One Summer Evening - One Summer Evening Part 63
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One Summer Evening Part 63

Jo Nell grinned, then her lips flattened.

"Looks like you've got yourself in a hell of a mess, my friend."

"I'll admit that, but nothing's going to come of it, so we might as well

change the subject."

"Okay, I give up." Jo glanced at her watch.

"In the short time I have left, tell me about the kidnapping. That's the

wildest story yet."

"And the scariest."

The day after Tyler showed up in the drive, Cassie had called Jo Nelland told her what had happened. Today was the first time they had talkedabout the incident in person.

"You're still positive your ex was behind it?" Jo Nell asked.

"I know he was, despite his ironclad alibi."

"Good old Mom and Dad."

"Right."

"So are you going to stick around?"

"Yes." Cassie clenched her jaw.

"I've decided that bastard's not going to dictate my life any longer,

though I can't turn my back on Tyler not for a second, not until Lester's back behind bars."

"Which we pray will only be a matter of time."

"Hey, Mom, watch!"

Tyler's proud voice jerked her mind off that disturbing conversation with Jo and back to the present, which was equally disturbing, especially with both Austin and Tyler grinning at her. She rose and watched as Austin released the reins into Tyler's hands and he began walking the horse on his own.

"Way to go, son," she called back, though she wanted to throttle Austin

for turning Tyler loose on that huge animal.

Then, as if Austin could read her thoughts, he motioned for Robb, who suddenly appeared and began walking alongside Tyler. Cassie breathed a sigh of relief, only to find the feeling short-lived.

Austin sauntered toward her. From where she stood, she could see the sweat glistening on his body. She knew she should turn away and stop soaking up every detail about him. She couldn't, so she steeled herself not to react when he stopped in front of her.

"We're not having fun yet, are we?"

Cassie cut her eyes up to him.

"Cute." "Relax," he said in a low, sexy voice as he leaned toward her, a

devilish glint in his eyes.

"I'm not going to ravish your body."

lassie felt her face turn as red as the wildflowers in front of her.

"Damn you, Austin," she said in a thin voice.

"Unless you want me to, that is," he added, as if she hadn't spoken.

Cassie's breath caught, and she stared up at him. "That's not fair."

His eyes darkened.

"I'm tired of playing fair."

"You're just making things worse," she whispered, her tongue unwittinglywetting her bottom lip. This time his breath caught. He moved closer,his back blocking them from the view of Tyler and Robb, who weren'tlooking in their direction anyway. Then, in a husky voice, he said, "IfI don't kiss you, I won't make it another second."

"You're-" His lips melted into hers, hotter and more moist than the airaround them. Cassie ached to push him away, but she couldn't, not whenhis teeth were nibbling on her lower lip and a hand was reaching underher shirt and bra.

"Mmm, I love your breasts. They're perfect."

"Austin, please," she murmured weakly against his lips as his handclosed around one of those breasts.

"I dream about waking up every morning with a nipple in my mouth,sucking it."

"No," she pleaded, pulling her mouth away from his.

"Yes," he countered thickly, forcing her to look at him despite herefforts to the contrary.

"What's more, I'd give anything to watch a child we made suck thosenipples."

"No!"

This time she pushed with such force that he was caught off guard.

When his hands and arms automatically relaxed, she lunged back, out ofharm's way. Still, she was dizzy, and the air seemed to have compressedagainst her skin, making it tingle.

It was obvious he was struggling to regain his composure, as well. Hewas staring at her, and his breath was coming hard.

"Sorry, I was way out of line."

"That you were." "But dammit, I meant every word I said."

She couldn't have answered even if she had wanted to. Her body was inshock, a different kind of shock than what she'd been through with Tylerbut shock, nonetheless.

A child we made. With those words screaming silently at her, Cassieturned and placed a hand over her throbbing lips to keep from crying outloud.

Tell him! Tell him the truth. What better time than now? But the words wouldn't come. Fear immobilized her, surrounded her like a suit of armor.

But if he loved her, he would forgive her. He'd never said that, shereminded herself. He had never spoken those words, which might have beenthe key that unlocked her heart and made her spill her secret.

He wanted her, and she wanted him. Did that translate into love? Shedidn't know. Right now, she was too confused and disoriented to thinkrationally.

"Cassie, talk to me, please."

She twisted around and faced him again. His features were pale, and sweat was visible on his skin. She fared no better. In fact, she felt

his eyes settle on her chest, where she knew her nipples were visible under her damp shirt and bra.

She swallowed hard, and he averted his gaze, but not before she saw a

nerve twitch in his jaw.

"If you want to talk about us, then forget it."

"You can't run from me forever."

"Oh, but I can."

"Yeah, I guess you can at that."

His words were bitter, and that galled her.

"We were never meant to be, Austin."

"How do you know? You won't give us a chance. If only ..." His voice

trailed off, and his mouth tensed.

"You were engaged to Alicia," Cassie said in a soft, defeated tone.

"And you were in love with that gun-lovin' son of a bitch."

"I was not!"

"Then why the hell did you marry him?"

"Why did you marry my aunt?" she returned.

He seemed stunned for a moment, then his eyes narrowed.

"Are you saying that it would've made a difference? That you cared about

me when you enticed me between your legs?" "That's crude," she said, the high dots of color on her cheeks spreading over her entire face.

"No, it's the truth."

"Was that all it was to you?"

"No."

That simple word, spoken with such tormented honesty, stunned her, and she sank back onto the quilt, feeling what little energy she had left drain out of her.

Austin followed suit, then said, "When you touched me that evening, I had never felt that way before."

"Austin, don't tell me that. It's useless to rehash the sins of the