Chapter 23
Chapter 23
AFTER “THE DAY THAT WAS,” as I began to refer to that Friday—you know the one, in which two men told me they loved me and I got the job of my dreams? Yeah, that one—I threw myself into my new job with such vim and vigor, it was like I was on a combined sugar-caffeine high one hundred percent of the time.
I moved into my new office, claiming it as my space by hanging pictures on the walls and adding a few girly scatter cushions to the sofa. And I loved my new job. The responsibility of delivering sales targets within budget, of managing staff, of being a part of the decision-making executive team, did not faze me in the least. No, I relished it. I was the last to leave the office at night, and one of the first there in the morning.
In fact, I was so busy and focused on my new job I had to forgo my daily Cozy Cottage Café ritual with the girls. But I knew they’d understand. I was the boss now; I had big responsibilities. People to see, places to go.
That and the fact I could barely look Paige in the eye after that kiss with Will.
And what he’d said to me.
Paige was still totally smitten with him, even though she and Will hadn’t seen each other since he’d left. I tried to be positive, to support her in her choice of guy, all the while knowing the truth about where his affections lay.
Part of me wanted to tell her she was beating the wrong bush, barking up the wrong tree, and other horticultural slash canine metaphors people like to use. But why would she believe me? Unless I told her about that night, she’d dismiss my objections as me simply not liking him—because that’s what the world thought. And how could I ever break her heart that way? Telling Paige what had transpired between Will and me that evening could never have a good outcome. All I could do was hope Will would fall for her in time.
And I could get out of jail for free.
But it was so hard to keep Will from my mind. Like some kind of hot guy ninja, he kept creeping up on my thoughts—his smiling face, his wry sense of humor, that incredible kiss.
On the plus side, Parker and I had entered a new phase in our relationship. With the whole Sara thing put to rest, it was like he was a new man: more attentive and more relaxed. Plus, I didn’t have to play golf or go to jazz clubs anymore, which was a huge relief. I could be me, and Parker loved me just the way I was.
I was on my way back from a meeting downtown when I had a sudden hankering for a slice of Bailey’s amazing flourless chocolate and raspberry cake. I may be the boss, but I’m still human. As luck would have it, I found a parking spot right outside the Cozy Cottage Café. It was a sign.
Walking in, I breathed in the aroma of coffee, treats, and that special, familiar Cozy Cottage scent I knew and loved so well. I waited in line to order, responding to the emails that had piled up while I was with a client. I tell you, people were constant communicators these days. One hour off-line and I had thirty-five emails requiring action. Thirty-five! Ridiculous.
“Hello, beautiful! Long time no see.”
I looked up to see Bailey, smiling at me from behind the counter, dressed in her usual red polka dot apron with a girly frill.
“I know. It’s so good to come here! I’ve totally missed you and this place.” I leaned across the counter and gave my friend a quick hug.
“Well, you look amazing,” she said, eyeing my new navy suit. “Management clearly suits you, Cassie Dunhill.”
I grinned at her. “Thanks. Yup, it’s pretty good being the boss.”
She let out an easy laugh. “You just missed Paige and Marissa, but Will’s here.”
I swear my heart completely stopped at the mention of his name. Bailey continued to chat about Marissa’s new hairstyle and other things, but all I could do was concentrate on breathing. In out, in out .
Will was here? Now? Every part of my body tingled, and I could almost feel his eyes boring into my head, my soul.
Slowly, I turned around and saw him, sitting at a table by the window, oh-so-handsome, his hair a little longer, dressed in a T-shirt and pair of shorts. Watching me.
He stood up. Without preamble, I took a step toward him, as though he had some kind of tracker-beam pulling me into him. As clichéd as I knew it was, I was powerless to resist. He took a few steps toward me, and within seconds, we were face-to-face, close enough to touch.
“Cassie.”
I swallowed and tried to steady my breathing. I was light-headed and dazed. I couldn’t think of a single word to say to him. Instead, I simply stood there, gawping at him, my head clouded by the very sight of him.
He reached out and took me by the hand. “It’s good to see you. How are you?”
I nodded, not trusting my voice to work.
He smiled. “Look, do you want to sit down and talk?”
I shook my head. In that moment, I knew what sitting down to talk would mean. It would mean letting him in. And I didn’t want to do that. No way. That was the very last thing I wanted to do.
My life was perfect. I had my dream job and Parker, my dream guy. We were in love, heading down the aisle in the not-so-distant future, I was certain of it. Parker had been my One Last First Date. Why would I want to sit down and talk with Will ?
Abruptly, the sound of people talking, the smell of the food and coffee, the closeness of the café atmosphere, became too much for me. I needed to get out. Now . Without saying a single word to him, I turned on my heel and blindly headed to the door. I needed fresh air.
And I needed to get far, far away from Will Jordan.
I took a step and pushed past a middle-aged woman, muttering an apology. I stumbled into a chair that hadn’t been pushed under a table fully. I rounded another table, the door mercifully in sight.
I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe, I can’t breathe.
Seemingly out of nowhere, Bailey materialized in front of me, concern etched on her face. “Cassie? Are you okay?”
I nodded, knowing I looked anything but. “Gotta go.”
“Sure.” She stepped aside for me, and I staggered past, through the door and out into the fresh summer morning air. I took large gulps of it, as though I’d been holding my breath in there. Which, perhaps, I had.
I reached the tree a few feet from the café door and leaned up against it, feeling the rough bark with my fingertips, desperately trying to bring myself back to earth.
Oh, my. Oh, my. Oh, my.
Just as I began to gain my equilibrium, Will arrived at my side, gently taking my hand in his. “Cassie,” is all he said. Until that moment, I had never known so much could be embodied in one, single word. A world of hurt, of pain.
Of love.
I could almost smell the smoke from the funeral pyre of my life as we stood together in silence. Against my better judgment, I looked up into his rich, brown eyes. Why I did that, I will never know. Some part of me knew it would spell d-i-s-a-s-t-e-r with a capital D . But I did it anyway.
He held my gaze and smiled at me. He didn’t say a word.
He didn’t need to.
You know how people who’ve had near-death experiences say they see their lives flash before their eyes? Well, that’s what happened to me, standing under that big old tree, the two of us looking at one another, holding hands, not speaking. Not doing a thing.
I thought about the pact on the beach and how much it meant to me; of Parker and how I had wanted so badly for him to be The One; of Paige, poor, sweet Paige, who would be devastated by all this. And of Will.
In a beat, my mind went from a chaotic jumble to utterly calm, my belly unknotting itself. For the first time in a long time, I was clear.
It’s Will.
I bit my lip, my eyes still holding his gaze. A smile began at the edges of my mouth, growing until my face was aglow with happiness—and with love.
Why had I been fighting this? This was officially The. Best. Feeling. In. The. World—better even than Bailey’s flourless raspberry and chocolate cake. And if you’d ever had a slice, you’d know how good that was.
I nodded at him, still smiling like a love-struck idiot. “Okay.”
He grinned back. “Okay.” He reached his hand up and stroked my cheek.
“Give me some time to work things out?”
“Of course.”
With enormous reluctance, I let his hand fall to his side. “’Bye. For now.”
“See ya, Dunny.” His grin was atomic.
I let out a giddy laugh, so happy I could float away on a cloud. “See ya, ‘Poop Boy’.”