The next morning, Troy sat behind his desk. He’d been reading the same piece of paper for the last twenty minutes, but hadn’t comprehended a single word. Not even the catch phrase “wireless communications” managed to excite him.
For the first time ever, he wanted to take a day off. Call it a mental health day or a vacation day, he didn’t want to work. He wanted to be with Cassie.
Leaning back in his chair, Troy set the letter on his desk. He’d been thinking about Cassie all morning. Thinking he wanted to keep seeing her after they called off their “engagement.” It didn’t make sense, but Troy didn’t care. She might not be perfect, but maybe perfect was overrated. She was beautiful and good for him. With Cassie, he could loosen up, relax. Funny how being with her made him feel free, more alive than ever.
Last night had been only the beginning. She’d opened up to him, sharing her secrets. He wanted to know more; he wanted to know everything about her. Troy didn’t understand his feelings, but he felt an overwhelming urge to protect her. Canceling the engagement party was the only solution.
So what if he missed out on meeting and partying with the movers and shakers of Silicon Valley? There would be time for that later, once he had his partnership.
His phone rang once, signaling an internal call, and he picked up the receiver. “Troy McKnight.”
“Can you come to Mick’s office?” Della, Mick’s secretary asked. “He wants to see you, now.” She emphasized the last word.
“Be right there.” Troy grabbed a notepad and a pen, thankful for the distraction. Mick would get him motivated to do some work.
The door to the office was open. Troy glanced in. Mick stood in front of his desk, dressed in a navy pinstriped suit and flashy purple tie. He smiled, waving him inside. “Have a seat, Troy.”
He sat in a comfortable leather chair. Mick leaned against his desk. “I want to congratulate you.”
Yes. I got the partnership. No reason to have the engagement party now. Troy could tell Cassie to cancel it without a second thought. Both of them would be happy. Troy clenched his hand into a fist and pumped it slightly.
“Of course, my wife wanted to know why I kept your engagement a secret. Heather was thrilled when she found an invitation to your engagement party in our mailbox.”
Damn. No partnership. Yet. “I hope you can come.” He hoped the answer was no.
“We wouldn’t miss it,” Mick said. “Though I was a little surprised. With all the long hours you put in, I didn’t know you were dating anyone, let alone engaged.”
“Cassie understands about my job.”
“I’m sure she does.” Mick grinned. “I’m looking forward to meeting her and so are the other partners.”
“Other partners?”
“They’ll be coming to the engagement party, too.”
Damn. Canceling the engagement party would be tricky, but Troy had to do it. He had to think of Cassie and her happiness. But all the partners? Dammit. “I can’t wait for everyone to meet Cassie, either.”
“Have you set a wedding date?”
“Not yet.” Troy pictured Cassie in a wedding gown and a flower-filled church. He liked the image, including a barefoot bride. Maybe it was time he took life less seriously, lightened up a little. “Maybe April.”
“Keep me posted, will you? Heather’s going to want to know all the details. You know how women are.”
Troy nodded, relieved Cassie wasn’t one of those women who lived for gossip, shopping and weddings.
Mick rubbed his hands together. “How would you like to go with me to visit InterTalk?”
InterTalk? The Austin firm was one of the hottest start-ups around. InterTalk was creating digital imaging and audio technology and group ware—from video conference calls and video chat rooms via the Internet to other collaborative software that had investors salivating. “They turned us down.”
Mick smiled. “That was before we teamed up with Daniels Venture Group.”
Teamed up with Dixon’s group? Troy’s heart fell to his feet.
“Dixon and I had several long telephone conversations recently. He has approached us with a unique opportunity.”
Us? Troy still didn’t feel any relief. His collar seemed to be shrinking by the second.
“He’s giving us the chance of a lifetime, and I want you in on the deal.”
“Thanks.” I think.
“To be honest, Troy. Serious questions have been raised about making you a partner in the new fund.”
It couldn’t get any worse than this. He tugged on his collar.
“Experience counts, but contacts and connections are invaluable.”
It was worse. He swallowed the lemon-size lump lodged in his throat. If he choked to death, he wouldn’t have to worry about the engagement party.
“Of course, none of us knew you had Dixon Daniels in your corner,” Mick said. “And it is something we will take into serious consideration. We don’t want to lose you to Dixon and his group.”
Troy’s partnership wasn’t dead, but he would have to go through with the engagement party. He didn’t have a choice. Surely Cassie would understand. And they would have to be the perfect couple, a couple on parade. Cassie was not going to be happy. Not at all. “I’ve enjoyed working here.”
“Glad to hear it,” Mick said. “Of course, getting married and starting a family are life-altering events, you’ll have to consider all of your options.”
Options? Troy knew one option he had—to return to his parents’ farm. He imagined cold, rainy days, mud and manure-soaked jeans and aching muscles. Returning home meant admitting defeat. “I do have my future to consider.”
“This deal will be a good experience for you, Troy. You’ll be working with me and Dixon.”
Working with Dixon Daniels. It was like a minor leaguer getting batting tips from Barry Bonds. But Troy didn’t feel lucky. He would need to swallow an entire bottle of Tums to make it through the rest of the day.
And what would happen after the engagement party? After he and Cassie were no longer engaged?
Troy imagined butchering a chicken for his mother and harvesting crops with his father. He tried to convince himself it wouldn’t be the end of the world if he had to return to the farm, but couldn’t. If he returned home without making the millions he’d touted about when he left, he would return home a failure. Hell, his life would be a living hell.
Mick cracked his knuckles. “Of course, it’s going to be busy until we leave on Sunday.”
“Long hours don’t bother me.”
“What about your fiancée?”
“Cassie is extremely supportive. She runs her own business and understands the necessity of putting in extra hours.” The words sounded like total B.S. but Mick seemed satisfied.
“She sounds like quite a woman.”
“She is.”
But how would Cassie feel when he told her they couldn’t cancel the engagement party? Maybe flowers would help. He could have them delivered to the bookstore. No, she would see it as a bribe. And it would be. She deserved better.
“Don’t look so worried.” Mick patted Troy’s shoulder. “I’ll have you home in time for your party on Saturday night.”
“Great.” Troy tried to muster some enthusiasm. He should be happy; he should be ready to go. But he wasn’t. Maybe the plane would break down and he wouldn’t make it back in time. Maybe a big earthquake would strike…
“You know, Troy. I always knew you were ambitious, but I didn’t know how badly you wanted it. I considered you our farm boy from Missouri, but I see I was way off base.” Mick chuckled. “Marrying Dixon Daniels’s little girl. I didn’t know you had it in you.”
Neither did Troy.
As the front door to Cassandra’s Attic opened, a bell jingled. Cassandra smiled to greet her customer, but her smile faded when Troy walked in, wearing his navy suit—the one he’d worn the night they’d met.
“Hello.” The sound of his voice covered her arms in goose bumps. She should turn up the heat.
“Shouldn’t you be at work? What are you doing here?” The questions tumbled from her mouth, bypassing her brain. Her cheeks warmed. “What I meant to say is hello.”
Troy’s charming smile made Cassandra sag against the front counter. Could she spell s-w-o-o-n? Or s-t-u-p-i-d?
“The answers to your questions are yes, and I wanted to give you this.” He handed her a white box of See’s candy.
“Thanks.” She opened the box and popped a chocolate into her mouth. Almost as tasty as Troy. Wait a minute. She didn’t want to think about tasting Troy. After a sleepless night of thinking about him and feeling so vulnerable, she’d decided not to see him again. But here he was. Damn him.
“A midday visit during the week and a box of candy?” Something was up. She drew her eyebrows together. “What’s going on?”
He shoved his hand into his pocket and jiggled some change. “Nothing.”
She didn’t buy it. Not with the way he kept glancing around the empty bookstore. “No one is here, except you and me. Don’t tell me you took time from your busy work schedule to make a social call?”
“I have to go to Austin for an important meeting.”
“You came all the way over here to tell me you’re going on a business trip?”
“Yes.” Troy hesitated. “And to say I’ll be back in time for the party Saturday night.”
Was she in the middle of an “X-Files” episode or did Troy suffer a lapse of amnesia? “Don’t you remember what I told you last night? There isn’t going to be an engagement party.”
“Cassie, I heard everything you said, and I was going to tell you to cancel the party, but then I spoke with my boss.” Troy paused. “Mick and the other partners were invited. They’re looking forward to attending. I’m on the verge of getting a partnership. I need to show them I…Cassie, please.”
Back to business. It always came down to his job. No matter how much she wanted it to be different, it wasn’t. Troy wasn’t.
Nothing last night had been real, nothing last weekend, either. Not his mind-blowing kisses. Not the security being in his arms brought her. Not the ease with which she could talk with him. Nothing. And it hurt. Because it seemed real. Because she wanted it to be real.
“I won’t have time to take you shopping for a dress.”
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
“No,” he admitted. “But it was worth a shot. What do you say?”
Say? She wanted to protect her heart and herself. She wanted to keep her feelings under control, ignoring any romantic notions. She wanted to sound annoyed and tell Troy McKnight good riddance. But it was so hard when she wanted to agree with him and melt in his mouth like one of the chocolates. Hadn’t she learned her lesson yet? She bit her lip.
Tell him no.
Cassandra liked being alone; she was comfortable being alone. So what if she also liked being with Troy? He wasn’t good for her; he wasn’t what she needed.
What if he is?
Troy handed her a chocolate-covered cherry. “Pretty please with a cherry on top.”
One look in his blue eyes and she was lost. Again. “Okay, but I’m going to regret this.”
“No, you won’t.” He walked behind the counter. “Thank you, Cassie.”
“Don’t thank me,” she said, angry at herself for being such a wimp. A store full of self-help and relationship books and she’d caved in because of a pair of baby blue eyes. Pathetic. Instead of asserting herself, she was agreeing to go to an engagement party when she wasn’t engaged. Crazy. Cassandra wondered if Dr. Laura would consider this one of the ten stupid things women do to mess up their lives. “Just promise to visit me when they cart me off. I must be insane for agreeing.”
“Why?”
“You’re getting everything your heart desires—a partnership, introductions to high-powered players, everything. I’m getting nothing, zip, zilch.”
Except a massive headache and a broken heart.
“I’ll make it up to you.”
You can’t. “I’m not going to wear black.”
“Okay.” He moved closer. “Wear purple.”
Staring at the width of his shoulders, she gripped the counter. “I’m not going to wear a strand of pearls, either.”
“Wear crystals.”
Did he have to stand right next to her? She ignored the urge to nuzzle her face against his neck and inhale his intoxicating scent. “And I’m not going to wear my hair in a French twist.”
“Do what you want with your hair.” Troy put his arms on her shoulders. “And I will make this up to you. I promise.”
The color of his eyes darkened to a midnight blue. He wanted to kiss her; she wanted him to kiss her. Again and again.
A warning sounded in her brain. Listening to it would be the smart thing to do, but she turned it off instead. She didn’t want to follow reason. She wanted to ignore common sense, forget all about the consequences of her actions. Might as well have F-O-O-L tattooed across her forehead.
Troy lowered his mouth to hers. He kissed her gently as if testing her reaction. But Cassandra didn’t want gentle. She wanted all of him. Opening her mouth wider, she pressed harder against his lips.
Pulsating sensations of pleasure raced through her, erasing any lingering doubts about what she was doing. She wanted this, wanted this now.
Troy deepened his kiss, ravishing her lips with a hunger she understood. So good. Cassandra arched against him. She wanted only to taste Troy, to feel him.
This isn’t real. He isn’t real. She ignored the blurt of reality.
She no longer knew the definition of real. Troy’s kisses felt real; he felt real.
The bell on the front door rang. Troy pulled away from her so quickly, she nearly lost her balance. A woman pushing a baby stroller entered the bookstore.
“We both need to get back to work,” Troy said. “I’ll call you.”
Don’t bother, Cassandra wanted to scream, but didn’t. She couldn’t. Not with the liquid heat running through her veins. Not when the desire in Troy’s eyes matched her own. Not when she wanted him, wanted him badly. She touched her fingertip to her tingling lips.
Maybe his trip to Austin was a blessing. A separation would do them good. After the engagement party, the separation would be forever. And it was time for her to start facing the music. She might be able to put off reality for another week, but after the party Cassandra would have to face facts.
A relationship with Troy wasn’t going to work.
Sitting on her futon couch, Cassandra tried reading a bestselling legal thriller, but she couldn’t get past the third page. She glanced at the clock. Eleven o’clock. It was past midnight in Texas. And Troy hadn’t called her yet. Every night for the past week, he had called. Sometimes the calls were short, other times long. It didn’t matter to Cassandra. She liked hearing Troy’s voice and talking to him over the phone was safer than being together. And separated by the miles, they were becoming friends.
Only it was too late.
One more night until the engagement party. Only one more night until it was over.
Cassandra ignored the jagged pain that sliced her heart every time she thought about saying goodbye to Troy. Even though she knew it was for the best, her heart had different ideas.
The buzzer to her apartment rang. Who would be ringing her doorbell at this hour? Maybe her neighbor’s cat, Macy, had run away again.
Carrying her book, she padded her way to the door. “Who is it?”
“Who do you think?”
Troy. Her pulse picked up speed. She unlocked and opened the door. He held a bouquet of roses, lilies, daisies and heather. “Hi.”
“Hi.” She sounded breathless, but Cassandra didn’t care. Staring into Troy’s eyes, which were fringed with thick, lush lashes, made her breathless. She clutched her book so she wouldn’t drop it.
“Sorry to drop by so late, but my flight was delayed. I took a shuttle from the airport.” He handed her the flowers.
The floral scent filled the air. “They’re beautiful.” Just like you. Even though his suit was wrinkled, his tie loosened and his hair a mess, he looked gorgeous.
“Can I come in?”
Cassandra caught her breath. “I’m sorry, come in.”
He carried in his garment bag and briefcase and set them inside the door next to a stack of new hardback books. He also removed his jacket and tie and tossed them onto the patchwork-quilt-covered futon.
“This place is great.” Troy looked around. “It fits you.”
“Thanks.” Her flat was old, but had so much character with its high ceilings, hardwood floors, picture rails and a bay window. Thanks to inexpensive treasures found at garage sales and thrift stores, she’d made herself a comfy home. A bit cluttered and mismatched, but Cassandra loved it. Troy seemed to like it, too. She remembered the flowers in her hand. “I need to put these in water.”
“Where did you find the color for the walls?”
Cassandra grabbed a blue vase from the top of the refrigerator. “I took a mango to the hardware store, cut it open and had them match the color.”
He grinned. “That is so…you. I need you to help me liven up my apartment. Compared to this place, it’s as homey as a morgue.”
“Just tell me when.” She filled the vase with water and arranged the flowers.
“Did you work until closing tonight?” Troy asked from the bar separating the kitchen from the living room.
“No,” she said, not wanting to admit she’d left early in case he called. “Moe closed up.”
Troy drew his brows together. “He doesn’t mind working at night?”
“No, his boyfriend works at a restaurant so he prefers working nights.”
“Moe’s boyfriend?”
“Yes.” She noticed the confused look in Troy’s eyes. “Do you have a problem with that?”
“No.” He chuckled. “Not at all.”
Cassandra didn’t understand the joke. He couldn’t be jealous, could he? The thought made her pulse race. Moe would get a real kick out of that, too.
“I hope your week went better than mine.” Cassandra carried the vase of flowers into the living room. She’d left her book in the kitchen. She was done reading for tonight.
“What happened?”
She pushed aside a stack of Publishers Weeklys and set the vase on the coffee table. “You know how I wanted a fiancé so they would leave me alone.”
“Yes.”
“Well, my family is bugging me more than ever. My mother calls daily with wedding suggestions. Emily calls to talk about the engagement party. Even Eric has to give his advice.” Cassandra sighed. “The past few days have been a nightmare.”
Troy squeezed her shoulder. “We’ll get through this.”
The warmth of his touch penetrated the fabric to her skin. She wished he wouldn’t let go of her. Ever. “Only one more night to go.”
“I wanted to talk to you about that,” Troy said.
No wonder he brought flowers. Another bribe? “We aren’t going to keep pretending after tomorrow night.”
“I’m tired of pretending, too. But come Sunday, I still want to be around. For real.”
Her palms felt sweaty; her heart pounded in her throat. “What if I don’t want you around?”
“Try to get rid of me.”
Those were the words she wanted to hear. She didn’t know what to say herself.
“I missed you, Cassie.”
“I missed you, too.” She fought the urge to twirl around the room. “Would you like a drink?”
Flashing her a flirtatious smile, he pulled her close. “The only thing I want to taste is you. I haven’t been able to stop thinking about kissing you. But I only want that if you do.”
Too late to turn back. Nothing less than a 7.0 earthquake would stop her now. It made little sense, but she was past the point of caring. She wanted him; she intended to have him.
She kissed him in reply, exploring his mouth, feeling the different textures, tasting his warmth. She ran her fingers through his soft, curly hair.
Greedy for more, Cassandra cupped his bottom. She pushed him closer to her. He wanted her. The evidence pressed against her belly. She wanted him, too. Right here, right now. She smiled.
“Is something funny?” Showering kisses along her neck and behind her ears, he rubbed his hands over her back, kneading and massaging her muscles.
“No.” His kisses turned her legs to mush. She supported herself against him. “I was wondering if my back was up to another night on a hard floor.”
With little effort, Troy picked her up. “Which way to your bedroom?”
She felt so safe, so secure with his strong arms holding her. Pointing to the doorway, she batted her eyelashes. “I love a man who takes control of a situation.”
“Sweetheart.” Troy captured her mouth in another earth-shattering, intoxicating kiss that made her want to give up all control, forever. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”
“Is that a promise, my McKnight in shining Armani?”
“It’s a guarantee.”
Cassandra could hardly wait. Whatever happened would be fine by her. Tonight was all that mattered. She nibbled on his ear, inhaling the male scent that was uniquely his.
In the bedroom, he set her on the bed. Staring up at him, she read the desire in his eyes, desire for her. None of their differences would get in the way here.
With skilled hands, Troy unbuttoned the front of her dress. Focusing all his attention on her, he made Cassandra forget everything except here and now. She felt as if they were the only two people on earth, and this moment was their destiny.
Troy peeled the fabric off her shoulders, until the dress pooled around her waist, and kissed her bare skin. His lips blazed a trail of whisper-light kisses down her neck, past her collarbone, leaving her speechless. Cassandra shivered.
As his fingers followed the same path, goose bumps covered her arms. She’d never noticed before, but his fingertips were rough, callused perhaps from working on the farm. And she loved the way they made her feel.
Cassandra never knew gentle kisses and caresses could be so stimulating. Troy was making love to her with his warm, strong hands and his soft, moist lips. She didn’t need champagne, candlelight or music for an evening of romance. She only needed Troy. She leaned her head back.
With a flick of his fingers, her lacy underwire bra sprang open, releasing her swollen breasts. He pushed her straps off her shoulders. “You are so beautiful.”
Troy made her feel beautiful. He cupped one of her breasts in his hand, then lowered his mouth to her nipple. Torturing her with his tongue, he created a longing for fulfillment that couldn’t wait. She shuddered, feeling the heat, the pleasure radiating through her entire body. “Troy.”
She lifted her hips so he could pull her dress over them. He took the liberty of helping her out of her black tights and shoes. She wore only a wisp of lace panties.
The way he stared at her with such desire made her feel sexy, alive.
I love you, Troy McKnight.
The thought was so clear, so loud, she wondered if she’d said the words aloud. He reached for her panties, but she stopped him. He was still fully dressed. She wanted to make him feel the way she did. “Your turn.”
As she kissed him long and hard, Cassandra undid half the buttons on his shirt, pulling the ends out of his pants. No sense wasting time. She yanked the shirt over his head.
Unable to resist the impulse, she sprinkled kisses down his chest to his belly button. She ran her hands along his back, feeling the muscular ridges. It was his turn to experience the torture of those overwhelming sensations. She drew circles with her tongue on his nipples until they hardened in response.
“Cassandra, stop.”
She didn’t stop, but increased her speed until he moved back. “You’re driving me crazy.”
She couldn’t get enough of him. “Now you know how I feel.”
With amazingly steady hands, she unclasped his belt, then unzipped his pants. Troy kicked off his shoes. Cassandra helped him out of his pants and peeled off his socks. He stood in front of her wearing a pair of flannel plaid boxers, his arousal evident.
Slipping her hands under the elastic band, she pushed his boxers off and stared at him. Sheer perfection. She wanted to touch and kiss every inch of his glorious body. So she did, feeling no hesitation or shyness.
Troy moaned. He kissed her, slipping his hand under the lace. Again his fingers worked their magic. Each touch sent electric shock waves through her body. He kissed her again, stroking her until she couldn’t think any longer, until her body ached with a need so great she thought she would cry. “I want you now.”
“Not yet.”
What? She was hot and wet and ready. She didn’t want to wait. “Please.”
“First.” Troy pushed her panties over her hips. He smiled mischievously. “I want to find your tattoo.”