by Amelia Shea
“You like what ya see?” Cassie raised a brow and gave him a lopsided smile while leaning into the table. The gray V-neck dress dipped low on her chest. Becca had definitely been trying to get her laid when she bought it for her.
“You look sexy as hell,” he growled.
“Ya think?” Cassie played coy. Being drunk had its advantages—faux confidence.
His eyes heated, darkened, and he bowed his head in a curt nod.
“Sexy enough to get you to ditch those two and take me home?”
T’s face broke into a smile, a real smile. He rested his elbows on the table and leaned in. “Little girl, I don’t think you could handle the things I’d want to do to you.”
“We’ll never know until we try.”
He chuckled. “Maybe you’re not the good girl I thought you were.”
“Oh babe, make no mistake…I’m good.”
He stared at her. Was he considering her offer? Please say yes! One night with him, that was all she wanted. No cuddling or dating. Hell, he didn’t have to call. She wanted to have her first one-night stand with this guy.
Cassie saw her date coming back to the table. Damn! Go away and talk to your ex, buddy! He came to a halt where the blondes had just been standing. He looked between T and Cassie. He shifted where he stood. He looked like he might run away if T whispered “boo.” That thought made Cassie giggle, which brought both men’s attention to her.
“Uh, sorry to have left you.” He held up his phone. “Emergency.”
Yeah, right, emergency reconciliation? “No problem, I found company.”
He nodded and looked back at T. He gave him an awkward smile and reached out his hand. “Tom Newberry.”
Cassie watched T look Tom up and down and look back at his hand. He made no move to shake it; instead he scowled at him and got up from his chair. Tom immediately backed up to make room for T’s large presence. Cassie watched T pass Tom; the scowl firmly planted on his face. When he got to Cassie, he slowly leaned down, his mouth was inches from her face. Cassie just stared feeling the heat of his stare, a small eager smile on her face. Her breathing hitched and he angled to her ear. Please say yes! She could ditch Tom and be on her way to sex heaven with T.
Cassie’s nipples beaded, immediately getting turned on from his warm breath against her ear. “I’m gonna leave now before I take you up on your offer, get you in my bed and fuck you so hard you’ll be screaming out my name…for days.” He straightened his body and her panties completely moistened. She might have just come.
Cassie watched him walk over to the bar and throw down cash. He said something to the girls that made them pout and throw Cassie the death stare. He said something to Bogs, who looked over to their table. Cassie, still shocked and utterly aroused by his words, watched him make his way through the bar and out the door. Alone.
“Who was that?”
She turned back to her date, who seemed slightly annoyed. Cassie gave him an awkward smile. “Just a guy I know.”
A guy she hardly knew, who irritated her, infuriated her, and completely made her wish she had chased after him and begged him to take her up on her offer.
* * * *
It was just past eleven when T heard Stone’s truck pull into the driveway. He took another swig of his beer and rested his head back on the chair on his back deck. The night was clear with a warm breeze. He loved nights like this. He heard the front door open and Stone’s footsteps through the small entry into the kitchen.
He waited.
The door to the deck opened. “Hey, man.”
He didn’t bother turning around. He brought the bottle to his lips. “Hey.” He took a sip.
His neighborhood was quiet, even for a weekend. The small houses that lined his street were filled with young families, aside from a few singles, like himself. He liked the neighborhood, kids on the street riding their bikes, playing stickball, and lemonade stands. He may never have his own but he liked kids, even if they seemed to be scared of him.
Stone walked over to his cooler and grabbed a beer before settling down in the chair across from T’s. “Thought you were going out tonight?”
“I did, came home early.”
“Alone?”
“You see anybody here?” T took another swig of his beer. “Wasn’t feeling it tonight.”
“Been happening a lot lately,” Stone said.
T looked over at him questioningly.
Stone shrugged his shoulders. “Happened last week, too. It’s not like you to turn down pussy.”
“You worried about my dick, man? Because he’s just fine.”
Stone snorted. “Not thinking about your dick, just wondering what changed. Seems like ever since Cassie came along, you haven’t been fucking random chicks. Just sayin’.”
T remained quiet. Stone was right. Aside from Tina, who he had to fuck, he hadn’t been with any other girls. No one interested him except a little pixie. Even when he was with Tina, he’d been thinking of Cassie’s face as he fucked her. The only way he could come the last week with Tina was to think of those blue doe-like eyes staring at him, her pouty lips.
“Ya know, a wise asshole once told me, a woman sees you, the real you, ya don’t let that shit go…”
“Fucking Christ, Stone, let it go. Ya think this girl sees me ’cause she brought me brownies? Love has made you stupid.”
Stone laughed. “Yeah, real fucking stupid but I’ll take it. Got a woman who loves me, takes care of me, and gives me sweet. And man, you get a taste of it, you don’t let that shit go.”
T heard everything Stone was saying. He raked his hand over his face and breathed a heavy sigh. “Sadie’s the shit, man, and you deserve that, but it ain’t me. So, can we drop this?”
“Yeah I get it. Thought I saw this Cassie chick different, guess I was wrong. But I feel ya, she’s just another girl. Nothing special.”
Nothing special. T stared out into his dark yard, feeling his heart tighten in his chest. Cassie was special; he knew it the minute he set eyes on her in the apartment. Just the way she carried herself, all beautiful and kind and weird. Hell, weirdest chick he ever met. But she was herself, no excuses, not trying to impress him. She was real. He thought back to the morning when she whispered in his ear, telling him how she got off to him. He knew she was trying to fuck with him, get her revenge. He also knew it was one hundred percent true—she had gotten off to him. Cassie was all real and all beauty, with all her flaws.
He couldn’t stop thinking of her tonight, looking sexy as hell, and her offer. Her fucking offer. T took the last swig of his beer before throwing it in the garbage. The bottle crashed into the can. He reached over to his cooler for another.
“I grabbed your mail on the way in.” Stone reached out, one envelope in his hand.
T could tell by the size that it wasn’t a bill or a credit card statement. It was a letter. He grabbed it from his hand and tossed it in the garbage without glancing at it. He knew who it was from. T’s heart pumped and he tore off the top to his bottle.
“He’s still sending letters, huh?”
T nodded.
“You send them back?”
He snorted. “What’s the fucking point? Bastard’s still gonna send them. He won’t stop, this shit’s been going on for years, you know that. I could send it back and in another couple months, another fucking letter will be in my box.” Pressing the bottle to his lips, he took a large gulp.
“Ya ever read them?”
T shook his head. “He’s got nothing to say that I wanna hear. Can’t change the past.”
They sat in silence. His brother knew him better than anyone else. Right now, he knew T needed the silence, and gave it to him. His past was something he tried hard to forget, most days it was effortless. He moved on, moved forward with a real family that loved him. But every couple of months, for the last few years, his past had revisited him. Those were dark days.
Stone’s c
ell rang and he grabbed his phone reading his message. T looked over as he started to laugh. Stone smirked. “Bogs is bitchin’ about you cock blocking.”
“What the fuck?”
“Yeah, man, says you left him hanging with the angry bitches you bailed on. Says this Cassie chick has got your balls tied up so tight, you ditched the blondes for a night of jerking off to hot little baker girl.”
T rolled his eyes. “Are you fucking serious?”
Stone snorted. “Man, baker girl’s a sweet piece of ass.”
T growled and Stone burst out laughing.
“Shut the fuck up. Jesus, all this talking like bitches. You tell Sadie next time you come here she needs to give you your balls back first. Fucking pussy!”
Stone stuck up his middle finger, opened his own beer and took a sip. T looked back out over his yard into the night wondering if Cassie was home yet.
* * * *
The alarm blared and Cassie covered her pounding head with the pillow. I am never drinking again. She struggled under her pillow to move closer to the alarm. She poked her arm out from under the covers and started to randomly hit the alarm. On her third try, the sound was muted. Thank God.
She lay in bed cursing the makers of vodka and moved slowly to get out of bed. Her body was achy and she feared if she moved too fast she’d either get lightheaded or worse, puke. She made her way to the bathroom and splashed water on her face. Looking in the mirror, she shook her head. She was a walking disaster.
Her face was filled with day-old smudged makeup. Her hair was matted in the front and spiky all over the back. Not a good look. Luckily, she was alone.
She snorted. “Tom is probably in bed with his ex.”
She couldn’t wait to unleash on Becca about what an awful date he was. Worst date ever, the only thing that saved her last night from death by boredom were those Cosmos and then…
Her mind raced as she thought back to last night. Becca on the phone, the gray dress, her date picking her up and having dinner, staying at the bar for drinks, Cosmos, Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believing,” more Cosmos and…
“Oh no, no, no, please God no!” She groaned and dropped her head back.
It all came back to her now. T, and the drinks, and flirting, and offering herself to him.
“You like what ya see?”
“Sexy enough to get you to ditch those two and take me home?”
“Oh, babe, make no mistake…I’m good.”
“Oh, God, I’m gonna be sick.” She covered her mouth, whipped around and dropped to her knees. She lifted the seat seconds before she got rid of the entire contents of her stomach.
Moments later, she gently lay on the linoleum floor, thankful for the cool floor. She closed her eyes and took steady breaths. A voice in the back of her head whispered, “I’m gonna leave now before I take you up on your offer, get you in my bed, and fuck you so hard you’ll be screaming out my name…for days.”
Chapter 8
ANOTHER week from hell, but this time it was all worth it. Cassie stared out at the ballroom and smiled. It looked absolutely perfect. The tables were draped in cream and silver, all the dinnerware set and sparkling. The room was magnificent, and she took pride in knowing she played a part in it. This was one of Houston’s biggest events—it was the social event of the season. But more than that, it raised money for kids and found them homes.
“Beverly is on the warpath, heads up,” Evie whispered as she hurried by. Cassie turned to see Evie running for cover and took that as her cue to hide too. She double-checked the bar and went over the details with the caterers and wait staff. By the time she got back to the ballroom, guests had already begun to arrive. She strolled to the main entrance but was halted by Beverly’s overdone, pinched face.
“Where have you been?” she snarled.
“I was doing double-checks.”
“Well, there is no one to greet the guests. The hostess is nowhere to be found. Useless harlot! You need to play hostess until she returns. Now…go!” she ordered, before sashaying around and heading to the ballroom.
Cassie walked up to the desk and smiled at the guests entering. She had been at the desk for twenty minutes. Ten minutes prior Evie had come to her pale-faced, explaining that their dear hostess had taken a turn for the worst after downing shots with the bartender, and was now in a cab on her way home. Well, so much for a flawless night.
Cassie continued to greet. She was marking off the last guest when she heard a familiar voice.
“Well, considering how amazing this is, I should have known who was behind it.”
Cassie peered up to see Roxanne. She was beautiful in a long, fitted emerald green dress. She smiled as Roxanne walked to her.
“Roxanne, you look beautiful.”
“Pfft, this old thing.” She laughed. She grabbed Cassie for a hug before leaning back, giving Cassie the once over. “Now you…you look stunning!”
Cassie blushed at the compliment. She wore a red beaded dress that was just above knee length. She would love to wear a long formal gown but she suffered from short girl syndrome. Long gowns only shortened her legs. Not a good look.
“Cassie Miller, meet my handsome date, John Garrison.” She giggled and curled her arm around his. “He’s my dad.”
“Cassie, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” He was a very attractive older man.
“Sir.” She nodded and smiled.
“Oh yeah, and I brought my whole family.” She gestured behind her.
Cassie looked beyond Roxanne and saw the group file in. She clenched her hands tightly and her heart raced. Not tonight. She couldn’t do this tonight. Her palms started to sweat with inevitable dread. Why now? Why tonight?
The group surrounded Roxanne. Cassie watched as the guys looked at her with recognition. Stone and Bogs looked surprised to see her but both smiled. No one was more shocked than T. She met his eyes and stared. She gasped at the sight of him. He was wearing a black traditional suit that looked like it was made for him the way he filled it out. His beard was neatly trimmed. He looked amazing. His stare held hers until he looked down at his arm. Her gaze followed his to the red fingernails clutching the crook of his arm. His date. She was gorgeous with her long blonde hair draping over the back of her skintight red dress and an abundance of cleavage on display. Her red dress made Cassie feel like a boy.
Cassie looked back at Roxanne and smiled. Suck it up, Cassie. You made a fool of yourself once already, no repeat performances.
“Well, you all look lovely. Welcome to the Gala.” She glanced down at the seating book, trying to gather herself. “You are all seated at table twelve. Hors d’oeuvres are being served for the next hour. Dinner and commencement will begin at eight. There are several bars throughout the ballroom and patio. We hope you have a wonderful night.”
Roxanne passed by and squeezed her hand as she went in, followed by Stone and the pretty brunette she assumed was his fiancé, Sadie. She gave them a warm smile. The others filtered past with their dates in tow. Cassie focused on the book in front of her.
A large hand knocked on the table. “Looking good, baker girl.”
Cassie looked up to see Bogs smiling down at her and then he winked. She suppressed a smile. He was sweet. She watched him walk past and noticed the red dress from the corner of her eye. How could anyone not take notice, it screamed look at me! As they all filed down the hall she took a last glimpse.
T’s eyes blazed into hers. He was looking over his shoulder with a heated stare. He gave her the once-over from head to toe, and when his eyes came back to her, his lips quirked. She could feel her body flush and her heart beat faster. She averted her eyes back to the table in front of her. He was checking her out? And then he almost smiled. What was that all about?
* * * *
T was ready for this night to end. Three hours of this Gala bullshit was plenty. He was only here for his dad. It meant a lot to him and his mom, and their family, so he
showed up every year. In years past, he came as Roxanne’s date—they all did. They did it as a family. This year, because Stone had Sadie, it was suggested the guys bring dates. Considering he fucked, not dated, that left his options small.
Rene, his date, was Bogs’ date’s sister. She seemed fine when they talked on the phone but as soon as he met her, he knew. Clinger. He was going to kick the shit out of Bogs for this set-up.
Everyone sat around the table finishing dinner.
T scanned the room again. She had to be here; she was working. He had only seen her one other time since they all arrived. She had been standing at the bar with an older couple, smiling and laughing at something that was said. She looked carefree and happy. He watched as she listened to the old man before scrunching her face and throwing her head back laughing. It was a genuine laugh; everything about her seemed genuine and real. For him, that made her sexier than any woman he had ever known.
He picked up his glass and finished off his beer. That girl was driving him fucking crazy. She looked gorgeous in that little red dress. She wasn’t showing her skin like his date, but man, that’s what made it so hot. The dress curved tight around her body. The thought of taking her back to his place and stripping her down only intensified his desire to see her again, making his dick rock-hard.
There was no more denying it. He wanted her, he needed her, and he was going to have her. He just had to figure out how to do it without fucking it up. This was new territory for him; he had never had to try before.
A hand caressed his knee under the table. Yeah, he was going to kill Bogs. He looked over at his date, who was staring at him will a small smile, batting her lashes. She leaned closer. “Dance with me.”
“Don’t dance.”
She pouted and sat back in her seat but kept her hand on his knee. Christ, when is this fucking thing over? He caught Bogs’ attention and mouthed, “You’re dead.”
Bogs laughed, which drew everyone’s attention. He placed his hands on the table and stood up. “If you all will excuse me, I think I’m going to dance.”
