Jason had reached a near feverish level himself. She was caressing his shoulders, arms, and back with light but stimulating gestures. He ached to bury himself inside of her, but he didn’t want to rush. He wanted this to be the most gratifying and memorable lovemaking session she had ever known, as it was for him. His fingers stroked the shiny and thick waves of her brown hair as he brushed kisses over her face and throat. He loved feeling her naked flesh in contact with his.
Searing heat stormed Cass’s body. She had to feel Jason inside her. She couldn’t wait a moment longer. When Jason moved atop her, she wrapped her arms around his back and pulled him closer to entice him to enter her. Their lips tantalized and their tongues teased as he slid the tip of his erection into her, paused a moment to draw a deep and needed breath for renewed restraint, then thrust further past her delicate folds until it seemed he’d reached her very core.
Cass trailed her fingers over the flexible muscles of his back near his waist. She felt those in his- lithe buttocks repeatedly contract with each passionate thrust. She clung to him, almost ravishing his mouth as she refused to allow him to withdraw for any length of time.
Jason wished their lovemaking could go on forever but he felt his restraint begin to slip at Cass’s enthusiastic responses. When he felt her stiffen and heard her gasp for air, he knew she was in the early throes of sweet release. He let himself join her in a burst of supreme pleasure.
As they each came back to earth, they cuddled quietly, enjoying the aftermath of their loving.
Finally, Jason looked over at her and grinned. “I want to thank you for never showing me any mercy, woman. It gets better every time.”
“You’re right, as impossible as that seems. I love you, Jason.”
“I love you, Cass. I thank God we met last October, or we might not be together today. We could both still be alone and miserable if you hadn’t come to that play.”
“I really believe in destiny and fate; and we were destined for each other. In a strange way, we shouldn’t curse our mistakes because they got us to meet. If I hadn’t married Tom, I wouldn’t be living on Sea Island; and if you hadn’t married and divorced Brenda, you wouldn’t have been single and alone that night at the Ritz Theater.”
Jason pondered her words, then said, “You’re right. It’s as if we were being led through a dark maze to find each other at the sunny end.”
“Oh, Jason, it feels wonderful to be happy again.” To feel whole and clean again. She sighed peacefully and stroked his bare chest.
“I can hardly wait until you agree to marry me, woman. Maybe that will be sooner than you think with Inez’s help.”
Cass propped up and asked, “What do you mean by that?”
Jason told her about his talk with her ex-housekeeper yesterday.
As he made his shocking revelation, Cass bolted up on the bed. “Surely you didn’t! Please tell me you’re teasing.”
“What’s wrong, love? Maybe she’s the ace we need up our sleeve to force Peter to settle with you so we won’t have to wait so long to marry.”
“It could ruin everything, Jason. I made a deal with Peter last night for a pay-off.” She related their conversation to him. “If Inez tells him about our suspicions, he could reneg on it. Then we’re right back where we started, either losing a fortune or waiting for Tom’s timetable to be met.”
“She won’t tell him, Cass; she’s afraid of him, and I think she was tempted by my offer. I honestly expect her to call me and accept it.”
“You don’t know Inez like I do; she fears nothing and no one. And you’re forgetting how much she detests me; she’d like nothing better than to spite me. I wouldn’t put it past her to try to blackmail Peter for more than you offered her now that she realizes how valuable his secrets are.”
“I’m sorry, love. I never dreamed you and Peter would make a bargain this quickly. I thought I was being helpful. I hoped it would be a nice surprise, but I can see I shouldn’t have interfered.”
“It’s a done deed, so don’t worry about it. If any repercussions arise, we’ll find a way to deal with them. Who knows? Your little ploy may work in our favor if you truly put the fear of God, or rather the law, into her. Even if she tells Peter, that doesn’t alter the fact he wants me out of his picture. I can always pretend I didn’t know about your suspicions and intention and I believe he’s innocent of any wrongdoing. Besides, the moment after we settled, I was going to tell him I knew what he did to me.”
Jason sat up and caressed her cheek. “Then you aren’t mad at me?”
She smiled. “Of course not. You were only trying to help me.”
“For selfish reasons. I want you free of Peter and Tom and the past.”
“I know, and so do I. Everything will work out soon; you’ll see. After it does, we will ‘begin’ a romance.”
“I have an idea about how we can explain us getting close so fast.”
Cass noted his broad grin and sparkling eyes. “What is it?”
“My receptionist is going on leave next week to have surgery Friday; she’ll be out for a month or two. How would you like to fill in for her? By working together, we’ll have a good excuse for becoming close friends; then we can start dating openly. That’ll also give you a chance to meet people, many of them my close friends, and get you out of that house during the day. I promise I’ll be an easy and good-paying boss. All you’ll have to do is greet patients, answer the phone, and make appointments.”
“You’re a sly man, Jason Burkman. It’s perfect. Who could possibly fault a lonely widow for falling for her charismatic boss?”
“Or fault a lonely physician for succumbing to the many charms and great beauty of his temporary receptionist. Excellent idea I had. We’ll discuss it tomorrow during your check-up with me.”
“Is it going to be a complete examination?” she asked with a grin.
“As complete as I dare make it in my office. So, Peter made a play for you, did he? Perhaps I should go over and beat the daylights out of him.”
“You know you have no reason to be jealous. And we both know he wasn’t serious. I think I’ll accept your job offer so I can keep my eye on you and all of those pretty nurses.”
“I promise you, Cass, you’re the only woman who catches my eye.”
“And you’re the only man who catches mine.”
On Monday while Mary Ellis was cleaning her house, Cass kept her appointment with Jason, who examined her in a professional manner with one of his three nurses present. After she was fully clad and they were left alone in one of the many rooms to discuss her health following her checkup, they stole several kisses and embraces.
While she was at his office, Cass met his receptionist who would begin training her on Thursday. She liked Jason’s staff and knew she was going to enjoy the job.
* * *
Late Tuesday afternoon, Jason received a surprising call from Inez Doughtery, who requested a meeting with the doctor after he finished with his patients. As she had told him to bring his offer with him in cash, it was not hard to deduce the reason for her request.
He phoned his bank and gave instructions to have a cashier’s check for fifty thousand dollars ready for him to pick up at five o’clock and to deduct it from his savings account.
Afterward, Jason leaned back in his chair and smiled. You’re going to pay through the nose for what you did to Cass and me, you sorry bastard, and you’ll be delighted to do so. So will Hines if Inez has the proof she claims to have against you two.
Jason got up to return to work. He needed to hurry so he could get to his bank between patients. It was only a few miles away, so that errand wouldn’t take long. He could hardly wait until six-thirty to meet with Inez and discover the truth—actually, buy it.
You’ll be free of that sonofabitch soon, my love; we both will.
At ten after seven that evening, Peter spoke with Cass in her den. “Our deal is in progress, if you haven’t changed your mind.”
“Of co
urse I haven’t. Why should I when you’re being so generous and kind to help me make a new start without having to wait for years?”
“It’s the least I can do for you, Cass. The papers should be ready for you to sign within a week, two at most. Simon is preparing them now. He wants to make sure he covers all of his bases so the law can’t find any loopholes. As I told you, I’ll be paying the gift taxes on the settlement I make with you. You’ll get a cashier’s check for five million dollars and clear title to this house and its furnishings. Is there anything I’ve forgotten to include that you feel you’re entitled to?”
Cass pretended to think for a minute, then shook her head.
“You do understand you’ll be relinquishing your claim to everything you’ve inherited: the entire trust fund and all of your company stocks?” He waited for her to nod. “You also understand you won’t receive any future dividends of any kind or any profits from eventual company sales?” He paused again for her to nod comprehension. “Do you have any questions or reservations about this deal between us?”
“No, it sounds clear and simple to me.”
“Good, but Simon will go over the terms again in his office before we sign our agreement. If you have a problem with it, let me know now.”
“The settlement you offered sounds fair to me, Peter. I just want this matter taken care of as soon as possible so I can get on with my life. Are you sure you can come up with that much cash by next week?” Please don’t take longer so I can tell you what I really think of you, you treacherous snake!
Peter lazed against the sofa and grinned. “Yep, because I have buyers lined up for Smooth Rider, Texas-G Beef, the ranch, Big G Real Estate, and the restaurant and art gallery in Aspen. Those contracts are being drawn up as we speak. As soon as those deals are settled, I’m putting the electronics and seafood companies on the market. I’ve decided to keep the import/export company and house in LA; I’ll be going there tomorrow to get things set up for my relocation, but I’ll return home Saturday. So, when you decide to sell out here, I won’t be living in your backyard.”
And I won’t miss you for an instant! “My goodness, Peter, you work fast when your mind is made up.”
“There’s no need to hesitate, and this move will be good for me. So will dumping Smooth Rider. Club Car just received an award as the Exporter of the Year with forty-six million dollars in foreign sales; that’s stiff competition for golf carts. Besides, my import/export company will involve plenty of international travel; that sounds exciting and satisfying, just the challenge and diversion I need.” Yep, I gotta get my ass out there and make sure the authorities don’t catch on to what I’m importing and exporting for big bucks.
“You’re lucky our companies are in such good shape and you found buyers so quickly.” So am I.
“Yep, that was the winning stroke. You do understand, even if we didn’t have a deal, you couldn’t profit from those sales for five to ten years because the money would go into that trust fund to be doled out slowly?”
“I know, and I don’t resent you for getting it. The majority of the estate is rightfully yours. Just be on alert for female piranhas who’ll come swimming after a super rich, sexy, and handsome bachelor.”
Peter chuckled. “Thanks for the compliments, and I’ll be sure to be careful. I would offer you more money, Cass, but our settlement has to come out of my pocket, not the companies’ holdings; that wouldn’t be legal. Besides, Uncle Sam is going to take a huge bite out of those gains.”
“Perhaps Harrison Dredger can find tax loopholes for you. Isn’t that what an expensive accountant is supposed to do for his clients?” she jested, trying to dupe Peter with her playful mood.
“Why, Cassandra Grantham, I do believe you have a wicked streak.”
“At certain times in our lives, don’t we all have one?”
“I suppose so, or the human sharks would eat us alive.”
Cass leaned forward, sent him a mischievous grin, and asked, “What’s the worst—or should I say, cleverest?—trick you’ve pulled?”
“Hmm, let me think for a minute…” Peter glanced at his watch, leapt from his seat, and said, “Damn, I’m almost late for dinner with friends! You’ll have to excuse my rush, Cass, but I gotta run.”
“Coward! That’s a sneaky way to avoid answering,” she teased him. She wished he would leave fast so she could relax her guard.
As his hazel gaze swept over her and a curious desire for her plagued him, he wondered if it had been a mistake not to pursue her for himself.
Cass followed him to the back door. “Good night, Peter, and have a nice time tonight with your friends.”
“Thanks, Cass. I’m flying out early, so I won’t see you again until this weekend. Take care of yourself while I’m gone.”
“I will, and have a safe and successful trip. ’Bye.” She almost cringed when he gave her a light kiss on the lips before departing. Despite her loathing, she smiled and waved to him when he glanced back at the wrought-iron gate and did the same to her.
Wednesday morning in Brunswick, Jason sat at his office desk and sipped a cup of coffee after he planned his talk with David Hines that evening. He had phoned David after seeing Inez and insisted they meet to discuss what he had learned, dropping clear hints to the nervous man about the topic in store for them. While he waited for his first patient to be prepared for an examination, he picked up the morning paper which he didn’t have time to read at home and received a jolting shock.
On Sea Island, Cassandra Redfern Grantham was staring at the same news article, her gaze wide and her lips parted in astonishment.
Chapter Twenty-One
Jason buzzed his nurse and told her he had to make an important call and he would join his patient as soon as he completed it. He phoned Cass and asked if she’d seen this morning’s paper.
“I’m reading it now. My heavens, Jason, I can’t believe he did it. This is horrible; his family must be terribly upset.”
“Yes, I’m sure they are. I’ll be over as soon as I finish work so we can discuss this matter. We don’t want to say anything over the phone in case somebody we know is bugging yours; I wouldn’t put it past him. Just stay calm and I’ll see you about six.”
“I will, and I’ll cook supper for us, something quick and simple. By the way, Peter’s out of town until the weekend. He flew out early this morning, so I doubt he knows about this tragedy.”
After embracing and kissing Cass, Jason said, “Let’s sit in the den and go over this before we have supper; we don’t want our stomachs tied up in knots while we’re eating.”
They went into the other room and sat side by side on the sofa before Jason started the conversation. “I was supposed to be seeing Hines right now. I phoned him early last night and arranged a meeting. I—”
“Why were you going to meet with him?”
“To talk about what he and Peter did to you. I—”
“I thought we agreed on Sunday that you wouldn’t take any further action on your suspicions until I settled with Peter.” “After I saw Inez again, I had to make sure—”
“You spoke with her again? When? Why? I’m surprised and dismayed by your actions, Jason.”
Jason held her hand and urged in a tender tone, “Give me time to explain, and you’ll understand and agree. Inez called me at my office yesterday afternoon and wanted to see me after work, with the money.” As Cass stared at him, he said, “That’s right; she accepted my deal. You were right about her trying to get more money out of Peter than I was offering her, but her little scheme backfired. Fortunately for us, he provoked her to the point of revenge.” Jason related what Inez had told him about her talk with Peter.
“You mean she just came right out and admitted trying to blackmail him and told you everything about their misdeeds?”
“Yep, and even gave me proof she was being honest. By now, she’s probably cashed that check and vanished forever to protect herself from Peter and the law. I hated to let her get off t
he hook scot-free, but I had no choice since we were after bigger fish to fry.”
“I’m curious as to what ‘proof’ she gave you.”
“Inez had two of those mystery pills I told you about and one of those doctored aspirin capsules. At first, she thought she was only giving you medicine prescribed by Hines when she sneaked it into your food or drink. Peter convinced her you needed medicine but wouldn’t take it willingly. Later, she suspected the truth but kept helping Peter because of the big salary increase he gave her, and because she was certain you would fire her as soon as you were well and your head cleared. Hines supplied the drug samples Peter used before he took over your treatment and kept you in a daze. Before Hines removed those extra drugs, Inez took one of each, and she kept one of the aspirin capsules Peter had prepared and was giving to you—or you were taking—without knowing they were tainted. That explains what happened to you, Cass, just as I suspected.”
Jason reminded her of how he had stolen two of the pills but lost them before he could analyze them. “Without them, my hands were tied. I couldn’t make accusations against Peter and Hines without proof. And I hated to worry you with charges I couldn’t prove. That’s why I insisted on becoming your doctor and why I brought Linda in to help me protect you. I knew there was no way they could continue to sneak drugs into your system without your symptoms alerting me to a problem; they realized it, too, and stopped doing so.”
“I hate to think what would have happened to me if not for you, Jason. Thank you for caring about me so much. I love you.”
He gave her a quick hug and kiss. “I love you, too, woman, and I had to protect my interests.” He hurried on with their talk before they could become distracted by rising desires. “Inez also told me that Peter had your mail forwarded to a post office box in his name for a while so he would get all of the correspondence first. He had your phone line switched to his place so all calls would either go to him or to his answering machine; that way he could screen them. Later, he had the mail and phone line changed back to your address before your head cleared and you caught on to him. That’s why nobody could reach you, Cass; he had you cut off from the world and thinking no one cared about you, when a lot of people did care.”
Love With A Stranger Page 34
