Following Your Heart (Love Conquers All) (15 page)

Cassie swallowed hard and then looked away.  “I've never been with another man, not since you.”

The look of surprise on his face was nearly laughable.  “Really?  Not even Chad?”

Cassie shook her head, “Not even Chad.  I wanted to make sure that I was certain our love was forever.  Now looking back on it, I realize that it's a good thing it never got that far.  I mean the night that I found out he was cheating on me, I was about to make love to him.  Then my mom and sister interrupted and so, it never happened.  A higher power must have been watching over me, to ensure that it didn't happen.”

“Cassie...”

“I know that you can't say the same thing.  After all you were about to get married, so...I don't expect you to understand.”

“Cassie, Rebecca and I...we never made love.”

“What?”  Cassie asked as her eyes got big.  “Are you serious?”

“You were the only girl I ever went that far with.”

Cassie tried to process the words.  “I just figured...”

Seth laughed, “I guess I wanted to be sure the marriage happened.  Now, seeing the place that I am in, I know that I made the right decision.”

Seth squeezed Cassie's hand, “I can't believe this.  Then you don't mind if tonight isn't about reconnecting...that way?”

Seth shook his head, “I love you and knowing that you feel the same way is more than I need.  Tonight can be about making up for the time we lost.”

Cassie leaned in and kissed him, “Thank you.”

“Now...how about that dessert?”

“Sounds good.”

Seth cut a piece of the cake and they talked and laughed until neither one could keep their eyes open.  With Seth's arm wrapped around Cassie's shoulder they fell asleep.  A smile crossed Cassie's face as she drifted into a deep slumber.

Cassie felt around the bed, barely remembering how the night ended.  She then smiled to herself, remembering his arms around her as they fell asleep.  Knowing that he could be in bed with her and not take advantage of her, made her realize that he was even a better guy that she realized.  As she sat up she saw that he was on his
cell phone.  “Can you make that happen?”  He was saying to the person on the other end.  “I would be grateful.”  In that moment their eyes connected and he smiled softly.  “I got to go, but thank you and I will be talking to you soon.”

As he disconnected the call, he walked over and brushed a kiss on her lips.  “Good morning b
eautiful, did you sleep well?”

“I sure did.  So, who were you talking to?”

“Nothing that you need to worry about.  Just some business that I needed to take care of.  So, do you want some breakfast?  The cook was informed to cook all your favorites,” he replied with a wink.

“That's not necessary.”

“I know, but last night was special and I want to make sure it continues to be.”

“In that case, breakfast sounds wonderful.”  She threw off her blanket and stared at the t-shirt she was wearing.  “I don't have a change of clothes.  I guess I could borrow a pair of sweats and then run to a store.  I wasn't planning on staying over.”

“Megan thought of that, she brought up an outfit you can borrow of hers.”

Cassie looked at the jeans and shirt that was sprawled on the edge of the bed.  “She really did think of everything.  So, did you explain to her w
hat happened here last night?”

“Ruin all her thoughts in her imagination?  Never!”  He smiled and Cassie gave him a mortified look.  “Relax, I'm teasing.  She knows that the only thing that happened was we talked.”

“You didn't tell me she was pregnant.”

“It never came up.  I'm
sorry; when we were together...the last thing I wanted to talk about was Peter and Megan's love life.”

Cassie smiled, “I suppose so.  She seems happy.”

“They are both happy; they live just down the street.  It makes things easier and I just decided to remain here so that one of us was available in case the staff had questions or concerns.  Hey, I'll leave you to get dressed and ready and come downstairs whenever you're done.”  Cassie watched as he left the room and she quickly got up and got dressed. 

As she was pulling on the jeans she heard her
cell phone ringing.  She looked over on the table and saw that it was Chad that was calling her.  She quickly dismissed the call, there was plenty of time to talk to him and she wasn't ready for her happiness to end.  She grabbed a comb off of Seth's dresser and began to brush out her tangles, just as she was about to pull her hair back she heard the phone ring again.  Seeing that it was Chad calling again, she dismissed it again.  This time fighting annoyance that he wouldn't leave her alone.  When she was finishing and was about to leave the room she heard her phone, once more.  However, this time when she looked at the caller id she saw that it wasn't Chad.  “I can't believe it,” Cassie started out with anger.  “You lied to me and to leave me here like that, I don't know that I will ever forgive you.”  Her frown faded and she chuckled to herself.  Let her sister have it and then she would tell her how relieved she was that she had done it.

“Cassie, I'm sorry.  Why haven't you been answering your phone?”

“When?  The only calls I've gotten has been Chad.”

“Exactly...why haven't you answered his calls?”

Cassie stared at her phone, confused that Courtney knew he had called her.  “Maybe because I'm not prepared to talk to him, but I will.  I know what I have to do.”

“Cassie, he's in Dallas.”

“What?  How do you know?”

“He called the house and said that he was looking for you and wanted to know if you were available to talk.”

“What did you tell him?”  Cassie could feel her throat tightening.

“I told him the truth.  I told him that you were at the Bed and Breakfast and he's probably on his way there.”

“Courtney, why did you do that?”

“I didn't know what to say.  I was surprised that he got this number and then realized there isn't any other Jamison's in Avery.  So...I panicked.  The point is he'll be there soon, if he isn't already.”

“I'll talk to you later.”  Cassie quickly disconnected the call and hurried out of the room.  As she rushed down the stairs, she looked around the lobby and didn't see any signs of Seth.  She spotted Megan in the dining room and hurried to talk to her.  “Hey Megan, do you know where Seth is?”

“Yeah, he went out back to give a tour to a prospective guest.”

Cassie's heart fell, “Do you know the guests name?”

Megan shook her head, “No, I'm sorry...I didn't catch it.”

“Thanks.”  Cassie rushed from the room and made her way to the backyard where she saw Chad and Seth talking as Seth showed him the Wedding Gazebo. 

Seth looked up and smiled at Cassie.  “Hey Cass.  I'm just showing this gentleman around the yard to give him ideas about his future wedding.  When are you getting married?”

“The date is undecided.”  Cassie didn't take her eyes off of Chad.  Her mind was racing of how she was going to get out of the mess they all were in.

“I'm
sorry; I don't think I caught your name.”  Seth replied quietly and Cassie saw him turn to look at her.

“Oh...my mistake.  It's Chad...Chad Davies.”

When Cassie saw the realization hit Seth, she wanted to pull him to the side and beg him not to get upset.  “Chad, what are you doing here?”

“When I didn't hear from you...I got worried.  Plus, I wanted to see this part of the Country.”  He leaned in and brushed a kiss on her cheek and she flinched.

Seth looked sick and it pained Cassie that he was feeling the way he was.  “Seth...I...” she began.

“I have some things to do.  I'll let you two be so you can talk.”  He walked away from them and Cassie forced herself not to follow.

When he was out of sight she turned around and faced Chad.  “What are you doing Chad?  Why are you really here?”

“I just wanted to make sure you were alright.  After all, it's been awhile since we talked and I needed to apologize again.  You have no idea how sorry I am.”

“Yeah...I bet you are.”

“Baby, I am.  Since you've been gone I really see that I can't live without you.”  To Cassie's surprise he knelt down on one knee and pulled a ring out of his pocket.  “Cassie, I will spend every day showing you how much I love you.  I can't imagine the pain I have caused but from this moment on...I will die before
me, or anyone else, hurts you.  Please say you'll marry me.”

Cassie looked away from his inquiring eyes and she could feel a tear form behind her eye.  “You can't just waltz back in here and say you're sorry and expect to just go back to where we left off.  It doesn't work that way.  You did hurt me and it's going to take awhile to repair that damage.  The fact that you don't know
that makes things even more difficult.  Please get up.”

“Cassie,” he slowly stood to his feet, ring still in hand.  “I don't expect you to just forgive me, but what we once had was great and you shouldn't forget that.”

“Really?  What we had was amazing, but you took that for granted.  How's Monica?”

“We haven't talked since that night, she doesn't matter to me.  You do.”

“You had a funny way of showing that.”

“How's Seth?”

“What?”  Cassie stared at him, “Seth has nothing to do with any of this.”

“I don't know if I would go that far.  After all, I saw the way he looked at you.  I don't blame him, because you look amazing.  It's just that last I knew...we were still dating.”

“How dare you question me.  You were the first one to break our trust.  Seth and I have a past; maybe you need to deal with that.”

“Okay, but I'm just making an observation Cass.  It didn't seem like it was in the past.  Why don't you start being honest with
yourself?”

“You're right Chad.  It isn't completely in the past.  He still loves me and I can't do anything to change that.”

“How do you feel?”  Cassie looked away and shrugged.  She didn't know why she couldn't just tell the truth.  It wasn't like their relationship was a happy one, yet she couldn't tell him that.

“So...did my infidelity change the love that you once had for me?”

When Cassie looked at him she realized that she couldn't deny they once had a love for each other.  “Chad, I haven't stopped loving you.  It's just that...”

“Then give me another chance.  Let me make it up to you.  Call your boss and request another week off.  I have already told them that I won't be back yet.  You don't have to answer right now, just please don't give up on us.”

“I don't know if I can get the time off, but...I suppose I could try.  I can't make you any promises Chad.  I don't know what will happen.”

“That's fine, just give me a chance.  Will you do that for me?”

Cassie slowly nodded her head.  He smiled and pulled her closer to him, their mouths connected sweetly.  Cassie made sure not to linger too long; she didn't want to get his hopes up.  “I'll grab my stuff and meet you at the car.  I guess we're going home.”

“You mean Avery?”

Cassie nodded, “Yes, Avery.”

“Oh, I was just surprised to hear you call it home.”

Cassie shrugged, “You know what I mean.”

He nodded as Cassie hurried away.  When she entered the lobby she was relieved that she didn't see Megan or Seth.  Neither one would understand her decision and it was best just to leave.  When she got in Seth's room, she saw that it was bare.  She went in the bathroom and picked up her clothes from the day before.  As she was exiting the bathroom she heard his door slam shut.  She stopped abruptly when she saw Seth standing in front of her.  “Cass...” she heard the tension in his voice.

“I'm sorry Seth, for everything.  I have to go.  Tell Megan I will get her clothes back to her.  Thanks for everything.”  She hurried past him, but he was quicker than her and he reached out to grab her.  “Seth, please let me go.”

“I don't understand Cassie.  I'm sorry.  I just don't understand how you can just leave after everything that has happened over the past week.  Even everything that happened last night?  He cheated on you and you're just going to let him back into your life?”

“You're right.  You don't understand.  It isn't clear cut.  Chad and I have the past 2 years to sort out.  It isn't simple.  I'm sorry that you can't get that.”

“I saw you kiss.”

“What were you doing...spying?”

“Cassie, I'm worried about you.  I don't want you to get hurt again.”

“Let me worry about that.”  Cassie knew the words were sharp, but she couldn't control that.

“You two have had 2 years...we had a lot more than that.  Yet, you're willing to give up on us and move on?”

“Seth we were young and foolish.  We didn't know what true love was and I think you're just blinded by what we once had.  Neither one of us fought for our love.  It must not have been strong enough.  You don't get to hold onto the past, when I have to let go.  Let me go.”

“What about what you said?  You said you still have feelings for me.  Has that changed since last night?”

“You were my first love Seth...I will always love you.  It's just not what either one of us need right now.  Good bye.”  She hurried out of the room before her tears broke loose.  She didn't stop running until she was outside and standing next to Chad's rental car.

“Cassie, are you alright?”

“I'm fine, let's just get out of here.”  When she got in the car, she turned back to the Bed and Breakfast and she would never get over Seth's painful expression as he watched her from his bedroom window.

____________________

“Are you sure everything's okay?”  Cassie heard Chad talking, but she just sat there.  “Cassie...”

“I'm fine, why do you ask?”

“Well for starters, you barely said two words since we left Dallas.  With the exception of the minimal directions you passed along, I wouldn't have even known you were sitting in the passenger side.  Plus, we have been in this driveway for almost a half an hour and I don't even think you've noticed.”

Cassie looked at him and then glanced at her childhood home.  “Oh, just tired I guess.  Let's go.” 
She faked a smile as they got out of the car and headed up to her parent's door.  She opened the door and looked around the empty house.  “Mom, Dad, Courtney, Christopher?”  She shrugged, “Doesn't look like anyone's here.” 

At that moment Courtney came around the corner, “Cassie...Chad?”  She looked disappointed but then hugged her sister.  “I'm glad you're home.”

“Sure you are,” Cassie replied lightly.

Courtney gave her an apologetic look, but Cassie just waved her away.  “Mom and Dad went to the Bancroft's for a lunch and Christopher and Bradley went out for a boy's bonding.”

“Oh, that's nice.”  Cassie looked over at Chad and tried to smile.  “I'll go grab my things and I'll be back before you know it.”