by Cindy Kirk
“Close your eyes,” Tim whispered.
“Did you hear me?” She yawned, exhausted. “It doesn’t change—”
“I heard you.” He tugged the sheet over her and watched as she slept, the crescents of her lashes dark against her ivory skin.
She was wrong. Tonight had changed everything.
There was a connection between them, a strong one, arising from trust and love.
Love?
Tim rolled the word around on his tongue. Smiled at the rightness of it.
“I love you,” he whispered to the sleeping woman beside him. “And I won’t lose you.”
* * *
Cassidy woke to the enticing aroma of freshly brewed coffee and... She rolled over, sniffed the air and smiled.
Although last night felt like a dream, the scent of sizzling bacon and the rumpled sheets tangled around her told her it had all been real.
Pushing to a sitting position, Cassidy cast aside the covers remembering how Tim had reached for her again during the night, after only a couple hours of sleep. The fire that burned between them could not be quenched. Even now, a hot riff of need shivered up her spine. She wondered if he’d be interested in another encore this morning.
Her earlier resolve to keep him at arm’s length now seemed naive, foolish and totally unnecessary. She liked being with Tim, enjoyed his company and craved his touch. Why shouldn’t she go out with him occasionally and sleep with him when the opportunity arose?
It didn’t have to be all or nothing. After all, she would be raising his child, so they would be forever connected. Though she knew adoption was a wonderful option for many, once she felt the baby move, there had been only one choice for her. She would take classes, ask for advice and do her best to be a good mother.
Cassidy rose, feeling more encouraged about the future than she’d been in weeks. She glanced around for something to wear besides last night’s silk dress.
The dress wasn’t a favorite and the thought of putting it on rubbed like a too-tightly bristled brush. Cassidy wandered over to Tim’s dresser.
Precisely folded stacks of cotton shirts sat in the first drawer she opened. She chose a long-sleeved one the color of freshly mown grass, tugging the soft garment over her head and pushing up the sleeves. The lower edge barely covered her bottom but she had a feeling Tim wouldn’t mind.
Now that she was more or less fully dressed, she glanced in the mirror. Fully prepared for disaster, she saw nothing a little lip color couldn’t handle. Relieved, she raked a hand through the tangles in her hair. After a quick pit stop in the master bathroom, Cassidy headed downstairs with Ravish Me Red on her lips and a spring in her step.
As she approached the kitchen, she heard Tim whistling slightly off-key, his back to her as he scrambled eggs.
Her heart flip-flopped.
Like a predatory cat, Cassidy moved across the tile floor. She slipped her arms around his waist and placed her lips against his ear. “Guess who?”
She felt his face crease into a smile before he moved the skillet to an empty burner, cut the heat and turned. “Why, it’s just who I wanted to see this morning.”
He held her at arm’s length. His gaze traveled down then back up, darkening at the large expanse of leg displayed. Though his hair was still slightly damp from the shower, he was fully dressed, ready for whatever the day had to offer.
Cassidy began to unbutton his shirt. “You have way too many clothes on.”
He glanced at the eggs. “I made breakfa—”
“Eggs can wait.” Cassidy slid her hands up his chest then leaned forward and planted a kiss against his throat. “We’re alone. It would be practically criminal not to take advantage of the opportunity.”
“I like the way you think.” He cupped her bottom. “In fact, I like everything about you.”
Sex talk, she told herself. Still, the words sent a warm rush of pleasure coursing through her veins. “Flattery will get you under my, er, your, shirt.”
Pushing that shirt upward, heat sparked in his eyes when he discovered she didn’t have anything on underneath. He grinned. “This is convenient.”
They were the last words spoken for a long while. Cassidy had never made love in a kitchen before but she quickly discovered Tim had a talent for figuring out new uses for chairs and tables.
They finished in the shower and by the time they got out, she was starving. After pulling on the badly wrinkled dress, she reached for her panties.
Sitting on the bed, back in jeans and a different Henley, Tim made a sound of displeasure.
Cassidy smiled to herself and turned. “I’m afraid the bun needs to eat.”
To her surprise, instead of a joking retort or a grabbing reach, Tim’s eyes took on a soft glow. “I love you, Cassidy.”
“Luv ya, too, babe.”
“I’m serious.”
Hope leaped in her breast but she ruthlessly shoved it down and forced a light tone. “That’s what every guy says when he’s just had the best sex of his life.”
Turning from his scrutinizing gaze, Cassidy busied herself smoothing wrinkles from her dress.
But Tim refused to be pushed aside so easily. He grasped her hand and tugged her close. “This isn’t about sex, Cassidy. This is about you. I love you. I want to marry you.”
Her heart plummeted. It didn’t take a rocket scientist to put these puzzle pieces together. Tim was a decisive guy. When faced with an issue, he thought and studied then went after what he wanted with methodical precision.
He’d made it clear he wanted them to be married by the time the baby was born. She’d made it clear the only reason she’d marry was for love. It was obvious he’d decided the easiest way to get what he wanted was to simply tell her what she needed to hear.
Disappointment flooded her. She’d expected better of him. Marshalling her emotions, she met his gaze. “Don’t lie to me.”
A look of startled surprise crossed his face. “I wouldn’t lie about something this important. I love you, Cass.”
There was sincerity in his voice and in the penetrating gaze he fixed on her. Still, this seemed awfully damned convenient.
“I don’t know that I believe you.” God, she wanted to believe him, but if she did and then found out he’d lied...
She closed her eyes against the stabbing pain.
His arms tightened around her and his voice took on urgency. “How can I convince you I’m sincere?”
She rested her head against his forehead and sighed. “I don’t know, Tim. I don’t know.”
* * *
When Hailey Ferris stopped by the salon on Monday to ask if she had time to grab a coffee, Cassidy pulled her into the back office and shut the door.
“What’s up, Cass?” The pretty blonde asked, looking more intrigued than startled by the manhandling.
“Tim stopped by my apartment this morning,” she told her friend. “With a caramel macchiato.”
It was clear to Cassidy that Tim wasn’t going to give up his pursuit. What had been equally clear to her was she didn’t want him to stop.
“Do you think he’d stop by my house? Nonfat peppermint mocha with whipped cream and chocolate shavings.”
Cassidy ignored the comment. “This situation is serious.”
Hailey instantly sobered. “Tell me.”
Once she started talking, Cassidy couldn’t seem to stop. She didn’t leave anything out. No detail was too small to share with Hailey.
“The love stuff was just crazy talk after mind-blowing sex, right?” Cassidy asked.
“I never thought of using a kitchen chair in that way.” Hailey returned to a detail she appeared to find particularly intriguing. “I think Winn and I are going to have to give that a try tonight when Cam is at ball practice.”
/> “This isn’t about the kitchen chair.” Cassidy swatted at Hailey’s arm in exasperation, then had to grin. Just revisiting that night—and the following morning—gave her a pleasurable jolt. “Though it all was pretty fantastic.”
Hailey’s blue eyes twinkled. “You two were obviously on fire.”
Cassidy’s smile faded. “We were. But I can’t marry someone just because I like him and the sex is fantastic.”
“And he’s your baby daddy,” Hailey pointed out. Her friend had been upset at first that she hadn’t been told before about “bun” but accepted Cassidy’s reasoning for keeping the pregnancy quiet.
“The baby is why he’s doing it, Hailey.” Cassidy huffed out a breath. “That’s the only reason he’s hanging with me now, because he’s determined to do the honorable thing and marry me.”
Hailey’s gaze turned thoughtful. “Doesn’t sound like you think much of yourself.”
Cassidy bristled at the hint of censure underlying her friend’s words. “What are you saying?”
“You’re a beautiful, sexy, successful woman. You bring light into everyone’s life. Why wouldn’t Tim fall in love with you?” A devilish gleam lit Hailey’s eyes. “Don’t forget, you’re great in the kitchen.”
Chapter Eighteen
On Tuesday, when Tim found himself with a break between morning surgery and afternoon clinic, he headed to Hill of Beans for a quick lunch.
The fact that Cassidy’s salon was just down the street hadn’t escaped his notice. On his way back to the clinic, he would pick up a bouquet of daisies, then head over to Clippety Do Dah to deliver them in person.
Yesterday, he’d stopped by her apartment on his way to the hospital and dropped off her favorite drink, a caramel macchiato. As he’d handed her the beverage, he’d indulged in his favorite morning pick-me-up, a kiss from the woman he loved.
Still smiling at the thought of the kiss, he pushed open the door to Hill of Beans. Bells jingled and Cole Lassiter looked up from behind the counter and lifted a hand in greeting. When Cole had returned to Jackson Hole and decided to run his coffee-shop empire from his hometown, Tim had been as surprised as anyone.
“Hey, Doogie,” Cole said.
Tim winced. “Hey, Lassister, looking good in that barista apron.”
“Meg finds it sexy,” Cole said, referring to his wife, who happened to be the sister of Travis Fisher, Tim’s colleague.
“Better be careful,” Tim joked. “Or you’ll find yourself with another baby on the way.”
“That’d be okay with us. We want a whole houseful.” Cole shot Tim a curious glance. “I hear you and my good buddy Cassidy Kaye are seeing each other.”
Though it was a comment, there was a definite question in there somewhere. Believing it was up to Cassidy to decide how much to tell her friends, Tim deflected.
“I didn’t realize you and Cassidy were good friends,” Tim said after giving Cole his order.
While there was still much about Cassidy he didn’t know, Tim reassured himself he’d have a lifetime to discover everything about the woman he loved.
“Cass and I grew up together. She’s like my kid sister.” Warmth filled Cole’s eyes. “She, Keenan and I were tight. Strength in the midst of adversity you might say. It’s difficult to know which of us had it worse.”
“She told me about her mother.”
Cole’s face registered surprise as he expertly made Tim’s turkey sandwich on wheat. “You two must be closer than I thought. Cass rarely talks about Crystal.”
Tim lifted a shoulder in a slight shrug.
“Cassidy stopped to pick up a scone this morning.” A frown pulled at Cole’s dark brows. “She didn’t look good.”
Tim instantly went on alert. “What do you mean?”
“She wasn’t her normal chipper self.” The lines between Cole’s brows deepened. “When I asked, she said she had a bad headache.”
As Cole handed him the sandwich and a bottle of water, Tim added a large coffee to the order. If Cassidy was sick...
Well, if she was sick, he was a doctor. And he would darn well take care of her, whether she wanted him to or not.
This time, she wouldn’t push him away.
* * *
When the headache first began, Cassidy had thought she’d simply been thinking too hard about her situation with Tim. Eventually she’d concluded her old friend Mr. Migraine had come to visit and decided to stay for a while.
The pounding in Cassidy’s head now beat like a hammer behind her right eye.
Over the past hour the throbbing had escalated, becoming a tangible thing, driving away all thoughts. All she knew was pain. Keeping her eyes shut, she tried to block out everything. She wished she’d thought to turn the blinds to keep out the sun.
“Cassidy, sweetheart. Can you tell me what’s wrong?”
She opened her eyes—just a slit—to find Tim kneeling beside the sofa, his brow furrowed and his eyes filled with concern.
“Other than the sadistic troll pounding my right eye with a hammer?” She shut her lids tight and winced. “How’d you get in?”
“The key under the mat.” He gave a low chuckle. “For once you locked the door.”
“What are you doing here?”
“Checking on you.” His fingers were cool and gentle against her forehead. “Have you had migraines before?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “But not recently.”
“Any other symptoms besides the pounding behind your right eye?”
“Some nausea,” she murmured. “And the troll goes nuts when I move.”
As if to illustrate, she shifted her head slightly then whimpered.
“Have you taken anything?”
Cassidy kept her eyes closed and remained perfectly still. “I was afraid to take anything. Because of the baby...”
“I’ll get you some Tylenol,” he said. “Cole told me you had a headache, so I brought coffee. Extra shot of espresso. The caffeine should help.”
“Could you shut the blinds?” she asked when he rose to get the Tylenol.
“Absolutely.”
She could hear him talking to someone in the kitchen but couldn’t make out the words.
He helped her sit up and she swallowed the pills with a couple gulps of water. Then he handed her the coffee.
Caffeine had helped in the past, but she hadn’t had the energy to make a cup for herself. She sipped as the troll continued his hammering.
“Who were you speaking with? In the kitchen?”
“Travis.” He smiled slightly but the worry remained in his eyes. “He’s going to take my patients this afternoon.”
She started to shake her head then winced.
“I’m not leaving, so don’t bother telling me to go.”
Cassidy took another sip of coffee. “I don’t have the energy to argue.”
“Good.” Tim squeezed her hand. “I’m going to get you a cool compress for your head.”
After another concerned look, he disappeared. Seconds later Tim returned. He placed a moist washcloth on her forehead then took a seat on the sofa beside her. “Lean back against me.”
Cassidy didn’t have the energy to refuse. She wasn’t sure how much time had passed, but by the time she finished the coffee and placed the empty cup on the trunk, she felt almost human.
“Better?”
“A lot.” She tried a smile. “I think the troll is taking a break. I hope he doesn’t come back.”
His eyes searched her face in the dim light. “There’s one other thing that might help. Put your head in my lap.”
“Why?”
“You must be feeling better.” He motioned her closer. “Massage often helps with migraines. When my mother used to get them—”
/> He stopped abruptly as if fearing any mention of Suzanne might cause the troll to start swinging again. “Just trust me.”
Once her head rested in his lap, his fingers delved through the loose strands to her scalp and stroked tenderly.
“That feels wonderful,” she murmured.
“Shh. Just close your eyes and relax.”
Cassidy wasn’t sure when she drifted off or how long she slept. When she awoke she was still on the sofa, only her head rested on a purple throw pillow. Tim, instead of sitting up, was stretched out beside her.
When she stirred, he shifted and pushed to one elbow. “How do you feel?”
“What time is it?”
His gaze scanned her face. “My question first.”
She knew she must look horrible. She hadn’t put on lipstick all day. Then she realized she must be feeling better if she was thinking about her appearance.
“How do you feel?” Tim repeated.
She moved her head slowly from side to side. “Troll and hammer vanquished.”
His smile flashed. “Hungry?”
As if in answer, her stomach growled.
“Let me see what I can rustle up.”
“What about the girls?” She slowly pushed herself to a sitting position. “Don’t you need to pick them up?”
“Lindsey and Zach are taking them to an exhibit at the wildlife museum tonight.”
“Had that been on the agenda?”
“New plans,” he said.
“Does your mother know where you are? Or rather who you’re with?”
Tim’s expression didn’t change. “My mother is aware how I feel about you. I’ve made it clear I won’t tolerate her interference.”
She met his gaze, her chin lifted in a stubborn tilt. “I won’t come between you and your mother.”
“Don’t worry.” He reached over and took her hand, his thumb drawing little circles on the palm. “Once she sees how happy we are together, she’ll come around.”
She averted her gaze. “Did you say something about food?”
“I love you, Cassidy. I want to marry you.”
Cassidy thought of the men she’d dated. One, who’d come from a prominent ranching family, had pledged his undying love. In the end, that love hadn’t been strong enough to weather his parents’ disapproval of a hairdresser with a junkie mother.
