by Gayle Roper
“The old hire one, fire one,” Cass said.
Dan looked at her in surprise.
“I might have been an English major, but I have a business minor. I’ve also taken several courses on running a B&B.” She smiled sweetly and took a forkful of fruit salad. “I am not a dummy.”
“No, you’re anything but.” Dan started to reach for the last sandwich and sighed as Jared beat him to it. That’s what he got for hesitating.
When Cass called Jenn to come do the dishes, the girl came down with obvious reluctance, the great burden of unfair labor practices draped over her slim and undeserving shoulders. She did the dishes as noisily as she could manage.
Dan winced at every slap and slam of china and cutlery. The crash of the pans rattled the windows. “Are girls always like this when they’re miffed?” he asked Cass sotto voce as the two of them lingered over their coffee.
“Just some girls. We happen to be living with a master.”
Dan shook his head. Guys were so straightforward. If he’d had a gripe with Andy when they were young, he either pounded his brother into the ground or had it out verbally. “I never knew girls were so good at wringing every last dram of drama out of a situation.”
“You poor sheltered man.” Cass laughed softly at him.
“I bet you weren’t like that when you were a kid.” She was too straightforward to have ever been so. He knew it to his bones.
“I don’t think I was. Neither my mother nor the brothers would have tolerated it. Besides, I’m a pleaser. Always have been.”
He looked at her. She sure pleased him. “And she isn’t?” He jerked his head toward the sink and Jenn as a particularly loud crash of pots sounded.
“Well, she doesn’t like to purposely make people mad at her, but if things don’t go as she likes, she’s—” Cass searched for the right word.
“A pain in the neck?”
“Dan!” Cass said, but she was laughing.
Jenn turned to glare at them with a how-dare-you-be-happy-when-I’m-not stare.
Jared loped down the stairs and into the kitchen, a basketball tucked under his arm. “Hey, Dan, want to play some one-on-one?” He bounced the ball, making the whole room shudder. Jenn’s glare intensified, something Dan found astounding. He wouldn’t have thought she could look any angrier.
He looked at Cass. Much as he wanted the exercise and the challenge of beating the kid, he hated to abandon Cass to the irate Jenn. “Want to play too?”
She smiled. “Go ahead. I’ve got some things to plan for next week.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
He nodded and turned to Jared. With a quick swipe, he stole the ball midbounce. He was just petty enough to enjoy the boy’s startled look and Cass’s admiring smile. At least he thought it was admiring. “Let’s play, guy. I feel the need to whup someone.”
“Yeah, right. Like you could.” Jared grabbed the ball back and was out the door before Dan stood up.
Jared was good. He was quick on his feet, had a good eye, and had perfected a three-point shot that invariably slid through the hoop with barely a ripple of the net. When the kid learned not to whoop so loudly after each score, he’d be the consummate player.
“Do you play on your school team?” Dan asked, puffing more than he liked from chasing the kid all over the apron of Cass’s drive.
Jared nodded as he feinted and drove for the basket. Only an inglorious lunge on Dan’s part knocked the ball off its trajectory.
“Jared,” Cass called from the back door. “Jeannie’s on the phone for you.”
The boy arched his eyebrows and grinned. Dan laughed as he retrieved the ball, dribbling it automatically.
“I’ll only be a couple of minutes,” Jared said as he passed Cass and went into the kitchen. He pulled the door closed behind him, leaving Cass on the outside.
She shook her head. “They’re good for at least a half hour.”
Dan agreed. “They’ve got last night and today to discuss.”
Cass walked to the driveway and watched as he bounced the ball from hand to hand. After a minute, her hand lashed out and the ball was hers. She dribbled for the basket and jumped for as pretty a layup as he’d ever seen. She caught the ball as it dropped through the net, turned, and smiled at him in blatant challenge.
At first Dan checked himself as he played, not wanting to hurt her, but it soon became apparent that she had no similar qualms. She bumped him, elbowed him, and blocked him like she was one of the boys. His height and weight didn’t intimidate her in the least.
“Four brothers,” she said after throwing her hip and knocking him off-stride and out of bounds. The ball went flying. She reclaimed it with a grin and was at the basket before he was even back on the court.
From then on he played as if he were facing one of the guys. They both worked up a sweat, and Dan realized he hadn’t had so much fun playing basketball in years. She wasn’t as quick as Jared—twenty-two years was bound to slow someone—but she made up for any lack in speed with skill and smarts. If he didn’t stay on his toes, she’d beat him, something he had no doubt she’d love.
He scored, and she took the ball, dribbled to the back of the court, and began her move. She drove straight for him, feinted at the last second, and broke to her left. The first two times she’d tried that move, he fell for it. This time he was ready for her. She hit him hard, bounced off his chest, and started to go down. He grabbed for her, snaking an arm about her waist. She in turn clutched at his sweatshirt.
They ended up facing each other, mere inches apart. Somehow his second arm ended up around her, and he held her in a loose embrace. She felt good in his arms, substantial but definitely feminine. If he tightened his grip, he wouldn’t have to worry about snapping her spine. If he kissed her, he wouldn’t give himself a stiff back from bending low. She was just the right height, just the right size. Just the right person.
She looked up, startled to find herself held so close. He wasn’t certain what she saw in his face, but her surprise vanished, replaced by a soft little smile that made his heart swell.
In the spotlight mounted on the corner of the garage, he could see little tendrils of hair, loosened from her ponytail by their vigorous game, curling around her lovely face. Her nose was red from the nip in the air, and her upper lip was moist with perspiration. Her cheeks were rosy, and those wonderful eyes had a slightly dreamy look. Her breathing was accelerated. Just from the game? He knew his own heart was beating fast, and it wasn’t all from exertion. Not by a long shot.
“You are so beautiful,” he whispered.
She sighed, and the hands gripping his sweatshirt uncurled and slid to his shoulders. His arms wrapped more tightly about her. He leaned down and brushed her lips, his touch tentative. He hovered a moment, testing her reaction. He thought she leaned even closer. She definitely did not pull away.
Smiling inside, he kissed her again, a true kiss this time, one that stopped time, at least for him. At first she was hesitant, not pulling back, but not fully participating. Then suddenly her arms were around his neck and she kissed him back with an enthusiasm that matched his own.
When they finally pulled apart to take a much needed breath, he kept his arms tight so she wouldn’t escape. When had he felt like this, kissing a woman, holding a woman? Had he ever reacted so strongly?
She laid her cheek against the hollow between his neck and shoulder, snuggled in, and took a few deep breaths. He smiled into her hair. He’d like nothing better than to kiss her again and again, but he knew he mustn’t. It would be too much too quickly. Also, they were literally standing in the spotlight with Jenn and Jared mere feet away. He knew being a good example to them was important to Cass. And most important, as a Christian, he knew there had to be limits to physical expressions of affection, even the relatively safe and totally delightful action of kissing.
The back door slammed open, and Cass jumped like she’d been hit with a cattle prod. She pull
ed from him, eyes wide, looking like she was guilty of a terrible crime. He had to smile. All Jared had to do was look at his aunt, and he’d have a very good idea what she had been doing and with whom.
“I’m back,” Jared announced as he grabbed the basketball, forgotten and lying at the edge of the drive. He dribbled to the basket and shot without looking at them. “Miss me?”
Cass almost ran to the door. “I-I’ll just get back to my work.”
Dan watched her go, and just before she pulled the back door shut behind her, she turned and looked at him. She gave a slight smile, then ducked her head and was gone.
He was still staring after her when the basketball hit him hard in the stomach. His air whooshed out, and he spun to Jared even as he rubbed his middle. What was the matter with the kid, throwing the ball that hard and without warning?
Jared stood, hands on hips, staring belligerently. “It’s your turn.”
It didn’t take much to realize that Jared had seen the kisses and was feeling very protective of his aunt.
“I wouldn’t hurt her for the world,” Dan said, deciding to tackle the resentment head on.
Jared looked skeptical. “Do you love her? Are you going to marry her?”
Did he? Was he? Dan didn’t know the answers to those questions yet. “I think she’s marvelous. I like her immensely and enjoy her company.”
“That’s not what I asked.”
“It’s all I can tell you at the moment. I repeat, I won’t hurt her.”
“You’re going to leave.”
Dan sighed and nodded. He was, whenever God told him what He wanted from him, and implicit in his leaving was hurting Cass. He didn’t even want to think about how much he might be hurt too.
“I don’t think I want to play anymore tonight.” Jared grabbed his basketball and headed for the house.
“I didn’t force her to kiss me,” Dan said. “And you’re just afraid I’m going to whip the pants off you.”
Jared froze. He turned slowly. “In your dreams. And all I want is her happiness.”
Dan held his hands out for the ball. “On that we are agreed. And you just can’t handle the idea of being beaten by an old man like me, can you?”
Jared’s anger at Dan transmuted itself into aggressive play. In no time Dan’s lungs burned as the boy raced around the court, and he was forced to follow. He also felt an interesting crop of bruises develop from Jared’s very pointed elbows. When they stopped playing an hour later, Jared had trounced him soundly.
The good thing was that Jared had worked off his mad, and when they went into the kitchen and Dan suggested sharing the pitcher of iced tea, Jared joined him with all good humor.
The bad thing was that Cass was nowhere to be seen.
Twenty-One
WHEN HE STEPPED outside Monday morning to jog, Dan wasn’t certain whether Cass would join him or not. When she bounced out the door with a sunny smile, even though she tended to aim it over his shoulder instead of at him, he relaxed. When she stayed well out of reaching-for-her range, he got the message. They set off amiably, heading for the boardwalk.
“Sleep well?” he asked. He hadn’t. Both she and Jared had floated through his mind all night. The memory of holding her and kissing her had warmed him while Jared’s hard questions had worried him.
“Never slept better,” she answered in spite of the bruised-looking circles under her eyes.
“Have any good dreams?” Of me?
She shot him a look that let him know she realized he was on a fishing expedition. “I never remember my dreams. I’m not even sure I dream at all.”
“What? I thought everybody dreamed.”
She looked at him askance. “I,” she said quietly, “am not everybody.”
He couldn’t help grinning at her as they turned north on the boardwalk, running easily together. She wasn’t going to let him bait her no matter how hard he tried. Her ponytail bobbed with each step, and the exertion of jogging put roses in her cheeks and a sparkle in her eyes. Lovely, both inside and out.
He simply couldn’t understand her singleness. She wasn’t the kind of woman who rejoiced in being alone. She loved family and would make a wonderful wife and mother. Why there had been no takers was beyond him, not that he was complaining.
Of course, he didn’t doubt that she scared a lot of guys because she was so strong in opinions, ability, and spiritual maturity. She needed a man with a lot of self-confidence, a man who didn’t see her strength as arrogance, her abilities as a threat, and her opinions as bossiness. He guessed tall, assertive men with hearts for the Lord weren’t a dime a dozen in South Jersey any more than they were anyplace else.
They reached the end of the boardwalk and turned for home.
“I won’t be at SeaSong tomorrow night,” she said suddenly. “I wanted you to know.”
“Oh?” His step faltered. Where was she going? And with whom? That was the real question. He made a noise that he hoped conveyed friendly interest, not the stab of jealousy he felt. He blinked. Jealousy? Certainly not.
Cass continued, thankfully unaware of his reaction. “I’m making one of my reconnaissance trips.”
He frowned. “What’s a reconnaissance trip?”
She swiped a hand across her forehead. “It’s my form of industrial espionage.”
“What?” She never failed to surprise him.
She grinned. “A couple of times a year, I go spend a night at a top-notch B&B to see what my competition’s doing.”
“Alone?” As soon as the word left his mouth, he wanted to kick himself. Did he really think she’d go with a man? Such a suggestion would make her justifiably angry, and all because of his newfound tendency to jealousy, one of the seven deadly sins.
She nodded. “I can’t take Jenn and Jared out of school.”
The tension left Dan’s shoulders. She’d misunderstood his question. Thank You, Lord.
“Brenna’s agreed to spend the night with the kids,” she said. “Not that they really need or want a babysitter. Still, I’m not comfortable leaving them alone, especially with Jenn in her current state of mind. Then, too, there’s Rodney coming.”
“Rodney?” Who was he?
“The hurricane.”
“Oh.” Of course. He felt like a fool. “As for the kids, I could watch them.” After all, he was right there on site. Brenna wasn’t.
“Dan!” Cass sounded much too surprised at the suggestion. “I couldn’t ask you to babysit. You’re our guest.”
“You’re our guest.” While he understood what she meant and why she felt that way, today for some reason he was more than miffed at that response. It was as if she were trying to keep him a safe distance away from her and her family. “Is that your not-too-subtle way of telling me to butt out?”
Cass stopped and stared at him. “What?”
He ran a circle around her. He was an idiot. Cass hadn’t an unkind bone in her body. She’d gone out of her way to include him time after time. “You heard me.”
He blinked at himself. Surely the devil had made him say that.
“Yes, I heard you, but I don’t understand.” Her eyes couldn’t open any wider if she tried. He could see concern and confusion in them.
He jogged to the rail and looked out over the beach. What was the matter with him, jumping on her like that? So she thought of him as a guest, a business acquaintance. Just because he got to eat with her family a few times and have breakfast and dinner with her every day, even lunch most days, just because she kissed him back enthusiastically didn’t mean she felt anything but the polite, considerate innkeeper toward him.
He frowned. She was more than the innkeeper to him. Lots more. She was his friend, for Pete’s sake. His good friend. His very good friend. His chest heaved as air huffed in and out of his lungs. He heard Jared’s questions: “Do you love her? Are you going to marry her?”
Did he? Was he? He gripped the rail and stared at the sand, blown all wavy by the strong autumn winds. Like an
old lady with marcelled hair, he thought.
He closed his eyes. Surely he was more to her than a guest. After all, she didn’t kiss any of her other guests or let them play bellhop. She liked him as much as he liked her. She did. She must.
She came and stood beside him at the rail, staring straight ahead. Neither said a word. After a time she bumped him with her elbow and looked up, frowning. “I’m not sure why you’re upset, but please know I wouldn’t hurt you for anything.”
He studied her earnest face and felt that swelling in his heart that was quickly becoming the norm whenever he looked at her. He slipped his arm across her shoulders and hugged her gently. He forced himself to smile. “Low blood sugar must be making me cranky. I’m sorry.”
What he really wanted to say was, “Let me go with you on your spy mission,” but he couldn’t bring himself to ask. What if she didn’t want his company?
She smiled sweetly, and his breath caught. Very good friend, my foot.
“Come on, then,” she said. “Let’s go home, and I’ll get you a glass of orange juice.”
“Freshly squeezed?”
“Absolutely.”
Because I’m your guest? Your friend? Your what? But he wisely kept his mouth shut this time.
A block from SeaSong, Cass and Dan stopped at the curb for the shiny red Seaside garbage truck. She glanced at the pair of disreputable-looking men hanging off the back. They looked like the same two as last week, their dirty jackets gleaming in the thin sunlight where the filth had turned the original color a shiny black.
The truck stopped, the driver’s window rolled down, and Clooney stuck his head out. “Still running, I see.”
Cass grinned, glad to see her favorite eccentric. “It’s good for you.”
Clooney shook his head. “Anything that takes that much effort can’t be good for you.” He turned his attention to Dan. “And you’re still here, I see.”
Dan nodded. “For the foreseeable future.”
Clooney pulled off his baseball cap, ran his hand over his head, and resettled the cap, pulling his ponytail out the hole in the back. “The foreseeable future could be a very long time.”
