“Now you bring this up around here, the tip of the needle through here and the wool around like this.” The wool worked perfectly onto the needle. “Now I want you to try with your needles and wool.”
Cass did as she had been shown until it was time to move the wool up and around the needle.
“Not quite, dear.” Mrs. Sinclair’s voice was patient. Did Lyle get that from her as well? “Let me show you.” She brought the wool around and got Cass started correctly once again.
Cass had made ten rows and was proud of her accomplishment when Lyle’s voice came from behind her. “It looks like you’re making progress.”
Cass held up what she had done. “Look, I’m actually knitting.”
He smiled as if he was proud of her as well.
“She’s a really good student,” Mrs. Sinclair offered.
“Cass is good at anything she puts her mind to,” Lyle said.
A warmth that had nothing to do with the fire spread through her. Looking over her shoulder again, Cass saw Lyle gazing at her with a twinkle in his eye. Was he thinking about their time together in bed? She gave him a shy smile then glanced at his mother to find her watching them closely. Did she see the attraction between them?
“I hate to break this up, but Dad and I were wondering how long it would be until dinner?”
Mrs. Sinclair put her work into her basket and stood. “Lyle Sinclair, you know as well as anyone that in this house we eat promptly at six. We have all your life. Gregor wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“Yes, once in the army always in the army.” Lyle said it as fact, but there was a note of bitterness there as well.
She gave her son a direct look. “I’ll have you know I don’t worry about you starving when you eat Mrs. Renwick’s food all the time.”
Lyle’s mood lightened. “I do have to be careful not to overdo it there.”
Cass placed her work in the basket as well. “What can I do to help?”
“We’re just having a chicken pie tonight. It’s already in the oven so there’s not much to do except set the table.”
“Lyle and I can take care of that, can’t we?” Cass looked at him.
An amazed look came to his face, but he nodded. “Yes, we can.”
Over the next few minutes she and Lyle gathered what was needed. A couple of times he brushed past her, making her tingle all over. When she asked him for a fork he handed it across the table in a manner that let him trail his fingers over her palm, which started her center throbbing. She’d had no idea that setting the table could be such an erotic activity. Her eyes met his. She didn’t see a flicker of desire there, but a fire burning.
His mother cleared her throat, bringing them back to where they were. Cass dropped the fork with a clang onto a plate.
Lyle, the devil, grinned and picked it up. He put it in its place. “All done, Mum.”
His mother smiled. “Thank you.” She turned back to the counter to where a large bowl sat. “Oh, my goodness, we all need to give the pudding a stir. I don’t want to forget it.”
“Pudding a stir?” Cass gave the bowl a dubious look. “Exactly what’re we doing?”
“Stirring the Christmas pudding,” Mrs. Sinclair stated, as if it was a great occasion.
“I don’t know what a Christmas pudding is.” Cass looked into the bowl from which she had removed the cloth.
“I think they call it a fruit cake in America.” Lyle moved up beside Cass.
“I have heard of them but never seen one or eaten one.” Cass still studied the mixture.
“You’ll have to join us for some in a few weeks.” Lyle’s mother pulled out a large wooden spoon from a drawer.
Cass felt more than saw Lyle tense beside her. Did it matter to him that she would be gone soon? It did her. She wanted as much time with him as possible before she left. “I’m not sure that I’ll be here that long.”
“Well, if you’re here then you must come for a slice.” Mrs. Sinclair didn’t miss a beat. “You need to stir three times and then make a wish.”
Lyle’s mother handed her the spoon.
Wish? What should she wish for? To hurry home? For a new partner? She wasn’t sure she was ready for that. She glanced at Lyle. To have him in her life always? What did she want most? Happiness. She glanced at Lyle. She felt that right now. But could it last?
It took more effort than she’d anticipated to stir the thick mixture but she managed to make the three turns. She made her wish.
“So what did you ask for?” Lyle took the spoon and started to stir.
“I can’t tell you that. It won’t come true.” And she wanted it to come true no matter how improbable and unrealistic it was.
His mother stepped away. Lyle whispered, “Was it about me?”
Cass whispered back, “Such an ego.”
“Lyle, if you’ll carry the pie to the table and Cass brings the beans, I think we’ll be ready.” Mrs. Sinclair pulled a round golden-brown-crusted pie out of the oven. It smelled heavenly. She set it on the counter.
Lyle then picked it up and moved it to the table. His mother handed her the bowl with beans in it.
“Gregor,” Mrs. Sinclair called. “Come to the table.”
Lyle’s father joined them, but it took him a while. He moved slowly.
Over the next hour they enjoyed good food and lively conversation. Cass looked around the cozy room. At Lyle. This was what she would like to have in her life. Lyle smiled at her. This was happiness.
“So what do you do in America?” Lyle’s father asked her.
Her heart sank at the reminder. This wasn’t her home. “I work in search and rescue.” Did she still, though?
Gregor nodded. “Interesting work.”
“It can be.” She didn’t really want to talk about it. “I understand you’re retired military?”
He sat straighter, if that was possible. “I am. All the men in my family have made a career in the armed forces.” He gave Lyle, who had turned stony-faced, a pointed look. “I’m hoping Lyle will decide to go active again soon.”
She looked at Lyle, who was pushing food around on his plate. Had she said something wrong?
“Dad, let’s not get into that now.”
For the first time since Cass had arrived Mrs. Sinclair had no smile on her face. An uncomfortable feeling settled around them, completely wiping out the ease of earlier.
She had said something wrong!
Lyle’s request went unnoticed by Mr. Sinclair. “You need to do it soon or time will run out for promotions.”
“Isn’t Lyle needed here? You should have seen him in action the other night. He had two patients to see about and then me. I understand that he’s the only emergency medical care around here. That’s a big burden for anyone. I think there are different ways of fighting for people. You did it by being in the military and Lyle does it by caring for people when they are hurt. In my book you’re both heroes.”
The others looked at her, speechless. Not even Mr. Sinclair said a thing. Lyle gave her a tender look of wonderment and a
ppreciation.
Mrs. Sinclair pushed back from the table. “I’ll get those biscuits I bought at the market the other day for dessert.”
* * *
An hour later Lyle was driving them back to his cottage.
“I hope I didn’t say anything wrong at dinner,” Cass said in a small voice. “I didn’t mean to.”
Lyle couldn’t believe that Cass had even asked that. After her speech to his father Lyle’s chest had puffed out like a bird preening for a new mate. Few managed to put his father in his place and Cass had done it effortlessly and had complimented his father at the same time. Lyle looked at her like she was a queen. “You were wonderful. The subject is an age-old sticky issue between my father and me.”
“How’s that?” Her attention was focused on him.
“You could tell that I’m a disappointment to him. He’s sick. Dying, in fact.”
Cass squeezed the hand he already held. “I’m sorry.”
“I am, too. If I re-enlisted he’d be so happy. I could give him that before he died. Right now, I’m letting the family name down.”
“You are not! He can’t believe that. You help people. Look how much you have helped me.”
Lyle raised a brow and gave her a suggestive look. “I don’t help all the residents in the same way as I have you.”
Her lips turned up in a smirk and she poked him in the shoulder with a finger. “And you had better not.”
He was even feeling better about himself after that statement. It was the first time Cass had indicated that she felt any ownership of him, that he was important to her on a level outside bed. He liked the idea of her being jealous. She was definitely good for his ego.
Lyle pulled into his garage and turned off the engine. Twisting toward Cass he brought her to him. She looked at him expectantly. “I thought you were perfect tonight. Thank you for the vote of confidence. It means a lot. Especially coming from you.”
Cass gave him a tender smile as his lips slowly lowered to hers. They were as soft as he remembered. A second later, her hands gripped his coat and pulled him closer. She returned his kiss. He lifted her onto his lap. It wasn’t until she winced that he remembered her injuries.