by Nell Dixon
He seemed to come to himself with a start. “I, um, I’ll go back downstairs.” He bolted for the door and Cassidy closed it behind him with a sigh of relief.
* * * *
Josh took the stairs two at a time in his haste to retreat. His doctor had been right about needing to take a break from work. When he’d opened the old-fashioned plank door of the bathroom to see Cassidy wearing just a fluffy cream bath towel, he’d thought he might have a heart attack.
Then again, perhaps he should be visiting his optician instead of his doctor. Cassidy had been part of his team for the last year, and he’d never noticed before how lovely she was. Wrapped in Tammy’s Egyptian cotton towel with her bare arms and shoulders pink and dewy from her bath, she’d taken his breath away.
Ethan might be good at his job, but the man was clearly an idiot to have let Cass go. What was it she had said at the café? That Ethan had dumped her right before the wedding?
Josh dropped down in the armchair opposite the TV and kicked off his shoes. Overhead he could hear the floorboards creaking as Cassidy moved about in the master bedroom. A vision of his new housemate wearing the flimsy peach silk lingerie he’d stumbled across earlier swam in front of his mind.
He slumped back in his seat with a groan. He’d thought sharing the cottage with Cassidy might be awkward because she was clearly hurting over the end of her engagement. What he hadn’t considered was that he might find himself attracted to her, which was bound to cause even more awkwardness.
The door to the lounge clicked open and Cassidy walked in. She’d changed into coffee-coloured silk pajamas with a matching robe. Her hair was wrapped in one of the cream towels from the bathroom.
“The bathroom’s free now.” She walked past him into the kitchen and he heard the clink of china on the kitchen worktop.
“Are you putting the kettle on?”
She popped her head back through the door. “I’m making a hot chocolate, did you want some?”
She’d unwrapped the towel from her head and her auburn hair stood out in fluffy, damp curls around her pale, oval face. It was the first time he’d ever seen her look less than perfectly groomed. Usually her hair was tamed into a smooth bob. In fact, it had never occurred to him that it was anything other than straight.
“I’ll have a mug of tea if there’s enough water.”
She disappeared back inside the kitchen. “Do you take sugar?”
Josh got to his feet and walked over to the doorway. Cassidy raised an eyebrow when she noticed he’d come to join her.
“I don’t mind making you a drink. Don’t expect me to cook dinner for you, though.”
He opened the fridge and passed her the milk. “I won’t, so long as you don’t expect me to pick up after you.” He nodded towards the towel she’d discarded on the worktop.
She pursed her lips as she fished the teabag out of his mug. “I think a few ground rules would be a good idea if you’re intent on staying.”
Josh swallowed his irritation at her continued assumption that he should be the one to move out. His holiday had been planned weeks before Cassidy had been left at the altar. Although he couldn’t help feeling a twinge of pity for her situation. “I agree. It might save any misunderstandings.”
He lifted the biscuit barrel from the counter and popped off the lid to peer at the contents. Cassidy frowned at him as he scooped out a handful of chocolate biscuits.
“I think the first thing we need to discuss is the grocery shopping,” she snapped as he dunked a biscuit into his tea.
Josh sighed. He’d forgotten that Cassidy had probably been the one to stock up the fridge and cupboards in the cottage, which meant he was eating her biscuits and drinking her tea and milk.
“Okay.” He followed her back into the lounge and tried not to stare when she leaned forward to put her drink down on the table. The lace trim of her silk robe strained against her cleavage. His pulse accelerated as she whisked the robe back into place and flopped down in the seat opposite his.
“I don’t mind shopping for basic items if you want to go halves on the cost. I propose that anything special we want to eat we get ourselves and label accordingly.”
Josh took a bite of biscuit while he considered her suggestion. Cassidy made sharing the house sound like a mere business deal, meanwhile, she was wearing the kind of nightwear that confused his brain.
“Sounds fair. I don’t mind doing a share of the housework but we each need to clean up after ourselves.”
“Fine by me.” Cassidy tucked her legs up under herself on the chair.
“I think we need to do something to indicate when the bathroom is occupied, too.”
Cassidy’s face flushed a delicate pink. “I’ll make a sign.”
“I guess that’s settled, then.” Josh spread his legs out in front of him and took a drink of his tea.
A crease puckered the smooth skin on Cassidy’s forehead. “Not quite. We need to discuss the use of the cottage and the garden during the evenings and weekends.”
He studied her over the top of his mug. She meant the party he had planned. “Yeah, it’s probably better if you aren’t around when the boys drop by for the party on Saturday.”
He hid his smile behind his mug as a look of outrage appeared on her face making her eyes spark with indignation.
“Of course, you can come if you want to, but I thought from what you said in the café that you might not want to be here.”
Cassidy plunked her hot chocolate down on to the coffee table with a thud, splashing a little of the contents over the brim. “Just how big a party have you planned?”
“A dozen or so of my old surfing friends and their girls. Before I started the business, I used to spend every summer down here catching some waves and hanging out with my buds. It’s really good to catch up with everyone again.”
“And I suppose the other party you mentioned will be the same sort of thing?”
“Yeah, barbeque and drinks. I even bought a gazebo to put up just in case we get a rain-shower.” Josh swivelled in his seat to dangle his leg casually over the arm of his chair.
The look in Cassidy’s eyes was distinctly murderous. He wondered if she’d been this uptight before Ethan had dumped her. It was two lousy parties. That was all! It wasn’t as if he expected her to fetch drinks or help clear up or anything. He’d even invited her along, thinking that being in fresh company might cheer her up and save her from brooding.
“What if I wanted to invite some friends down for something?”
Josh shrugged. “Sure, if you want to. Just let me know when and I’ll stay out of your hair.”
Cassidy bit her lower lip and he could see her thinking over his offer. From the way she’d reacted to him in the café, he was surprised that any of her friends even knew where she was, Tammy excluded. She really hadn’t seemed pleased to see him and that was before she’d found out they were housemates.
“Well, that seems to be a fair deal, then.” She stood and picked up her hot chocolate. “I’m going to get an early night. Could you lock up, please?”
“Sure. Night, Cass.”
He watched her stride out of the room; the silk ribbons holding her robe closed billowing out behind her. Josh leaned his head back against the armchair with a sigh. Something told him that sharing the cottage with Cassidy would be far from smooth sailing.
* * * *
She could hear singing. Male singing, and water running. Cassidy groaned and opened her eyes to squint at her travel clock. Seven a.m. She flopped back against her pillow and tried wrapping it over her ears to muffle the sound. Great. Her unwanted housemate liked singing in the shower.
The morning sunshine streamed into her room through a crack in the curtains. Outside, seagulls shrieked and swooped. Cassidy decided to admit defeat and go downstairs for a cup of tea.
She’d barely sat down at the small scrubbed pine table in the kitchen when Josh came bounding in to join her. His untidy brown hair was still damp from h
is shower and he had on board shorts and a tight t-shirt with a cartoon surfer on the front.
Cassidy licked her lips nervously. She’d never seen Josh out of the office, where he always wore crisp, well-tailored suits, before now. He was quite toned for an office worker and she assumed he must make good use of the gym in the basement of their office building.
“Great, another early bird.” Josh beamed at her and pulled a packet of cereal from the cupboard.
She rested her chin on her hand as he tipped a large serving into a dish and poured the last of the milk from the fridge over the top.
“What are your plans for today?” he asked in between mouthfuls of cereal.
“Nothing special. I thought I might do some sketching and take a stroll into town.”
His knee brushed against hers under the table and heat burned through the silk of her pajamas.
“I didn’t know you were an artist.” He clattered the spoon down into the empty dish.
“I used to draw a lot till I met Ethan and then, well, you know.” Cass dropped her gaze and studied the wood grain of the table surface.
“No, I don’t know. Why did you stop?” He sounded genuinely interested.
“Once I started dating Ethan, there never seemed to be much time for my personal pursuits. I’m sure he gave up things for me.”
But even as she spoke she realized that wasn’t true. Ethan had still found time for golf and meeting his pals at the wine bar or going to the gym. It had been Cass who’d dropped her sketching and her girls’ nights out because they’d clashed with Ethan’s plans. Boy, did she feel stupid when she thought about that now.
“Oh. I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to pry.” Josh placed a hand over hers. His fingers felt warm and comforting on her skin and a thrill of electricity tingled through her from his touch, taking her by surprise.
“It’s okay. I’m sure I’ll get a lot worse questions than that when I go back to town.” She gave a little shrug. “If I go back,” she added.
Josh’s chocolate-brown eyes appeared to stare right into her soul. “Are telling me you’re thinking of quitting your job?”
Cass wriggled uncomfortably under his scrutiny. “I don’t know what to do. I gave up the lease on my flat so I’ve nowhere to go back to. My furniture is all sold with just a few things in storage and I couldn’t go back to working in the same department as Ethan. I just couldn’t.”
She could see the pity in his eyes and it was more than she could stand. She pulled her hand out from under his and stood up to carry her mug across to the sink. Through the kitchen window she noticed the sun sparkling on the bright blue of the sea through the trees at the end of the garden.
“Cass, you don’t need to leave the company over this. You can find another flat and I’ll speak to personnel about a move to another department.” He’d followed her across the kitchen.
She sensed him close behind her. She felt the crackle of energy between them and smelled the clean male scent of his skin.
“I don’t know what to do.” She forced herself to concentrate on rinsing her mug under the tap.
“I know you probably don’t want to hear this right now, but if Ethan wasn’t the right man for you, it was better to find out before the wedding rather than afterwards.”
She felt the gentle, comforting pressure of his fingertips on her shoulders and choked back a sob. “It was all going to be so perfect.” She turned around and blundered into Josh’s arms.
For a few minutes she allowed herself the comfort of broad, male arms holding her close and comforting her as she sniffed pathetically against his shirt.
“Cass, nothing’s ever perfect.” She felt rather than heard the rumble of his voice as he smoothed her hair with clumsy but gentle fingers.
“I know.” She lifted her head from his chest. His gaze held hers for a few seconds, and then his lips brushed against her mouth. Heat built within her as she responded to his kiss. Her lips were hot and hungry on his as he pulled her in closer to him. The lean hardness of his body crushed her breasts as he responded to her passion.
The distant chiming of the church clock broke into her consciousness and, panting, she broke free from his embrace.
“I should go and get dressed.” She scurried out of the kitchen, half-afraid he might follow after her. What had she been thinking?
She dashed into her bedroom and closed the door. The problem was, she hadn’t been thinking. Just when she’d thought her problems couldn’t get any worse she’d gone and kissed her boss.
The worst thing of all, though, was that she’d thoroughly enjoyed it.
CHAPTER THREE
Josh collected his board from the outhouse and placed it across the garden bench so he could wax it. He wanted to be ready for when Brad and the rest of the guys swung by and besides, the rhythmic working method left his brain free to think.
A movement behind the kitchen window caught his eye. Cassidy must have finished dressing and come back downstairs. He paused to wipe the sweat from his brow with the back of his hand.
It looked as if having Cass around might prove distracting in more ways than one. He hadn’t been on a date for over a year, since setting up the company had taken up his every waking moment. This holiday was supposed to be about relaxing and having a fun time. Brad and the guys had promised to set him up with some girls they knew, so falling for Cass would not be a good idea.
She had just come out of a serious relationship, for a start, she was also his employee and, worse still, she reminded him too much of Angie. His ex had looked like Cass, smart, successful, and wanting to go places. He scowled at his surfboard and rubbed a bit harder with the wax.
Angie had wanted him to focus, be successful. He’d set up the company to prove he could knuckle down to business life. He’d worn the suits, gone to the right dinners and mixed with the right people. Even so, she’d left him to go off with another guy. He wondered who she was seeing now; she’d never been a woman to settle for long with any man.
Josh glanced across at the house. Cassidy was no longer in the window. Perhaps she’d gone out. Maybe he had judged her too harshly. When he’d held her in his arms and she’d kissed him it had been with passion. It had never been like that with Angie.
“Yo, Dude. You trying to polish a hole in that thing or are you coming to catch some surf?” Brad’s voice cut into his thoughts.
“Give me a second to grab my wetsuit, and I’m good to go.” Josh grinned as his friend walked across the lawn to look at his handiwork.
“I’ll borrow some wax while you’re gone.” Brad set up his board next to Josh’s and ran a critical hand over the surface.
Josh jogged back inside the cottage. Cassidy stood in the tiled hallway at the foot of the stairs, sorting out her purse on the dark wood dresser. His heart skipped a beat as he took in the sight of her slim figure draped in a short, skimpy sundress.
“I’m just going for groceries. Did you want anything special?” She surveyed him coolly from under the brim of her straw sunhat. It was hard to believe she was the same woman who had knocked him senseless with a single kiss just a short while ago. Or that under her calm exterior beat the heart of a warm, sensual woman.
“More cornflakes and extra milk would be good. Do you want some money?” He reached for his wallet from the back pocket of his shorts.
Cassidy shook her head. “Pay me later. I expect I’ll see you sometime today.”
Her tone implied that she didn’t really care if she saw him or not, and he felt a little nettled by her words.
“I guess so.”
She picked up a straw shopping bag that matched her hat and opened the front door. “Was there something else?”
He realized he was still staring at her. “No, sorry, I was miles away. Catch you later, have a good day.”
Cassidy stepped through the door and closed it behind her. Josh groaned. She must think he was a real moron. King of sparkling conversation and the great chat-up line. Not. He shook h
is head in disgust at his own ineptitude before running upstairs to change for the beach.
* * * *
Cassidy walked briskly along the pavement towards the town, keen to put some space between herself and Josh. At least she’d cleared the first hurdle, facing him again after that embarrassing kiss.
It had felt so good being in his arms. A frisson of delight ran along her spine at the memory, but it was immediately replaced by horror that she could already have those kind of feelings for Josh. Yesterday she should have been getting married to another man!
It had to be some kind of rebound effect from being jilted. Maybe she had to subconsciously prove to herself that she was still attractive and desirable.
Her pace slowed as she approached the seafront. The early morning sunshine gleamed on the blue-grey surface of the sea. Couples of all ages seemed to be everywhere, sitting together on benches, strolling arm-in-arm along the promenade.
Cassidy’s spirits plummeted. She must have been a slug in a past life for fate to be so teed off with her. The owner of the Surf’s Up Café was out front, placing the chairs ready to open up for business. Cassidy sighed as the pretty girl who waited on the tables there arrived for work accompanied by a handsome man. It seemed like everyone was paired off like lovebirds in New Bay, except her.
She halted by the rail and turned to look out to sea. A gentle breeze blew against her face, lifting the brim of her hat. Had she just been blind in her relationship with Ethan? So keen to be part of a couple that she hadn’t seen the writing on the wall?
The deli in the side street tucked just off the seafront was quiet, so she called in for cold meat and cheese before dropping in to the small grocery store for Josh’s cereal and milk. Somehow a large chocolate bar and a couple of magazines found their way into her basket, too.
Cassidy stopped off at the café for a cup of tea before taking her shopping back to the cottage. The sea looked much calmer than it had been the previous day and she realized after a few minutes that she couldn’t see any surfers. She wondered where Josh and his friends had gone.
