Chapter Ten
For the next several days, he tried to tell himself he didn’t need the aggravation of such a difficult woman in his life. He needed a woman who’d share with him without reservation.
He avoided the side of town the bookstore was on. Tried not to think about her. Matt was annoyed as hell at him. Gave him a lecture about how of course Cassie got her back up when she’d been controlled all those years and how Shane had a tendency to steamroll people to get what he wanted. Made the infuriating comment that Cassie was as stubborn as Shane was and that he’d met his match in her.
On Thursday he walked past The Honey Bear and saw the familiar fall of ebony hair and that long tall body. Cassie sat inside having lunch with Marc of all people. Shane stood at the door for a while, watching his little brother laugh and flirt and cajole Cassie. Just when he was ready to go in there and snatch his brother bald headed for moving in on his woman, Shane realized Marc was trying to get her to eat.
Marc looked up, face darkening when he saw Shane in the doorway, before moving his eyes back to Cassie. A sick feeling gathered in Shane’s stomach and he went inside.
“Hi, mind if I join you?” He kept his voice light until he saw her face. Dark circles, impossible to cover completely with makeup, smudged the normally flawless skin below her eyes. Eyes that had lines of fatigue around them.
“I’m just leaving.”
The caramel of her voice was flat.
“You haven’t finished eating, sweetie. You promised me you’d finish half that sandwich. You wouldn’t break a promise would you?” Marc cajoled her.
“I’ll take it to go. I promise I’ll eat it when I get home.” She smiled at Marc.
“Cassie, please, can we talk?” Shane wanted to touch her, had burned to touch her since she’d walked away from him Sunday night but his pride had stopped him from calling her. Damn it.
“I think we’ve said all we needed to.”
“I’m sorry. I’ve missed you. You look terrible. I’m sorry.” He scrubbed hands over his face and took a deep breath. “Can I walk you to your car at least?”
“I’m going to go get this wrapped up for you, okay, Cassie?” Marc stood and grabbed her plate.
“Thank you, Marc.” She turned back to Shane and met his eyes. Their connection sparked. “I didn’t drive. I walked.”
“Okay. Can I walk you home then?”
Marc brought her a bag and handed it to her, kissing her cheek. “You promised. Don’t make me give you my pouty face. I’m told it’s quite devastating.”
Cassie laughed. “I promised. Thanks, Marc.”
He shrugged and moved past his brother, shooting him a glare over her shoulder. “Of course, sweetie. That’s what friends are for. Now I’ll see you Monday. You promised that too.”
“Okay, okay. I’ll see you then.”
She watched Marc go and then grabbed her handbag and the paper sack that held her leftovers.
Moving so she could see him coming, Shane reached out to touch her arm. He knew there was hope when her eyes closed a moment. “Darlin’, I’m a pushy bastard. But damned if I don’t just think you’re the best thing that ever happened to me. I think we covered the arrogant ass part in an earlier conversation. I’d like to refer you back to that.”
“You can walk me home,” was all she said as she headed toward the door and out onto the sidewalk.
“Would you like me to drive you? It’s awfully warm out here and you look tired.”
“I can walk. It’s five blocks. And I am tired.”
“Okay. How about I carry your leftovers so you can hold my hand?” Without saying anything she handed him the paper sack after a block and he took her hand in his. Relief rushed through him.
They didn’t speak much on the walk but she invited him in.
“Only if you’ll finish eating. I haven’t eaten either. You have any food inside?”
She rolled her eyes and jerked her head, ordering him inside.
He’d been unsure what to expect. His own place was a pit, he’d been eating out a lot and sleeping on the couch, but her apartment was clean enough.
“Sit down, I’ll make you a sandwich.” She looked him up and down. “Two. You want iced tea?”
He grinned and she made a soft sound, part annoyance, part affection. He watched her as she moved in the kitchen, making him sandwiches and putting her leftovers on a plate. Within moments she placed the plates on her small table and went back to grab the teas, sitting down with a sigh.
“You haven’t called.”
“Neither have you.” It sounded petulant even to his own ears.
“No. Because I’ve told you I can’t deal with feeling controlled. That may not have been your intention but I was up front with you from the start that I have hot-button issues. What’s your excuse?”
Damn she was direct. He swallowed hard. “I don’t have one. Pride I guess. I’m a damned fool.”
She looked him up and down and nodded shortly. “Yeah. But you’re well meaning.”
Unable to hold back a smile, he gave her one and took her hand. She let him. “Okay, the deal is, you and I have some major chemistry. But we’re both stubborn. I think this will lead to fights.”
“You’re brilliant. You should have pursued rocket science.”
He snorted but laughed anyway. “Sarcasm doesn’t suit you. But I think if we know this and you absolutely know I’ll not raise my hand to you ever, we can be mad, take a few steps back for a few hours and work it through. No more three days without speaking.”
“Four days, asshole.”
“You’re a hard woman. Yes, four days. No more, okay? We’ll work it through? Because you’re worth it to me. I’ve missed you like crazy. Matt isn’t speaking to me and I’m pretty sure after Marc tells my momma what you look like, I’m in big trouble from her too. My arms have been empty without you.”
She softened. “You know I’m nearly helpless when you say that stuff. All right. I’ve missed you too.”
“You look like hell.”
“I haven’t been sleeping well.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Stop saying that. We’re done with that now. I’m sorry too. And I’ve just had some bad dreams. My therapist called in some pills to help me sleep better. I picked them up yesterday.”
“And are they helping?”
“I haven’t taken them. I...” She didn’t want to be that far under in case Terry found her. If he broke in, she’d be helpless and he’d kill her. She’d dreamt of it over and over since Sunday night.
“You?”
“I just don’t like narcotic sleep. It makes me feel out of control.”
He nodded. “You working tomorrow?”
“Yes. Every Friday.”
“I’m on shift until six tonight. I’ll be back here with Chinese food and some clothes by seven. Don’t worry, I’ll sleep on the couch if you like. But you’re going to sleep tonight and I’ll be here to make sure you’re safe. You’ll take those pills and start feeling better because you’re the guest of honor at a big party in just a few days.”
She started to refuse but she wanted him here. He did make her feel safe. She didn’t have the strength to refuse him. And she didn’t want to.
“Okay. Thank you, Shane.”
He came to kneel before her. “Cassie, I care very deeply about you. I’m sorry you’ve felt unsafe all this time while we’ve both been stupid. But you don’t know how happy it makes me that you’ll let me help, in even such a small way. Now eat.”
* * *
That night he’d slept beside her, her body in his arms, breath on the skin of his neck. They’d made love but she’d kept her shirt on and the lights off. He knew she had body image issues and he didn’t push her but he wanted her to know how beautiful she was. He hoped she’d trust him enough to let him see all of her some day soon.
He’d gotten up and ready first. She was a bit groggy when her alarm had gone off but some coffee and toast helped her wake up. When he’d left for work she was already looking better for her full night’s sleep.