Indulgence (178 page)

“HOLY SHIT, Cass, come here!”

I heard Lena yelling from what I assumed to be the master
suite. I walked in chewing on my banana and gasped in awe. The bedroom was
incredible. The king size bed was covered in a silver satin quilt and pillows
to match. The headboard was black wrought iron designed like a trellis; it was
stunning to look at. I was afraid to even touch it. I walked toward the
bathroom to discover a large walk-in closet separating the bathroom from the
bedroom.

The bathroom itself was a dream. There was a double headed
shower with at least four body sprayers and a rainfall showerhead on the
ceiling. You could fit half a dozen people in there! Next to it was a huge
sunken tub for two. There was a huge vanity, at least six feet long, spanning
the opposite wall with a toilet and bidet at the end.

“Cassidy, I think we’re in one of the junior penthouse
suites.” I nodded my head in agreement. No detail had been missed. Hopefully
that was the same with the decorations in the ballroom.

The Benedict hotel had been all over the news in the
previous weeks. The hotel had their grand opening the night before last.
Unfortunately, I was too busy to make it, swamped with final prep for the
masquerade. We were both startled back to reality when our cells started
chirping and vibrating in unison.

“Alright, let’s get to it! I have a meeting with J.J.
Benedict about tonight and next week’s auction and then I’ll meet you in the
ballroom. Please finalize the auction menu and then confirm everything with
Francis for tonight.” I threw my peel away and we headed down to the main
floor, responding to texts as we went.

*****

I made my way across the street and checked in with the
security desk. After they confirmed my appointment I headed to the elevators
and made my way up. I entered the reception area through the glass double doors
and realized the office was eerily empty. I rang the bell that had been left on
the counter, noticing hallways leading to my left and right and I looked around
hesitantly.

“Hello?”

“I’m in the office, Miss Charles.”

I followed the sound of the voice coming from my right and
made my way toward French doors. As I walked into the office, I noticed a
credenza on the back wall with bookcases on each end and a desk in front. There
was a large man standing with his back to me as he shuffled through some
papers.

I was instantly aware that the man couldn’t be J.J.
Benedict. J.J. was older, and this man was, well, not old. He was tall and I
noticed dark hair, not grey hair, pulled back and he wore a tailored grey suit.

“I’m supposed to be meeting Mr. J.J. Benedict. I apologize
for my tardiness. Did I miss him?”

He turned around with a killer smile on his face and
recognition slammed into me like a freight train. “Hello, Blackbird.”

Redemption

~ CASSIDY ~

I tensed up as memories flooded through me like a dam had
broken. I suddenly felt transported to another time. I was with Holly and we
were laughing and getting ready for another night out. We were walking through
the bar to find someplace to sit. Then we were chatting before I was distracted
by the image of a beast of a man. He had his back to me before he turned and
smiled. Those eyes, that smile…the bathroom, Holly, Dan, Sam; it all came back.
You should watch where you’re going
…POP, POP, POP…screams, blood, black
bags, lights and sirens.

The wind was knocked right out of me. It was him, James.
Why
was he here?
He looked completely transformed in that suit. His hair was
pulled back and he was sporting several days of growth on his jaw. I felt like
a cornered animal looking for a way out of there. The room began to spin and I
couldn’t make heads or tails of where the exit was.

It was too much all at once. I couldn’t breathe and I
quickly felt overheated. He glided to me, cupped my face and tilted my eyes up
to his.
God, I’d missed looking at him.
His eyes somehow breathed life
back into my lungs. “James?” Tears filled my eyes as a barrage of emotions
flowed through me. Love, loss, fear, regret, anger, relief; the list went on
and on.

He whispered, “Please don’t cry. I saw enough tears fall
from your eyes that night to last me a lifetime.” He attempted to pull me into
an embrace. It then dawned on me that James was arrested for the events that
happened that night and I pulled away. “Don’t run.” I was in complete panic
mode, not knowing what to do. He hesitated before letting go.

Get it together, Cassidy.
“There must be some kind of
mistake. I’m supposed to be meeting Mr. Benedict.” My words were barely
audible.

The smile returned to his face. “You’ve found him. I’m
Jackson James Benedict III, J.J.’s son.”

I took a deep breath as I put some distance between us and
smoothed my hands down the front of my black pin stripe pants. I had to get it
together. I felt like someone just threw me off a carousel at warp speed.
J.J.’s
son?
I looked at him in disbelief.

“Cassidy, I have so much to tell you.”

“It’s Miss Charles. I think it would be best if I finalize
the details of the auction with Mr. Benedict,
your father
. I can wait
for him to return or reschedule.” Ugh, I was never going to be able to look at
J.J. the same way again. His son was the devastatingly handsome bar owning drug
user? This just didn’t seem right.

“I apologize, Miss Charles. Actually, the auction is my baby
this year since it’s being held in my hotel. Father met with you previously
because I was busy with other business affairs. You’ll be dealing with me from
now on.”

Smug bastard. “I apologize, I was unaware.” I was feeling
thrilled and worried all at once.

“Please, sit down. Have you had breakfast? I’ll make it
quick.” He motioned me toward a small table as he pulled a chair out for me.
There was a tray of bagels, fresh fruit and a carafe of orange juice with some
dishes and cups.

I took my seat, not quite knowing what to do, and he sat in
the seat across from me. I could feel his eyes devouring me. I started rattling
off details concerning the auction and some items that needed refining. He
poured himself some orange juice and was chewing on a bagel. I tried to avoid
looking at him as I shuffled through my stack of notes.

“How are you doing?” The question was one full of concern
and I wasn’t sure how to answer.

“I’m fine. How are you?” I tried to answer with as little
emotion in my voice as possible. I had to keep this professional. I picked up
my cappuccino and took a sip. He leaned back in his chair with his legs
crossed. I couldn’t help but take in his physique from the tips of his toes, up
his outstretched legs to his groin. I was vaguely aware that I was biting my
lip.

“I’m better now that you’re here.” That got my attention and
my eyes removed themselves from his crotch and found his eyes. That smile was
my undoing.

The same flutters from months ago were there and I was
getting nervous. I decided to pick up a bagel and started grinding on a piece.
We sat there for several minutes exchanging glances. He just watched me
intently and I pretended to be oblivious to it, to him. When I finished half of
my bagel I set the remainder down, “If that’s all you need, I think I’ll be
going.” I stood abruptly.

He was at my side immediately as I tried to place the chair
back. “Let me help you.” He placed his hand on top of mine and instantly I was
aware of the warmth moving through my hand and up my arm. I wanted to run away
and jump his bones all at the same time. I yanked it away, repositioned my bag
and rushed past him.

Before I knew it, I was face first on the floor, nose to
nose with the plush cream carpet.
Please tell me I hadn’t just fallen to the
floor in front of him!
The tears were welling in my eyes from pure
embarrassment. I didn’t even know what I’d tripped on, probably my own feet. I
felt his hand on my elbow trying to help me up.

“Are you ok? You should watch where you’re going,
Blackbird.” His words, his voice, traveled through me and I realized he was the
one I barreled into coming out of the elevator earlier that morning and it was
also what he had said when I ran into him after leaving the bathroom that night
at the bar.

“Stop calling me that. I’m fine.” I bit out as I swatted his
hand away. I felt a tear roll down my cheek as I stood.

“Cassidy.” He held my shoulders and shook me gently to get
my attention. I looked up at him and then placed my face in my hands. He pulled
me to him and the flood gates opened. Attempting to calm me, he shushed me and
stroked my back.

I could’ve stayed in those arms forever. “This is so messed
up. I should go.” I tried to push out of his arms, but he refused to release
me. His hands were circling my upper arms and he just looked at me utterly
disappointed. “Let me go!”

“I WILL NOT!” I jumped in alarm. He looked like he was ready
to spit nails. “I apologize, I didn’t mean to yell. Cassidy, I don’t know what
you think of me, but clearly you have the wrong idea. I need to explain.”

“Explain what? That your drug habit got my best friend
killed and your daddy’s money got you off?” I shrieked at him as I shoved
against his chest.

He was clearly baffled at my retaliation. His voice dropped
to a whisper and he started rubbing my arms. “Cassidy, I swear to you, I had
nothing to do with what happened that night. The charges were dropped and not
because of my money. The only connection is the fact that I own the Blue Horse.
I despise drugs and the havoc they wreak.” He released my arms, visibly shaken.
He headed to the couch and dropped down, looking defeated.

I didn’t know why I hadn’t rushed out the door. My intuition
was telling me he was honest. I owed it to him to hear him out. Cal had said
the charges were dropped. I set my purse and laptop bag down on the couch
across from him and placed my coffee and cell on the table separating us. “Mr.
Benedict, I’m sorry. Talking about that night is still very hard for me. Can we
start this meeting over?”

He looked up with a glimmer of a smile. “Are you okay? That
was quite a tumble.”

I started laughing. “I’m the worst klutz, ever. It’s a
serious problem.” We were both laughing then. He smiled at me as we sat in
silence for several moments. I had to keep this professional; he seemed to read
my thoughts.

“So, the auction?”

He pulled me back to reality as I grabbed my notes back out
of my bag. “Lena is at the hotel finalizing the time frame and food selections.
Everything seems to be in order except one thing that Cecily wanted me to check
on.” His brow furrowed in question. “The check that we submitted for the
ballroom rental was never processed. We can issue a new check if need be…”

“There’s no need to issue a new check, Miss Charles.”

“Okay, great. I’ll let Cecily know it will be processed any
day then?”

“Let Cecily know that the ballroom rental fee has been
waived. Cecily can give the money to the charity if she likes.”

“I’m sorry?”

“We won’t be accepting the room rental fee. Consider it our
contribution.”

I was shocked. “Mr. Benedict, this isn’t necessary.”

“Please, call me James.”

“James, this isn’t necessary.”

“I know it’s not necessary and I don’t want to discuss it
further.”

Well, I wasn’t one to look a gift horse in the mouth. “Thank
you very much, it’s very generous. Unless there’s anything else, I should get
back to the hotel. The florist will be there soon.”

“Cassidy, I’d like to take you to dinner.” I choked on my
cappuccino and started coughing uncontrollably. He stood up and came back with
a bottle of water. He handed me the water as I was getting my bearings back.
“Is it that shocking that I’d ask you to dinner?”

I was a little dumbstruck. “Um, well, I just, I…”

He sat down next to me and placed the bottle of water he had
just given me on the table and took my hands in his. “Cassidy, I know you felt
it all those months ago. I felt it, too, and I still do. A day hasn’t passed
that you haven’t crossed my mind. There’s something here,” he motioned between
our bodies.

I was looking at our hands and it was there, that
electricity. I looked to him and a shudder caused me to roll my shoulders. My
heart started racing and I clenched my thighs together, trying to subdue the
throb between them. Before I could say a word, he leaned in and tucked a loose
piece of hair behind my ear. He cupped my face and gently touched my lips with
his own.

How many times had I fantasized about that very moment? I
accepted his kiss, knowing that if Cecily found out I’d probably get canned.
Both of his hands were on my face, lightly caressing. His lips were gentle and
felt better than I had ever dreamed. I molded my lips to his and inhaled his
sweet breath. His tongue gently ran across my upper lip. I slid closer to him and
placed my hands on his lapels. Our tongues began a torrid dance that had my
entire body standing at attention. It was a kiss I would never forget and one I
never wanted to end.

I worked my hands up to his neck and to the tie holding his
hair and couldn’t resist removing it. I’d been dying to run my fingers through
his hair since that first night I saw him. He encouraged me with a groan and
started kissing my jaw while working his way back to my ear.

“James…we should stop,” but my actions betrayed my words as
I dragged his mouth back to mine.

“Shut up, Cassidy.”

Before I knew it he pulled me into his lap, not sure how he
managed it. His hand was on my hip and I could feel his erection straining
against my thigh. I felt my own hair fall from its tie as he tugged on it
gently. It felt wonderful and I whimpered into his mouth, barely aware of my
phone ringing. I slowly pulled my face away from his. “Shit. I have to get
that.”