Southern Romantic-Suspense Boxed Set (Southern Romantic-Suspense Novel Book 0)

by Carmen DeSousa

  She’d worn a dress again, and he’d imagined sitting beside her on the couch, his hand sliding over her knee … Not that he would push it, but it was sure fun imagining what could happen. She’d even put on makeup. Not that she needed it. He hadn’t thought she could look any prettier than she had yesterday when she walked into the office, but she did. And then Michelle had to go and disrupt their evening.

  He walked to the bottom of the stairs and looked up to her room. “Cassandra?”

  No answer. Would she ignore him now? He waited a few seconds. Nothing. Dare he go up there? Yep, he damn well would. Let her be angry. He wouldn’t allow her to push him away because of a misunderstanding.

  “Cassandra,” he called again, warning her of his approach.

  When he reached her room, he saw her. She was on her bed, the pillow over her face. He walked over to the bed and gently lifted her makeshift shelter.

  “Cassandra?” he whispered. “Please listen to me.”

  He realized the reason she hadn’t responded … she was wearing headphones, nice ones, the type that wrap around your ears and drowns out all other sounds. So she hadn’t heard any of their discussion.

  She opened her eyes when he lifted the pillow and then removed her headphones.

  Sitting down beside her, he reached for her face. Thankfully, she didn’t pull away. His heart slammed in his chest. Where to begin? He’d hoped she’d heard their conversation.

  “Michelle and I are not engaged.” He wanted to start where they’d left off, but he couldn’t just charge into the conversation of why he knew he didn’t love Michelle.

  “Michelle obviously thinks so,” Cassandra retorted.

  “I don’t care what she thinks,” he shot back, knowing this conversation would go nowhere. Maybe they could get back to their original evening. “Hey, aren’t you hungry? All that pizza is down there.”

  “Okay,” she agreed, though, hesitantly, sitting up and shedding her blanket. She was back in her sweatpants. It didn’t matter; she was still beautiful. He couldn’t help but wonder where the night would have drifted if Michelle hadn’t shown up.

  She followed him downstairs and walked off to the kitchen, coming back with plates and napkins. He normally just ate out of the box.

  “What would you like to drink?” she asked, setting his plate in front of him.

  He smiled. She was thoughtful too. Yes, he was almost completely positive that he was in love with this stranger who didn’t feel like a stranger. Amazing how he could be so confident about Cassandra.

  But as he’d told Michelle, he was twenty-eight and had dated enough to know what he wanted. He didn’t have to know Cassandra for months to know she was perfect. He must have known Michelle wasn’t the right woman … why else would he have waited six years to ask her to marry him?

  He looked up at Cassandra still standing in front of him. “What? Oh … um … whatever you’re having.”

  She left the table, returning with two sodas. “So, how long have you and Michelle been together?” she asked nonchalantly, setting the drinks on the table.

  A small huff escaped his lips. “We’re not together,” he sputtered, half-angry, half-amused.

  The woman was going to drive him insane. She refused to give him an inch. Whenever he tore down a wall, if something went wrong, it seemed he’d have to start over completely from scratch.

  Shaking her head, she said, “It seems Michelle didn’t get that message. When did you break up?”

  He sighed deeply. Wait … was Cassandra jealous? He decided to let her know Michelle had hurt him. “Well, I guess it was when she turned down my marriage proposal and didn’t call me for five months, but we never really broke up, I suppose. It was over for me, though. And after our parents died, she hadn’t been here for me, of course, and I had too much to deal with besides holding onto my feelings for her.”

  Cassandra narrowed her eyes. “So it ended only a month ago? How long were you together?”

  He pursed his lips in defiance. When she put it that way, he supposed it did sound as though it hadn’t been resolved. But he persisted with his explanation. “It ended five months ago. We’d been together six years … but it was obvious that we didn’t want the same things.”

  “Six years?” she shot back. “Chad, you don’t just get over a relationship and walk away after six years.”

  “It’s complicated, Cassandra. It wasn’t a normal relationship. I think … I suppose we were more like friends, and she was always away, so I didn’t have to worry about attachments. I could always say I was in a relationship. That way I could concentrate on school and the business. Does that make sense?”

  She shrugged. “Yes and no. I basically did the same thing so I could finish my schooling without distractions, too. The only difference is, I just chose not to date as a rule.”

  “As a rule? What do you mean?” he asked in disbelief. The conversation had definitely turned in a different direction. A good change. He could learn more about her.

  “Well, I’d go out on group dates and doubled with my friend, Karen. But no, other than that … I never dated a guy long enough to get serious. I’ve never really had a boyfriend.”

  “Never?” he asked again, surprised. “How is that possible? You’re gorgeous.” Surprisingly, she blushed. How could she not know how stunning she was?

  A small smile turned up her cheeks. “And then, after Karen moved back to Florida and my dad died, I stopped dating altogether. After a while, guys just stopped asking. My dad had drilled it into my head the importance of being abstinent and that if I got too involved with a guy, it would end up in that direction. Jasmine had gotten pregnant with me when she was nineteen, even though they were using protection, and I saw how that ended.”

  “Cassandra … are you saying —” He shook his head. “Never mind … it’s none of my business.”

  “I’m not embarrassed. Actually, I’m proud of it. I know most girls aren’t at my age, but I just couldn’t disappoint my father. So, yes, to answer your unasked question … I am a virgin.”

  Now who was blushing? He swallowed a large breath; she was better than he’d imagined. He wished he could claim the same. He couldn’t. But at least he could say there’d only been one, the girl he’d planned to marry. At the time, he’d been so certain of their union he hadn’t felt guilty.

  He’d wanted Cassandra this afternoon, but he’d been truthful when he’d said he wouldn’t have attempted anything. He would never have disrespected her that way to assume she would go to bed with him after only a few days.

  There really wasn’t much to discuss about what she’d admitted. It was wonderful, but it was private, and he had no right to consider how her admission affected him. He would not base his decision on a woman based on that fact alone, but it was, admittedly, nice knowing she’d never been touched by another man.

  Not knowing how to respond, he just smiled. “So, where do we go from here … since you don’t date, as a rule, that is?”

  “We eat,” she suggested.

  He shook his head and chuckled. They had time, six months to be exact. He could relax. There was no reason to rush. He would let her know how he already felt about her the moment she opened up to him. He wouldn’t make the same mistakes.

  He took a bite of his pizza, chewing slowly. He wasn’t hungry anymore. He’d like another kiss, though. “If I hurry and shower, will you wait up for me?”

  “Sure,” she agreed.

  ***

  Cassandra watched as Chad bounded from the table and strolled down the hallway. She was exhausted. She usually didn’t go to bed until eleven, but it had been a long week. Heck, it had been a long three years, as she had thought just a few days ago.

  Carrying her pizza and soda to the sofa, she settled in to watch some TV. That would take her mind off the day, she hoped.

  As hard as she tried to relax, questions swarmed through her mind. What would Chad want to talk about? It was clear he was interested in her f
or more than just a friend or a business partner.

  She wondered how his conversation with Michelle had gone. He’d said that it was over, but would it really be over if she was back in town. Would he really be able to forget about six years and move on with his life?

  Especially since he knew she didn’t want to stay here past the six months, so what future did she hold? Was he really interested, or was he, as she’d thought before, just pretending affections so he could gain control over her and their house and business?

  Her head reeled, not sure what to think or what to believe. Closing her eyes, she stretched out the length of the sofa. She would rest a few minutes and try to clear her head before he came back upstairs.

  ***

  Chad hurried through his shower, but it felt too relaxing to leave. He let the scalding water pound his back and pour over his head.

  They had six months … she lived here for heaven’s sake. Why did he feel as if he had to profess his feelings immediately? He would have, he realized. If Michelle hadn’t shown up and ruined their evening, that is. He may have even asked her to marry him, as crazy as the idea sounded. It was all he could think about on the way home. That … and kissing her again.

  Sooner than he was prepared, the hot water started to wane. He hadn’t realized he’d been in here so long. He’d planned to just hop in and out and get back upstairs to Cassandra.

  Stepping out of the shower, he wrapped a towel securely around his waist.

  His mind spun as he pulled on a pair of shorts and a T-shirt. He was suddenly nervous, anticipating seeing her, and then he started smiling as he recalled their day.

  The way she’d pleaded with him when he grabbed her up to throw her in the water. He’d loved holding her in his arms. And their kiss … he could have kissed her for hours, and she was upstairs waiting for him. He hurried now … he wanted to kiss her again, to feel the warmth of her lips, and taste her sweet breath.

  He rushed up the stairs and across the hallway, but then stopped cold. Curled up at one end of the sofa, a pillow clutched in front of her like a teddy bear, Cassandra was breathtaking, but she was also sound asleep.

  He walked over to the trunk in the corner and pulled out an afghan. Lightly draping the blanket over her body, he knelt down in front of her.

  He swept her hair away from her face. “You are so beautiful, Cassandra,” he whispered as he leaned in and kissed her forehead. And by the way, I love you.

  He couldn’t utter the words, but he knew they were true. He felt more than he’d ever felt for anyone … and in only a few days. How would he feel if she left him in six months? Would he ever recover? He would not hold her back if it is what she wanted, but he would try to convince her to stay.

  Chapter Eleven

  The sun streaming through the windows again caused Cassandra to wake up earlier than usual.

  She lifted a cream-colored cashmere throw off her. She didn’t remember falling asleep, but she definitely didn’t get up and find a blanket in the middle of the night. Chad had evidently covered her. The sweet act struck her … somewhere deep inside of her. She’d lashed out at him several times, and he’d done nothing but defend himself and continued to be nice to her.

  And then he’d kissed her … God, how her insides had thrashed when he’d kissed her.

  Today, they would work together. And then what? Six months? Could she do this for six months? It had only been three days and she already felt overwhelmed, and she hadn’t even worked in the store yet.

  Coffee … she needed coffee, and Chad had enjoyed her coffee. She’d do something normal to start the day. She took a deep breath to steady herself, resolving to take every day as it came. She wouldn’t push for anything or run away from an opportunity. She would let the pieces fall where they may and hope she didn’t come out of this situation more broken than when she’d arrived.

  After brewing coffee, she headed upstairs to shower and change. The other day the employees had all been wearing khakis and a polo shirt with the ROCK emblem, so she would just throw on a pair of pants and a regular T-shirt.

  When she came downstairs, Chad was sitting at the table, a cup of coffee in his hand. He looked up. “Thanks.” He lifted his cup. “I never find time to brew coffee in the morning.”

  She walked into the kitchen, but leaned over the counter to gaze at him. He looked so good. She wished she hadn’t fallen asleep last night. “Are we in a hurry?”

  He shook his head. “Not really. I usually arrive before eight, but it doesn’t matter. Mark works on Wednesday. He’ll open if I’m running late.” He lifted his cup, allowing a pause in their conversation. “So, you fell asleep on me last night?”

  She tilted her head. “I didn’t fall asleep on you. You weren’t even in the room.” She smiled at her flirting. It was so unlike her. She turned away to prepare a cup of coffee before he could see the pink that she was certain had taken residence on her cheeks.

  “You know what I mean.” He chuckled through his words. “Now I have to wait all day to talk to you.”

  She walked back to the table and sat across from him. “What’s there to talk about?” She smiled, hoping her words didn’t come across as insensitive.

  He stared at her for a moment before answering. “I honestly don’t understand women. Maybe that’s why I’m twenty-eight and still single,” he complained. “I thought women liked to talk about situations like this instead of ignoring the pink elephant in the room.”

  “It’s just that —”

  As yesterday … when they’d started to discuss something sensitive, he jumped up. “Let’s go, Cassandra. We have a long ride. We can talk in the car … if you want to …”

  She followed him out to his truck, waiting while he walked around to her side and opened up the door. She allowed him to lift her up without complaint.

  “Thank you for not giving me a hard time.” He smiled, then shut the door.

  She waited patiently for him to walk around the car. He was muttering to himself and shaking his head again. She couldn’t help but laugh. By the time he jumped up on his seat, she was rolling with laughter.

  He looked at her with disdain at first and then couldn’t help but laugh himself, even though he had no idea whatsoever why she was giggling.

  She put her hand over her mouth to try to stop laughing. “Chad, you’re hilarious.”

  He stopped laughing. “Why?”

  “I don’t know. I just can’t seem to wrap my head around you.”

  He muttered something about wrapping arms as he shifted the car into gear and peeled out of the driveway. He had so many different personalities. In one moment he acted and sounded like a college student who wanted nothing more than to suck whatever he could out of life. At other times he was intelligent … almost professor like, and then he could be so compassionate. And the next he was muttering how he didn’t understand females and sounded utterly insecure.

  They had driven for a few minutes before he turned his fiery blue gaze on her. “Are you going to explain?”

  If flames are hottest when they’re blue, Chad’s eyes could scorch an unsuspecting woman. Thankfully, he returned his eyes to the road, which made it easier for her to speak.

  “I’m sorry,” she started, “I didn’t mean it in a bad way. You’re just so different from anyone I’ve ever met, and I’m having a difficult time trying to figure you out.”

  Chad shot her a swift but poignant glance. “Maybe you shouldn’t try so hard.”

  “You make me laugh, Chad,” she said seriously. “I haven’t laughed in forever, and you make me laugh. It’s nice.”

  This time his peek in her direction was thoughtful. “You make me laugh too,” he said. “Although it was at my expense, I believe, but still … you’re right … it does feel good.”

  Cassandra repositioned herself on the seat, pulling her leg up underneath her. “I do have a question, though.”

  He shot a glance her way again, suddenly looking apprehensive. She wi
shed he’d just keep those blue eyes on the road. The road had constant turns and bends, as it followed the river’s course.

  “It’s nothing really, no pink elephant.” She giggled. “But I noticed you keep alternating between calling me Cassie and Cassandra. It doesn’t really matter … though, no one has called me Cassie since Jasmine. My dad had always called me Cassandra. I just haven’t been able to pinpoint why. When you were upset earlier, you called me Cassandra, and then when we got out to the truck, you called me Cassie. But yesterday … when you kissed me … you called me Cassandra.” She was babbling, trying to explain, she realized, probably she shouldn’t have even brought it up.

  He chanced a sideways glimpse at her again. At least driving was a good place to talk; his piercing blue eyes couldn’t distract her. “I honestly don’t know. I didn’t realize I’d done that. But now that you mention it … when I think of you as Cassie, I think of you as the girl I took kayaking, threw in the lake, and playfully banter with. When I think of you as Cassandra … well, numerous thoughts swirl through my head at the same time.” He contemplated for a second. “Passionate,” he finally said. “I think that sums it up. Cassandra is the passionate side of you. Lying on the blanket on the mountain peak, accusing me of being engaged, in either situation you were passionate.”

  She crossed her arms over her chest. “Now wait a minute … I didn’t accuse you of being engaged. I was clearly informed by Michelle you were engaged.”

  “I know, Cassandra.” He didn’t turn to look at her, but she could see his smirk. “Mystery solved. You are passionate, aren’t you?”

  She let out a thin, aggravated sigh. “Must you always try to rile me up,” she groaned.

  “You asked the question,” he said, unrepentant.

  The road lengthened beneath them, neither of them wanting to attack the elephant in the backseat. They had to work together today.

  They were within a few minutes of arriving at the store when he finally spoke again. “Will you go out with me, Cassandra? On a date,” he clarified.