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Five Months Later
Harrison pushed open the door leading into Cass’s house, noting the still silence inside.He definitely didn’t want her to come home to this.
Or maybe he was being over-sensitive to what today was like for her.
The anniversary of West’s death.
She’d scheduled an appointment with AnnaMae Hank at the Highmarshall Country Club today, so maybe she was fine.Harrison still didn’t want her to come home alone or feel alone at all today.
None of her children were coming to town for this, as Spring Break was in another three weeks, and they were all coming then.Even Jane, who hadn’t been in the country since Christmas.
Harrison opened the fridge and slid the blackberry cheesecake inside.That done, he returned to the truck and grabbed the six-pack of the peach-cranberry iced tea she loved.That went in the fridge too, and he’d poured one into a tall glass with ice for her before she got here.
He’d taken the afternoon off from the construction site so he could shower and be here for her, as her meeting should’ve ended ten minutes ago.The drive from the Highmarshall Plantation would take her a half-hour, and Harrison went back outside one more time.
The flowers went in the middle of her dining room table, and she’d kept the record player and the Osmond nine-track, and they’d danced to the music several times since her return to Hilton Head last September.
It felt kind of cheesy to have the same things now as then, but Harrison didn’t need to reinvent the wheel.Cass had said she didn’t want to go out to dinner tonight.She wouldn’t want the noise or the hassle of getting ready.
He’d never seen her when she didn’t look like a million bucks, and if she had a meeting with an important client today, she’d have gotten ready.
“The flowers,” he said, marking things off verbally.Cass loved flowers, and she’d started customizing her front and back yard this year already.Before long, it would be the envy of every house on this lane.
She loved her treats, the tea, and dancing.And hopefully, she’d love that he was here so she didn’t have to think about West by herself.
“You’re here,” he said to Beryl as the golden retriever finally deemed him worthy enough to get off the couch for.He gave the dog a pat and then let him outside to take care of his business.
Just as he let Beryl back inside, Harrison heard the garage door start to lift, and he hurried to get out a glass and fill it with ice.
He’d just popped the lid on the iced tea as Cass came in, and she met his eyes.“Harrison.”She carried a feminine briefcase bag with her, which she promptly put down on the narrow countertop immediately inside the door.
She sighed as she kicked off her heels.She didn’t ask him what he was doing there, and he poured her tea and handed it to her as she joined him at the counter.“Thank you.”
He put his arm around her waist and let her lean into him while she took a drink.“I love this stuff.”
He smiled and dipped his head, so his mouth sat closer to her ear.“I was hoping you’d say you loved coming home to me in your house.”
She turned toward him, and their eyes met briefly.“That too,” she murmured just before she kissed him.
Harrison loved kissing her and being kissed by her, and he easily took her into his arms and held her against his chest.When they parted, he said, “I didn’t want you to be alone today.”
“Thank you,” she said again.She started the dance this time, despite the silence in the house.Beryl came to say hello to her, but she ignored him as they swayed back and forth.
Without her heels, she wasn’t as tall as him, and Harrison felt like the anchor in Cass’s life he really wanted to be.“Dinner will be here in an hour,” he said.“We can eat here or at my place.I just have to text Lindsey and tell her where to deliver.”
“Your place.”Cass stepped out of his arms and gave him a soft smile.“I’ll change, and we can lay in your hammock.”She lifted her eyebrows, and he nodded.
She finally bent to greet her dog, and Beryl trotted after her as she went through the living room and down the hall to her bedroom.
Harrison sent the evening manager of the restaurant where he’d ordered dinner a text, and then he sank onto Cass’s couch.She took her time in the bedroom, but he didn’t mind.
When she came out, she wore a pair of loose, navy pants that brushed the floor with wide pantlegs, a pale pink blouse that made Harrison’s mouth water, and her hair all piled up on her head.
“Ready,” she said.
He got to his feet and drew her toward him again.“You are my favorite person in the world,” he whispered.“I love you.”
“Mm.”She smiled at him and tipped her head back.“I kinda like you too.”
