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Cason stopped in the hall and looked back at her. “Hold on. Is there a husband I should be concerned about? I could call him and clear everything with him.”
She started to speak, but her eager son cut her off. “Mom’s not married. She and my dad broke up a long time ago. Dad is trying to get her back, but she didn’t say yes yet.”
“Joe, close your mouth.” Her tone held a warning, and her son ducked his head, looking sheepish.
“Good to know.” Cason wheeled his chair toward the elevator. “Ever used an elevator in a house, Joseph?”
“No way! You’ve got an elevator? Cool.” Joseph beat Cason onto the elevator and jabbed the button. He waved his hand. “Hurry up or I’ll leave you behind, Mr. Cason.”
Cason cracked a grin before he caught himself. He liked how Joseph didn’t show him any kind of undo reverence just because he was in a wheelchair, and he wondered if it was something he learned being around his mother who was a nurse or if it was just because of his own special personality.
“Left behind in my own house? What are you teaching your son, Solette?” Cason spoke in a tone that sounded like he’d taken offense. He cut a look in her direction to find her shooting daggers at her son.
“I apologize. I’ll ring his neck later.”
“I doubt that.”
She drew herself up to her full height, giving him a thought for the first time to see what it would be like to stand above her and look down as he was meant to do. She was small, and there was a touch of strength in her but also something fragile. He was curious as to why she gave such a contrasting impression. Her son’s father had let her get away, but he was trying to get her back. The man’s desires didn’t enter into Cason’s scheming at all. If she was special to him, he shouldn’t have let her get away in the first place, and if he loved her, he wouldn’t let a broken man like Cason mess it up.
“I’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t throw slurs on my parenting skills,” Solette said, indignant. “My private life has nothing to do with my job. And I’m not staying here this weekend. Neither is Joseph.”
The elevator door slid open just as she made this announcement, and Ezio stood in the opening. “I thought you were back in your room. What’s this about her staying?”
Cason turned his good eye away from his brother and focused on the wall and spoke through a clenched jaw. “The wet weather always makes everything hurt a lot more.”
“You’ll stay,” Ezio barked. “Whatever it costs.”
“Mr. Ezio—” She fell silent, and a sigh escaped her.
Ezio marched to a phone on the wall and picked up the receiver. He barked a few clipped commands over the line, arranging for the bedrooms. Afterward, he retreated down the hall toward his and Shakarri’s wing of the mansion. Joseph wandered after him, and Cason and Solette took their time. Cason knew she wanted to put space between his older brother and her son and the two of them.
When they were out of earshot of anyone, she crossed in front of the wheelchair, forcing him to let up off the button. Cason raised his eyebrows as if he had no idea what she was up to. Eyes full of censure narrowed on him. “Cason, you did that on purpose. You knew your brother would feel sorry for you.”
He bit back the look of triumph. “I don’t know what you mean. What I told my brother is true.”
She dropped a hand on her hip. “It was the way you said it.”
> “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean. So you’re staying?”
She sighed again. “I don’t have much of a choice because something tells me fighting with him is pointless. But know this, I will keep things on a professional level from now on, and I’m leaving bright and early Monday morning.”
She whirled away and marched down the hall. Cason stayed where he was and took in the sight of her swishing hips. Not a bad sight at all. As to professionalism? He’d see about that.
Chapter 5
Solette ran her hands along Cason’s bare thigh. All of a sudden she couldn’t keep her mind on the task at hand. Or rather, she couldn’t get it off the task. His taut skin heated to her touch, and she reacted internally to every contraction of his muscles. Not at all in a professional way either.
This was Cason’s fault for teasing her. She didn’t think for one minute that he was interested in her. He’d made it plain what he thought of her looks, and it wasn’t anything new. Men didn’t flock to give her attention. Plus, she knew she had a warped image of herself because of Joe Sr.
All those years ago, when she was a young girl in school, Joe Sr. had played with her head. He manipulated her. He controlled her, and when she dared to fall for him, he began to hurt her. His form of abuse was all she knew when it came to relationships. So nothing Cason did surprised her.
The problem was, even with all his scars and physical challenges he was the hottest man she had ever laid eyes on. Cason was a big guy with hypnotizing blue eyes. What made it worse was he had this singy-songy accent when he spoke. It did things to her insides. Solette had always kept patients at a distance, even when they were attractive or made advances toward her. She kept her head, and always kept the situation in firm control. If she ever thought things were getting out of hand, she would drop the patient off her list of clients. Cason was different.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked in that deep rumbly voice of his.
In the distance, above the noise of the storm, her son’s voice rose. He played with Ezio’s daughter, who appeared to be advanced beyond her years from what Solette had seen. Solette wondered if she should go and tell Joseph to calm down. They weren’t guests after all.
“Solette.”
