Perhaps she’d rushed too much. Or perhaps her memories of the place were too faded.
When she finally curled up in her bed she wondered if she’d made a mistake. She’d had plenty of flings in her lifetime and didn’t regret any of them. But when his kiss had awakened a deep need for him, she balked at the thought of going with the flow.
Maybe it was because in the recesses of her mind and her emotions she knew that when it ended with Lucas, it would hurt.
Chapter 27
Lucas slammed the door shut to his bedroom, completely forgetting that Emma was sound asleep in his bed. Luckily she remained asleep.
As much as he wanted to race back to Cassie and demand that she admit to feeling the same way he did, he knew better. Cassie would never respond to that. She trusted as easily as he did, which meant proving himself to her would be nearly impossible.
And was that even what he wanted? Was she right about his need to be with her? Was it more about possessing her than getting to know her?
He wasn’t mistaken about the way she’d returned the kiss, or the way she’d breathed his name. He knew she was as lost in lust for him as he was for her. But did he expect her to comply simply because he’d hired her?
“No, that’s not it.” He sat down on the sofa on the other side of the bedroom and thought through the events of the evening.
It had all been going well at first. It wasn’t until he’d become more dominant that she’d shied back from him. Maybe he’d frightened her. Or maybe she didn’t like to be told what to do.
Figuring her out was going to be very difficult, but he was determined to do it. After kissing her, there was no turning back. His need for her flowed through his veins as thick and hot as his own blood.
But why did he want her? Was it just for her beauty? Was it just for fun?
He gripped the cushion of the couch and closed his eyes. Never had the force of his want for a woman driven him to such a place of desperation. It was infuriating and fascinating at the same time. What had she done to him?
As night turned to morning he woke up with thoughts of how he might draw her attention back to him.
When Emma woke up and demanded the ice cream she’d missed at dinner for breakfast, he realized something. His daughter was a strong, unyielding spirit. So was Cassie. Whenever he wanted Emma to agree with him, he had to give her some space and time to think about it. He couldn’t bend her to his will any more than he could bend Cassie. He had to find a way to draw her in to him, to see things from his point of view.
As he convinced Emma to have some oatmeal for breakfast, he found himself formulating a plan to give Cassie some time and space to see things in a different light.
Over the next few days he spoke to Cassie only in polite tones. He kept a gentleman’s distance from her at all times. He praised the mural she’d been painting, though he still thought it was missing something. He made extra efforts to ensure her comfort.
Cassie, on the other hand, had managed to avoid him at every turn. Every time he tried to look into her eyes, she looked away. Every time he accidentally brushed against her, she apologized and created space between them. She wasn’t exactly cold or cruel, just distant.
When she smiled at Emma, her entire demeanor transformed, and the Cassie he’d come to know emerged from behind the curtain of self-control.
He decided to give her one more day to come to him on her own. If things didn’t change between them, then he’d broach the subject himself, as he didn’t think he could stand the silence much longer. He spent the afternoon outside with Emma in an attempt to cool the frustration that had built within him.
“Watch this.” He dipped the large bubble wand in a big dish of solution and lifted it into the air.
“Wow! That’s big!” Emma ran up and popped it.
“Hey!” Lucas laughed as the soapy water splashed into his face. “You try.” He handed the wand over to his daughter.
She twirled it through the air and created a long trail of bubbles. As he watched her spin and laugh his heart filled with warmth. He hoped a little playtime with Emma would get his mind off the situation with Cassie, but all he could think about was how much she would probably enjoy it too. Cassie was definitely the young-at-heart type that would spend an afternoon playing with bubbles, he was sure of it.
As the late afternoon faded into evening his thoughts shifted even more to Cassie. With every day that passed he worried that she’d be finished with the mural. He wished he hadn’t spoken so harshly to her about it, but it was his defensive reaction to a bruised ego.
A woman that didn’t want him? He narrowed his eyes. Maybe that wasn’t true. It was clear to him that she did want him, but she wasn’t going to take the risk.
He escorted Emma into the house.
“Go wash up. We’re going to have dinner soon.”
“Is Cassie going to eat with us?” Emma hopped up and down just inside the door. Her voice carried into the foyer, where Cassie was perched on a ladder adding some touches to the first half of the mural. “Please, Daddy?”
“That’s up to Cassie.” He looked over at her and tried not to notice the way her clothes clung to her body in the right places. Still they were loose and tattered, but the way they fell against her revealed everything to him. “Would you like to join us for dinner, Cassie?”
She looked down at the two of them and smiled.
He knew she wouldn’t be able to resist Emma. They’d been playing tag, painting rocks, and even wading in the pond not far from the mansion. If Emma wasn’t with him she was with Cassie. But so far Cassie had avoided doing anything with Emma when it involved the three of them being together. If Lucas showed up to join in, she would make an excuse to leave the pair alone. He hadn’t pressed her on it just yet, but now he could.
“I’m in the middle of this one section.” She gestured to the spot in the sky that she was painting. “Maybe Emma and I could have a special dessert out on the terrace after dinner?”
“Just the two of you?” Lucas held back his frustration.
“If you wouldn’t mind?”
“I’d rather you joined us for dinner. Would it be too much trouble?” He stared up at her until she had to look into his eyes. The last dinner they’d shared had led to a very intimate moment. Was that why she hesitated?
“I guess, if it’s what Emma wants.”
“It is! It is!” Emma squealed and clapped her hands. “I’ll have Myrna make it a real tea party. Cassie, you have to dress like a princess! Will you please?”
Cassie climbed down the ladder and smiled. “I’m sorry, but I don’t have any princess clothes.”
“Daddy, you can make her a princess, can’t you? You always make Mommy a princess.” Emma looked up at him with wide eyes.
He patted the top of her head and looked across the space between himself and Cassie. “Sure, I can make her a princess. If she’ll let me. Will you, Cassie?” He smiled with a hint of amusement in his expression. How would she get out of this one?
“Oh, I don’t know, Emma. You know, I don’t have to be a princess. Not every woman is a princess. Maybe I could be the painter of the castle?” She waved her paintbrush through the air.
“No.” Emma crossed her arms. “You are a princess. I know you are. Just like Cinderella. She didn’t think she was a princess, but she really was. You are too. Can’t you please let Daddy be your fairy godmother?”
Cassie laughed. Lucas soon joined in. “Yes, Cassie, I’d make a great fairy godmother, don’t you think?” He waved an imaginary wand.
“Alright, fine.” Cassie relented. “If you can come up with something for me, Mr. Morgan, I’ll happily be a princess at the tea party.”
“Wonderful. Just give me ten minutes to work my magic. I’ll send James to you with the supplies.”
“James?” She laughed. “This gets better and better.”
“Don’t worry Cassie, it’s just pretend,” said Emma, as Lucas and Cassie looked at one ano
ther and burst into laughter at the little girl’s serious expression.
Chapter 28
As expected, James arrived at Cassie’s door with a garment bag a few minutes after she’d left the foyer.
“Thank you, James.” She took the bag and started to close the door, but he stopped her.
“Cassie, is everything okay?”
“Sure. Why?”
“It’s just that Mr. Morgan hasn’t been himself.”
She avoided his gaze. “Everything’s fine.”
“Is it?” James looked at her intently.
“Yes. It is. I promised you I wouldn’t take advantage of him, and I won’t.”
“I hope that my opinion hasn’t swayed you from giving him a chance.”
“Why the sudden change of heart, James? It wasn’t long ago that you would have liked to throw me out of here.” She finally met his gaze.
“Because you seem to be changing him. I can see that he’s quite taken with you. You’ve made him the man he once was again, and I have been known to be wrong. Quite often, actually.”
“James, you’re not wrong. Lucas and I live in two very different worlds, and it needs to stay that way.”
“If you say so.”
“I do say so.”
“Enjoy your tea party.” He smiled at her.
Cassie smiled back, then closed the door. Curious, she unzipped the garment bag. The moment she saw the gown hidden inside, her breath caught in her throat. No, she was never the type to dress up, especially in something full of fluff and frills, but the dress was beautiful.
It was a deep maroon shade accented with off-white lace along the bodice. The skirt had a slight fullness to it but nothing too heavy. It looked like something she would wear to a place where she knew no one—more accurately, where no one knew that she would never wear a dress like that.
She checked the size on the tag and discovered that it might just fit. How did he know what size she was? How did he have this dress just lying around? A strange suspicion built in her. Had he planned this? Had he put Emma up to asking her? But when she recalled the eagerness in the little girl’s eyes, she was certain that it had been all her idea.
She shed her stained clothes and stepped into the dress. With every inch that she pulled up over her waist, her midsection, and her breasts, she expected it to be too snug. Instead, it fit every part of her perfectly. The skirt flowed just past her knees. The half-sleeves accented the lean muscles of her upper arms. She turned to face the full-length mirror on the wall. Her own reflection stunned her.
Was that her in that dress with that smile on her face? She looked like an entirely different person, not just because of the style of dress, but because of the glow in her eyes.
She ran her fingers through her straight black hair and smoothed out the side-part until it hung glossy and straight around her face. She noticed that there was still a bit of paint stuck to her chin and cheek. As she stepped into the bathroom to scrub it off, she also attempted to zip up the back of the dress. Despite its perfect fit, grasping the end of the zipper proved to be impossible.
She washed her face and applied the lightest layer of lipstick to her lips, then she tried for the zipper again. With a huff of frustration she realized that she just wouldn’t be able to zip it. She stepped out into the hall and started toward the stairs with the expectation that she might find Myrna, or even James, to offer her some help.
Instead, she nearly collided with Lucas.
“Cassie.” His eyes widened as he looked her over. “You look amazing. I’m sorry, Emma is so excited. She sent me to check on you. I guess you’re ready for dinner?”
“No, actually.” She chewed on her lip for a moment. “I can’t quite get the zipper.”
“Oh. I can get it.” He started to step around behind her, then paused. “If you’ll let me.”
Cassie took a deep breath and tried not to be distracted by the desire in his eyes. There was no question that he still felt the same draw that she did. She turned her back to him and braced herself for the glide of his fingertips.
To her surprise he was careful not to touch anything but the fabric.
Once the dress was zipped she turned back to look at him with a half-smile.
“I knew that you were a gentleman.”
“You bring it out in me.” He offered her his arm. “Shall we?”
Lucas’s suit was fresh and pressed. His hair was carefully combed back from his temples, which revealed the heavy streak of gray. Perhaps if she’d been able to tear her eyes away from him she might have noticed Emma at the bottom of the stairs.
The little girl clapped her hands with joy as she saw the two descend the staircase.
“You two look just like a prince and a princess!”
“Or maybe a king and his queen?” Lucas smiled at Emma, then glanced over at Cassie. “What do you think, Cassie, could you be my queen?”
She couldn’t help but smile in return. “Perhaps.”
As they settled in at the dining room table, Cassie marveled at the way Myrna had decorated the table and room to look just like a tea party. The food was served on delicate plates and paired with tiny teacups. It contained all the items of any little girl’s fantasy.
Cassie resisted pointing out that Lucas seemed determined not to allow the idea of princesses and pink to invade his daughter’s mind. Instead of dwelling on that, he took her hand and kissed the back of it.
“Thank you for inviting us to your party, Princess Emma.”
“It’s always nice to have you, King Daddy. And you too, Queen Cassie.”
Cassie laughed at the thought of being addressed as a queen, but as the tea party continued on, she fell into her role pretty well.
At the end of the meal, Emma stood up, looking at both of them with a look of unwavering determination.
“Now the king and queen have to kiss. That’s how it always is in the movies.”
“Oh, Emma, I don’t think—” Cassie managed.
“Emma, that’s not polite.”
“Daddy!” Emma stomped her foot and stared at him. “You’re the one that’s not being polite. Cassie is in this beautiful dress, and she’s been so nice to you. You have to kiss her.”
“Emma, sweetheart, your Daddy and I are friends. Friends don’t kiss each other.” Cassie’s cheeks flushed.
“They do if they’re going to fall in love and get married!”
“Oh, Emma, I think you have the wrong idea.” Lucas stood up from the table and shot Cassie an apologetic frown. “She has quite the imagination.”
Chapter 29
“But that’s how it happens in the movies.” Emma pouted.
“This isn’t a movie. It’s not right to try to force two people to kiss, honey.”
“It’s okay, Lucas.” Cassie crouched down some and smiled at Emma. “Your father is most certainly a handsome king, and there are many princesses that would be lucky to have the chance to kiss him. But remember, I’m not a princess. I’m just wearing a princess dress. You need to find a real princess to kiss your dad.”
“But I want you.” Emma shook her head. “I don’t think it matters if you’re a princess, Cassie. You make Daddy smile.”
Lucas could feel his cheeks grow warm. As his daughter continued to embarrass him he couldn’t imagine what Cassie might be thinking.
“That’s it, Emma, I think it’s time for bed.” He took her hand in his and started to lead her away.
Emma sniffled. Her shoulders shook. He knew she was a few seconds away from a full-blown meltdown.
“Lucas, wait.” Cassie touched his shoulder.
He turned back toward her, and hoped she couldn’t see how mortified he was.
“Emma, your Daddy and I aren’t going to get married, but if it will make you happy, I will give him a kiss.”
“Really?” Emma smiled. “Yes, please, Cassie.”
“Only if it’s okay with your Daddy.” She looked up at him with a smile.
; “It’s absolutely okay with me.” He smiled and prepared for a chaste kiss.
Cassie leaned close and brushed her lips across his cheek rather than his lips.
“Yay!” Emma laughed and took off out the door toward her room.
Cassie slipped away from him and headed out of the dining room as well.
“Cassie, wait.” He caught her by the wrist and pulled her back toward him. “Can’t we even have a conversation?”
She turned to look at him.
He felt her wrist shiver in his grasp.
“There’s nothing to talk about.”
“There’s everything to talk about.” He held her gaze. “Why does this need to be such a difficult thing between us?”
“It doesn’t. All I have to do is finish my work—if you’ll let me.”
“And then what? You walk out of my life forever?” He shook his head. “That’s not what I want. I don’t think it’s what you want either. Am I wrong about that?”
“What I want isn’t always the right thing.” She sighed.
“What happened to you, Cassie? What happened to the free spirit that stood in nothing but paint for the world to see? How is that less of a risk than spending a little time with me?”
“It was a choice I made. Everything I’ve ever done in my life has been a choice. You’re not a choice.”
“You mean I’m not an option.”
“No, I mean you’re not a choice.” She wriggled her hand free of his grasp. “When you’re near me, I can’t think clearly. I can’t begin to choose. It’s as if I have no other option. You’re not a choice and that doesn’t make sense to me.”
“So you’re confused.” He stepped closer to her. “That’s okay. I’m confused too.”
“Are you?” She met his eyes. “It seems to me that you have a lot of practice with this. Do you expect me to believe that a man like you, a man who was married to a model, who can have any woman he chooses, finds something so unique about me?”
“I expect you not to assume that I would use you that way. I thought, perhaps, you saw a little deeper into me than that.”
Forty and Free: A Sweet Romance Series Bundle - Books 5 - 8 Page 10
