Chapter 14
“Thank God.”
Paige?
Cassandra fought through the blackness lifting from her mind.
“CJ, wake up. Please wake up.”
Her eyes opened slowly, allowing a little of the room’s light in. The brightness stung only a bit, catching her off guard. She covered her eyes with her hands.
“Paige?” she asked, afraid she’d only imagined her best friend’s voice.
Maybe it’s best not to move, lord only knows what’s waiting for me.
The sound of Paige’s laughter filled the room. Cassandra moved her hands, staring into Paige’s tear soaked face.
“Who else, CJ?” Paige asked between sniffles. “When you fainted downstairs I didn’t know what to do.”
“Fainted?” Confused, Cassandra searched her mind as to why she would have fainted.
Garrett!
Her own tears seeped from her eyes. She had to know if he was dead or alive, even though common sense told her he had to be dead. No one could survive a bullet through the heart, not even Garrett.
“The doctor said you might not remember what had happened.” A wave of guilt spread over Paige’s face.
Cassandra pushed herself into a sitting position. Something was wrong…Paige never looked guilty or scared about anything.
“What’s up, Paige? You look like the one who needs to be in bed, not the other way around.”
Handing her a glass of water, Paige pulled a chair up next to the bed. “Sure you want to know?”
“Go ahead, Paige…nothing you say is going to surprise me at this point in my life.”
Isn’t that the truth
.
Taking a deep breath, Paige scooted closer the Cassandra. “Yesterday afternoon I walked into the shop and you were standing by the shelf of vibrators. You must have been ‘testing’ one of the new ones because it fell out of your hand onto the floor. I confronted you about pleasing yourself during business hours, but you kept insisting that there was a man in the room when there wasn’t. Next thing I knew, you were crying and then collapsed to the floor.”
“Paige, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean…” she sobbed, reaching to take Paige into her arms.
“No, CJ, it’s I who should apologize,” Paige insisted, hugging her back briefly. “If I hadn’t been so hard on you, this would never have happened.”
“Don’t do this to yourself, Paige. No one can predict the future,” Cassandra said, looking to the door, feeling the presence of someone standing there.
Clipboard in hand, the doctor smiled sweetly at Paige, “She’ll be able to go home in a few days, Paige…er…Ms. Matteson.”
The smile on Paige’s face said one thing, she’d finally found a love in her life. “CJ, this is Dr. Russell, he’s been taking care of you.”
The man in white stepped over to her bed, taking Paige’s hand in his. The look he gave her reminded CJ of a predator…Russell Canterbury if she could put a name to him. The difference being this predator had the look of a lovesick lion in his eyes.
“Miss Jameson, I’m glad to see you’ve awoken from your deep sleep. You had us all worried for a while.”
Cassandra smiled at the way Paige’s face lit up. “Just call me Sleeping Beauty who found her prince in a world of dreams.”
Taking Paige’s hand in hers and giving it a light squeeze, the two cried until they couldn’t cry any more. For Cassandra she’d cried as many tears as she could...not only for the pain she’d caused Paige but also for the death of Garrett. A man she’d loved and lost in more lifetimes then she should have been allowed.
EPILOGUE
Several months later
Tingle…Tingle
“Hello, can I help you?” Cassandra looked up from taking inventory of the store stock. Her heart skipped a beat, then raced at full speed to the man standing just inside the doorway.
Garrett!
“I’m not sure,” he said, taking a step toward her. “I’m looking for what used to be an old chocolate shop. I think it may have been at this address.”
Even his voice is the same
.
Transfixed, she stood hugging the clipboard to her chest, then realized she’d been staring at the poor guy.
“You’ll have to excuse me, you remind me of someone I knew a long time ago,” she apologized, setting the inventory papers on the counter. “You said you’re looking for a chocolate shop?”
He laughed deep and sensual sending piercing arrows of heat through her.
“Yeah, it’s an old family business I’ve heard numerous stories about and the notorious relative who ran it in the 1700s,” he replied, stepping closer to her. “After so many years of listening, I finally decided to find out if they were true or not.”
Maybe we’re being given another chance, nothing is impossible, is it? If so, I’ve got to go slow in case he is Garrett.
Cassandra smiled, then looked away for a brief moment.
“You know, I seem to recall some documentation about the building we have. I think there’s something about a shop being here around 1790.”
“That’s great! Would you mind getting them and joining me for a glass of beer at DBs?” His smiled melted her heart. Wiping her hand down her pant leg, she glanced at the wall clock.
DBs? Of course! DB’s the Dragon’s Breath.
“I don’t see why not, it’s close enough to closing time. If you can wait a minute, I’ll get them and then we can go.”
He nodded, reaching out to take her hand in his. “By the way, my name’s Garrison Alexander.”
Heat washed over her, igniting her heart and soul. “Glad to meet you, Garrison. My name’s Cassandra Jameson.” Her hand fit perfectly into his, as if it belonged there.
Looking into her eyes, he held her hand a moment longer then a stranger would have. “I’m sorry, but have we met before? Just now I feel as if I know you from somewhere.”
Cassandra smiled to herself, then gently pulled her hand from his. “I don’t think so…at least not in this lifetime, Garrison.”
The End
SHORT AUTHOR BIO
Debi Wilder began reading “spicy romances” when she was in high school, wrapping the novels she found in brown paper.
Although some like to think Ms. Wilder lives what she writes, it’s far from the truth.
She has shelves filled with research books such as
Sex Toy Tales
,
Lip Service
and
The Academy
, which she gets from her sister-in-law from time to time.
Thankfully her husband doesn’t think they have to try everything at least once!
Ms. Wilder loves the freedom that writing erotica brings.
There’s a no holds barred attitude that suits her when her imagination and characters take over and run wild on the pages.
And like her characters, Ms. Wilder believes romance and sex go hand in hand.
Ms. Wilder currently lives a quiet life with her husband nestled deep among the pyramids of
Rock
Lake
.
List of books:
Red Rose Publishing
Heartbeat, Sequel to Eternal Pleasures- coming soon
Destiny's Love Song writing as Debbie Fritter- non erotic
Whiskey Creek Press
The Perfect Match writing as Debbie Fritter- non erotic
A Legacy Through
Time writing as Debbie Fritter- non erotic
Tales Through the Treasure Trove, Vol. 1., writing as Debbie Fritter- non erotic
Loose Id
By the Blue Moon, Book 1, Blue Moon Magic Series
Whiskey Creek Torrid
Dare to be Wilder Honey
S.P.A.R.,