CHAPTER FOUR

Cassie

Cassie had seen the movie before, but it didn’t matter. Renner had clearly shown he cared about helping her. Warmth spread through her torso. She had to admit his genuine smile and eagerness were a bit contagious. His preference of movies was noteworthy.

Even after he’d left the room, his cologne lingered in the air. Not the same scent he’d worn last night. Probably a smart thing. This one was more woodsy and earthy. He had good taste there, as well.

Everything about him was in good taste—clothes, manners, general grooming.

Except his profession.

Who went from a bodyguard to an escort?

A faint rushing noise whooshed overhead. The water pipes.

He’s taking a bath?

Cassie went to the stairs, but when her hand reached the railing, she stopped.

Trusting people was difficult, at least right now. So much of her life was in chaos and it was hard to let go of the little control she held. This was her house and it was the easiest thing to claim power over.

But she’d told him to feel free to use the bathroom. TV, music, anything.

It’s just a freakin’ bath, Cass. Get over it.

She returned to the couch and curled her feet under her legs. It was a decent summer night outside, but shivers rippled through her body, and the chenille blanket didn’t cut it. What chilled her more was anticipating what normally came after the shivers.

Panic attacks.

It’d happened every night since…

Cassie had never had one until that first day back from the hospital. She’d been alone, would never be held by him again, never hear the garage door open when he returned from work. Would never kiss him again. Their plans for another child were dashed. Landon would always be an only child.

Her heart caved and she squeezed her legs to her chest, making herself as small as possible. Everything closed in on her and all she could see was her knees, trembling at the end of the tunnel. A vise gripped her lungs and breathing was impossible.

No, Cassie. The therapist’s voice broke through in some distant void. Open up. You can’t breathe if you’re all closed. Open everything.

She forced her legs to the floor and pressed into the couch.

Open the body, open your fists, even your mouth. Get as wide as you can.

One deep breath after another, the tunnel vision slowly subsided and tingles raced through her limbs.

Her therapist had suggested anti-anxiety meds or anti-depressants, whatever she thought would help. A drug addict’s dream sat right in front of her, her choice of prized pills, and she flat out rejected them.

Her body had never responded well to over-the-counter medication, so Lord knew what kind of damage those prescription suckers would inflict on her already-frail body. She needed a good night’s sleep, not a coma-inducer.

“Cassie?”

She opened her eyes and saw him, upside down, leaning against the railing.

Everything stopped.

Sparkling blue eyes, wavy blond hair, and that incredible, smiling stare that’d made her heart melt the first time they met. And every moment since. It couldn’t be…

Whirling around, she focused again. Kyle’s image was gone. Instead, the form that gripped the railing was Renner. There was no mistaking the hazel eyes and short dark hair. Inquisitive stare.

Great, now I’m hallucinating. Maybe I do need those meds.

“What’re you doing?” he asked.

“Just…laying here.” Caught, spread open like a bug on a windshield. Cassie cringed and wanted to crawl under the couch.

“Well, if you’re done with the movie.” He nodded to the TV, where the credits scrolled through. “Surprise number two is ready for you.”

She took another deep breath and pushed off the couch. The tingling had settled and walking wasn’t difficult. She probably looked as winded as she felt.

When she reached the railing, Renner took her hand and helped her up the stairs. His palm was warm and the callused fingers proved him a man of action, hard work, and little down time. Her clammy hand felt tiny in his.

“You’re all wound up again,” he commented in a soothing voice. “Relax.”

“I’m fine.” Her tight response failed at sounding calm.

“It’s all right.” He squeezed her hand. “I have something to help with that.”

Oh God. Please don’t let this be another attempt at…his job.

Her escort guided her to the bedroom, where she sighed in relief. Exactly as it was before. But…he kept walking. When he opened the bathroom door, she stopped.

Renner had run a bath. With lavender scented bubbles, tealight candles scattered throughout the room, and a mini-loofah sitting on the ledge. The mirror was fogged over and gentle music flowed from his phone tucked away on the counter.

The thought and effort he’d put behind this touched her, just as the warmth in the humid bathroom eased the shivers from before. The lavender was heavenly, but Cassie couldn’t remember buying that scent. He must’ve brought it with him, along with all the candles.

Wait. Does he intend to…

“This is just for you,” he broke in, as if he’d read her mind. “So you can wipe the scared rabbit look from your face.”

“You did all this for me?”

“I got you to smile. Now, my goal is to get you to relax. In private.”

Not likely, after a semi-panic attack.

“Take your time. Come down when you’re ready.”

With a squeeze of her shoulder, Renner closed the door behind him.

She stood by the tub and let the humid air soak her face. Heat absorbed through her clothes and ebbed the remaining tremors. Cassie hadn’t had a bath in years. Showers were faster, more efficient and easier to clean.

The music switched to a soothing piano melody…Yanni, from the sound of it.

Renner knew how to please a woman. Kind of a job requirement. Whether skills he learned on the job, or a natural ability, she couldn’t guess. As sweet as he was, he was still a stranger. A kind and thoughtful stranger. She didn’t trust him yet. With his penchant for jumping straight to intimacy from the previous night, it was likely she couldn’t. What else should I expect? It was a possibility from the moment she picked up the phone to order his services.

Cassie turned the lock. Then peeled off her clothes and tested the water. Nice and hot, but not scalding.

Entering a bathtub wasn’t like peeling off a bandage. To truly savor it, submerging needed to be slow. “Screw it,” she murmured and dunked herself completely.

The water burned her face, but she liked it. It was the fastest way to chase away the remnants of her panic attack. No sound, no demands, no pressures from the outside. Just the swirling heat encasing her like a womb.

Taking her time, Cassie scrubbed every inch and absorbed the lavender like a drug. If she drank, this would be a perfect time for a glass of wine. Or a bottle. The relaxing music would have to be enough.

Time escaped and she lost track of how many songs changed. When the water turned lukewarm and her skin pruned, she climbed out and let the bubbles cascade down her legs. She’d forgotten to grab a towel from the linen closet, but her Turkish robe hung in the master closet.

A birthday gift from her husband.

She wrapped herself in it and hugged her arms for another indiscriminate length of minutes.

Blowing out the candles filled the bathroom with the twirling smoke of burnt wicks. The scent was almost as good as the lavender.

Cassie brushed through her hair and rubbed lotion on her face. Her skin was still red from the hot bath, but that didn’t matter. Renner would never see it.

Tucking herself into the robe, she unlocked the door and strode out of the bathroom. The wood floor in the hallway was cold under her bare feet, and there were no sounds coming from downstairs.

Where’s Renner?

When she turned the corner, she froze. Everything the relaxing bath had done to her muscles erased as she coiled inside.

Renner stood by her son’s room, peering inside the open door.