How Cassie Got Her Grind Back (38 page)

Mason waggled his eyebrows at Natalia. “No, baby doll.
That’s
foreplay.”

It was a good thing Cassie didn’t have food in her mouth or she would’ve choked.

* * * *

Cassie called a greeting as Seth Carter held open the door of Divine Drip for his wife, Jayne, and Grandma Kate as they hurried in, shivering. A cold front had blown in overnight, ushering out the milder winter days and bringing with it high winds and a damp cold that seeped into her bones. They’d already reached the high temperature for the day, and there was sleet predicted.

“
Brrr
!” Toby, Seth’s son, chirped from the crook of his arm as they followed the ladies in. “Cold outside, Daddy!”

“Yes, it is. We need cocoa, don’t we?” Seth asked, grinning at the preschooler as he unwound the colorful knitted scarf from his little ears and head.

“Cocoa!” Toby crowed and clapped his hands.

Pulling out her order pad, Cassie giggled and made a mark. “One cocoa for little Toby. I just finished a fresh batch of apple fritters,” she added enticingly.

Seth made a yummy growly sound when Cassie pointed at the apple fritters she’d placed into the bakery case. Toby’s eyes got big, and Seth grinned and said, “Fritters for everyone, Cassie, and I’ll take a tall black coffee.”

“I’ll have a cocoa, too,” Jayne said as she pulled off her mittens.

Cassie came around the counter and greeted Grandma Kate with a proper hug. “Kate, it’s so good to see you again.”

“Same here, honey. I thought I’d come for a quick holiday visit to see everyone and wound up staying a few days.”

“I like the sound of that. What can I get you to drink?”

After taking everyone’s drink orders, she followed Kate to the bakery case as she pointed at the freshly glazed fritters. “Those look positively mouth-watering. Since I brought some of your apple fritters home with me on my last visit, Adam and Henry have been pining for more, so you’d better package me up a bunch to take home with me this afternoon.”

“Coming right up, Grandma Kate. I’ll even package up a separate box for Henry so he can have a snack before he flies you home in that fancy chopper. How have you been?”

“I’ll be honest with you, sweetheart. There were some very tense moments a few weeks ago, but like I always say, things worked out the way they were meant to be. You know Veronica’s sister, Addison, has settled permanently in Lusty? She’s found her heart’s desire in a couple of strong and caring men—and this time, I’m not ashamed to say I did have a bit of a hand at matchmaking there.” Kate sighed. “It does my heart good to see that girl smiling now, and happy, not only because she’s in love but because she’s found her best destiny helping her brothers with ranch work and studying to be a member of an equine therapy team.”

“I remember Addison from Veronica’s wedding,” Cassie said, winking at Veronica, who grinned back. Cassie knew the two sisters had a complicated relationship, but if Addison had moved to Lusty, then her life had to have improved. “So have you been enjoying your visit with all your adopted grandkids today?”

Grandma Kate chuckled and said, “I sure have! Seth took off from work yesterday and drove us out to Lost Maples. I’d never been there in time to see the maples turning, and it was lovely. Good thing the windy cold and damp held off until today.”

“Although I hope it doesn’t make for a rough trip back,” Cassie said as she handed the order for beverages off to Marissa and got out the tray of fritters from the glass case.

Kate raised a finger, and when she had Cassie’s attention, she whispered, “If you have time, dear, I’d love to chat with you in private before we leave. It won’t take but a moment, I promise.”

“Of course.”

Just as her friends turned to go take a seat, a burst of cold air from the front door heralded Bill’s arrival. With dark eyebrows drawn together as he flicked ice crystals from the shoulders of his heavy black wool overcoat, he brushed past their group, nearly knocking shoulders with Seth, who was still toting little Toby. And typical for Bill, he didn’t even spare them a glance as he strode up with a large paper-swaddled bundle in the crook of one arm. Grandma Kate turned and scrutinized Bill while Seth helped Jayne into the booth.

“You mind telling me what this is about?” Bill snapped as he placed a house key on the counter with a loud, metallic pop.

“Lower your voice,” she murmured, casting a gaze around the shop. “I’m surprised you’re only just now asking. After your last completely inappropriate visit, I had the locks changed. What is that?” she pointed at the object he was carrying.

With a disgruntled sound, Bill placed the package on the counter and tore off the tissue with a dramatic flourish. The lush branches of a Christmas cactus, heavily festooned with coral-red flowers sprang out onto the counter, drawing a gasp from her.

“I was driving by Merritt’s and saw it in their display window and remembered you liked these. I was
planning
to deliver it to your house as a surprise—but that’s obviously not gonna happen. I couldn’t leave it on your porch because it’s freezing outside and wasn’t sure what time you’d get home.”

Cassie took a few seconds to breathe. She’d been plied with gifts and guilt by him before. “Thank you. It’s gorgeous, and you’re right, I do love Christmas cactuses. But why did you do this?”

Bill shrugged and brushed at his lapel, looking a little too proud of himself. “You’re the mother of my children. It’s Christmas.”

That gave her pause. She could recall lots of gifts from him but most notably the “useful” Christmas gifts he’d purchased for her, like vacuum cleaners and exercise bikes. She narrowed her gaze. “What are you up to?”

Looking innocent, he smiled and leaned against the counter. “What? A man can’t buy a Christmas gift for a woman he cares about?”

“Bill, I don’t know what you’re up to—”

“Why are you so suspicious? Can’t a man confess he’s made a mistake without having to bare his entire soul?” He slid the key across the counter with a tiny pout on his lips, as if he was being magnanimous. “Fine. Lock me out of your house. But I really do want to negotiate
re-entrance
…soon.” He cast a glance over her torso, lingering on her breasts and hips, and waggled his brow as if confirming what he actually meant.

Re-entrance?
His double entendre made her want to gag.

“You want to talk about
what
?”

“Us,” he replied, grinning at her as if that should be obvious. “Sometimes a man realizes he’s made a mistake, baby.”

He’d never used endearments with her when they’d been married, just “Cass,” which she’d hated, and while “baby” might be common as sweet talk went, she only wanted Samson and Ivan calling her baby.

“Bill, you do realize I’m involved in a relationship already, right?”

He snorted. “Everyone’s entitled to sow some oats when they’re single. I’m just done sowing mine.”

“You were sowing oats even while we were married—”

He held up his hands and in a conciliatory tone said, “Water under the bridge, baby. I’ve already said I’m sorry. And I don’t mind that you’ve been marking time with Samson.”

It was on the tip of Cassie’s tongue to enlighten Bill about her true status, but she decided not to. She didn’t want to drag her men into this idiotic conversation, not when he couldn’t keep his voice down as it was.

Bill hadn’t noticed Grandma Kate sidling up behind him as Marissa began putting their ordered beverages on a tray beside Cassie.

Unwilling to get into all the reasons his hopes were useless when she had customers to take care of, Cassie gently placed the beautiful cactus on top of the glass bakery case and accepted the key from him. “This is neither the time nor the place for this conversation, Bill. Can I get you a coffee? An apple fritter?”
Perhaps the door smacking your ass as you leave?

He shook his head and gave her what he undoubtedly thought was a sexy, pouty-lipped smile, except on him it was effete and ridiculous. “I’ll talk to you soon.” He was turning for the door when Grandma Kate caught his sleeve.

He frowned and looked down at her hand on his designer wool coat. “Do I know you?”

Grandma Kate gave him a pat on his arm and a dour smile. “No, dear, but I definitely know you.” Turning to Cassie, she said, “There are some facts regarding this man you should be aware of, Cassie.”

“Facts?” Both Cassie and Bill said at the same time.

“What facts? What could you possibly know about me?”

Kate snorted softly. “Well, for starters that you should lower your voice in public settings.”

Cassie swallowed her laughter, recalling all the times she’d had to put up with his loud voice and thankful neither of their kids took after him in that regard.

The icy draft from the front door announced several more customers. Tilly hurried forward to greet the new customers as Cassie drew them to a quiet corner so her elderly friend wouldn’t get chilled in the draft—and so they could have a little privacy.

“What facts, Grandma Kate?” Cassie asked, gratified when his brow furrowed at her familiar form of address. He’d always prided himself on knowing everything and everyone in Divine.

Kate Benedict patted her curls and smiled as if acknowledging Cassie’s consideration for her comfort and said, “I first encountered this man, your ex-husband I presume, at O’Reilley’s.”

Bill scoffed. “O’Reilley’s? Everyone eats there. I eat there several times a week.”

Kate glanced at his waistline and pursed her lips a little. “That’s not a surprise, dear. Anyway, Grace, Veronica, Jayne, and her adorable sister-in-law, Lucy, invited me to lunch the day after my arrival, and we happened to be seated next to
this
vociferous man—that is to say we were subjected to practically the entirety of his conversation. It’s a happy coincidence he should show up while we’re here today.”

“Why do you say that?” Cassie asked, stopping Bill when he would’ve slunk away.

“Because I won the coin toss.”

They both turned to Kate and spoke in unison again. “Coin toss?”

Kate’s eyebrows were pretty arches, but her smile lacked warmth as she glanced at Bill and then patted Cassie’s forearm. “The coin toss over who would inform you what this man said to his friend.”

Bill tried to pull away again, a hunted quality coming into his eyes. She pegged him with a look, but her reply was directed at Kate. “Tell me.”

“Your ex-husband, bless his heart, approves of Divine Drip. In fact, he said, judging by your bank accounts, it’s proving to be one of the most lucrative businesses in the town. He’s also discovered from an acquaintance who works for a local appraiser that the large parcel of land your mother received as an inheritance a couple of years ago when your grandmother passed—and you stand to inherit from
your
mother—is about to increase substantially in value due to its proximity to a development that’s in the works. I’ll spare you his crass language, but your sex appeal hasn’t hit the ‘downhill slide’ as he feared it would after your hysterectomy. In fact, he referred to you as a ‘very…late…bloomer,’ but bloom you have. In summary, and I do quote this time, your ex-husband said, ‘I wouldn’t mind having a piece of all three.’”

Cassie blinked in shock and then turned to Bill. “You pig.”

Bill stood dumbly, probably trying to figure out a way to spin the situation, and Grandma Kate patted his forearm. “Now would be a good time to retreat, dear. There may be meat cleavers in the kitchen. Oh, where did you say you got that Christmas cactus? It’s simply lovely.”

His reply was his back as he stalked out the door into the light sleet that was falling.

Commiseration and sympathy filled Kate’s eyes as she held out her arms to Cassie.

“Thank you, Kate. I’d never have taken him seriously, but…”

“No woman enjoys discovering her womanly attributes have been discussed as if she was so much beef or property. I hope I made the right choice in confronting him in front of you, rather than waiting to tell you once he’d gone,” she said, her eyes filled with empathy.

Cassie smirked. “Considering how much he’s been pestering me to meet with him, to talk about reconciliation, even trying to get our kids to help him, I’m glad you did. Now there can be no doubt in his mind I’d ever take him back. What a pig.”

“A real oinker. I saw the smarmy way he was talking to you just now, as if he thought he was charming you. Men of his sort always have an angle. If he tries to mess with you or your business, Cassie, you come straight to me, okay?”

“I doubt he’d try, but what could you possibly do?”

“Never you mind, honey. Just know there are bigger sharks in the ocean than Bill Resendez.”

“Thank you, Grandma Kate.”

“Now, I think we’re
both
ready for a cup of coffee and a fritter.”

Cassie carried their laden tray to the table and served them herself while declining to join them. She needed time to ponder what had been said.

No…this is definitely wallowing
.

She hated that she was hurt. She knew what the man was like, and it was one of the reasons she was now grateful she was no longer married to the snake. But it still hurt to be spoken of in that manner by him.