The problem, she realized, was that she wanted something to happen.
She swallowed.
No wonder she was terrified. It had nothing to do with him. She was worried about herself. Worried that she might be just a little too anxious to unload herself of the twenty-three-year-old sexual albatross hanging around her neck.
“Hey,” he said softly, stopping outside a bedroom. “Are you all right?”
It was now or never. Her last chance to turn back. “Sure.”
“Look,” he said, brushing the hair away from her eyes. “If you’d prefer that we go back on deck…”
After all, shouldn’t she be proud to be a twenty-three-year-old virgin? And in June, on her birthday, she’d be a twenty-four-year-old virgin. Next year she’d be a twenty-five-year-old virgin, then twenty-six, twenty-seven, twenty-eight…. Hallelujah! She might even be eligible for the Guinness Book of World Records.
“I want to be with you,” she said.
He picked up her hand and kissed it. He led her into a bedroom that had a king-size bed with a velvet coverlet. “Are you sure this is okay?” he asked.
“Yes,” she said.
“I just want to lie with you for a while. To feel you next to me.”
She smiled, trying to hide her nervousness. They were still standing in the small, narrow hallway. He took a step toward her. She instinctively backed away, up against the wall.
Their eyes locked. For a moment she thought he might kiss her. Instead, he swept her up in his arms. He was strong, stronger than she had guessed. Her heart raced as she leaned back against his chest. She wrapped her arms around his neck, and he placed her gently on the bed. Without removing a stitch of clothing, he slid down next to her and wrapped his arms around her.
He gently massaged her arms as he kissed her. It was a tease, just enough to encourage her to turn toward him for more. He slowly raised her arms above her head. Pinning them down with one hand, he kissed her softly.
They kissed for what seemed like hours, his tongue slipping inside her mouth, probing and exploring ever so gently.
He seemed to be waiting for her silent okay before progressing to the next step. Only when she sighed with desire did he begin to explore her body. He ran his hands over her sundress, slipping his fingers underneath her spaghetti straps. In a practiced move, he pulled down the straps, exposing her bare breasts. His fingers ran over her nipples, followed closely by his tongue.
As he took her in his mouth she felt a warmth spread up from her legs. This was what she had read about. This was what making love was supposed to be.
He reached inside her panties and pulled them off in one smooth motion.
She was no longer thinking with reason. She had gone too far to stop. She needed him inside her.
She pulled at his shirt, clawing him like an animal. Within a second it was off. His pants and shorts followed suit. He was above her, all naked muscle, shining in the moonlight. Once again she was reminded of the powerful fighter she had seen at the bar. But she was not intimidated by his power. She felt safe and protected. Desired.
She took him in her hands and directed him toward her.
It was all the encouragement he needed. With a single thrust, he entered her.
Thick and heavy, he ripped through the last vestige of her virginity. As a searing pain tore through her, she dug her nails into his back and cried out.
He stopped. “I’m sorry,” he said as he began to pull out. “I didn’t know….”
“Don’t stop,” she whispered. “Please.”
He hesitated, as if unsure what to do. She raised her hips and brought him deeper inside her. She saw him close his eyes, saw the anticipation tighten his face. He was no more capable of stopping now than she was. She moved her hips once again.
He opened his eyes and began to move, gently and slowly. He stared straight at her, his eyes searing into her soul. They were as connected as two people could possibly be.
The pain gave way to pleasure. Intense and primitive, it took control of her body. They moved together, both dependent upon the other. As she moved her body up against him, the momentum built within her, taking control of her mind and body. When release finally came, however, she was not prepared for the intensity. She held on to him for dear life as the dam of sensual pleasure burst, sending her body into spasms of relief. Only then did she feel his body shudder as a slight groan passed his lips.
He kissed her cheek and ran a finger around her lips. “Are you all right?”
She smiled. “Better than all right.”
“You’re a virgin.”
“Not anymore.”
He picked up her hand and kissed it, pulling out slowly. “Definitely not anymore.” He swallowed. “Had I known…well, I never would have suggested you stay.”
“So, I’m glad I didn’t tell you.”
He smiled, but it was not a happy smile. He looked sad, almost guilty.
“It’s okay,” she said. “I’m a big girl.”
“You were waiting to make love on your wedding night, weren’t you?”
She nodded.
He sighed and glanced away. “Did you think this would mend your broken heart?”
“My heart,” she said, “is definitely not broken.” At least not yet. But she had a feeling things might change tomorrow. He pulled her close and lay there, his arms wrapped around her.
Cassie awoke to the rocking of the boat. She glanced beside her. He was laying there, his roughly hewn body totally visible on top of the covers. She turned away, embarrassed.
But how could she be embarrassed to look at him when they had been so intimate? Not once, but twice?
She couldn’t help but blush as she remembered what had transpired the night before. Making love to him had been everything she had dreamed of. As she looked at him sleeping, she could feel herself melt. His thick hair had fallen over one eye, his arms were spread around the pillow. She would like nothing better than to snuggle up to him and—
He sighed and turned over.
She froze.
She needed to get out of there, before he awoke. After all, what would she say? She could not bear to hear him promise to call and stay in touch. It would ruin everything. Right now it still seemed to be a dream.
And that was exactly the way she wanted it.
She tiptoed out of bed and slipped on her clothes and left without making a sound. She had less than an hour to get to the airport.
Three
Cassie stared at her cold cup of coffee. It was difficult to believe that only a day ago she had been in the Bahamas. Twelve hours earlier she had been making love to a man whose name she did not know.
And now, here she was sitting in a boardroom across from her ex-fiancé. To make matters worse, the cool, impeccably dressed blonde sitting next to him was his girlfriend, Willa, otherwise known as Hunter Axon’s henchman.
But if Oliver was bothered by having his ex-fiancée in such close quarters with the woman he had left her for, he didn’t show it. He thumbed through a manila envelope and set it back down. “Willa told me what you did.”
She perked up. “What are you talking about?”
“Axon’s receptionist told Willa about your little trip to the Bahamas.”
So that was why he had wanted to see her. When she’d arrived at the mill late this morning, she had been told that Oliver wanted to talk to her the minute she arrived. “It’s no secret,” she said. “I wanted to see Hunter Axon.”
He nodded. “I knew it! You think you’re so sly. I know everything that goes on around here.”
“Not everything,” she said, thinking about her bartender once again. She hadn’t told a single soul about her romantic night. It was her secret, one that she would carry to her grave.
“How can you do this to me?” Oliver asked. “You know how important this deal is.”
Was he kidding? Was he really narcissistic enough to think she was on a personal vendetta? “This has nothing to do with you, Oliver,” she sa
id.
“What, then?”
“This has to do with preserving a way of life, a tradition that has been passed down from generation to generation.”
“Oh, please, Cassie. You’re talking like a history professor. This is a business. A weak one at that. It hasn’t been profitable in years.”
She raised an eyebrow as her eyes narrowed. “And whose fault is that?”
But he waved her off, oblivious. “Do you know how lucky I am that I could even sell it? That a company of Axon Enterprises’ stature would even be interested?” He was turning red in the face, each word seemingly making him more frustrated.
How could she ever have thought of marrying him? He was not her friend. The man sitting in front of her had become a complete and total stranger. “Well,” Cassie said, “you’ll be happy to know that I didn’t meet with him. I tried, but he wouldn’t see me.”
“We already know that,” Willa said. She reached out a manicured hand and patted Oliver’s arm. It was the kind of touch one would bestow on a loyal pet. “Let me speak to Cassie alone.” She turned toward Cassie and flashed her a smile that threw daggers. “Privately.”
Oliver glanced at Willa. His blue eyes grew large, and he smiled softly, as if melting at the mere sight of his beloved. So, Cassie thought, he really did love her. She knew for a fact that he had never looked at her that way. But she was not jealous. In fact, she had begun to despair of Oliver’s humanity and was relieved to learn he was still capable of human emotion.
He nodded and reluctantly walked out, shutting the door behind him.
“Look, Cass,” Willa said, in the most patronizing tone Cassie had ever heard.
“Cassie,” she corrected her.
“Cassie. I know what’s going on with you. I really do.”
Cassie looked at her. “What’s going on with me?”
“Revenge. Pure and simple.”
“Revenge?” Cassie felt as if she’d been slapped. This woman was as bad as Oliver. Did they really believe that Cassie would be so self-centered? Hundreds of jobs and the town’s future were dependent on this mill. “This has nothing to do with revenge.”
“Well then, what?”
“This town can’t afford to lose the mill.”
Willa sighed dramatically, as if the conversation was exhausting her. “Cass…Cassie, I want to make a deal with you. I’ve spoken with Hunter and he’s assured me that not everyone will be laid off. I’m in a position to guarantee you a job—but I have a condition.”
“And that is?”
“Help us make this transition as smooth as possible.”
“What transition?”
“The sale. Hunter Axon is coming here to firm up the deal. I want you to promise you won’t…interfere.”
Cassie was unmoved. She was not afraid of Willa. She was angry. She suddenly realized why she had been unable to see Hunter Axon. His assistants had been warned by Willa to keep her away from him. “Did you tell your people to prevent me from seeing Mr. Axon?”
“I work for him. It’s my job to put out the fires.”
“Put out the fires?”
“So to speak.” Willa sighed. “Look, Cassie, I’m sorry about Oliver. I really am. But I suggest you take the deal I’m offering you. For if you think I’m tough—well, I guarantee you I’m a sweetheart compared to Mr. Axon.”
Willa had offered severance pay of one week for each year of employment. On paper it was a decent amount. But did it make up for the loss of the mill? The mill was the largest employer in Shanville. It supported the town’s economy. What kind of job would the people who had spent their lives working as artisans be suited for? And where would they find these jobs? “I’m willing to take my chances.”
“You don’t know with whom you’re dealing. You think Mr. Axon will be inspired by your little sob story? You think he’s going to give a damn about you or your little community? He cares about one thing—making money.” She smiled. But it was not a kind smile. It was a smile that caused flowers to wilt and water to freeze. She said, “I’ve known him for years, even before I came to work for him. He is, quite simply, the best in the business. And he does not look kindly on those who stand in the way of his getting what he wants.”
“I just want to talk to him.”
“If you cause him trouble, bringing this case to the media and what have you, I guarantee he’s going to squash you like a bug. Do you understand me?”
Cassie’s hand instinctively went to the necklace she had worn since childhood, a gold heart her mother had received as an engagement present from her father. But it was not there to reassure her. Cassie had lost it in the Bahamas.
“I’m not afraid of him.”
“Then you’re even more of a fool than I suspected.”
Cassie glanced away. As much as she hated to admit it, she had a feeling Willa was right. How could she be so foolish as to think she could actually make a difference?
“Let me be clear,” Willa said, putting an icy hand on Cassie’s. “If you continue to interfere, I’m going to pull the severance package we’ve offered.”
“I don’t care about your lousy severance.”
“I’m sure you don’t. But what about…” She picked up a file from her desk and squinted her eyes as she read, “Luanne Anderson? I believe her daughter has some problems, doesn’t she? It would be a shame if she found herself out of work with no severance.”
“Are you threatening to punish me by taking away Luanne’s severance package?”
“Not just Luanne’s.” Willa glanced down at the file once again. “But Mabel’s…Larry’s…Well,” she said, putting the list down, “let’s just make it a clean sweep, shall we? I mean it’s not really fair to give it to some and not others.”
“You can’t do that,” Cassie breathed.
“I can’t. But Hunter Axon can.”
Cassie swallowed.
“He’s done it before, in fact. Several times. He usually gives the workers a choice. They can either be poor losers and get everyone all stirred up, or they can be good sports and concede graciously. Take the money and run, so to speak.”
Cassie glanced away.
“In this particular situation I’m going to save Hunter some trouble. If you attempt in any way to contact him when he arrives, I will personally cancel the severance package.” Willa smiled once again. She leaned forward and said in a conspiratorial tone, “Oliver told me about some of your recent travails. I’ve arranged for a severance package that is more than fair. Why don’t you take the money and go back to school. Get that arts degree you wanted.”
Cassie could feel her cheeks burn. Oliver had clearly spoken about her to this woman. She could just imagine the conversation, just imagine Oliver telling Willa about the simple, small-town girlfriend he was about to dump.
Cassie was tempted to defend her job and her life. But what was the point? Willa would never believe her. To her, Demion Mills was just an old textile factory. As far as Willa was concerned, Cassie should be grateful to her for rescuing her from despair.
“Do we have an understanding?” Willa asked.
“Understanding? This is not about me or you or Oliver. This is about all the people who are losing their only means of support. All the people who have to move away from the only homes they’ve ever known.”
“You’re wasting my time,” Willa said. “I’ve offered you a deal.”
“Stand by quietly and watch you destroy our town—or try to save it and risk financial ruin for my friends?”
“That’s a little dramatic, but basically, yes.”
Cassie stood. “Are you finished?”
“Of course.” Willa stood and held out her hand. “I admire your spunk, however misdirected it may be. I really hope that your past history with Oliver won’t prevent us from being friends.”
Cassie left without shaking her hand.
Hunter checked his watch. His plane was late, due to a violent and unexpected thunderstorm. No matter. He was
in no rush to reach his destination.
In fact, for once he hated to leave the Bahamas. He hated to think that there was even the slightest chance he was leaving her behind.
“You’ll never find her,” said the investigator he’d hired. “It’s like looking for a needle in a haystack. How can we find a woman with no name?”
But Hunter wouldn’t admit it was hopeless. He couldn’t. Ever since he had first laid eyes on her he thought of little else.
Hunter felt in his pocket for the only thing that had provided solace in the days since, a heart-shaped necklace.
He had found it on her pillow, its clasp broken. As he clutched it in his hands he felt the conviction surge once again. He would find her. But where? He had searched everywhere. Damn. Why hadn’t he gotten her name?
To make matters worse, she didn’t know his, either. What if she returned home and had a change of heart? How would she contact him?
He hadn’t intended for this to happen. The bar happened to be one of the many properties he owned on the island. He’d stopped in, not for a romantic interlude, but to speak with his employees. But it had been so busy he’d pitched in, helping to tend bar. When he’d seen Cassie sitting by herself, he’d been intrigued. She possessed an almost ethereal beauty with her creamy white skin and deep green eyes. A cloud of long, curly, reddish-brown hair ran down her back. She had the figure of a ballerina, petite with long, slender legs.
But it was not just her beauty that had mesmerized him. She had seemed oblivious to the activity surrounding her. She had stared at the water as if lost in her own sad world.
He didn’t usually find himself tongue-tied among women, but when he’d attempted to speak with her, he’d stumbled over his words like a child.
Afterward he realized she’d thought him a bartender, and although he did admit he owned the boat, it had been clear she did not believe him. He had let the mistaken identity slide. After all, he’d thought at the time, what difference did it make? For once it was nice to be with a woman who was not interested in his fortune or his name.
As the evening progressed it became obvious she was lonely, the victim of a broken heart. She needed solace and comfort. He was more than happy to provide it.
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