“Yeah, I think I’ll do just that,” she said lightly.
Leaving the office, Justine got on her bike and pedaled furiously back to her place. Sweating, she peeled off her clothes in the upstairs washroom and got into a one-piece coral swimsuit. After slapping on some sunscreen, she grabbed a beach bag and threw in a book, an oversized beach towel, a small cushion and a bottle of water. With sunglasses and a floppy beach hat, she headed to the beach.
With any luck the cool waters of the bay would extinguish the blaze consuming her, body and soul.
* * *
On his drive to and from the town, Casson couldn’t stop thinking about Justine’s aloofness. And the way she had recoiled from his touch. If he had imagined it the first time he had extended his hand to her elbow, her reaction the second time around had left no doubt in his mind about her feelings. Yet she hadn’t resisted his touch during the storm and after he’d kicked Robert out of her house last night...or this morning at his place...
Something twisted in his gut. Maybe Justine was only just beginning to process the traumatic impact of Robert’s intrusion and attempted sexual assault. And was transferring her feelings of fear and distrust to him.
He had felt his own stomach muscles tighten when he’d gone to return Robert’s car to him earlier. Robert had come to the door, his face pale and his eyes puffy, with dark shadows. After ascertaining that he was sober, Casson had handed him his car keys with a terse reminder of the promise he had made to Justine. Robert had apologized for the trouble he had caused, and with a look of resignation driven away.
Casson frowned. Justine hadn’t trusted him to begin with. How on earth could he make that change now?
He strode into the cottage and plunked Luna’s bag of dog kibble in a corner of the entrance. He couldn’t help grinning at the sight of Andy and Luna in the living room, Andy giggling every time Luna licked his cheek. He ducked and feigned trying to escape, Luna skittering around him.
While Ronnie got Andy settled upstairs in the loft Casson prepared a couple of wine spritzers and brought them into the living room. His thoughts turned to Justine again. The feel of her in his arms... The look of her in her nightie...and in the turquoise swimsuit he had first seen her in.
He felt a swirl of heat radiate throughout his body and took a long gulp of his spritzer. He wanted her property, yes—but, like it or not, his body was telling him that he wanted her, too. There was absolutely no chance of that happening, though. He couldn’t imagine that Justine would allow herself to trust him enough to share his bed.
Despite his attraction to Justine—no, he had to be honest with himself and call it what it was: his almost constant torturous desire that was aching for release—he had business to take care of. Contractors waiting. Timelines and deadlines. He had to find the opportune moment to bring up the property issue, and to convince Justine to sell.
If things went his way, he anticipated sealing the deal by the end of his “holiday” at Winter’s Haven. But for now his plan would have to wait, until after Ronnie and Andy left.
While he waited for Ronnie to join him he tried to justify to himself why he couldn’t tell Justine the real reason he wanted the Russell properties and Winter’s Haven.
Maybe because that would make him vulnerable... And maybe he wasn’t quite ready to reveal that side of himself to her...yet.
CHAPTER TWELVE
JUSTINE COULDN’T STOP thinking about Casson’s guests. They were obviously very good friends, judging from his use of their nicknames. Veronica—Justine couldn’t bring herself to call her Ronnie—was very pretty, confident, and seemed the type to say what she wanted to say. And from what she could see Andy was a polite little boy who had been taught good social skills.
It was obvious he loved “Cass.” And for him to have developed a relationship with Casson they must have spent a lot of time together. Which meant Casson had spent even more time with his mother.
Justine felt something jab at her insides. She stopped and brushed the remnants of beach sand from her legs. What did she expect? That a gorgeous, successful entrepreneur like Casson Forrester would be unattached? And why should she care?
His intentions were not on par with hers when it came to Winter’s Haven. She shouldn’t even be trusting him, given his manipulative way of getting himself onto her property. And after Robert’s infidelity she’d vowed she wouldn’t offer her trust to any other man so easily in the future.
But you trusted Casson to stay over in case Robert came back...
Yes, she had. And he had comforted her too. Made her breakfast at his place. Kissed her. And while he had been doing all those things Justine had forgotten what Casson was really here for.
Justine reached the house and went up to shower. She had spent more time than she’d originally planned on the beach. After a refreshing swim in the bay she had dried off on the chaise lounge and drifted to sleep, listening to the waves lap against the shore.
Now she towel-dried her hair and slipped into a pair of white denim shorts and a flowered halter top. She went down to the kitchen and grabbed a lemon-lime soda, and decided to make herself a tuna and tomato sandwich on walnut bread.
She checked the clock. She had a feeling it was going to be a long evening and night.
After finishing her sandwich, she went out to water her vegetable and flower gardens with the hose that was connected to a pump in the bay. Ordinarily she loved doing this—it was part of her morning and evening routine—but tonight she did it perfunctorily, lost in her thoughts.
A sudden bark startled her and she turned. Casson jumped back and Luna skittered away, barking at the offending spray of water. Justine dropped the hose and stared at Casson helplessly as he pinched his drenched shirt and pulled it away from his chest.
“I’m so sorry,” she told him.
Luna came bounding toward her, now that she had relinquished her water weapon, and Justine patted her and glanced edgewise at Casson.
“I can get you a towel...” she offered contritely.
“If you insist,” he drawled. “The funny thing is, I was coming to see you about getting a couple of extra towels for Ronnie and Andy. I was supposed to go back to the office earlier for some, but Ronnie and I got to talking, and then once Andy had a rest we spent the rest of the afternoon on the beach. It wasn’t until after supper that I realized I had forgotten. By that time the office was closed.”
His eyes narrowed as he spoke, and Justine could feel his gaze lowering over her body.
“I see that you were out on the beach as well,” he said, starting to undo the top buttons of his shirt.
Justine frowned. How would he know that?
“You’re more tanned than the last time I saw you,” he said dryly.
He finished undoing all his buttons and flapped the wet panels of his shirt away from his body. Justine’s gaze slid down and she caught a glimpse of his chest and sculpted abs. She felt her pulse accelerating, sparking an invigorating trail along her nerve-endings. When her glance moved upward she was mortified to find that Casson was well aware of her visual exploration.
“Yes, it was a perfect day to relax on the beach,” she said, a little too brightly. “I hope your guests enjoyed it also?”
“Oh, they did. Andy and Luna had fun kicking a ball around before splashing about in the bay, and Ronnie enjoyed lying in the sun before her swim.”
Justine wished he hadn’t gone into detail. She didn’t want to picture Veronica lying there in a bikini while Casson spread sunscreen all over her. But her mind had a will of its own, and she began to think of what he and Veronica might have been doing while Andy and Luna were playing...
Kissing, maybe. She’d have run her hands over the soft fuzz on his chest...
“I’d appreciate you lending us some extra towels.”
His voice nudged her back to the present, and
she nodded. “I’ll only be a minute. You can wait in the porch if you’d like.”
“Oh, by the way,” Casson added as she opened the inner door. “I had another reason for coming by...”
Justine turned, and there was something in his voice that made her wonder if it had to do with Robert’s departure. Or selling Winter’s Haven.
She looked at him suspiciously, her guard up.
“If you haven’t made other plans, you’re welcome to join us for a campfire. I picked up a bag of marshmallows for Andy.” He grinned and his gaze swept over her. “But you might want to change into something more substantial,” he said, his gaze lingering on her exposed shoulders. “I don’t want the mosquitoes to attack you when it gets dark.”
Justine first thought was to decline. She couldn’t imagine being the fourth wheel around the campfire.
What would they talk about? And did Veronica know that he was inviting her?
And then she heard her own traitorous voice murmuring casually, “Sure, why not?” before she flew in to get some towels, her heart a jackhammer.
* * *
Justine’s acceptance took Casson by complete surprise. He’d been sure Justine was going to turn down his invitation. Earlier, she had been courteous enough to Ronnie and Andy, but Casson had detected a slight resistance on her part to over-extend herself.
He’d thought about it on the beach this afternoon while Ronnie had sunbathed and Andy had played with Luna. He’d tried to put himself in her shoes, having to put up with someone who had manipulated—though he would say masterminded—his way into Winter’s Haven.
Of course Justine would be on the defensive—not only with him, but maybe even with his guests. Or rather guest. He wasn’t an expert on female psychology, but he had sensed a bit of tension from Justine. Maybe it was the way she had glanced edgewise at Ronnie and stood there a little awkwardly, her cheeks like pink blossoms.
Luna flopped down on Justine’s entrance mat. “Make yourself at home.” Casson chuckled. “Although I might as well do the same.”
He made himself comfortable on a padded wicker chair—or as comfortable as he could be with a wet shirt that kept sticking to him—and a minute later Justine reemerged. She had changed into a red T-shirt and a navy hoodie and sweat pants. Her lipstick was the same shade as her top—a cherry-red that activated his pulse. She handed him a towel and placed a big nautical-style beach bag on the wicker chair next to him before bending down to put on her running shoes.
Luna ambled over to lick her face, making Justine lose her balance. Casson dropped his towel and leaped forward to help her straighten up. He heard her quick intake of breath and wanted nothing more than to lean forward and seal those lips with his own.
Taste their fruity nectar.
Unable to stop himself, he began to move his face toward hers...
* * *
Justine pulled away as if she had been jolted by an electric current. Something shifted in his expression and he gave her a curt smile.
“We’d better be going. Andy gets tired quickly, and usually has an early bedtime, but he won’t leave me in peace until I make him a campfire and we have a marshmallow roast.”
Justine nodded and saw his gaze drop to her beach bag. “A flashlight for when I walk back home,” she said. “And the extra towels you asked for.”
As they started walking Justine diverted her thoughts to what Casson had said about Andy getting tired and having a rest earlier. Most little boys his age had boundless energy. Many of the cottagers at Winter’s Haven had kids staying, and they tore around like little hellions—often to the consternation of their parents.
“I noticed that Andy seems a little...fragile,” she said, trying to break the awkward silence. “He must have had a late night before the drive here this morning; he has such dark shadows under his eyes.”
Casson didn’t respond. Justine bit her lip, wondering if she had sounded judgmental.
They continued to walk in silence along the road, Luna beside Casson. Justine kept her eyes on the sun-dappled shadows of the pines.
Suddenly Casson slowed his steps and turned to look at her. “It wasn’t because he had a late night,” he said, an edge creeping into his voice. “It’s because he has cancer.”
Justine felt waves of shock rippling through her body. For a few moments she couldn’t move. Or speak. She stared up at Casson and knew her face must reveal the questions she wanted to ask but couldn’t bring herself to for fear of sounding insensitive.
“He’s in remission and undergoing maintenance chemo,” Casson said. “His treatment has taken a lot out of him—and Ronnie—but he’s a tough little guy, despite the impression he may give with those skinny little legs and body. He’s got a lot of spirit...”
His voice wavered and Justine felt her heart breaking.
Casson looked away and continued walking. “He had some dizzy spells and nosebleeds when he was four,” he said as Justine caught up to him. “And he was getting headaches. When he had a seizure with a high fever they did some tests and he was brought immediately to Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children, where they started chemotherapy—which took months. Once Andy was in remission they started maintenance chemo. He’s now in his second year of that.”
“Poor child...” Jasmine squeezed her eyes so she wouldn’t cry, but felt a teardrop trickle down anyway. “And his poor parents.” She shook her head. “I can’t even imagine what they must have been going through...”
Casson didn’t offer any further details, and Justine didn’t feel it was appropriate to ply him with questions, so they walked in silence again.
No wonder Andy looked so gaunt beneath his baseball cap.
She didn’t remember seeing any hair around his temples, but had just assumed that he had gotten a summer buzz cut.
Justine felt sorry for Veronica. How heart-wrenching it must have been for her to hear that her only child was afflicted with a disease that could take his life.
And what about Andy’s father? Where was he? And what exactly was the relationship between Veronica and Casson?
It must have been devastating for Casson to learn of Andy’s diagnosis as well—especially after having lost his brother to leukemia.
These thoughts and more kept swirling in her mind. She had been able to tell from that first meeting this morning that Casson had a special relationship with Andy. And with Andy’s mother. They looked like a happy family, vacationing together and doing all the things that families did.
So why was she being invited to take part in their evening? If Casson and Veronica were more than just friends, wouldn’t he want to spend the evening alone with her? Okay, Andy was with them, but he’d eventually go to bed...
Justine had no intention of asking Casson to enlighten her about any of these questions. They had arrived at the cottage and Andy was opening the screen door in excitement, holding the bag of marshmallows.
Casson’s face lit up immediately. Seeing him like that made Justine choke up. She hoped she could keep it together now that she knew about Andy’s condition. She smiled at Andy and he smiled back and waved before attempting to open up the bag.
“Hey, hold on a minute, kid!” Casson chuckled. “Let me get the fire going. If you open the bag now there won’t be any left to roast.”
“Aw, Cass, I promise I’ll just have one...” Andy grinned.
“And I’ll be watching him like a hawk to make sure,” his mother said, emerging from the cottage. She greeted Justine with a smile. “So nice you could join us, Justine.”
“Hi, Veronica.” Justine returned the smile, not wanting to reveal how uncomfortable she was.
“Please.” Veronica grinned at her as she came down the cottage steps. “It’s Ronnie, remember? Only my mother calls me by my full name.”
Justine laughed. “Okay—Ronnie. By the way, here are the tow
els.” She pulled them out of her beach bag.
“Great—thank you.” Ronnie took them and before opening the door said, “Can I get you a drink before we head down to the beach? I’m having white wine, but I can mix you a margarita, if you like, or a martini. I make a wicked chocolate martini!”
“Oh...um...a little white wine would be fine...”
“Great. How about you, Cass? A margarita?” she said teasingly.
Casson made a face. “I’ll have a nice cold beer, thank you. A good Canadian lager for a good Canadian boy.”
Ronnie let out a belly laugh. “Andy’s a good Canadian boy. You—I’m not so sure.” She turned to her son. “What can I get you, sweetie? How about some lemonade?”
“Sure, Mom,” Andy replied distractedly, busy helping Casson gather twigs from the bushes nearby and putting them in a large canvas bag.
“Hey, Ronnie!” Casson grinned. “Would you mind grabbing me a T-shirt and my hoodie? I don’t want to get eaten alive by mosquitoes down by the water.”
“Is there anything I can do?” Justine said after Ronnie had gone to get the drinks.
Casson turned and looked at her. For a little too long.
“You can help Ronnie bring down the drinks,” he said finally, a gleam in his eyes. “Andy and I will head down to the beach and get the fire started. Ready, partner?” he asked the boy.
“Ready!” Andy nodded excitedly.
His baseball cap fell off, and Justine felt a twinge in her heart at the sight of Andy’s shaved head. She watched them walking away, Casson’s muscular frame next to Andy’s little body, Luna bounding ahead of them. She could see that Casson was deliberately walking slowly so Andy could keep up with him.
He’s a good guy, an inner voice whispered.
Justine shivered, even though the night air was balmy. She remembered how upset she had been after their first meeting in the office, and how rattled when he’d let himself into her house with Luna. And when she’d stumbled and fallen into his lap...
Swept Away by the Enigmatic Tycoon Page 10
