Welcome To My World (Hell Yeah!) (6 page)

  Bowie felt her stiffen, so he let her go. He’d wanted to hold her till they calmed but she wasn’t having any of that.

  “Maybe this wasn’t such a good idea,” she said softly, wrapping her arms around her waist, hugging herself protectively. “Thank you for coming to spend some time with me. I appreciate it.”

  “Oh, no,” he chided her as he got back to his feet. She wanted him to leave? After that hot kiss? Hell, no. “We have somewhere to go together. I promised you a surprise and I intend to keep that promise.”

  “No, thanks. Consider me surprised.” Her voice was flat, emotionless.

  Okay. He was confused. “Cassie—” Bowie stopped talking when she lifted up her hand in a gesture clearly asking him to not speak.

  “I don’t think—”

  “That’s right, don’t think, don’t change your mind.” There was no way she hadn’t enjoyed his kiss. But he could read women pretty well, and this one clearly had her back up about something. Okay, so he’d come on a little strong. He was a guy! What did she expect? “Come on, you’ll like what I have to show you. In fact, you’d be sorry if you missed it. So, we’re going. And that’s final!” He saw her look at him, startled. Bowie hadn’t meant to raise his voice, but he felt if he left now, he might not be able to regain the ground he was losing—fast.

  Cassie met his gaze, squarely. “Okay.” She didn’t really feel like arguing, she felt more like crying.

  Dry-scrubbing his face, Bowie let out a long sigh. It had been his intention to prove to her she was desirable, and the next thing he knew he had been knocked for a loop. Okay, he got the message, not only from Cassie but from his own conscience. One thing for sure, he needed to decide damned quick where he wanted this thing to go before he let it get completely out of hand.

  “Where’s your coat? You’re gonna need it. It’s cold out there.” Not waiting for direction, he looked around, spied one hanging on the hook of a hall chair and grabbed it.

  As he came back, Cassie tried to take it from him. “I can do it.” She didn’t need his help. She could put on her own damn coat, something she’d been doing for a long time. She wasn’t a helpless cripple. Nor did she need his pity. God! All she wanted to do was hang her head, cover it with this stupid coat and weep.

  Shame, white hot shame made her almost throw up. What had she done? Oh yea, she knew. She’d held on to him, kissing him, touching him, begging for whatever he’d give her. And he had to push her away! He’d had to literally force her mouth from his. How could she have been so stupid?

  Bowie watched her hold the coat up, jamming her hand near the sleeve several times and missing. “Let me help.” He didn’t know what to do. Apparently something more was going on than he realized. Great, talk about a fuck-up.

  “I got it.” She twisted away from him and finally pulled the coat on and down into place. “I’m ready.”

  She didn’t say the words with any degree of enthusiasm. Cassie sounded as if she were ready to make the green mile walk to the death chamber.

  “If you’re sure…” What was he saying? He wasn’t about to give her an out. “Let me get your hair.” He boldly ran his hand under the heavy weight of her hair and lifted it. “Rise up, you’re sitting on it.” Shit. Then he went stock still. She probably couldn’t rise up.

  “Okay.” She sighed.

  And to his surprise, she clasped the arms of the chair and moved left, then right as he pulled the silken waterfall free, letting it flow down her back and pool around her hips. “There.” He stroked the strands of gold which fascinated him endlessly. An image of her sitting astride him, naked, bent over with that curtain of hair providing a barrier between them and the outside world filled his head. Dang! Now he was getting hard again.

  “Thanks,” she mumbled as she tried to zip her jacket.

  Needing to be close again, Bowie went to his knees and gently put the two ends of the zipper together and began to close her coat. Several times his knuckles brushed against soft spots and he audibly moaned.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked, startled. “Did it grab you?”

  “Nah, I’m good.” It wasn’t the zipper that grabbed him, it was her—right by the heartstrings.

  Cassie endured his touch. Endured. Cause if she could have gotten up from the chair and run out the door, she would have. As he completed his task, his hands ending right up under her chin, she closed her eyes so he wouldn’t be able to get a glimpse into her soul. Cassie didn’t want Bowie to get any more clues as to how he really affected her. She’d endured enough shame for one day. Holding her breath, she waited until a slight movement of air and an absence of heat told her he had pulled back and stood up. Good. “Okay, I guess I’m ready.”

  “You don’t have to sound so excited about it. Friend.” Bowie fussed good-naturedly. Then without asking, cause she would have said no, he bent and picked her up—right up in his arms. Cassie let out a surprised little yelp and clutched at his neck. “I got you.”

  Yea, he had her. “Don’t let me go,” she pleaded.

  “Don’t intend to.” Bowie took a second to relish how right she felt in his arms. He could feel her tremble like a small deer he’d once found in the forest whose mother had been shot. Not being able to stand the thought of it dying alone, he’d picked it up and toted it home. The small creature was too small and weak to struggle much, but it had quivered in his embrace like Cassie was doing now. “Just rest easy. I’ve got you.”

  “Just don’t let go,” she cautioned him again.

  She didn’t have to worry. He wouldn’t have let anything happen to her for the world. When he looked down, it was to discover she was staring up at him, those huge green eyes looking at him for assurance. He gave it to her. “You’re safe with me, Cassie. Promise. We’ll take my truck.”

  “Don’t you think it would be easier if we went in my van? It has the proper equipment and I’m used to it.”

  She was talking fast, but he wasn’t veering from the course. No, he was marching out the door, opening it with an elbow, and closing it with his knee. “I’m used to driving my dates around. We’ll take my truck.”

  “This isn’t a date.” She reminded him. “You’re bossy, aren’t you?”

  Bowie laughed. He didn’t address the date issue. “Yea, I guess I am.” Taking her outside, he carried her to his truck and gently placed her inside, buckling the seatbelt. “I’ll be right back.”

  When he’d shut the door, Cassie covered her face with her hands. “My God! What am I going to do?” she wailed in a whisper. “Calm down, Cassie. You can get through this. Just don’t act like a fool again.”

  As she sat and castigated herself, she heard the bump-bump of her chair being lifted and placed in the back of Bowie’s pick-up. Shaking her head, she mourned the fact that she was so dependent on the kindness of others. All of her life she’d dreaded every time someone had to go out of their way to do something for her. Honestly, she’d rather stay home for the rest of her days than have Bowie or someone like him go out of their way to make things easier for her.

  “All done.” He announced as he crawled into the cab of the pick-up beside her.

  Cassie didn’t say much more, it would just make things worse. “Thank you. You are very kind.” The memory of him taking her face in his hands and holding it still while he escaped her clutches was all she could think about. A fresh wave of shame made her face grow hot. “Where are we going?”

  Okay, he guessed he could tell her now that he had her safely ensconced in his truck. “I’m taking you to my place to meet someone special.”

  “Oh, I don’t think—” she began, picturing meeting some of his friends or worse—family.

  “Relax, you’ll like this little girl, I have no doubt. If you don’t, I’ll eat my Stetson.” He patted the black hat on his head.

  As they rode, it was as if she could still feel his hands on her body. Where he’d steadied her on her bottom, she could still feel the imprint of his fingers. Different from some who had suffered spinal injuries, she had feelings below the waist, but she also had some injury and nerve damage. Even though doctors considered her blessed, sometimes she questioned their judgment. They didn’t have to live with her pain.

  The drive didn’t take long but it gave her some time to think. This friendship business was for the birds, she decided. Even though it was going to hurt, this would be their only ‘date’ together. She’d already decided that much. It wasn’t because she didn’t enjoy his company—she did. Too well. It was because she just couldn’t risk getting her heart broken. “I love your place,” she confessed. Truthfully, since meeting Bowie, she’d driven past it a few times. The dramatic stone entry gate beckoned her. She’d pulled over and gazed at the beautiful rolling pastures, the still creek, the pecan orchards and at least two ponds she could see behind the several outbuildings.

  “Thank you, I’ll have you back and repay that great meal you cooked for me.”

  She said neither no nor yes. Instead, she asked with humor in her voice. “You can cook?” Cassie was grateful to be able to force a change of tone to the evening.

  Bowie pretended offense. “Damn sure can. I can BBQ with the best. Just name the day and I‘ll smoke a ham and make you some Jalapeno Jack Daniels Apricot glaze to go with it that will make you dance a jig.”

  He had spoken from the heart, so of course, Cassie took no offense. But she did pick at him. “Miracle cure. I’ll take a gallon.”

  Hell. Bowie sighed. “I didn’t mean,” he stammered. “I think you’re just right, Cassie.”

  He pulled up to a big log and stone house which immediately drew Cassie’s eye. “Gorgeous,” she observed. “So my surprise is here? At your house?”

 
Yea,
he wanted to say,
there’s a big king size bed in there I can introduce you to, where you’ll have the time of your life.
But he didn’t, like he’d concluded before. He needed time and so did she. “Yea, hold on, you’re gonna love this.”

  He exited to get her chair and she wrung her hands, wishing she didn’t have to be picked up again. Being near him was so horrible, wonderful, terrible and addictive. The least she could do was undo the seatbelt, open the door and get ready. Anything to make this easier and quicker for him.

  “You’re gonna fool around and fall out, Miss Cassie,” Bowie said when he opened the door and found her teetering on the edge. “You need a keeper, young lady.”

  Any other time, she would’ve flirted by asking him if he were applying for the job. But not now. Her self-confidence was shot to hell from being rejected after she’d thrown herself at him.

  “Hold me.” He demanded and she did, hooking her arm around his neck. Still, she tried to keep herself held away from him, which was impossible—but she tried.

  Bowie didn’t act like he noticed. He sat her down in the chair and they started off over the uneven ground of his yard. It hit Bowie how difficult, nearly impossible, it would’ve been for Cassie to have traversed the path alone. Something to think about. “Cover your eyes,” he instructed her with a chuckle.

  She was trying to be congenial, but Cassie really wasn’t in the mood. Right now wasn’t a good time to analyze why she was feeling the way she did. It didn’t escape her reasoning to know she ought to try and enjoy this time with Bowie, after all her social calendar wasn’t exactly brimming with opportunities. “Okay, but don’t push me into a trough or something.”

  “Never.”

  “If there’s mud, this might be more trouble than it’s worth.” Cassie hated to be a burden.

  “Don’t worry, I got it, cranky.”

  Despite everything, Cassie smiled. With her eyes still closed, she could tell when they moved to higher ground. The path smoothed out and she heard a door opening. “Are we going in a barn?”

  “Yes.”

  Nuurrrrrr.

  “What was that?” Cassie asked with excitement.

  “Jasmine, my Dromedary Camel. Open your eyes.” When she did, Cassie squealed. Because standing before her, on wobbly little legs was the cutest baby camel she could ever imagine.

  “Bowie! He’s beautiful!”

  “She, the baby is a little girl.” Cassie looked up at him with total delight. Bowie couldn’t help but smile back at her. “Help me name her.”

  “I gotta have a closer look.” She leaned over to pull herself nearer to the stall and peek through the slats.

  “You can’t see like that. Here, let me help you.” Reaching down, he swung her up in his arms. Immediately she stilled. “Don’t you like to be picked up?”

  “When you’ve picked me up are the only times it’s happened since I’ve been grown. I don’t like to be a burden.”

  “Hush. You could never be a burden.” He raised her up with ease so she could see over the gate and check out the white, fluffy, wobbly creature who was trying to stand. The little camel’s knees were almost knocking together. Jasmine nuzzled her baby, attempting to get her to turn around and nurse, but the little camel seemed more interested in Cassie than a good meal.

  “Well, what do you say?”

  Cassie was entranced. She forgot about being held, about inconveniencing anyone. All she could see was the tiny hooves, the pooching mouth and wiggly ears. With sudden exhilaration, she clasped her hands together. “Oh, Bowie, she’s amazing!”

  “I’m glad you’re enjoying her.” Holding Cassie in his arms was affecting him more than he realized it would. Everything about Cassie fascinated him.

  “Sheba. I like Sheba for a name. How does that sound to you?”

  “Perfect, Cassie.” Her face glowing with joy, she edged closer as Jasmine came over to check out the visitors. Bowie eased her up a little to support her body as she stretched to pet the mama camel. “Careful.” He didn’t think Jasmine would bite, but she was a new mother. As Cassie shifted in his arms, he couldn’t help but be aware of her body rubbing against his. Her hand was curled around his neck and her breast rested near his cheek. All he would have needed to do to nuzzle her breast would have been to turn his head. Without realizing, Bowie moaned, imagining sucking at her nipple until she flew apart in his arms.

  “Am I too heavy?” she asked with alarm.” Put me down!”

  “Nope.”

  Cassie didn’t understand, so she went back to looking at Sheba. “I love baby animals.”

  “Me too. I once raised six abandoned kittens on a bottle. I had to take them everywhere in a box in my truck so they wouldn’t miss a meal.”

  “What happened to them?” she asked curiously.

  “They all grew into huge tomcats, good micers.”

  Unable to restrain herself, she threw her arms around him, burying her face in his neck. “You are a sweet man! I can’t believe you like cats and have a baby named after you.” The idea of him caring about kittens warmed her heart. “If you want, I’ll make Jacob’s wife a commemorative candle if you’d get me his birthdate and weight and length.”

  “I’d like that, thanks. Jessie would really love it.”

  Cassie became aware where her arms were and she carefully extricated herself. “You can put me down now.”

  “All right.” Lowering Cassie to her chair, he reluctantly let her go. Unfamiliar feelings were clamoring in his brain. He felt like he’d been clobbered with a hundred pound sack of horse feed. Was what he was feeling real? He’d been involved with his share of women, but none had bowled him over like this delicate bit of femininity. If he thought hard enough about the whole situation, Bowie could make a case why getting involved with Cassie wasn’t the best idea. But for the life of him, not one reason came to mind at the moment. He paused, as she caught the railing with her hand, wanting one last look.

  “Thank you, Bowie. I’ll make the candle for you to show my appreciation. I’ll never forget this night,” she whispered.

  “Me either,” he murmured, meaning every word. How the night had shifted from a gesture of friendship to one he never wanted to end was a mystery.

  “Goodnight, Sheba,” Cassie called to the small camel as Bowie wheeled her out of the barn. Seeing how thrilled she had been at his impulsive deed, he determined to do more things for her. Anything to make her smile.

  After all, what were friends for?

  And no matter what else happened between them, he was determined to be her friend.