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“No.” She shook her head and glared. “I’m not coming with you. That’d be idiotic. I’m making sure you understand what you’ve done wrong.”
“Mhmm.”
“Oh my God! I’m not joking.” She resisted the temptation to shove him until he landed on his arse. Where she could climb on and kiss him.What am I thinking? Stupid. Stupid. Stupid.Relationships weren’t worth the trouble. Not when it’d mean she’d have to compromise her goals. Make time for others when she needed to have a singular focus. “You owe me an apology. I’m not going to let you sabotage me.” He was really something. Un-freaking-believable.
A gust of wind howled between the historic buildings, blowing her hair around her face and stripping Cassidy of the little warmth her dress afforded. She shivered, rubbing the fine material on the sleeves. Denyer didn’t hesitate, taking his jacket off and draping it over her shoulders. He pressed the lapels together, wrapping Cassidy in its warmth.
And the scent of him.
Her brain short-circuited, her belly flip-flopping as desire coiled inside her. She inhaled deeply, breathing him in until her lungs were filled with his very essence. Holy hot damn, he smelled good. Something crisp and fresh that reminded her of the ocean and long summer nights. And sex. Over and over, round after round.
“I’m sorry, I should have done that sooner. I didn’t realize how chilly it was.” He pressed his lips together and added, “Are you warm enough?” She nodded dumbly, and he smiled gloriously, a dazzling happiness lighting up his face. He slipped his arm around her waist, guiding her with a few fingertips at the small of her back. He pointed to the rideshare pickup spot and called up the app on his phone.
“There’s an Italian place on the water that I know. It’s not much more than a hole in the wall, but they make the best pizza around. You up for it?”
Cassidy stopped walking and gazed at him, puzzled at the confounding man beside her. He was intriguing, absolutely infuriating, and a complete arse. She didn’t want to be anywhere near him, yet she couldn’t bring herself to give back his jacket just yet. Pizza sounded great too. She shrugged, her pride and better judgement at war with her lips, which just wanted a taste. Cassidy wasn’t ready to admit whether it was a taste of him or the pizza she wanted more. “I could go for a couple of slices.”
*****
The trip to the pizzeria was quick at 8:30 on a Tuesday evening. That wasn’t a bad thing. It was awkward being in the back seat of the rideshare with Denyer. Cassidy had nothing nice to say to him and was questioning her sanity for even entertaining the idea of spending more time with him, never mind actually eating a meal with the guy.
But she did have to admit he was being a gentleman, opening her door and helping her out, his hand always either holding hers or guiding her along with a soft touch to the small of her back. Cassidy wanted to be annoyed, she wanted to tell him he had no right to be chivalrous with her, but something held her back. Maybe it was the way his hair fell about his face tempting Cassidy to run her fingers through his blond waves. Or maybe it was the way he turned to gaze at her, giving Cassidy all his attention despite the vibes worthy of a frost giant that she was putting out. She couldn’t fathom why he was even bothering. She certainly wasn’t trying to play nice. If Cassidy had it her way, she wouldn’t even see him again.
The driver pulled up along the Esplanade, and Denyer scooted out before holding his hand for her to grasp. As reluctant as she was to accept his help, Cassidy needed it. Getting out of the low car in stilettos without wobbling like a baby giraffe taking its first steps was a challenge. It was made even more difficult with a slimline dress and aching feet.
The pizza place was exactly as Denyer described it. Seeing it was little more than a serving window facing the street, she was surprised at the queue of people waiting to pick up their orders. Cassidy hadn’t been in this area of town before, but there was no doubting it was affluent. The houses built along the steep hills facing the water were classic architecture personified. Victorian-era and regency mansions lined the street, mixed in with modern pavilion-style triple-storey buildings. A walking track intersected the waterfront park before them, joining the boardwalk running the length of the quiet cove further along. The park was pristine, its bushes trimmed and grass mowed until not even a single blade was out of place.
It may have been midweek, but the boardwalk was oddly busy, filled with joggers and people taking their dogs for an evening stroll. She could imagine just how popular the park would be during the day and when events were held on the foreshore. The view of the city skyline alone would guarantee the park being filled to capacity for every fireworks spectacular that lit up the harbour.
Denyer led her to the counter and greeted the older man serving customers by name with a smile. “Can I get a large please and two drinks?”
“A large what?” Cassidy questioned. “Where’s the menu?”
“They make traditional Italian margherita here. One option only.”
“And they’re still in business?” she asked, bewildered at how the restaurant had survived longer than a few weeks with a single item on the menu.
“Forty-five years,” the server replied with a patient smile. “I’ve watched young Jake here, and many of our regulars grow up and grow old from this very spot.”
“Oh,” Cassie whispered, shame suffusing her. Why didn’t she ever use her filter? Keep those thoughts that tended to tear people down to herself? They were clearly doing well if the queue was any indication to go by. Maybe she did need to improve her people skills. Brush up on Conversation 101. Cassidy blinked and turned away, hating the sting in her eyes. “I, ah…”
“Let’s wait out of the way.” Denyer wrapped his arm around her again and guided her across the road to the park, stopping when it intersected the timber boardwalk. He may be an arse, but she’d give him points for avoiding the timber walkway. She’d ruined far too many pairs of stilettos getting the heel stuck in awkward places. Denyer hadn’t even attempted to lead them there. Cassidy was low-key impressed at his consideration.
She looked out over the water, at the reflected lights shimmering in the ebb and flow of the current. Wash from a boat that had long since passed lapped at the pylons, the only noise breaking the quiet of the night now that they were away from the shopfront. Peace surrounded her, the tension she carried in her shoulders loosening. Cassidy sighed happily.
“It’s peaceful down here,” she murmured. “I’d love to live where I can hear the waves one day.”
“Me too. When I was a kid, Mum and I would always stay with my aunt near Batemans Bay. They had this little cottage close to the water, and I remember waking up every morning hearing the waves. I loved it there.”
“Was it just you and your mum?”
Tension, as sudden as the flick of a switch, vibrated through Denyer. She’d hit a raw nerve, but before Cassidy could tell him to ignore the question, he answered, “Nah, but my father didn’t spend much time with us. He was always busy.” His voice went flat, devoid of the fondness he’d spoken with only a moment earlier. Acting on instinct, Cassidy leaned into Denyer’s touch, wrapping her arm around him and trying to comfort him without words.
She couldn’t explain why, but the need to see him smile again, to be the one who brought it out in him, burrowed under her skin and wouldn’t let up until he’d shaken off the shroud that had descended. The warmth radiating from him when he spoke about those happy memories set off the flutters in her belly, and she was already lining up for a second serving.
Two
Jacob
