Chasing Cassidy (29 page)

“You look absolutely beautiful today,” Zack whispers in my ear as he wraps his arms around me from behind. “And pretty soon, I’m not going to be able to get my arms around you like this anymore. I
can’t
wait.”

His words bring a smile to my face. I always knew he would be excited once I got pregnant, but I had no idea how happy it would actually make him.

“How long do you think it will be before we feel him kick?” I’m trying hard not to laugh but it’s pointless. I manage to turn around and face him; his eyes are dancing with happiness.

“About five months?” I’m really not sure, either, but that would seem about right.

“We have so much to do. We need to get a realtor and put the condo on the market. You need to give your resignation, I need to give mine. We have to go hire movers and go shopping for the nursery.”

“Slow down for just a second. How about we get through dinner first, then the wedding and the honeymoon before diving into all of that? Besides, maybe we should keep the condo for when we visit. It would be nice to have our own place.” I’m not sure I want to let go of our condo; we have so many good memories there.

“You’re so sentimental, and I agree it would be nice to have a place to go back to, but it’s too small for a family. We can hang onto it for a little longer, but I also kind of like the idea of giving it away instead of selling it.”

“You want to give it away?” How in the world would that work?

“What if we price it way below market value and interview all the applicants ourselves? Wouldn’t it be incredible to find a young couple in love, just starting out, who scraped together just enough of a down payment to buy a place? When we come across the ones we know could really use the gift, and who look at each other the way we do, we’ll give it to them, no strings attached.”

My eyes are watering. These pregnancy hormones are going to kick my ass but that is the most beautiful thing I’ve ever heard.

“You have such a beautiful soul, Zachary Stafford. I think that’s a perfect idea.” He pulls me close and kisses me softly, parting my lips so his tongue can dance with mine.

“Seriously? You invite us for dinner and we have to walk in on the two of you making out? Pete, remind me
never
to act like that in public.” Pete chuckles and Rylee laughs, too. When Zack releases me and I get a good look at them, I immediately know something is up. They both look like the cat who ate the canary. I know that look well—it’s Rylee’s morning after look.

Oh hell, this is going to be interesting.

“Since we’re being so offensive to my baby sister, how about Pete and I go put the steaks on the grill?”

Yes, please leave so I can scold your sister.

“Sounds good. Everything else is ready to go. Pete, the beers are outside in the ice chest unless you want something else?”

“A beer sounds good since I’ve got the night off. Thanks.” He smiles as he follows Zack outside but that smile
wasn’t
directed at me.

“Rylee Stafford, you didn’t!” I scold her quietly and pull her arm until she’s following me upstairs.

Once we’re in my room with the doors closed, I turn to her and wait for her response. It doesn’t take long.

“I’m a grown-ass woman, Cassidy, and he is one gorgeous man. I can fuck who I want, whenever I want. But for the record, we didn’t actually have sex, we just helped each other reach orgasm in other ways.” The smirk on her face reminds me so much of her brother’s. God help me.

“Have you talked to Nick since he came clean with Zack?”

“Nope,” she replies, popping the ‘p.’

This is going to get really interesting. I really don’t think she knows Nick is into her and I’m not going to be the one who tells her.

“Alright, fill me in on what happened after we left you last night,” I prompt as we both sit down.

“Well, when he picked me up yesterday we talked so easily. He’s really direct in his questions and answers but I love it! It’s like I’ve finally met a man who will tell it like it is without any prompting. Do you have any idea how refreshing that is?”

“Well, I can imagine, but you know I kind of hit the romance lotto, so…”

She groans under her breath. “Don’t remind me. Some girls have all the luck. But if anyone is going to be lucky, I’m glad it’s you. I couldn’t imagine either of you with anyone else. You guys are honestly the happiest I’ve ever seen you. Maybe there’s something in the Hawaiian air,” she says with a contented sigh.

“Rylee, can you finish your story before they come looking for us, please?”

“Oh, yeah, sorry! Anyway, we just seemed to hit it off so I took a chance and asked if he wanted to meet up later and we exchanged numbers. We met at the hotel bar around midnight and talked for hours.”

“Were you drunk again?” She has got to stop drinking around men.

“No!” she squeals “Isn’t that exciting? I think both of us nursed the same drink the entire time. It was like two old friends catching up, we just clicked. Around three in the morning, he walked me to my room. I invited him in and he hesitated but hell, girl, I wasn’t going to let him leave without kissing him. So I stood up on my tip toes, pulled his head down to my lips, and fell into the most erotic abyss ever.”

I love seeing Rylee so happy!

“That’s great, Ry, I’m really happy for you.” She’s beaming and hasn’t stopped smiling since she first started talking about him.

“Me, too, Cassidy. I’ve never felt like this about anyone before. We laid in my bed and kissed and talked until the sun came up. I wanted him so badly but he thought it would probably be a good idea if we at least had known each other for twenty-four hours before taking that leap, so we compromised.”

She says it like it’s the most obvious solution.

“I mean, we were naked, he got me off, and I got him off. I don’t see what the big deal would have been about going further but tonight, I plan on sealing the deal. And seriously, Cassidy, his dick is so perfectly proportioned to his body they could make a model of it and hang it in a museum. It’s that beautiful.”

I’m laughing so hard, I can’t help it.

“Rylee, stop! I’m never going to be able to look at Pete again without picturing his masterpiece! I’d rather know that about Nick. I don’t mind laughing in his face.”

She scrunches her face at the thought. “No, Nick doesn’t have an art-like quality to him. Don’t get me wrong, he knows how to use it very well, but it’s not pretty.”

“What’s not pretty?” Zack asks, entering the room. Rylee really needs to learn to talk quieter.

“Nothing!” both of us call out, blushing.

“Uh-huh, yeah, I know that look and I also know I really don’t want to know what you were talking about. Come on, dinner’s ready. Pete and I even set the table.”

Rylee bounces out the door and bounds down the stairs before our feet even hit the first step. I’m sure she’s trying to sneak in a kiss before we get there.

“She was talking about what I think she was, right?”

“What, sex?”

He shudders with just the thought. “Yeah.”

“Of course she was,” I answer with a laugh.

“So sick. I figured as much,” he mutters.

“Don’t worry, Zack. I’ll never tell your sister how well you wield your mighty sword.” He stops in his tracks halfway down the stairs, cracking up.

“Oh my God, Cassidy, that’s fucking classic! I almost wish you could, just so I could see her expression.” Then he whispers seductively in my ear, “But if that’s how you’re going to describe my fucking magnificent cock, I really hope it’s in jest.” He nips the tip of my earlobe and sucks on my neck, pulling me closer to him. His magnificent cock is pushing against my hip, making sure I’m aware his description is indeed accurate.

“Yes, it’s just a joke. But you’d understand why if you could have heard her description of…”

“Lalalalala!” He cuts me off with his fingers in his ears and bounds down the stairs.

“Oh, gross! Seriously? Come on! Pete, we’re about to eat. Damn, Ry, you’re making me lose my appetite.”

Oops, guess he walked in on them anyway.

“Payback’s a bitch, big brother. Get used to it,” Rylee tosses back at him as I walk right past the kitchen and out to the patio. I’m starving and this will either end quickly or go on all night, but my baby needs to eat now.

Pete exits the house right behind me and takes a seat, followed by Ry and Zack.

“There’s not enough bleach in the world for my eyes after that,” Zack complains as I begin dishing out food.

“Stop whining, Zack, it was just tongue. I’ve seen you with your ass in the air mid-thrust, so don’t talk to
me
about bleach.” Rylee pretends to stick her finger down her throat and gag. Zack does have the decency to look embarrassed, but it only lasts a second.

“If you would have knocked first that wouldn’t have happened,” he taunts and she rolls her eyes at him. I love how Pete just stays quiet and sips on his beer.

“New house rules starting now. No one gets to fuck in our house but us.”

“Seriously, Zack? We weren’t fucking, not even close to it,” Ry snaps back at him.

“I know,” he says with a smile. “I’m just making a pre-emptive strike in case you get too drunk to drive tonight.”

“If I get too drunk to drive tonight, I’ll call a cab because I’m definitely getting fucked.”

Both Pete and I respectively choke, him on his beer and me on my salad. Zack gives Pete a long glare and Pete just shrugs. Damn, I think I love him already.

“You just said I couldn’t break her heart, you didn’t say I couldn’t make her scream,” Pete points out diplomatically. It’s hysterical. I’m laughing so hard I’m crying at this point.

“How about we talk about something else? Like the fact that Zack and I are getting married on Monday at sunset and we’d like you both here.”

Zack immediately smiles at me and pulls my free hand to his mouth, kissing it tenderly.

“What?” Rylee screams. “When did this happen? It hasn’t even been a full twenty-four hours since I’ve seen you guys.”

“It happened around three in the morning after Cassidy told me we’re having a baby.” I swear his chest puffed out a little with pride when he just told them that.

Rylee jumps up so fast she knocks her chair over and pulls us both out of our seats. “You’re having a baby?” she asks, her eyes full of love.

“I’m having a baby.”

“When? When am I going to be an aunt?” Her excitement is contagious, even Pete gets up and gives Zack a man hug.

“Congratulations, man. This is exciting news all the way around. I’ll be here for the wedding.”

“You’ll probably be around for the birth, too. The baby is due in January,” I tell him, avoiding Rylee’s glare.

“Wait, why would he be around for the birth?” she demands as she finishes hugging Zack.

“Come on, let’s sit down. We’re moving here, Rylee, for good.”

“What?” she asks, stunned, with tears in her eyes.

Zack explains to her and Pete how happy we are here and how we want a fresh start in this house. Pete seems excited but I’m holding my breath, waiting for Ry to respond.

“Zack, you need to put me in touch with your realtor. There’s no way you guys are moving here without me.”

“Oh, thank God. I was hoping you’d say that!” I exclaim in happiness.

“You were?”

“Of course, Rylee. Cassidy and I talked about you moving here before we made the decision. You were a big part of what was holding us back. With your business, you can work from anywhere. There’s no way my kids are going to grow up without being close to my baby sister.”

“I love you, too, big brother,” she answers softly, and if I’m not mistaken, Pete looks even happier than he did before.

“So what needs to be done for the wedding?” Rylee asks, jumping right into party planner mode.

“I guess everything? That gives us less than two days to find a minister, dress, food, cake, license...” We wasted the day away today and there’s still so much to do.

“Nothing,” Zack replies casually. Ry snickers and winks at me.

“What do you mean nothing?” I demand, putting my fork down and crossing my arms.

“I mean, there’s nothing left to be done. If you, for one second, thought I was going to follow you here and let you leave this island before saying our vows, you don’t know me at all. Everything has been planned and on stand-by just waiting for us to pick a day since the day I got here.” This shouldn’t surprise me but it does.

“Here’s the thing, I need a dress. I sent that beautiful monstrosity back with the plane and I have no intention of putting it back on again.”

Rylee giggles. “It
was
a beautiful monstrosity, wasn’t it? Don’t worry, I have dresses for us both. You’ll love them. I’ll bring them by tomorrow, so if you don’t like them, we can go shopping.”

“You guys really planned
everything
?”

“Your husband has kept me very busy this week. He’s lucky he’s my friend because some of this stuff has been very much out of the scope of my work. But I’m happy to do it for the two of you.”

“Thank you, guys. So there’s really
nothing
left to be done?” I love them so much and I see their love for me reflecting in their eyes. Even Pete loves me, I’m pretty sure. It’s incredible how much I notice now that Zack has finally broken through the last wall around my heart. I’ll
never
let my child ever feel the way I did.