"Of course not," she snapped.
"Why should it?"
"No reason."
Unwittingly their eyes met, and a torturous tension sprang between them.
"Look," Cassie said at last, blowing out a shaky breath, "when we're
together, I'd prefer we concentrate only on business."
"No problem."
Austin stood, but not before dragging his gaze over her body in what shesaw as a deliberate attempt to further unnerve her.
He got what he wanted. That provocative look hit its target her stomachand below forcing her to feel a sensation she had hoped was long dead.
"I'm outta here," he said roughly.
And none too soon, Cassie thought, her mouth drier than powder and herhead spinning.
FR1;Fourteen n-e didn't know how much longer he could stand thishellhole.
But he had no say-so in the matter, Lester reminded himself whilestanding in a corner of the exercise yard.
He had been jogging in place for thirty minutes, and though he feltslightly winded, he was in top-notch condition. If he had to, he couldwhip a bear with a switch. A smile almost pushed through his tight lips,but smiles weren't his forte, never had been, never would be.
What was his forte were weapons--guns of all makes and models. God, hewished he had one in his hands right now, aiming at anything moving.
Guns were the answer to this country's problems. Trust guns and not Godor government. Why couldn't the millions of unconcerned idiots walkingthe streets see that? If America had a chance to survive as the countryit was meant to be, then those who cared, such as his militia group, hadto take charge.
Taking charge meant owning and--if need be--using a gun.
"Hey, Sullivan, whatcha doing, playin' with yourself?"
Bawdy, harsh laughter followed the tall, burly man's outburst. He andseveral others were gathered across the yard, watching Lester. Gutinstinct told him they were up to no good.
Shit. He didn't want any trouble from those no- brainers. He wanted tobe left alone until the day he could walk out of here, which he hopedwould be soon. He didn't know how much longer he could survive, caged upfor the better part of the day like the village crazy.
And while he wasn't crazy, those men watching him were.
"Piss off," Lester called back.
The burly guy with the big mouth and tatoos to match started toward him,only to stop mid stride as if rethinking what he was about to do.
Ah, hell. Lester would love a good fight, having no doubts in his mindthat he would win. Because he'd lost most of his body fat, he mightappear weak and defenseless, but he was a long way from that.
With nothing to do, pumping iron had become his obsession. He knew, too,that it would benefit him when he got out.
He also knew that if he got into a fight with Tiger, as the man wascalled by his gang, he would end up in solitary confinement for whipping Tiger's ass.
Since he'd been behind these walls, Lester had prided himself on takingthe high road, becoming the model prisoner. This bastard wasn't going togoad him into doing anything stupid that might jeopardize an earlyrelease for good behavior.
Besides, Tiger, like a lot of others, was all talk and no action. Thefirst night in Lester's cell, another prisoner blessed with the samephysical attributes as Tiger had cornered him in the John and proceededto describe what he was going to do to him.
"Yeah, Lester boy, I'm staking my claim, and you're it." He licked hisfat lips.
"Starting right now, you and me are going to get to know each other realwell." His eyes shifted downward.
"That meat on your ass belongs to me, you hear?"
Lester hadn't so much as blinked, though his heart had been racing likean engine out of control.
"You might have your way with me, you bastard. But afterward, I'd adviseyou never to close your eyes again."
Apparently he had made an impression on that creep, and others, as well.No one had bothered him, except for now. But he wasn't afraid.
The only thing that frightened him was the thought of not getting out ofthis place.
The thought of remaining behind these walls for his full term almostcaused him to soil his underwear.
"Hey, Sullivan!"
Lester twisted around and watched as a guard came toward him. Out of thecorner of his eye, he saw Tiger and his group slink off into thedistance.
Again, Lester almost smiled.
"Yeah?" Lester said, focusing his attention back on the husky guardcalled Red, who was now in front of him.
"You got some visitors."
Lester didn't say anything. He simply followed Red into the visitationarea, where he found his parents, De- witt and Charlotte, sitting on theother side of the glass partition, looking like two frightened deerstaring into the headlights of a moving vehicle.
He nodded as he sat down and lifted the phone, all the while thinkinghow much he hated them. It was critical that they didn't know his truefeelings, though, at least not until he was a free man.
"Hello, son."
His daddy's tone was so rigid that Lester thought he heard it crack.
The owner of a small but successful insurance company, Dewitt was a born talker, a take-charge kind of guy who had never quite understood his only son. Not only were they opposite in personalities, they had nothing in common.
Lester had never liked to talk. His thing was studying politics and learning about weapons. He had no desire to follow in his father's footsteps. His goal was to take back America from -the gangs and the idiots in Washington something his parents would never understand.
Yet they seemed to love him and believe in him, which was certainly in his favor.
Stupid people. But necessary.
"So how are you, Dad?" Lester finally asked, trying to put Dewitt at ease.
If he was going to get sprung from this joint, he needed them.
At the moment it was imperative that he play the doting son game, especially with his mother present.
"As long as you're in here, I'm not so good," Dewitt said.
"Neither is your mother."
Lester faced Charlotte and watched as her chin quivered; he noticed that
her face seemed to have acquired more winkles.
"That's right, son," she said.
"I can't bear much more of this." A shiver followed that declaration.
"Me, either," Lester exclaimed, not bothering to mask the bitterness
festering inside.
"Any progress on getting me out?"
"Yes, as a matter of fact, there is," Dewitt said.
"How?" Lester couldn't control his impatience.
Dewitt's eyes circled the area. Lester's impatience grew. He gripped the
receiver so hard he thought his fingers might snap.
"Your lawyer's onto something, but he'll have to tell you himself. We just had to see you and make sure you were all right."
"I'm fine," Lester lied, anger boiling inside him. "So how's my kid?
Have you seen him?"
Dewitt and Charlotte looked at each other, obviously taken aback by what
he'd said.
Lester's jaw clenched.
"So she hasn't gotten in touch?" "Are you talking about Cassie?" Dewitt
asked.
"Yes, dammit. She's back in Jasmine."
His parents' mouths fell open. It was Dewitt who spoke.
"How do you know that?"
"I have my ways. For now, let's just leave it at that."
"Maybe we'll see Tyler soon." Charlotte's voice had taken on new life.
"I'm sure Cassie will call."
"She damn sure better." This time Lester forced himself to smile.
"When you see my boy, give him a big hug and tell 'im his daddy loveshim."
Where the hell was Randall?
Austin placed the receiver on the hook one more time, having called hisfriend repeatedly, but without success. Not only did he need to speak toRandall on Mary Jane's behalf, as promised, but on his own, as well.After that round with Cassie, he needed to know the status of the deal.
Even without it, he planned to go forward with the project, whether sheliked it or not. However, Cassie did have a vote, Austin remindedhimself, and that was what galled him.
With Wilma's support, he'd had a green light to proceed Now Cassie wasthreatening to throw a monkey wrench in his plans. If only Wilma hadn'tput her in charge. If only Cassie hadn't returned.
But she had, and he had to deal with her in more ways than one. Hisstomach knotted. Was she deliberately opposing him in order to get backat him? Did she somehow blame him for her rotten marriage?
As preposterous as it sounded, he couldn't rule that out. But blaminghim didn't make any sense. It wasn't as if he had done the unpardonableand taken her virginity that evening. He hadn't. As for marrying Lester,no one had forced her. Hell, it had been her idea, having boasted thatLester had already proposed to her.