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“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.
