Letting Go of You (Anchored Hearts #2)

by J. M. Witt

She laughed. “I like the sound of that.”

  “Which part?”

  “All of it. I love you Mr. Benedict.”

  “I love you, Mrs. JB3.”

  ~ CASSIDY ~

  The next night as I laid in bed, listening to him breathe, I recounted the last few weeks. So much good and so much bad. Smith was installing a security system soon and James had picked up most of his clothes from the penthouse and brought them home. We agreed that he could keep the suite—he owned the hotel after all—for special occasions. It would also come in handy for any events I was part of down town.

  Cecily was planning to make the official announcement that week at work that I’d be taking over ownership. Her plan was to remain a silent partner and help with the CFO side of things until we found a suitable candidate. I had a lower belly cramp and winced in pain.

  He jerked awake, “You okay.”

  “Yes, sorry. Just a cramp.” I pulled myself out of bed. I had started my period, the cramps were always their worst the first couple days. Walking to the bathroom I found the heating pad and carried it back to bed. I plugged it in and laid down with it resting on my belly.

  “Anything I can do to help.” He rolled to his side and rubbed his hand over my belly and under the heating pad.

  “Don’t tease me, Mr. Benedict.” He knew how horny I was when I was on my period. It was a cruel joke, but an orgasm always helped ease the pain.

  “I won’t tease. I aim to please.” His hands drifted over my panties as he caressed me softly.

  Thank God for the Diva cup. “James.” He kissed my lips before pulling the lube out of the night stand. I watched as he squirted some on his fingers.

  Lifting the waist of my panties for him, his now slick fingers slipped all over me. His tongue licked at my lips slow and leisurely, just like his fingers were doing. I cried into his mouth and pulled him closer to me. He kissed down my neck and over the camisole I wore. He teased my nipples through the fabric before pulling the top down to expose my breasts.

  “James, I want your mouth on mine when I come.”

  He looked up to me, “You’re a bossy one.”

  “Don’t stop!” Grinning he bit my breast before resuming the movement of his fingers. “Ahh, right there.” My hips stiffened as I felt the beginning of my climax approach. “Now, kiss me now.” His mouth moved to mine and bruised my lips as his fingers worked me over the edge. Once my trembling body relaxed, I rolled over, my cramps forgotten, and straddled his body.

  “Want more do you?”

  I smiled wickedly as I moved down his legs, taking his underwear with me. Without hesitation I took him in my mouth. He was fully erect in seconds as I lavished my tongue over his head and down his pulsing vein. After a few minutes, he pulled me off of him and rolled me to my back.

  “Scoot up.” He was on his knees and I knew what he wanted.

  “You wanna fuck my face?” I knew he loved to hate me when I cursed.

  Groaning, “That dirty mouth is going to get you in trouble, Cassidy.”

  I smiled as he gripped the headboard with one hand and fisted his cock in the other. I took him in my mouth as he tangled his hand in my hair. I let him fuck my mouth and took him as deep as I could, both my hands working his base. It wasn’t long before I felt the signs of his release coming.

  “I want to come on your tits.” I smirked as I let him slip from my mouth and yanked my top over my head. He was stroking himself, watching me.

  He let me take over and bent to kiss me. The throbbing increased and I felt his entire body begin to stiffen. “Come on my tits, baby.”

  I pushed my chest up as I stroked him. His aim was true as he came. I rubbed his dick all over me until he pulled away, unable to take anymore. His hand dove into my panties again and I was ready. It didn’t take long. Soon he was wiping my chest clean and pulling me close as we drifted off.

  Chapter 20 ~Gone

  ~ CASSIDY ~

  March

  All charges had been dropped against Jane and she and Cal had traveled to California to take care of some things there. Apparently she still had several belongings there and wanted to retrieve them. She was selling the apartment, which I was surprised to discover was in her name, and needed to get it emptied out before they put it on the market. They were due to fly home and had called to ask if we would meet them for dinner. Of course we accepted. The only problem was that Dan had yet to be apprehended.

  It was Friday night and I was putting on a little bit of makeup when James hollered up the stairs. “You ready yet? Their plane landed twenty minutes ago.”

  I ran down the stairs, sticking my tongue out at him. “I’m ready! Let’s go.”

  Jane seemed like a whole new person since the charges were dropped. She’d gone back to work and Cal was back to it too. We drove to the restaurant and got a table for four. Our drinks had just arrived when they walked in the door. They were both beaming. Looks like the trip did them some good.

  I got up and hugged my brother and then Jane as James did the same.

  “How was California? Did it go well?” I looked to both of them as they smiled at each other from ear to ear. We sat back down as they took their seats. “What’s going on?”

  “Go ahead and tell them Baby Doll.” Jane stuck her hand out and showed off the ring sitting on her ring finger.

  I couldn’t contain the squeal that left my lips as I jumped from my seat and hugged them both again. Grabbing her hand, I examined the ring again. It was a modest ring, but looked perfect on her petite hand.

  “I’m so happy!”

  James was beaming too and as the waitress came over he asked for a bottle of champagne to celebrate. “Congrats you two. It’s about time.” He winked as I elbowed him and we all chuckled.

  “So dare I ask when the big day is?”

  “Well, you two are the first we’ve told and we wanted to talk to you first.” We both nodded as Jane continued. “We’d like you to be our people.” The waitress dropped off the champagne and poured us each a glass before stepping away. “Like I was saying, James, I’d like you to be my best man.”

  James looked a little confused at Jane’s words. “Don’t you mean Calvin’s best man?”

  Calvin responded, “No, she was correct. I’d like Cassidy to be my Maid of Honor.”

  “Matron, she’s married.” Jane corrected him and he rolled his eyes. “I want James standing by me and Calvin wants Cassidy with him.”

  “There’s really no other option. If you say no, then the wedding’s off.”

  “Yes! Of course. I’m in. What do you say James?”

  He looked serious and I grew nervous about what he’d say. “You had me at ‘We’d like you to be our people’.” He smiled brightly and said, “Of course. It would be an honor. But like Cassidy asked. Have you set a date? I’ll mark off a few hours to get you to the church on time.” He was in quite the good mood. His sarcasm coming in heavy doses.

  “You tell them. It was your idea.”

  Calvin started talking. “So, it’s been fireworks since the beginning for the two of us. In keeping with tradition, we want fireworks at the wedding too. July fourth.”

  “Of this year?” It was just over three months away. “Please tell me its next year.”

  “Nope. This year. And we want you to plan it!” I was honored, floored and practically hyperventilating all at once. “I’ll pay whatever fees are required. Well, mom and dad will! And we were hoping The Benedict ballroom was available.”

  James pulled out his phone. “Hold please. Checking now.” He called someone and asked the question. “Great. I need you to book it now for the Whitford-Charles wedding. Thank you. Okay, talk to you soon.” Putting his phone back in his pocket, “It’s all yours.”

  Jane clapped like a giddy schoolgirl. All I could think about was all the preparations we had to get started with, ASAP.

  “Cassidy, are you alright?” Cal was looking at me with concern in his eyes.

  “Me? Ye
s, just a lot to do. We’ll have to get started with the planning right away. Are you free on Monday, Jane?”

  “Yup. I can stop in after my shift if you like.”

  “Great. I’ll pull Lena in on this too. We’ll have to double team it to get it done.”

  ~ JAMES ~

  We were driving home from dinner and I glanced over at her. She was studying her empty ring finger. I was a jerk. I never got her a ring. I know she said she didn’t need one, but I knew she wanted one and she was full of shit to try to say otherwise. I had to get her a ring. Mom had tried saying something to me about it weeks ago and I pushed it aside.

  “Honey, did you get her a ring yet?”

  “She doesn’t want one.”

  “Jimmy, I raised you smarter than that. She wants a ring.”

  “Mom, I’m not getting her a ring. Besides, I wouldn’t have a clue to what she’d want.”

  “What about grandma’s ring?”

  “That was your engagement ring. I’m not taking your ring. Please drop it mom.”

  I shouldn’t have been so short with mom about it. She probably knew better than me what Cassidy would want in a ring. Now I had to figure out when I was going to give it to her. My phone rang and seeing that it was dad I answered.

  “Hey dad.” I didn’t say a word as he started talking about mom and that I needed to come.

  “It’s happening son.”

  “I’m on my way.” I dropped the phone and stared right ahead. I didn’t even hear her calling my name.

  “James, you’re scaring me. What is it?” I looked to her knowing I had tears in my eyes. “Oh, no. James, pull over. I can drive.”

  Nodding, I looked for somewhere safe to pull off, asking her to call Jane first. She was finishing up with Jane when I pulled over. I heard her get out of the car and open my door. I didn’t understand what was happening. She’d been doing so well the last two months. It was all a façade that just came crashing down.

  “Come on.” She’d unbuckled me and walked me to the passenger side and buckled me back in. I dropped my head back on the headrest, closing my eyes. I wasn’t sure if Cassidy could hear the song playing, the radio was down so low. But I knew it well. In This River by Zakk Wylde was playing.

  I knew when we had arrived, feeling the gravel underneath the tires. We walked inside and there were a few people standing around, Aunt Bev was the only one I was able to identify. Cassidy and I walked hand in hand toward her room. Dad was sitting with her and when he saw me, he whispered something to her and then walked over to us. He hugged me, which I was barely able to return.

  “I don’t understand. When I saw her the other day she seemed fine.”

  “That’s how it happens sometimes. Death waits for no one. She started getting worse this morning. You should talk to her, she’s been asking for you, for you both.”

  I felt like a little kid again, intruding on my mother’s privacy, her space of solace wasn’t what it used to be.

  She was sitting at her vanity, brushing her long dark hair. I came barreling through the door, knocking over a vase after bumping into a side table. It clattered and smashed to the floor. She looked to me, fury in her eyes. The vase was her grandmother’s and I knew I’d surely get a whipping.

  I took off running down the hall and out the back door with her calling after me. “Jackson James, you get back here this instant.”

  After sneaking back inside, I hid in the linen closet upstairs for hours before she found me. When she opened the door and saw me, she yanked me out of the closet, hurting my arms as she did so.

  “You scared me to death. Have you been in there this whole time?” I looked up to her face and saw that she was crying. “You scared me to death. I’ve been looking for you for over an hour.” She knelt down and pulled me into her arms.

  “I’m sorry, Momma. I didn’t mean to break it.”

  “I know. It’s okay.”

  It was one of my first really vivid memories of her. I was probably five or six years old.

  My arms ached at the memory as I sat down next to her. “You came.”

  Swiping at a tear I replied, “Of course I came. Where else would I be?” I took her hand in mine.

  “I want you to be happy Jimmy. You have to let the past go, all of it. Be happy.” She wheezed and I looked to the nurse who tried to make her a little more comfortable.

  “Help her.”

  “There’s nothing we can do. I’m sorry.” The nurse was sweet, but I barked at her as Cassidy stepped in and apologized for me.

  “Jimmy.” I looked back to mom. “Be nice. Still Lord Protector of those you care for. Don’t be angry. We had a good, long, hard fight. You’ve grown into such a wonderful man.” She called for Cassidy and took her hand and put it on top of mine. “Cherish each other. Life is hard, love is hard, but love is true. Don’t ever stop fighting for each other.”

  She closed her eyes and I looked to dad.

  “She’s sleeping. It will probably be a long night. Why don’t you two take the guest room? I’ll come and get you if anything changes.”

  “No. I’m not leaving her.”

  ~ CASSIDY ~

  “Ok, son. Can I get you anything?” James shook his head no and sat there clinging to her hand.

  She had changed so much since the first time I met her. We’d grown close and I would miss her terribly. I looked to J.J. and told him I’d be back in a few minutes. I looked to the clock, seeing it was after midnight. The tears were blurring my vision as I left the room. Walking to the living room and out the patio doors, I tried taking a deep breath, but the tears just came harder. A hand came down on my shoulder and I turned to find Cal standing there. I burst into tears as he pulled me close.

  “H, he, won’t survive this Cal. It’s going to k, kill him.”

  “It’s okay. He’ll get through it with you beside him.” He stroked my hair, trying to comfort me.

  “I hope you’re right.”

  “It won’t be easy. Jane has said the same things.”

  “Is she here?”

  “Yes, she’s saying her goodbyes.” I spotted Bev about twenty feet away, trying to light a cigarette. I didn’t realize she smoked. “You coming back in.”

  “Not yet. Go find Jane. I’ll be okay.” Once he was inside, I walked over to Bev. “Have you always smoked?”

  “This damn lighter. I only smoke in times of stress. Jane would wring my neck.”

  “Here.” I reached for the lighter and the cigarette and easily lit it for her. “Can I bum one?” I handed her the lit one and she handed me another. “Don’t tell James. Stress smoker too.”

  She nodded at me. We stood out there in the cold, smoking our cigarettes in silence.

  “I hated her when I first met her over forty years ago.” That surprised me, they seemed like such good friends. “She stole my brother from me. I idolized him. I don’t know what I’m going to do without her. She’s my best friend. Trifling witch.” She tried to smile and took another puff. “She thinks of you as a daughter. Truly. You brought her a lot of happiness in the past few months.”

  “Thank you. She’s like a mother to me. I worry for him.”

  She nodded. “Keep hold of him tight. He’ll wander away. He did after I lost my Jason. We didn’t see him for years after the funeral. He’d come home on breaks, but he stopped coming to family functions. Then when he was sent overseas. It nearly killed her.”

  I didn’t know what to say. Everyone was warning me and part of me wanted to run away and never come back. But I wanted to be there with him and help him in any way I could.

  “I should go back in.” She smiled and I went back inside.

  I was curled up on the couch when Jane woke me. I hadn’t realized I’d fallen asleep.

  “She’s asking for you.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  The sun was starting to rise as I walked into her room. As I walked closer, I didn’t see James anywhere. The only other person in the room was a nurse.
I sat down and gently touched her hand.

  She started talking, but it didn’t make any sense. The nurse assured me it was normal for this stage. A few minutes later she squeezed my hand and my eyes leapt to her face.

  “Such a beautiful girl. She has curly red hair and green eyes, like her daddy. Oh, and a boy too. He has your eyes. James will be such a good daddy to your babies. A summer baby, how nice.”

  “Eva. I don’t understand.”

  “Have you told him yet? I so wanted to be a grandma. I’ll rock them in heaven until God sends them to you. I’ll watch over them always. You should tell him. You’re glowing dear.” She closed her eyes and drifted off again.

  “What’s she talking about?” I looked to the nurse, confusion and despair bombarding me.

  The nurse came closer. “Some say that those close to passing have premonitions. Others say it’s the pain meds. Take it with a grain of salt.”

  I nodded and when J.J. came back in I left him alone with her. I tried looking for James, but couldn’t find him. Bumping into Cal and Jane, they were getting their coats on.

  Cal walked over to me. “She’s having a hard time, but wants to go home. Do you need anything?”

  “Do you think you could swing by my place and feed Chessa?”

  “Sure, not a problem. Stay here,” he nodded and following his eyes I saw James, “he needs you.”

  “You have the code, right.”

  “I’ll take care of it, Cass.”

  I followed James out the back door. I kept my distance as he walked around the large back yard. He spotted me and said, “Go home Cassidy. There’s nothing you can do here.” I was speechless and watched as he walked back toward the house. And so it began.

  The day came and went. It was now Sunday, the ninth of March. I’ll never forget that date, though I wish I could. A chill seeped in to my bones as I walked into her room for the last time. James was on one side and J.J. on the other. The nurse came to me and placed her hand over my crossed arms.

  “It’s time.” She walked out of the room. Only the four of us left in the room.