How Cassie Got Her Grind Back (8 page)

She snorted at that ridiculous statement about his age. “You’re not getting old.”
You’re mellowing just fine, handsome.
“And you cut your hair since the last time I saw you.”

“It was time for a change. Like it?”

“I think it’s nice both ways. The long hair was striking but this new shorter style works well with your facial features. I like your beard, especially since you keep it neat and stylish.”

“Lotta gray in there, though,” he said with a chuckle.

“Not gray. Sexy silver, maybe.”

“If you say so. You forgive me?”

“Yes, but explain something to me?”

“Anything,” he replied immediately, and she noticed the hope in his open expression and had to smile.

“If you weren’t turned off by the immodesty of my dress, because I’ll admit it was pretty low-cut and snug around certain…key areas, then why did you pull back from me, as if you didn’t want anyone to think you enjoyed being close to me?” The hollowness she’d felt at his withdrawal echoed in her memory. “You’ve never been the type to do that…at least as far as I can recall.”

Samson chuckled and leaned down to whisper, “I am when I have an erection I don’t want to frighten you with. I wasn’t turned off by you,
chiquita
. I was turned on.
Really
turned on.” She blinked up at him, and he grinned and then arched an eyebrow at her. “What would you have done if you’d known? I could barely talk you onto the dance floor. I didn’t want to ruin everything with my show of horniness, but I managed to ruin everything anyway with my opinions. Untended horniness makes me cranky.”

His tender smile made her see the humor in the situation, and she chuckled as she drew him close and hugged him. “Wow, did I ever get my signals crossed.” She wanted to kick herself for becoming so depressed over a misinterpretation of his reactions.

“You’re very sexy, Cassandra. Although, I will say, in the nicest way possible, that your attire tonight is the exact opposite, which makes me feel even worse. This isn’t what you originally intended to wear tonight, is it?”

With a shake of her head, she said, “Too matronly?” She’d asked in the spirit of fun, but there was still a kernel of fear that she’d gotten it wrong again when she’d selected the black maxi-dress with three quarter sleeves and a modest V-neckline, with a lightweight shrug worn over it.

“No. You look very pretty. I feel guilty if I’m the reason you went to the other extreme. Your shoes are sexy as hell, though. When we were dating, did I ever tell you how much I loved your legs?”

Heat flooded her cheeks, and she gaped for a second. “I-I don’t remember. That was thirty years ago. My legs aren’t exactly those of an eighteen-year-old anymore.” She burst into giggles and then finally said, “You’re just speaking your mind tonight, aren’t you?”

“Clearing the air.”

“Good. Well, then, in all fairness I could tell you that, while the dress may be demure, what’s beneath it definitely isn’t…once you get past the Spanx.”

He didn’t seem surprised by the hint or put off by her admission to needing support garments. “It’s not true unless I see for myself.”

She pressed her lips flat, not sure what to say and succumbed to another fit of giggles. He smiled, looking rather pleased with himself, and they spent a few minutes catching their breaths and gathering their thoughts. “I could never stay mad at you for very long, Samson.”

“I’m relieved to hear it. Why do women torture themselves into those Spanx garments?” he asked. There was a sparkle in his eyes, as if he wanted to say more, but on the subject of torture or Spanx, she wasn’t quite sure.

“Well, since we’re shooting for complete transparency here, it’s because I need to flatten my dimples. Otherwise they’re visible. Yuck.”

He arched a dark eyebrow at her. “Are you calling my taste in beauty into question?”

Cassandra patted his lapel and smiled, determined to set the moron straight. “There’s fantasy and reality. The fantasy part is the lingerie I have on and how it would look on me under low lighting.
Annnnd
then there’s the harsh light of day that would make my ass look like a bag of puppies wrestling each other. I deal with the reality so you can have the fantasy.”

Samson had the audacity to roll his eyes before grinning down at her. “You’re trying to get away with insulting your body by giving me fantasy lingerie images and then talking about puppies wrestling. It’s all kind of adorable in my mind.”

“Again with the fantasy as opposed to reality. I wear them to make myself more comfortable in my clothes. How about that?”

He muttered something unintelligible but shook his head and smiled when she asked him to repeat himself. “Want to get a drink and take a breather? I have a surprise for you.”

Once back at the table, she discovered the surprise. Ivan was there as well, sitting at their table with the rest of her friends. He’d changed over the years, like they all had, but the sweetness in his eyes was exactly the same and so was the warmth in his open smile as he stood and held his arms wide.

“Ivan!” she exclaimed as she hugged his neck, giggling as he lifted her gently off her feet and spun her around.

Well, this is kind of perfect, isn’t it?
And she didn’t even care that plenty of people around the room were watching their little reunion.

* * * *

Jubilation filled Ivan’s chest as he held her in his arms. He didn’t care if everyone saw him holding her. They hadn’t seen each other in so long the scrutiny was worth it as it hit him just how much he’d missed her.

The first eye contact with her affected him the same as it always had. The thumping beat of his heart was the same. The longing was, too. He’d spotted her on the dance floor with his brother moments earlier, and his hands had gone sweaty, and he’d had to surreptitiously wipe his brow. Maybe he should’ve taken the shot of whiskey when Samson had offered it.

He recalled seeing her, years ago, walking up and down the halls and breezeways at Divine High School. He’d smile and wave, exchange a few friendly words with his twin’s sweet girlfriend and pray no one could tell he was head over heels in love with Cassie. And not puppy love, either. Since the day they’d all met in freshman orientation, he’d loved her, but Samson in his usual take-no-prisoners style had spoken up first. But he’d also never said a word of reproach to Ivan if he’d had the idea back then that his brother had loved her, too. That would’ve hurt too much.

Ivan had contented himself with being the third wheel at events and as a lab partner, driver’s education co-driver, and her friend. And she cheered from the stands for both of them at the football games, basketball games, and track meets. Knowing how steeped in tradition her family was, they’d always been careful to keep it chaste and above board, and he’d gotten used to hiding his feelings for her.

“I’ve missed you,” she whispered against his neck, and his heart skipped a beat when she pressed her warm lips to his throat. Her soft body pressed to his was a lush dream he couldn’t bear to wake from but knew he’d have to. Otherwise, he’d just be standing there holding her off the floor, with everyone watching them, and it would get awkward.

“I missed you, too, Cassie. You have no idea how much…”
I have loved you.
He didn’t know why he added the last part in his head, only that he was so tired of hiding how he felt. When he looked up, his brother’s eyes urged caution. So he didn’t hint at what they hoped for yet. Just as well. They should tell her together.

“Well, isn’t this a cozy reunion.” The voice made Ivan clench his teeth. It was too much to hope the jackass would leave her alone this evening.

“Bill,” Cassie said, blotting at her lipstick and adjusting her clothing after Ivan set her back on her feet. “You’re here.”

Ivan noted Cassie’s frown when she looked beyond Bill Resendez, her ex-husband, to the young Hispanic woman standing with him.

He flicked a glance between Samson and Ivan before focusing his eyes on her. “Yes. And you wouldn’t look so surprised if you’d returned my call.”

She frowned at him. “You don’t need to clear anything with me. It’s none of my business what you do…or who you do it with.”

Bill smirked and said, “That’s some fine thanks since I was being considerate of you. I called to let you know I was coming with a date. This is Brittany.”

Cassie nodded politely at the young woman. “Pleased to meet you, Brittany. Bill, does she know you have children near her age?”

Ivan lifted a hand to brush his lips and hid a smile. Brittany blinked several times in quick succession but otherwise didn’t react.

Bill ignored her comment, but a muscle in his jaw began to tic. “It’s a shame you still let bitterness control you, Cass. I tried to let you know so you could stay home if you didn’t want to come all alone.”

“Coming alone? Not hardly, Resendez,” Samson murmured, drawing close to Cassie on her other side so she was bracketed by the pair of them, a slow smile crossing his features. Ivan squeezed Cassie’s fingers gently, wondering if she’d caught the double entendre in Samson’s words.

Bill scoffed, an ugly sound with a bitter note. “I knew it was just a matter of time before the pack of dogs showed up to scavenge my leftovers. You deserve each other.”

“I haven’t proved that to her yet, but she definitely deserves better than she had with you,” Samson replied in a rough voice, hinting at the depth of his dislike for Bill.

Bill scoffed and then grinned when he spotted Andrew standing in their group. “Wow, Cass, it’s a loser’s reunion over here, isn’t it? Portman, is that you? Dorene looks as though she’s having a good time without you—weakling.”

Ivan put out an arm to hold back Andrew, who had been pretty good at basketball but had always been more of an academic in high school. “He isn’t worth it, man.”

Andrew crossed his arms over his chest and shook his head. “You haven’t changed a bit, Resendez, except for losing the best thing that ever happened to you.” He nodded and smiled at Brittany. “A pretty thing like her must not know you very well to have agreed to come as your date.”

“Fuck off, Portman. You have enough on your hands if you think you’re finally getting your chance with Cass. Cutter acts like a dog guarding its old chewed-up bone. He might share with Ivan, but you’d be doing well to get sloppy thirds.”

Red filtered into Ivan’s vision as he and Samson stepped toward Bill.

Showing impeccable timing, Hank inserted himself in the center of the growing conflict. “You’ve said a bit more than necessary, Resendez. Now go to the other side of the room and stay there.”

“Happily,” Bill said before draping his arm possessively around Brittany’s shoulder. “See you around, sheriff.” Unable to just walk away, he turned back and made eye contact with Ivan and called, “How’s that knee?” and then walked away chuckling. Brittany was peering up at the man, and to her credit, she wasn’t smiling. She cast a glance back at the group as she walked away with him.

“Shit-eating, motherfucking son-of-a—” Ivan ground out under his breath until Samson nudged him and frowned and shook his head.

Focus.

Bill knew damned good and well he was responsible for Ivan’s knee injury, by not doing his job on the football field. Because of that injury Ivan’s senior year of high school, he’d not been able to play football in college, losing his scholarship, and he’d been rejected at his army physical because of the injury. Ivan and Samson, and the coach for that matter, had always suspected Bill had intentionally pulled up short, leaving Ivan open for the devastating hit, which had required surgery to repair, but there was no proving it. Sports injuries happened all the time. Adding insult to injury, it had occurred the same night everything had changed for the three of them and their futures. A future that, for Samson at least, had included Cassie.

Andrew checked his watch and then said, “I think I’ll head back to the hotel, guys.” He looked at Samson and Ivan and then grinned at Cassie. “Especially now the cavalry has arrived.”

“Nonsense,” Cassie said, grabbing hold of his arm as he backed away. “You just got here, and you told me you were in town expressly for the reunion. You
can’t
leave now. Don’t let them ruin your fun tonight.”

Andrew hesitated and then nodded. “Okay, to make you happy, but you don’t need to pose as my wingperson anymore. I know you want to catch up with the guys. And maybe some of the ladies are single,” he added as he flicked a quick glance around the room.

“I noticed Brittany was kinda checking you out,” Cassie said as she tightened her arm around his waist. “That poor thing has no idea what a dickhead jerk Bill is.”

“A jerk
and
a dickhead?” Hank asked with a smile as he turned to face her.

“That’s right. He interrupted our reunion,” she replied as she hugged Ivan again and then thumped him in the chest with her little fist. “Ouch! You jerk! You were in Morehead all this time, and you never came to see me!”

Ivan caressed her injured hand, mainly because he could, and then gestured with a thumb at the receding dickhead-jerk. “Like that would’ve gone over well with your husband?”

“Point taken, I suppose, but I’ve been divorced for four years now.”