Engaging (Alluring Book 2) (11 page)

Logan looked in awe.  "Cool."  Four-year-olds, Cassie decided, were easily impressed.

"Come on," Gage said, taking Logan's hand, his arm still wrapped around her shoulders.  "Who's in the mood for ice cream?" 

Cassie sat nervously in the waiting room of her OB/GYN.  She was nervous for two reasons.  First, Gage sat beside her in what was clearly
her
domain that he should be no part of, and second, every woman in the waiting room stared at them.

When Gage had called her that morning and casually asked if she had made an appointment, she had thought nothing of sharing the information that, yes she had an appointment that afternoon, never thinking he would show up at her house to take her to said appointment. 

She did another sly glance around.  All the women still stared, not hiding their fascination with Gage.  Gage sat, oblivious, reading a magazine. 

A few minutes later, Gage leaned over and whispered in her ear.  "Stop fidgeting."  He lightly kissed her on the cheek, taking the sting out of his reprimand.  Cassie thought she heard a few sighs. 
OMG, Gage, please go wait in the car,
she screamed, inside her head.

"Cassandra Wagner?"  A nurse popped her head through the door separating the waiting room from the inner exam rooms.

Cassie stood.  Then so did Gage.  She turned to him and whispered, "What are you doing?"

"Coming with you," he said, casually as if he wasn't about to follow her into a room she would have to get naked in.

"You are not,"  she whisper-hissed.

Cassie looked around.  They were getting curious stares.

"Cassandra?"  The nurse inquired.

"Yes, coming."  She elbowed Gage in the stomach, hoping to get a head start and therefore, lock him out of the exam area.  No such luck.  He was right on her heels.

The nurse led them to an exam room and handed Cassie a paper gown and a plastic cup.  "We need a urine sample, then everything off and put on the gown.  The doctor will be with you shortly."

"Thank you," Cassie said, placing the gown in the claustrophobic-inducing, dressing room.  "I'm going to the bathroom.  Please don't follow me."

Gage gave her his cocky smile.  "Wouldn't dream of it, Sunshine."

Cassie just snorted.  She went to the bathroom, did what she needed to do, then went back to the exam room.

Gage sat in a small metal chair, arms crossed over his chest, back against the wall  in a posture of arrogant male relaxation.  He gave her a slow smile as she walked back into the room.

She curled her lip and might have snarled before giving him her back and disappearing into the dressing room.

Cassie was still in the dressing room when she heard a knock on the door, and her doctor entering the room.

"Well, hello," she heard Dr. Nancy say, obviously stumbling across Gage.

She heard Gage reply, "Doctor."  Probably standing up and holding out his hand for a handshake.

"Cassie, you in here somewhere?"

"Yeah, Doc.  I'll be out in a minute."

"Oh, no rush, dear.  I'll just keep your young man company while we wait."

Cassie stepped out of the changing room and sat on the examination table, her paper gown and the paper on the table causing a considerable amount of noise.

The doctor opened Cassie's file.  "So, what can I do for you today?  You're not due for your PAP for another three months."

"I'm here for birth control."

Doctor Nancy looked up from the file.  "Okay, you have several choices pills, shot, IUD.  Personally, for you, I think the shot would be best, but you'll need to come in every three months for an injection."

"I'll do whatever you think is best."

Doctor Nancy nodded, then said, "I must warn you, this doesn't prevent the spread of STD's, so you have to be in a monogamous relationship before I'll give it to you.  Otherwise, condoms are still your best defense."

"We understand.  We're exclusive, don't worry,"  Gage said, crossing his arms and leaning back against the wall again as if waiting for Cassie to say something.  She wouldn't give him the satisfaction.  She figured they could still use condoms.

"Okay then, we're all set.  You know the drill Cassie, lie back, scoot forward, and feet up in the stirrups.  While you're here let me make sure everything is okay."

Cassie glared at Gage.  "You going to stay for this part, too?"

"Sunshine, I've seen it all before."

"Yes, but not quite in this position."

"Now that's not true, Just the other night
—
"

"Okay, okay," Cassie interrupted him, holding up her hand.  "You win, just
shut up
."

Gage chuckled. Doctor Nancy outright laughed.  "I'm glad you find this so amusing,"  Cassie said, glaring at her doctor.

"Cassie, you've got a hot guy trying to get a peek at your girl parts.  What's not to love about that?"

Cassie lay back and closed her eyes.  "I'm just going to lie here and pretend you both don't exist."

It didn't take long for the exam and the shot, then Cassie got dressed, Gage paid, and they left the office.  She'd tried to tell him that she would put it through her insurance, but he ignored her protests, paying the receptionist in cash.

"You feeling okay, Sunshine?"  Gage asked, wrapping his arm around her shoulders.

"I'm fine, don't feel a thing."

"Good.  How about some lunch?"

Cassie checked the time on her phone.  "I have to get home, so I can go pick up Logan."

"How about we grab a fast bite, then we'll both go pick up Logan.  No sense driving all the way back to the ranch, just to turn around and come back here again."

Cassie shrugged.  She knew Gage had a car seat.  She wasn't sure when he had bought it but it had been in his SUV when they had gone out to dinner the other night.  "Okay."

They walked down the block to a taco stand Gage had seen.  After they had ordered their food, they sat at one of the outside tables.

"I still want to use condoms every time we have sex."  Yes, she just blurted that out.

Gage had a taco halfway to his mouth.  He dropped it back onto his paper plate.  "I told you I would take any tests you wanted me to, but I know for a fact I'm clean."

"I know, it's just that I don't want our relationship to get too serious.  I don't want to worry about where this is going.  That's why I want to be friends with benefits, but if you're not okay with that, maybe we should just be friends and leave it at that."

"I would never cheat on you if that's what you're worried about."

"I know you're not a cheater.  But what happens when you find someone else that you're interested in?  Then you would have to break up with me to be with that person.  If we're not together, there's nothing to break up.  Do you understand what I'm saying?"

"Yeah, you're saying you don't trust that I'm not going to bail on you."

"I'm saying, if we don't have a relationship, I can just enjoy the time we spend together without
worrying
you're going to break up with me."

Gage ran his fingers through his hair, clearly agitated.  "Have you not heard anything I've said to you these last two weeks?"

"I've heard everything you've said, Gage, but that doesn't mean I believe or agree with any of it.  I'm trying to be honest with you, here.  You're a famous rock star, and I'm just Cassie.  I believed in you once.  I trusted you.  And you crushed me.  I won't allow you to do that again. 

"For Logan's sake, I know we need to stay friends and that's why I don't want anything to jeopardize that friendship.  I don't want any animosity between us and that's why a relationship won't work because
when
we break up there would be hard feelings.  It took me a long time to get over you.  I went from loving you, to hating you, until I was finally okay."  She reached over and gripped his hand, begging him to understand.  "I can't go through that again.  I don't want to go through that again.  Please understand and respect that."

Gage took a moment to process her words.  He gave her hand a squeeze.  "First, I want to say, I heard everything you said.  I understand you and respect you.  But I'm not giving up on us.  I did that once, and I won't do it again.  I will fight for us even if I'm fighting against you, and I will prove to you that I'm not going anywhere.  And I will gladly spend the rest of our lives proving it to you.  I will make you believe in me again.  Trust in me again.  And hope to God, love me again." 

He got up from the bench and walked around to her side, sitting next to her.  He cradled her face in his hands and tipped it so she looked at him.  "Now, listen to me very carefully.  I will not let you push me away.  I will not let you walk away.  I'm here to stay, and you will not get rid of me.  Do you understand?  You're mine, and I'm keeping you."

She blinked and then blinked again before saying, "You're crazy."

"Crazy for you, Sunshine." 

Chapter Nine

Logan was more than excited to have his dad pick him up from preschool.  He introduced Gage to his teachers, showed him his pictures hanging on the wall, and took him outside to show him his favorite place to play.

Ms. Lawson came up to Cassie as she waited for the boys to finish.  "Should I put Mr. Hunter on the pickup list?"

Cassie hadn't thought about that. She supposed there would be times when Gage would want to pick Logan up from school.  "Sure, that would be great."

Gage drove them back to the ranch.  Laurie was on the front porch with Molly, a three-year-old chow and Shepard mix that they had rescued six months ago.

"The Parkers have decided they want Molly.  I'm on my way over there now to do the final paperwork and a walk-through of the house.  Hopefully, I'll come home empty handed," Laurie said, as Cassie got out of the car.

"That's great.  I'll keep my fingers crossed."  Cassie gave Gage a sly look.  "You know, you have a nice, big house.  Ever thought about adopting a dog?"

Gage gave her a sly grin in return.  "When I was a kid we had a dog.  His name was Scruffy."  Gage smiled fondly in remembrance.  "I loved that damn dog.  Always wanted another one but being on the road, it wasn't suitable to have one.   Though, now that I'm home, I'm thinking a dog is a good idea."

Cassie looked at him surprised.  "Really?"

"Sure."  Gage shrugged.  "I have plenty of room."

"You know dogs are a big responsibility.  You can't just throw them in the backyard and forget about them.  They need love and attention."

Gage looked at her, a frown marring his features.  "Do you really think that little of me?  Of course, I know they need love and attention.  I'm not a monster."

Cassie started shaking her head right away and waved her hands.  "Sorry, that came out wrong.  That was the animal activist in me talking.  I know you would take good care of any dog you got."

That seemed to appease him a little, but he still looked pissy.  She tried again.  "Do you think I would trust you with my son if I didn't think you would love and care for a dog?"

"You trust me with our son?"  He asked, stepping closer to her and wrapping his hand around the back of her neck.

Cassie swallowed, hard.  He looked so earnest like her answer really mattered.  "Of course, I do.  I know you care for Logan and would do anything in your power to protect him."

Gage leaned in and kissed her then.  His lips softly brushing hers, once, twice before his tongue did a sweep then entered her mouth.  He didn't kiss her long, and too soon, he was backing away.  "Why don't you go grab Logan, and let's see about finding me a dog."

Cassie smiled up at him.  "Okay."

"So, who's your favorite?"  Gage asked Cassie as they stood in the middle of the fenced dog run.  The fence enclosed an acre of property, surrounding the kennel building, which the dogs went out and exercised in every day.

Cassie gave him a sheepish look.  "I know I'm not supposed to have a favorite, but Max here is pretty special."  As usual, Max had approached her when she entered the enclosure.  
             

They had rescued Max about four months ago from a home that had kept him tied to a short leash in the backyard.  He still had a scar around his neck from where his collar had been fastened too tight.  For the first month, he had shied away from everyone but Cassie and they had formed a special bond.  She knew she wasn't supposed to get attached, but she would be very sad when he found his forever home.

Gage squatted in front of Max and held out his hand for him to sniff.  After a minute, he started licking Gage's fingers.

"He likes you.  He doesn't usually warm up to people so quickly."

Gage reached up and scratched him behind the ears.  "What's his story?"

Cassie told him about Max ending with, "The vet said he had probably been tied up since he was a puppy.  His skin had started to grow around his collar, and they had to cut part of his skin away to remove it.  You can feel where the fur hasn't grown back."