Reaching His Heart

by Tressie Lockwood

  Cason recalled Solette telling him of her father’s abuse. Was that what his brother had seen in her eyes? Or was there something else? He didn’t feel it had anything to do with him, but his insensitivity had run her off. Maybe Romy was right. He needed to be careful. At the least, he wanted her to be the one to help him with his recovery. Breaking in another nurse would be a hassle. Yeah, that was the only problem. It wasn’t that he couldn’t get Solette out of his head!

  “Her personal life has nothing to do with me,” he grumbled.

  “No?” Romy sounded amused.

  “No. Forget about me. What about you? When are you going to marry Sonya?”

  Romy tensed for a minute and then relaxed. He grinned and reached into his jacket pocket to pull out a small ring box. Cason’s eyes widened. He’d only been half serious, expecting Romy to say he wanted more time to be sure about the relationship.

  “You’re serious?” He gasped.

  Romy flashed a huge rock that must cost several thousand. From what he knew of Sonya, he doubted she would wear it. A woman who’d rather throw on cleats and shin guards than jewelry wouldn’t want to be bogged down with an engagement ring of that size. Then again, she played soccer, so she might not have an issue.

  “I’m serious,” Romy said. “I plan to ask her to marry me. And…”

  “And?”

  A determined expression came over his brother’s face. “I’m going to get her pregnant.”

  Cason shook his head. “Not sure she’ll go for that, fratello.”

  “I’ll convince her—some how.”

  “Wow, I can’t say I’m not shocked. When I mentioned it before, you acted like I was nuts.”

  Romy flushed. “Ezio was near. I wasn’t in the mood to be hassled about my decision.”

  “He respects you. Even if he’s a little bossy, he knows you’re older, and he wouldn’t go against your wishes or interfere where you’ve blocked him.”

  “True, but it was the argument I wanted to avoid.” Romy stood. “Anyway, Cason. Nothing makes me happier than to see you with hope in your eyes. If Solette put it there, I can only thank her. You mean everything to Ezio and me. You know that.”

  Cason felt a bit of heat entering his own face and looked away. “Lay off.”

  “Ezio was beside himself when I arrived home the day after your accident. We both were. Cason, we almost lost you, and it was all we could do to draw our next breath. Fratellino, I want you to be healthy and happy, to be the little brother I knew without a care in the world.”

  Cason frowned and squeezed one of his thighs, ignoring the ache that seemed to come from deep inside his bones. “There’s not much chance of me ever being that man again.”

  “True healing takes time.” Romy dropped a hand onto Cason’s shoulder, but there was only a featherlight touch in it. Regardless, Cason sensed his brother’s deep feelings. “You’ll get there. You will walk again as long as it’s what you want. I’ve never seen you or Ezio not get whatever you set your mind to.”

  Cason grunted rather than answer.

  “All right, I’ll get out of here. I have to take my family out to dinner, and I suppose I’ll take the opportunity to propose then.”

  Cason snorted. “You suppose? Not putting much thought into it.”

  “I’ve tortured myself thinking about it. Trust me. I’m to the point of wanting to jump in and hope for the best. I’ll look in on you later.”

  “Don’t strain yourself.”

  Romy chuckled and kissed the top of his head again before leaving the room. Cason sat in silence in his room, thinking about what his brother shared. Ezio would for sure crap a cow about the engagement, but he would come around. Cason ran a hand over his jaw. A rough beard scratched his palm because he hadn’t bothered to shave in forever.

  “What about me?” he wondered aloud. “Married.”

  He uttered a short humorless laugh and shook the thought away. Even before the accident he never intended to get married, and now it was impossible. Better to concentrate on what he could have—Solette under him. That was enough. For now.

  Chapter 8

  Solette stood before Cason as he struggled to his feet. Sweat beaded his forehead, and his jaw was tight, but he did great. “You want to take a step?”

  He grimaced. “I’ve stepped all over this house! You’re a taskmaster. Did your last patient fire you for being so unsympathetic?”

  Her annoyance with him wasn’t so easily aroused after six months of grueling work. She knew every which way he tried to get her worked up, and she wasn’t falling for it. Cason grew really grumpy when he was hurting, and sometimes his tongue cut like a knife. Then there were times he was so sweet, she found her heart pounding. Not a good sign. Somehow over the last months, although the attraction was still there, they hadn’t slept together again.

  Well it’s there for me. He’s probably lost interest.

  “You will most likely be able to wear the braces soon.”

  He looked aghast. “That’s not sexy.”

  “Were you trying to be?”

  “Move, woman. Let me prove to you I don’t need them.”

  “Cason, don’t push yourself too fast.”

  “I’m going to be a whole man, and I’m not going to stop until I am. Get used to it!”

  He swayed. She reached up to place her hands on his waist. Not that she could stop him if he tumbled, but a little added stability wouldn’t hurt. She expected him to shove her aside with the mood he was in, but he stilled, looking down at her. The blue eyes pierced through her, and her throat dried. She’d known he was tall, and she had seen it all this time. Yet, it impacted her more than before. For the first time, she felt petite standing in front of this big man, and her heart was about to alert him to the effect he had on her.

  “What is that scent?” he demanded.

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  He swooped down. She thought he was about to fall, but his nose touched the column of her neck, and he breathed in. Her knees wobbled. One would think she was the patient here. She raised her hands higher to push his chest but thought better of it. The heat from his body burned her palms.

  “You know what I’ve wanted all this time?” A dangerous glint entered his eyes when he straightened.

  “W-what?” She was short of breath and coughed.

  He grinned. Cold and rugged, he sent chills racing down her spine. She wasn’t sure she wanted to know his desires and rushed to suggest an answer before he spoke.

  “You wanted to walk. Well, you’re doing it. I told you, you could.”

  He chuckled low in his throat. “You’re running away, little mouse. That’s okay—for now.”

  “Don’t play games, Cason. Now, come on. Sit down and rest a minute.”

  He ignored her command and kept looking at her. She felt like he could see the desire burning inside her core. Not just desire but loneliness too and a sense of helplessness. She knew better than to let thoughts of something more than patient-nurse relations with Cason steal into her mind.

  “Arrange for a cane,” he said.

  She sighed. “You’re not strong enough for a cane yet. Besides, you’d need two if you were to—”

  “Then get me two.”

  “Cason.”

  “If you don’t get it, my brother will.” One of his knees started to shake, and he sank to the chair behind him. Sweat beaded his forehead and ran down his temples. He shut his eyes and breathed slowly for a few minutes. Then that brilliant blue gaze drew her in again. It was filled with angry determination. “I’m getting surgery on my face in a few days, and my eye is already better. You’d better believe I’m going to get my life back.”

  “Of course you are.”

  Solette knew her role in his life would soon be over. He wouldn’t need a nurse to come in as often as she did or a physical therapist for that matter. His moods still fluctuated, but occasionally he cracked a smile or two for his family. She would be looking for anoth
er position, and maybe he and Bambi could get married.

  A low ding sounded from Solette’s pocket, and she pulled her cell phone from it to check the display. Myriad emotions washed over her at the sight of Joe Sr.’s name. He was looking after their son that day, and he had invited Solette to have dinner with the two of them.

  She chewed her bottom lip for a second. “I might need to leave an hour early if that’s all right.”

  Cason eyed her. “Why?”

  She blinked at him. “Cason, I don’t have to tell you my business.”

  He seemed about to say something else but thought better of it. “Maybe I’ll need you to stay late.”

  She started for the door. “I’m leaving early.”

  To her shock, he somehow caught her before she could get out of the room. They wrestled a bit, Cason losing the struggle but catching himself by falling against her and pinning her to the wall.

  “Cason! You could have hurt yourself.”

  He was so close. His collarbone brushed her lips, and she turned her head. His knees dipped, bringing his pelvis in line with hers. She gulped air to try to calm down. Cason found strength to stand straight again. The man’s determination knew no bounds. One big hand slammed against the wall to hold himself up while the other gripped the back of the chair. Solette jumped at the noise.

  “Stay,” he said.

  “I-I have to go.” She tried to squeeze out from between him and the wall, but she wasn’t strong enough to get him to back off.

  Steps sounded in the hall, and Solette froze. The doorknob rattled, and Cason pulled back, almost toppling over before Romy entered the room and caught his brother. While the two spoke, Solette made her escape. She headed downstairs to the first floor of the mansion. Cason could get mad for her insisting on leaving early, but he could get over it. She wouldn’t risk entangling her emotions any more than necessary since she wouldn’t see any of the Sartoris after this job officially ended.

  “Solette, you’re going?” Shakarri called as she entered the front hall holding a wobbling toddler by the hand. Funny how much like Cason he looked at that moment. “I thought we were going to enjoy your company at dinner.”

  Solette winced. “I’m sorry, but I have plans.”

  Shakarri grinned. “Not a hot date?”

  Solette flushed. It was a good thing it didn’t show on her darker skin. “Um, no. I mean, I’m meeting a friend…with my son.”

  Ezio’s wife smirked in disbelief. “I’ll bet you have a sweet boyfriend that’s just crazy about you who you don’t want to tell us about. That’s all right. I’m not mad at you.”

  She chuckled, and Solette imagined it never occurred to her that anything could happen between Solette and Cason. The bell rang, and Goro appeared out of nowhere to open the door. Bambi stood on the front step, wearing a low-cut blouse and far too much flashy jewelry for early afternoon.

  She bounced into the house with a bright smile when she spotted Shakarri and her baby. “Hey, girlie. How’s my little angel?” Bambi bent to tickle the baby beneath the chin. Solette wondered if she remembered his name. She called over her shoulder, “Bring my bags, Goro. I’m going to be here the entire time Cason is in the hospital and after he gets out.”

  Shakarri had gone cold. Solette figured out early on that Bambi wasn’t her favorite person. “He’s not going to be in there that long, Bambi. Just overnight as long as everything goes well.”

  Bambi waved a hand, bracelets jingling. A puff of strong perfume permeated the air, making Solette’s nose itch. “That doesn’t matter. I’m going to be here for my honey.”

  Shakarri stuck a hand on her hip. “It’s funny how you weren’t here when it looked like Cason was going to die and during the time he was in a coma.”

  Bambi pouted. “That’s not fair. I called and called.”

  “Called?” Shakarri snorted. “If the man I love was in the hospital, you better believe I’d move heaven and earth to get to him. Nobody would stand in my way. And you didn’t call until after you heard he was awake. Then it was all ‘my Cason, my Cason.’ Please, I know what you’re after, and you better trust and believe if I have anything to say about it, you’re not going to be the next Sartori.”

  Solette’s mouth fell open. She realized what she’d done and snapped her teeth together. Trying to inch closer to the exit, she hoped neither woman would notice her. Yet, her ears burned to hear more. Was Shakarri saying Cason and Bambi didn’t have an understanding, or was it just that Shakarri hated the blonde?

  At Shakarri’s harsh words, Bambi flushed, and the false cheeriness flew out the window. “I know what you’re doing.” To Solette’s surprise, she pointed at her. “You’re just trying to get another one of you in here. Well, I’m not going to let that happen. Cason belongs to me.”

  Solette gaped. “I have nothing to do with this. I’m an employee.”

  Neither woman paid her any mind. Shakarri let go of her son’s hand, and the baby wobbled then plopped down on the floor on his well padded behind. Shakarri stepped closer to Bambi. “What do you mean ‘one of you’?”

  Solette heard the warning in Shakarri’s tone, but apparently Bambi didn’t. She refused to leave well enough alone and drop the conversation. “You know exactly what I mean! One of your kind. You people. Bla—”

  Crack!

  The sound exploded all over the front hall, and Solette stared in disbelief at the reddening spot on Bambi’s cheek. Solette’s mouth hung open again. Bambi had landed on her skinny behind and clutched her jaw. Tears spilled over onto her cheeks. She wailed fit to shatter the windows.

  “You hit me! You hit me!”

  Shakarri towered over her. “I didn’t hit you yet. If I had used all of my strength, you’d be unconscious. I don’t know who you think you are, but I’m here to disabuse you of stupid notions.”

  Bambi whimpered and whined, rocking like a child. “What are you talking about? Cason. Cason!”

  Solette looked around to find Goro still in the hall. The man didn’t blink an eye or try to stop the argument and fight. She couldn’t tell from his expression if he was for or against the loudmouth Bambi for getting her comeuppance. Then Solette noticed Dean, Shakarri’s bodyguard. He too made no move to get into the middle of the two women. Like a statue, he stood with his arms folded and eyes straight ahead as if he didn’t hear Bambi’s wail and Shakarri’s command for her to shut up.

  “Ladies,” Solette began.

  Shakarri shook her head. “No, Solette. Don’t dignify this idiot with a comment. Just stay out of it. I’m about to have Dean toss her narrow behind on the street.”

  The threat made Bambi cry louder. Dark streaks lined her cheeks, and she hiccupped and sighed, flailing her arms around until her bangles caused a racket of their own. Various members of the household staff began to show up, and Solette wondered where the brothers were. Then she recalled Ezio wouldn’t be in at that time of day. He was probably at his office, and she had left Romy helping Cason after he exhausted himself.

  “Can’t a man rest?” Cason boomed from the top of the steps. Solette spun around to find him gripping the railing on the second floor. She wondered how he’d gotten there. His skin had gone seriously pale, and it looked from where she stood that his arms were shaking as he struggled to hold himself up.

  “Cason, get back in the room,” Romy ordered. “You’re worn out. You don’t have to prove anything. I’ll handle this.”

  Cason ignored his older brother and gazed down at them. He focused on Solette as if he checked to see if she was the one causing trouble. She raised her chin and pressed her lips together. There was no sense in ordering him to sit down before he fell down. He’d only try harder to prove he was getting stronger.

  “Honey,” Bambi whined. “Your sister-in-law hit me. I feel my face swelling, and I just know I’m getting a bruise. Do something.”

  “You love him so much,” Shakarri snapped, “that you don’t care that your drama is causing him to hurt himself.�
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  Bambi’s eyes rounded. “Hurt himself? But he can walk now.”

  “Solette,” Romy called.

  She moved swiftly to get to the second floor.

  “My chair,” Cason demanded.

  “But…” she began.

  “My chair.”

  “Please,” Romy begged. “He’s stubborn, and I don’t want to force him to do what he doesn’t want to do.”

  She nodded and hurried to get the wheelchair. Soon, she had Cason seated and panting. He shut his eyes and pressed fingers to the bridge of his nose. Without looking up, he waved a hand.

  “Take me to the elevator.”

  She didn’t argue but took him downstairs. Solette expected him to go to Bambi and either straighten her out or pat her up like a child. Instead, he continued to direct her toward the door where there was a ramp leading from the house to the garage.

  “What are you doing, Cason?” She followed orders, but she couldn’t figure out what his plans were.

  They reached one of several vehicles worth more money than she made in a year. Cason chose the nearest vehicle and opened the passenger side door. To her surprise, he had enough reserve strength to haul himself into the car unassisted.

  “You’re driving,” he said, matter-of-factly. “We’re going out for a while.”

  Chapter 9

  “You’re looking a bit pasty, Cason. I think we should head back.” Solette reached out to touch his forehead, but he caught her hand and pushed it gently away.

  “I’m fine.”

  “You’re obviously not. I’m all for you getting out of the house, but not when you’ve pushed yourself beyond your limits.”

  He grumbled. “Stop hounding me, woman!”

  She snapped her teeth together and gazed around them. Cason had insisted on stopping at a nearby park where there were few people enjoying the fresh air, and the tweet of the birds in the trees relaxed the mind. Not far off, a couple of parents pushed their toddlers in the baby swings while chatting and laughing with each other.