Oh, fuck me, I told him he was sexy. And the sexy man in question just couldn’t stop grinning at her. At her. What was it her ex told her just before he up and left with his new talent?
“You’re cute Cass, but let’s face it you’re too short and chubby and a little too old to be trying to make it in the city anymore, sweets. You just aren’t special enough.”
Cassie grimaced at the memory. She couldn’t argue with his logic. Mark, her ex-boyfriend and ex-director, might be a prick, but he wasn’t wrong.
She was short. She did weigh a good twenty, okay, thirty pounds more than she should. And, no, she wasn’t getting any younger. But. What. The. Fuck? Neither was he!
Cassie glanced at the office. Sure, the man in front of her was her polar opposite in every way. He was gorgeous and a doctor! But he’d just asked her out! Her. Was someone punking her?
Cause after the morning she’d just had, she certainly couldn’t take it. Come on universe? Don’t mess with me! She silently begged.
“I’m home for the holidays,” she answered his question about living in town about as vaguely as she could. She wondered at the frown that quickly flitted across his handsome face. Did the idea of her not staying disturb him? Interesting.
“So, you said you’re going to a dance on Friday? Must be the holidays or something, because I’m supposed to go the ‘Singles in Maccon City Annual Holiday Ball’ myself this Friday. It’s a hospital fundraiser, so I am obligated,” he explained.
“Wow! That is a coincidence, it’s the one I’m going to,” she bit her lip. Would he think she was hedging for him to ask her out? Cassie wasn’t the type of person to play coy. It was just a coincidence.
“is it?” His brown eyes probed hers. She felt her face heat under his intense gaze.
“Doesn’t your girlfriend mind you going to a singles ball?” She could’ve died at her not so subtle inquiry. Nosy be-yotch. Oh whatever, she said to her inner voice.
Yes. She was poking her nose in his business, but, screw it. She should know what she was getting into before she continued this flirtation. He was simply too good-looking to be single. Damn the man!
“Now, Cassie,” he murmured.
Oh boy, her name sure sounded good coming off his lips. Rolled off his tongue as if he were savoring each little syllable. It made her think of all those naughty little things she’d like to do with that tongue of his.
Things she’d fantasized about, but somehow never got around to in real life. She could almost hear her ex-boyfriend telling her she simply didn’t have that type of body or personality that inspired wild sex. That might be true, but she still thought about it she was human after all.
Besides, the good doctor here didn’t seem to have an issue with either her body or her personality. So back to that tongue…
“What was that?”
“Uh, nothing,” Cassie stifled her moan as she shook her head.
That’s what you get for daydreaming. She squeezed her eyes shut and tried to stop herself from picturing the sexy doctor on her soft heather gray sheets wearing nothing, but her. No! Bad girl. She’d have to save that image for later.
“I said,” his voice sounded low in her ear, and she opened her eyes to meet his, “Would I have asked you to dinner if I had a girlfriend, Cassie?”
“Uh, no?” It came out more of a question than a statement. Cassie didn’t know him at all. Still, she had a feeling he was being truthful. Maybe she was foolish to hope, but she always was an optimist.
“Come on, what do you say, just us and some food?” His hand brushed the side of her face and she shivered.
Whoa. She must have been daydreaming when he crossed the room. He was fast. Like, supernaturally fast. He stood so close to her, she couldn’t think straight. Her body seemed to lean into him all on its own. As if bowing to some unseen force. Her skin felt warm, it was getting harder to breathe.
“I don’t know if we should do that, doctor, um, what’s your first name again?”
“It’s David, and yours is Cassiopeia,” he said.
Cassie sucked in a breath and almost moaned. He’d invaded her space, filling her senses with him. He smelled so damn good, like fresh pine trees and clean snow. Mmm.
He was a lot bigger up close than she thought. Larger than life. His shoulders were wide. The button-down shirt he wore did nothing to take away from the muscular expanse of his chest and arms. He must workout, she thought, but somehow, she couldn’t picture him at a gym.
There was just something about him, something different. She breathed again and swayed slightly towards him. Helpless to keep away. She closed her eyes and tried to stem the furious beat of her heart. In doing so, Cassie slipped into that private place inside her mind where she sometimes saw things.
Heat, fur, teeth, claws, frustration, abandonment, anger, lust, craving, freedom, emotions and images swam through her mind. That’s it! Suddenly she knew why David seemed so familiar and different all at the same time.
That special magic of hers, that second sight as Stephanie sometimes called it, gave her answers she didn’t even know she was seeking. Cassie opened her eyes and breathed him in. His aura was pulsating and swirling around her. All blues and calming greens. Beautiful, she thought.
“Dinner?” The sexy doctor with the secret asked again.
“Huh?” Very articulate, Cassie.
He leaned down and nuzzled her cheek. Taking that last step that brought her into his arms. His lips caressed hers and she felt as if she’d been zapped by something. Something wonderful.
Oh crap, she needed to nip this in the bud before she became infatuated with him. Really, Cass, he’s a Werewolf. Didn’t Stephie always warn you to stay away from them cause they’re all players?! They can’t help it.
She stepped back. Cassie you are all kinds of an idiot. She was nothing special. Compared to the she-Wolf hotties he was used to, she was downright frumpy. Besides, he just had a hyperactive sex drive. It was nothing personal. Damn the man, er, Wolf!
Still, she wished that perhaps for once in her life a man like that would look at her as if she were something he couldn’t wait to get his hands on. Uh huh. Keep dreaming. He was Werewolf and she was not. Oh well…
“So, look, I get it that you know, you’re trying to be nice and all, but it was an accident, David. No worries, but still, I insist that I have to pay you back,” Cassie spoke quickly needing to get it all out without sounding like a pathetic loser.
She knew a little about Wolves, having lived with one for years! She was sure he could scent her attraction and she desperately needed to tone it down. He frowned as he listened to her but made no move to cover the space she created between them. Well, damn it, she was right. Just another horn-dog or, wolf, as it were.
At least this way neither of them would be in an uncomfortable situation. He couldn’t help his amazing hotness and she couldn’t bear it if he did more than flirt. That kiss was more than friendly flirting. Oh, shut up! This time she yelled at her inner voice.
How bad would a pity-fuck from a hot Werewolf be anyway? Maybe not too bad…No! No way! Cassie worked too hard to have good self-esteem and pride for all that.
“Cassie, I’m not sure what’s going on in that pretty head of yours, but I assure you, I’d never have asked you to dinner if I didn’t mean it.”
“Seriously, it’s okay,” she insisted.
“Look,” he grinned at her, his brown eyes twinkling in the harsh office light. She swallowed, damn near forgetting to breathe again.
“I can see I’m not going to get through to you right now, and since I’m not the type to give up, how about a compromise?”
“What do you mean?”
“Well, since we’re both going to the ball, me as both a representative of the hospital and a currently single man, I was wondering if you’d like to go with me? As my date?”
“What?”
“Come with me to the ball, Cassie?”
“But-”
“Great! I’ll pick you up Friday at seven,” he stepped closer again and Cassie shivered in anticipation.
The sound of the door opening made Cassie jump. She dropped her purse on the ground and almost bumped heads with David when he reached to grab it for her. Again. Real smooth, Cass.
“Excuse me, David, oh, I am sorry to interrupt,” a slender blonde woman dressed in the tightest pair of scrubs Cassie had ever seen stared at them both. She’d opened the door to his office without knocking and breezed right in as if she had every right to. Cassie took a step back from David and took her bag from his extended hand.
The stunningly beautiful woman was obviously used to coming and going as she pleased. Cassie looked at David, he appeared not at all interested in the blonde bombshell. A fact the woman noticed with anger if her narrowed, blazing green eyes said anything about it. She glared at Cassie.
The intensity in her stare made Cassie uncomfortable. David had yet to acknowledge her. His focus seemed to be on Cassie at the moment. The stranger still held the doorknob in her hand and tightened her hold as her gaze shot from David to Cassie and back again. Did her eyes just glow and was that a growl?
“Yes? Was there something you wanted?” David asked with nothing but professional courtesy in his voice as he finally turned towards the woman.
“Oh, um sorry, Dr. Evangelos, but the trustees’ meeting has begun, and they’ve been paging you.”
“Tell them I’ll be there straightaway,” he raised one elegant eyebrow and stared down the woman until she cleared her throat and turned her head to the side, “Was there anything else?”
“Um no, sir,” she said quietly, but not before shooting another angry look at Cassie.
She watched David frown before he added, “Close the door on your way out, please. Thank you.”
He didn’t turn back to Cassie until the woman was gone and his office door was closed. He patted his pocket and silenced his pager, something he must have been doing the entire time they were in there, but Cassie hadn’t noticed. Wow. He stood up the trustees for her? That was kinda cool.
“Well, she seems, uh, tense. Anyway, you need to go. I should too. Thanks for the stitches and all. This has been, I don’t know, weird?” Cassie exhaled as she rambled. Her eyes looked everywhere but at him.
“I apologize,” he laughed a little self-consciously and ran a hand through his thick blonde hair, “I tend to like a more casual atmosphere amongst my staff, but there is never room for unprofessionalism. I’m sorry about her.”
“She seemed angry,” Cassie raised her eyebrows at the understatement.
“Yes, well, I will take that up with her supervisor immediately. Now, I am so sorry, but you’re right, I need to get going. Will you please excuse me? I am very late for that meeting,” he smiled, and she felt her chest squeeze.
“Oh,” he said and took out his cellphone, “What’s your number so I can call and confirm our date?”
Before she could stop herself, Cassie rattled off her cell number. She stood there disbelieving as David Evangelos, Werewolf-doctor extraordinaire, strolled out of his office like he was the king of the world. But not before he ran one, long finger down the side of her face in a sort of informal goodbye.
She almost moaned again at the way he bit his lip just as he reached her chin with his finger. Cassie wondered what he would’ve done if she’d reached up and lapped at the lone digit with her tongue?
She felt warm and breathless as he left the room.