Tempting Fate (The Blake Boys Book 9) (5 page)

“Smells good in here.”

“Did you get the cabernet sauvignon?” Bo looked up from seasoning the steaks.

“Yes, in addition to ten other things.” He pulled bottles out of the bags.

“Good. I need it for my glaze.” Bo reached for the bottle.

Channing squinted at him. “How are the new contacts working out?”

“I’m getting used to them. Today Christine in accounting told me I had bedroom eyes.” He grinned.

“That reminds me, I think I need to file a sexual harassment complaint. Dinah in acquisitions gets so close in the elevator we could be Siamese twins.” Channing uncorked a bottle of the cabernet and poured himself and Bo a glass.

“I spent the last Christmas party dodging one of her magic fingers massages. The woman is relentless when she’s drunk.” Bo took the glass.

“She’s no slouch when she’s sober.” Channing had narrowly missed getting a hand job from her the other day. “What’s for dinner?”

“Steak au poivre. Michelle made it on her show last week, so I gave her a call. She was so excited to give me the recipe until she found out I was cooking it for you.” He laughed.

“The ladies have been on an active hunt to find you a woman. Well, any woman who isn’t Morgan’s cousin Charisma.” Channing popped a cherry tomato in his mouth.

“I know. Their hearts are in the right place. I told her I was practicing until I met the right woman.” Bo trimmed the asparagus. “So how goes the woman dilemma?”

“Cassidy sent me a thank you text for the painting and Emma won’t stop calling.” Channing shook his head.

“That’s progress.”

“Yes, it is.” He clinked glasses with Bo.

“What’s Emma’s sudden urgency to be in a relationship with you?”

His jaw ticked. He was still angry about her surprise appearance at the engagement party. “I have no idea.”

“Didn’t you learn anything in Vegas?”

“Yeah, I learned that dollar bills chafe when someone’s cramming them down your pants.”

Bo shook his head. “I meant about seizing the moment and passionate pursuits. You gave a really good speech about romance that night we were in the hotel bar.”

“I’d had like seven martinis.” Channing ran a hand over his face.

“True, but you made a good point. You said it didn’t hurt to take a page out your brothers’ playbooks. When you find a good woman, don’t let her go. So what are you going to do about Cassidy?”

That was a really good question. A zillion bouquets of flowers and a painting had gotten him nothing more than a thank-you text.

“I’m going to DC to have a face to face with her. She can’t avoid me if I stake out her apartment building.”

“That’s a good Blake. Let’s eat.”

CHAPTER FOUR

Channing had been in DC a day and a half and still hadn’t managed to find her. He reached out to mutual friends, and it was Hannah who proved to be the most helpful. Hannah was all too willing to give him a rundown of Cassidy’s schedule and was pretty sure she’d be home around five.

By seven o’clock he figured she’d had enough time to come home and unwind. Channing stood outside Cassidy’s door poised to knock. He could hear jazz music coming from inside. Now that he was here he didn’t know what to say, so he figured he’d wing it.

He rapped lightly on the door.

“Who is it?” Cassidy answered a minute later.

“It’s Channing Blake.”

“Sorry, the name doesn’t ring a bell.”

She wasn’t being cute. She sounded mad as a rattlesnake. This was going to be harder than he’d expected.

“You sent me a thank you text the other day?”

“Nope. Bells still aren’t ringing.”

“Really? I know you remember me. I was the tall, dark, and handsome cowboy with the great smile that you had an embarrassing crush on all through law school? You would undress me with your eyes and check out my ass when I walked by, but you thought I didn’t notice. It was rumored that you bought twelve copies of that Legal Briefs pin up calendar I posed for and pasted my picture on each month. I have a list of other things you used to do to objectify me—I’m sure your neighbors would love to hear about it.”

The door flew open. “What are you doing here?”

Channing took a deep breath when her loosely tied robe fell open. How the hell was he supposed to answer her question while she was standing there in a thin cotton tank top and a pair of men’s boxer shorts? Her nipples looked like they were fighting their way through the material.

“You wouldn’t answer my calls.”

“As you stated, I sent you a thank-you text for the painting.”

“So you liked it?”

“Yes. It’s the most exquisite thing anyone’s ever given me.”

“Can you let me in?”

“That depends. Are you going to tell the truth or lie to me about that woman who showed up at the party?”

“I promise, only the truth.” He peeked his head into the apartment and saw it was overrun with floral arrangements. “I see you got the flowers.”

“Did you send those?” She gave him a sarcastic look.

“How many men send you flowers?” He raised an eyebrow.

“Several, and they’re all
single
.”

“I bet they’re not as handsome as me.” He tapped his fingers on the door.

“You’re really full of yourself.”

He flashed a cheesy grin. “Family curse.”

“Does being a lying jerk run in the family too?”

“Emma is not my girlfriend, and I didn’t invite her to DC. She showed up on her own accord. I wouldn’t do that to you, or any woman for that matter. Can you please let me in?”

She pulled the door open wide enough for him to enter, but he took the opportunity to brush up against her anyway. She looked up at him in an attempt to scowl, but it came across as a sultry, pouty invitation to kiss her. He didn’t. She herded him into the living room, then padded into the kitchen and got him a beer, but he noticed she’d gotten a fruit juice for herself.

“A woman doesn’t travel that far across the country to track down a friend,” she said.

He shook his head. “She was in New York and decided it would be fun to surprise me.”

“Oh, great. You have a stalker.” She rolled her eyes.

“Woman, now you listen to me. I can only apologize so much for someone else’s actions. Before she showed up we were definitely making progress.”

“That was harmless flirting, and I’d had too much champagne.”

“The hell you did. You wanted me to kiss you.”

“Still as arrogant and presumptive as the day we met.”

He came closer. “Tell me I’m wrong, and I’ll leave.”

“Shut up and kiss me.”

“I thought you’d never ask.” Channing took her into his arms and laid one on her. His heart thudded as he gazed upon the thin material of her tank top, which looked as if it were clinging to her breasts for dear life. Her nipples were hard, begging him to suck them. He pulled down the straps and began to suck hard, hungry for the taste of this woman. He flicked his tongue back and forth over her nipple.

“Wait.” She forced his head up to look at her. “We haven’t even been on a proper date.”

Channing shook the lust out of eyes. “Yes, of course. I mean, I’d love to—”

“Quit while you’re ahead. Are you being honest with me about Emma?” She bit her lip.

“Yes. I’m not that kind of guy.” He pulled bra strap back on her shoulder and adjusted her robe.

“Good.” She ran her hand through her hair. “You can pick me up tomorrow at noon for our date.”

“Yes, ma’am.” Channing smiled and stole a quick kiss before she kicked him out.

* * *

Cassidy woke early to get ready for the date. She nibbled on some toast as she cleaned up the apartment. She was just about to vacuum when she heard the knock on the door. He’d arrived an hour ahead of time.

“You’re early.” Cassidy squinted at him.

He smiled. “I know. I didn’t want to give you a chance to make up some lame excuse or move out of state.”

“I knew you would think that, so I got ready as soon as I woke up this morning. Ha!” Cassidy opened the door to reveal she was fully dressed.

Channing laughed. “What would you like to do today?”

“I haven’t been to the museums in a while.” She bit her lip. “There’s a new exhibit at the Freer Gallery of Art. Or did you have something more exciting in mind?”

“Sounds like fun. How about we make a day of it and get tickets for the hop off, hop on shuttle?”

Her eyes lit up. “That’s a great idea.”

After living in DC for many years, doing the tour of the nation’s capital still gave her goose bumps. Cassidy never hid her enthusiasm for the fantastic architecture and history that coursed through the streets. Channing circled all the stops he wanted to make on the map the driver gave them. It was nice to see they liked the same things. The Washington Monument, Lincoln and Jefferson Memorials, those were some of her favorite spots. She’d often come and sit on the steps in the early evening as the sun was setting. She wondered what it would be like to take a dip in the huge reflecting pool. She knew it was kind of corny, but a replica of the Declaration of Independence hung on the wall in her bathroom. It felt kind of liberating to sit on the toilet and contemplate freedom.

Channing slowed his pace to match her stride. The man had a good six inches on her. He’d ask how she was feeling every ten minutes, but she was thankful that he cared about how she felt. He held her hand, and it made her feel like a teenager. When she needed a break, they stopped at a bench near the United States Botanical Garden.

She perused the brochure. “So what do you know about gardens?”

“My mama has a pretty huge one in the back yard. I help her map out sunlight and moon patterns around the house.” He shrugged.

“Wow. Sounds like you really got into it.”

He gave her a sexy sleepy eyed look. “I can get deeply involved, if the subject is fascinating enough.”

“I remember the time we came across that Girl Scout troop who was having trouble selling their cookies. You gave those girls a rousing speech, and they sold out within an hour.” She laughed. Those girls were so entranced by him, they would have stolen cars if he’d asked them to.

“They made me an honorary member of the troop.” He grinned.

“It must be nice to have women of all ages fawning all over you. What’s your secret? Besides the obvious good looking package.”

“There’s no secret. People simply respond well when you’re nice, courteous and have a genuine interest in what they have to say.”

“Yeah, I try, but I’m afraid I can’t take all that mental exhaust. Some people like to unload on you and don’t even care if you’re really listening.”

“I agree. But my daddy says that even a person with the worst verbal diarrhea will say one good, useful thing in their lives. And if you’re lucky, they’ll say it the day you’re listening.”

Cassidy let out a giggly snort. “Your daddy sounds like a really funny guy.”

“Funny is the last word anyone would use to describe John Jacob Blake.” Channing scratched at his beard. “My whole life he’s been super serious, but lately he’s been mellowing. I think it’s all the grandkids popping up. It’s been a joy to watch.”

“I’ve got my second wind back. Let’s go see us some awesome horticulture.” She stood and held her hand out to him.

When Channing stood, he kissed the back of her hand. The softness of his lips against her skin felt like he’d just kissed her from head to toe. She wondered if it was the memory of her attraction to him that made her feel the sparks, or if her body was on the mend. He was a live, walking billboard of sexiness, and she was hooked on whatever he was selling.

They spent a considerable amount of time in the Botanical Garden, then walked around until they found a prime spot for a panoramic photo op of the Potomac. Channing was hungry, so they went to a trendy restaurant at Union Station, the intimate atmosphere in the booth on the top floor was just what she needed after a busy day of sightseeing.

“I’m going to have their signature fajitas.” Channing stretched his legs out under the table.

“I’ll have the shrimp Caesar salad.”

The waiter came for their order, Channing ordered the house ale and a white wine for her, but she declined and asked for bottled water instead.

“Not in the mood for wine tonight?” He passed the waiter the menus.

“I’m taking a medication that I can’t mix with alcohol.”

“Oh. I hope it isn’t anything serious?” He touched her hand.

Cassidy’s eyes widened. It was as if time had stopped. Anything serious? She felt like she had a double-barrel shotgun aimed at her head. She could answer his question and turn the entire day into something it needn’t be, or she could play it cool and record this as the one of the best dates ever.

“No, I cut my finger so the doctor gave me some antibiotics for it.” Her shoulders sank as the weight of the lie bore down on her. Suddenly the booth wasn’t intimate anymore. The whopper she just told had wedged itself between them.

“Thank you for giving me another chance after that debacle at the engagement party. Even if you didn’t want to see me again, I wouldn’t want you thinking I was that kind of man. I wouldn’t do that to you or Emma.”

“I can see why she wants to hang on to you. I don’t know the full story, but whatever the reason for the breakup, she seems remorseful about not being in your life anymore. But I also respect your choice to move on, and I’m sure you know if a woman isn’t good for you.”

“So when I come back to town in a couple of weeks, can I take you on another date?”

“I’d like that.” The words, coming from her heart, shot out of her mouth before she could stop them.

* * *

By Sunday afternoon Channing was in such a euphoric state he didn’t want to leave DC. It was exciting getting to know Cassidy all over again. Emma called him a few times, but he hadn’t called her back. He needed to tell her face to face that he didn’t want to try again. His feelings for her had changed when she left for New York and cut him out of her life. It was simply something he couldn’t get past. Besides that, she’d mentioned at least three times that he should look for his own place off the ranch, and that sent warning bells blaring in his head. Eden had wanted to live off the ranch, and she’d been mad at J.J. for months when he told her that was not an option. Being a Blake meant being a part of that land, and even though he’d been taking his time selecting a spot to build on, that was where he wanted to live.

She was still tight-lipped about why she’d disappeared, but he figured she’d get around to telling him when she felt comfortable. In the meantime it was an excellent start to a new relationship.

He picked her up for their brunch date and noticed her mood had shifted since last night. She was silent and seemed distracted. By the time they went back to her apartment, his optimism was beginning to fade. Had she changed her mind? The air was getting pretty thick. The other shoe finally dropped when she asked him to take a seat on the couch.

She caressed his hand. “First of all, I want you to know I had a really good time this weekend. I’m glad you came to town.”

“But?” He gulped.

“I want to tell why I dropped out of sight last year.”

“I know I’ve been kidding you about it, but you don’t have to tell me.”

“No, I want to tell you. Correction—I have to tell you—before this goes any further.” She cleared her throat. “And I will totally understand if you don’t want to see me anymore.”

“Why would I not want to see you?” Channing moved closer to her.

They sat there silent for a few minutes until she finally spoke.

“I was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year. I dropped out of sight because I started treatment immediately after I was diagnosed. They caught it in time, and I’m in remission. But there’s no guarantee it won’t come back.” She exhaled.

“Oh, Cassie.” Channing took her into his arms.

“I’m still healing. My immune system is still pretty low. My doctors are keeping an eye on things, but there’s still long road ahead for me.”

“I want you to tell me everything about your diagnosis and treatment. What your doctor is doing to monitor you.”

“Why?” She wiped a tear from her eye.

“If we’re going to give this relationship a chance, I have to know how to take care of you.” He caressed her cheek.

She pushed him away. “Goodness, you’re so damn noble. This is why I didn’t want to tell you. Compassion can turn to pity before you realize it happened. And before you know it, I’m the good friend with cancer. I don’t want you to look at me differently.”

“You’re still the same beautiful, maddening Cassidy Shaw that cut in front of me in the registration line so she could get the last seat in Professor Drayton’s lecture.” He took her face into his hands.

She laughed, and it came out on a half sob. “You’re never going to let that go.”