Redemption (14 page)

And then he thought about Cassidy. It would upset her to have him falling down drunk, making a fool of himself. Today was her thirtieth birthday. He wasn’t going to spoil it for her. Taking a deep breath, he picked up the bouquet of flowers from the bed along with his keys.

Regardless of his own personal pain, he would make sure tonight was special for the one person who mattered most. He used to be good at this, the dating scene. Tapping into a bit of his old charm, he squared his shoulders, straightened up, and left his room.

Mara’s stone remained behind.

When Bryan pulled into the driveway, he saw Nick’s car parked alongside a very familiar black Jeep. His stomach sank and he swore. That little pep talk he’d given himself at the hotel didn’t seem to be enough now that he was faced with the grim reality of Miranda and Derek.

She’d be breathtaking. He wasn’t sure how she currently wore her hair, but it wouldn’t matter. Her green eyes would make him lightheaded, her brown hair would tempt him to touch it, and her lips. Well, her mouth always begged for a kiss.

Tonight wouldn’t be an exception.

He gripped the steering wheel with both hands. “Man up,” he told himself. “Stop being such a girl. She’s just another chick.”

Slowly, he extracted himself from the seat and closed the door. Every step toward the house seemed forced, his feet fighting every inch. He could do this, for Cassidy. Since he’d gotten to New Jersey, all she’d done was be a friend to him. The least he could do was be the same for her.

He lifted his finger to ring the bell. Was it his imagination, or did the temperature suddenly drop at least ten degrees?

Don’t go inside,
Mara whispered into his ear.
They don’t really want you here. They’re just using you. You’re nothing but a filler so Cassidy isn’t the only person without a date. They don’t care about you.

He pulled his hand back sharply. Where had that thought come from? And why did it sound like Mara’s voice, not his own? For the briefest of moments, he considered leaving the flowers and gift on the doorstep, turning around, and going back to the hotel. He could call Mara, ask her to fly out. They could spend the next week wrapped around each other. He wouldn’t have to second guess why Carrie insisted he had to join them. He wouldn’t have to see Miranda. Or Gainnes. He wouldn’t have to avoid whatever conversation was following the disapproving looks from Nick.

He would, however, disappoint Cassidy by ditching.

Bryan rang the bell. He could deal with the rest of them, somehow he could. But disappointing Cassidy was not an option.

He heard footsteps, and Nick opened the door. “Hey, you made it. Flowers? For me? You shouldn’t have,” he grinned and paused. “Okay, we can go! Bryan’s here.”

Bryan smirked at him.

When he stepped inside, he froze instantly. Miranda came around the corner, followed by Carrie. Bryan was reminded, the instant she appeared before him, of everything he ever loved about the woman. The sapphire dress she wore accented every one of her extraordinary features. Her long, brown hair fell in waves over her shoulders, she was laughing, and her emerald eyes shone. When she saw him, she stopped, turned to Carrie, and shot her a confused look. More than confused, she looked annoyed. Bryan fought the impulse to rush over to her and either shake or kiss her. It was a toss-up. He tightened his grip on the flowers to keep them from falling to the floor. They stood staring at each other, neither moving, neither speaking. Fresh pain tore through him, and it felt like someone punched him in the gut. Once again, he thought of running. Only Cassidy kept him rooted in place.

“Hello, Miranda,” he said, forcing each word.

“Hi, Bryan,” she seemed unsure of what to do next.

Derek stepped from the kitchen, looking his usual infuriatingly perfect self. “Roemer,” he said simply, moving to stand by Miranda.

“Gainnes,” Bryan said, frowning.

Well, some things never changed.

“Cass, let’s go!” Carrie leaned on the railing and called up to the second floor. She walked into the foyer and kissed Bryan’s cheek. “You’re looking better. Nice of you to show up.”

“Am I late?” he asked. How long had he sat out there in the Jeep?

“Leave him alone.” Her voice. “It’s fine, Bryan. Don’t let them give you a hard time.”

His raised his head to where she stood at the top of the stairs. Dear Lord, she was exquisite. Suddenly, he was the one who lost all ability to form words or even coherent thoughts. Cassidy glided down toward him. Her dress was flirty and sexy and hugged all the right places. It left him entranced.

“Are those for me?” she asked, smiling and indicating the flowers in his hand.

Bryan shook himself from his daze. “Happy Birthday, Cassidy.” He held them out to her feeling like he was suddenly seventeen again.

“They’re beautiful, thank you! I love them.” She buried her face in them and inhaled. When she looked up again, she raised her hand to his face and gently caressed his cheek. “You shaved.”

“Well, all that talk about the scruff made me think it wasn’t my best look.” Bryan gave her a sly smile. “You look incredible,” he said, voice low.

She smiled and curtsied. “Why, thank you, and you look very handsome. Hmmm. I like this version of you a lot better.” Cassidy put her hand on his chest, and Bryan reached up to place his own over hers. “Don’t go anywhere. I’m going to put these in water, just give me a sec.”

She walked toward the kitchen, still smelling the flowers. Bryan was unable to take his eyes off her. The way her blonde hair cascaded over her shoulders in wavy curls, the sparkle of her eyes, she looked like an angel.

And he felt like a demon for the thoughts playing in his head.

When she disappeared into the kitchen, he didn’t know where to look or what to do with himself. Miranda was still watching him; he could feel her eyes on him, assessing every move, reading his facial expressions. Bryan moved the curtain on the door aside to look out at the driveway.

“So, how are we doing this?” he asked no one in particular.

“Well,” Nick began, “we’ll need two cars for sure. Mine can fit four. I suppose -”

“We’ll ride with Derek and Miranda,” Carrie stated firmly. “Do you mind driving with Cassidy?”

Bryan shook his head. “I don’t mind. That’s fine with me if she’s okay with it.”

“Okay with what?” Cassidy asked, emerging with her coat and purse slung over her arm.

“Are you good riding with Bryan?” Carrie asked.

She smiled at him again. “Definitely. That’s completely fine with me.”

Miranda’s eyes narrowed, and she grabbed Derek’s hand. “Well, then. Let’s get moving. I have a feeling they don’t wait for latecomers, birthday or not.”

Cassidy stopped when she was directly in front of Bryan. Nervously, she pushed her hair behind her ear. He tilted his head to the side and took it back out, running his fingers through the length of it as he draped it across her shoulder again. He locked eyes with her, and the rest of the world faded away.

“Let me help you with that,” he said, taking her coat and silently wishing for summer. Coats that covered up satiny-soft skin would not be required.

“Thank you.” She turned so he could lift the coat over her arms and shoulders, feeling the lightest brush of his fingers along the way. Cassidy fought a shiver. She spun to face him and wrinkled her nose. “Let’s go and have some
fun
.”

Ahead of them, they both heard Derek mumble, “Nice Jeep.”

Bryan just laughed out loud.

“T
hank you, again, for my flowers, Bryan,” Cassidy said when they were alone.

He couldn’t look at her. If he did, he’d unravel for sure. He had to focus on the road, on where they were going, on not getting lost on the way there or in her eyes.

“Well, now. I couldn’t show up empty-handed, could I, kid?” he said, reminding himself that this was not the girl for him. Even if he wanted her to be. She was just playing the part he’d asked her to. None of this was real. It was just that every second he spent with her, he realized how much more he liked being in her world. And he wouldn’t mind staying.

If only he deserved her.

 

Cassidy sucked in air through her teeth.
Kid.
Yes, that was the reaction she was hoping for. Of course, with Miranda around, that would be how he saw her. Stupid, gorgeous Miranda. Naturally she’d have to wear something that would make her look even more irresistible to anyone with a
y
chromosome. She scowled.

“So, who wins?” she asked, adding a little perky to her voice.

“Wins?”

“Our bet? I think I look pretty fabulous, but with that shave, you’re a close second,” she grinned, leaning forward slightly to get a better look at him.

“Close second?” he smirked.

“Do you hear an echo in here?” Cassidy joked.

Bryan just smiled. “You win, Cass. Believe me. You win.”

She settled back in her seat and placed her hand on the armrest between them, right beside Bryan’s. They were barely touching, yet Cassidy was certain that she felt an electricity pass between them. Behind her, she heard the twin chuckles of two very sassy angels.

Cassidy shook her head and tried to come up with the perfect scolding remark for when she could get those two alone.

When they finally got to the lot and parked, Cassidy felt like she might jump out of her skin, she was so excited. Bryan looked beyond handsome, she felt like a supermodel, it was her birthday, and she’d spend the rest of the night on a dinner cruise around New York. It was very different from what a girl from a small town in Vermont was accustomed to.

She reached for the handle to let herself out, but Bryan stopped her.

“Wait.”

He jumped out and hurried around to her side of the Jeep. Opening the door for her, he put out his hand to help her down. She smiled coyly.

“Such a gentleman,” she said, taking his hand.

Cassidy noticed that he didn’t let go but rather tightened his grip as they approached the rest of the group. Miranda was facing them, and she felt Bryan’s pulse quicken nervously. The look on the other woman’s face was not a happy one. She might have Derek. She might be madly in love with him. But she really didn’t like seeing Bryan with anyone else.

Selfish much?
Cassidy thought, frowning.

“It’s okay,” she began, “just keep breathing. You can do this.”

He squeezed.

“But, Bry, I’m going to need that hand tonight. So if you could lighten up on the grip, I’d appreciate it.”

Bryan loosened his hold a tiny bit. “Sorry,” he apologized.

She rubbed his arm with her free hand. “Don’t worry about it. I can feel the blood returning, so I think they’ll let me keep the fingers.”

He laughed softly at that.

Carrie was bouncing on her toes. “Come on, you two! Hurry up! I’m freezing!” Her grin was ridiculously wide, so Cassidy suspected the bouncing had to do with more than just the cold winter weather.

“We’re coming!” she called.

The six of them hurried onto the boat, Carrie confirming their reservation. Cassidy was very aware of Bryan’s hand in hers; she liked it there and was happy to have him with her, even if it was just for the night, just so he wasn’t alone, just pretend. They were greeted by servers bearing trays of hors d’oeuvres and glasses of champagne.

Would the lady care for a glass?

Why, yes, she would.

Would she like a bacon-wrapped scallop?

Thank you, yes. They smell delicious.

Releasing his hand, she took a glass and scallop, said thank you, and turned back to Bryan. He was watching her, an affectionate look on his face.

“What?” she asked, skeptical.

“You just had a whole conversation inside your head, didn’t you?” he asked, his expression unchanged. “But all you said out loud was thank you.”

She crinkled her nose. “No. Maybe. Okay, fine. So?”

“Nothing. I like it.” He draped his arm across her shoulder. “Let’s find our table.”

Cassidy popped the scallop into her mouth and nodded in the direction of the Fantastic Four. “I don’t think we’ll have to look too hard. Miranda’s tractor beam is leaving a trail.”

Bryan laughed. “Yeah, she does seem a bit peeved.”

“Score one for California,” Cassidy said, writing an invisible checkmark in the air. “Your plan is working. What should we do next?”

“Next, we just have a great night,” he replied, looking down at her. “Let them think what they want, Cass.”

“Well, well. In that case,” she pulled something out of her purse, “if I asked you to, would you wear this? After all, it is my birthday.”

She closed his hand around something. When he opened it, he saw a leather cord with a white and brown stone attached to it. He narrowed his eyes and looked at her reprovingly.

“I’m not supposed to get a gift on your birthday, Cass.”

Cassidy shrugged. “Call me unconventional. So, will you?”

“I’ll wear it,” he paused, “if you’ll wear this.”