Cassie nodded reluctantly. She accepted the explanation—sort of. She took a sip of wine and put her glass down on the table.
“There’s another reason,” Ryan said softly.
“What’s that?” Cassie turned to him, anxious to know.
“Oh, Cassie, can’t you tell?” Ryan moved closer to her and she felt a jolt of pure electricity as his blue gaze met hers.
“It’s because you’re here. I’m desperate for you to love us as a family, and not to want to leave. Look, we are as we are. I’m not hiding anything from you. But I want you to see us at our best, without any unnecessary drama. You make me want to be my best.”
He leaned toward her, so close she could see the tiny gold flecks in his pale blue irises. She had enough time to feel a jolt of excitement and panic at what was going to happen. Then they were kissing, and as the kiss deepened her head started spinning with delight and the sheer physical desire that this intimate contact was awakening.
Ryan pulled away. He was breathing hard.
“I’m sorry,” he whispered. “Please forgive me, that was way out of line and I apologize for it.”
Cassie’s heart was pounding so hard she was sure he could feel it. But she had to seize the moment. This was her chance to tell him, and show him, how she felt. She pulled him close, locking her arms round him.
“Don’t apologize. I’ve been longing to do this—well, ever since I met you.”
“Oh, Cassie. From the moment we met, I hoped this would happen,” Ryan murmured. “I know you’ve only been here a short time, but it doesn’t seem that way. You’ve become a part of us, and I can’t imagine life without you. It’s as if you were always meant to be here.”
Then they were kissing again, more passionately, and she felt his hands slip under her shirt, warm against her skin, and although a tiny voice inside her was protesting that this was not the time or place to go so far, she didn’t have the power to silence it.
But Ryan eventually drew away.
“We can’t go on like this, Cassie, it’s not right.”
Hearing this, reality hit her with a slap. Of course he was right. It was not appropriate and could not continue, and from now on she’d better try to have some damned control over herself.
Then she took in his next words.
“I haven’t even taken you on a date yet. And I want to do that first, and to do this properly, because you deserve the very best.”
He drew her toward him again, and that roguish smile warmed his face and eyes.
“Are you free tomorrow night?” he whispered.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
When Cassie woke up the next morning, she found an envelope pushed under her bedroom door.
In Ryan’s forward-tilted hand it read:
Treat yourself to a new outfit! It’s Date Night tonight! See you later—R
The envelope was filled with cash—Cassie was overwhelmed by Ryan’s generosity. This would cover everything from shoes, to dress, to coat—and, most importantly, underwear. She was amazed by his thoughtfulness.
Cassie read his note over and over again and in between reading it, she immersed herself in the memories of what had happened last night. The passion of their kiss, and the way he had touched her. The way he had looked at her, as if she was everything in the world to him, and the words he had spoken. He’d told her that she was needed and valued, a part of the family, and that he couldn’t imagine life without her. That meant more to her than he would ever know.
Without a doubt, Cassie knew Ryan was the man she’d always dreamed of.
She hugged herself, feeling a sense of unreality that she had landed in a fairytale come true. It could easily have turned out differently. Imagine if she’d ignored Jess’s advice to call Ryan, and missed out on everything that had followed.
Cassie could see herself living in this house forever. She could make a life for herself in this beautiful village, a life filled with happiness and love.
Both the children remarked on her good mood as she cracked jokes about the rainy weather and tested them on their lines for the school play the next day.
As it was a wet day, she drove them to the bus stop again and waited until they were safely on board. Then, instead of going back home, she headed into town to buy her date night outfit.
Two hours later, she’d chosen the most beautiful dress she could find. Ryan’s generous allowance covered every item of clothing she needed, as well as makeup, and there was still money left over so she bought Ryan a travel pack of shampoo and shower gel—choosing what the saleslady assured her was the hottest men’s brand on the market. It was a useful gift, and also a hint that one day, they could travel together.
She found it bizarre to think that a week ago, she’d been deliberating about going back to the States and in fact had almost done so.
Now, the States felt like a distant dream, and the desire to go back seemed foolish and shortsighted. Her adventure, her future, her reality was here.
She spent the rest of the morning tidying up and preparing a simple supper for the children. It felt weird, but exciting, that she wouldn’t be there to share it with them.
At two o’clock she heard the front door open and realized with a twinge of annoyance that the unpleasant cleaner, Harriet, had arrived. She’d forgotten that Friday was her other day. Trying to channel her inner goodness, Cassie resolved to be polite to her and to assume that she’d been in a bad mood on Monday.
Today, Harriet did in fact seem in a better frame
