Her features appeared calm every time he glanced her way, though he never caught her looking at him. Her breathing was regular, and her fingers lay still on his leg. No way did he want to disturb her when he couldn’t hold her in his arms.
He’d slowed down, activating the roller door as he turned into his driveway. Before the engine had fully died, he turned to her and cupped her face in his hands. Her skin was warm, her eyes were soft and inviting, and he was human flesh and blood.
‘Cassie, the evening’s yours. The table’s set, and the meal’s ready to be cooked. We can eat, talk and watch TV and I’ll take you home whenever you say. I’m happy just to be with you, see you smile and hear you laugh.’
‘Thank you, Jack.’ Polite and mundane when he wanted breathless and passionate.
* * *
With every kilometre, Cassie’s insecurities had grown and she’d become a ball of taut muscles and cold, churning insides. Unable to face him, she’d had no choice when he’d turned her head towards him. His hands were warm and protective on her skin, and the desire burning in his bright green eyes wrapped around her like a cocoon.
She heard her bland reply, and cringed inside as the flame dimmed.
Forget the meal. I want to taste you on my lips much more than I want to taste your cooking. Coward—say it out loud. Tell him.
‘Hmm. Let’s go inside.’ He brushed a feather kiss on her mouth, backed away and opened his door. Jerked back, and burst out laughing.
‘Taking off my seatbelt might help.’
In a heartbeat, her mind cleared. All reservations and fears for the future were swamped by a wave of longing so powerful it stole the breath from her body. As long as he wanted her, she was his.
She laughed with him and slid from her seat to meet him as he came round the bonnet. He held her hand as he ushered her through the door and laundry into the hall. She stopped him there, rose up on her toes and kissed him.
‘Take me to bed now, Jack. Please.’
Startled eyes stared into hers for the few seconds it took for her words to sink in. Then he swung her up into his arms and strode towards the stairs.
‘Any time you want, my darling Cassie.’
* * *
A week later, Cassie stood in Mel’s dining room staring at the empty plate in her hand, unsure what had happened to the sandwich she’d made for her lunch. She walked back to the kitchen, berating herself for the umpteenth time for daydreaming.
It was all due to Jack. A week ago, she’d returned from their walk on the beach, facing the enticing probability of becoming his lover. Since then they’d been together every evening, except Saturday when she’d been at home catching up with her friends and personal stuff.
The mere act of closing her eyes transported her in her mind to his bed or that wide, extra-long sofa where she’d experienced pleasure beyond anything she’d believed existed. He’d made love to her with a tenderness and devotion that quelled any remaining qualms the first time and deepened her adoration for him with unbelievable passion every time after.
She quivered at the memory of his eyes hot with desire, his gentle hands arousing her, and his kisses urging her higher until she touched the stars. She’d never be the same again, never be able to look at any other man without comparing him to Jack. This might mean she’d be alone for the rest of her life but she’d never regret a moment.
Her phone rang, ending her reverie. She ran to the family room where she’d left it, felt her stomach dip as she sighted Val’s ID instead of Jack’s.
‘Hi, Cassie! Mel called to say Janette had a healthy little boy. Ten days early and both are well so they might go home in a couple of days. I’ll organise a party to celebrate when Mel comes home and you’re invited.’
Neither she nor Jack had told anyone of their affair. For her it was too special, too intimate to share, even with Narelle. Now, with the prospect of Mel being home soon, she wondered how much longer it would last.
They chatted for a while and Val promised to pop in for coffee on Friday before saying goodbye.
What did a party mean to them? Adults only or children included? At someone’s home or an upmarket restaurant? Casual or formal dress?
Too many questions she had no answer for. She’d ask Jack tonight.
Her warm glow returned. She found her sandwich, poured a glass of water and went to the sunroom to daydream about this evening while she ate.
CHAPTER FIFTEEN
THE FOLLOWING MORNING, Cassie worked in the dining room accompanied by continuous rain on the roof. She walked Sam during a clear break before lunch, then continued.
Mid-afternoon, she took her coffee and the paperback she’d bought on impulse into the sunroom, her favourite in the house. This was a place for solitude or shared confidences, not like the other areas which resonated with echoes of family get-togethers and boisterous laughter.
Curling up in the comfy old chair by the window was like being back in the house she’d grown up in, warm and inviting. She could reminisce about happy times with only a gentle twinge of regret.
She wriggled back, sipped her stimulating drink and lost herself in the story of two brothers and a sister fighting the elements for the survival of their family’s cattle ranch in southern Queensland.
Totally engrossed, it took a moment or two for it to register that the soothing classical music had stopped. She went to the lounge to check the sound system. No red light, no response to turning it on and off. A job for Jack.
Walking into the hall, she became aware of the silence. Where was the hum of the fridge and freezer from the kitchen? She clicked the nearest wall switch. Nothing, which probably meant a short power outage. Not surprising considering the torrential rain.
First thing: check the switchboard on the side wall of the house. Coat on and umbrella out, she walked out into the downpour, Sam at her heels. All the circuit breakers were in the on position, so she went down the driveway and looked both ways. She couldn’t see any lights but that didn’t help as few people would be home at this time.
She ran back inside, followed by a reluctant Sam who wanted to play in the rain. Because Mel’s landline was out, she called the utility company on her mobile, and got bleeps. If their helpline had been inundated, it might mean the problem wasn’t limited to the immediate area.
She’d just have to wait and trust it was easily fixed. To be on the safe side, she unplugged the rechargeable torch in the laundry, found the smaller one and spare batteries in the kitchen drawer, and took them to the sunroom. Settling into the chair, she finished her coffee and resumed reading.
It wasn’t the same. Going over the same half page twice without taking any of it in was wasting time. She couldn’t dismiss the world around her or force her concentration to block it out. She sat thinking, acutely aware of every vehicle that passed the house, the closed book on her lap.
Jack had mentioned his two customers for today lived on opposite sides of the city, and hopefully neither had been affected. Calling him would seem like she was panicking, while he was always cool and level-headed. It hadn’t been long and the emergency crews would be stretched today.
She jumped and scrambled for her mobile when it rang, holding her breath. It whooshed out at the sight of his ID on her screen.
‘Jack, I was thinking...’
‘Are you home? Are you okay?’ Rasped out as if he were alarmed.
‘Yes, to both. We’ve lost power but...’
His sigh of relief was audible. ‘Everyone has, darling. The whole damn state is out, including all traffic lights. Might not be back on until tomorrow. I’m stuck out north, and driving home’s going to be a nightmare.’
‘Oh.’ Her first thoughts of no lights or heating became instantly insignificant. ‘Perhaps you should stay somewhere and come home tomorrow.’
‘I have to tidy up this job then I’ll come for you and Sam. Conserve your mobile battery, use it only if you have to, and pack an overnight bag. Take care, and wrap up warm, darling. I’ll call you when I’m on my way.’
‘You too, Jack.’
She switched off, and let her hand holding the phone fall into her lap. The whole state? Until tomorrow? Her mind struggled to grasp the enormity of the situation.
Everyone was reliant on constant electricity, and tended to get annoyed at any loss. They’d be unprepared and frustrated, especially as their mobiles ran out of battery, even more exasperated as they tried to get home in peak traffic.
Jack would be caught up in the turmoil. She didn’t want to think of it, needed to keep busy. Her shivering might be from the cold creeping into the now unheated house or from worry about him. Or both. Collecting her notebook and pen from the family room, she went upstairs, taking one torch and her mobile with her.
When she began to pack her airline carry-on bag, she realised what she’d tacitly agreed to. She was going to spend the night with him. In his bed or one of the guestrooms? If he asked, was she ready to literally sleep with him? She selected her favourite pale green and lace nightie. In case she decided she was.
That task finished, she went from room to room, checking power points and switches, making a note of the appliances she unplugged or left as they were. The house was now dim and shadowy, eerie without the usual streetlights shining in.
She huddled in Bob’s big armchair where Jack usually sat, wearing her warmest coat and wrapped in a quilt, Sam curled up nearby. Holding her mobile in her hand, she willed Jack to call.
Even though he’d told her to save the battery, she accessed her photo file on her mobile. She needed a diversion to prevent herself from thinking about him out there in the chaos, and Mum’s smiling face raised her spirits. She’d handled everything life had thrown her way with faith and patience. Cassie smiled as memories came flooding back with each picture.
Her ringtone was startlingly loud in the totally silent house, and Jack didn’t give her a chance to speak.
‘Cassie? I’m less than twenty minutes away. Are you ready?’
‘Yes, but...’
‘Tell me when I get there.’
* * *
Jack hung up, not giving her a chance to voice whatever doubts she might have conceived sitting alone in the dark. He’d been on edge since he’d accessed the power company’s website and read their prediction.
The unit he was doing repairs at was his second furthest property from home and, for the first time ever, he regretted the distance. Normally he preferred distance between his working and his personal life.
He had made sure everything was safe before he’d left, knowing he’d have to return and have it ready for the young couple due to move in on the weekend. At least Cassie was safe at home, and had sounded confident and composed.
Keeping calm as he negotiated his way home was easier than he’d expected because most drivers understood the situation, were patient and applied good road rules. And once people got home, they’d stay there. Shops, restaurants and other venues were all closed, unless they had back-up generators.
Even so, the journey took twice as long, the rain didn’t stop, and the churning in his stomach morphed into fear. He wanted, needed to see Cassie, hold and kiss her. Feel her warm and safe in his embrace.
His anxiety eased as he pulled up in Mel’s driveway and jumped from the ute. Sprinting round to the back door and up the steps, he was in time to have a bright beam shine in his eyes. He skidded to a halt, blood pumping, chest heaving and heart pounding.
Sam pushed past the dim figure holding the torch, and Jack brushed his ears as he strode forward. No words were needed. He drew Cassie as close as humanly possible and buried his head into her silken hair. She felt soft and warm, smelt sweet and enticing, and was where she belonged.
She clung to him and he murmured words of comfort, ignoring the torch pressing into his spine, macho pride surging as her trembling subsided.
‘I’m here, darling. You’re safe. Everything’s okay.’ He’d have been content to stay this way longer but the need to have her warm was his first priority.
Then she raised her head and everything was forgotten except the desire to kiss her now. He trailed light touches from her forehead to her mouth and settled, tightening his grip at the sound of her sigh. The rain, the storms, the blackout—nothing intruded into the magic world of her lips responding to his.
Woof. Sam broke the spell, letting them know he was there.
* * *
Cassie pulled away and shone the torch towards the dog.
‘I think he wants to get warm. Me too.’ In truth, she was burning inside from his kiss, couldn’t wait for more.
‘Well, let’s go. Where’s your bag?’
‘Just inside. I’ve checked...’
‘Tell me on the way.’ He was already pushing open the screen door. His being brusque shouldn’t thrill her, yet it proved how anxious he’d been.
Sam followed as she guided their path to his ute then put the torch on the floor at her feet. It felt surreal, driving in the rain through suburban streets at night with the only illumination coming from their headlights. Occasionally there’d be another vehicle, keeping a moderate speed as they were.
No power meant leaving the ute in the driveway while they entered through the front door. Jack sent her to the lounge, and ran upstairs for blankets. She stayed there for a few minutes then went to find him, setting up on the canopy-protected patio. Wherever he was, she wanted to be.
‘Stubborn creature.’ His frown and gruff tone when she walked out was negated by his short, firm kiss.
Settling into a folding chair, she admired his expertise that had the barbecue fired up and the patio heater glowing within minutes. When Sam joined them, Jack brought out his bed.
‘To him, a barbecue means food,’ he said as he set it next to Cassie. ‘And kids, and games, and stealing scraps from under chairs.’
The rain eased as the steak and sausages sizzled. Water boiled on a small camping stove, providing hot chocolate for her and coffee for him. Cassie sighed wistfully, thinking of her Outback fantasy. As quiet as she was, Jack heard, stopped turning the food and looked up.
‘Cassie?’
She had to give a reason and, to her, fudging wasn’t lying.
‘I have this image in my head of camping far from any town where the lighting effects the sky. There’s a big, bright moon and millions of stars, and no other people around.’
Except you.
He chuckled. And there it was, startlingly real in her mind.
‘Sounds a bit solitary to me. Apart from having company, I like it. We don’t get away as much as we used to. Work, marriage and kids take precedence, as they should.’
And she’d bet there’d been plenty of girls willing to go along.
Once they’d eaten, he refused help cleaning up and shooed her inside. She curled up in the corner of his long lounge, flicking through phrases in her mind. She’d never been forward with men, didn’t know how to be.
She was still undecided when he knelt in front of her.
‘It’s twenty past eight. Feels much later because it’s so dark. You want...?’
‘To sleep in your arms, Jack.’
He didn’t need to be told twice. He scooped her up, blanket and all, and was heading up the stairs before she’d taken a breath.
* * *
Sam’s cold nose on Jack’s bare shoulder made him shiver. He stirred, waved a hand and told Sam to go settle. He went with reluctance.
Waking a little more, Jack became aware of the soft form nestled int
o his, and his lips curved. Cassie was here. Their lovemaking had been incredible and she’d stayed. A gigantic positive in the blackout.
He caressed her silken skin, relishing the way she wriggled in response, and opened his eyes. His own sleeping beauty, and he could see her clearly in the light from the hall.
The power was back. He checked his alarm clock on the bedside cabinet. Nine twenty-seven. The repair crews had worked wonders, considering the extent of the failure.
He brushed a finger across Cassie’s lips. She blinked, her smile reigniting the heat that had barely died down.
‘Hi.’ Sleep-husky and sexy as hell.
‘Hi, yourself. Anyone ever tell you how sweet you look when you’re asleep?’
‘No.’ She blinked again. ‘I can see you.’
‘Mmm, and it’s only nine-thirty.’
She snuggled closer. ‘Better go back to sleep then.’
His heart pounded, sending his pulse into overdrive. She didn’t want to be taken home. Hot prickles shot through his body, bringing it fully awake.
He cupped the back of her neck and kissed her with all the passion flooding through him.
‘I’ve got a better idea. We can sleep later.’
Her slow, sleepy-eyed sensual smile told him it would be much later.
* * *
Late Saturday evening, Jack drove her home after a day spent at his house. He unbuckled his seatbelt, and pulled Cassie into his arms. She returned his kiss with ardour, knowing they’d have to behave with more discretion from tomorrow when Mel arrived home.
She’d told no one they were lovers because she was convinced it was never meant to last. They hadn’t discussed it, and there’d been no hint from his relatives so she assumed he hadn’t told anyone either.
‘Do you have any idea what you do to me?’ His rough words and breathy tone were a pretty good indication. She could arouse him with a smile, a touch or a kiss. And that was all it could ever be.
He ran the back of his fingers across her cheek, kissed the tip of her nose when she trembled. ‘When are we going to be together again?’
Captivated by the Enigmatic Tycoon Page 14
