“That’s the one.” A pensive look remained on his face. “I think I owe you an explanation.”
“Why?”
“Because I was kissing you and then a pregnant woman who I’m sure you figured out shared a past with me shows up. It didn’t make me look good.”
“You didn’t—don’t—owe me an explanation.” No matter how much she wanted to hear one.
“Maybe not, but I’d like to give you one anyway. The baby isn’t mine. I haven’t seen Freya in over a year. She was my girlfriend when we were teenagers. I asked her to be my wife the night before I left for basic training.”
“Now I understand the look on her husband’s face.” It had been jealousy.
Lyle nodded. “Yeah, I’m not his favorite person, I imagine. But he has nothing to worry about. It’s been over for a long time.”
“What happened?” Cass hissed in dismay. “I shouldn’t have asked that. It’s not my business.”
He finally met her look. “It doesn’t matter. I don’t want to have any secrets from you.”
What was he saying? That sounded too much like he wanted a relationship more intimate than friendship. Their kisses had certainly been a step beyond mere friends.
“I received the classic ‘Dear John’ letter. By the time I was able to come home months later she was already married.”
Cass placed her hand over his hand resting on the table. She had been right. He did need to talk. “I’m sorry that happened to you. You deserved better.”
He turned over his hand and held hers. “It was a rotten feeling at the time but far better than marrying the wrong person.”
She couldn’t disagree with him, but it must have been a horribly painful experience. To feel so helpless. She knew that all feeling too well. In too many areas of her life.
“It took me some time, but I realized that we would never have made it. Ours was a young immature love and an engagement based on me leaving, not on something lasting. I promised myself that the next time I asked a woman to marry me, we would both be mature enough to know what we were doing, and that we understood what real love is.” He let go of her hand.
“Enough of this serious talk. Here I am dragging up my long-gone past while your tea is getting cold.”
Cass took a sip from her mug. “I knew something big had gone on between the two of you. I just wasn’t sure what. Her husband made a point of making it clear where she belonged.”
“I noticed that as well. I hope she’s happy. My mother said this is her second child.” He bit into a cookie.
“I must admit I was curious. In fact, half of the reason I came tonight was that I thought you might need to talk. You helped me by listening so I thought I could return the favor.”
He gave her a thoughtful look then grinned. “I see. And here I was thinking you wanted to spend more time with me.”
Just like that Lyle had changed the atmosphere. He knew how to ease a tense situation.
She returned his smile. “Please don’t let anyone tell you that you lack an ego.”
His grin turned suggestive, causing her middle to quiver. “I’m not sure that was a compliment, but I’m going to choose to take it that way.”
Cass huffed in humor. “Does anything keep you down long?”
“I try to keep a positive outlook where I can. I learned long ago that life was easier that way. How do you see the glass? Half full or half empty?”
She winced in her mind. Most of her life she would have said half full but right now she wasn’t sure she could. “Can I get back to you on that?”
Lyle watched her far too closely for comfort. “Sure. I just want you to know that I’m here for you.”
“Thanks. I know I showed up at the castle with a chip on my shoulder. I’m trying to do better.”
“From all I’ve heard, you are.”
Cass pushed away from the table. “I should be going.”
“Do you have to? Stay awhile and I’ll walk you back later.” His face was hopeful.
She ought to leave. Hadn’t she already stepped over the line by coming here? Yet she did want to remain longer. “I guess I could.”
“Great. Would you like to watch TV, play chess or maybe do a puzzle?”
She blinked and laughed. “Wow, you know how to show a woman a wild time.”
He carried their mugs to the sink. “What can I say? Most of my excitement comes from accidents. I’m not planning one to impress you.”
“I’ll be more than happy to settle for a puzzle. I haven’t done one of those in a long time.” That seemed like a safe enough activity.
“During the winter months I keep one going all the time. It’s in the living room. Go on in and see what you can do. I’ll be in after I finish here.” He turned to the sink.
Cass did as he suggested. A fire was burning. She found the table with the puzzle laid out on it behind the sofa. It had to have been there the other night but she had been so out of it she hadn’t noticed. The puzzle was a picture of a lioness and her cub. A difficult one at best. She sat in the chair, adjusting the lamp over the table to shine it where she wanted it.
Lyle entered to find Cass sitting in his chair at his puzzle table. Something about the sight seemed right. She looked like she belonged, fit in his world.
Her head remained lowered. The glow of the fire reflected off her hair. He longed to brush his hand across it. Test its softness. Pulling another chair close, he joined her.
“So this is how you spend your evenings?” She picked a piece up and tried it. It didn’t fit. She put it down and went for another.
“Not every evening.” He wished Cass would put as much energy into getting to know him as she was into working on the puzzle. Was he really that desperate for a woman? No, it was more about the sensations Cass stirred in him. Sensations that had lain dormant for a long time. The same ones he’d been afraid to show for so long.
“I would think a hot young doctor would be too busy with the ladies at the pub to spend time doing puzzles.” She put a piece in and made a tiny sound of joy, and it sparked something in him.
What would it be like to kiss her again? That thought was all it took to set his blood humming. How would she react if he tried to kiss her right now? Would she push him away or tug him closer, like she had at the shop? He had to stop these runaway thoughts.
Focus on the puzzle, he told himself. Concentrate on finding that one missing piece. Maybe if he did that, he’d forget the sweet smell of Cass’s hair moving just inches from him, or the breathiness of her voice when she spoke or the soft touch of her hand as it brushed his when they both tried to fit a piece into the same space.
Minutes ticked by, the longing in him growing, groaning with the seconds. To stop himself from reaching for Cass, Lyle stood and went to the fireplace, using the need to put another log on the fire as an excuse. With his back to the warmth, he watched her. She truly was striking. Every fiber of his being was on alert for the least hint of encouragement.
Cass looked up. “Hey, are you going to leave all of this to me? This is such a great picture.”
“I like the one I’m seeing.” His gaze met hers and held.
Cass’s head dipped to the side as if she was making a decision. Moments ticked by as they watched each other.
Lyle cleared his throat. “Cass, I’ve been thinking of little else but kissing you again. If you don’t want that to happen then it might be better if you go.”
She blinked. “Go?”
Lyle chuckled softly as he stepped toward her. “Or stay? That’s up to you.” When Lyle reached her, he lifted a strand of her hair and let it drift through his fingers. He didn’t miss the hitch in her breath.
Taking her by the shoulders, he brought her to her feet and against him. The chair turned over with a bang but neither of them gave it any notice. His lips found h
ers. They were as soft and pliable and welcoming as he remembered.
There was no uncertainty on Cass’s part this time. Her arms circled his neck, pulling his head closer as he took the kiss deeper. She moaned low, wiggling against him and sending his desire into orbit. Her mouth opened without his request and her tongue eagerly met his in a sensual dance.
With his desire for her increasing by the second, he buried his fingers in her hair. Cass gripped his shoulders as his mouth left hers to leave kisses along her jaw and up to her ear. She did a super-sexy wriggle against his taut length when he planted a kiss behind her ear.
Cass cupped the side of his head and guided his mouth back to hers, then kissed him deeply. His body throbbed in appreciation. Cass ran her hand over his chest and down to his beltline. There she pulled his sweater up and his shirt out of his pants. Seconds later his skin rippled with the pleasure of her hand moving over it.
Lyle had to touch her, all of her. He lifted Cass to the back of the sofa and stepped between her legs. Finding the edge of her sweater, he stripped it from her and let it drop to the floor. He kissed her temple. “I’ve dreamed of doing this for so long.”
“You have?” Her whispered words held a note of wonder.
He looked into her eyes. “I have.”