Love With A Stranger (40 page)

She had destroyed all of the sordid materials exposing Tom’s dark side, and that was the only secret she had withheld from Jason. She felt it should remain buried in the past with Tom and revealing it wouldn’t accomplish any good purpose.

Cass thought about the wrong and tragic choices she had made in the past, but she couldn’t curse them because they had made her stronger and wiser and kinder, and they had propelled her toward a meeting with Jason and enabled a bright future with him.

She was no longer afraid or reluctant to trust her emotions, decisions, and herself. Three times she had fallen in love with strangers; twice she had struck out in that game; but the third time was a surefire winner.

Cass looked toward the kitchen archway as her husband and stepson entered the room, laughing and joking about their golf game at the St. Simons Island Club. Their sounds warmed her heart, her very soul. The only thing she missed in her life was for her parents to be alive and to share with them such blissful events: their only daughter’s marriage to a fine man, her becoming
a part of a wonderful family, and the impending birth of their first grandchild. News about her pregnancy would be revealed to the Burkmans tomorrow, and she knew each of them would be elated and excited by that revelation.

After they greeted each other and chatted for a few minutes, she asked with a smile, “Well, did we have any eagles or birdies today?”

“I had a couple of birdies, but that son of mine had an eagle on the seventeenth hole. He smashed a three wood just in front of the green and sank his wedge shot. Playing like he did, he’ll never convince me he spends all of his time in class, studying, or at the hospital.”

Stacey chuckled before he said, “It was just a lucky shot, Dad, and we both know it. If the wind hadn’t died down at the right minute, I’d have sliced and been in that water hazard. And if you hadn’t been so distracted by the company that was coming soon, you would have licked me good, as usual. Just wait until I’m out of med school and playing regularly like you are and I’ll give you a run for your money.”

“Careful, Jason, or he’ll be sneaking your weekly allowance out of your pocket with winning bets,” Cass quipped to her grinning husband.

“Don’t worry, Cass, Dad’ll make me earn every dime I collect.”

As Stacey was talking, Jason walked to where Cass was sitting and gave her a kiss on the forehead, then another one on her lips. He smiled and caressed her cheek as his blue gaze roamed her tranquil expression.

“All right,” Stacey jested, “if you two are going to get lovey-dovey on me, I’m going to take a shower and get dressed to give you privacy.”

Jason teased him in return, “You don’t fool me, Son; I know you’re just eager to go see Linda. Since she’s one of our best friends, we don’t mind at all, do we, sweetheart?”

“Not in the least, Stacey, so get moving before she comes after you.”

Stacey grinned, shrugged playfully, and left the room.

Jason squatted beside her chair and reached out his right hand to stroke her stomach. With a beaming smile and in a whisper, he asked, “How are we both doing today? You haven’t been working too hard, have you, sweetheart? You don’t have to get everything done today; Mom and Traci will help out after they get here. I will, too.”

Cass placed her hand over his. “We’re both doing fine, and I’ve just been getting a few things done in the kitchen so we’ll have more time to visit tonight and tomorrow. I can hardly wait for Mom and Dad to get here soon and for Traci, Chris, and the boys to arrive tomorrow. You, I mean,
we
have such a wonderful family. I’m so lucky to be a Burkman now.”

“We’re the ones who are lucky you joined us. I love you, Cassandra Burkman, more every day, if that’s possible.”

As she stood and hugged him, she replied, “It must be possible because I feel the same way about you.”

Jason gave her a long and tender kiss. Afterward, his mouth made a path across her cheek and his lips nibbled at her earlobe. His hands drifted up and down her back with gentle strokes.

Cass quivered in desire and murmured, “Careful, Doc, or you’ll have me needing one of those special treatments of yours at a most inconvenient time. Mom and Dad should be arriving any minute now if they landed in Atlanta and took off on ASA for Brunswick on schedule. Shouldn’t we head on over there so they won’t have to wait around for us?”

“You heard what Dad told us this morning, to stay here until he phones us in case either of their flights is delayed.” As he embraced her, he hinted, “We might have time for a quickie in the lanai bathroom; I hear Stacey’s shower running, so he won’t interrupt us before I can get you hot and bothered and—”

Cass laughed in amusement as the phone rang and Jason frowned and glanced in its direction.

He lifted the kitchen receiver and said, “Hello, Jason here.” As he listened to the person on the other end, he grinned, at Cass winked, and mouthed, “Later?”

Cass smiled and nodded, because she knew there would be many glorious make-up sessions for them in the coming months and years.