7 Minutes in Heaven (Are You Game?)

by Cahill, Rhian

  Her desk, like the equipment downstairs, was meticulously organised. Everything had a place and was in it. The clipboard with today’s run sheet sat on the top left-hand corner and Cassie scooped it up on her way around to her chair. With a quick glance, she checked her list and reassured herself that Lucas would be more than capable of helping her corral a bunch of six-year-old girls without resorting to duct tape. She grinned. She’d never stoop to such drastic measures, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t imagine rounding up wayward children with something other than acceptable means.

  “Cassie?” Lucas’s voice carried up the steel staircase and echoed off the walls.

  “Up here.” She opened the bottom drawer of the filing cabinet behind her desk and removed a blank report sheet to fill out to add to the file for last night’s party. If she was lucky enough to get ahead of schedule this morning, she might be able to finalise the file for the McDermott party before she took on twenty-four little girls and hundreds of beads.

  “Jody said she can be here Monday at nine if that suits you.” Lucas entered her office and stood just inside the door. His gaze took the room in with a quick sweep before he brought his attention to Cassie. “I said I’d send her a text if nine didn’t fit with you.”

  She reached over and flicked the page on her open diary. “Nine’s good. If we both like what we see I might get her to sit in on our weekly party review meeting.”

  He smiled. “I’m sure Jody will love this place. It’ll just be a matter of whether she fits what you’re after for the new supervisor.”

  “I haven’t defined the actual role. I expect I’ll utilise her the same way I do Dan. She’ll be getting her hands dirty in all aspects of the business.” She grinned. “Especially if she’s in charge of the new adult party line.”

  Lucas frowned. “I thought you’d put her in charge of the children’s parties.”

  “Why? Because she’s a mum?” Cassie knew she was tweaking his big-brother nerve, but she couldn’t resist.

  “Yes. No. I mean, the adult parties are new and I figured you’d want to oversee them yourself until the line was established.” His brows dipped in the middle, winkles forming above his nose. “I don’t know—”

  Cassie burst out laughing. He was adorable in caretaker mode.

  He scowled at her. “What’s so funny?”

  “You,” she gasped. “As a little sister myself I can almost hear your brain spinning with worst-case-scenario thoughts.”

  Lucas growled making her chuckle more. “You can’t blame me. I was there last night. I saw what went on. Most of the guests were barely clothed.”

  “The guests, yes. My staff, no.” Cassie stood and walked around her desk. “I’d never put any of my employees at risk, Lucas. And while the adult party theme might be a bit risqué, it’s not illegal or dangerous. I have safeguards in place for every conceivable problem. You can go over the company’s policies if you’re worried, but I can guarantee you if your sister works for me she’ll be well looked after.”

  He came towards her. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t question you. It’s just that since she separated from her husband I can’t help worrying about her and the girls more than ever.”

  “That’s understandable.” Now she felt bad for digging at his soft spot.

  “Yes, but I still took it too far.” He grinned. “It’s not the first time and it won’t be the last. I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention my lapse to Jody though. I promised her I wouldn’t interfere while she finds her feet again.”

  “How long has she been separated?” Cassie had no experience with broken marriages. None of her relatives who were married had divorced, well, not yet anyway, and most of her friends were still happily single.

  “Nearly two years.”

  “Oh.”

  “Yeah, overprotective older brother here.” Lucas raised one hand. “If I remember right, the divorce will be final next month.”

  “Then she’s probably on her feet already.” Cassie laid a hand on Lucas’s forearm. “How old are her kids?”

  “Fifteen and thirteen. Both well adjusted. Actually, they’re all doing great.” He sighed. “It’s hard to admit it, but they’re better off without Colin in their lives. He was never a good husband or father.”

  “Well then, you’re working yourself up for nothing. Besides, I haven’t given her the job yet.” Cassie grinned. “Speaking of jobs, let’s go. You have to unpack last night’s equipment while I get today’s ready for you to load. And, you get to help me make and ice forty-eight cupcakes.”

  Not waiting for him to reply, she stepped around him and headed out the door only to remember the clipboard and papers still on her desk. With a sigh, she doubled back, grabbed the paperwork and turned to find Lucas staring at her with his mouth hanging open.

  “Cupcakes?”

  Cassie nodded, a Cheshire-cat grin spreading across her face. “Yep.”

  “Cupcakes?” He didn’t have a clue why he was repeating himself, but he couldn’t get his mind around that one word. He had a very bad feeling about what type of party she was running today. “It’s a child’s party, isn’t it?”

  Again, she nodded.

  He closed his eyes. “How old?”

  “Six.”

  “Shit.” Luc opened his eyes and glared at her. “Boy or girl?” Please say boy, please say boy.

  Her laughter did nothing to ease his mind. “Girl.”

  “You think it’s wise to have a giant like me around a bunch of six-year-old girls?” Luc wasn’t sure what had him panicking more. The idea of being surrounded by a bunch of little girls or keeping his contact with Cassie PG all afternoon.

  “You’ll be fine.”

  “It’s not me I’m worried about. Most children are scared by my size, and I don’t want to ruin the birthday girl’s big day.” That sounded good. Believable. Heaven forbid she work out his irrational fear of little girls and their frilly dresses. He remembered how awkward he was around his nieces before they hit double digits.

  “As long as you don’t scowl at them and flash those pearly whites with a smile or two, they’ll be fine.” She patted his chest. “You’ll be fine.”

  He wasn’t so sure, but Cassie didn’t give him the opportunity to argue farther. She ducked around him and left the office. With no other choice, Luc followed, mulling over the fact he was willingly subjecting himself to hours of torture. If he were honest, he’d have to admit he was looking forward to every minute of his torment, especially if it meant he’d be with Cassie.

  Shaking his head, Luc trailed Cassie through the ground floor. Rows of shelves took up one corner, plastic tubs, all clearly labelled and orderly filled every rack. She led him through a door and his step faltered at the sight of an industrial kitchen.

  “You cater your own events?”

  “Huh?” She glanced over her shoulder. “Oh, no. This is West’s domain. He’s Weston’s Catering. His company does all the food I need plus he has his own customers.”

  “West?” He couldn’t recall any mention of a guy named West in the years he’d known about Cassie.

  “Yeah, he’s my brother’s best friend.” She smiled before pressing buttons on the control panel of an oven that looked way too complicated for Luc to even think about using. “We’ve only recently added this kitchen. Before that I had to drive two blocks over to pick up all the prepped food.”

  “And now?”

  “West staffs this kitchen when he’s catering one of my events, and I use it when I need something as simple as cupcakes.” She grinned at him. “C’mon, you can help me grab all the ingredients.”

  Luc wasn’t sure how he felt about this West guy. Something in Cassie’s voice made his gut clench. He’d never been jealous before, but he supposed that was the lead weight currently crushing his chest. He wanted to ask her if she had a thing for her brother’s friend. Wanted to know if they’d ever crossed that line, and if they had, he wanted to find West and knock his teeth out for tak
ing advantage of his friend’s little sister.

  He gave himself a mental slap. It was none of his business who Cassie had been with in the past. Plus, he was fairly certain she’d hand him his balls on a platter if he went all Neanderthal on her. Unfortunately, it was a distinct possibility that he would. All these emotions were foreign and only reinforced his thinking that this thing with Cassie was far more than one night. Far more than a flash in the pan, even though the attraction between them fired hotter than the fireworks on New Year’s Eve.

  “Here.” Cassie handed him a container and proceeded to load him up one after another until the pile reached his chin. “Take those over to the island while I get what I need from the coolroom.”

  His phone beeped as he placed his load on the counter. He pulled it from his pocket and opened his email app, quickly scanning the latest update on the Lachlan and Cameron incident. Nothing new or requiring his attention. Thank God. The last thing he wanted was to interrupt his time with Cassie more than his job already had. Although he was sure she’d understand, Luc didn’t want to risk losing her attention before they’d forged a stronger bond.

  “Problem?” she asked as she stepped next to him.

  “No.” He exited the mail app and stuffed his phone back in his pocket. “Nothing urgent or needing my input.”

  “I won’t hold it against you if you have to bail on our deal.” One side of her mouth kicked up. “Promise not to call you a welsher.”

  He wrapped a hand around the back of her neck and tugged her close. Lowering his head, he brought their mouths to within an inch of touching. “Oh, don’t worry. I have no intention of reneging on our arrangement.”

  Luc pulled her in and slanted his mouth across hers. He didn’t wait to be invited inside. Not when a little pressure had her opening to him with eager demand. Her tongue tangled with his. Their teeth bumped in the rush to take—to devour. It wasn’t enough. This press of lips didn’t satisfy the need, only inflamed it. Fire licked along his nerves, lashed at his groin and threatened to incinerate his thin grip on control.

  Lust coursed through his veins and drove him to grab her arse and drag her in against his throbbing length. He flexed his hips, rubbing his swollen cock on her belly. Her height limited their contact and frustration raked him. In a move that was quickly becoming habit, Luc picked her up and placed her on the counter beside them. He wedged himself between her legs, spreading them wide to fit his sex snug against hers. She thrust forward, hit the sweet spot and drew a strangled moan from each of them.

  He tore his mouth from hers, trailed a line of kisses over her cheek to her ear. Her earlobe beckoned and he didn’t resist. The delicate flesh was soft against his tongue. Sucking, he pulled it deep, nipped with his teeth then lapped at the sting to soothe the slight pain. Cassie moaned, a sound barely more than air rushing over her lips, but Luc still felt it gut deep. It pulled and twisted, tightened his already taut nerves and flooded his cock with more heated blood. He’d burst from his pants at this rate, his clothing no match for the fierce need expanding inside him.

  His lips found hers again, and he slid deep. Drew back to stroke his tongue over plump flesh before diving deeper only to retreat and do it again. And again. He made love to her mouth. Kissed her in a way he’d never kissed another and knew he never would. Cassie brought him to this. To this all-consuming need to take while he savoured. How could he want to gulp and sip at the same time? How did she understand what he needed and give it to him so willingly?

  “Lucas,” she breathed his name into his mouth.

  A shudder rippled from his head to his toes, ricocheting from bone to skin and back. Jesus. He was going to snap. She’d break him into a million pieces before he ever got his cock inside her. She wrapped her arms and legs around him, clung like a vine, and he never wanted to be cut free. Wanted to stay surrounded by her forever.

  Luc’s breath stalled. What was he thinking? They barely knew each other. He shouldn’t be thinking forever. Shouldn’t be feeling the chaotic tangle of emotions bombarding him. Not yet. Surely not yet. It was too soon. Too much.

  With a gasp, he pulled away, separated their mouths and stared down at her flushed face. Her eyelids hung heavy over her warm gaze, her breathing ragged in her throat. She was the image of rapture, but he couldn’t bring himself to fall. There was no denying he would, no stopping the inevitable, except he needed to think. To breathe. To know that when he sank into the dark abyss she’d tumble with him.

  Head over heels.

  Chapter Seven

  Cassie stared at Lucas. His eyes were alive. The dark-brown depths were anything but cold, and she couldn’t get over how wrong she’d pegged him when they first met. She knew he held himself back—he had to in his line of work, except now it was like she’d been given the key to unlock the door to the hidden Lucas—the real Lucas. She’d gotten behind his shields, past his defences, and he either didn’t want to stop her or couldn’t. Both scenarios sent a chill down her spine.

  The click and hum of a motor broke the silence as the compressor on the refrigeration units kicked in. Jolted from the haze of lust dulling her common sense, Cassie pushed Lucas away and jumped from the counter, shocked to find she’d been so consumed by him that she couldn’t recall getting there. Her gaze swept the room, avoiding him while she dragged herself back to rational thought. Shit. She’d lost her head with this guy so many times she didn’t want to count. He wasn’t the only one whose walls had been breached.

  She closed her eyes and blew out a breath. If he hadn’t pulled away they’d be… Lord, she didn’t want to think about where they’d be. Opening her eyes, Cassie turned to meet his gaze. He stood in front of her, inches away. It would only take one step…a stretch of her arm… Fuck! Enough! What was with her? Her libido had never ruled her before. Sex was something she could go without easily. Except sex had never felt this good. And they hadn’t even had sex. How lost would she be when they did?

  Her heart pounded and warmth pooled low in her belly at the thought of sex with Lucas. She swallowed over the lump in her throat, licked her dry lips and tried to form words. Only there was nothing to say. No explanation for what they’d found themselves doing. Again.

  “I…” What could she say?

  One corner of his mouth curled up. “Yeah.”

  Gazes locked, they stared at each other until the chime on the oven dinged. “Oh.” Cassie glanced behind her. “We should…”

  Lucas sighed. “Yeah, we should.”

  He stepped away, taking his body heat with him, and Cassie shivered.

  “Right.” She needed to get it together. The cupcakes wouldn’t make themselves, and the equipment wouldn’t unload itself from the van either. “This way.”

  Cassie led Lucas back out to the dock. She unlocked the van and opened the rear doors. “I’ll show you where to put the boxes from last night. By the time you’re done I’ll have the cakes in the oven and you can start packing the equipment for today’s party.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” He moved up beside her to grab a tub and Cassie fought the urge to jump back. With a box in his arms, he turned towards her. “Show me where these go.”

  His biceps flexed as he adjusted the weight and she took a deep breath as desire rumbled through her centre. At this rate she’d be jumping him in the warehouse. Not something she wanted to do. Okay, that was lie. She definitely wanted to jump him. But she couldn’t do that here. They needed distance. A few hours—possibly days—apart would be good. She’d have to settle for minutes though. With the deal they’d made she was lucky to get that much, so she’d grab what she could and hope it was enough to get her feet back on steady ground. And her mind out of the gutter.

  “Over here.” Taking a deep breath, Cassie headed for the storage racks. “Everything—shelves, boxes—are clearly labelled, so you shouldn’t have any trouble putting it all away, but if you do give me a yell.”

  “I think I can muddle through.”

  She heard the grin
in his voice and glanced over her shoulder. Not only was he smiling, but he was smiling while ogling her arse. Her step stuttered, a small pause that threatened to have him ploughing into her back. Double stepping, she moved to the side and pointed to the first row of equipment. “Glasses, china, platters and cutlery are in this aisle. Next is prep equipment and then sundries like napkins. Condiments are stored in the kitchen area, but leave those because I think they’re all on today’s list of requirements. Make sure you put everything in its proper place. The last thing I need is to have to search for equipment.”

  “Cass.” He waited for her to look at him. “I’ve got it. Go make cupcakes.”

  Lucas strode past, a smile curving his lips, and Cassie wasn’t sure if she was happy or sad that he could function so well after their kitchen encounter. With no time to dwell on her turbulent thoughts, she headed back to the scene of the crime and steeled herself against the memories of their scorching kiss.

  Luc breathed easier as the echo of Cassie’s footsteps faded. He wasn’t sure how he’d kept his hands to himself. She tempted him in so many ways. The stunned look on her face when she’d jumped off the counter made him want to pull her in and hold her close. Soothe the alarm he’d seen in her eyes. Reassure her they’d done nothing wrong. Only they had. He’d all but screwed her on the job. Would have if his own panic hadn’t forced him to back off. Last night, he’d acknowledged their chemistry was volatile, but what he hadn’t realised was his complete lack of control over his lust for Cassie.

  He slid the box in his arms onto a shelf and with his hands free, drove his fingers through his hair. Today would be an exercise in restraint. One he figured he’d fail. Keeping Cassie at a distance, one where he couldn’t get his hands on her, was impossible. Only he had to try. Had to get the raging inferno burning between them under control until they were somewhere less public. Somewhere other than her place of work. Or his. He’d forgive himself for this morning in her bathroom but not the other times he’d dragged her against him.