Cass
The house was quiet,butthe wind howled outside. I was curled under the duvet, Missy sleeping at my side, curled into a tight ball. I was trying to get warm when I saw lights come up the driveway. I glanced at the clock, it was well after midnight. I had just gotten back into bed after getting a glass of water and noticed Brody was gone. It must have been him, at least I hoped it was, I didn’t want to get up again to answer the door at this hour. God forbid it was Ray in one of his drunken stupors. I listened hard and heard a key in the front door, then I saw the lights back away. I sat up, climbed out of bed, and parted the blinds so I could look out the window, watching a cab leaving the driveway. I frowned, Brody’s truck was gone.
Continuing to listen, I heard a creak in the hallway, followed by a drawer opening in the other room. A few minutes later, the TV went on in the living room. I rolled over, staring at the doorway. I wanted to go to him. I had been so cold toward him earlier, but I couldn’t help it, I needed to get everything out of my system. Now as I lay here thinking of him, I wanted everything to be over. I just wanted to be held by him, to be wrapped in his arms and let him know he was forgiven.
I shut my eyes, praying those thoughts would go away and sleep would eventually come, but it didn’t. A loud bang caused me to jump. I crawled out of bed, my heart in my throat and walked quickly down the hall. Brody stood in front of the fireplace, wearing nothing but boxers as he placed a couple more logs into the fire. My eyes skimmed over his muscular back. I couldn’t help but check out his ass wrapped snuggly in his boxers. I stayed hidden in the shadows and watched him. As he turned back toward the couch, my eyes continued wandering his body. In the dim light and without his shirt, his muscular chest was better than I remembered. My eyes trailed down to his tight eight-pack, his boxers hanging low enough, I could see his deeply carved vee. Ray couldn’t hold a candle to Brody’s muscular physique, and my mouth watered at the sight.
He climbed back onto the couch and threw the blanket back over him, turning his attention back to the news. I stood there in the darkness, watching him. He placed his hands behind his head, and I took in the slow rise and fall of his chest. Suddenly, he cleared his throat, and his deep voice seemed loud in the quiet room.
“Why don’t you come out here and keep me company, instead of hiding in the dark watching me.” He kept his attention on the TV, not looking at me until I slowly stepped out of the darkness. He still didn’t look my way, just pulled the blanket back for me to crawl in beside him.
I felt my heart speed up at the thought of lying with him, the warmth of his body warming me. My legs were shaky as I took a couple steps forward, holding onto the wall for support.
“Have you slept?”
I shook my head as I walked toward him. I watched his eyes as they trailed the length of my t-shirt clad body. There was no mistaking the look in his eyes even in the dim light.
“My God! What happened to you?” I said as soon as my eyes caught his swollen split lip.
“It’s not a big deal, just come here,” he said, lifting the blanket for me to crawl under.
Instead of crawling in beside him, I went to the kitchen and got a cool, wet cloth. Walking back over, I sat beside him, pressing it to his swollen lip.
“What happened?”
“I had a bit of an altercation with a fist, really it’s not a big deal.”
“What happened, Brody?”
“I was defending someone’s honor.”
“Seriously, Brody? You got into a fight? Where were you?” Brody winced as I pressed the cloth to his lip.
“I went to the local bar, I needed to clear my head, don’t worry about it.”
He pulled the cloth from my hand and threw it down on the floor and lifted the blanket for me to crawl under. I looked at him, trying to read what was behind his eyes.
“Well, are you going to lay with me or not?”
I let out a breath and shook my head. I stood up and went back down the hall toward my room. “Goodnight, Brody.”
“Come on, Cass, just come lay with me.”
“I said, Goodnight!” I slammed my door hard and crawled back into bed. I knew Ray spent most evenings at the local bar and would almost put money on it that he was the one Brody had been in a fight with. I also knew resting my body beside Brody wouldn’t end well, the desire that had been radiating through his eyes told me he would have completely consumed me. I turned my back to the door, pulled the blankets up to my neck, and closed my eyes, waiting for sleep to come.
Chapter Fifteen
Cass
When I woke in themorning, Brody had already left for work. I was happy I didn’t have to see him this morning. I was cranky, irritated, and tired, having floated in and out of sleep all night, finally staying asleep after four. I had another long day ahead of me, and I was already exhausted and running late which only made me crankier. Just as I was about to run out the back door, a note on the counter caught my eye.Don’t forget your lunch.That was all that was scrawled on the yellow sticky note in Brody’s handwriting—my eyes stung with tears. Opening the fridge, I pulled out the container and headed out the door.
All the way to the store, I beat myself up for not even giving Brody the chance to explain what had happened last night. I didn’t know for a fact it was Ray he had fought with, and I probably would have slept a hell of a lot better if I had just crawled in beside him, curled up against him, and let him explain
I pulled up behind the shop and checked my watch. I normally started an hour before the store opened, but this morning, I only had about fifteen minutes. As I approached the back door and slid my key into the lock, the door was abruptly opened, causing me to jump. Ray stood inside, looking out at me.
“Cass, there you are. I was worried when I stopped across the street for coffee this morning and saw you weren’t here, so I came over and got things started for you. I was just about to come up to the house and make sure you were okay.” Ray didn’t open the garage until ten on Saturdays, so he normally came in to give me a hand. I didn’t expect to see him this morning though since we hadn’t spoken in a couple of days.
“Thanks, Ray,” I said, pushing past him, throwing my purse and coat on the hook inside the door.