The Henson Brothers: Two Complete Novels (15 page)

A waiter soon arrived with plates of food and then disappeared, leaving them alone in a companionable silence. Cassie offered Kevin something to eat, but he said all the food was for her and poured himself a drink. He casually chatted while she ate and she found her mind wandering as she enjoyed an asparagus and shrimp potage. Drake would love it she thought, thinking about his love of food. She imagined the conversation they would have guessing what ingredients were used. What did he do for a living anyway? She took another potage and frowned. What did it matter when this would be their last night together?

Kevin watched her from under half-closed lids, holding his bourbon close to his chest. "You don't look happy, Cassie," he said suddenly.

"But I am."

Kevin put his drink down. "I don't believe you." He took her hand and held it between his. "Your eyes look sad."

Cassie smiled gently. "How could I be sad with you trying so hard to make me happy?"

"I'm sorry you didn't come alone, but I'm not surprised. Timothy was a fool to let you go."

"Timothy was a fool, period."

His hand inched up her arm. "I'll always be here for you."

She laughed nervously, pulling her arm away. "What are friends for?"

"There's a chance to be more."

His mouth was on hers before she could refuse. His lips, while not forceful, were definitely demanding and eager to elicit a response. One she could not give him. She pushed away from him and covered her mouth. Kevin offered her an indulgent smile, resting his hand on her knee. "Don't tell me you weren't expecting that."

Cassie moved her knee. "I wasn't."

"I was a bit rushed that time. Let's try again."

"No." She drew back, stunned. "Why are you acting this way?"

"Because I want you."

"You can't be serious." First Drake, now Kevin? Some celestial spirit was having a lot of fun messing with her life.

"You've known I've wanted you since the first day."

She glanced at her watch. "I'd better go."

"You can't actually be rejecting me," he said in disbelief.

"How could any woman reject you?" she teased. "I'm merely halting an uncomfortable situation."

He kissed the curve of her neck. "I'm not uncomfortable."

She grabbed his chin. "You will be if I'm forced to hurt you. I don't like hurting my friends."

"What would my punishment be?" He grinned. "Chains, whips, handcuffs?"

"An attack at your ego."

He winced. "Ooh, you are cruel." He sighed and drew away. "All right, a man can take a hint."

"Good, now don't pout. You're just drunk."

Kevin bit his lower lip and glanced away. "I'm not as drunk as you think," he said quietly.

"There are plenty of women to take my place."

He sent her a gaze so intense she swallowed. "No one can take your place, Cassie."

His serious tone worried her, and she tried to make light of the moment. "Yes, it's a big place to fill." She patted him on the head its if he were a little boy and slipped out of the room. "Try to find a woman you can handle."

* * *

Adriana couldn't wait to hear Mike's band play. He was such a lively, vivacious performer and always transferred that energy to her at night. He was not an intellectual, but his love of life and his passion for music made her feel alive. She liked people like that. Cassie was the same, so full of humor and compassion. She hoped Cassie had left Kevin's clutches and would join her soon.

"So we meet again," a familiar voice said.

Adriana turned and stared up into Drake's serious amber gaze. He didn't smile, but his face looked relieved to see her. "Adriana, isn't it?"

"Yes. How are you?"

"You wouldn't like the answer." He stared over her head. "Have you seen Cassie?"

Damn. She knew he would go looking for her. "Briefly. She comes alive at these parties. It's hard to keep track of her."

His mouth kicked up in a quick grin. "I know. She's in her element, but I'd really like to find her. Do you know where she might be? I've checked under every table."

She smiled. "No, I haven't seen her."

A woman with bright orange lipstick spoke up. "You came with the woman in the velvet dress, right? She was hard to miss."

Drake nodded. "Yes."

"She went off with Kevin."

Adriana sent the woman a fierce glare, then looked at Drake. "It sounds worse than it is. They're friends."

The woman continued, "Kevin loves his friends. He probably took her to the sunroom so that they could—"

"See the stars," Adriana cut in. "Cassie is quite fond of them." She stared at the woman and forced a smile. "Thank you, you've been so helpful," she said, her voice underlined with sarcasm. The woman got the hint and left.

Drake folded his arms and stared at the empty stage. "You look worried."

"I'm not."

"What do you expect I'll find in the sunroom?"

"Two friends having a good time."

He let his hands fall. "Relax. I trust her."

"I'm glad." She grabbed his sleeve before he turned. He looked at her, questioning. "I'm glad you're in her life."

He squeezed her shoulder in reassurance to combat the uneasiness in her eyes. "Don't worry. I have no plans on leaving it."

* * *

The night echoed the laughter and enjoyment of the party, but Drake didn't feel any of it. Every nerve was alert. He wasn't worried, he assured himself as he walked to the sunroom. Cassie wasn't the type of woman to toy with a man. However, he hadn't been able to assess Kevin yet and that bothered him. He clenched his fist as he passed the first window of the dome structure and heard Cassie's laugh. He turned the corner and saw her in Kevin's arms.

He took a step back as if he'd been struck and spun away from the scene that would now be seared in his memory. He had suspected Cassie was up to something and before the night was through he would figure out what it was.

Chapter 7

Cassie escaped into the garden, blaming the unfortunate events in the sunroom on too much drink. Kevin had never behaved that way before, and they had flirted much more freely than that on other occasions. She was just glad to have escaped without irreparable damage to their friendship. She allowed herself to enjoy the tender feel of the warm evening, the happy flash of fireflies, and the sweet smell of lilies and magnolias. The moon winked at her from its inky black bed and offered her its condolences for what the end of the evening would entail.

She sat on a stone bench and stared at the fountain— a structure of a lion roaring. Cassie found it fierce rather than majestic, but let the sound of running water calm her. Suddenly, a ghostlike cloud of smoke arose from the hedge behind her. Curious, she went around the corner and saw Drake, lying stretched out on a bench like a black jungle cat, smoking. The way the gray smoke swirled around him gave the illusion of an apparition— an elusive wizard ready to disappear when the mood struck him.

"I didn't know you smoked," she said.

His eyes touched hers, then turned away. "Only when I'm annoyed."

"And why would you be annoyed?"

He exhaled a cloud of smoke and glanced up at the sky as if pondering the question. "I suppose that's similar to asking a zebra thrown into a pack of hyenas why he'd be upset."

"You mean you didn't enjoy yourself?" she asked, surprised. A secret part of her was thrilled, another part dismayed.

He took another drag of his cigarette and continued to study the sky.

The silence didn't alarm her; perhaps he'd been bored. "I was sure you would," she said, wondering what could have ruined his evening. "Vicki and Mandy are intelligent, successful, wealthy—"

His eyes trapped hers. "And why would that be of any importance to me?"

She hesitated, seeing her plan fraying at the edges. It wasn't supposed to be like this. "I just thought you'd find them interesting," she managed, hoping to sound innocent.

"I did find them interesting." He straightened. "The same way a microbiologist would find a slide of bacteria interesting. Don't worry. I was very civil." He dropped his cigarette on the ground and crushed it under his heel. It was a quick controlled movement, but she could tell he was angry. "They laughed at my nonsensical jokes, asked about my watch, my car, my clothes, thrust various body parts into my field of vision, and then began to grope me. Trina saved me; I remember her name because she repeated it at least twenty times, and chatted until my ears rang. A woman named Sheila, who wore an outfit that left little to the imagination, then tried to feed me. Afterward, some woman whose name I forget admitted I'd make a good father for her children and asked if I'd donate sperm."

Cassie bit her lip, trying not to laugh. "You're making this up."

"I'm afraid I'm not that imaginative," he said coolly.

She sat down next to him. "How did you get away?"

"I told them that I was poor." He flexed his fingers. "Of course a few said that I had excellent potential, but I told them I was a hopeless case and was devoted to my benefactress who had given me this watch—" he flashed the object—"for services rendered. I then disappeared here."

"You can't say that you had a boring evening," she teased lightly, hoping he would see it all as a joke. "A lot of men would love to be in your shoes."

Drake eyed her reflectively. "You mean a lot of men would enjoy their dates dumping them so that she can make out with the host?"

"I wasn't making out with anyone," she said, shocked. "Where did you get that idea?"

He flexed his other hand, his voice dangerously neutral. "Cassie, I didn't lie to you, so don't lie to me."

"I'm not lying."

"Then why were you kissing Kevin? No, let me guess. It was some sort of social ritual I'm not aware of. I admit I haven't been out much."

She placed a hand on her forehead, as a horrible realization struck her. Her stomach dropped. "Oh, God. You saw us."

"Yes." He folded his arms, his manner a little too relaxed. "I'm sure there's a reasonable explanation."

He was furious. His voice was cool, but the anger seething from it was iron hot. Unfortunately, he had every right. She had felt the same emotions when she'd seen Timothy with Debra. She worried her shawl with nervous fingers. "Actually, there isn't one. Kevin just got out of hand. I didn't know his intentions until too late."

"So you didn't encourage him?"

"Of course not."

Drake hesitated. She could almost feel the tight rein he kept on his anger. "Then what were you doing alone with him in the sunroom?"

"Eating."

His eyes flashed. "You needed me conveniently out of the way so that you could
eat
alone with him?"

"No! He wasn't part of the plan."

He paused. "What plan?"

Cassie closed her eyes, wishing the night had never happened. "Didn't you like any of the women?"

"What plan?" he repeated in the same flat tone.

She opened her eyes and sighed. "Let's forget..." Her words trailed off when she spotted the hard gleam in his eyes. She knew they weren't leaving until she explained. "I figured you would forget about me once you saw the other women," she admitted, her voice low with shame. "Kevin caught me at the bar and persuaded me to go with him to the sunroom. I admit it was a mistake. I'm not at all interested in him in that way and I would never do that to you. Never." She released a bitter little laugh. "I know only too well how it feels to be dumped for someone else." She ran her hand along a bush. "You were supposed to have a good time. A very good time." She plucked one of the leaves and forced a smile, eager to change the mood. "Did you know one of the women you mentioned is a famous dancer at—"

"I was supposed to come here, be so overwhelmed by these vultures that I'd forget about you? That's how you think I'd treat you?"

Cassie maintained her plastic smile. "Hey, you wouldn't be able to help yourself. Like me at an ice cream shop."

"That's the type of man you think I am?"

Her smiled faltered. "Well, uh..."

"Is that what your ex-husband would do?"

"This has nothing to do with Timothy."

"Hmm." Drake lit another cigarette, inhaled, then exhaled and rested his elbows on his knees.

Cassie hung her head, the lovely evening suddenly feeling cold. She didn't realize her shawl had fallen around her waist until Drake casually repositioned it around her shoulders.

"I'm sorry," she said in a quiet voice. "I know it must have looked bad and I can understand you wanting to leave right now and never see me again."

He studied his cigarette. "You're not getting rid of me that easily."

"I wasn't trying to get rid of you."

He put the cigarette to his lips. "Yes, you were."

"I was trying to expose you to all the options out there."

He slanted her a dark glance. "How old do you think I am? I've been around plenty of women and slept with lots. Okay, maybe not lots, but enough." He stubbed out his cigarette and stood. "I've had enough of this conversation. Let's dance."

She stared at him, stunned by the suggestion. "But you can't dance."