Harlequin Superromance January 2014 - Bundle 2 of 2: A Ranch for His Family\Cowgirl in High Heels\A Man to Believe In (68 page)

“That we should mess up this properly made bed.”

She let a grin play on her lips. “We can always use the pantry if you prefer.”

Peter lowered his mouth to hers. “We can try the pantry later.”

He kissed her mouth, slipping his hands along her nape, deepening the kiss and stealing her breath. He kissed beneath her chin, down the column of her throat. He undid the top button of her blouse, exposing a small mound of creamy skin above her bra. He kissed her there.

Sliding both hands underneath her shirt, he caressed her back, taking a firm hold, then slid down to his knees on the floor. Pushing the hem of her shirt up with his nose, he kissed her belly, her navel, the soft skin along the low waistband. He gently took her hands and sat her on the bed, leaning her onto the mattress. Holding her by the hips, he pressed his lips to the soft denim covering her button fly. He took a deep breath, a small shudder running through him. He followed with pressure kisses along the downward seam of her jeans. Pulling her hips closer, he buried his face into the denim at her inseam, sliding his hands up to her waistband to pull her down onto his face.

Cassie gasped and arched against the bed. “Peter!”

He looked up, his eyes smoking with desire. “Do you not like this?”

A hoarse laugh escaped her lips. “Oh, no. It feels incredible.”

He smiled. “Good.”

Breathlessly, she said, “We need condoms.”

He seemed to sober. “Ahhh.”

She bit her lower lip. “I'll get on birth control immediately. I promise.”

He grinned. “That means I can claim you for mine?”

She covered her eyes with her hands as if embarrassed. “We covered that territory already. Are you going to make me wait?”

He feathered kisses along her belly. “Not a moment longer.”

Within seconds, he returned from the bathroom, tossing the packets on the bed. With deft fingers, he snapped open the buttons on her fly and pulled her jeans off in one swift motion.

The look he gave her—as if he'd die if he didn't have her this very second—made her want him even more. He said, “Now, no more distractions.”

His hands caressed her belly, moved up her torso, slowly electrifying her as he delved lower along her skin, returning to the sensitive areas below her waist. His palm invaded her softness with a pressure that had her throwing her head back, but she'd have none of him doing all the work. Sitting up she grasped his shoulders.

He met her gaze, shaking his head as if he did not want to be stopped.

“Shirt off!”

She grabbed the hem of his T-shirt and hoisted the shirt over his head, already leaning into the heat of his tanned, gorgeous chest.

Kissing him along the collarbone, she slid her palm down his belly and over his board shorts until she found his erection, bringing a groan of satisfaction from his throat.

Cassie's insides melted. “Ohhh. What you do to me defies logic,” she whispered.

Peter tugged on her shirt front, popping a few buttons as the shirt tore open. “I'm not done yet, Cassie.”

His hands traveled all over her in a steadily consuming pace. He unclasped her bra, capturing her breasts with each hand. Reaching down, he tormented one nipple, then the other with his tongue. He licked, sucking softly, then hard, until she was driven to pull his head against her breast, allowing him to suckle her nipple deeper into his mouth.

“Oh, God, Peter!”

He slowed down, trailing kisses up her chest, throat, jawline, capturing her mouth with his for a soul-searing kiss that—for her—stopped the world from turning.

He whispered against her mouth, “Cassie...”

She could hardly think. “Yes?”

“I want to feel, taste and love every inch of you. Please don't stop me.”

She sighed, her lips nibbling his. “I couldn't if I tried.”

“Oh, that's good. Very good. Hold on, love, there will be no going back.”

He kissed her with a tenderness that stole her breath then slowly retraced his kisses downward along her neck, down the valley of her breasts, around and beneath each breast, in a slow, deliberate motion, driving her anticipation higher. He increased the pressure of his kisses as he moved down her torso, his hands exploring, driving her hips to lift and press against his stomach then chest as he moved lower, kissing a burning trail to the lace edge of her panties.

Peter released the hold he had on her hips to trace her lower body as his mouth kissed and nuzzled her panties, her inner thighs. Hooking his fingers on each side of the lace, he slid the delicate fabric down her thighs until she bent one knee to release the garment. He returned to kissing her legs, moving up her thighs, nuzzling the soft nest of curls between her legs. His hands captured her wrists as he breathed kisses along her skin. Licked. Kissed more. Penetrated her folds with the pressure of his lips and sought the tender skin hidden beneath. His tongue lathed her tiny bud, his lips kissing, sucking, licking, bringing Cassie to arch into his mouth. Her breath coming in short gasps, she cried out his name. Holding her wrists captive, he pulled her farther down onto his mouth, increasing the pressure, moving faster, a sigh of satisfaction rising in his throat.

Cassie screamed with the intensity of her first release, bucking and arching, her legs wrapping around Peter's shoulders. Peter refused to free her hands, continuing the splendid torture while she rode her orgasm to completion. After the trembling began to subside, Peter gently released her hands, caressed her legs, her inner thighs, then reached to undo his shorts.

“You are so very beautiful, Cassie.”

She lifted her arms for him. “Peter...”

He laid a hand on the flat of her belly. “Shush, love. Stay. We're not through.” He rolled on a condom and pulled her up farther across the bed. Holding himself over her, the look of love in his eyes made her want to cry.

“Peter, I never knew I could feel like this.”

“I did, I just never thought I'd find you.” He lowered himself between her legs as if he were a man coming home.

She opened for him. “Oh, God, Peter. Don't make me wait.”

He entered her with a shudder that rocked them both. Laying his full weight on her, he captured her hands once more, stretching her arms over her head. He pushed deeper into her, moving with an urgency he could no longer contain. Cassie moaned. Whispered his name. Let him drive her further and further into the spiraling world where only he mattered.

His gaze commanded hers. “Cassie.”

She opened her eyes, feeling drugged with want. He was so magnificent above her. She smiled, etching his face, this moment, in her mind. “Yes?”

He shook his head as if disbelieving the electricity passing between them as he slowly and deeply penetrated her again and again. “Ahh, God. I am going to love you all night long. I can't stop... I can't believe... You. Are. Mine.”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

M
ONDAY
MORNING
CAME
way too soon, and it was already nine o'clock. Thank goodness she had the day off. Peter, however, had to show up at work by eight this morning, and she wondered how he had managed. She had left his bed at three.

She should have stayed over, but she wasn't ready yet. Even though last night sealed the deal for her in her commitment to him, caution still hovered in the back of her mind. She'd never felt so attached to a man so quickly. Would she call that love?
Love
was a pretty serious word. And she had other issues to think about right now other than falling in love. Pointedly, Doc promised to have the results of her biopsy today. He was going to text her when they were in.

Her hand trembled as she reached for her phone from the night table. No messages. Shit. This was going to be a helluva day. Just because cancer was in her family, it didn't mean it had to hit her. Maybe she'd get lucky and dodge a bullet. Then she could concentrate on how she felt about Peter and maybe make some history with him.

Wow. That was a big step for her independent spirit. She hadn't thought about tethering herself to another man in ten years. Now she found herself cursing her rotten luck for meeting someone wonderful like Peter now. She padded to the bathroom and started the tub. A nice long soak before meeting Doc would help get her equilibrium together.

* * *

H
ER
PHONE
PINGED
a received text just as she entered the E.R. and saw Peter standing by the nurses' station notating a chart. With a strong and well-built body like his beneath those scrubs, plus an excellent profile and great head of hair, she wondered how anyone could watch him and not be mesmerized as he concentrated on the task. Goodness, she had a bad case of crush going on!

Cassie didn't have to look at her phone to know the message was from Doc. Peter looked up, and she swallowed the lump rising in her throat, plastering a smile on her face. The way he zeroed in on her over anyone else in the unusual flow of people in the hall seemed like he had her on his radar.

He frowned. “What's wrong?”

She felt bold enough to peck him on the lips. “Going to see Doc. Moment of truth.”

He grabbed her hand. “I'll go with you.”

“No, honey. Thanks. I'll let you know how it goes.”

She could tell he was reluctant to let go of her hand. Instead, he put down the chart. “Cassie...”

She gave a little tug. “Don't worry. I'll find you when I'm finished.”

Doc was on the phone when she knocked on his open door. He waved her in. Taking the chair in front of his desk, she noted her open file. Doc's pen lay on the pathology report, and she reached for it. Doc held up a stopping hand. She took the sheet anyway.

“Let me get back to you, Kent. Thanks.” Doc hung up the phone and remained silent while she read the report. She appreciated his respect while her heart just about exploded in her chest.

Atypical cells...

Findings are most consistent with classical Hodgkin's lymphoma...

She let the sheet drop to her lap.

“I have cancer.”

He didn't even blink. “At least it's the good kind of Hodgkin's. If you have to get lymphoma, Hodgkin's is the one.”

Her stomach lurched. She wanted to vomit but swallowed hard, concentrating on pulling at least one single breath into her lungs. She wasn't going to make an ass out of herself in front of Doc.

She choked back the panic rising in her throat. Her mind screamed,
breathe!

With half a voice, she asked, “What now?”

“We conduct a CT scan and find out where the cancer is located.”

Doc was all calm and medical in his response. Acting as if she weren't silently freaking out in front of him. She appreciated that. If he responded with sympathy, she probably would have burst into tears.

She swallowed again. “When?”

“Have you eaten anything today?”

“Breakfast around nine-thirty.”

He looked at his watch. “I already checked upstairs. They can fit you in around four. I don't want you to wait for an answer.”

She managed a smile. “Sure helps to know folks in high places.”

“Anything for my girl.”

Cassie realized her knees would give out if she tried to stand. She braced her herself on the arms of the chair.

Doc came around the desk. He smoothed her hair. “You okay?”

Damn. The sympathy. She shook her head, tears suddenly threatening. “I'm scared out of my goddamn mind, Doc.”

He hunkered down to meet her at eye level. “Cassie. You're strong. We'll beat this.”

Like a breaking dam, tears flooded. She swiped at them, then realized she wouldn't be able to stop the flow. “This news will kill Mom and Dad. I don't want to have to deal with the looks on their faces when I tell them.”

He cupped her chin with a hand. “I'm not worried about your parents right now, Cassie. I'm concerned about you.”

She sucked in a ragged breath. Oh, God. Her insides were freezing. Rubbing her arms she said, “I'm okay. I'm okay.”

“Do you want to go home?”

That shocked her back to reality. She didn't want to alert her family until she had all the facts. If she went home now, she'd be a blubbering idiot.

“Oh, no. No. Maybe I can help around the E.R. until four.”

“Okay, but it'll be best if you go home after the scan.”

Feeling numb, she nodded. “Okay.”

“I'll come with you to tell Bobby and Beth.”

“God, no, Doc. If they see you coming, Dad will probably have a coronary. I have to make this news as nonthreatening as possible.”

“We'll have more details by end of day with the CT scan. Why don't you go do a few rounds and get your mind off this as best you can?”

She released a held breath. “You trust me to work as rattled as I'm feeling?”

He stood and held out his hands. “Even when rattled, you operate better than most nurses at the top of their game. I'm not concerned.”

His confidence in her helped allay her fears. Hodgkin's lymphoma. The good kind, instead of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Was there really a good cancer? She'd have to accept that there was and be grateful the lymphoma she had was treatable. She took his offered hands and stood.

“Don't eat anything, Cassie. Just water until four.”

“Believe me, I so want to throw up right now that I couldn't eat if I tried.”

Doc laughed. “Well, please don't puke on our patients.” He opened his arms. “Come here, kid.”

She needed a hug something fierce. She suspected that Doc needed one, too. Delivering shitty news like this, especially to a family friend with a history of cancer, couldn't be easy for him. She stepped into the circle of his arms and hugged him hard, pressing her cheek to his chest. His warm, strong hug did more to reassure her than any words. What would she do without her network of friends to support her?

She released a sigh. “So we do battle.”

He held her at arm's length. “And we'll win.”

She managed a smile. “I don't see any other choice.”

* * *

P
ETER
MANAGED
TO
hover near Doc's office, waiting for Cassie to appear. Twenty minutes had passed. They could just be shooting the breeze, but if her pathology was negative, she could have been finished in five minutes.

When she stepped out, her face said it all. She'd been crying. Peter was already in motion when Doc followed her out the door. Schooling every single nerve in his body to stay as calm as possible, he said, “So, do we have a verdict?”

He held Cassie's gaze at her silent, stricken look. “What kind is it?”

“Hodgkin's lymphoma.”

He looked at Doc. “Now we find out where?”

“I have a CT scan set for four o'clock.”

“That's great, Doc. Thanks. I get off at four. I'm going with you, Cassie.”

Before Cassie could object, Doc said, “That's a great idea.”

Peter folded her against his chest. “Breathe, Cassie. It'll help the stress filling your chest.”

“I can't get air into my lungs.”

He wrapped her tighter in his arms. Cassie leaned into him, all tensed and trembling, as if she'd burrow into his chest if she could. He sensed her fear right down his backbone. She might look confident in her tailored white blouse, hot jeans and heels, but those bloodshot blue eyes betrayed she'd been shaken pretty badly. His chest tightened. He wanted to make this moment go away. “I believe they call that panic, my sweet. It's okay.”

Doc nodded. “Alarm is a natural reaction.”

Peter kissed her forehead. “Don't worry. I'll be with you every step of the way, Cass. With Doc at the helm, it'll be smooth sailing.”

“She knows that,” Doc said. “It's difficult for a health-care person like Cassie to receive news like this because she understands what's in store.”

Cassie swiped another tear. “Not to mention watching my mother go through chemotherapy. I'm just grateful that this type of cancer is treatable.”

Doc laid a hand on Cassie's shoulder. “And treat it, we shall. Until it's gone.”

Peter said, “So, what now? Are you going home?”

“No. I want to work. I'm here until four, anyway.”

Doc laid a hand on her arm. “You okay?”

“I'll be better when we find out exactly what I'm dealing with here.”

“Okay. See you upstairs at four.”

* * *

A
T
FOUR
, P
ETER
found Cassie holding a woman's newborn for her in the waiting room while the mother spoke with Carmen at registration about her toddler's broken finger. She was crying because, while rushing, she had closed the car door on the boy's hand before checking to make sure he was clear of it.

Cassie spotted Peter and brought the sleeping infant over. “Isn't she darling?”

Peter imagined Cassie carrying his baby in her arms. He swallowed hard at the thought. It had happened. He'd fallen in love.

“Honey, we're late for upstairs.”

She glanced at the wall clock. “Uh-oh.”

He waited while she returned the baby to the stroller, carefully tucking the blanket around her so she wouldn't awaken. He held out his hand.

“Come on, Miss Chicken. Quit stalling.”

“I'm scared, Peter.”

He kissed her hard on the mouth. “That's why you have me. I'll punch out any monster who gets in your path.”

Laughter lit her eyes, thank goodness. “Okay. You go first.”

He took her hand. “No, baby. We'll go together.”

* * *

A
T
SIX
-
THIRTY
,
the three of them sat in Doc's office with the oncologist, Cassie's CT scans spread on the coffee table between them. Cassie had been holding Peter's hand but released it to pick up the images.

“I don't like having a mass so close to my heart, Doc. What are we going to do?”

Peter laid a hand on her lower back. He had to touch her. Let her know she was connected to him and not alone. If he was having trouble breathing, he could just imagine the terror she felt.

The oncologist spoke. “Your cancer is stage two. We'll treat the lymphomas with chemotherapy. I don't think radiation is necessary at this point.”

Peter asked, “How many treatments?”

He compressed his lips. “Every other week for six months.”

Peter met Doc's gaze from across the table. The proscribed treatment had every chance of success, but like all powerful antidotes, no one knew how the patient would react to the harsh chemicals, considering dosage was always a fine line. Cassie was in for some major discomfort.

The oncologist cleared his throat. “There is something you have to consider, Cassie.”

She sat straighter, her beautiful blond hair cascading down her shoulders. Peter wanted to bury his hands beneath the soft curls to massage her neck and release the tension tightening her mouth and eyes. She seemed to be choking on her simple answer. “Yes?”

He spoke without a thread of emotion in his voice. “The chemotherapy can cause sterilization. You may not be able to have children after the treatments.”

She fell back against the couch, hand to throat. “I suspected as much.” She shook her head as if talking to herself. “No babies?”

“If you are willing to delay therapy, we can harvest some of your eggs. Chances are good that in vitro fertilization will work later on.”

Cassie's face grew pale. She pushed her hair away from her face. “And delaying treatment?”

The doctor shrugged. “Your call.”

“I don't like having this cancer inside me.”

“Think about it. We can make the decision in a few days.”

She was fighting tears. Peter reached for her trembling hand and pressed it between his palms. God, her skin was so cold.

Cassie gripped his hand, her gaze shooting from Doc to the oncologist. “If we're done, I want to go home. I've heard all I can handle for today.”

The oncologist closed her file. “We're finished. Let me know your decision. More X-rays and blood work are needed over the next few days. We'll start the regimen as soon as you are ready.” He smiled, and his concern reached his eyes. “Cassie, this process is going to be rough, but you have every chance of clearing this disease from your body.”

She stood. “Thank you. I'll keep your advice in mind.”

* * *

P
ETER
PARKED
IN
the street so he wouldn't block any of the cars in the Michaels' driveway. Wordlessly, he walked Cassie to her cottage, her hand in his, but he was pretty sure she was unaware. Her thoughts seemed light-years away. They hadn't spoken on the drive home. Although a million sentiments ran through his mind—words of reassurance, love, promise—they all stuck in his throat at the overwhelmed expression on Cassie's face. So Peter offered her what she seemed to need most: silence.