Honk! Honk!
She jumped and dragged her gaze away from Zac to look over her shoulder. Sure enough there was an angry-looking motorist giving them an impatient glare.
“Um… that guy looks like he’s ready to murder someone,” she said, quickly putting the car in gear and driving off before there was an incident.
“Then there would’ve been a double murder,” he drawled.
“A double murder?”
“For not letting me finish our kiss.”
She bubbled with laughter and not a little flattery as she concentrated on the road ahead.
There was a short silence before he spoke in a throaty voice, “Hey, next time you laugh like that, give my old ticker plenty of warning, okay?”
She had to steady her breathing. “It’s your own fault, you know. You shouldn’t make me laugh at you.”
He gave her a dry look before asking, “Did Leon call you?”
Her smile ebbed. Dear Leon. She loved him but… “Yes, he did.” And she’d been non-committal.
“He called me too. Wanted to come over and check my sheets to see if we’d had sex.”
She almost slammed on the brakes. “He didn’t!”
“No, but I wouldn’t have put it past him.”
She chuckled. “Me either.”
“You’ve got a great smile, Cassie.”
Her heart dipped at the words. “And I thought it was only my laughter that made your heart beat faster?”
A few seconds slipped by, then, “Everything about you makes my heart beat faster.”
The comment floored her and she glanced at him, catching the darkened blue of his eyes, feeling herself blush but thankfully had to concentrate on driving toward downtown. She just didn’t have a comeback for that.
By the time she’d parked she was breathing easier. “Are you ready to see the sights?” she asked, locking the doors with her remote keyring as he came around the car toward her.
Without warning, he slipped his hands onto her waist and held her still. “I’ve got all the sights I want right here in front of me.”
She gasped softly. “Oh heavens.”
The corner of his mouth lifted. “Is that all you’ve got to say after last night?”
She moistened her suddenly dry lips. “Zac, I --”
“You left without saying goodbye.”
She forced herself not to look away. “Yes.”
His stare made her slightly uncomfortable. “Any particular reason?”
“Cold feet, I guess.” She lifted her shoulders helplessly. “I just needed a little time to sort of catch my breath.”
“I’m that good, eh?” he said, his blue eyes suddenly twinkling, making her smile.
“No comment.”
“Okay, I accept your explanation on one condition.”
“You and your conditions.” She lifted an eyebrow. “And what would your condition be this time?”
“That you let me buy you an ice cream.”
Her smile widened. “I know just the place.”
After that Cassie had a wonderful afternoon, laughing and joking with him. The sexual thing was constantly there beneath the surface as they walked along the pier outside in the sunshine, enjoying the view of the Chicago skyline and lighthouse beyond the end of the pier. Then they turned around and went back through the Smith Stained Glass Museum, relaxing over coffee in the glass atrium of Crystal Gardens, where they were surrounded by what looked like hundreds of palm trees.
Zac pulled her close as they arrived back at her car. “Here’s the thing. I have one more condition.”
“You do?”
“A kiss before you take me back to Adam’s place,” he said, as if he were merely talking about the breeze coming off Lake Michigan.
Her pulse stuttered. “Oh but --”
“Cassie, I think we both know it would be so easy for me to go back to your place tonight, but I can’t. I realize now that you need a little more time to get to know me better.”
She blinked, unable to believe he wasn’t expecting anything more from her today. How wonderful this man was. He was unique, she decided, lifting her mouth to his and he took her with a hunger that matched her own, his tongue sliding inside and stroking hers, sending her tastebuds into a frenzy, turning her blood into thick warm honeycomb.
Unable to stop herself, she pressed her body closer. He groaned and slid his hands down to her buttocks, pulling her tighter against him. She could feel every inch of him - every single inch of him - and he felt so good.
The kiss ended and she leaned her forehead against his chest and took in a sharp draft of air. “Zac, you’re coming home with me right now.”
“But --”
“Zac, I know you. That’s enough for me.”
* * *
As they came out of the elevator, Adele was walking toward them with Mitzy on her lead. Cassie felt Zac stiffen when he saw the dog.
“Oh, you’re back early,” Adele said. “I was just taking Mitzy to the park for a walk.”
“She’d love that,” Cassie said, noting the way the other woman’s eyes were sneaking a look at Zac.
“So you don’t mind if I still take her?”
“Not at all.” That would at least keep Mitzy busy while she and Zac were er… busy too.
Adele held out her hand toward Zac. “I’m Adele, by the way. And you’re Zac, the Australian, right?”
Zac smiled, relaxing a little now. “Yes, that’s me. You’re another fan of Cassie’s show then?”
“I wouldn’t miss it, especially since you’ve come on the scene. You two work well together.”
He glanced at Cassie then back at Adele. “I couldn’t agree more.”
Mitzy barked and Adele chuckled, not seeming to notice Zac had jumped a little. “Coming, young lady.” She started toward the elevator. “We’ll see you two later.”
Cassie and Zac continued into her apartment. “How long have we got?” he said, pulling her against him as she shut the door behind them.
Cassie looked up at him. “Hmm, I’d say about half an hour.”
“That’s nowhere near long enough,” he growled.
“To have me to yourself or for Mitzy to return?”
“Both.”
She smiled as she tugged his shirt up. “We’d better get started then.”
His eyes flared with something more than amusement. “Go ahead, lady. Make my day.”
* * *
After they made love, Zac dressed as quickly as Cassie in case her neighbor returned earlier than expected. Their lovemaking had been fast and furious, and something could definitely be said for having to rush to get their fill of each other. No doubt if they continued a long distance relationship, there would be many brief times in future like this where they wouldn’t be able to get enough of each other.
And if they didn’t continue their relationship? No, he wouldn’t think about that. “Go with the flow” he’d told Cassie. He had to live by that too.
“So tell me, Zac,” Cassie said, as she handed him a mug of coffee a short time later. “What’s made you afraid of dogs?”
He tried not to think too hard of a certain memory. “I was chased once as a kid, that’s all,” he said, giving a shrug, downplaying it. “As long as a dog doesn’t rush at me, I’m fine.”
Her eyebrows drew together. “It must have been traumatic for it to still have such a hold on you.”
“It was enough.”
She tilted her head. “Have you ever thought about getting help for it?”
“Now why would I do that?” he drawled.
“Surely in your job as an electrician you have to work in people’s houses? People with dogs?”
She saw too much. “I always managed to get around things.” He’d been adept at it. “Besides, I don’t do much of the physical work as an electrician these days. I mainly help to run the office.”
She studied him, then, “Maybe Mitzy could do you a favor?”
“A fa
vor?”
“She could help you overcome your fear. We could have her run toward you, only I’ll be there to pick her up before she reaches you.”
He shook his head, not inclined to put himself through that. “No, that’s okay.”
“But we could do it bit by bit. Desensitize you. I wouldn’t let her rush you all at once, Zac. I’d make you feel safe.”
He put down his coffee mug, took hers away from her too, and looped his arms around her hips. “You already make me feel safe.” He began nuzzling her neck. “Very safe.”
“Um… Zac?”
“Yes?” He kept nuzzling her delicious neck.
“You do realize you’re not facing up to your problem?”
She was right, dammit. Still, “I can live with that.”
She pushed against his shoulders so that he had to look into her face. “Zac, we should do something about this while we can.”
He pressed his lower half against her. “Yes, we should.”
She slapped his shoulder. “I’m serious.”
“So am I.”
She frowned instead of smiling and said earnestly, “Mitzy’s a big part of my life, Zac. I’d really like you to get to know her while you’re here. She’s such a honey.”
He could see Cassie was anxious about this. “It’s important to you, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
He nodded. “Okay, let’s give it a whirl.”
“Thank you!”
Fifteen minutes later, after Mitzy had been returned, Cassie put her plan into action. Zac could see she was being gentle and considerate about not letting the dog actually reach him, but just seeing Mitzy running up the hallway toward him was enough to make him sweat. Doing it five times over was about all he could stand right now.
“No more,” he said firmly when Cassie said one more time.
She adjusted Mitzy in her arms and nodded. “Okay then. You did really well, Zac.”
He could breathe easier now that was over. “Thanks.”
Hugging Mitzy, she headed toward the kitchen. “And you, my little precious, deserve a treat,” she murmured sweetly.
“Are you talking to me or the dog?” he managed to tease, as his equilibrium returned.
She winked at him over her shoulder. “You’ll get your treat later.”
“I’ll hold you to that.”
“You’d better.”
* * *
Sighing with exhaustion, Steve tugged at his tie, dropped down on the couch and leaned his head back against the soft leather to close his eyes. He’d had the worst Sunday. He should have been at home with Alicia, but he’d had to work because the Pelham assignment had almost fallen through and it had taken some fancy footwork from him to make sure it hadn’t.
Strangely enough he’d done it without compromising himself, which was weird in itself. For the first time since meeting Alicia, he’d been pressured - really pressured - to go to bed with a client to keep them happy.
Instead, he’d done some fast talking about being an engaged man deeply in love with his fiancée, and had walked away with an even better deal for the company. Barbara Pelham, a middle-aged woman well-known for her perchance in younger men, had even said she admired him for his attitude.
Crazy!
Even crazier was the satisfaction he felt with himself. He’d now remained faithful to Alicia for a full year. Of course, fear of her father finding out if he hadn’t been faithful was a major factor. It had turned him into a one-woman man. Yet the odd thing was, father or no father, he hadn’t wanted to fool around on Alicia. And that was more of a surprise than not.
Just then he heard a movement at the doorway. He opened his eyes and blinked to make sure he wasn’t imagining the brunette beauty before him. Alicia was dressed in a long, off-the-shoulder black dress that was both sexy and demure at the same time. She oozed good manners and old money, yet had a refreshingly contemporary poise about her that had charmed him from their first meeting. It had been easy to be attracted to her.
“Darling, you’re home at last,” she said, fixing a drop diamond earring to her ear to go with the delicate diamond necklace at her throat. “I told Daddy we’d be there late.”
“Give me a minute.” His tired eyes just wanted to look at her some more.
“But you know how Daddy is with these parties. It’s more business than social,” she said, reminding him of his duty. He sighed and she stopped putting in the other earring and frowned. “Darling, what’s the matter?”
He pushed himself forward to rest his elbows on his knees. “I’m tired, that’s all.” All at once he realized he was tired. Tired of all the crap that went with his job. With his life. With Cassie. Tonight he just wanted to be with Alicia. It was Sunday night, for God’s sake. Who on earth had a party on Sunday night?
“You do too much,” she said in concern. “You’ve been working late every night this week. I’m going to speak to Daddy about this.”
“No!” He winced at the panic in his voice. “Sorry, darling, but you know it’s important to me that I pull my weight.” He didn’t want “Daddy” trying to find out what he was actually doing in the office each night. Nor did he want to give the other man any excuse to undermine his relationship with Alicia.
She came over and sat down next to him, placing her slender, manicured hand on his leg. “Darling, if you don’t feel up to going tonight, we can stay home.”
He blinked in surprise. “You’d do that for me?”
She squeezed his leg. “You’re more important to me than some boring party.”
He swallowed a sudden lump in his throat. He’d never let himself lean on her before. Or any woman. Not even Cassie. He’d always tried to remain strong.
But now - the one time he let down his guard - she came through for him. The gesture touched him more than he could say. “Thank you,” he said huskily. “I’ll be fine. I just needed to rest up for a bit.” He forced a smile as he leaned closer and softly kissed her mouth. “See. I feel better already.”
She gave a soft smile but her eyes were still worried. “Darling, you’ve been a bit distant lately. Is there anything wrong?”
Despite the closeness of the moment, he could feel himself withdrawing. “No. Should there be?”
Her blue eyes held his, as if not wanting to miss his reaction. “Perhaps something to do with your ex-wife?”
He hesitated for only a split second. “Good grief, no,” he said, hoping to put her off the scent but his chest felt tight.
“Then are you worried about the wedding?” she persisted.
“No.” All at once he realized he had to tell her something or she wouldn’t give up. “Well, maybe.”
And truthfully, until they were married he wouldn’t relax. He wanted her ring on his finger and her money in his bank account. Then and only then would he stop worrying. After that he would relax and let himself accept the love she offered. And if she found out about the lies after their marriage? Well, he’d be walking away with a pretty penny or two in his pocket.
It would be enough, he told himself with a sinking feeling in his stomach that suddenly had everything to do with losing Alicia, and less with her money.
“You’re getting cold feet, aren’t you?” she said, a catch in her voice that caused an unexpected ache to tumble around inside his chest.
“Definitely not. It’s just that… Alicia, I want everything to be perfect for us.”
Her face began to smooth. “Is that all?” She reached up and ran her fingers along his jaw. “No need to worry, darling. It will be perfect. Why shouldn’t it be?”
“No reason,” he said quickly as he made himself smile. “Absolutely no reason at all.”
But to Steve, her comment highlighted the differences between them. She assumed the world was her oyster. He knew it wasn’t. If she ever found out how he’d lied to her, his world was going to become one big empty shell.
And it all came down to Cassie.
Somehow, without tippin
g his ex-wife off as to how much she held the upper hand, he had to get through to her that she was ruining his life. Her and that darn Aussie.
There had to be a way.
CHAPTER SEVEN
The sound of Mitzy playing with her squeaky toy in the living room the next morning drew Cassie out of bed before the noise could wake Zac. Clearly their night antics hadn’t kept Mitzy awake at all, Cassie reflected, pulling on her bathrobe and leaving the bedroom, softly closing the door behind her. Then she lovingly scolded the little dog and took the toy from her as she went to get her some breakfast.
“Now you eat that while I go take a shower. And keep the noise down,” she murmured, patting Mitzy on the head.
Zac didn’t wake when she returned to the bedroom, so Cassie took a shower, rather than wake him up. If only Steve could see her now, she mused, as she rubbed soap over her tender nipples. He ex would be shocked to know his “cold fish” wife had accomplished multiple orgasms last night and one more this morning. And it was all due to Zac, she knew, as she went back into the bedroom and dressed quietly, then stood looking down at the thoroughly gorgeous male tangled among her sheets.
Like a sun-kissed god spread out on the sand, he lay on his stomach, his face turned sideways, his cheek pressed into the pillow. The top half of his torso was uncovered, naked to her eyes. Her fingers itched to run down his spine to where the edge of the sheet rested on his hips. She sighed. If only she didn’t have to go out, she’d be able to join him, but her appointment was too important to miss. There were people depending on her.
Taking her unawares, he rolled over onto his back, the sheet still covering his lower half but stretching tight over him. She caught a glimpse of his erection just before he reached out and pulled her down. “Zac!”
He sniffed her neck as she melted on top of him. “Mmm, you smell nice.”
She could feel his hips lift up against her pelvis, grinding into her in a pleasurable way. “I took a shower.”
“Mmm, you should have waited for me,” he murmured, his hands sliding up along the back of her thighs, now encased in her slacks. A moment later, he stopped what he was doing and lifted his head from the curve of her neck. “You’re dressed,” he stated the fact. “It’s still early. Why?”
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