Sweetest Obsessions - Anthology

by Anthony, Jane

  Cassidy handed him his phone. “I’ll go make us some coffee and then we can talk about that nightmare.”

  “Ok.”

  Cassidy started the coffee and then sat down at the table to wait. She was excited for Grady but absolutely devastated at the thought of losing him. Cassidy wiped tears from her cheeks and then picked up her phone to call Jess.

  “So, I want all the details?”

  “Details?”

  “Am I mistaken or wasn’t that you last night who had a date with gorgeous Grady O’Malley!”

  “It was a perfect night.”

  “OH MY GOD! YOU HAD SEX WITH HIM?”

  “I crossed the line.”

  “Are you ok? You sound awful.”

  “No, Jess, I don’t know how I’m going to walk away.”

  “You don’t have to, Cass.”

  “He could never love someone like me.”

  “He already does.”

  “No.”

  “Cass…”

  “I have to go.” Cassidy hung up.

  “Grady, my man, what’s up?”

  “West, Doc thinks that I’m getting close. I can tell the difference between light and dark.”

  “Grady, that’s amazing.”

  “You know what else is amazing…Doc.”

  “Still got the hots for her, huh?”

  “I’ve never felt this way before.”

  “How does she feel?”

  “I know she cares about me.”

  “Do you think she’s attracted to you?”

  “I hope so because we spent the night together.”

  “You dog, you.”

  “It wasn’t like that. It was special.”

  “Damn, you really do have feelings for Doc Scott.”

  “I do.”

  “I’m happy for you, Grady.”

  “Thanks. So, how’s it going?”

  “I qualified for Big Nine.”

  “Maybe I’ll be back before Nationals.”

  “I hope so because I miss your greedy ass.”

  “I’ll give you a call tomorrow.”

  “Bye, Buddy.”

  Grady hung up and then headed to the kitchen.

  “I smell coffee.”

  Cassidy looked up and Grady was smiling at her. “Are you hungry?”

  “Not really.”

  Cassidy took Grady’s hand. “Are you ok?”

  “I’m ready to talk about it.”

  Cassidy’s eyes opened wide. “Oh!”

  Grady reached his hand up, placed it onto Cassidy’s cheek and then kissed her forehead. “You’re my anchor, Doc. When I’m with you I feel like I can do anything.” Grady kissed Cassidy.

  Cassidy pulled away. “Why don’t I bring our coffee into the game room and then we can talk.”

  Grady sat on the couch waiting for Cassidy to hang up the phone. He was beginning to stress himself out thinking about the accident.

  “Ok, sorry.”

  Grady had been so deep in thought that he never heard Cassidy come in and jumped when she spoke. “UHH!”

  Cassidy felt awful that she startled Grady. “Oh, Grady, I’m so sorry.”

  “It’s ok. I got myself pretty wound up waiting for you to come back.”

  “I wouldn’t have answered but unless it is an emergency Dr. Keene never calls.”

  “I understand.”

  Cassidy sat next to Grady. “Do you want to start at the beginning or where we left off last?”

  “Maybe from when I woke after the crash.”

  “Ok. Whatever you’re comfortable with.”

  Grady reached for Cassidy's hand. Before last night he wouldn't have, especially not during a session. Cassidy allowed him to take her hand even though it wasn't professional. “I woke up to the smell of saltwater, fuel and smoke.”

  “Did you still have your vision at that point?”

  “Yes. I could see light and water coming through the side of the plane. There were bodies everywhere, one was split in two.”

  Cassidy could see how upset Grady was becoming. She squeezed his hand. “Breathe.”

  Grady exhaled. “One woman was crying out for help. She was trapped and the water was coming in…” Grady pulled his hand away from Cassidy. He dropped his face into his hands. “I watched her drown and there wasn't anything I could do about it.” Grady burst into tears.

  Cassidy knelt up and wrapped her arms around Grady. “I’m so sorry, Grady.”

  Grady sat back, wiped his face and then he pulled Cassidy close. “I tried to tell her to breathe and…she was too scared. If I was a few feet closer maybe I could have held her head up out of the water or done something to at least comfort her.”

  “Grady, you can’t blame yourself. The crash wasn’t your fault.”

  “Why me? Why did I survive?”

  “I don’t know, I wish I could give you an answer, but I can’t. What I can tell you is that you should be grateful that you got a second chance.”

  “Can I have a minute?”

  “Sure, I’ll get us more coffee.”

  Grady sat in silence trying to calm himself enough to share the rest of his horrific story with Cassidy. As much as he wanted to bury every memory of the crash, he knew that if he wanted to see again, he had no choice but to relive it.

  “Hey!” Cassidy put down the coffee mugs.

  Grady reached his hand out for Cassidy. “I was hanging upside down. I could taste the blood from my split lip, and it hurt to breathe. I tried to unbuckle my seat belt, but it was jammed.” Grady’s hands started to shake.

  Cassidy rubbed Grady’s back. “Do you want to stop?”

  Grady shook his head. “No. When I saw light today, I promised myself that I wouldn't give in to my fear. I want to fight; I want my sight back and if talking about it is what I have to do then I will talk until I can see your smile.” Grady placed his hand back onto Cassidy's. “I feel safe with you by my side, Doc.”

  Cassidy's heart broke a little more with each sweet thing Grady said to her. Finally, a man who was worth loving but she knew she couldn't do that to him. “I’m happy that I can make you feel that way, Grady.”

  “The water started rising and before I knew it my hair was getting wet. I lifted my head and tried to float but the water kept rising. I reached up and held on to my pant legs. The pain was so bad I almost gave up. I don't know how much time passed but suddenly the side of the plane burst open. Water was spraying from every direction. It was ice cold, but it helped to ease my pain a bit. The rushing water was tossing me about, I was drowning until my seat belt gave way and I dropped headfirst to the bottom of the plane. I hit my head and I was dizzy, but I knew I had to get out.” Grady moved around while he was reliving his fateful night and was now lying with his head on Cassidy’s lap.

  Cassidy rubbed Grady’s back. Tears rolled down her cheeks as she listened to him speak. Happy tears that he survived but also tears of sorrow knowing that he would have to live with these memories for the rest of his life. “Maybe we should take a break?”

  “I need to finish. I don’t know if I can go through this again.”

  “It’s ok, Honey, I’m listening when you’re ready.”

  Grady reached his hand up and touched Cassidy’s face. “Thank you for being you.”

  Cassidy blinked and an unshed tear rolled down her cheek. “Grady…”

  “You’re crying?”

  “No, my eyes have a leak.” Cassidy giggled.

  Grady let out a laugh. “Seriously, please don’t cry for me. I survived.”

  “I know but hearing what you had to endure to survive…”

  “Doc, wasn’t it you who told me that I had to be strong?”

  “I did and you do.”

  “I’m not sure where my strength came from that night. I grabbed onto the first thing I could find…it was one of the men who was sitting across from me. His eyes were still open. I wanted to close them for him so that he could be at peace, but another surge of water pushed
me. I could barely breath by the time I got my head out of the water. It felt like the longest swim of my life. I could see lights and as I reached the surface there was debris everywhere. I don’t know what, but I managed to hold onto something. I could hear choppers and sirens in the distance. I tried to call for help but my lungs had no breath left in them and then everything went black. When I woke up, I was in the hospital.”

  Grady nuzzled his face against Cassidy’s belly, and she held him tight. Neither of them uttered a sound.

  Grady opened his eyes to darkness. “DOC! DOC, ARE YOU HERE?”

  Cassidy yelled back. “I’M IN THE KITCHEN.”

  Grady got up and headed to the kitchen. “Doc!”

  Cassidy walked over to Grady. “I’m right here.”

  “I guess I passed out.”

  “You had a rough day.”

  “Now that you mention it, I could use a hug.” Grady smiled.

  Cassidy hugged Grady. His arms were so big and strong. She wished she could stay in his arms forever, but she couldn’t, and it was time to start distancing herself from Grady. Cassidy pulled away and crossed the room. “Your sister, Margot, called while you were asleep and said that they docked and will be flying home the day after tomorrow.”

  “I guess that means that you’ll be leaving me?”

  “That was the agreement when I moved in.”

  “Yeah.”

  “Dinner should be ready in about twenty minutes.”

  “I’m not hungry. I think I’m going to shower and get to bed.” Grady turned and left.

  Cassidy could see the hurt look on his face. Her first instinct was to run after him and comfort him but that would only make it worse for them both.

  14

  Grady couldn’t sleep all he could think about was Cassidy. Finally, he gave up and decided to go for a swim. He climbed into the pool and started swimming laps. The cool water felt invigorating and his stress started to melt away. He had been swimming so often that he knew exactly when the wall was coming up and even calculated his turns without assistance.

  Cassidy was tossing and turning in her bed when she heard footsteps followed by a door closing. She got up and poked her head into Grady’s room to check on him, but he wasn’t there. She searched almost every room before she decided to check the pool. She walked out onto the pool deck, turned on the lights and there he was swimming laps.

  His beautiful, strong body traveling in and out of the water displaying his signature American flag swimsuit across his delicious ass.

  Grady popped his head up at the shallow end to take a breath and noticed the lights were on. “Doc?”

  “Yes, it’s me.”

  “I can sense the light.”

  “I heard the door and…”

  “I’m sorry if I woke you.”

  “I wasn’t asleep.”

  “So, you thought that you’d come watch me swim?”

  “I wanted to make sure that you were alright.”

  “Do I look alright?”

  Cassidy stared at Grady for a moment. “You look gorgeous.”

  Grady smiled. “Thank you, but I meant it figuratively.”

  “Oh.” Cassidy looked down at the ground.

  “Why don’t you come for a swim.”

  “I’m not wearing a swimsuit.”

  “What are you wearing?” Grady smiled.

  Cassidy could feel her cheeks heat up. “Sleep clothes.”

  Grady walked toward Cassidy’s voice and then leaned against the wall of the pool. “Why don’t you take them off and come in.”

  “What if someone sees me?”

  Grady laughed. “It’s the middle of the night, nobody else lives here and in case you’ve forgotten, I’m blind.”

  Cassidy really wanted to steer clear of Grady physically but before her brain could kick in, she found herself taking off her clothes. “Ok but remember I can’t swim.”

  “I know. I also remember you making a deal with me that once I got my sight back that you’d allow me to teach you.”

  Cassidy had climbed down the ladder and was almost at Grady’s side. “I was hoping you would forget.”

  Grady lifted his hand to feel for Cassidy. “Come here.”

  Cassidy took Grady’s hand. “I’m here. Naked and feeling quite embarrassed.”

  “Maybe I can help with that.” Grady slid off his swimsuit.

  Cassidy’s eyes went right down Grady’s body to his family jewels, her mouth dropped open and her mind ran straight to the gutter. “God, Grady!”

  “I want you, Doc, right here, right now.”

  “In the pool?” Cassidy stared at Grady.

  “Yeah.” Grady grabbed Cassidy’s ass and lifted her up. “Wrap your legs around me.”

  Cassidy no sooner had her legs wrapped around Grady when he slammed his throbbing cock inside her. “Oh God!” Cassidy bit down on Grady’s shoulder as he pounded her like a jack hammer.

  After Grady came and caught his breath Cassidy led them out of the pool. Grady picked up a towel, wrapped it around his waist and then took another and wrapped it around Cassidy. “Stay the night with me?”

  “I live here. What do you mean?”

  “Come back to my bed. I want to hold you in my arms.”

  Cassidy could hear her better judgement screaming. SAY NO! SAY NO! “I’d like that.” So much for her better judgement.

  Grady scooped Cassidy up and carried her to his room.

  Grady made love to Cassidy several times during the night until they finally passed out from exhaustion well after the sun came up. The two of them were twisted up together like a snoring pretzel when Grady felt a hand on his shoulder.

  “Grady, it’s after two, what the hell?”

  “Sis?”

  “No, it’s Snow White.”

  “Annie?”

  Annie could hear the uncertainty in Grady’s voice and then she suddenly realized it was indeed a question. He couldn’t see her. “Yes, yes, it’s me, little brother. I forgot that…”

  “You can say it. I’m blind.” Grady tried as gently as he could to untangle himself from Cassidy without waking her and rolled over to get out of the bed.

  “Stop right there. I don’t need to see your junk. I will be waiting in the kitchen. I am in desperate need of some good homemade coffee.”

  “I’ll be right out.”

  Annie pushed start on the coffee maker and Grady came stumbling into the kitchen. “Welcome home, Sis!”

  Annie reached out her arms and hugged Grady. “You scared the hell out of us.”

  “I know and I’m sorry that I put a damper on your trip.”

  “Damper! We celebrated you being alive in every country we visited.”

  “Here I always thought that you hated me.” Grady grinned.

  “Never. I may have said it a few times, but I never meant it.” Annie hugged Grady.

  “I thought you were coming home tomorrow?”

  “We are…well they are. I gave up the night’s sleep and jumped on a redeye. I couldn’t wait to see you.”

  “I’ve missed you all. It’s been kind of lonely here.”

  “Grady, I’m sorry about Rylan.”

  “Don’t be. It’s for the best. She never really cared about me.”

  “Good, because I hated her.”

  “Thanks for mentioning it, Sis.”

  “You seemed happy.”

  “I was or at least I thought I was.”

  “Well it looks like you moved on.”

  “Yeah, I guess I have.”

  “Coffee?”

  “Yes, thank you.”

  Annie placed the coffee down in front of Grady. “Still drink it black?”

  “Yes.” Grady took a sip. “Mmm. This is good coffee.”

  “When was the last time you had a cup?”

  “Yesterday.”

  “Same machine, same coffee.” Annie giggled.

  “Doc has been making the coffee and she has no clue. She can’t really c
ook either.”

  “Speaking of your doctor, where is she? I wanted to thank her for everything she’s done for you.”

  “GRADY! GRADY, WHERE ARE YOU?”

  “IN THE KITCHEN.”

  Cassidy’s body was sore and ached in places she never knew existed. She couldn’t lie to herself anymore. She was totally and completely in love with Grady. She needed to keep from falling apart until she was back in her own home.

  Cassidy walked into the kitchen to find Grady sipping coffee with another woman. A pang of jealousy ran though her. “Hi!”

  Annie looked Cassidy up and down. “You look as worn out as my little brother.”

  Cassidy was relieved to hear her say that Grady was her brother, but she got a bad vibe from her. “We didn’t get much sleep last night.”

  “I had a rough night and she saved me.” Grady smiled.

  “I’m sure it was rough.” Annie got up to refill her cup. “Can I get you some coffee?”

  Cassidy was feeling embarrassed. “No thank you.” “Grady, I’m going to shower.” Cassidy left before Grady had time to answer.

  “What the hell, Sis?”

  “Oh Grady, come on, it’s not like she’s anyone important.”

  “And you know that, how?”

  “Well you just broke up with Rylan and she isn’t really your type so…”

  “So, you insulted her and made her feel unwelcome.” Grady stood up. “Great going, Sis.”

  “Grady, I’m sorry.”

  “It’s not me that you should be apologizing to.”

  Cassidy decided to pass on the shower and to just pack up and leave. The sooner she got home the better. She pulled on some clothes and started filling her suitcase.

  “Doc, can I come in?”

  “Just a sec.” Cassidy wiped the tears from her face and cleared her throat before she opened the door.

  “I’m sorry about that.”

  “You have nothing to be sorry about.”

  “Annie does.”

  “Grady, it’s ok, really. Why don’t you go visit with your sister? I’ll come say goodbye before I leave.”