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But their night was over, and he had responsibilities. He honestly had no clue how she’d react once she woke up. Would she regret what they’d done? Would she want more and expect some sort of relationship?
Ian gave the window a tug and it rose slowly with a groan.
“Hey,” he yelled down. “Up here.”
Tessa and Grant both looked around and Ian eased his arm out to wave. “We’re locked in the attic,” he called.
“Ian?” Grant shouted. “What on earth? We’ll be right up.”
Of course, now it dawned on him that both he and Cassie were as naked as the day they were born, and he turned around to see her already getting up. Shame that he hadn’t ignored the rescue party and gone with his original idea of waking her, especially now that she was covering that made-for-sex body.
“Was that Tessa and Grant?” she asked, tugging on her jeans from the previous day.
“Uh-huh.” He pulled on his own clothes, trying to keep his eyes off her as she wrestled into her bra.
Several moments later, the door below creaked open and Ian rushed over to the top of the stairs to see Tessa.
“We’ll be right down,” he told her, hoping to save Cassie some time to finish dressing.
He didn’t know if she wanted it public knowledge that they’d slept together. This was all her call. He was much more comfortable with a fling than he figured she was. Plus this was her home, her family, and the last thing he wanted to do was put her in an awkward position.
“Who’s up there with you?” Tessa asked, her brows drawn together.
“Your sister.”
Tessa smiled. “Really? Well, we’ll meet you all down in the kitchen. Take your time.”
Once she walked away, Ian glanced up to Cassie, who was wearing a lovely shade of red over her neck and face.
“I tried,” he defended, holding out his hands. “But I’d say your sister knows.”
Cassie nodded. “That’s okay. Tessa won’t say anything.”
Okay, maybe he hadn’t wanted a relationship, but her statement hit a nerve. Seconds ago he’d thought he was fine with a fling and she wasn’t, but perhaps he’d had that scenario backward.
“Is that what we’re going to do? Keep this quiet?”
Smoothing her tousled hair away from her face, Cassie eyed him from across the room and sighed. “I don’t know. This is all new to me. Can we just go downstairs and talk later?”
The voice of reason had him nodding. He didn’t want to analyze what had happened too much. They both needed to concentrate on their jobs. After all, he had a mission and she was in the middle of the biggest racing season of her life.
Cassie started to ease by him when he stepped in front of her, blocking her exit. Her eyes went wide, then dropped to his mouth. Why was he doing this?
Quit stalling and let her go.
But he needed one more taste before their night officially came to an end.
He shoved his hands into her hair, tilting her head as he closed the distance between them. “Before you go,” he whispered as his mouth slid across hers.
She melted into him as she returned the kiss. Her hands gripped his wrists as he held on to her. As much as Ian wanted her naked once again, he knew that was not an option.
Easing back, he smiled when her eyes took a moment to open. He released her, and, without a word, she walked by him and down the stairs.
And like some nostalgic sap, he glanced around the attic and smiled. This was definitely his favorite place on the estate.
Ian met up with Cassie in the kitchen. As soon as he entered the open room, he took in several things at once.
Tessa and Grant were seated at the bar, where Linda was serving cinnamon rolls. Both Tessa and Grant were eyeing Ian with knowing grins on their faces.
But it was Cassie, yet again, who captured his attention.
The woman he’d spent the night with was currently squatting down in front of a little girl with soft blond curls. The little girl looked nothing like Cassie, but the interaction didn’t lie. The way she clung to Cassie, Cassie’s sweet smile and laughter as she kissed her—it all had a sickening feeling settling deep in his gut.
“And who’s this?” he asked, hoping it was Linda’s grandchild or something because he knew Tessa and Grant had no children.
Coming to her feet with the little girl wrapped in her arms, Cassie still wore that vibrant smile as she turned to face him. “This is my daughter, Emily.”
All eyes were on Ian. Granted, they were watching him because of the unspoken fact that he and Cassie had spent the night together, but they couldn’t know the turmoil that flooded him. Cassie had a child and hadn’t told him.
Not that they’d played the getting-to-know-you game before they’d shed their clothes, but wasn’t that something that would come up?
