Seducing the Doctor (At First Sight #4) (9 page)

He started the car. Instead of returning to the city he drove up the hill and parked in the town lot. He would give her time and space before he sought her again. How could he convince her he hadn’t meant to hurt her in the past or the present?

Face it. You’ve lost.
He pounded the wheel with his fists. Could he turn defeat into victory? Maybe there was a way.

He remembered the ring she’d admired in the jewelry store window.
The emerald matched her eyes. She’d mentioned buying the ring for herself. Would she accept the ring from him and the promise he planned to make. Ne nodded.
Yes.
He would try that method.

Matt stared at the display and spotted the ring. As he entered a buzzer sounded.

The man behind the counter put down a tool. “Can I help you?”

“Could I see the emerald ring in the window?”

The man unlocked the glass and brought the ring to the counter. “One of my favorite designs.”

“You created this?”

“All the jewelry is of my design.”

“Would it be possible to substitute four sapphires for the diamonds?”

The jeweler lifted the ring to study the setting. He glanced at Matt and nodded. Matt wondered what the look meant.

From a locked drawer the man took a velvet cloth and a small pouch. He spilled a stream of sapphires. He isolated several. “Ah, I have just two that match your eyes.”

“As the emerald matches hers.”

The jeweler removed one of the diamonds. He placed a sapphire in the setting. “Interesting. I hope you’re not in a rush. I’ll need a week to match the stones.”

“I have time,” Matt said.

“Her ring size?”

Matt closed his eyes and thought of Cassie’s slender fingers. He almost felt them stroking his skin. To dislodge the memory he shook his head. “I don’t know and I want this to be a surprise.”

“Her name. I may have her size on file.”

“Cassandra Moore.”

The jeweler moved to his computer. He typed and looked up. “You’re in luck. I remember the garish ring I made for her engagement. Huge diamond in a heavy gold scrolled design. Much too heavy for her slender finger. The man had no taste.” He arched an eyebrow.

Matt stared at the jewelry case. “No taste is right. He broke the engagement.” Matt extracted a credit card. “I’ll make a down payment now and pay the balance when the ring is finished. I think she’ll be pleased.” After the card registered he signed the slip.

The man winked. “And be surprised.” He handed Matt his receipt and a copy of the work order. “Good luck.”

“Thanks.”

Matt left the shop and returned to the car. He drove across the bridge and reached his apartment. As he unpacked he found the red set of underwear. He placed them on his dresser as a reminder of what he’d lost and hoped to regain.

In the living room he opened a beer and slumped on the couch. Tomorrow he would look at other houses and hope to find another to suit his needs as nicely as the Smiton house. He couldn’t afford to wait much longer to begin the project.

His thoughts drifted to the Blakefield curse. He was the only unmated of his generation. Did that mean he had a chance of success?

Allie, Meg and Mark had felt the full pull of love. Until now he’d been untouched.
Love them and leave them had been his way.
The women he dated hadn’t held his interest for long. Then he’d crashed back into Cassie’s life and discovered he wanted a chance at forever.

He groaned. He’d never forgotten her or what he’d said and done. Memories of that long ago year when she’d approached him were etched into his thoughts.

“Would you go to the movies with me tonight?”

The question had surprised him. In the shadows he’d seen the head cheerleader and her best friend. For several years Ginger had stalked him but he’d never asked her out. He’d been sure she’d hatched this plan as payback. He’d said the words he hadn’t meant…words that had hurt Cassie.

The irony of the accident struck him. If they hadn’t’ met the day he’d crashed into the tree they would have met when he sought to buy the house. He didn’t know if that encounter would have ended differently.

You’re next.
Those words while true held the seeds of a problem. He’d fallen in love. Cassie hadn’t. Once again he’d driven her away.

What now?

Patience and a plan. He had to give her time to reconsider.

Chapter Six

Cassie scurried around the apartment removing all traces of Matt’s stay. Sheets and towels went into the washer. New linens were on the beds and hung on towel racks in both bathrooms. Dishes were loaded in the washer. Remnants of breakfast and the past night’s dinner went into the garbage.

Keeping busy kept her tears at bay but all too soon everything was in order. She turned on the television and waited for her mother’s and step-father’s arrival.

Stray thoughts of Matt intruded. She fought to reject them. Tears blurred her eyes. Her chest tightened. How could she have allowed past fantasies and sexual attraction to a man…to Matt…to turn her life on end? Day one, a broken engagement. Day two, the appearance of a man from the past bringing hot sex and a plunge into love. Day three, a second betrayal.

All Matt had wanted was that house. She realized the glow in his eyes and the passion in his voice when he’d spoken of his plans to change the house. Her thoughts had filled with fantasies of living there with him. Then the call and the information her mother had provided had slashed her dreams to tatters.

The buzzer sounded. “You have a guest.”

For a moment she hesitated. She had expected two. Had Matt returned but why?

She released her held breath. “Who?”

“Your mother.”

“Send her up.” Where was Ben? Had something happened to him? Had her mother’s second honeymoon ended in disaster? But earlier when they’d talked there’d been no hint of trouble.

The moment her mother stepped inside Cassie burst into tears. Her emotions tumbled to the first time her life had tangled with Matt. She pressed her fingers against her tear ducts to stop the flow. “Where’s Ben?”

"Making dinner reservations and visiting the bookstore. Do you mind having guests until Tuesday morning? We see the attorney Monday afternoon. You need to be there.”

Cassie shook her head. “Can’t. I have patients scheduled.”

“The meeting is for four o’clock in the village. See if you can rearrange your schedule.”

“I’ll try.”

Mrs. Moore sat on the couch. “Let’s talk about Tim first. How could he do such a thing?”

Cassie sat on the other end. “I’m glad it happened before the wedding. If he saw her often enough for her to become pregnant he wouldn’t have allowed marriage to halt the affair. I doubt he loved me. Just wanted me to do most of his work.”

“Why do you think that? Maybe he made a single mistake.”

Matt’s comment rose. She batted them away. “Tim talked a good line but he used me. Since we started here I’ve done most of his work.” She drew a deep breath. “I liked Tim but I didn’t love him. I think I loved the idea of being married so I settled for him.”

“Then why were you crying.” Mrs. Moore clasped Cassie’s hand. “You saw that Blakefield boy. Is this his fault?”

Cassie stared at the floor. If her mother knew how much of Matt she’d seen the older woman would be angry.
Not that she would tell.
Matt was definitely no boy. She nodded. “We’ve had several dates.” No need to mention the wreck and the rescue.

“How could you bear to be around him after what he did? Honey, remember how ashamed and hurt you were about the things he said that day.”

Cassie looked away. Her mother held grudges longer than anyone she knew. “He explained and I believed him.”

“Then you learned his true nature. That blasted house.” She released a long sigh. “History repeats.”

“What do you mean?”

“She thought Bradley Smiton was hers.”

“Who?”

“Anne Torrey. He broke off with her and dated me. We fell in love. When my pregnancy was discovered his parents sent him to school in Europe. He never returned. He refused to acknowledge you. She lied and said I’d been with four other boys.”

Cassie frowned. “I don’t understand.”

“Anne was Matthew Blakefield’s mother.”

“He mentioned how much she loved the house. I wonder if she told him about you.”

“Who knows.” Mrs. Moore wiped her eyes. “What are you going to do about the house?”

“I don’t know.”

“Sell it. Not to him. Then consider coming to Pittsburgh. Ben’s cardiologist would be glad to have you join his practice.”

Cassie bit her lip. “Pittsburgh never felt like home to me. I like my partners and the area. I’m staying. Leaving after I’ve been made a partner would be rude.”

“Will you move into that house?”

Her mother’s comment reminded her of what she wanted to forget. A tear trickled from her eyes. “I doubt I’ll leave this apartment even if the house is mine. Why do you have to see the lawyer?”

“I told you he left money for me. Twenty-two years of child support.”

Cassie choked. “What did Ben say?”

“We should give the money to you or put it in an account for grandchildren. Melissa’s expecting.”

Cassie frowned. Her oldest half sibling had just turned nineteen. “Is she happy?”

“She and Joe are excited.” Mrs. Moore looked at the clock. “Go change. We’re going to Five Cuisines for dinner. Read about the restaurant in Good Eatin’. Since we’re here we want to try the place.”

Cassie sucked in a breath. Would she run into one of the Blakefields? Surely neither Allie nor Meg worked there. Hadn’t Allie said Greg cooked mostly during the day and also designed the menus and tried new dishes?

“Is something wrong?”

“Not really. It’s just…I’ve met the owner.”

“Is he handsome?”

“He is but happily engaged.”

“Shame.”

“Mother.” Cassie hurried away. She showered and changed into charcoal slacks and an aqua sweater. As she lightly applied makeup to hide the signs of her tears she frowned. Her eyes screamed with grief. She couldn’t give into another storm of tears caused by anger and disappointment. She drew a shuddering breath and wished for luck.

She and her mother walked to the restaurant where Ben waited. When they entered Greg stood at the reservation desk. “Cassie, good to see you again. Matt coming?”

She shrugged. “He’s on the way to the city.”

She shook her head and hoped he took the hint. She wouldn’t speak of what had happened. “My company arrived. This is my mother and step-father.”

“I see.” He waved to the hostess. “Talk to you another time. Give Allie a call.”

“I will.”

After a wonderful meal in the Italian Room, they left to walk back to the apartment. Cassie’s mother paused to study the window of the Peek-A-Boo Boutique. “Shame they’re closed.”

“The assortment is wonderful.”

Mrs. Moore grinned. “I’ll give you sizes and you can bring some when you come for Thanksgiving.”

Cassie winked. “She has some interesting men’s briefs.”

Ben shook his head. “Not for me.”

“The village has changed so much since the last time I was here.”

Cassie grabbed her mother’s hand. “Come and see what I’m giving myself for Christmas.” She led them to the jewelry store. “The owner designs everything.” When she saw the emerald ring was gone, she sighed. “I wonder who bought the ring I loved.”

Her mother patted her arm. “Next time you see something you like, put down a deposit.”

“I will.”

The rest of the weekend was uneventful. On Monday Cassie managed to rearrange her schedule. At three thirty she drove her mother to the attorney’s office where they signed papers.

“If you’re interested in selling, we have an offer,” the lawyer said.

Cassie shook her head. “I’ll need to consider what I should do. Give me several weeks to make my decision.”

As they left the office her mother frowned. “Don’t do anything foolish.”

“Have I ever, other than agreeing to marry Tim?”
Or asking Matt to go to the movies with me?

* * *

Matt finished handling the writing assignments for the spring issues of Good Livin’. He leaned back and studied the plans for the remaining issues of the year. He might have to change his plans for next December’s issue, changing  the Smiton house into an energy efficient home.

The door of the office banged against the wall. Allie burst into the room. “What have you done? Greg saw Cassie Saturday evening at the restaurant with her parents. He noticed she’d been crying and she shook off his attempt for a conversation. Did you hurt her again?”

“Afraid so.”

Her eyes narrowed. Her mouth formed a thin line. Matt nearly laughed at the ferocity of her expression.