Chapter Six
Six
Unable to sleep for appreciating the feel of this sexy woman tangled all around him on the old chaise, Ian smoothed a hand down Cassie’s bare back. Trailing down the dip in her waist, up over the curve of her hip had his body stirring again.
What on earth was he doing? Sex was one thing, but to lie awake most of the night rehashing it over and over in his head like some lovesick fool was, well...for fools. Not that he was any expert on relationships.
His mother was gearing up to divorce husband number four, no doubt with number five waiting in the wings, and his father.
.. Ian sighed. His father probably wasn’t even capable of love.
Ian hadn’t spoken to his father in years and rarely talked with his mother.
He had nothing to say to either and it was obvious both of his parents were battling their own issues that didn’t include him.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that Ian didn’t do relationships.
He was great at his job, however, and what he wanted was to take his client roster to the next level. Lily Beaumont was the key.
Yet here he was, getting involved with Cassie Barrington. And, yes, they’d just had sex, but during the moments in between their intimacy, he’d gotten a brief glimpse of a playful, confident woman and he couldn’t deny he liked what he saw.
The sound of a car door jarred him from his thoughts. He eased out from beneath Cassie’s warm, lush body and moved over to the small window that faced the side of the house.
Tessa and Grant had arrived. He didn’t know if he wanted to call for their attention or crawl back over to Cassie and give her a proper good-morning wake-up.
But their night was over, and he had responsibilities. He honestly had no clue how she’d react once she woke up. Would she regret what they’d done? Would she want more and expect some sort of relationship?
Ian gave the window a tug and it rose slowly with a groan.
“Hey,” he yelled down. “Up here.”
Tessa and Grant both looked around and Ian eased his arm out to wave. “We’re locked in the attic,” he called.
“Ian?” Grant shouted. “What on earth? We’ll be right up.”
Of course, now it dawned on him that both he and Cassie were as naked as the day they were born, and he turned around to see her already getting up.
Shame that he hadn’t ignored the rescue party and gone with his original idea of waking her, especially now that she was covering that made-for-sex body.
“Was that Tessa and Grant?” she asked, tugging on her jeans from the previous day.
“Uh-huh.” He pulled on his own clothes, trying to keep his eyes off her as she wrestled into her bra.
Several moments later, the door below creaked open and Ian rushed over to the top of the stairs to see Tessa.
“We’ll be right down,” he told her, hoping to save Cassie some time to finish dressing.
He didn’t know if she wanted it public knowledge that they’d slept together. This was all her call. He was much more comfortable with a fling than he figured she was. Plus this was her home, her family, and the last thing he wanted to do was put her in an awkward position.
“Who’s up there with you?” Tessa asked, her brows drawn together.
“Your sister.”
Tessa smiled. “Really? Well, we’ll meet you all down in the kitchen. Take your time.”
Once she walked away, Ian glanced up to Cassie, who was wearing a lovely shade of red over her neck and face.
“I tried,” he defended, holding out his hands. “But I’d say your sister knows.”
Cassie nodded. “That’s okay. Tessa won’t say anything.”
Okay, maybe he hadn’t wanted a relationship, but her statement hit a nerve. Seconds ago he’d thought he was fine with a fling and she wasn’t, but perhaps he’d had that scenario backward.
“Is that what we’re going to do? Keep this quiet?”
Smoothing her tousled hair away from her face, Cassie eyed him from across the room and sighed. “I don’t know. This is all new to me. Can we just go downstairs and talk later?”
The voice of reason had him nodding. He didn’t want to analyze what had happened too much. They both needed to concentrate on their jobs. After all, he had a mission and she was in the middle of the biggest racing season of her life.
Cassie started to ease by him when he stepped in front of her, blocking her exit. Her eyes went wide, then dropped to his mouth. Why was he doing this?
Quit stalling and let her go.
But he needed one more taste before their night officially came to an end.
He shoved his hands into her hair, tilting her head as he closed the distance between them. “Before you go,” he whispered as his mouth slid across hers.
She melted into him as she returned the kiss. Her hands gripped his wrists as he held on to her. As much as Ian wanted her naked once again, he knew that was not an option.
Easing back, he smiled when her eyes took a moment to open. He released her, and, without a word, she walked by him and down the stairs.
And like some nostalgic sap, he glanced around the attic and smiled. This was definitely his favorite place on the estate.
Ian met up with Cassie in the kitchen. As soon as he entered the open room, he took in several things at once.
Tessa and Grant were seated at the bar, where Linda was serving cinnamon rolls. Both Tessa and Grant were eyeing Ian with knowing grins on their faces.
But it was Cassie, yet again, who captured his attention.
The woman he’d spent the night with was currently squatting down in front of a little girl with soft blond curls.
The little girl looked nothing like Cassie, but the interaction didn’t lie.
The way she clung to Cassie, Cassie’s sweet smile and laughter as she kissed her—it all had a sickening feeling settling deep in his gut.
“And who’s this?” he asked, hoping it was Linda’s grandchild or something because he knew Tessa and Grant had no children.
Coming to her feet with the little girl wrapped in her arms, Cassie still wore that vibrant smile as she turned to face him. “This is my daughter, Emily.”
All eyes were on Ian. Granted, they were watching him because of the unspoken fact that he and Cassie had spent the night together, but they couldn’t know the turmoil that flooded him. Cassie had a child and hadn’t told him.
Not that they’d played the getting-to-know-you game before they’d shed their clothes, but wasn’t that something that would come up?
Cassie’s smile faded as Ian remained silent. Her protective hands held Emily close to her chest.
“Why don’t you have some breakfast?” Linda asked, breaking the silence.
His eyes darted to her, then back to Cassie, who still watched him with a questioning look. Tessa and Grant had yet to move as they also took in the unfolding scene.
“I have things to do,” he said as he walked by Cassie, ignoring the hurt in her eyes, and out the back door.
He couldn’t stay in there another second.
Rage filled him at the idea that Cassie had kept such a vital part of her life a secret.
Was she the mother who pawned her kid off on other people so she could go have a good time?
She’d been so confident, so eager to please him last night.
Perhaps he was just the latest in a long line of men she threaded into her web.
No, he hadn’t wanted anything beyond sex. And he sure as hell didn’t want to discover that the woman he’d spent the night with was manipulative and selfish, looking for attention...just like his mother.
Humiliation flooded her.
The look of utter shock layered with anger had consumed Ian when she’d announced Emily was her daughter.
“Cass?”
Swallowing the hurt, Cassie turned to see her sister watching her. Because this awkward moment didn’t need any more fuel added to the fire, Cassie smiled.
“Thanks for watching her last night,” Cassie said as she held Emily with one arm and grabbed the overnight bag off the counter. “I need to go change and then I’ll meet you at the stables.”
“Cassie.” Tessa slid from the stool and crossed to her. “Don’t do this.”
“Do what?”
Blue eyes stared back at her and Cassie wanted nothing more than to sit and cry, but feeling sorry for herself wouldn’t accomplish anything. She’d tried that when Derek had left her.
“I just want to go feed Emily and change.” Cassie blinked back the burn of tears. “I’ll meet you in an hour.”
“Leave Emily here,” Linda said. “I’m keeping her today anyway. Do what you need to do. I’ll make sure she’s fed.”
As much as Cassie wanted to keep Emily with her, she knew it was silly. She’d just have to put her in her crib with toys while she grabbed a shower.
“All right,” she conceded, dropping the bag back onto the counter and easing Emily into the wooden high chair next to the wide granite island. “Thanks, guys.”
Barely keeping it together, she started for the door. When Tessa called her name again, Cassie raised a hand and waved her off. She just wanted to be alone for a minute, to compose herself.
How could she be so naive? Of course some big-city bachelor would be turned off by kids, but to act so repulsed by the fact made her flat-out angry.
She’d sworn when Derek had left she wouldn’t allow herself to get hurt again. So, what did she do? Sleep with the first man who showed her any kind of affection.
Seriously, she thought she had more self-respect than that.
More angry at herself now, Cassie marched across the Barrington estate to her cottage next to the stables. Swatting at her damp cheeks, she squinted against the bright early-morning sun.
And because of the light in her eyes she didn’t see Ian until she was in the shadow of her house. There he stood, resting against one of the porch posts as if he belonged there.
“Don’t you have a client who needs your attention?” she asked, not stopping as she brushed past him and slid her key from her pocket to let herself in.
When she tried to close the door behind her, Ian’s muscular arm shot out and his hand gripped the edge.
Those dark eyes leveled hers as she reined in her tears. No way would she let him see just how upset she truly was.
Tension crackled between them as Ian stood on the threshold, making no move to come in or leave.
“What do you want?” she asked.
“I want to know why you didn’t tell me you had a daughter.”
“Do you have kids?” she retorted.
He blinked. “No.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t?”
“It never came up.”
She threw her arms out. “Exactly. We didn’t discuss too much personal stuff before...”
Shaking her head, Cassie looked up to the ceiling and sighed. “Just go. I made a mistake—it’s over.”
When her front door slammed, she jumped.
“I don’t like being played.” Ian fisted his hands on his narrow hips.
“This is my life, Ian.” She gestured toward the Pack ’n Play in the corner and the toys in a basket next to the sofa. “I’m a mom. I’m not apologizing for it, and you won’t make me feel bad.”
When he continued to stare, muscle ticking in his jaw, Cassie tried her hardest not to wilt under his powerful presence. His gray T-shirt stretched over taut muscles, and she instantly recalled him taking her against the wall.
“Look, you’re going to be here for a while,” she said, reality sinking in. “I’m going to be here for the most part except during races. We’re going to see each other.”
His eyes roamed over her as if he were recalling last night, too. A shiver crept through her, but she remained still, waiting on his response.
“I wish you were different,” he told her, his voice low.
Stunned, Cassie crossed her arms. “What?”
Cursing, Ian turned for the door. “Nothing. You’re right,” he said, gripping the handle and glancing over his shoulder. “We have to see each other, so why make this harder than necessary? Last night was a mistake, so let’s just forget it happened.”
He walked out the door and Cassie resisted the urge to throw something.
For a second, when he’d said he wished she were different, she’d seen a sliver of vulnerability in his eyes.
But he’d quickly masked it with his cruel, hurtful words.
Fine. She didn’t need anybody, especially someone who acted as if her child was a burden. Emily came first in her life. Period.
And no man, not her ex-husband and certainly not this sexy stranger, would make her feel ashamed.
Cassie turned toward her bedroom and cursed her body. She hated Ian Shaffer for his words, his actions, but her body still tingled from everything he’d done to her last night. How could someone so passionate and gentle turn into someone so hurtful?
Something about Emily had triggered such a dramatic turnaround. Unfortunately, Cassie didn’t have the time or the energy to care. Whatever issues Ian had didn’t concern her.
Now she just had to figure out how to see him on a daily basis and block out the fact he’d made her so alive, so confident for a brief time. Because now she didn’t feel confident at all. She wished she could have a do-over of last night.
This time she’d keep her clothes on.