Chapter Two
Cassie couldn’t deny that Slade was a good looking guy, but he also knew it. He was way too cocky, and she didn’t like him. Even though he was pretty to look at, she wasn’t falling for him. She knew he was a player as well, and she had heard the evidence with her own ears.
Running the pen along her lip, she couldn’t help the way her body awakened at the thought of his touch. It was wrong. After being with Andrew and losing a part of herself to him, she’d vowed to never be with anyone else. Growing up all she had ever wanted was kids and a family, a home, but she had changed her mind. There was no way she could trust a man again.
“You’re still here?” Daniel asked. “Don’t you go out to lunch?”
She jumped as she turned to look at the sheriff. Seeing that a couple of hours had passed, her cheeks heated, and she jumped up. “I’m so sorry. Time flew by, and I didn’t even realize.” She’d been too busy daydreaming about Slade, and she was going to snap right out of it.
He was a player, and she meant what she said, a walking, talking sexual disease.
Leaving the sheriff’s office, she made her way toward the diner where her meatball sub was waiting for her. She loved meatballs with pretty much anything. Paying for her sandwich, she left the diner and headed toward the park near the lake. Taking a seat at the bench, she unwrapped her lunch, and took a bite. Closing her eyes, she released a moan as the flavors of the onion, garlic, tomatoes, and beef exploded in her mouth.
She loved her food, so much.
“This is where you come to?” Slade asked.
Opening her eyes, she watched as the object of her thoughts took a seat beside her. She frowned. “Did I invite you to eat lunch with me?” she asked, feeling like a bitch but really needing to keep him away from her.
“Nope. I invited myself, and I have to say, I’m not disappointed. I’ve been curious about where you disappear to.” He looked around at the other families that came to the park to each lunch.
Taking another bite of her sandwich, she tried to ignore his presence. Lunch was something she enjoyed so much. She loved her food, and right now, he was invading her space.
“You’re not going to talk to me?” Slade asked.
She glanced at him as he unwrapped his own sandwich, which looked like roasted beef with onions and peppers, and lots of cheese.
“That’s fine. I can deal with the silence. It makes a refreshing change actually. Women usually talk my ear off. It can get quite irritating.”
Gritting her teeth, she kept on ignoring him, refusing to say a word to the man beside her even as she felt rude.
“I mean, women love to talk a whole lot, don’t you think? Usually it’s them begging me to do stuff to their bodies, to make them scream a li—”
“Don’t you have anyone else to each lunch with?” she asked, caving as the images he was giving her were just too much.
“So you do speak. I knew I’d get something that would make you give in. Talking about sex unnerves you. I find that really interesting.”
She sighed, and slid down the bench to try to put some distance between herself and his very hard body. She was never affected like this by anyone else, and right now, it was driving her crazy that he was getting under her skin.
Was something in the air? Had there been some gas released? Her hormones were all over the place, and she was hating it.
“It doesn’t unnerve me. I don’t need to hear about what you do with other women, or any woman.” She took a bite of her sandwich, and watched the families as they were having fun. Lunchtime always evoked these feelings inside her. She felt like she was missing out on something. Her father never brought her to the park, or taken her out to lunch. From a young age, she’d had to learn to do everything herself.
The pain struck her hard, and she rubbed her chest, aware that the dreams she had as a little girl would never come to pass. In all of her twenty-five years, she had learned one thing: men were never to be trusted.
Daniel was the only exception to the rule. He’d been like a father figure when he needed to be. Still, it didn’t help that it only served to remind her that her own father preferred the bliss at the bottom of the bottle. For many years she’d thought she could help him, to get him to stop. He’d not always been addicted to the bottle. Sure, when her mother was mean, he’d drink, telling her it was easier to numb the pain. Her mother was her dad’s greatest weakness.
“Then come out on a date with me. I’ll show you what a really good time is.”
She turned toward him, and glared. “I have no interest in dating you, Slade, nor being anything other than neighbors, or colleagues. Please, try to bug someone else.” Thinking about her father had taken her appetite. Wrapping the half uneaten sub, she stood up, and carried it back to work with her. She couldn’t throw anything away, food especially.
“Wait, wait, wait.”
She hadn’t made it more than three steps when Slade stopped her, grabbing hold of her arm.
It was then that she realized neither of them had touched before, and she didn’t like how good his hand felt on her elbow. Using every single ounce of strength she owned, she didn’t flinch away from his touch. She stared at him, and waited.
“I don’t want to make you uncomfortable.”
“Then stop screwing women while I’m in the backyard.” She watched his reaction, and she just knew in her gut that he did it on purpose. “You know I’m outside relaxing and yet you do it anyway. Why?”
“I’m an asshole.”
“That’s no damn excuse. Do it again, Slade, and I swear I’ll call Daniel!” She went to storm away, but she tripped on a patch of earth, and would have landed face first if Slade hadn’t caught her.
“Women are always falling at my feet, but you do it so gracefully.”
Her heart was racing, especially as his muscular arms were wrapped around her, holding her close. Licking her lips, she stared at him, and hated that her body felt alive with his touch, and they hadn’t even been touching anywhere inappropriate.
“I wasn’t falling.”
“I know. You were trying to make a really good exit, and you have a really nice ass to watch walk away.”
“Is this what you’re all about? Laughing, joking, not being real?”
“Life is too short not to live it. You need to stop being that virginal goddess that you like, and start being adventurous.”
“You mean taking you up on your offer?” she asked, already hating that she’d fallen in front of him.
“I can show you a few moves that will make your head spin.”
“You’re the best thing that has happened to me, Cassie. I’ll love you for the rest of my life.”
Those were the words she had believed of Andrew when he’d spilled them from his lips. She had believed him, and that had been her biggest mistake, and it wasn’t going to happen again. Her vow of being with no one would stay. Even if her body did want Slade, she wasn’t going to have him.
Pulling out of his arms, she didn’t even say anything. Grabbing her wrapped sandwich from the ground, she left him standing there, refusing to say another word. When she was back behind her desk, she tapped her fingers on the desk, and wished she could think of somewhere else for her to be.
“You okay?” Daniel asked, coming out of his office.
“Yeah, I’m fine. I had lunch.” She stared at the screen, knowing that Slade would be coming in any minute. “Actually, I’m not feeling so good today. Is it okay if I take off early, and head home?”
Daniel nodded. “Sure. You keep hours that I can’t even pay you for. You’re a hard worker, Cassie. Go home, relax, and enjoy the sun. I heard a storm is heading our way.”
“Thank you.”
She grabbed her bag, and was out the door, already walking home. Her stomach was twisting, and she didn’t like how Slade had gotten under her skin. She wanted nothing to do with him, not now, not ever.
He was a dangerous man who used women for his own amusement. She’d seen some of the women he played with come to the office with a cake, or some other concoction in the hopes of tempting him.
Cassie wouldn’t be that woman, no matter how much he could make her body sing.
****
Rubbing his chin, Slade watched as Cassie dragged out a chair, and then took a seat. She had sunglasses on, and a book rested on her stomach. The one-piece bathing costume was still so conservative, but it showed off her figure nicely. He never saw her wear it anywhere else but in her backyard.
If he ever told her that he’d seen it, he knew she wouldn’t wear it again. What was it about this woman that seemed to have question marks all about her? Daniel rarely talked about her, and no one would gossip with him as he was still considered an outsider, given he’d only been in town for a few years. All he did know was that she had a deadbeat dad who was no longer in the picture. She’d grown up in a trailer park. Maybe that was it. He needed to visit her old home, and see if anyone would like to talk.
He’d gladly pay for the information because he wanted to know as much about her as he could.
She tucked her long brown hair behind her head, and settled down. He loved the little wriggle she did, her hand going to the book on her stomach as her knee lifted up. She hadn’t started reading yet, but she would.
There was nothing else for him to do today, so he was just going to enjoy the view.
Actually, he wanted to talk to her, and he knew how to do it without her moving an inch. He entered his backyard, and went to the bottom at the far end, where the fence panel lifted up. He’d discovered this a few months ago when he’d been painting.
The previous owner had told him about the little curse or blessing, whichever it was, of the single people who moved into these houses, ending up together. Slade didn’t believe in bullshit like that, and he lifted up the panel, entering her garden.
Now he was trespassing, but he needed to know why she had left work early yesterday. He had every intention of talking to her about it after he’d given her time to cool off. When he got back to the office, Daniel said that she wasn’t feeling well.
It was probably the first lie he had caught her in, and he was shocked. He didn’t think for a second that Cassie could lie to Daniel. Still, Slade wanted to know if it was him, and he wanted to make shit right between them.
There was a seat beside her, and he took it.
“Why are you here?” she asked, surprising him when she spoke, and didn’t freak out.
“You knew I was here?”
“I saw that fence when I first moved in. The previous owner told me all of its secrets. I didn’t expect you to use it.” She pushed her glasses up onto her head. “What do you want?”
He watched as she folded her arms, trying to hide her curvy body from his gaze.
“You can relax. I’m not a rapist. I only do willing women.”
“I didn’t think for a second that you’d do anything like that.”
“You didn’t?” he asked, somewhat shocked by that revelation. He figured she thought the worst of him no matter what.
“Just because I think you’re a jerk doesn’t mean I think you’re a rapist. I’ve heard the women you’ve been with, Slade. They’re there because they want to be.” She shrugged. “What I don’t understand is why you’re in my garden.” She sat up, leaning forward, and it caused a little gap between her breasts. Damn, those beauties had his cock getting hard.
He usually had a lot more self-control than this.
“Why did you run?”
“I don’t know what you’re on about.”
Slade stared at her and saw she was lying. Her cheeks were red. “You didn’t want to see me yesterday after what was said. Why?”
“I don’t feel comfortable being around a guy who can only make everything about sex. That’s not who I am. I’d really like for you to go now.” She moved her legs to the side, and stood.
He got up as well, and noticed how much smaller than him she was. She was so curvy, and he wanted to get his hands on her. He liked that she wasn’t afraid to eat either. Before he invaded her lunch the other day, he’d seen the enjoyment she had of her food. Some of the women he’d been with had all done the whole calorie counting, and refusing to eat food. He really didn’t give a fuck if a woman wanted a dressing with her salad, or if she wanted the last piece of fried chicken.
Life was too damn short to put everything off or to deny yourself what you really wanted.
He loved to play, and he intended to live every single day to the fullest.
“I noticed you don’t go on any dates.”
“You’re confusing me right now. You’re invading my garden because you want me to go on dates?” She frowned at him, holding the book to her chest as if it was some kind of lifeline.
“Look, I know that your dad was this big, giant asshole, but you don’t need to keep walking around with a stick up your ass.”
Slade regretted it as soon as he said it.
When he was around Cassie, he didn’t seem to get his shit together, and now it was making him put his fucking foot in his mouth.
“Wow, I mean, really, wow. You think because you’ve talked about me to random people that you have a right to tell me to live my life the way you think I should. What’s the matter, Slade? Not used to a woman not being interested in you?” She looked him up and down, and smirked.
“I don’t have a problem with a woman not wanting me, but believe me, you’re not one of them.” He stepped toward her. “You want me, which is what pisses you off. You don’t want to, I’ll give you that, but make no mistake, Cassie, your pussy wants me.”
Before he could stop her, she slapped him around the face. “Get out of my garden. You’re a pig, and there’s no way I’d ever fall for you. You’re a horrible excuse for a human being.” She turned on her heel, and stormed into her house.
Gritting his teeth, he was about to head back to his own garden, when he stopped. He couldn’t allow that to happen between them. She was his neighbor, and he knew she was a nice woman. He’d seen it himself with other people, how she’d always help anyone in need, from helping an old lady across the road, to listening to people moan even when she didn’t have the time.
They had gotten off on the wrong foot.
He wasn’t a monster, and his mother would be so pissed at him because of how he’d spoken to Cassie, no matter how she reacted to him.
Come on, Slade, get a fucking grip.
Before he could question himself, he made his way back into her house, and found her in the kitchen, pouring herself a drink.
“I’m sorry,” he said. “I don’t know why I said that stuff, but I didn’t mean it, and I’m sorry.”
She turned toward him with a glass to her lips. He watched as she removed the glass, and licked those beauties that would look so good wrapped around his dick.
Wrong thought.
“I’m sorry for hitting you.” There was a pause, and he saw her cheeks were a little red. “Would you like a drink? I made a fresh batch of peach tea.”
“I’d love some.”
She got him a glass, and handed it to him. “Here you go.”
He took the glass, and had a drink. It was really nice, sweet, fruity, and refreshing.
“I’m not always so rude.”
“And I’m not always so blunt or violent.” She moved so that the island was between them. He watched her as she drank. Her gaze kept landing on his. “I’m kind of embarrassed right now. For some strange reason, our conversations seem to move to sex.”
“I’m a jerk. Blame me.” This made her smile. “Did you hear about the supposed curse with this house?”
“You mean the couples before us? The ones that have ended up being married?” she asked.
“That’s the one.”
“I think we’re safe and sound with that. We can barely stand each other.” She stared at her glass, and he hated it.
He didn’t like the silence or the awkwardness between them. They were both better than that.
“Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot, but we also work together. I’m sorry for being mean, and I appreciate that you didn’t call Daniel about the noise. I won’t do it again.”
She smiled. “Thank you. I do appreciate that. I won’t ignore you, and I want to apologize for being a bitch. I’m not usually like that.”
“I also want to say sorry about commenting about your dad. I don’t know who he was, or anything about you. I’m sorry.”
She held her hand out. “Then it’s very nice to meet you, Mr. Coal.”
Slade didn’t hesitate. He took her hand and gave it a shake, smiling as he did. “Friends?”
“More like neighbors without attitude,” she said.
“I can live with that.” He finished his tea, and then let himself out of the back of the house.
There was no way he was going to be fixing that fence piece. Something told him he was going to be using it a whole lot more.