Love With A Stranger (21 page)

“Why should it, Cass? The house is yours now, and I agree you don’t need to be reminded of Dad everywhere you look.”

“Thank you, Peter; that makes me feel so much better. That was what provoked the final straw with Inez; she was furious with me about the changes. She said you would be too, but I told her you would understand and agree with what I had to do for my mental health.”

Peter grinned as she talked, wishing he could have witnessed that old biddy jumping down Cass’s throat. So, in less than two months, she was pushing his father aside and perhaps making plans for her next conquest, though he couldn’t imagine her waiving her inheritance, even in the name of love. But either choice would suit him just fine. “I can certainly grasp why you kicked her out; it’s none of her business what you do with your home. Anything else exciting going on?” he asked and chuckled, then tensed as she responded in an unexpected manner.

“I did see Mr. Johnson and Mr. Dredger like you suggested. The meetings were short and routine, I suppose.” Cass thought she heard his breathing alter, so she. thought it best to dupe him, as she suspected she was being deceived by him. “I took your advice, but it really wasn’t necessary because you covered everything with me last week. I told Mr. Dredger to continue paying the bills and handling the financial angle, unless he decides he wants me to take control of them. Is it all right if I skip meeting with the banker for a while? You’ve already explained the trust fund procedure to me, and I doubt I would understand all of those business technicalities. If there’s a problem or question, the executor can phone one of us, right?”

“That’s right, so don’t subject yourself to a meeting until you feel up to it. Later, if you like, I’ll go with you. I’ll keep
you informed in that area, and you’ll receive scheduled reports from the bank.”

Good, it sounded as if she had him convinced she lacked all business acumen and interest in it. She was positive that pretending to seek his advice and permission in some areas would be fortuitous to her later, would continue their truce longer. “Tom made some good contributions to wonderful causes; his donations should be most helpful to them.”

“It certainly helped us. If not for those charity and foundation bequests, Uncle Sam would have taken a huge bite out of our inheritances. Dad was clever in that area. He also made sure his name wouldn’t be forgotten.”

Cass wondered, despite the fact Peter chuckled as if jesting, if that was bitterness, she heard in his tone. If so, why? If there was any past trouble between the two men, she didn’t know about it. Could it be that Peter had known or recently learned about his father’s dark side and detested it? She had one more bombshell to drop, then she moved the convesation onward swiftly to make it appear unimportant. “I had dinner last night at the Cloister with Doctor Burkman; it was sort of a present for getting well, and a wonderful one, since the food was delicious, the service excellent, and the music relaxing. As I told you, he doesn’t have to give me a check-up for two weeks. And this is news: I heard from an old friend this week; actually she was my best friend before I married your father. Rather, I should say, we’ve been playing telephone tag for two weeks. I decided to take your good advice about making friends and getting out of the house ocassionally; I’ll just have to figure out when and where to start, but it will be soon, I promise. So, what’s been happening with you?”

As Peter was listening to her initial disclosure, he wondered if she was developing a romantic interest in her physician. If she was, should he ignore it, encourage it, or squash it? He would encourage it if he thought Jason would snap her up fast and get her out of his hair, but Jason might just be toying with
her for fun or revenge. If he waited too long, Jason could have more sway over her than he did now. Perhaps he should romance Cass himself. That way, he would be assured of gaining control of the entire Grantham estate, which was rightfully his by birth and hard work. That greedy stepmother of his didn’t deserve anything more than she already had taken, and certainly not such a large percentage! He had no doubt he could win Cass with his charms and sexual skills. Even at nine years his senior, she was beautiful, and she had to be a hot number in bed to have captured a lusty sonofabitch like his father. If she wasn’t willing to lean in his direction, he could slip some of Hines’s magical powder into her food, drink, or headache capsules like he and Inez had done before. He bet himself that in less than five minutes he could have her writhing and moaning in ecstasy and begging him not to stop!

After Cass finished talking, Peter sketched over his business appointments and mentioned having dinner or lunch with several old friends or acquaintances. “In fact, I’d better get going or I’ll be late for my racketball game. You take good care of yourself, Cass, and I’ll see you Wednesday night. Don’t worry about anything because I’ll be around to help you with any problems.”

His final two sentences had seemed to ring with sincere affection and concern. Again she wondered if he had changed for the better and her suspicions were wrong. “I will, Peter, and the same to you. Thanks for calling; I really enjoyed our talk. I’ll see you Wednesday night.”

As soon as she hung up the receiver, Cass lifted it again and phoned Jason, having committed his number to memory. Her heart raced for a few minutes when she heard his voice and she wondered if she was being forward and foolish.

When no one responded to his “Hello,” he asked, “Who’s there?”

“It’s Cass. I—”

“Is anything wrong? Are you all right?” he interrupted to query her prior hesitation.

She laughed. “No, I’m fine. Peter just phoned to say he won’t be returning until Wednesday, so I thought I would do something for you to repay you for a lovely evening last night. How about dinner at my house?”

Damn, what lousy timing!
“I wish I could, Cass, but I’m having dinner with a colleague and his wife. If it weren’t at their home and on such short notice, I’d invite you to accompany me. I’m playing golf with him and some other people in thirty minutes. You just caught me; I was heading out the door.”

“That’s all right. Perhaps another time. I know you’re in a rush to get to the club, so I won’t delay you. Good-bye.”

“Wait, Cass! I have to come home to shower and change clothes after our game and dinner isn’t until eight, so I could stop by for coffee or a drink beforehand, if that’s convenient. Say about sevenish?”

“That’s fine with me, if you’re sure it won’t intrude on your schedule.”

“Nope, and I’d like to make sure you’re doing okay.”

“I am, Doctor Burkman, so stop worrying about me. See you around seven. ’Bye.”

At ten past seven, Jason rang Cass’s rear doorbell. He smiled at her after she responded, delighted to spend even thirty minutes with her. She looked ravishing in a deep mauve satin lounging pantsuit. “I hope this isn’t inconveniencing you, and I’m sorry my time is so tight.”

“Of course not. Please, come in.” She moved aside for him to enter the mudroom, then proceed to the kitchen. As she followed him, eyeing his broad shoulders and good posture, she said, “I didn’t put out any snacks because I assumed you’ll be having hors d’oeuvres and dinner soon and wouldn’t want
to spoil your appetite. What would you like to drink?” she asked, halting at the white tiled counter.

“What are you having?”

Cass nodded toward the large clear glass with a green cactus stem. “A mischievous and delicious margarita since I’m not on medication anymore, thanks to you, so I don’t have to worry about any side effects.”

“That sounds cooling and refreshing after a hot day on the course and a quick shower.” As he watched her measure and pour the tequila and mixer into a bottle and shake it, he said, “After I spoke with you, I phoned Sarah with hopes of being able to invite you along tonight, but I didn’t ask if I could bring a guest after I found out she already had five others coming; added to her and her husband and me, that fills a table for eight.” As she coated the wet rim to a matching glass with salt, which she had sprinkled on a piece of wax paper, then dropped an ice cube into it, he continued, “Besides, after I got Sarah on the phone, I decided I shouldn’t make that request without asking you first; and I wasn’t sure you were ready for meeting so many new people at once. I know how you women are about having notice to prepare for a night out; Traci used to take hours doing her hair and makeup and selecting her outfit.”

Cass was glad he had mentioned his daughter rather than his deceased spouse or ex-wife. She smiled at him and said, “You were right, and most considerate.” After she poured his mintcolored beverage, she handed the decorative glass to him and said, “Here, taste this. See if you want more of anything. The mixer is cold, so I only used one ice cube; that means the last swallow will be as good and strong as the first.”

Jason sipped the margarita, licked the salt from his lips, smiled, and said, “Absolutely delicious, the best one I’ve ever had. Thanks. I’ll have to remember that little trick about chilling the mix and being stingy with ice. Otherwise, by the time I get close to the bottom, it’s as weak as water.”

Cass nodded. “Would you like to sit in the den and talk until it’s time for you to leave?”

“Sounds great, my feet and legs can use a break; my old back, too.”

“You make forty-two sound as if it’s ancient,” she jested. “I hope it’s not, because I’m not far behind you and I have a lot of living to do now that I’m fully recovered from my illness.”

“So do I,” Jason concurred, “but sometimes I feel much older than I am after a long hard day at the office, especially if I have an emergency piled atop it that keeps me up half the night.”

“That’s the price of being a physician, a deeply caring one.”

They seated themselves in close proximity on short sofas positioned at an L angle and with a square table near the armrests where they placed their glasses on coasters. They leaned their bodies toward each other to talk with greater ease. Multi-wattage bulbs in several lamps were on low to provide sufficient light in the slowly darkening room. Soft music came from a radio in the entertainment unit, set to an easy-listening station. High tide waves were audible, though the double doors to the patio were closed. The subtle fragrance of peach blossoms clung to the air from where Cass had sprayed the room with freshener minutes before Jason’s arrival.

As he entered the den earlier, Jason had noticed Tom’s portrait was gone from over the fireplace, as were assorted framed pictures of him or of him and Cass which he’d seen there on previous visits. He saw the sculpture he had given to her sitting on the mantel, the bronze fingers touched ever so slightly and romantically as he longed for theirs to do.

“I don’t think I could work as hard as I do if I didn’t love my profession and care about my patients,” Jason said. “I plan to slow down a little after I reach fifty, then retire at sixty. I’ve seen too many colleagues continue practicing into their late sixties or even longer. By the time they retire, they have plenty
of money to spend, but often lack the health or time to enjoy it before they die. I want to leave myself plenty of years and strength to spend time with my family, and doing things I like.”

“That’s a smart idea.”
But it doesn’t sound as if you’d want to start over with a new baby to rear.
“You love golf, don’t you?”

“Yep, but I wish I were a better player. Some of the guys I play with make shots the pros would envy.” He sipped his drink before adding, “I also enjoy tennis, but it’s harder than golf on my body as I get older. My bones just don’t like to take that kind of hard pounding anymore. But chess, now that’s more my speed after a hard day.”

“You play chess?” she asked in some surprise.

“Yep, my dad taught me. I’ve played with him hundreds of times, with Stacey, too. I can hold my own with my son, but Dad, he’s a champ. He could have me in check or checkmate before I got warmed up good.”

“
Warmed up good…
” Cass felt her body heating up by the minute as she gazed into his mirthful blue eyes and handsome face, and she knew her rising temperature wasn’t caused by the alcohol. “I play, too,” Cass revealed, “and my father was the one who taught me, too.”

“Are you also a champ?”

“I’m not as good as my father was, but I’m not bad, either.”

Jason liked the way her cheeks had rosed, her brown eyes had softened. Her attention was just as glued to him as his was to her, and her voice exposed powerful emotions. He hoped he wasn’t misreading those physical signs and that she was just as attracted to him as he was to her. “In that case, I challenge you to a game sometime soon. The loser will…Let’s see… What should the loser have to do for the winner? Um-m-m…”

Cass tried not to choke on the sip she had just taken.
I must be careful, or I just might answer him honestly, whether or not I do it with words! I mustn’t,
Cass warned herself,
blush, or squirm, or give a nervous laugh!
She swallowed and lowered
her glass with one hand, the fingers of the other one toying with the arms of its cactus stem.
Control yourself and look unruffled.
“Cook dinner? Say a six-course meal in the Cloister style? And, of course, wash the dishes and clean up the kitchen afterward.”

Jason had seen her gaze widen and her flush deepen, just as he was aware of his own arousal.
Mercy, you’re one tempting and enchanting female!
“Something tells me you’re better at chess than you admit, woman. That sparkle in your brown eyes says you’re confident of winning. Don’t tell me I’ve just been hustled by a chess pro.”

“Why, Doctor Burkman, how could you possibly think I would do such a naughty thing to my physician and friend?” Cass realized she might sound too suggestive. She pretended not to notice her slip in proper behavior. “In fact, I’m probably very rusty because I haven’t played in years, not since my father died.”

A startled Cass almost sloshed her drink into her lap as a buzzer rent the sultry silence between them. She watched Jason set aside his glass and press a button on his wristwatch to turn off the beeping signal.