As a whole, every Chase family member she met she’d taken a liking to. Polly, as predicted, was impossible not to like. There was something irresistible about her. Maybe it was that Polly just sort of accepted Cassie, warts and nerves and all and didn’t seem to notice. It just felt so normal. And normal felt good.
* * *
Three weeks after Cassie had started at the store, she and Penny were closing up when Maggie came in.
“Hiya, Penny. Hey, Cassie, I saw you had some pretty flowers on your front porch. Looks nice. Kyle was impressed when we stopped over at Matt’s on the weekend.”
Cassie just smiled. It wasn’t like she could get a word in edgewise with Maggie Chase if she tried. But as it turned out, Maggie, like the rest of the Chase clan, was simply a nice person and fun to be around.
“It looked so forlorn, I wanted to make it more colorful. Just trying to make it a home, you know? What are you up to?”
“Well, I have an ulterior motive for being here. You and I haven’t really hung out much and I’m on my way to The Pumphouse for some beer and staring at some Chase brothers. Tonight is their pool game and really, we just gossip and watch tight butts in faded jeans. Sounds good doesn’t it? What do you say? You and Penny should come and hang out.”
How long had it been since she’d gone out with girlfriends for beer and burgers? And pool? “Pool?” Cassie grinned. “Really?” She loved pool.
Before marrying Terry, she’d played several times a week at the tavern near the medical school. After they’d gotten married, he’d bought a table for the house. Of course he couldn’t deal with losing so eventually she refused to play with him.
But as Brian was so fond of telling her, she had to start living her life again and who cared what Terry did or didn’t do? He was long gone.
“From that slightly scary look in your face I take it you play? Those boys play every Friday night. I’m sure they’d love for you to join them.”
“Shane would,” Penny said as she locked up the back door and came toward them.
Cassie blushed and Penny chuckled. “Come on, Cassie. Anyone with eyes can see how he looks at you. He’s smitten.”
“I uh. Well, he’s just being nice. And I think he suspects I’m up to no good. But yes, I love pool. Or I did. I haven’t played in a few years. I used to be pretty good.”
“Well then I think some beer, gossip and watching you play pool with some handsome boys is just the ticket.” Maggie grinned and they all headed out.
Liv and Dee were already waiting at a table near the doors when they arrived. Once seated, Cassie tried to pretend that she wasn’t watching every move Shane Chase made. The man was so big and bad but there wasn’t anything threatening about him despite that. She loved the color of his hair, sort of coffee brown with a hint of blond. He had a savage kind of handsome that she found herself thinking of during the day. Many times during the day.
Forcing herself to focus on the women at the table, she tried to put him out of her mind. She did not need any more men.
As if he felt her gaze on his skin, Shane turned and noticed her there with Maggie and the others. So tall and striking. She stood out every time he saw her. The woman was seriously beautiful.
“Oh for cripes sake! Just go over there already.” Kyle took his shot and rolled his eyes as he straightened. “You look like a starving man. It’s pathetic.”
“Yeah, the last time I saw that look you were wearing it.” Marc chuckled. “Go on, Shane.”
“I will, only because you three won’t shut up until I do. Bunch of old women.” He leaned his cue off to the side and headed toward their table.
“Hi, Cassie. Nice to see you here.”
Cassie looked up at him and smiled hesitantly. She’d lost most of her fear with him but there was still a shadow of it in her eyes. He wanted to wipe it away.
“Hi, Shane. How are you all tonight? Who’s winning?”
The sound of her voice, smoky sex and velvet seduction, stroked over his skin and made his gut tighten.
“Cassie here loves to play pool,” Maggie said with a grin.
Shane adored his meddling sister-in-law at that moment. “That so? Well, show me what you’ve got, then.” He held out his hand and Cassie scooted out of the booth, grabbing his forearm instead to help herself stand.
The shock of the cool, soft skin of her hand touching his arm shot through his body. As always, she seemed so many things at once. Strong and independent, yet vulnerable and scared. And he was seriously messed up if a woman’s hand on his arm made him cow eyed. He was so pathetic he wanted to kick his own ass.
He motioned toward the table in the back and she walked ahead of him. Which was fine with him. He had no problem at all watching the delectable sway of her denim-clad ass. And it was a mighty fine ass, round and high and juicy. Did she wear a thong? Boyshort-type panties would look nice too, just a nice little slice of her cheeks showing out the bottom. Okay that had to stop or he’d be embarrassed in about a minute or so.
“Cassie’s gonna play a game with us. She says she used to be pretty good. So let’s take it easy on her.” Shane cleared his throat and thought about the college football scores to get rid of the substantial hard-on she’d given him.
Rolling her eyes, she grabbed a cue and chalked the tip. All four men watched, rapt, as she blew off the excess. Annoyed, Shane elbowed Matt and glared daggers at Marc but both men just shrugged and Kyle laughed.
“Rack ’em up, boys.”
Oh, the way she said that made his heart stutter. Didn’t matter what she said, he was sure she’d sound drop dead sexy ordering a grilled cheese sandwich.
“Ante’s ten bucks,” Matt said with a wink.
Cassie snorted, pulled a ten out of her jeans and slapped it down on the side of the table.
“Ladies first,” Shane said, motioning for her to go ahead.
“You sure about that?” She stood, hand on her hip.
“Of course. Guests and ladies first.”
Cassie shrugged and took her first shot and proceeded to wipe the floor with them. Shot after shot, she’d call and sink it. She cleared the table without breaking a sweat.
Turning back to them, a sexy grin broke over her lips. Satisfied, she grabbed the money and tucked it into her pocket. “Thanks, boys. That was a very profitable few minutes.”
“You’re a pool shark!” Shane had been dumbfounded but now he found himself even more attracted by this mystery woman. Okay, so watching her bend over the table as she played helped a bit too.
“Nah, not anymore. See I could have played dumb and suckered you in until the pot was much bigger and then kicked your asses. But I played true from the first shot. I wasn’t even sure I could still play this well. I’m glad I still have it.” She smiled and Shane’s cock sprang from hard to impossibly hard.
“You guys underestimated me.” She patted her pocket. “The element of surprise, boys. Kept me in milk money.” Her laugh was honeyed sexual heat.
“Another game?” Shane wanted her there longer.
“I need to be getting home. I have to be up early to get all of my stock ready for the Sunday Market day after tomorrow. It was a pleasure taking your money, though. Enjoy the evening.” She waved back over her shoulder as she walked away.
“Totally devious.” He shook his head in wonder. “She’s the perfect woman.” Shane watched her go to the table and say her goodbyes to the women there. “I’m going to be sure she gets home okay.” Blindly, he shoved his cue at one of his brothers, heading toward the door that she’d just walked out of.
“Cassie.” He’d noticed how prone to spooking she was so he made sure to always make a lot of noise when he approached her.
She turned, a bit startled but relaxed when she saw it was him. “Hello, Shane. What’s wrong?” He looked good coming toward her. Handsome and masculine.
br />
“I just thought I’d offer you a ride home. Police escort and everything.”
“Oh, that’s all right. I have my car just up in front of the bookstore.”
“I’ll walk you to it then.”
He didn’t give her much chance to run away when he fell into step next to her. The heat of his body rolled over her as they walked. The more she was around him, the less he scared her, but still, it was hard to not cringe when he walked so close to her. He just took the world for granted. Lived without fear of being assaulted or raped. Men his size could walk around any time without worry. She wished she knew what that felt like. For even just a few minutes.
He was patient as she unlocked her car but stopped her from getting in with a gentle hand at her shoulder. “Cassie, uh, would you like to get dinner sometime? Maybe go dancing?”
“I...well, I don’t know if I’m ready to date just yet.” Her words came out in a rush and the tenderness she brought out in him bloomed through his heart. Damn, what was it about this woman that got to him so deeply?
“Just yet? Are you with someone? I should have asked.” He knew she was divorced of course. Nothing stayed a secret very long in Petal. Hell, her landlord shared that tidbit innocently enough the first night she’d landed in Petal and Shane had done a background check as well.
“Not anymore. I’m divorced.”
He wasn’t sure what emotion was in her voice as she’d said it. Sadness? Did she miss the ex? Pain? Was she afraid? It was petty of him but he far preferred that she hated her ex than her still wanting him. “Oh, it’s still new. I’m sorry.”
He tried to stay as patient as possible, watching as she took a deep breath and licked her lips before deciding to answer him. “It’s not really new. I’m not pining away for him or anything. It’s...complicated.” Her voice trembled a bit at the end and he locked his knees to keep from moving to her.
The fear was there, unmistakable. “I know you’re afraid of something. You can trust me, you know. I want to help. You can share your story with me. I like you, Cassie.” His voice was soft and he had to grip the top of her car door to keep from reaching out to touch her.
Her big blue eyes looked up at him for long moments, wavering. But at the last minute she looked away for a split second and when she looked back, the moment had passed. “I’m...it’s not something I like to talk about. Anyway, I should be getting home.”
“Just come as my friend then. I won’t rush you. I want to get to know you. Unless you’re not attracted to me at all. In which case, I’ll back off anything other than just being friends.”
She sighed. “I’ll think about it.” She got into the car and then rolled down the window. “And any woman not attracted to you is blind or a damn fool.”
Before he could respond, she’d pulled out and was driving away, leaving him wearing a goofy grin.
* * *
He took those words as a sign along with her pool game. Later that night in his bed he stopped pretending he wasn’t totally gone for her and just accepted it. He’d never failed at pursuing a woman and he certainly didn’t plan to start. He wanted Cassie Gambol and not just for a few nights in his bed. At first it had been a mild crush, then an interest and now he’d developed a serious fascination with Cassie. She made him think about her in ways he’d never thought about a woman before.
The very specter of the feelings that had sent him running out on Maggie two years before seemed totally right and he realized he was ready for Cassie. The issue was that he had to make her ready for him.
He’d take it slow even if it killed him.
* * *
He made himself promise to not rush up on her as he walked toward Fourth Street the next morning.
She sat there, ebony hair glossy in the sunshine, pretty blue eyes shaded by sporty black sunglasses and he was drawn to her immediately.
He’d thought she was gorgeous as he caught sight of her but the smile she gave him once she’d recognized him made her a goddess.
“Mornin’, Cassie.” He stuck his hands in the front pockets of his shorts to keep from touching her.
“Good morning, Sheriff. What brings you out here on such a sweltering Sunday?”
She did. He’d tossed and turned and finally had to take matters into his own hands in the shower. The woman drove him to distraction, turned him on, electrified him with her presence and it drove him wild. That she apparently had no idea she affected him that way was even more irresistible.
“Oh just looking.” He motioned to her wares on the table. “You made all this?” Her creativity was impressive. He admired her skill and the craftsmanship of the things she’d made.
“I did. What do you think?” Her voice had gone soft and shy.
Reaching out, he fingered a pretty beaded necklace that she’d hung on some sort of stylized branch thing. “I think you’re amazingly talented. This is all beautiful. In fact, I think this would look good on Maggie, don’t you? And this for my momma?”
Her smile returned, brighter than before. “This amber color would go really well with Maggie’s hair, yes. I’ve seen her wear something similar to this before. But this—” she touched the necklace he’d indicated for his mother “—is too delicate for your mother. She’s much bigger than this necklace. Her jewelry should be bolder.”
“She’s barely five feet tall.” Shane chuckled.
“Ah yes, but your mother is ten feet tall in personality. That’s what I mean. Her hair is very...” Cassie chewed on her lip and he grinned, waiting to see what she’d say. “It’s so festive and her accessories are all very large.”
She looked over the things on the table and shook her head. “I don’t have anything that’s right for her.” Reaching down, she pulled out a plastic container and flipped it open, rustling through it for a few moments. “Aha!” She held up a pretty piece of glass swirled with blues of all hues and a thread of silver. “This. Let me make her something with it. I’ll let you know when I’ve finished it. If you don’t like it, no harm.”
“You’d do that for me?”
“Sure. I was thinking of having it hang vertically, I think it would draw out her neck.”
He smiled at her, not knowing what the hell she was talking about but it sounded good. And it gave him the chance to see her again. “Thank you. That’s very nice of you. Her birthday is next month. Can I buy that necklace there for Maggie now though?”
“Oh.” She blushed and he liked that the blush was for something innocent and sweet between them and not her usual shyness. “Sure. Thank you. Would you like me to wrap it up for her?”
He nodded, without words. He watched her graceful hands draw the necklace from where it was hanging and lay it in a box and then proceed to wrap it up so fancy he was sure he’d fuck it up by the time he got it to Kyle and Maggie’s.
She handed it to him and he paid her. He didn’t want to leave but people had come to her table and were browsing.
“Well, thank you again, Cassie. I’ll see you around.” She waved at him as he walked away.
Cassie watched him walk away, feeling giddy. Oh man, she had a crush on the sheriff. She wanted to put her head down and sigh wistfully. Wanted to write his name on her notebook and ask Maggie if Shane liked her.
This was bad. She couldn’t have a crush on the damned sheriff. She didn’t need the big goon, damn it. She—if and when she decided to ever date again—needed some nice, easygoing man about half a foot shorter. With like, a third the testosterone. Shane was a walking testosterone factory. He emanated masculinity. It disturbed and attracted her all at once. What she needed was a plumber, an accountant or a carpenter. She didn’t need law enforcement or men with god complexes.
That made her wince. She was being unfair and she knew it. Shane Chase had been very sweet to her and while he was obviously arrogant in some ways, he didn’t appear to have a g
od complex. Still, what the hell would she do with a man like him?
A smile crept back onto her face as she pondered the answers to that question.
* * *
Several days later, Shane walked into Paperbacks and More and held up a take-out bag when Cassie looked in his direction.
“Hi there, darlin’. Care to share a couple of sandwiches and some soft drinks with me?” This was just another step in the “get to know me” plan. He wanted to just sort of barge in and order her to come have lunch with him. It probably would have been how he’d have handled another woman. But this one needed special handling and he wasn’t sure where his patience was coming from but he was thankful for it nonetheless.
“I don’t know. I...”
Before Cassie could finish her sentence, Penny poked her head out of the back. “It’s lunchtime anyway. You came in early and worked late day before yesterday. Flex out the time. That’s a Honey Bear bag he’s holding. Best sandwiches in town. I’ll see you in an hour.”
Cassie’s mouth moved a few more times but Penny simply took over and pretty much pushed her into Shane. He’d have to thank her for that later on.
“I guess I can, yes. Thank you, Shane.”
“There’s a big ol’ shady spot near the fountain at City Hall that’s got our name on it.” He held out his arm and after a brief hesitation, Cassie took it.
“Shady sounds very good.”
They walked the few blocks to City Hall. He liked the way she felt next to him, her arm in his. Liked the way she fit against him even as she’d forget herself and lean a bit before pulling herself away.
Shane wasn’t a fool, he wanted her to himself so he’d chosen a time after the lunch rush and had scoped out the bench earlier that day.
“This is nice. Thank you very much. How much do I owe you?”
He snorted, handed her a soda and unwrapped her straw, poking it in the top of the lid. “Please. It’s not going to ding my retirement account to buy you a sandwich, a lemon bar and some soda.”