But she couldn’t deny that he had some good qualities. He had stayed the night in case Robert came back, hadn’t he? And the way he interacted with Andy, you’d swear he was the boy’s father. That’s how a father should be, she mused.
Another thought occurred to her. Could it be that Ronnie was divorced and Casson was potentially her next husband?
“Hey, Justine, can you give me a hand with this wine and the glasses? I’ll bring the beer and the pitcher of lemonade. And Casson’s clothes.”
“Sure.”
Justine stepped up to the door. She took the tray and held the door open for Ronnie.
As they walked down the path to the beach Ronnie said softly, “Isn’t Casson something? He goes above and beyond when it comes to Andy... He’s told you about Andy’s condition?” She glanced at Justine.
“Yes.” Justine felt Ronnie’s gaze and turned to meet it. “I was so sorry to hear about that,” she said simply. “I can’t imagine what you and Andy have been through.”
Ronnie’s pace slowed. “I couldn’t have done it without Cass. He’s not only a great cousin, but an even greater godfather to Andy.” Her voice quivered. “We’re so blessed to have him in our lives.”
Justine’s heart was racing. Cousin? Godfather?
“He’s like a brother—the brother I never had.” Ronnie’s eyes welled up. “Here I go, getting all weepy again.” She blinked the tears away. “Casson’s going to be a great dad someday. And an awesome husband for one lucky lady...”
* * *
Casson had the fire started by the time Ronnie and Justine got down to the beach. The dry kindling was crackling over crumpled up newspaper. He looked up briefly and nodded at them before arranging thicker branches in a spoke-like configuration. Andy threw in some small twigs occasionally, watching in fascination as the fire crackled and sent out sparks.
There were four Muskoka chairs arranged in a semicircle behind the fire-pit, and in the middle a huge tree stump served as a tabletop. Justine set down the wine and glasses, and Ronnie followed suit with the beer and lemonade.
Casson took off his damp shirt and tossed it onto one of the chairs, before reaching for the T-shirt and hoodie that Ronnie had hooked over her arm and was now holding out to him. Justine was just steps away, and he could tell that she was trying not to glance at his bare torso.
Feeling a rush suffuse his body, he turned away to check the fire.
When the fire was robust, Casson stacked half-logs over the branches and in no time at all the fire was roaring. Feeling the sweat trickling down his face, Casson thanked Ronnie for the beer, and helped himself to a long swig. Ronnie poured Andy a glass of lemonade before filling the wine glasses.
“Here’s to summer fun.” Ronnie lifted her glass. “Cheers, guys.”
Casson tipped his beer bottle to clink with Ronnie’s glass. They laughed when Andy clinked his glass with them. When Casson turned to do the same with Justine their gazes locked. Something swirled in the pit of his stomach. Justine’s face was mesmerizing in the light and shadows cast by the fire. Her eyes looked like blue ice, and standing so close to her beside the spiraling flames he felt desire flicking through his body.
He wanted her.
With a yearning that stunned him.
Out of the corner of his eye he saw Ronnie and Andy putting marshmallows on the branches Casson had collected and sharpened earlier. He was glad their attention was diverted, and even more glad that Justine’s eyes seemed to be reflecting something he hadn’t seen before. In her or in any other woman he had dated.
Maybe it was the romance of a campfire on a starry night, with the dark, silky waters of Georgian Bay just steps away, the soft gushing of their ebb and flow joining with the crackling of the fire. Maybe it was just the fact that Justine was one helluva beautiful woman, and that having already kissed those lips once, he felt the urge to kiss them again.
And again.
It was a good thing, perhaps, that Ronnie and Andy were there, or right now he’d be—
“Hey, Cass!” Andy called. “Come and roast some marshmallows. You too, Justine. Mom went to get me my hoodie.”
Casson watched the expression in Justine’s eyes change instantly. She gave Andy a bright smile and strode over to pick up a stick and a marshmallow. She laughed at the sight of Andy’s sticky face.
A warm feeling came over Casson at the picture they made. Justine seemed so comfortable around Andy. Natural. Not stiff, like some of his past dates when he’d introduced them to his godson. Justine was chatting with Andy as if she had always known him. And he was responding in a spirited fashion, bursting into giggles at one point.
She would make a great mother.
A sudden mental image of Justine pregnant, her hands resting gently over her belly, followed almost immediately by a picture of him feeling the mound as well, startled him.
Where were these thoughts coming from?
Casson felt his heartbeat quicken and the sweat start to slide down his temples. He wiped his face with his sleeve and had another gulp of beer before rising.
As the four of them twirled their sticks over the flames Casson stole a glance at Justine. She was the first to be done. She stepped back and, after waving her stick to cool off her perfectly roasted marshmallow, bit into its golden-brown exterior and got to the warm, gooey white center.
“Mmm...heaven...” she said between bites.
She’d got some of the caramel center stuck around her mouth, and Casson found himself wishing he could lick the stickiness off...
“Hey, Cass, you need to concentrate a little better than that!”
Ronnie’s laughing voice reached his ears and, looking away from Justine, he groaned when he realized that his marshmallow had blackened. Shrugging, he set down his stick.
“Here, let me show you how it’s done.” Justine grinned.
She prepared a new stick and twirled it slowly, until the marshmallow reached a toffee-like color, and then handed it to him. He bit into it, savoring its caramel sweetness, his eyes never leaving her face.
“That,” he said, after finishing it off, “was the best marshmallow I’ve ever had. What do you say, Andy? Should we give Justine the prize for Best Marshmallow?”
Andy nodded vigorously. “But what do we give her, Cass?” He cocked his head in puzzlement.
Casson stroked his chin, pretending to look thoughtful. “How about we take her fishing tomorrow?”
“Yeah! Can you come, Justine?” Andy’s face lit up. “You won the prize!”
Justine gazed from Andy to Casson and then to Ronnie, who was nodding approvingly.
“Yes—go! I don’t fish.” Ronnie chuckled. “I just eat.”
Casson met Justine’s gaze. “You can take us to the hot spots...”
He watched Justine’s eyes flicker and her mouth twitch ever so slightly. Her gaze shifted to Andy, who had his little hands in a prayer position and was looking up at her beseechingly.
Her face broke into a big grin. “I guess I can’t turn down first prize,” she said, reaching down to give Andy a hug.
After they’d feasted on another round of marshmallows Casson walked to the water’s edge and filled a couple of large pails. While he extinguished the fire Ronnie and Justine finished what was left of their wine and started gathering up the glasses, bottles and the pitcher of lemonade. They returned to the cottage, and Andy said goodnight to Justine before going inside.
“Well, I’ll say goodnight too,” Justine said brightly, slinging her beach bag over her arm. “Thank you for a nice evening. It’s been a long time since I roasted marshmallows.”
“Goodnight, Justine,” Ronnie said, waving. “Andy had fun with you.”
“I won’t say goodnight just yet,” Casson said to Justine when they were alone. “I’m walking you home after I read Andy a story. And it’ll be
a short one,” he added huskily.
CHAPTER THIRTEEN
CASSON HAD INVITED her to wait inside the cottage, but Justine had said she’d be fine outside. The night air was warm and the half-moon provided some illumination. She sat on a lawn chair by the front door of the cottage with Luna at her feet. The screen on the door was partially up, and she could faintly hear Casson’s voice.
Barely a few minutes had passed when Casson reemerged. “The little guy was wiped,” he said. “Couldn’t keep his eyes open. By the third page he was out.” Casson shrugged. “Come on, Luna.” He ruffled her fur briskly. “Time to take Miss Wintry home.” He flashed Justine a grin.
Justine rose and put up her hand in protest. “I’m a big girl and I can take myself home. Really.” She looked at him pointedly. “I won’t get lost; it is my property.” She made herself smile in case she had sounded abrupt. “But, thank you; I appreciate your offer.”
Casson’s eyes glinted. “I’m not offering. You may know your way around, but I won’t be able to sleep wondering if a big, bad wolf is following you. Or the three little bears.”
Justine couldn’t help laughing. “You’ve been reading too many kids’ books, Mr. Forrest. Your imagination is running wild.”
“Indeed.”
The way Casson was looking at her made her heart do a flip. Taking a deep breath, she started walking.
If he wanted to walk with her she couldn’t very well stop him. And, to be honest, she didn’t really want to.
But having him walk so closely beside her was unnerving.
Why did he have to look so gorgeous, even in the moonlight?
Justine shivered, and before she knew it Casson had zipped down his hoodie and taken it off to put it around her shoulders.
Even though she had her own hoodie on, Justine could feel the warmth from his. She couldn’t very well take it off and tell him the real cause of her shivering.
The fact that her attraction to him was alarming her, especially since the only reason he was at Winter’s Haven in the first place was to find a way to convince her to sell.
But, although she might dislike Casson’s intentions when it came to her property, she had to admit that there were things about him that she did like. A lot. The way he looked, for one. And the way he sounded. The way he cared for Andy.
The way he had come to her rescue and made her feel safe...
Her acknowledgement of liking Casson worried her. How could she even think of encouraging any of those feelings? What possible outcome could come from acting on them? After all, Casson would be leaving after his little holiday at Winter’s Haven. And she’d still be holding the keys.
“If you’re not doing anything tomorrow night...” Casson slackened his pace and waited until she turned to glance at him. “I’d really like to talk to you about my proposal.”
Justine’s heart plummeted. For a moment it had sounded like he was going to ask her for a date.
Get with it, an inner voice ridiculed. He wants Winter’s Haven, not you. And don’t forget it.
She gave a tired sigh. “I don’t really see the purpose of a meeting. There’s nothing that would make me contemplate selling. To you or to anyone else.”
She picked up her pace, anxious to get home and away from any further discussion around Winter’s Haven.
He stepped into place with her. “There are...things I haven’t told you,” he said softly. “Things that might just change your perspective.”
Could he be anymore cryptic?
“If it has to do with offering more money, I’ll save you the energy of making the offer.” She smiled cynically and tossed her head back. “Not everyone can be bought.”
“I realize that.” He nodded. “I can see how much this place means to you.” He reached over as they walked and shifted the hoodie on Justine’s shoulders to prevent it from slipping off.
She felt his fingers pause momentarily, and her pulse drummed wildly. And then his hand was off her shoulder. He slowed his pace, and Justine felt like the path leading to her house was an eternity away.
Other than the tread of their footsteps, the chirping of the crickets was the only sound breaking the silence. Justine inhaled the sweet scent of a nearby linden tree.
This is all too much, she thought.
Having Casson walk her home was doing things to her that confused her. She was prepared to battle him verbally, whatever he proposed, and yet her body seemed to want to surrender to him...
Justine stopped walking and frowned. “Why can’t you tell me now?”
Casson’s mouth twisted. “There are things I need to show you as well, and I don’t have them with me. Tomorrow we’re fishing during the day, so I thought the evening would be a perfect time to—”
Justine practically jumped as Casson’s cell phone rang. He reached into his back pocket and a frown appeared on his face.
“Hey, Ronnie, what’s up?”
Ronnie’s voice came loud and clear. “It’s Andy, Cass. His temperature is way up and I’m worried he’s going to have a seizure. I need to take him to the hospital...”
“I’m on my way,” Casson told her, and stuck his phone back in his pocket. “We’ll talk tomorrow,” he said to Justine, his hand reaching out to squeeze her arm.
He whistled to Luna, who was investigating a scuttling sound in some bushes. Luna bounded after him and Justine watched with a sick feeling in her stomach as they ran down the driveway and disappeared around the bend.
* * *
Casson raced back to the cottage, every footstep matching the beat of his heart. Andy’s face and arms were flaming hot. He was moaning, and couldn’t keep his eyes open. Ronnie had placed a cool cloth over his forehead and pulled back his top blanket. Casson’s heart twisted at the sight of him, and of Ronnie’s pale face and wide eyes.
Casson picked Andy up and carefully made his way down the stairs. He set him down gently in the back seat of Ronnie’s car while Ronnie sat next to him and fastened his seatbelt before placing a light shawl over him. After a dash inside to make sure there was water in Luna’s bowl, Casson drove to the hospital in Parry Sound, hoping he wouldn’t get stopped for speeding.
Andy was checked in and seen by midnight. But by the time the doctors had inserted an IV, run some standard tests, and the Emergency Room doctor had examined the results, it was close to four a.m.
Andy was transferred to a room. Although his fever had dropped, the doctors wanted to continue to monitor him, given his condition and recent treatment.
Casson and Ronnie kept vigil by his bedside, taking turns to shut their eyes, and at seven a.m. a doctor came to explain that, although Andy was unlikely to have a seizure, he recommended that a follow-up appointment be made with Andy’s specialist at SickKids.
Ronnie decided it was best to take Andy back home and make the appointment.
Casson wanted to drive them home to Gravenhurst, but Ronnie reassured him that she had caught enough sleep to handle the drive alone.
With her reassurance that she would call him if she needed him, Casson brushed a kiss on Andy’s forehead and they left the hospital.
By the time he drove her car back to the cottage, and she returned to the hospital they would be ready to discharge Andy.
When Casson got out of Ronnie’s car and she switched to the driver’s seat he reached down to give her a hug. “Drive safely, Ronnie. And call me when you get home.”
Casson watched her drive away, then entered the cottage to Luna’s welcome. He opened the door to let her run out, and when they were both inside again took off his shoes and, without bothering to undress, fell on top of his bed and crashed.
* * *
Casson woke up three hours later. He felt pretty ragged, and could only imagine how Ronnie felt. He checked his phone and saw that Ronnie had texted to say they were home and she woul
d let him know of any developments with Andy. He sent her a quick message, apologizing for sleeping through the text and sending them hugs.
He not only felt rough, he looked it, too, he thought a few moments later, staring at his reflection in the bathroom mirror. He stroked his jaw and chin. He had let his usual five o’clock shadow grow for over two weeks, and now he decided the scruff had to go.
After shaving he had a hot shower, letting the pulsating jets ease the tension in his muscles. He lathered himself with the shower gel provided, his nose wrinkling at the scent. It reminded him of something...of Justine, he realized.
He glanced at the label. Rose Rapture. Wonderful, he thought wryly, rinsing off, he’d always wanted to come out smelling like a rose. Stepping out of the shower, he grabbed a towel and briskly dried himself. Wrapping it around his hips, and stepping into flip-flops, he padded into the kitchen and put the coffee on.
Casson reached into the cupboard to get a mug, and then a movement at the screen door caught his eye. He stood there, mug in hand, towel around his hips, and met Justine’s embarrassed gaze through the glass of the door.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
JUSTINE HAD BEEN on the verge of turning away, but now it was too late. Casson had already seen her. She let her hand drop, wishing she had thought to call first. He didn’t seem too perturbed over the fact that he was wearing nothing but a towel, though, and she tried to keep her eyes from wandering as he walked to the door. She focused on his face, now clean-shaven, and couldn’t help but gulp.
Shadow or no shadow, Casson was gorgeous. Drop-dead gorgeous.
He opened the door and she blurted, “Is Andy okay? Is he back from the hospital? I made some chicken soup for him and some lemon blueberry muffins...” She stopped, and looked down at the stainless steel pot she was holding on to for dear life, aware that she was blabbering.
“That’s very kind of you, Justine.” Casson smiled. “His fever dropped, thank goodness. They checked him out...did some tests. He might just have been overtired, and with his compromised immune system it doesn’t take much to knock him down. The doctor suggested Ronnie do a follow-up at SickKids. They’re home now. Come in,” he added, taking the pot and container.
Swept Away by the Enigmatic Tycoon Page 11
