Cassie swallowed hard. “You did?”
JoAnne pointed to Cassie’s feet. “As soon as I saw your strappy pumps I guessed Luke didn’t tell you where he was taking you. Poor thing. He probably thought he was being romantic, but what he actually did was make you traipse through the snow practically barefoot. Men.” She looked Cassie over from head to toe. “I’m shorter than you are, but if you’d like to borrow anything warmer than what you have on, don’t hesitate to ask.”
Cassie choked back a nervous laugh. There was no way she was asking for the one item she regretted not wearing the most. “Thank you. I wore a sleeveless dress. I don’t know what I was thinking.”
JoAnne called out softly, “Mia, please bring in a tray of coffee and tea.” Then she turned and spoke to the Noah and Luke who were happily catching up. “Why don’t we move into the library? Noah, have Brimlow make a fire. We don’t want to freeze our friends out of wanting to go on your tour.”
“Good idea,” Noah said before waving over the man who had taken their coats. “We’ll be in the library, Brimlow.”
“Yes, sir,” the man answered as he headed into the room and began to prepare the fireplace.
The atmosphere was formal and more than a little intimidating.
JoAnne led the way to a circle of chairs beside a large fireplace. She waved for Cassie to choose one and sat in the one beside her. Within moments there was a hearty blaze of logs burning with a tray of warm beverages and desserts laid out for the two couples.
Luke stood with Noah on one side of the fireplace. “Do you remember what we used to do at your grandmother’s house?”
Noah wrinkled his nose. “You mean throw whatever we didn’t want to eat into the fire and hope no one would notice?”
“You didn’t,” JoAnne said in amused reprimand.
Luke laughed. “It was Noah’s idea. He hated anything with mushrooms, and his grandmother’s chef loved to hide them in the most unlikely dishes.”
Noah joined him in laughing at the memory. “I believe it was the time I threw a large cut of lamb that Grandmother demanded I clean the ashes out myself.”
“You made such a mess, Manny started stashing food for us out of pity for the house staff.” Luke walked over and sank into the chair beside Cassie. “Manny was Noah’s male nanny. How old were you when your parents finally let him go, Noah? Twenty?”
JoAnne leaned toward Cassie with a huge smile spreading across her face. “I love when these two get together. I always learn something new about my husband. Noah, did you really have the same nanny for twenty years? My mother worried I’d get overly attached if any of mine stayed too long. I always envied the children who were close to theirs.”
Noah winked at Cassie. “I’m on my best behavior today because you’re the first woman Luke has brought around for us to meet, but don’t worry, I have plenty of good stories to share with you.”
Luke took one of Cassie’s hands in his as if it were the most natural thing to do, and those gorgeous dark eyes danced with amusement as he said, “Don’t believe a word he says, Cassie.”
Cassie was torn with how she felt. On one hand, she couldn’t relate at all to their shared experiences. But, strangely, she didn’t feel as out of place as she would have thought she would. Luke’s friends were welcoming her into their circle.
After asking Cassie if she’d like some, JoAnne poured Cassie a cup of coffee and handed it to her. “Are you originally from Ohio, Cassie? I lived in this area when I was young, but then my family moved to New York. Moving back here was the best gift Noah has ever given me.”
Cassie hesitated before answering. She met Luke’s eyes and saw nothing but encouragement there. “I grew up in Michigan. Actually, Detroit, Michigan. I live in Defiance, Ohio, now.” Cassie held her breath. A thousand possible awkward questions they could ask circled in her mind. She told herself it didn’t matter what Luke’s friends thought of her.
JoAnne’s expression didn’t change. She handed her husband a cup of coffee and said, “Luke mentioned that you own a bed and breakfast. I knew I would like you the moment I heard that. It takes a special kind of person to deal with the public. We give tours in the summer, and I get so nervous I forget everything I’m supposed to say.” She laid a hand on her forehead softly in embarrassment. “I’ve had people ask me if it’s my first day on the job.”
With a mischievous twinkle in his eyes, Noah said, “Don’t worry, sweetheart, so far only one person has suggested I fire you.”
JoAnne arched her head back and laughed at Noah. “And what did you tell them?”
The smile he gave her was mischievous. “I told her the truth. Your job is secure, only because I’m sleeping with you.”
JoAnne waved a hand in the air. “Did you really say that? I hope you also mentioned we’re married.”
“How would that have been fun?” Noah asked comically.
JoAnne playfully swatted the air in his direction.
Cassie laughed softly at the warm exchange.
JoAnne met Cassie’s eyes and said with mock sternness, “Cassie, don’t encourage him.”
Noah went to stand behind his wife, put a hand on both of her shoulders, and kissed the top of his wife’s head. “If you’re actually cross with me, perhaps we can make up later.”
Luke barked out a laugh. “Oh, how marriage has tamed you, Noah.”
Noah raised his head and looked pointedly back and forth between Luke and Cassie. “Laugh all you want, Luke; I have a feeling we’ll soon see what it does to you.”
Luke’s mouth opened, then shut without saying a word.
Cassie’s hand shook so hard she spilled coffee on her jacket. She dabbed at it with a napkin, while avoiding meeting Luke’s or anyone else’s eyes as she did.
No one spoke for a few long moments, then JoAnne suggested cheerfully, “Noah, how about we give them a tour of the winery now?”
***
Later that night, Luke hugged a naked Cassie to his side beneath the thick plush blankets of the vineyard’s guesthouse. Her eyes were closed, although he knew she wasn’t asleep. Her breathing was deep and relaxed, and her lips were slightly curled in sated pleasure. He kissed her forehead gently, and her smile widened. “See, not having underwear worked out for the best after all.”
She rubbed her hand over his chest softly. “I’m too relaxed right now to be able to argue that point with you.”
He chuckled. “Imagine how relaxed you would have been if you’d taken more than a sip of that ice wine. I think I’d like you tipsy.”
Cassie tipped her head back and opened her eyes lazily. “You have a one-track mind.”
“Only with you,” he said, realizing how true it was. He’d been with other women and enjoyed it, but if someone had told him that sex could get better the more you had it with the same person, he wouldn’t have believed it. Familiarity led to a deeper comfort, not normally this fiery connection that exploded every time he touched Cassie.
She kissed his shoulder. “I want to believe that.”
He cupped her face with one hand. “I’ve never lied to you, Cupcake, and I never will. I grew up in a house of secrets and half-truths. I have no tolerance for either.”
She tensed against him. “Sometimes people hold things back because there’s no reason to burden the other person with it.”
He knew she meant well, but he didn’t need her to defend his family. Just the thought of the drama that waited for him back in New York was enough to threaten his good mood. “I haven’t found that to be the case, but let’s talk about happier things. Noah and JoAnne really like you.”
Cassie looked as if she was about to say something important, then changed her mind. The smile on her face appeared strained for a moment. Luke cursed himself for allowing his frustration to take away from what was otherwise a wonderful night.
She laid her head back on his chest with a sigh. “Your friends are great. And the way they talk about their winery . . . it’s hard to believe they’ve been doin
g this for such a short time.”
“They found something they were both passionate about. My only regret is that it took me so long to come out to see them. This is the happiest I’ve seen either of them.”
Cassie closed her eyes again and let out a shaky breath. “It’s obvious how much they mean to you.”
“They do,” Luke said as he tried to put his feelings into words. “It was important to me that you meet them and they meet you.”
Cassie shuddered against Luke, but she kept her eyes firmly shut. Luke traced his hand up one of her arms and tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.
“I’ve been doing a lot of thinking today, Cassie.”
Her eyes shot open at that. “Don’t say it, Luke.”
He pulled her tighter against him. “Why does the idea of anything developing between us scare you so much? When I watched my friends together today and saw how happy they were with each other, I asked myself if I’d ever been like that with anyone. The answer was yes—you. When I’m with you, Cassie, I don’t think about everything in my life that’s wrong. I’m myself, but different. You make me laugh. You make me think. I don’t want to imagine a night without you in my bed. There. I’ve said it. I don’t want to put an end date on what we have.” Cassie’s eyes burned with an emotion he couldn’t understand. She looked cornered by his declaration, and he suddenly felt like a boy who grabbed a part of a sandcastle only to feel it slip away between his fingers. “Talk to me, Cupcake.”
Her hand fisted on his chest. “You don’t get to change the rules in the middle of the game.”
Luke frowned. “I’m not playing a game. Are you?”
She brought her hand up to her temple and gave it a nervous tap. “No, of course not. That’s not what I meant.”
“Then what?”
Tears misted her eyes. “I’ve always considered myself a brave person, but when it comes to you . . .”
He kissed her lips, stopping her from saying more. “It’s okay, Cassie. I won’t rush you. I just want you to know that my side of this is decided. I’m not going anywhere.”
Her visible nervousness brought out his protective side. He rubbed her back and murmured for her to go to sleep. Meanwhile, he told himself to do the same before he made all sorts of ridiculously premature declarations.
She was a wreck just because he’d suggested he wanted to stick around.
How would she react if he told her the truth—he was falling completely, irreversibly, in love with her?
Chapter Ten
Later the next day, back home and alone in her room, Cassie sank into the chair beside her closet and stared down at her cell phone. She’d sent Luke to the store for a few items and was glad she had when she’d received the call a few minutes earlier from the fertility clinic. She hadn’t picked up. She’d just sat there, letting it ring through to voice mail.
She gathered her courage and hit the button to play the message. “Good morning, this is Toledo Fertility Clinic reminding you about your ten a.m. appointment tomorrow. There is no need to call unless you have an issue.”
An issue?
Is that how anyone would describe what feels like the verge of a mental breakdown?
She forced herself to listen to the message again. It’s time to stop pretending I didn’t have artificial insemination. This is what I wanted. This is the reality of what I chose.
It was the first time Cassie wasn’t sure if she wanted her results to be positive, and that realization shook her. Why wouldn’t I want to be pregnant?
Because of Luke?
No matter what he said, what are the real odds he’ll be here a year from now? Even a month?
Too vividly, Cassie remembered the cycle of hope and then the days of disappointment that had followed her two earlier treatments. Nothing had been more important than having a baby.
Until Luke.
What if I find out I’m pregnant tomorrow?
She wiped away tears she hadn’t realized had fallen.
What if I find out I’m not? She stood, walked into her bathroom, and splashed cold water onto her face. She felt sick, but she doubted it was morning sickness. No, her gut was twisted with an emotional turmoil she’d bought upon herself.
Should I tell Luke everything today?
Or wait for the results of my test tomorrow?
If I’m pregnant, will telling him send him running back to New York?
And, if I’m not, what do I tell him then?
The chime of a doorbell rang through the house. At first Cassie thought she’d imagined it, but it rang again. Oh, great. I usually pray for paying guests, but not today.
Cassie sprinted down the stairs and opened the front door. A short brunette smiled and stepped inside. She started talking before Cassie had a chance to ask her who she was.
“I hope you don’t mind me dropping in like this. I’m looking for Luke Andrade. I heard he was staying here.”
Cassie’s stomach did a painful somersault. Please don’t let this be his wife. “Are you a friend of his?” Cassie asked.
“I’m his cousin, Maddy.”
Cassie closed her eyes for a moment as relief swept through her. “He’ll be back in about an hour if you’d like to wait.”
The woman looked at her watch. “That should work. I told my husband I’d be home tonight.”
More good news. She wasn’t staying. “May I take your coat?”
Maddy shrugged off her coat and handed it to Cassie. Cassie had the strangest feeling the woman was sizing her up as she returned from hanging the coat up. “Are you hungry? I have some blueberry scones. They’re still warm.”
“That would be lovely,” Maddy said.
“I’ll bring some out to you if you’d like to sit in the living room.”
“I don’t mind the kitchen, if it’s easier. You don’t need to go to any special trouble for me.” She took out her phone and sent a quick text. “Although if you have an extra one, I’ll run it outside to Gino. He’s unhappily waiting in the car for me.”
“Your boyfriend?”
“Bodyguard.”
“Oh,” Cassie said as she led the way to the kitchen. She wrapped a scone in a napkin then poured hot coffee into a paper cup and handed them to Maddy.
Maddy headed outside with it and returned, shivering. “I should have kept my coat on. Yikes, it’s cold out there.”
Cassie placed a mug of steaming coffee and another plate on the table. “This should warm you up.”
Maddy sank her teeth into the scone with a happy sound. “Delicious. Did you make this from scratch?”
“Yes. I love to bake.”
“You’d get along well with my husband. He’s a chef with an impeccable palate, but I can say with confidence he would love this.”
“Thank you,” Cassie said.
After taking another bite, Maddy wiped her mouth delicately and turned her attention to Cassie. “So, you’re Cassandra Daiver?”
The way she said it made Cassie’s hair rise on her neck. Maddy sounded as if she had information about her. Cassie told herself she was being paranoid. Most likely what Maddy knew was what everyone in town knew . . . Cassie owned Home Sweet Home. “My friends call me Cassie.”
“It’s a beautiful name.”
“Thank you,” Cassie said, feeling at a loss for what else to say, but knowing she was repeating herself.
“And Luke has been here for almost two weeks?”
Cassie ran a dishrag over the counter beside the coffee pot. “I don’t feel comfortable giving out information about my guests.”
“Of course,” Maddy said simply and took another sip of coffee. “Have you owned this place long?”
“Two years.”
“Must be a lot of work for one person.”
Cassie shrugged. “It is, but I enjoy it.”
An awkward silence stretched between them. Cassie straightened up her kitchen absentmindedly. Maddy nibbled on her pastry.
“May I be blunt?” Maddy a
sked, breaking the silence.
“Sure,” Cassie answered. She had a feeling her permission or lack thereof wouldn’t sway the other woman one way or another.
“I’m worried about Luke. He and I have never gone more than a couple days without speaking. He wasn’t himself before he left New York. I understood when I heard a friend of his had died, and he was flying out here for the funeral. I wasn’t worried at first, but the hospital told me he cleared his schedule of patients until further notice. He’s never done anything like that before. No matter how upset he is, he can’t keep hiding out here. Just tell me, is he okay?”
Cassie clasped her hands in front of her to stop them from shaking. She didn’t want to think Luke was using her as a way of hiding from his life. She didn’t want to think about Luke at all while the little brunette was scrutinizing every one of her expressions. “I really can’t speak for him or his state of mind.”
Maddy frowned. “I understand.” She tapped a finger on the table beside her plate. “You and Luke aren’t . . . together, are you?”
Cassie put a nervous hand up to her hair and turned away. “He’s a guest here. That’s all.”
Softly, Maddy said, “It would be okay if you were. It would actually explain a lot.”
“We’re not.”
Maddy nodded and sighed. She turned and opened her purse. She turned on her phone and asked, “Would you like to see a photo of my husband? This is his ‘stay out of my kitchen’ expression.”
Cassie crossed over to look at the photo. She couldn’t help but smile when the man’s expression seemed to say exactly that. “I can imagine many chefs feel that way.”
“Did Luke tell you he has three brothers? Want to see them?”
Cassie sat down across from Maddy. “Sure.”
Maddy showed her a photo of Luke and three other men, and Cassie spoke without thinking. “That must be Gio. He does look stern. Nick is exactly as I imagined. And, Max, off to the side and independent just like Luke said. Isn’t it funny how family photos capture so much?” Cassie stopped talking when she realized she’d said more than she’d meant to. She hastily added, “I heard Luke describe them once.”