Under the Boss's Mistletoe (14 page)

Amusement bracketed his mouth, but his eyes were hot and dark as they ran over her. ‘The thing about wearing a dress like that is that you don’t need to flirt. You don’t need to say anything at all. You just need to stand there and look like that.’

Cassie swallowed. ‘Gosh, you’re much better at flirting than I am!’

‘You haven’t even started yet,’ Jake pointed out. ‘I’m waiting for you to do your worst. Get those eyelashes batting!’
The dark-blue gaze came up to meet hers, and their smiles faded in unison. ‘Come on—flirt with me, Cassie,’ he said softly, and her breath snared in her throat.

Her heart, which had been pounding away like mad, had decelerated suddenly to a painful slam, so slow that she was afraid that it might stop altogether.

‘I…can’t,’ she whispered, unable to tear her eyes from his, and Jake lifted a gentle hand to run a finger down her cheek, searing her skin with its caress.

‘Shall we skip the flirting, then?’ His voice was very deep and very low. ‘Shall we just go straight to the kissing?’

Unable to speak, Cassie nodded dumbly. She had forgotten Rupert, forgotten Natasha, forgotten that they were surrounded by the whole of Portrevick. As far as she was concerned, they could sink right down onto the stone flags together and make love right there. But Jake, more aware of everyone around them, took her hand and pulled her out along the corridor and onto the side terrace, just as he had done ten years ago.

Like then, it was cold and drizzly, but neither of them noticed. The door banged behind them, and Jake was already sliding his fingers into Cassie’s hair the way he had fantasised about doing for so long. His mouth came down hungrily on hers and they kissed fiercely, almost desperately.

Cassie grabbed his shirt, holding on to it for dear life; suppressed excitement was unleashed by the touch of his lips and rocketed through her so powerfully that she could have sworn she felt her feet leave the ground.

God, it felt so good to be kissing him! He tasted wonderful, he felt wonderful, so hard, so strong, so gloriously, solidly male. She slid her arms around him to pull him tighter, her pulse roaring in her ears, as Jake backed her into the wall, his hands moving possessively, insistently, over her, making her dress ruck and slither, smoothing warm hands down her bare back.

‘I’ve wanted this for weeks,’ he whispered unevenly in her ear, when they broke for breath.

‘I think I’ve wanted it for ten years,’ she said, equally shaky.

‘Liar,’ Jake laughed softly, but his mouth was drifting down her throat, making her gasp and arch her head to one side. ‘You wanted Rupert.’

It was hard to think clearly with his lips teasing their way along her jaw and his fingers tracing wicked patterns on her skin. ‘I don’t want Rupert now,’ she managed raggedly, clutching her hands in his dark hair. ‘I want
you.’

Jake lifted his head at that and took her face between his hands, looking deep into her eyes. ‘Are you sure, Cassie?’

‘Oh yes,’ she said, reaching for him again. ‘I’m quite sure.’

Cassie drew a long, shuddering sigh of sheer pleasure and snuggled closer into Jake. Her head was on his shoulder, and his arm was around her, warm and strong, holding her securely as they waited for their heart rates to subside and their breathing to steady. She suspected Jake had fallen asleep, but her blood was still fizzing with a strange mixture of peace and exhilaration. She could feel herself glowing, radiating, shimmering with such contentment that she was surprised she wasn’t lighting the dark room. Plug her in and she could power a chandelier, if not a city full of street lights. They could keep her as an emergency backup for the energy crisis. Who needed a nuclear power-station when all Jake had to do was make love to her like that?

Somehow they had got themselves from the terrace to Jake’s room. Cassie had no idea whether anyone had seen them and she didn’t care. Nothing had mattered but Jake: the feel of him, the taste of him, the sureness of his hands, the delicious drift of his lips, the hard possession of his body.

Cassie felt giddy just thinking about that heady blur of sensation. They had lost all sense of time, of place. Nothing had existed except touch—
there…there…yes, there…yes, yes
—need so powerful that it hurt, and excitement that spun like a dervish, faster and faster, terrifyingly faster, until they lost control of it and it shattered in a burst of heart-stopping glory.

Downstairs, Cassie could hear the muted sounds of the Allantide Ball still in full swing without them, and felt sanity creeping back. It wasn’t entirely welcome, she realised, and wondered if Rupert was still down there.

And Natasha.

What was it Rupert had said?
A little touch of the rebound going on? Jake did adore her so.

He had. Cassie remembered him telling her about Natasha the first time they had driven down here together.
She’s perfect,
he had said. She was everything he’d ever wanted.

Which made her just someone to catch him on the rebound.

Cassie sighed and stroked the broad chest she was resting so comfortably against. What did she have to offer, after all? Look at her, the failure of her family. She wasn’t beautiful, wasn’t successful, wasn’t accomplished, wasn’t calm and sensible. She couldn’t begin to compare with Natasha.

On the other hand, she was here, lying next to Jake, and Natasha wasn’t.

She would have to keep her fantasies firmly under control for once, Cassie vowed. There was no point in getting carried away like she usually did. She wasn’t Jake’s dream, and she never would be. Best to face it now.

But she didn’t have to think about the future yet. She had the here and now. Cassie rested her palm over Jake’s heart and felt it beating steadily. For now that was enough.

‘We’d better get on.’ Cassie sighed and stretched reluctantly. November had dawned dark and dank, and she would have loved to stay snuggled up to Jake’s warm, solid body all day. ‘There’s lots to do.’

Lazily, Jake slid his hand from the curve of her hip to her breast, and she caught her breath at the heart-stopping intimacy of the gesture. ‘Like what?’ he asked, pulling her closer.

‘Like getting married,’ she reminded him, and laughed as
he froze for a moment. ‘I can’t believe you’ve forgotten that Tina and Rob are coming tonight for another photo session!’

‘I’ve had other things on my mind,’ said Jake, rolling her beneath him, lips hot and wicked against her breast, making her arch beneath his hands. ‘More important things—like reminding you what you’ve been waiting ten years for…’

Here and now,
Cassie told herself as desire flooded her. Jake was right. What was more important than that?

It was much later when she finally forced herself out of bed, and nearly had a fit when she saw the time. ‘There’s so much to do!’

Fortunately the caterers had cleared up most of the debris from the party the night before, but they still had to take down the Allantide decorations and make the great hall look as if it was Christmas instead.

‘Why don’t we leave it until it
is
Christmas?’ asked Jake as Cassie ran around putting up fairy lights and piling pine cones into bowls.

‘Because I was trying to get everything over as soon as possible,’ she said. ‘I thought it made sense to do all the photos at once. Rob said he took some good ones last night, which we can use on the website, and I’ve arranged for him to come back tonight since you’d be down here anyway. I didn’t think you’d want to come down more than you had to.’

‘I don’t mind,’ said Jake, who couldn’t quite remember now why he had been so resistant to the idea. He couldn’t remember much about anything this morning except how warm, sweet and exciting Cassie had been the night before.

He felt as if he were walking along the edge of a cliff, knowing that a false step would send him tumbling out of control. Jake wasn’t sure how he had got himself there, but he couldn’t turn round and go back now. He had to keep going and not look down to see how far it was to fall.

They hadn’t talked about the future at all, and Jake was glad. He had a feeling that even thinking about a future that
accommodated Cassie, and the chaos she took with her wherever she went, would send his careful life slipping over the edge of that cliff.

The sensible thing, of course, would have been to remember that before he had made love to her. But he was here now, and Cassie’s bright presence was lighting up the great hall. He could be sensible again when he got back to London.

‘If we left it until December, you could have a Christmas tree,’ he pointed out.

Cassie hesitated, picturing a tall tree in the corner by the staircase. ‘It would look lovely,’ she admitted. ‘But everything else is ready now. I’ve got my dress on loan, as it’s just going to be used for photographs, and Rob and Tina are all sorted too. We might as well go ahead,’ she decided reluctantly. A Christmas tree would have been the perfect finishing touch.

She was setting a round table as if for a reception, and Jake was astounded by the detail. She seemed to have thought of everything, from carefully designed place-card holders to tiny Christmas puddings on each plate. A stunning dried-flower arrangement with oranges and berries in the centre of the table held candles, wine glasses were filled with white rose-petals, and silver crackers added a festive touch.

‘How on earth did you think of all this?’ he asked. He would have thrown on a tablecloth, and might have risen to a candle or two, but that was where his inspiration would have run out.

‘Oh, it was easy,’ said Cassie, straightening the last cracker and standing back to survey the table with satisfaction. ‘This is my job, remember? Besides, all I had to do in this case was act out a fantasy I’ve had for years,’ she went on cheerfully. ‘I always wanted a Christmas wedding, and in my fantasy it was here at the Hall, so I didn’t really have to think of anything. I knew exactly what I wanted.’

Of course, in her fantasy Rupert would probably have been the groom, Jake thought jealously.

Cassie was chattering on. ‘Naturally, there would be lots
more tables if this was a real wedding. I’m hoping Rob will be able to take some pictures of us that will give the impression that hundreds of guests are milling around in the background. We’ll feel complete prats, I know, but it’s all in a good cause, and if Rob can get some good shots of details the Hall should look wonderful in that article.’

Ah yes, the article. Jake had almost forgotten why they were doing this.

‘It does look surprisingly Christmassy,’ he said, looking around. He wasn’t sure how Cassie had done it. There were no snowmen or reindeer, no Santa Claus climbing down the chimney. Instead she had created a subtle effect with colour and light.

‘Wait till we’ve lit the fire and the candles,’ said Cassie. ‘I’ve made some mince pies too, and some mulled wine to offer our guests as they come in from the cold. Rob can take a still-life shot and then we might as well enjoy them to get us in the mood.’

‘All you need is some mistletoe,’ said Jake.

‘It’s too early, unfortunately, but don’t think I haven’t tried to get some!’

‘Let’s pretend it’s hanging right here,’ he said, pointing above their heads and drawing Cassie to him with his other arm. ‘Then I can kiss you right underneath it.’

Dizzy with delight, Cassie melted in to him and wound her arms around his neck to kiss him back.

‘When are Tina and Rob coming?’ Jake’s voice was thick as he nuzzled her throat, making her shiver with anticipation.

Cassie opened her mouth, but before she could say anything the old-fashioned door-bell jangled.

Jake sighed. ‘Now?’

‘I’m afraid so.’

Tina gasped at the transformation Cassie had wrought on the great hall. ‘It feels like Christmas already! I can feel a carol coming on…O come, all ye faithful,’ she warbled tunelessly.

They left Rob taking photos of the table and decorations while they went to change. Tina had bought a black-evening dress, which they had decided would be suitable for a bridesmaid, and she helped Cassie into the borrowed wedding-dress. Made of satin and organza, it was fitted underneath with a floaty outer layer that was fixed at the waist with a diamond detail.

‘Oh Cassie, you look beautiful,’ Tina said tearfully as she fastened a simple tiara into Cassie’s hair. The curls didn’t lend themselves to a sophisticated up-do, and in the end Cassie had decided to leave her hair as it was and save on the expense of a hairdresser.

‘Hey, I’m not really getting married,’ she reminded Tina, but her expression was wistful as she studied her reflection. It was her dream dress, and it was impossible not to wish that she was wearing it for real.

Jake waited in the great hall with Rob as she and Tina headed down the grand staircase. Without the bother of make-up, it hadn’t taken him long to change into his tuxedo again. He stood at the bottom of the stairs watching Cassie coming down, and looking so devastating. Her knees felt weak and her mind spun with the longing to throw herself into his arms.

And then she almost did as she missed a step and lurched to one side. She would have fallen if Tina hadn’t grabbed her and hauled her upright. ‘God, you’re such a klutz, Cassie,’ her friend scolded. ‘It won’t make much of a photo with you lying at the bottom of the stairs with a broken neck!’

Then Cassie was all fingers and thumbs as she attempted to pin a white-rose buttonhole on Jake. ‘I’ll do it,’ he said in the end, and she turned away to pick up the bouquet she had ordered, only to fumble that too. Jake caught it just before it hit the ground, and shook his head. ‘You’re hopeless,’ he said, but he was smiling.

Get a grip, Cassie,
she told herself sternly.

‘So, what’s the idea?’ said Tina, getting down to business. ‘Are you having the wedding here too?’

‘No, just the reception,’ said Cassie who had managed to pull herself together. ‘We’ve been married in Portrevick church, and we’ve just arrived in a horse and carriage.’