“Creatures?” He chuckled. “Such as …”
She turned around. He was leaning against the railing, looking too good.
“Gators …” she mumbled, but then realized how stupid that sounded.
He laughed and pushed himself off the railing, approaching her. “Cassie, alligators don’t live in this part of North Carolina.”
“I know … I’ve just been taught to stay away from lakes.”
“Come on, silly girl.” He took her hand again, leading her downstairs and out the back door to their dock. How could just the act of him taking her hand cause her pulse to race? What was wrong with her? She’d been asking herself that a lot the last couple of days.
After turning over one of the kayaks resting on the deck, Chad grabbed two paddles, along with a couple of life vests, and then dropped the kayak in the water.
She was still apprehensive, but allowed Chad to coax her into the vessel.
She had to admit, the evening was beautiful. The sun, having just set behind the trees, cast streaks of orange and red across the nighttime sky. The surrounding wood, previously quiet only moments earlier, suddenly filled with chirping. Millions of insects of some sort belted out an unfamiliar melody. She was familiar with crickets and frogs after sunset in Florida, but this was neither.
She must have looked confused because Chad smiled and motioned his hand to the surrounding trees. “Cicadas, the chirping you’re hearing. They emerge between May and September. Interesting fact, the insects lay dormant for seventeen years before surfacing to mate, only to die afterward — tragic.” He grinned, a smile inching up on one side.
She couldn’t resist smiling, but ignored his flirting. “Really … I’ve never heard of them.”
“There are many things I can teach you, Cassandra,” he drawled, serious again.
Cassandra, not Cassie, she thought, sighing deeply, because of the way he’d pronounced her name and his words about the things he could teach her. His words were comforting and upsetting at the same time. She didn’t want him to teach her … she didn’t want to fall in love with Nantahala; she’d be leaving in six months, regardless.
When they returned to the dock, she hopped out before he could offer her assistance. The less interaction she had with him physically, the better. He accepted her paddle and jacket, stowing them in a plastic chest, then hauled the boat out of the water.
Embarrassed, she lowered her gaze. Watching his arms flex made her feel all funny inside, again, something she’d always managed to ignore with other men. “Well, I suppose I should get cleaned up,” she stammered.
No response. Chad simply stood there, looking at her for a second. The soft yellow glow of a lamplight shone on his face, causing his blue eyes to look brighter, expectant. It felt like the conclusion of a date, the time when each person wondered if the other was going to attempt a kiss.
She hadn’t experienced it a lot, as she’d always shied away from a date moving forward too quickly. She’d never allowed anything to interfere with her twenty-eight plan. She had to stick with the plan. It was the only way to protect herself.
She’d devoured this part of the date in movies and countless novels, though. The first kiss. There was nothing like the first kiss.
Before she could do anything stupid, she turned and walked away.
When she finished her shower, she dressed in sweatpants and a T-shirt, thankful it was cool enough to wear such pajamas. Her normal attire of thin cotton sleep shorts and a threadbare T-shirt just wouldn’t do with a man in the house.
Bounding downstairs, she was surprised to discover the house seemed dark and dismal compared to earlier. She contemplated whether to offer Chad dinner or just wait to see if he ventured upstairs.
She decided to make dinner. If he came up to eat, great. If not, she would always have leftovers tomorrow. She rummaged through the fridge and pantry for something edible. There wasn’t much. She found frozen meatballs and dried pasta and spaghetti sauce. She could whip up something.
When she finished cooking, she left it simmering on the stovetop and went upstairs for a book, deciding to read on the deck until he came upstairs. Hopefully the aroma would coax him.
As soon as she stepped outside on the deck, she noticed Chad’s truck was missing. He’d gone out. No surprise, it was like a Saturday night, since he had the next day off, as he’d reminded her so many times today. He was probably out mudding or whatever people did for entertainment in the sticks.
She ate dinner alone, something she’d done for years. So why did she feel so lonely tonight? She’d assumed Chad would be here. She’d actually anticipated preparing dinner for him.
It was after eleven when she finally decided to retire. Mentally exhausted, she settled in. As soon as her head hit the pillow, though, she realized she wouldn’t be able to sleep. Where would he have gone on a Monday night? As soon as she imagined what he could be doing, she shuddered.
Tossing and turning for hours, she became madder by the minute. She didn’t have his phone number, so she couldn’t even inquire if he was okay. How ridiculous. She was suddenly grateful she didn’t have his number. What would he think if she called and asked where he was?
She glanced at the clock for the hundredth time. Two-thirty. Where was he? Did he drink? Was he out partying? She recalled the way the hostess undressed him with her eyes at the restaurant earlier. Women recognized how good looking he was, and she figured he knew it. There had to be a reason he was twenty-eight and not married.
Undoubtedly, he was a player. Probably could get a different woman nightly, and she had almost fallen for his charms. She was suddenly convinced he lured all the women back to his place for a sunset paddle, then cajoled them to his mezzanine, offering romantic views of the lake while rocking on the porch swing next to his Chiminea. What an idiot she’d been.
Hearing his key rattle in the deadbolt, she scurried out of bed, ready to give him a piece of her mind. If he’d brought home another woman, he’d certainly hear her distaste.
She crept toward the railing. Thankfully, he was alone. Catching him looking up, she retreated silently into the shadows. She was certain he couldn’t see her, though. The light from over the stove cast a soft glow on him, but it was pitch-black in her loft. She’d left a note beneath the light, indicating there was food in the fridge if he was hungry.
The refrigerator opened and closed, then a few seconds later, the microwave started. Then it was quiet.
Hearing his footsteps on the staircase, she scuttled into bed. Would he approach her after he’d gone out and probably gotten drunk? Would he force himself on her? She cringed at the notion, not really knowing what he was capable of, then swiftly chastised herself. Chad wasn’t dangerous. Her mother certainly wouldn’t have put her in a perilous situation. He hadn’t forced himself on her earlier. He’d held back when he saw her apprehension.
It was quiet again. He released a soft sigh, then retreated back to the kitchen. Shortly after, the microwave dinged. He removed his food, and then his footsteps echoed across the hallway and downstairs to his section of the house.
Morning came quickly. As always, Cassandra awoke before seven, but she hadn’t gotten much sleep so she struggled with the idea of staying in bed. It wouldn’t work. It was too difficult to fall back asleep once she awoke, and it was entirely too bright. One of the problems with a loft, she realized, all the sunshine came pouring through the windows in the morning.
Rolling out of bed, she pulled on her sweatpants and headed for her bathroom. She washed her face, brushed her teeth and hair, and then trotted downstairs.
Today was like Sunday for Chad, so she would make breakfast, she decided, like her grandmother always had. It’d been forever since she’d been able to cook for anyone, and she loved to cook. They would probably work the same schedule, so they could take one vehicle; it only made sense. She wondered what the employees would think, but then decided she didn’t care. She’d spent her entire life worrying about what oth
ers thought.
Searching the contents of the kitchen again, she laughed. She definitely needed to go grocery shopping. Chad was the typical bachelor.
She found enough ingredients to make pancakes. Decision made, she went to work preparing breakfast, hoping he would wake soon. Otherwise, she would have to put the batter aside and start over when he arrived. Why was she even bothering?
She remembered his comment about a family. They could be a family. Although she could never look at him like a brother. That would be awkward, considering the way her heart thudded every time he spoke. But they were going to live together for six months, so she could at least be civil.
She was turning over the first pancake when she heard footsteps in the hallway. She turned around to look for him.
He narrowed his eyes in confusion. “What’s all this?” His mouth fell open just slightly before he pulled it shut.
“Breakfast. I always make breakfast on Sunday. And since this is technically your Sunday, I figured what the heck. You want coffee?”
“Um … yeah, sure. Thank you.” He stood motionless between the dining area and the hallway, as if she’d shocked him. His face was scruffy and his hair stuck out in every direction, but he looked as if he’d just stepped off a modeling shoot. It simply wasn’t fair how men could roll out of bed and look good. And Chad looked very good. Too good.
She filled a mug with coffee and carried it over to the table, suggesting he should sit. He complied. After a few seconds, she brought over a plate of pancakes and returned to the stove for hers.
She watched him dig in and then nod appreciatively. “This is good, Cassandra. Thanks, and thanks for dinner last night.”
“So … where’d you go last night?” The words toppled out of her mouth before she could consider their implication. She hoped it sounded like pleasant conversation and not an accusation, even though, that’s exactly what it was. How dare he leave her all alone on her first night in a strange home?
He looked up at her, smiled, and then replied, “As you said … it was my Saturday night.”
“What does that mean?” Her words were too forceful.
“Are we gonna do this, Cassandra?” he cautioned.
Why was he calling her Cassandra again … and in that tone? He’d said he liked Cassie, now she was Cassandra again. And not the way he’d spoken her name seductively in the kayak? What had happened?
She stood up from the table, took her dish over to the sink, rinsed it, and then placed it in the dishwasher. She leaned back against the counter. How stupid she must look, making him dinner and then breakfast … and without the benefit of a roll in the sack. Someone else had gotten that pleasure.
Chad sat back in his chair and just stared at her. “Not that it matters, but I was with a friend. Actually, I was negotiating living arrangements for me while we sort through this.”
She glared at him. “What friend? What arrangements?”
He shook his head as though he didn’t want to answer, but spoke anyway. “Mark, the guide you met the other day. I can’t really afford it, but he said he would work with me, even offered to help me move in today.”
She swallowed hard. “Chad, I don’t want you to move. This is your home. Besides, this place is too large for me to stay by myself.”
He huffed lightly, then chuckled. “You’re a big girl, Cassandra. I’m sure you’ll manage.”
“Did I do something wrong?” Why was she even questioning him? She should want him to leave.
“No.” He shook his head lightly, then muttered under his breath, “Just the opposite.” But she wasn’t sure that was exactly what he’d said or what he’d meant.
Her stomach tightened. “Please stay. I promise I won’t be in the way. I won’t even ask you where you’ve been. I didn’t mean to sound imposing. I was just curious. I was wondering what there was to do around here,” she lied lightly.
He looked up at her as if deciding how to proceed, and then released a long gust of air. “We’ll see how it goes. I thought the idea would appeal to you. You didn’t sound happy about the living arrangements yesterday.”
“I didn’t know how enormous the house was. Really, I want you to stay.”
“Well, it’s not as if your cooking isn’t delicious. I could certainly get accustomed to this,” he admitted.
Cassandra carried her coffee back over to the table, sitting down across from him. “So, what do you do on Sunday?” she asked, attempting to change the subject.
As though contemplating an answer, he took a sip of coffee. “How ’bout a hike. There’s a small hill a few minutes up the road with a path that begins at a waterfall. What do you say?”
Nervous at once, she grimaced. Hiking … she’d never been hiking. He must have seen her apprehension because he rushed to assure her.
“It’s an effortless trail; tennis shoes will be fine. And then tomorrow, we’ll hook you up with hiking boots. As I said, if you’re going to work in an outdoor store, you’ll have to possess knowledge about what you’re selling.”
“Okay,” she surrendered. “Give me twenty minutes and I’ll be ready.”
He smiled, picking up his coffee again. “This is excellent, Cassandra. Coffee doesn’t taste nearly this mouthwatering when I brew it.”
“Actually, that’s mine. I bring my own when I go to hotels. I don’t like the stuff they leave in the room.” She turned to leave, feeling unusually anxious to freshen up.
“Well then, that explains it. Thanks again. Oh, and, Cassie …” She turned around on the first step. “Wear your swimsuit underneath your clothes today.” He pulled the cup to his lips, but she could see he was grinning.
Cassandra headed upstairs to change, her cheeks burning as if he’d suggested she wear nothing at all.
Chapter Eight
Chad had truly intended on moving out today.
Mark had agreed to allow him to stay with him for six months. He did have enough money; he’d been saving for years. He just didn’t want to spend any of it.
His plan had been to save every penny. At the end of six months, he’d get a loan and buy out Cassie. If not, he would sell the house and give her every penny if she’d sign over the deed to the store.
It was an excellent compromise, one he could broach now, but what would that accomplish? She still had to stay and work for six months per the will, or she would lose everything. He could have tried to make her life difficult, force her out early, and then everything would go to him. That’s what Mark had suggested. One of the reasons he’d stayed out so late … he was supposed to come home and act drunk and disorderly.
When he returned, though, she’d left the light on and had even made dinner. He’d walked up to see if she was sleeping, and she’d looked so peaceful and beautiful, he couldn’t do it.
She’d been hurt like him; he couldn’t damage her worse. Besides, it sounded as if she didn’t really have any place to go. So his only other option was to move out. Her sleeping under the same roof was entirely too tempting.
Then, Cassandra had prepared a wonderful breakfast and pleaded with him to stay. Her eyes were so beautiful, and she looked so helpless. He wasn’t sure what he should do. Now they were going hiking together, great … exactly as he’d planned. He just kept getting deeper and deeper.
Why had Jasmine done this to him? What could she have been thinking?
Cassie bounded downstairs exactly twenty minutes later. Nice, he liked that. He hated when women made guys wait. She wore khaki shorts and a dark-brown T-shirt. Surprisingly, the brown accentuated her coloring. She had her long hair pulled back into a Buccaneer’s cap, not a stitch of makeup on, and yet she was gorgeous. But the Buc’s cap had to go. If she was going to live in the Carolinas, she had to be a Panther’s fan; those were the rules.
He walked to the bottom of the stairs and waited for her. “That just won’t do,” he teased.
Her eyes widened. “What did I do?”
She had been so cheerful a second ago. Co
uldn’t she tell he was playing? “Wait here. There’s something of Jasmine’s downstairs that will work.” He flew downstairs and was back in a minute, carrying a camouflaged cap with a cross on the front that had been hanging on the coat rack. It’d been her mother’s, but it would certainly look cuter on Cassie.
She didn’t comment on the fact that it was her mother’s, but accepted it, frowning. “What’s wrong with my Buccaneer’s cap?”
“You want to be shot? This is Panther country, Florida girl.”
She pursed her lips. “They didn’t mind in Virginia.”
He smiled. “Well, they’re more civilized in Virginia. No worries. I’ll keep you safe; I won’t tell.” He winked at her, wondering why he couldn’t stop himself from flirting.
She shrugged and put on the new cap, pulling her hair through the back.
Blood rushed through his body just looking at her. “Let’s get out of here.” He took her hand and pulled her out of the house. They would have to spend plenty of time outdoors. He needed to wear himself out so he could just fall asleep when he got home. Only the second day and he had six months to endure.
He didn’t really understand the problem. He’d had other women here and hadn’t struggled with the idea of wanting to attack them. But when she’d descended the stairs, the last thing he wanted was to go hiking. He’d wanted to approach her, pull off her cap, and drag her to the sofa. He knew he wouldn’t do anything more than kiss her; he had more self-control than that.
But he did want to kiss her, something fierce. He felt it through his entire being. He’d wanted to kiss her from the first day on the riverbank, and the feeling just kept building. Last night he could barely restrain himself from pulling her into his arms while they were standing on the dock. The reason he’d left in the first place.
It was a short distance to the hiking path and waterfall. It never ceased to amaze him how many waterfalls were located in North Carolina. When he’d first moved here, he would seek out a new one every week; there were several within miles of his home alone. And then he especially loved Chimney Rock, Linville, and Looking Glass Falls. If she allowed him, he’d take her to a new one every weekend.
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