Yesterday & Forever (4 page)

“
And what would have happened if there hadn’t been the knock at the door. What word would you have used for what we had been doing then?” he asked, his voice dropping to smooth seductive whisper as his hands slid around her waist, pulling her closer into his embrace.

She tried to focus on something, anything except those warm, resolve- melting brown eyes.

Her eyes alighted on a brown paper folder on his desk, marked with a bright official red stamp, ‘Project (Latest)-Highly Confidential!’

“
Oh my god”, Cass muttered to herself.

She looked up at him, her eyes flashing.

“
What’s the matter?” Luca asked, taken aback as she pushed herself away.

“
What’s the matter? What’s the bloody matter?! I’ll tell you what the matter is. You, you are the matter. Oh my god Luca. You’re about to have a baby for crying out loud! And you’re here with me, doing...this”, Cass snapped as she gestured her arm in a wide arc encompassing the sofa. “And the worse thing was I let you. What does that make me?” she finished disbelievingly. “I’ve got to go”.

She grabbed her bag and headed for the door.

Chapter 11

“
Baby?! What baby?!” she heard him shout.

Cass stopped dead in her tracks, turning around slowly, pain written all over her face.

“
You know- the baby. As in you’re about to become a father”, Cass said in a low voice, eyes fixed on the toe of her ballet pump.

“
Who told you that crap?!”

“
The guy in the meeting room. He said your new arrival. Then Henry said you were busy with your ...new project”, she mumbled.

She looked back up at him, surprised to see his arms folded in annoyance, not an ounce of contrition on his face.

“
And you thought that meant I’m having a baby?”

Cass thought it best not to reply to this, instead watching silently as he moved around her to sit on the sofa, legs wide, hands clasped together.

He looked up at her, the hurt she saw there, taking her breath away.

“
Did you honestly think I could do this with you if I was?”

Cass shook her head, biting her lower lip, trying to stop the tears that threatened to flow. She’d been so wrong, she could see that now and she didn’t know if there was a way back.

“
There is no baby. Hell, there is no other woman. This ‘new arrival’ ‘project’ is a recent takeover that’s just been announced. It’s quite huge hence the buzz around it”. He stopped, gazing down at his hands.

“
After you left that day, after Grandfather’s funeral, I threw myself into work. God, it wasn’t easy. I never thought I’d have to take over for years. Never knew if I ever really wanted too. And I never once thought of giving you up because of it. I’m not going to lie, there have been other women but no-one came anywhere close to you or what we had”. He paused, taking in a ragged breath. “I used to ask after you, from the guys at University. They said you’d been travelling and you started your own business. I hear it’s doing quite well”. He looked up at her, a sad smile playing around his lips.

“
It’s not bad. No-where near as well as how you are doing but doing okay”, she whispered, fearful that if she spoke any louder, the tears would fall. A small frown creased her brow, “Wait, did you book...”

‘
Your cake company? No. That would have been Henry’s team PA. It’s funny how things work out though isn’t it?” He paused, taking in a deep breath, “So...is there anyone special in your life?” His eyes were sad, empty. His expression bleak.

She missed seeing them gleam, like they had only a few moments ago.

He was asking her like they were old friends, talking over Sunday brunch about the good old days.

Cass shook her head, the tears that she had been bottling up inside now flowing down her cheeks.

He stood up, clasping her tightly in his arms, raining soft kisses on top of her head.

She pulled back slightly, dreading what she must look like. Probably puffy red eyes and a runny nose to boot- very attractive! Luca had completely removed her clip sending her hair tumbling about her shoulders, creating a golden halo.

“
Oh no, I’m so sorry”, Cass sniffled as she surveyed the tear stained shirt.

Luca smiled wryly, “It’s not a problem... Although, you still haven’t answered my question Cassie. Is there anyone else? Am I going to have to fight someone to get you back?”

Cass laughed loudly, the happy sound echoing around the room. “No. There’s no-one. Well... don’t get me wrong, I haven’t been waiting in a tower somewhere for you but, nope, no-one”, she smiled.

“
Good, because Cassandra Regence, I’ve never stopped loving you and I will love you for all those yesterdays we lost, until forever if you’ll let me”.

“
And I love you Luca Drake. Yesterday and forever”, she said softly, just as his lips settled on hers, sealing their vow.