The things we do for love. (10 page)

“You really aren’t that naive are you?”

“Adam...” Cassie began but Adam cut her off immediately.

“It’s quite simple my dear girl. He will now spend all night tossing and turning thinking about poor little Cassie. How rotten your sister is, and how you deserve better. Then he’ll start thinking about you going home with me...” Adam paused for effect. “... and that, dear friend, will drive him crazy.”

“Crazy.” Cassie repeated unconvinced.

“Crazy with jealousy.” Adam continued with a flourish.

“I think, dear friend, you are living in cloud cuckoo land.” Cassie told her friend. Adam shook his head as they rounded the corner and into the car park where Adam’s silver Mercedes was parked. He took his keys out of his pocket and the car beeped.

“Mark my words come tomorrow he will be so wound up that he’ll find a way to accidentally bump into you. With any luck you’ll be having copious amounts of sex by the end of the week. Or my name’s not Adam, and it is.”

“What if your plan doesn’t pan out and he doesn’t bite?” she asked him as they arrived at the car. Adam opened the passenger door and turned to look at her.

“Trust me on this. He will bite.”

“How do you know?”

“Darling when he looked at you he looked hungrier than a shark.”

“Nice.” She said.

“I guarantee you or your money back. Now be a good little girl and get in the car so I can drive you home.”

“Of course sir.” She curtseyed before lowering herself into the seat and Adam closed the door behind her.

She watched Adam walk around the car as she put on her seat belt. The driver door opened and Adam got into the driver’s seat.

He turned the key and started the engine. He put on his seatbelt and pulled out of the car park.

Cassie noted that he slowed the car down and drove extra slow passed the restaurant. Cassie bit back a smile as she guessed that it was for Luke’s benefit. Adam was making sure that they were spotted one last time. “I can’t believe you did that.” She told Adam as he gave a little wave in the direction of the restaurant. Cassie did not dare look but she knew Luke must have been looking.

“Will you ever pluck up the courage to approach him?”

“After everything that Faye has done? Not likely.” Cassie conceded sadly.

“Well then someone had to do something and seeing as I seem to be the only sensible one here I guess it fell to me to do something on your behalf.” Adam told her and he actually sounded serious, like he believed in the supposed sacrifice he had just made for her.

“Sensible?” Cassie queried rolling her eyes and shaking her head. “...Now that is the funniest thing you have ever said.” She told him

“Are you dissing me?” he asked mocking a hurt look.

“What the hell does dissing mean?” Cassie frowned.

“It’s...” he shook his head. “...Never mind.” He told her.

“You’ve been hanging around those teenagers again.” She guessed.

“It’s part of my job to hang around with those teenagers. I’m a social worker.” Adam turned the car off the main road and headed in the direction of Cassie’s home.

“Now there was a change of career I didn’t see coming.” Adam had come from an influential family who, whilst not mega rich, was more than comfortable.

Adam had studied art at university just because he hadn’t really known what he wanted to do. It was only in the last three years that Adam had made a dramatic change and had begun training to be a social worker.

Cassie was proud of her friend and only wished she could learn to be that strong. Perhaps she would finally be able to stand up to Faye and make her stop her behaviour.

“I didn’t either, but it’s done me the world of good. I’m making a difference you know...” Adam shifted in his seat.

“I know. Good on you. I wish I could be that brave.” Cassie told him.

“You are. You just don’t know it yet.”

Chapter 13.

Luke cursed loudly into the silence of the room and reached for the pillow under his head. In frustration he yanked it from under him and launched it through the air.

It flew across the room and he heard the soft thud as it landed on the floor. He couldn’t sleep, damn it. He turned over but then turned back again immediately in exasperation.

Damn he was frustrated. He threw the covers back in irritation. The cool air hit his heated naked flesh. He sat up, bringing up his knees and, resting his elbows on them he rested his forehead in this hands.

That damn throbbing was driving him nuts. He huffed again then, like a panther, Luke padded silently across the room and retrieved the fallen pillow. He tossed it back on the bed and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair.

He had spent the past few hours tossing and turning thinking about... about Cassie damn it. His body was humming. His loins were throbbing. His manhood… standing proud and hurting like hell.

He looked over at the bedside clock. It read four thirty in the morning. He’d been laying there that long? That was just great. He hadn’t managed even a single second of sleep nor had he managed to wind down or relax.

Damn that woman. He thought restlessly. And damn that wretched demon sister of hers. If it wasn’t for Faye and her idiotic behaviour then this thing, whatever it was, between him and Cassie would not exist.

This thing, whatever it was, would have a solution. A solution that involved the two of them in his bed.

These past couple of months Cassie had become a relentless itch that Luke had been unable to scratch. She had managed to creep inside his skin and had wound him up tighter than a coil. So much so, that he was positively fit to burst.

If it hadn’t been for Faye, then Luke would have asked her out. There would have been no reason not to. Instead, Faye had happened and that had taken care of that. Though if it had not been for Faye he would never have crossed paths with Cassie.

Luke strode across the room and headed towards the en-suite bathroom. Hopefully, a cold shower would take care of his immediate physical problem. It was just a shame that it wouldn’t work on his steamy wayward thoughts.

Luke acknowledged, sometime later, that the cold shower had worked for all of five minutes before the effects had worn off and Luke was back to staring unseeingly at the ceiling with a certain something pushing against the sheet as his mind conjured up erotic images of Cassie.

Luke’s memory recreated her glossy chestnut hair as it flowed down her naked back. Her face relaxed with a small smile curving those full plump lips and her eyes staring up at him with desire burning deep.

He watched as he took her into his arms. He marvelled at how she arched her back toward him. Much like she had done this evening at the restaurant.

Damn, but he had had to work hard not to take her where she stood. And that noise, that little whimper that had escaped her lips.

He groaned into the silence of the room as his mind conjured up an image of Cassie lying naked in his arms as he kissed her, touched her. Luke shot up out of the bed and headed towards the bathroom. Cursing expletives as he went.

And it was just a few short hours later that Vera found a very grumpy Luke. He was leaning against the kitchen counter and holding a mug of coffee.

“You look absolutely awful.” Vera told him abruptly as she walked into the small kitchen. “Couldn’t sleep?”

“Good morning to you too.” Luke offered dryly.  “There’s coffee in the pot if you want some.” Luke told her as he lifted his own mug and took a gulp of the dark strong coffee. Just what the doctor ordered.

“You been up long?” she asked him, casting a disapproving eye over his dishevelled appearance, starting with his untidy hair and moving down over the bloodshot eyes and dark circles.

She took in his crisp white shirt with its lime lines that broke up the severe look. He was also wearing his bleached tight jeans.

The casual look suited him, Vera decided, not that there was anything wrong with the suits he wore. But, like this he looked much more impressive. You could see those bulging muscles for a start. Not to mention that impressive chest of his and those heavy set broad shoulders.

“A while.” He told her bluntly, ignoring the look being cast in his direction. Vera nodded her head at him and pulled a cup from the cupboard and poured her own coffee.

“I see.” she said.

“You see what?” Luke asked her irritably.

“Thinking about pretty little Hazel eyes again?” She turned and smiled sweetly at him. Luke groaned aloud.

“We’re not going to be starting that conversation up again are we?” He was tired. His body ached. His mind was fatigued and he didn’t need Vera getting her point across.

“Me. Go on with you.” Vera turned to study him, with that motherly look in her eyes again. “You’re going to send yourself mad at this rate. Do yourself a favour. Go and talk to her.”

“Huh.” Luke replied.

“It’s not as impossible as you think.”

“Vera it is totally impossible. There’s too much water under the bridge and all that. Faye has made things... complicated.” Luke reminded his housekeeper.

Complicated wasn’t even a strong enough word to describe the situation but it was the only word that came to mind.

Luke heard Vera huff and he looked over in her direction. She put her hands on her hips and gave him a stern look.

“That just sounds like a load of who shot John to me.” She told him sternly and a small smile played on Luke’s lips despite his foul mood.

“Who shot John?” Luke lifted his eyebrow at her. She did have a way with words. “I don’t know, who shot John?” he asked her.

“Probably Jack in his backyard.” Vera threw back at him and he laughed then. He hadn’t meant to but Vera was just so colourful.

“Okay, I’ll play. What would I say exactly?” Luke asked. Giving in seemed the easiest option right now and looking at Vera’s face he could see that she was pleased.

“You will think of something.”

“Now it is you that doesn’t get out of it that easily.” Luke said.

“Do I have to do everything for you?” She moaned at him.

“Hey, you are the one that started it. I have told you it is impossible. If you think it is not, then you are going to have to give me some pointers.” Luke told her. With any luck she would be able to talk herself out of it if he gave her the chance.

“Just do not talk about her sister otherwise you will both be arguing before you know it.” Vera tutted loudly, before continuing with.

“So what should I talk about?”

“Talk about her. Talk about you. Talk about the weather if you think it will help.”

“The weather.”

“Well, perhaps not. Just don’t go slitting your own throat by talking about the crackpot demented sister because if you do you can kiss goodbye any chance of winning Cassie over.” Luke already knew that, he did not need Vera to tell him that.

“I will keep that in mind.” Was all he said, agreeing was easier.

“Make sure you do. You need to get Cassie on her own and away from her sister. How are you going to get Cassie on her own without nut job sniffing around?” Vera asked him and he winced.

“Vera please, the woman has serious mental issues.” Luke warned.

“That she does.” Vera agreed.

“The sister’s going away today.” Luke told Vera and she looked up. He could see the glint in her eye as a wide smile spread across her face.

“Really? Good. Here’s your chance. How long is she away for?” Luke shrugged and put his cup into the sink.

“I got the impression it was going to be a while. She has gone to see their father or something.”

“Is she going far?” Vera was unrelenting once she got the bit between her teeth.

“Australia.” Luke told her.

Vera raised her hands and looked up at the ceiling as she wiggled her hips and did a little dance.

“Hallelujah, there is a god and he does listen sometimes. Though it took you long enough.” She shouted at the ceiling before turning on him. “Now you listen up buddy.” She began as she pointed a stern finger at him and wagged it. “You need to use this time wisely. Don’t you be going and messing it up.”

“Aye-aye sir.” Luke gave her a mock salute.

“I mean it, faint heart never won fair maiden. You just remember that.” He was informed.

“I will try not to.” Luke said.

“To Australia for a long time.” She nodded and smiled her pleasure. “I approve.” She said.

“So glad.” He commented dryly.

“You should be glad too.”

“And I am.” Luke agreed.

“And it will give poor Cassie a break at any rate. She was looking positively ill that last day in court.” Which was the last time Vera had seen the other woman. She had looked tired, Vera reflected. That had been two weeks ago now.

“She’s very pale.” Luke said absently.

“Hopefully a break from her sister will help.” Vera told him as she begun to busy herself.

“A much needed one.” Luke agreed. “She does far too much for that sister of hers.”

“You’re concerned for her.” Vera guessed correctly and Luke suddenly felt bare, emotionally.

“She looks tired.”

“She did in court, a little thin too.” Vera said.

“Yes.” He agreed. He had noticed that. “It can’t be easy dealing with a demented sister.”

“Families are complicated that’s for sure.” Vera began putting on her apron. She stopped mid process and turned to him. “You think you can handle that?”  Luke thought for a moment.

Could he handle that or would Faye end up being the death of any relationship he might have with Cassie?

“I don’t know. I guess I could handle Faye just as long as I got Cassie.”

“You want some advice from a wise old woman?”

“Why, do you know any?” He asked her. Vera picked up a clean tea towel and threw it at him and he caught it before it hit him in the face.

“Once you’ve got the girl. You should work on making Cassie strong so that she can stand up to Jekyll and Hyde psycho sis and then Faye won’t be a problem anymore.” Vera suggested.

“What she needs is help.”

“Then try and get Cassie to see that. She probably already knows that. It’s hard to broach that subject with those you care about.”

“I know.” He sighed.

“So then, help Cassie stand up to her sister, and help get her comfortable with the idea that her sister needs help rather than being bailed out.” Vera told him.

“Now that sounds like a plan.” Luke told Vera swiftly feeling more optimistic than he had just an hour ago. 

“And while you are at it, teach her that you can help her stand up to her sister. That’s half the problem you know.”

“What is.”

“I get the impression that she’s frightened to stand up to her sister.” Luke regarded Vera for several moments before frowning and asking.

“Do you think so? Why?”

“I don’t know. It’s just a feeling I got when I was watching them in court. Didn’t you notice how every time Faye started getting just a little agitated Cassie stepped in to try and calm it quickly. Didn’t you see the fear in the poor woman’s eyes. She looked desperate to stop her sister.”

“Are you suggesting that Faye might get a little… out of hand… physically?” Luke remembered the day in the car when he had spotted Faye and Cassie arguing. He had seen Faye hit her sister in the back.

He had made to go over there and put a stop to it but Faye had stopped and after a while they were hugging so that was that.

But he had not given it a thought that perhaps it was a regular occurrence or that there could be times when it might even be worse, and he didn’t want to think about it. He already felt anger toward Faye for what she put her sister through. If he thought that perhaps she got physical with her… well. Luke clenched his teeth together.

Faye was way out there in her temperament, he had seen that. She had become physical with him. Not directly but there was that tray incident. And the pen. Was it possible that Faye might be hurting Cassie behind closed doors. Was it possible that that was why Cassie mopped up after her?

A way to keep the peace, in the same way a woman kept the peace in an abusive relationship with her spouse. Luke shuddered, he did not want to think that Cassie might have been caught in that type of situation all this time without having anyone to help her.

Damn that sister of hers, again.

“It’s possible. I don’t know mind.” Vera held up her hands. “But she can be explosive, we have seen that. Who knows what happens when she thinks no one is watching. Faye may be many things, but there is shrewdness in those eyes of hers. She manipulates Cassie and she knows she does. It’s very deliberate.”

Yes, he had also noticed that. She used emotional blackmail too he had seen that with his own eyes.

“I know.” Luke said.

“Then you need to help her get strong so that if she is being used as a punching bag there’s a way out for her. Show her that you can be at her side and stay there.” Vera told her. “It will give her the confidence she needs.”