Blaze's Second Chance (The Sinclair Men) (14 page)

He was really getting ahead of himself. He didn’t even know if Cassie wanted him. For all he knew the little smile and looks she gave him were all about her being friendly to the owner of the building she worked in.

Blaze shook his head to try to clear his thoughts. He needed to get Cassie out of his head. Sometimes she was the only thing he could think about. All the women he’d had brief affairs with would be laughing at him now. The first woman to ever take his attention away from his work and he didn’t even know if Cassie was interested in him.

Blaze’s whole body came to attention as he turned looking into the laughing green eyes of his receptionist.

“Thank you, Cassie. Who is it?” He loved hearing the calm sounds of her voice.

“A woman, she said just to get you.” Cassie smiled, twirling a piece of tinsel through her fingers.

“Thank you.” He went to walk toward the phone when a thought came to him. “Will you be at the Christmas party, Cassie?”

“I have to be. I was told it is part of being the receptionist’s job.”

“Good.” He turned away.

It was Christmas, and you never know what could be in store or what could happen. Feeling somewhat happier Blaze lifted the phone giving a cheery, “Hello.”

“Hiya, baby. Merry Christmas.” The sultry voice speaking over the line instantly turned his good mood sour.

“What do you want, Francesca?” He rubbed his eyes, feeling tired.

****

He pulled out of the memory. He didn’t like what came next. Cassie sighed against him, and he worked an arm under her head.

Never before had he considered second chances. Cassie had given him one, and he intended to prove to her he was worth the risk.

Chapter Fourteen

Blaze woke up the following morning and spent a good hour watching Cassie sleep. He had it bad. At one point last night he’d thought she’d admit she was in love with him. Sadly, it wasn’t supposed to be.

Shaking his head, he got out of bed. He put on a dressing gown and went to check on his son. His bed was neatly tidied, and he knew Molly had beaten him to it.

The house was silent, and he made his way down the stairs to the kitchen. Chris sat at the table looking through a paper while Trent, John and Luke were sat at the other end eating cereal.

“Did Molly not make food today?” he asked going straight for the coffee.

“No. She’s out back with Blaze Junior,”
Trent
said.

Blaze shrugged. Molly loved his son. “Has he got her playing football?”

“No. They’re in the pool, and dad’s watching. I think I saw him drooling. Kind of gross,”
Trent
said.

Blaze nodded and glanced at all of his brothers. “None of you going to talk to me?”

His other three brothers looked up. “What do you want us to say?” Chris asked.

“I don’t know? ‘Good morning’.”

Luke and John scowled at him and walked away. They did that a lot lately.

“Seriously, our family is falling apart. Dad looks like he wants to kill someone while craving his wife. Molly is crying all the time, and because everything is going well with you, you think we should all be happy?”
Trent
stormed off leaving Chris.

“Go on. Scowl at me or rant,” Blaze said.

Chris shook his head. “Not in my style. I’m waiting for dad to realise he’s in love and for those three morons to see it happen. They don’t think he deserves her, but I think he does. Anyway, I noticed Cassie isn’t in her room. I take it everything is going well with you?”

Blaze glared at him and took a coffee up to his room. Cassie was sitting up in bed.

“Morning,” he said.

“Morning,” she said.

“I take it someone needs one of these first thing in the morning.”

Cassie didn’t answer him, and she took the cup. Blaze smiled and watched her. He could get used to this, to a life waking up with her in his arms. For three years he’d craved her. Tonight, he’d take her out to dinner and ask her to marry him. They’d only seen each other a week, but in his heart he’d wanted her for the past three years and more.

So much time had already been wasted. He hoped the pill she was on didn’t work. Blaze loved the thought of a baby growing inside her. Her tits would be massive.

“What’s on the agenda for today?” she asked once she drained the coffee.

“I was thinking we could stay in and play in the pool, and tonight I want to take you out.” Blaze leaned in and kissed her. He’d waited long enough.

“I like the sound of that. It has to be an Italian restaurant though. I’ve had a craving for Italian food all week,” Cassie said.

“Whatever my woman wants.”

****

The Sinclair family were out by the pool. Cassie saw that in Blaze Junior’s company everyone was on their best behaviour. She noted David kept trying to corner Molly. The guy looked in seduction mode. Blaze was splashing in the pool while she sat on the edge, her feet dipping into the water.

“You look cozy,” Chris said as he joined her.

“I am. I’m happy. Thank you for inviting me.” She hugged her friend.

   “That’s me. My diabolical plan to set you up with my brother.” She heard his wit and knew other stuff plagued his mind.

“I figured it out.” Cassie watched the man she loved with his son.

“Now you’ve just got to fight to keep it. You’ve given him a second chance, so now fight to keep him the good guy,” Chris said.

She thought about Erica. Chris was paying the price of his mistake by setting up a love match with most of the couples he encountered.

“Why don’t you take your own advice?” she asked.

Chris stared at her. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Don’t be a dick.” She shoved him in the arm. “You fucked up with Erica. That doesn’t mean you can’t win her back.”

Chris laughed. “I didn’t fuck up. That’s too light to put it.”

“Do you love Erica?”

He paused, and she saw the different emotions flittering across his face. “With all my heart.”

“Then after today, go and find her. Make her see the new man you are and not the arsehole you use to be.”

“Thanks for the pep talk,” he said with a laugh.

“Any time.”

She searched for Blaze and froze into place. He was stood with his hand barring someone from coming in. In the time it had taken for her to talk to Chris, Blaze was off and encountering a problem.

“What the fuck is she doing here?” Cassie heard her friend say. Her thoughts were the same.

Francesca Sinclair stood in a mini skirt, a tight, clear top, and heels. Across the lawn Cassie saw the woman’s outline. How could this person be Blaze Junior’s mother?

Francesca’s hands were all over Blaze.

Heart pounding in her chest, Cassie waited for them to move.

Would Blaze get rid of her? Is this the part where she woke up and realised he’d never want her?

How could her old insecurities be flooding her? She thought they’d been wiped out by last night.

No such luck. She saw the woman of Blaze’s past, with her perfect hair and make-up, with her slim body and long legs. Cassie gazed down at her body in the bikini Blaze had talked her into wearing.

She felt like an idiot. An ugly, fat idiot.

Blaze brought her closer to the pool.

“Francesca’s come to see her son,” he said to the group. The wind was knocked out of Cassie when he didn’t look at her.

“He’s so modest. I’ve not only come for my son, but I’ve come to fight for our marriage.” Her fingers ran across his chest, and in an act so possessive there could be no mistake, she kissed Blaze.

Cassie didn’t wait to see what happened next. She got up from her seat and ran through the house. Chris called after her, as did a few others. She wasn’t staying to relive her past.

“Cassie,” Blaze called.

He was behind her, and he spun her around to face him.

His lips were covered in red lipstick. She slapped him across the face. Disgusted with herself, she charged up to her room.

“Cassie, don’t do this. This isn’t what you think.”

“What I think? I think I was a fool to give you a second chance. There’s no way I can compete with that woman. I didn’t come here to get pulled into your drama again. You promised me she was out of your life,” Cassie shouted and pulled the suitcase from under the bed. The first sun dress she found she placed over her head.

“She’s Blaze Junior’s mother,” he said.

Cassie stared at him a few seconds and couldn’t believe how stupid she’d been. Of course he’d go back to the slim
,
beautiful woman in a heartbeat. He’d banged the one that got away and sated himself with her and her body. He could move on now. Just like Chris had with Erica.

“I’m leaving. This was the biggest fucking mistake of my life.” She gathered her clothes and everything she’d bought. She grabbed the stuff
ed
teddy Blaze had won at the fair and threw it at him. No longer would she be suckered into anything. From now on, firmness was the only way to go. She could trust no one but herself. 

“You shouldn’t be driving in this condition,” he said.

“I’m fine, Blaze. This time is no different from the last time.” She picked up her suitcase and purse and walked down the hall. There was no point in extending lengthy goodbyes, and she went out the front door. Blaze had blocked her car in the night before. “Will you move your car?” she asked.

“No. I told you, you’re not going.”

She opened up the boot of the car and dumped her bags inside. Whiskers came out, and she picked him up and placed him in the backseat.

“Too bad.” Cassie opened the car door and went to get inside. Blaze reached out and stopped her from moving.

“I told you that night on the beach you’re my woman. I expect you to uphold your part of the bargain.”

How dare he?
Cassie stared at the man who’d stolen and crushed her heart not once but twice in the last three years.

“Do you really think that night has any standing here? Francesca intends to be your wife. She won’t sign the divorce papers, and you’re more than happy to keep her around. We’re done. Only this time there’s no hope of a third chance.” She yanked the door out of his grip and got inside.

Blaze stood and watched her. Her cheeks burned from his scrutiny. Her hands were shaking, and it took her several attempts to get the keys in the ignition.

Once the car was started up she rolled down the window.

“Move your car,” she said.

“No. You’re not going anywhere,” he said.

Cassie glared at him and hated seeing the look of triumph in his voice. She stared past him to his family stood on the porch. Chris had his arms folded and was glaring at the scene. His other brothers looked amused at the whole situation. Francesca held her son, and Molly stared at the scene.

Looking at the mother helped Cassie to make her choice. If she stopped the car and walked inside she’d forever feel second best, always living life knowing she’d never come first place. She might sound like a first-class bitch, but she wanted to be someone’s first for a change.

“Get your car out of the way, or I’ll crush it,” she said. Cassie didn’t break eye contact with Molly. The other woman might not know it, but she was giving Cassie the strength to get out of the predicament with Blaze.

“You haven’t got it in you to do that, Cassie.”

Why did men persist in goading women?