Chapter 4
Cassie
I had thought that something was seriously wrong with Alec last night.
That was why I had crept into the living room.
The sight of his big body thrashing on the couch had caused something deep inside my heart to pang.
Jesus.
What has that beautiful man gone through? That was my only thought as I had crept over to him.
I had tried to wake him up without putting my hands on him.
However, the moment I did, and I mean the very moment I did, he calmed.
Instantly.
Holy shit.
Then I did what felt right.
I curled up on the floor next to him and kept my hand on his bicep.
All the while, I took him in.
He was gorgeous.
Stunning.
And thoughts of what those talented fingers could to do to me.
Thoughts of what those lips could do to me.
Thoughts of what that hard, muscled body could do to me...
And now, I lie here in his bed.
Alone.
So hot and bothered that it was ridiculous.
I shook my head.
Cassandra Rae Skye, you are not that woman. You know your worth. So, buckle up, buttercup. Shove ice on your hoo-ha and tell it to chill the fuck out.
I was listening to the quiet.
Last night, I tried to fall asleep, but all I kept doing was inhaling his amazing scent in the sheets.
I wanted a bottle of that to sniff whenever I wanted to.
Would that be weird?
Probably.
Then I heard him get up, and I followed suit.
If I thought that last night was a fluke with how well we seemed to be around each other, I realized that I couldn’t have been more wrong.
He saw me in the hallway and winked, “Sleep alright?”
I nodded, “Would it be a crime if I stole your bed and moved it into my place today?”
He laughed, then shook his head, “Probably, but I might let you have it.”
I grinned.
Just then, a phone pinged.
He checked his phone and shook his head, “Wasn’t mine.”
I nodded, “It had to be mine then.”
I looked around his place, trying to remember where it was.
He chuckled, “Pretty sure it’s in your bag,” he said as he tilted his head to the farthest counter in the kitchen.
And yeah, there my bag sat.
He winked as I moved over to it.
I opened my bag and dug it out.
And when I saw the name on my screen, I smiled.
But I frowned at the next two names I also saw.
Harlee – Sorry about last night. By the time I got out of the bath, it was already too late to text you back. Did Alec get you where you needed to go?
Me – Totally okay. And yes. He did. Thank you for checking in on me.
Harlee – No worries.
Harlee – Got some help later on today to get you all moved in.
Me – Oh, you didn’t need to do that. Besides, I only have a few things. I’ve got it.
Harlee – Are you sure?
Me – Totally. Thank you for the offer, though.
Harlee – Okay, well, I’ll see you on Friday for orientation or whatever it’s called.
Me – Lol sounds good.
Then I frowned at the other two text messages.
Sara – I am so sorry. Please don’t throw our friendship away over this.
Kyle – Baby, where are you?
Since neither one of them deserved a reply, I didn’t bother with it.
Apparently, I had made a face or something because Alec asked, “Everything okay?”
I looked over to where I heard his voice and found him at the coffee pot.
He was starting a pot.
At my nod, he nodded.
Then he said, “Garrick, my brother just texted me. Got your car. Sent someone to get it last night. Your battery terminals were loose. Your car is good to go. Get some coffee, and I’ll take you over there so you can get it.”
I nodded, “Thank you, Alec. Really.”
He winked, “Think nothing of it.”
Yes, I offered to change his sheets, but he had shaken his head.
But I did cook breakfast of eggs, toast, and ham.
An hour later, I had an argument with Alec, Garrick, and a man named Dom about them saying I didn’t owe anything.
Well... we’d just have to see about that.
It was an hour later, and I had the keys to my place, the food I had grabbed yesterday with Alec was in my fridge, my car was unloaded.
Just in time to get everything settled before I started my new job.
Then I tagged my keys, locked the door, and headed to my car.
I checked the address I had written down weeks ago and then started in that direction.
It was about a seventeen-minute drive, and when I pulled my car up in front of an older house, I recognized the front porch swing.
It was painted red, to match the door.
Jacob’s favorite color on Elaine.
Oh. My. Stars.
I tagged the letters and then shut my car off and climbed out.
As I made my way to the front door, I couldn’t help but take in the beautiful flower beds, which looked cared for and well attended.
Then I looked at the rest of the yard and saw nothing but patches of dirt and weeds.
Oh. My. Stars.
Her flower beds.
I felt tears well up in my eyes, but I inhaled a deep breath and choked them back down.
Then I made my way up the steps and knocked on the front door.
I waited and then knocked three more times.
Then I heard what sounded like feet shuffling.
And then... when the door opened, I tried to hold my breath.
Oh, heavens.
But the man... bless his heart.
I got it then.
He was only living the best way he knew how, but he was making sure the things she loved were well taken care of.
He had white hair that was thinning on top, a dark brown long-sleeved shirt, suspenders, and blue jeans on.
He had a five o’clock shadow.
I let out a breath and said, “Hi, are you Jacob Hooper?”
The man narrowed his eyes at me and said, “Yes, I am. Who are you?”
“Hi, my name is Cassie. I’m sorry for showing up out of the blue like this, but I think I have something of yours.”
He lifted a bushy white eyebrow as he said, “Is that right?”
I nodded, “Did you use to know a woman named Elaine?”
I watched.
And the moment I said woman, named Elaine, his posture went slack, and then his eyes widened, and then he nodded, “Yes. I did.”
I smiled, “May I come in?”
He looked back into the house, then down at himself, and shook his head, “Think it would be best to sit out here. Don’t you think?”
I lifted a brow and shrugged, “It’s whatever you want to do.”
“You’re sweet girl. But I know. Okay.” He said.
To that, I nodded and then stepped to the side.
Then, once he closed the door, I moved with him to the red porch swing.
After we had taken a seat, he nodded, “Okay, so tell me how you know my Elaine.”
His eyes softened as he said her name, and I saw it, a little glimmer of tears.
Oh. My. Stars.
I smiled, “I was at an estate sale a few months ago. I bought an old trunk; I’ve been looking for one for forever, but that’s not the point. Umm, inside the trunk, I found something that I think rightfully belongs to you.”
Smiling down at the letters, I handed them to Jacob.
He took them from me with a trembling hand, and then I watched as his fingers ran lovingly over the red ribbon that had been tied around them.
I had, of course, retied it.
“I probably shouldn’t have read any of them, but after I read the first one, I just couldn’t help it,” I told him.
Then I watched as a tear trailed down his cheek, then he bit his lip and looked out at the scenery.
He was silent for so long that I started to ask him if he was okay.
Until he started talking, “She was the most beautiful thing I had ever laid my eyes on. I’ve thought about what would have happened had I not gone to war.”
“Do you regret it?” I asked softly.
He nodded, “Sometimes. But then I look at this house. Without it, I wouldn’t have been able to build this for her.”
Smiling, he ran his hands over the letters in a soft caress.
I watched as a tear trailed down his cheek as he said, “I just, I don’t understand why she never waited on me.”
“There's a letter in there that explains it,” I said.
He lifted a brow at me, “What is it?”
I moved to get the letter for him, but he halted my movements, “Tell me, please?”
I sighed, then I kept my eyes locked with his, then I told him, “From my understanding, she got a letter from Captain Marshall that said you had been lost at sea. She waited for over a year, for another word. Then she called a number she found, and they still had no record of you ever being recovered. So, she knew that you wouldn’t want her to be lonely and miserable.
She waited another year before she remarried again. ”
He sighed, then he nodded, “Yeah, I would have wanted her happy.”
Then he asked, “By the estate sale, I’m guessing she’s passed?”
I nodded, “Yeah. I don’t know what happened. I can try to find out if you’d like?”
He shook his head, “No, it’s fine.”
He was silent, then he asked, “Did she have any kids?”
I nodded, “She had a son.”
Looking at him, he gave me a gentle nod.
Then he sat back in the swing and held the letters close to his heart. Then, on a broken whisper, he said, “Thank you.”
I smiled, “It was my pleasure.”
We were both quiet as we rocked back and forth, and I said, “This might not mean much to you, but I think you made her proud.”
I looked at the door, the swing, then the flower beds.
He smiled, then he nodded, “It does. Thank you.”
We sat there for a few more minutes, and then I checked the time.
I had just stood up so I could head home to meet the delivery when he said, “Cassie?”
I stopped and looked down at him, “Yes?”
“Smell like this because there’s something in my house and I can’t figure out what it is. Do you know of anyone who could come over here and take a look?”
I smiled, then I said, “Well, those letters brought me here. I got here yesterday. And I accepted a new job here too.”
His eyes flared, “Well, don’t that beat all. Fate.”
I grinned, then I nodded, “Fate.”
Then I thought about it.
Alec had given me his number before we parted ways this morning.
He might know of someone.
I pulled my phone out, scrolled to his number, and pressed dial.
Two rings in and then, “Hey Trouble. Miss me?”
I smiled, “Hey, Alec. Got a question.”
“Shoot.”
“I have a new friend, and he has something going on with his house. Do you know of someone he can call that could come out and figure it out?”