A Child's Heart (Trent & Cassie's Story) A River City Novel (16 page)

“Do you think Colleen would have allowed herself to
get pregnant if she knew she were going to die?”

“I got her pregnant.”

“She allowed that to happen. What did she do, tell
you that she was on the pill?”

“No.”

“Don’t tell me you weren’t using anything.”

“Condoms. Withdrawal.”

“And you thought that would work?”

“It did for over two years.”

“You started when you were fifteen?”

“Technically, she was still fourteen. The first time
was the night before her fifteenth birthday.”

She rolled her eyes. “What were you thinking? Never
mind - you weren’t.”

Trent narrowed his eyes. “You have no right to
criticize.”

“A little late for that. You were babies.”

“I was not!”

“Okay, you were a couple of hormonal teenagers who
should have never been indulging.”

“How old were you the first time?”

“Twenty-two. And I thought I was in love.”

“Was it with the guy you married?”

“No. It wasn’t even a committed relationship.”

“Before you start tossing knives at me, consider
this, Colleen was the only woman in my life, until you came along.
I’d like to know just how many partners you’ve had over the
years.”

“Five, if I include the mutant from Death Star Three
Sixteen. Even when I was with my husband, I’ve always been very
careful.”

“Cas, you do something to me. I don’t want to burn in
Hell because of it, and I don’t want God punishing me by taking my
son away.”

“Do you believe God would do such a thing?”

“I don’t want to chance it.”

“That’s nonsense.” She stood and stretched, turned
and gave him a wicked grin. “I’m going to do it. I’ll give you
something that will keep you from touching me for a few weeks.”

He stared at her with a confused look on his
face.

“Make love to me tonight because I’ll get that
piercing tomorrow. That will keep us both in line for a while.”

She watched him swallow.

“My shoulder.”

She shrugged. You get comfortable and I’ll do the
rest.”

He closed his eyes and whispered, “We really
shouldn’t.”

She squatted down in front of where he was sitting.
“Here or my place?”

“Your apartment. When my mother gets in, I’ll be a
gentleman and follow you home. Wouldn’t want anything else to
happen to you.”

She reached out and ran her fingers lightly down his
arm. “Your surgery just might be a blessing in disguise. I’m
willing to bet you won’t be allowed back to work for a few weeks,
and even then, you will be confined to your computer. Do you have
short term disability?”

He nodded.

“There you go. Income for you while you’re with your
son.”

He closed his eyes. “I don’t know how we can do
anything tonight. I’m in too much pain.”

***

As soon as Cassie dropped the lock on her apartment
door, Trent pulled her to him. Her arms encircled his waist as she
smiled at him.

“I don’t think you understand. I’m in too much pain
to do anything.”

“You won’t have to do a thing.”

She led him back to her bedroom where she gently
undressed him. She helped him lie on her bed and tucked a pillow
under his elbow to support his arm. Acutely aware that he was still
flaccid, she knew that intercourse was the furthest thing from his
mind.

Slowly she undressed, evoking only a smile from him.
She sat on her knees next to him and began to gently kiss him. Each
little kiss sent a warm pulse through her, but when she reached his
lower tummy, she realized that she was having little effect on him.
She ran her cheek over the silky soft skin of his semi-erect shaft
before leaning up and smiling at him. “I really don’t mind, as long
as I know you’re not rejecting me.”

“Not at all. You feel wonderful.”

“Then relax and allow me to continue.”

She ran her fingertips over his muscular legs. She
massaged his feet before slowly making her way back up to the prize
that she craved. Its response was minimal.

She positioned her body between his legs. Having only
been with a man when he was hard, she found it strangely erotic.
She sat up and admired his masculine essence, all creamy-white and
pink. A blue vein visible under pale skin ran from his golden curls
to the rim. Never before had she touched a man and had it remain in
its natural state.

His hand cupped her cheek and she turned into it,
planting a kiss on his calloused palm. A sense of peace shrouded
her in a comfortable blanket. She leaned over him and tucked her
body next to his, as his hand slid down her back. Her head rested
in the soft spot between his uninjured shoulder and his chest. He
held her close.

“I love you,” she whispered. “You have the most
beautiful body, so strong.”

A little grunt escaped from his throat. “Yeah,
wounded and in pain.”

She pushed up and gazed into his eyes. “Go home, take
your pill, and get some sleep.”

“I’m not ready to leave you.”

“There’s no point in you staying, when you hurt.”

“If I didn’t live with my mother, I’d make you come
with me. I want to spend every night with you.”

“And I with you. I do love you, Trent Callahan.”

“Our relationship won’t work. You deserve someone
better than me.”

Her eyebrows rose. “Why? Why should I want anyone
else?”

“You deserve someone who will take you to the opera,
or some far away country, where you can visit ancient ruins.”

“You wouldn’t go with me if we could afford it?”

His lips curved into a tiny smile. “I always looked
at the pictures of Greece and wished that one day I could see the
Parthenon in person. I’ll never have that money.”

She grinned. “Pompeii?”

“Oh, yeah. And Rome and the pyramids.”

“The Great Wall of China and Machu Picchu.”

“All of it.” He smiled.

“Then we’d better start saving. Maybe we’ll take a
whole year and travel. I’ll get schoolbooks for Shawn and teach
him. What a fabulous educational opportunity for him.”

“Do you have any idea what that would cost?”

“No, but we’ll figure it out. I could take a year
sabbatical. If we combined incomes, it might be amazing what we
could do.”

“You’re nuts.”

She grinned. “No. I’m in love with a man who will
someday be an architect.”

“You’re dreaming.”

“Goals are dreams with a deadline. While you are
sitting around healing, you need to apply to Riverside.”

“I don’t have time to go to school.”

“You will. You’ll make the time.”

“It costs money.”

“Student loans. And if you’re married to me you’ll
get a discount.”

“How?”

“I’m still teaching. If it weren’t for that extra
money, I’d be in the hole. The museum pay is terrible, and it will
stay that way until I can prove that the museum is making
money.”

His hand cupped her breast and he toyed with her
nipple. “You have no idea what you do to me.”

“Absolutely nothing, according to your reaction.”

“What you did surpasses sex. I’ve never been so
relaxed by a woman’s touch. It was incredibly wonderful.”

“You need to go home.”

“I don’t want to leave, but Mom will have a fit.”

“Tell her I’m staying with you after you’ve had your
surgery. You’re not going to spend that night alone.”

“She’ll--”

Cassie placed her fingers over his mouth.
“Understand. She’s a woman.”

***

Trent stepped quietly into his house. He turned on
the kitchen faucet, washed his hands, and grabbed a glass from the
cabinet.

“It doesn’t take that long to follow her home.” His
mother’s voice seemed too loud in the silent house.

“No, it doesn’t. We talked.”

“Don’t lie.”

“You think I’m jumping her every chance I get.” He
shook his head. “I’m a grown man, and what I do is none of your
business.”

“Your son--”

“Is asleep in the other room. Lower your voice.” He
popped his pill and swallowed his water. “I happen to have found a
woman who loves me and my son. We talked.”

“Nonsense!”

“We talked about my going to college and getting my
degree.”

“You can’t do that. You have a child to take care
of.”

“Yes. I can get my degree. It’ll be hard, but I’m
going to do it. Cas will help.”

“You’re just going to throw away a good job for some
woman? Haven’t you made enough mistakes in your life?”

“I loved Colleen.”

“And look where that got you. Now you’re in love, and
you get your shoulder busted over it. Have you lost your mind?”

“No, and Cas is staying here with me the night after
my surgery. She doesn’t want me to be alone.”

“I’ll be here.”

“Yes. And I have a son who will be facing surgery
less than forty-eight hours after mine. Let her help.”

~~17~~

Cassie hit the snooze button on her alarm and rolled
over. Trent’s scent was still on her pillow, and she inhaled
deeply. Joy flooded her. She stretched, then forced her body off
the bed.

She took a fast shower, then stood in her closet
deciding what to wear. Thrill coursed through her when she
remembered her decision to get her piercing. She bit her lower lip,
grinned, grabbed a two-piece dress from a hanger, and tossed it
onto her bed. Standing in front of her mirror, she tried to
envision how she would look with a crystal between her legs. She
ran her hands over her breasts, down her tummy, and between her
legs. She was wet with excitement.

She closed her eyes as her fingers swept over her
clitoris. The feel of Trent inside of her, her walls clenched
against his hard shaft, and the memory of his touch sent her to an
instant orgasm, shaking her entire body. Opening her eyes, she
realized time was not on her side. She grabbed some tissues, washed
her hands, dressed quickly, and slipped her feet into her
shoes.

It was three minutes to eight when she walked into
her office. The first thing she did was make a pot of coffee and,
as soon as it began to brew, she picked up the phone.

“Hello. This is Dr. Jones. Is Dr.
Lister working today?” “Good. He takes his lunch break at eleven,
right?” “Yes, I know. Tell him I’m treating him to lunch and I’ll
be there at eleven. Thanks.” She hung up the phone and let out a
deep breath.
His receptionist didn’t like
that one little bit. Too bad!

Mrs. Winston knocked on her door. “Good morning,
Cassie. I think I have what you want. A hard copy is on its way
over here, but this was faxed.”

Cassie took the papers and looked them over. “Our
money, our budget. One prayer has been answered.”

“Did you read the note scribbled on the
coversheet?”

Cassie flipped back to the first page. A giggle
bubbled out of her throat. “I love it! I’m going to be out of the
office for a while this morning. I’m going to take this over to
Tate Bia. She’s been helping me with it. I should be back here by
one. Hold my calls. Take messages, if possible, and I'll try to
return the calls this afternoon.”

She placed the papers in her briefcase. “Oh, and
while I’m over that way, I’m going to stop by the Emporium and do a
little shopping. I need to find a gift.”

Mrs. Winston smiled. “Shawn’s surgery is next week.
Is that why you’re going to the Emporium?”

“Actually, no, but you’re right. I think he needs
something cuddly. I know there’s a toy store there, and that baby
store with the odd name.”

“Why don’t you get him a nice teddy bear?”

“He has one he sleeps with every night. I need to
find him something different.”

The older woman nodded and then said, “The printer
called and said if you want brochures for the next event, you need
to get them to him before Friday at noon.”

“Please tell me you are joking.”

Mrs. Winston shook her head.

“You might need to hold all my calls this week.” She
poured a cup of coffee and offered one to Mrs. Winston. “Will you
do a personal favor for me? Call the university and have them send
me an application, along with all the loan information. I need the
full packet. I’d pick it up, but I don’t have time.”

Mrs. Winston left, and Cassie sat at her computer,
looking at images. She took one of the mummified cats and paired it
with a Monet. Staring at the two images, her mind tried to find a
way to connect the two exhibits.

Such beautiful colorful art, and
then there are these ugly beasts. History and art preserved. No.
Egyptian and…Beauty and the Beast. I wonder if that is copyrighted?
Can’t copyright a book name.
She played
with it some more, then shoved it to one side.

At a few minutes after ten, she wandered into the
downtown mall. Newly renovated and expanded, it rivaled any large
mall in the area. Quickly, she made her way to a small jewelry
store with a myriad of body piercing jewelry.

“May I help you?” a young sales clerk asked.

“I’m looking for something special. I’m about to have
my…ah, um, labia pierced.”

“Oh, that’s the rage. I didn’t realize older women
did it, too,” the young sales clerk said.

Older women? Like I’m an old
lady?
She forced a smile.

“We have bars or, if you prefer, we have these rings.
They’re very comfortable.”

Cassie chose two rings and a
pendant. She paid for her purchases and headed for the toy store.
She was about to give up, when she spotted the perfect gift. It was
a pillow in the shape of a floppy eared dog. As she walked towards
the front of the store, she spotted one more thing, body crayons.
According to the package, they washed off easily with water. She
picked up two packs and smiled.
This will
be fun!

She checked her watch and knew she had to hurry. She
picked up two sandwiches from a small local deli as she headed from
the Emporium to Dr. Jeffery Lister’s office. With only a few
minutes to spare, she entered his office and took a seat.