The things we do for love. (23 page)

Chapter 30.

Cassie dressed quickly in the lemon long sleeved top and light blue jeans that Luke had brought through. She used the mirror in the bathroom to brush her hair and noticed her toothbrush already in there and toothpaste so she quickly brushed her teeth.

She had no bands to put her hair up and so she left it free and flowing down her back. It was still wet anyway. Luke came back in then wearing a dark blue shirt and dark jeans and Cassie felt that little delicious shiver as she looked at him.

He smiled and came to her, putting his arms around her waist as he hugged her.

“That bruising came out well.” Luke commented. Yes, she had looked at that in the mirror. Her right eye looked swollen and the bruise ran across it and up to her temple until it disappeared into her hair.

She could also see the hand print around her throat, though it wasn’t as dark a bruise as her head. “It will go down.” Luke told her. “Let’s go find food.” She needed no second bidding, her stomach was already making growling noises and so she let Luke take her hand and lead her out of the bedroom and down the hall to the stairs and into the kitchen.

“Ah, you’re up.” Vera turned as they came through the door. “I suppose you will be wanting breakfast. Sit down, I’ll make it.”

“Thanks.” Luke said.

“I wasn’t talking to you.” She told him.

“Thanks.” Luke moaned.

“Oh go on then, but just this once.” Luke went over and kissed Vera on the cheek. “Oh go on with you.” She turned and began busying herself in preparing food while Luke poured out coffee for himself and Cassie and then came to sit at the table.

“I hope you slept well?” Vera asked her.

“Yes thank you, very well.”

“I would ask if you were warm enough. But I already know the answer to that.” She said and Cassie blushed.

“Vera.” Luke warned.

“Don’t mind me. I wasn’t having a go. If you will recall, I did say she should be sleeping in your bed in the first place.” Then she tutted and shook her head. “Guest bedroom indeed, never heard of such a thing.”

Cassie said nothing. There really wasn’t anything to say and she was already far too embarrassed by the conversation. “That eye looks good.” Vera went on as she cracked eggs into a pan and popped in same bacon.

“Thank you, it does look impressive.” Cassie agreed as she sipped her coffee. “I suppose I shall have to go and deal with the house. From what I can remember it was in a right mess.”

“Leave it today. We’ll go over tomorrow.”

“Oh no, it’s okay I can do it. You’ve got work surely.”

“I already called in and told them I was taking a couple of days.” Luke shrugged and smiled at her.

“Oh.” And then Vera was placing a plate of food in front of them both. A plate that had far too much food on. She would never eat all that.

The door rang then and Vera went to answer it. “Wow, there is a lot there.” She said as she picked up her fork.

“Don’t feel obliged to eat all of it. Vera never learnt such things as portion control.” Luke commented on a smile.

“That looks terrible.” Came a shocked voice from the doorway and Cassie looked up at a shocked looking Adam.

“Hey.” Adam came over and leant down to hug her.

“Are you okay?”

“I am fine, really.”

“Would you like coffee.” Vera asked him and Adam turned.

“I wouldn’t say no. thank you, no milk, no sugar.”

“You’re sweet enough, is that it.” Vera joked as she went to get a cup from the cupboard.

“I have my moments.” Adam agreed as he pulled out a chair and sat down.

“Did you want to help me eat this?” Cassie asked using her fork to point to the mountain of food on it.

“No, no. you go ahead.” Adam informed her and then when Vera put the steaming mug in front of him he said. “Thank you, just what I needed.” He took a sip. “Ooh. This is nice coffee.”

“Thank you.” Vera said and then turned to Luke. “You see. Some people appreciate what I do.”

“I appreciate you.” Luke defended himself.

“Don’t tell me, in your own special way.” Vera shook her head. Luke picked up his cup and took a sip of coffee before placing it back down on the table.

“Thank you, just what I needed. Ooh. This is nice coffee.” And then gave Vera a big beaming smile.

“Mm. yes well I guess that will have to do. I’m still not sure whether I should talk to you after last night.”

“What did I do?” Luke asked.

“Yes what did he do.” Adam turned to regard Vera.

“He didn’t know what Pemberley was. I mean I ask you.” And she tutted. Adam turned back in his seat to watch Luke for several moments before saying.

“Mr Darcy, pride and prejudice.” And then he looked at Cassie and then Vera in turn and all three said on a breathy sigh.

“That wet shirt.” Luke looked from one to the other and then back again.

“I have got to stop letting my life flash before my eyes. I like what I see even less today than I did last night.” He complained.

“It’s not the end of the world.” Adam soothed. “I could lend you my copy so that you can watch it.” He told him.

“I think I’ll give it a miss.” Luke said. “I’ve managed to get this far in my life without it.”

“There’s always one uncultured swine.” Vera complained.

“Has Faye been in contact yet?” Adam changed the subject.

“Not a dickie bird.” Cassie told him.

“She hasn’t called to let you know she got there safe and sound?” Luke asked with a frown.

“She doesn’t think of such practicalities.” Adam told him.

“Still I would have thought that as she just went half way round the world she could at least send a text message. Can’t be that hard surely, you do only need two thumbs.” Luke remarked.

“I am sure she will call eventually.” Cassie dismissed.

“And when she gets back, we will deal with her together.” Luke told her firmly. What? Cassie felt her heart beat unhappily in her chest.

“Oh but,” she began but Luke cut her off.

“Do you trust me?” He asked her.

“Yes.” She said which, surprised her. Yes, she did trust him.

“Then trust that I know how to deal with it.”

“You have a plan.” Adam stated rather than asked.

“There’s a specialist residential unit. I know one of the doctor’s and he’s willing to take on her case.” Luke told Adam.

“That is a very good idea.” Adam told Luke.

“I thought so.”

“Oh yes but.” Cassie tried again.

“No buts.” Adam said sternly. “Listen to Luke. It’s what she needs.”

“She won’t like it.”

“She won’t like it, or you won’t like it?” Adam asked her.

“See, I told you.” Luke said triumphantly.

“But she’ll get…”

“She’ll scream and shout and let it all out.” Adam complained. “And then when that fails she will fall back on old faithful and use emotional blackmail to make you feel bad.” Adam told her.

“And you will give into her and let her walk all over you.” Luke agreed.

“You really have to break that cycle.” Adam said.

“Adam’s right. Once you have done it once and then see the positive change it will bring then you will be a lot stronger.” Luke said.

“And your relationship with Faye will be better.” Adam finished.

“Yes but.” Adam reached out and grabbed her hand.

“She will be fine. Luke knows what he’s doing.” Then he turned to Luke. “You do know what you are doing? Right?”

“I know what I am doing.” Luke agreed.

“So then it is settle. When Faye finally gets back we will bundle her up and send her off to boot camp.” Adam said.

“Shouldn’t this be my decision?” Cassie asked beginning to feel angry.

“No, it should be Faye’s decision.” Luke told her.

“She will never agree.” She tried again.

“I will convince her.” Luke told her confidently.

“What if you can’t.”

“You make it sound like you don’t want her to agree.” Adam said perceptively.

“Of course she doesn’t want her to agree. What else would Cassie do?” Luke asked. “Looking after Faye has become her identity.”

“He is right.” Adam said. “I love this man.”

“But I plan to keep Cassie very busy to help fill the void that looking after Faye fulfilled.” Luke promised.

“Busy with what?” Adam asked.

“With intimate things.”

“O.” Cassie felt the sweep of embarrassing colour again.

“Fantastic plan.” Adam said.

“Wonderful plan.” Vera agreed.

“Fine, looks like I’m going to lose this argument.” Cassie huffed. “But just for the record. I think it is a bad idea.”

“Which part?” Adam asked.

“Well.” She stopped and looked first at Vera and then Adam before coming to rest on Luke. Luke raised an eyebrow. “The Faye bit.” She said.

“We shall see.” Luke challenged.

“How busy are you intending to keep Cassie?” Adam asked.

“Very.”

“Excellent. So…” Adam said now looking from one to the other. “Have you set a date yet?”

“Yeah, have you set a date yet?” Vera asked. “Good question.” She applauded Adam.

“Thank you.” Adam accepted the praise gracefully.

“For what?” Luke and Cassie asked.

“The wedding of course.” Adam told them.

“You are not getting any younger and Cassie’s biological clock is still ticking away.”

“Oh.” Cassie blushed.

“Then again maybe not after last night.” Adam commented dryly.

“How could you possibly know…” She blushed even harder. The heat in her cheeks making her sweat a little.

“A woman gets a certain look on her face when she is… satisfied and less… tense.” Adam told her.

“Adam.” She exclaimed.

“It’s true isn’t it Luke?” and then Luke looked at her and she felt her cheeks grow even hotter as he smiled wolfishly at her.

“It’s true.” He said.

“Men too.” Vera added.

“So where were you thinking of having the reception?” Adam asked now.

“Oh they can have that here. we have a ballroom.” Vera told him and Adam stood up.

“We do.” Adam exclaimed happily.

“Yes, would you like to see it. I could show you.” Vera volunteered.

“I would love that.” Adam turned to Cassie. “Now while we are gone you two should seriously think about setting a date before we come back.”

“Or we will set it for you.”

“Aren’t you all jumping the gun a little?” Luke said.

“Do you love her.” Vera asked.

“Vera.”

“Do you love her.” She tried again putting her hands on her hips. Luke sighed deeply and put his fork down.”

“Yes.” And then Adam looked at Cassie.

“Do you love him.”

“Adam.”

“Do you love him.”

“Yes.”

“They are both going to be trouble.” Vera complained.

“That they are.” Adam agreed. “Don’t worry, between the two of us I am sure we can manage them. So lead me to the ballroom.”

“This way.” And they left the room leaving a stunned Luke and Cassie sitting at the table staring at the doorway.

“They are both going to be trouble.” Luke told her.

“That they are.” Cassie agreed.

“Don’t worry, between the two of us I am sure we can manage them.”

“How sure of that are you?” Cassie asked and Luke turned round to look at her and he pulled a face.

“Not very.”

“I didn’t think so.” She said. “We’re doomed.”

“So,” Luke looked round at her. “Spring or summer?”

“Spring or summer, what?” she frowned.

“Wedding.”

“Are you…” she stopped.

Luke stood up and grabbed her hand so that he could pull her to her feet and he wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.

“I love you Cassie Kerrigan. Will you marry me.”

“Is that really what you want?” she asked him. “I come with a lot of… complications.” She said.

“I had noticed that. Don’t worry I am going to work hard at un-complicating you.” He promised.

“And it is really what you want?” She tried again.

“Very much so.” Luke bent his head so that he could kiss her throat.

“I… Oh… I love you to.”

“So then say yes you will marry me.”

“But… Faye.”

“She’ll get an invite.”

“That’s not what I meant.” Cassie told him.

“Cassie, stop hiding behind her. Come out of the shadows.” Luke kissed a trail up her throat to her lips and he kissed her passionately until she couldn’t think straight. She groaned and clung to him.