cassandra told me about a lake house nearby. I'm running out of gas. Do you think it's safe?"

  The boss didn't answer right away. Anthony could almost hear the gears in his head. The boss knew Cassandra's family and knew what house they talked about. "Yes, go there for a night or two, but no longer. Be smart and keep a look-out."

  Anthony hung up the phone and nodded at her. Cassandra twist her body toward him as he gripped the steering wheel until his knuckles turned white. A place to stay was great, but they were still in danger and they still needed gas.

  "Your purse is in the trunk," he told her. "You have any money for gas?" Cassandra laughed. "Hey, I didn't look inside it. I didn't want to be charged with kidnapping and robbery." Her smile stretched across her face and she held her stomach. Anthony laughed, too until Cassandra started to cry. "Hey, it's ok." He comforted her. "I'm sorry we had to go about it this way, abducting you and treating you like a hostage. It's for your own good."

  She wiped her eyes with the back of her hands. "I have credit cards."

  "No." Anthony shook his head. "They can be traced."

  "But, you said no one would look for me."

  "That was before you used your cell phone and let the real killers know you were still in the area. They used their power to wrongfully convict me. They'd use it to track your credit cards down, too."

  Cassandra nodded her head in agreement. The sun was going down and dusk settled in. They needed to get to the lake house as soon as they could. He popped the trunk and walked to the rear of the car. For the first time, Cassandra didn't run.

  Anthony handed her the purse when he reentered the car. She reached in and pulled out her wallet. As luck would have them, she had a few twenty-dollar bills wadded together. Cassandra gave him a toothy smile. Damn, she's cute, he said to himself.

  Anthony backed the car out and headed in the direction they came from, he hoped the darkness would conceal them. He was still a wanted felon in the state's eyes, people still looked for him, and God only knew where the goons that wanted her dead were.

  At the gas station he pumped the gas and Cassandra went inside to pay. It was too risky to let anyone see him up close even though he wore a disguise. Anthony kept his eyes out for any danger, but there didn't appear to be any.

  Cassandra came out with a small bag. Without asking her what was inside, Anthony hightailed it away from the gas station. She told him where to go and then leaned back in her seat. Cassandra looked more relaxed now that she knew the truth. Somehow, Anthony thought, he went from being her abductor to being her protector.

  "They almost didn't serve me." She laughed. "They said, 'No shoes, no service,' but I lied and told them I forgot them at the beach."

  "They must have believed you," said and smiled. She reached into the bag and pulled out two bottles of soda. She opened one and handed it to Anthony. "Thank you," he said, and then thought to himself that things should have been that easy from the start.

  "I would have bought more," she said as she looked in the bag of snacks, "but I figured we didn't have too much time."

  Anthony couldn't help but grin. He never imagined she'd understand the situation. "You did fine," he said, and continued to drive away.

  IT WAS DARK BY THE time they got to the lake house. There wasn't a sign of anyone being around for miles. Anthony thought it was a good sign, though it concerned him, too. They got out of the car and Cassandra located the hidden key.

  "It's not a good idea to leave the car out in the open," he told her. Cassandra held her finger up to tell him to wait. She opened the main door of the house and turned to walk inside. Anthony grabbed her arm and stopped her. "Not until we know it's safe inside."

  He reached for her hand as they entered the house together. Her warmth spread up his arm, giving him chills. They edged their way through the dark entrance and found the inside door to the garage. It opened, and Anthony stepped out. Cassandra remained on his heels.

  The garage was dark, but Anthony shined a flashlight around. When he knew for sure there wasn't anyone else there, Anthony gave Cassandra a nod. She pressed a button on the wall and the garage door rose. He ducked down and stepped out to the other side.

  Cassandra moved to the steps leading up to the house to get out of the way. Anthony pulled the car inside and parked it next to a sharp looking black BMW. "It's Daddy's," she told him, as he looked it up and down. "He only drives it when we're up here."

  Anthony held the flashlight against the window but saw nothing out of the ordinary inside. He glanced over the garage again but saw nothing to cause alarm. After shutting the door, he turned the light off, making it pitch dark inside.

  "What are you doing?" Cassandra questioned him.

  "Look for blinking lights," he instructed her. They both scanned the room but found nothing. Anthony turned to face her. "We're good. No cameras or bombs."

  They entered the house. Anthony walked through with the flashlight in one hand and Cassandra in the other. Cassandra jumped at every shadow they crossed. Though she no longer feared Anthony, she still feared for her life.

  "It's better to stay in the dark," he said. "Just in case."

  Their eyes adjusted as the moonlight shone off the lake and through the windows. Cassandra let go of his hand and sat down. Anthony joined her.

  "Can I shower?"

  Anthony wanted to shower with her, his way of keeping her safe, but didn't think she'd find his humor funny. He couldn't allow any mistakes that would get them caught again. "I think we're safe here, but I don't know about having a light shine from inside the house."

  "The guest bathroom is down the hall and doesn't have a window," she told him. "Come on, I'll show you."

  Cassandra walked him down the hall and was right about the lack of a window. The thought of being cleaned tempted him and he couldn't resist. Anthony looked down at his dirty jeans and wished he could change. He wondered if she had spare clothing there, and what the odds were there were clothes for men. "You have any clothes here, for yourself and for me, I mean for men?"

  "Yes." Cassandra walked with him down the hall and entered a bedroom. She took the flashlight from him and shone it on a dresser. Inside, there were shorts and shirts of all sizes. Anthony gave her a puzzled look. "For when we have company and go for a swim."

  The shorts weren't fancy, but they were clean. He agreed to let her shower. Cassandra led him up the stairs and into her bedroom. There was a large window and Anthony feared the flashlight would shine for miles. He told her they had to rely on the moonlight again while she located clean clothes. Cassandra understood and led him back downstairs when she finished.

  Chapter 11

  ONCE THEY REACHED THE bathroom Anthony cautiously checked behind the shower curtain. He knew nobody would be there since his initial walk-through of the house confirmed they were alone. But, he wanted to make sure there wasn't anything of danger lurking in unexpected places. When it checked out, he returned his attention to Cassandra.

  "We should clean up those cuts on your arm," he suggested.

  Cassandra opened the medicine cabinet and pulled out anything she thought could help her. She quickly inhaled when he placed a swab soaked with peroxide on her tender flesh. The wounds bubbled, and she knew he'd been right about taking care of them. He sealed the area with adhesive bandages.

  She couldn't help her rapid heartbeat as Anthony stood face-to-face with her, his hot breath fanned her skin. His hands shook as he tended to her injuries and Cassandra wondered if he wanted her as much as she wanted him. "I think my leg is worse," she whispered.

  "Your leg?" he questioned, but then looked down at her jeans as if he remembered throwing her across the basemen
t. “You better take off your pants.”

  Cassandra's cheeks flushed but the throbbing pain on her shin told her to obey him. She unzipped her jeans and slowly wiggled them off her hips. Cassandra looked at Anthony as her panties came into sight and noticed the smile on his face, but he looked away when she made eye contact. Seconds later, she stood before him in dirty underwear and wished she never mentioned the wound on her leg.

  He knelt and held the back of her knee with one hand while the other hand wiped the swab over the injury. Cassandra realized his face neared her crotch, and her body craved his touch. Just a split second before she found the courage to offer herself, Anthony stood and backed away. "That should do," he declared, then walked out of the bathroom.

  Anthony sat outside the bathroom as Cassandra showered. She left the door unlocked, just in case he needed to get inside for any reason. The hot water rushed over her aching body. Cassandra leaned against the wall and clenched her fist together. Her ordinary boring life had turned into a crazed nightmare.

  Her thoughts turned to her father. Cassandra prayed they weren't after him, too. She wouldn't know what to do if anything happened to him. Life was hard enough without a mother, if she lost her father, too, it would devastate her. Her maternal grandmother had recently passed away, and she was the last of her mother's family.

  Her father stood by her side, during her Grandmother's funeral, and held her hand. He hadn't communicated with anyone from her mother's side of the family since she died fifteen years before. It took Cassandra years to realize how hostile they were toward each other, though he never tried to stop her from spending time with her grandmother.

  Cassandra turned the water off and stepped out onto the soft carpet. She toweled herself off as fast as she could. The thought of being naked when someone killed her, scared the crap out of her. The sound of the air conditioner kicking on caused Cassandra to wrap the towel around her body and run out of the bathroom.

  Anthony stood up when she opened the door. She jumped into his arms. "What happened?" He asked as he lifted her chin.

  "Nothing," Cassandra stuttered. Her entire body shook. "I don't want to die."

  He pulled her close to him and wiped the moisture from her eyes. "You're not going to die, Cassandra. You weren't supposed to know any of this, but it is helping me protect you."

  Anthony's lips were close to Cassandra's. She wanted to kiss him again, but resisted the urge. She pulled back and straightened herself up. Anthony walked into the bathroom, leaving Cassandra alone in the dark hallway. They were in her family vacation home, she told herself, and her tension eased a little. When she heard the water start within the bathroom, she dropped her towel and slipped into the clean clothes. Cassandra sat down and waited for him, like he had for her moments before.

  The bathroom door opened, and Anthony stood before Cassandra. He looked ridiculous in the shorts he picked out and she giggled. He reached for her hand and pulled her to her feet.

  "I'm hungry," she told him, and assumed he would be hungry too. "There's stuff in the freezer, but I doubt there's anything fresh since we haven't been up here in weeks."

  "Anything microwavable?"

  Cassandra shrugged her shoulders, and they walked to the kitchen together. Anthony opened the refrigerator; the light almost blinded both. Cassandra searched the cupboards but found nothing appealing. Anthony found frozen pizzas, perfect for the microwave.

  Cassandra nuked the food while Anthony closed the curtains in the living room. He stubbed his toe on an end table as he made his way back into the kitchen. She handed him two glasses of soda then removed the hot food from the microwave. "We can eat this in here or in the living room," she told him. Anthony walked back to where he'd just came from and sat on the couch.

  As they ate, thoughts of being killed ran through Cassandra's mind. "Is anyone trying to capture these men? Or am I on the run for the rest of my life?"

  Anthony swallowed his food and leaned back onto the couch. He slipped his fingers through his wet hair. "The boss is trying to nail the bastards," he informed her. "I can't tell you much more. Just know, you're not going to die or have to hide for the rest of your life."

  Cassandra sighed, but her nerves still rattled. She ate half of her pizza but knowing someone was after her caused her appetite to dwindle. She offered the plate to Anthony who took it and guzzled it down.

  "Are you really helping me because of a promise you made fifteen years ago?" Cassandra couldn't help but think there was more to it.

  Anthony didn't answer right away, and she assumed he ignored her. She stood to take the dishes back to the kitchen, but Anthony reached for her forearm and she sat back down. "Yes and no," he answered. "I've said this before, this is a job. My boss has big connections and can have me pardoned if I succeed at keeping you safe."

  Cassandra realized she was aiding an escaped felon. She done nothing wrong in her life. A week before, if she knew the whereabouts of a con, she'd call the cops. Times changed. She needed this man in so many ways.

  She yawned. It had been another hard day, but at least she would have the comfort of her own bed. "I'm tired," Cassandra told him. "I'll be up in my room."

  Anthony stood up and walked behind her. "Not alone, you won't be."

  "What?"

  "Both of our lives depend on me watching you. To play it safe, we're sleeping together."

  Cassandra's knees turned into jelly as she stood. The pizza in her stomach turned and threatened to come back up if she didn't control herself. He’d slept beside her in the basement and nothing happened. That was different, she told herself. Anthony was the enemy then, now he was putting his life on the line for her. Cassandra wasn't sure if she could keep her hands to herself.

  She turned to face him. Her cheeks burned, and she prayed he couldn't see them. "Alright," she moaned, but it sounded too much like pleasure.

  "Don't worry," he grinned. "You'll be in good hands."

  Chapter 12

  ANTHONY FOUND IT HARD to sleep next to Cassandra's soft body. She had her back turned toward him, her leg bent and lifted over the other one. He glanced down at the round flesh peeking out of her shorts and his dick hardened. Anthony wanted nothing more than to roll her over and pull her into his hardness.

  The sun came through the window when he woke. He wasn't sure how long he slept, but he knew she’d slept longer. Cassandra inched closer to him at some point. Her arm stretched and rested on his chest. Anthony watched her, but not for long. He felt himself growing hard, but knew there was no way he could take advantage of the girl.

  He knew if he gave into his desires, his focus would shift, and he wouldn't be on high alert for the killers. The boss would see Anthony dead if anything happened to Cassandra. It was best to keep his eyes, and hands, off her.

  Anthony slipped out of the bed, but she heard him.

  "Good morning," Cassandra whispered.

  Fuck, he thought, she was too freaking sexy. He didn't reply, just stood up and walked toward the window. The sun glistened on the lake. Anthony never seen green water sparkle like that. Cassandra stood behind him, a little too close for comfort, and pressed her head against the window.

  "You probably take this view for granted," he said.

  "Actually," she corrected him. "No, I don't. I love nature and being outdoors. Can we swim?"

  Her question threw Anthony off guard. Those goons could've been anywhere. "I can't answer that right now," he told her. She looked down and frowned.

  Anthony locked her in the room while he checked the perimeter of the property. Cassandra understood. All the doors and windows to the house were locked, the garage was tight, too. He tucked his gun into his shorts and slinked around the property. There was no sign of trespassers.

  He locked the door behind him as he walked back inside. The flip phone vibrated, and he answered. "Yeah, we're good here. Any leads on those bastards?"

  "Seems they had a slight problem catching a flight back from Greece," the boss info
rmed. Anthony was sure he pulled a few strings. "We have their locations locked in. You're safe for at least another day or two, maybe less, so always be on alert. Their leader is in the area, but I don't think he has the balls to do the job himself. Too much at risk."

  "You think he'll come here?" Anthony gulped as he thought about it. There was always the possibility and, unlike the boss, Anthony didn't trust that their leader wouldn't try to kill Cassandra himself.

  The boss paused before answering. "No, he's at a conference. Word has it, he planned it to cover his ass. Alibi."

  Anthony sighed. It all made sense, he wouldn't want an association with the murder of Cassandra Frame. "And what about the police?"

  "Haven't you seen the television?"

  They spared the use of electricity in fear of being seen, but now that daylight arrived, Anthony saw no reason not to turn the television on. He stepped into the living room and picked up the remote. "What channel?" he asked.

  "Seven."

  "Authorities tell us that a man fitting the description of Anthony Flint boarded a plane to Mexico late last night. Local police are working with the FBI to attain the man once they locate him. For now, residents can rest easy knowing the convicted killer is not in the area."

  "No shit," he exclaimed into the phone. "How did you pull that off?"

  The boss didn't answer. He never told Anthony the big details, only what he needed to know to keep Cassandra safe. "Always be on the lookout," the boss scolded. "And keep a low profile. I'll contact you as soon as I have any word."

  CASSANDRA STARTLED when Anthony unlocked the bedroom door, but smiled when she realized it was him. He couldn't help but smile back. "Breakfast is ready, are you hungry?"

  She stepped closer, a wave of sweet perfume invaded his nostrils. Every little thing she did drove Anthony crazy. "You have to ask?" Cassandra's laugh echoed in the room. She brushed her hand against his as she passed.