Real Challenge (Atlanta #2) (36 page)

“Stunning,” he said with a smile. “I don’t know how you do that in five minutes.”

“Easy. I know my style,” she smiled. “No hesitations needed.”

Scott grinned at her and offered his arm. “Where would you like to go? I know a great Italian place, or this intimate little bistro downtown. I recommended it to Erin once. She took Marcus there and said they both liked it. Or, I can take you back to that jail or the place on the lake. What do you think?”

“The bistro sounds good, but so does Italian. Whichever,” she said as Scott helped her into his SUV. “I’d rather do something new. It’s more fun that way.”

“Then we’ll go to the bistro. It’s unique. Perfect for you.”

Cassie smiled so sweetly as they drove downtown. Scott parked on the street outside of the restaurant and escorted her in like a gentleman. They were seated at a table near the back, in a section that offered a feeling of privacy in spite of the near-full restaurant. Plenty of sheer, wine-colored tule curtains and rich wood pillars offered a sense of romance in the soft twinkle-lights woven through grape-vine arbors along the ceiling.

As soon as they sat down, Cassie beamed at the scene around them. “This is beautiful! I’m so glad you picked here. No wonder Marc and Erin liked it,” she said with sweet, childlike excitement.
 

“I thought you might feel that way,” he smiled. “The food is amazing, too. Completely gourmet. Not as strange as the menu at the jail, but still unbelievable. Would you like some wine?”

Right on cue a waitress came for their drink orders. Scott ordered water for both of them, along with a spinach and scallop dip with sea salt ciabatta bread as an appetizer.
 

“That sounds amazing,” Cassie said. Then, she sparkled with her happiest smile. “So will you quit your job tomorrow?”

Scott laughed at her sudden enthusiasm. “Yeah, I’ll put in my two weeks notice first thing. I can’t believe this. My parents are going to flip. I haven’t even told them about my career shift yet. I told them about you, though. From pretty early on, actually.”

Cassie’s smiled. “You did?”

“Yes. They can’t wait to meet you. They’re actually talking about coming down at the beginning of the October. You ok with that?”

“Wow…I…uh…wow. Meet your parents? You haven’t even told me much about them. If I’m going to meet them, you have to fill me in,” she said with a smile, a little in shock about the concept of meeting them.

“Not much to tell, I guess. Your basic all-American family. I grew up right outside of DC because my dad is involved in politics. He’s not a politician, but he knows nearly all of them. He’s a lobbyist and even met the last two presidents. He impresses everyone with his charm and almost always gets the donation he’s looking for,” Scott laughed.
 

“Seriously? Wow. What about your mom?”

“Mom’s a pediatrician, but she only works part time. She plays the role of Mrs. Lobbyist, attending functions in the latest designer clothes, volunteering for various charities, stuff like that.”

“Oh, so that’s where you got it from,” Cassie teased. “Mr.
Impress
and Mrs.
Play the Role
. At least you come by it honestly.”

Scott rolled his eyes and smiled. “At one point you would have offended me with that. Now it just makes me wonder if my parents really like any of it. I suppose my mom likes the pediatrician part the most. She always smiles when she talks about the kids. She reminds me of you that way.”

“Yep, they’re the best part of the job. This one little girl comes in, her name is Zoe. She’s the cutest thing ever. She likes to borrow my hair ties while she’s there. And another little girl, Sophie, she’s the cutest toe-head you’ll ever see. She looks like a little angel,” Cassie said with a far-off adoring smile. “Too bad her mom’s a harpy. But still, you should come by the clinic sometime and see all the adorable sniffly faces.”

Scott was blown away by Cassie again. He listened to her honest words and watched her sip her water. She was beautiful, even when doing such simple things that. He appreciated her sense of “real” even more than he ever had.
 

The waiter arrived and served their appetizers, took their meal orders, and left them to their conversation.

“So,” he started, almost nervously, “Are you willing to meet them?”

“Of course,” she smiled, but then she got a panicked look on her face. “Good lord, do they know we moved in together?”

“Uh, no. As far as they know, I’m still an accountant with a yuppie apartment and a girlfriend. Boy, will they be shocked when they find out none of that is true.”

“None? What about the girlfriend part?” Cassie laughed.

Scott smiled. “Nope, not my girlfriend.”

“So you’re going with housemate now?”

Scott laughed. “No, I was thinking more along the lines of fiancée.”

And with that he pulled a ring from his suit pocket and got on one knee. Cassie’s hands flew up to her mouth and tears sprung to her eyes. She was smiling and trembling at the same time.
 

“Cassie, I love you. Forever. You found the
real
me. Because of you, I’m
happy
. Will you marry me? Be mine forever?”

Cassie looked down at him, so sincere and loving and honest and real and perfect. “Yes,” she whispered through her fingers. Scott reached for her left hand and slipped the ring lovingly down her finger. He kissed her knuckle beside the ring and sat again in his chair. A few people at the tables around them quietly applauded their moment while Cassie smiled so wide.
 

She looked down at the ring and whispered, “Oh, Scott…”

Five thin filament rings rested against each other to form a delicate platinum band. Sparkling just above the band rested a topaz stone in perfect swimming-pool blue, and two stones on either side Cassie didn’t recognize. This was like no engagement ring Cassie had ever seen, and yet was the most beautiful.

“I didn’t design it, but I did custom order it,” Scott said with a shy grin.
 

“Scott, it’s perfect,” she breathed, still trembling. “I love it. Let’s see - five rings and swimming-pool blue. So I’ve got my Olympic swimmer here on my hand?”

“Exactly,” he smiled. “But didn’t you see yourself on there, too? That’s both of us on your hand.”

“These two stones? What are they?”

“Not stones. I asked them to put two glass spheres there. Tiny marbles.”

Cassie started crying again. “God, Scott. That is…I don’t even know what to say. Do I get to pick what the marbles represent?”

“Sure,” he smiled, laughing at the bright-eyed, tear-streaked happiness on her face.
 

“Ok, wow. Um…this one is for meeting the love of my life. And this one is for…our future. Happy and real and challenging.”

“Perfect,” Scott smiled, taking her hand and kissing her knuckles again. “So, are you ok with being introduced to my parents as my fiancée?”
 

Cassie grinned and nodded. “How freaked out are they going to be about all of this?”

“I have no idea, but nothing will change. They’ve always been supportive. I’m sure they’ll be shocked, but they’re a class act. They’ll want me happy. I’m excited for you to meet them. I think they’re really going to like you.”

“What should I wear to meet them?”

“Anything Cassie-style. Keep it real, right?”

Cassie laughed at herself. “Good point. Sorry, I’m not usually nervous about things. This is a new one, though. I’ve never been a fiancée or even been asked to meet someone’s parents before.”

“Just be your beautiful, awesome self. They’ll love you. I promise.”

The rest of the dinner was blissful with happy conversation about their future. They tossed around wedding ideas, career goals, and the possibility of having kids someday.

“Jenna thinks I should have twelve,” she laughed.

Scott nearly did a spit-take. “Twelve?!”

Cassie laughed. “Don’t worry, that was my reaction, too. But maybe one or two.”

“That sounds better,” he said, still grinning. Then with an obnoxious, cocky, old-Scott smile he said, “We need to keep these superior genetics going through another generation.”

Cassie rolled her eyes at him. “Glad you feel that way, because we can work those genetics twice as fast. There’s a good chance we’ll have twins.”
 

“Oh, God…” he shook his head and laughed.
 

Cassie toyed with her ring and looked at the stone and marbles shimmering brilliantly in the twinkle lights of the bistro. She smiled brightly throughout their meal. But as dinner was ending, Scott noticed Cassie’s smile fading.
 

“Are you ok?”

“I’m sorry. This night is perfect, Scott. I was just thinking about the idea of meeting parents,” she said. “I can’t wait to meet yours. I want to know them and learn more about you. I want to spend time with them as their future daughter-in-law. Then I think about my side. I don’t have a family to introduce you to. The difference breaks my heart.”

“I know it does,” he said quietly. “But it doesn’t change anything. If we only have one set of parents between us, we still have more love than most people do, Cass.”

She looked up at him with a sad smile. “I know. I guess it’s all hitting me again. I’m sure you know I’m still thinking about my dad. About whether or not I should meet with him.”

“I know,” he said, still softly. “Marcus and I talked about it at lunch.”

“You did?” Cassie looked surprised. “He didn’t mention that.”

“He’s hoping you’ll drop it. He didn’t want to be the one to bring it up to you.”

“So what did he say? What did you say? I can’t imagine that was an easy conversation,” she said, still a little shocked.
 

“Let’s do this at home, Cass. I know this is all going to hit you hard, and I’d rather hold you if you need to break down,” Scott said, obviously concerned for her feelings.
 

“I love you,” she whispered. She sighed and nodded. “Let’s go home.”

Less than a half hour later the two were back at home in comfy t-shirts and pajama pants. Scott pulled her down on the couch with him and wrapped his arms around her. Cassie sat on his lap sideways and rested her head on his shoulder.
 

“Ok, let’s do this,” she said after a deep breath. “I have to decide what to do, because thinking in circles over this is driving me crazy. What does Marcus think?”

 
Scott replayed the entire conversation for her, straight down to Marcus’s frequent use of the f-word. Cassie listened attentively while sinking deeper into Scott’s embrace. A few silent tears soaked into Scott’s shirt and he held her closer.

“Cassie, you can make any decision you want. I’ll be there with you and so will Marcus, but you don’t have to do this. Marcus and I actually feel the same on this. You don’t owe him anything. If you talk to him, do it because
you
want to, not because he does. I’m scared you’re going to get hurt.”

Cassie sat quietly for a while, considering everything Scott said. She had to think about Marcus, too. If he was determined to go with her, than this decision couldn’t be hers alone. Really, opening that metaphorical door affected all of them, including Scott and Erin.

Scott rubbed her back sweetly while she pondered the situation. Still, she had no idea what to do, with the exception of one thing. “I think I need to talk to Marcus about this. Alone. But if I’m being honest with myself, I already know I’m going to talk to him. My brain won’t let it go.”

“Somehow, I knew that, too,” Scott said with a smile. “I’m pretty sure so does Marcus.”

Cassie nodded and began to cry harder. “I’m so scared.”

Scott held her while she sobbed. He comforted her as best he could and reassured her that she wouldn’t be alone. He rubbed her back and kissed the top of her head while she cried herself out.

“But there’s one thing I know,” Cassie said, now sounding determined through her shaky voice. “I do not want my dad at our wedding. Marcus deserves to walk me down the aisle. My dad doesn’t deserve to even be there.”

“I’m good with that.”

Cassie took a few deep breaths and wiped the tears from her eyes. Scott squeezed her tighter against him then tilted her chin up for a loving kiss.
 

“And speaking of the wedding, I’d like to call my parents tomorrow to tell them the news. But I want to wait until you tell Marcus. He’s number one on your list, and he deserves to know first.”

Cassie nodded. “Thank you. God, Scott, I love you
so much
. You know me so well. But I don’t want to call him tonight. What I’d like to do right now is go back to our room and celebrate a little…just the two of us. I’m pushing all this screwed up sadness out of my way until tomorrow. Tonight should be just for us.”

Scott saw the smile return to Cassie’s face and kissed her again. “I love you, and from this point on tonight, there is nothing in the world but you and me, ok?”

Cassie nodded, looking peaceful again and still smiling. Scott stood straight up off the couch, still cradling her against his chest. He kissed her in the living room for a sweet moment and then carried her back to their bedroom.
 

“I want you wearing nothing but my ring,” he whispered with a smile.
 

She pulled her t-shirt off and slipped out of her soft gray cotton pajama pants and folded herself under the covers. Scott was only a moment behind her and pulled her close. She held up her hand to gaze again at her beautiful ring, all of the sadness gone from her voice. “This is truly perfect, Scott.
Perfect
. Because it’s us.”

“Us,” he agreed with a smile. He kissed the back of her hand again and let his lips linger on her soft skin. Again and again he kissed her hand intimately, all the while Cassie trailed her fingers along his strong shoulders. Soon he moved his lips to her neck and continued his soft kisses up to her ear, down her jaw, and finally to rest silently on her lips.

Cassie leaned up to meet his kiss, and opened her mouth to him. Forever, it seemed, they allowed their lips to tenderly worship each other, finding their connection on a deeper level yet. Neither would have thought that even possible. By the time he entered her slowly, the intimacy and passion were off the charts. He made love to her so sweetly, whispering his love to her often, all the way through to their intense, ultimate satisfaction. A final kiss to her hand ushered them from their physical paradise and into a peaceful sleep.