The Bound Bride (21 page)

Could this be different?

“Take her upstairs,” Faye said. “I’ll
deal with the fuzz.”

Oliver obeyed and guided Cassandra back to their
room.

Cassandra fell into Oliver’s embrace. He held her close.

“I’m… I’m sorry, Cassie.”

Was he apologizing for what had almost happened or for leaving in the first place?

At that second, Cassandra didn’t care. His hold was gentle, and she rested against him.

“How did you come back?”

Oliver lifted her face to his.

“I needed to see you. But not… not like that.”

He looked to the bed, and she could feel him trembling above her.

Oliver pulled her closer, and Cassandra felt safe in his arms. She stayed in his embrace until the sounds of sirens and Faye explaining the intruder into cuffs rose, then exploded and evaporated into the first light of the moon. Faye appeared at the door with a simple nod, and Cassandra saw Oliver silently thank her as she moved into the depths of the house.

“Iris?”

It was a question that an demanded answer.

He touched her face.

“Jeff called. She was worried when there was no
sign that he was back. She said he was still here. I…”

It was an effort for him to form his next statement.

“I shouldn’t have left you.”

Cassandra could see Oliver scrambling against the clock to race back before further harm came to her. It was everything he hadn’t
intended. But it had
happened. He could do nothing but hold her closer.

“Cassie, he… I shouldn’t have let him touch you. I
should have stayed. Are you sure you’re all right?”

She nodded. He moved to kiss her, and she remembered Adam’s mouth on hers. Oliver was distressed as she pulled away. But he took her hand and seemed to just accept her presence.

“You need to rest.”

Cassandra shuddered at the sight of their bed. Oliver led her away from Adam’s near conquest and placed her at the foot of the guest beds.

“Do you want me to stay?” he asked.

She nodded and he slipped to her side. His hands were tender and chaste as stroked her cheek.

“It’s okay, Cassie. And now you’ll stay.”

Cassandra started to speak but at that moment she could do nothing but linger in his eyes. He seemed to accept her silence as a
yes
and smiled.

She didn’t have the heart or the strength to crush his spirit. Not at that moment. Maybe never?

Chapter Twenty-Nine

She had drifted off and ultimately woke to find him gone. For a moment she worried that Faye had failed in what seemed a superhuman effort in subduing Adam, and Cassandra sat up. She held her breath as the door slowly opened. Oliver appeared with a tray of food. He set it by her side.

“Hungry?”

Despite the tray of the freshest fruit, Cassandra had no appetite.

“No. Thanks.”

Oliver waited a second before accepting her refusal and taking the tray way. He returned to the bed and took her hand.

“It’ll keep. Your friend’s friend is in the back of a squad car. He won’t bother anyone anymore.”

Cassandra’s mind shifted back to Iris.

“Where’s—?”

“Jeff’s setting her up at the Empire. At my expense
of course. Thought she could use it after all she’s been through.

No doubt Iris was soaking in his suite and looking ahead. For the moment, she was free of all worries. Cassandra knew she’d have to speak to her, face her again, and explain her own choices.

“At least… at least you’ll stay now. Right?”

He had essentially nullified their contract. Was there another clause that she’d failed to read?

“I— I thought we were done.”

“Forget I said that. I have. Let’s just start again.”

Did he really mean that?

“Okay. Oliver—”

“What that animal tried to do... I’d do anything to cut it from your mind. But facts are facts, Cassie. I came back. I rescued you. You need me.”

She turned away from him and felt his light had on her back. Now who was the one twisting all that was horrible into some kind of turn
on? When she saw him enter the room, when he pried Adam from her trembling body, Cassandra was nothing but grateful. But didn’t he see…?

“And I need you. What do I have to do to show you that?”

Cassandra pondered the question.

“Oliver, he never would have come back if you hadn’t gone after him.”

Cassandra fought the urge to look at him and waited for the feel of him leaving her side again. She only felt his breath, warm and soft, against her neck.

“Maybe,” he finally said. “But I wouldn’t have had to do it if you hadn’t gone to Iris.”

That
was also true. Maybe. Or maybe if it hadn’t been Adam and Iris’ worst choice ever in boyfriends, it would have one of Oliver’s disgruntled underling or a stalker who’d followed her from the city or just a random act of violence that neither one of them could ever predict and barely prevent.

Danger was life.

She turned to look at him.

“You can’t stop every bad thing you’re scared of.”

“I can try.”

And she knew he would. Cassandra reached for his face.

“I believe that. I believe
you
.”

He appeared to relax. Cassandra’s fingers moved down his cheek.

“But, Oliver, everything you wanted to stop still happened. Under your watch.”

“Cassie, don’t.”

“Shhh. You can’t control the world, Oliver. You can’t control what happens to
me.”

She shifted up, her hands still on his face.

“Do you still want me to stay? I mean really?”

He quickly nodded. Cassandra took his hand and led him from the bed, from the room.

“I do, too.”

He moved to take her in his arms. Cassandra held him back but kept her grasp around his fingers.

“So we have
to sort this out. Come with me.”

With her hand still in his, they took the steps and walked through the great room. For the first time since she had lived here, Cassandra opened the French Doors and stepped into the night. Oliver followed, and she felt him nervous against the air. She took a few steps forward then turned to face him with her hands folded across her chest.

“We’re drawing up a new contract. Right now.”

“We are?”

“Yes. First thing. I’m staying.”

He focused on her eyes.

“Yes you are.”

She had to keep it going.

“But I’m
not staying in this house. Not all
the time. I want the freedom to come and go. And you have my word that I’ll always come back.”

Cassandra couldn’t quite believe the force of the words coming from her mouth. Oliver circled around her. She hoped he didn’t see her shaking under her his stare.

“And just where are you planning to come and go?”

She found the courage to face him.

“That’s
up to you.”

Oliver seemed taken aback by her demand.

“What does that mean?”

Iris would object. Faye would roll her eyes yet again. But Cassandra was about to play her hand.

“
La Bohem
e.”

Oliver appeared even more confused.

“What?”

“I lied. That’s my favorite opera. I always cry when they say they’ll love each other through the winter. Winter’s coming, Oliver. Can you at
least
trust me until spring? I’ll… stay in town. I’ll come
back before dark. Give me a curfew. But you have to try, too.”

Oliver sat upon the stone steps and stared out into the stretch of forest just beyond the house. Cassandra saw the shadows, too, and she had no idea what lurked within all that they cast.

The only way to know for sure was to take a first step.

Cassandra sat beside him.

“Oliver?”

He smoothed his hands across his face.

“It’s too much of a chance to take.”

She heard Oliver ready to launch into what were now a familiar series of objections.

And it was her chance.

Cassandra was on her feet.

“Let’s see.”

She broke into a run and started for the woods.

“Cassie? Wait!”

Cassandra kept running, her bare feet grinding against the soil, the grass, the rocks.

“Cassie!”

She continued to run and knew that he was at her heels. She slipped behind a tree and heard him trip in his pursuit. Cassandra found the urge to turn back and tend to him.

“Cassie!”

She saw him move past her, almost frantic and flailing. His face was caught in a bit of moonlight, and Oliver looked terrified. Cassandra had to leave him in that state for a few seconds. His movements slowed, and he finally looked back. When he saw her pressed against the bark of the maple, he charged forward and stopped his hands just above her shoulders.

“What are you doing?”

Cassandra swiftly stood and took his hands.

“I left. But I stopped. And I waited for you.”

Would he see?

Oliver went from terrified rage to amused laughter before she could say anything else.

“This is supposed to convince me?”

It wasn’t subtle.

“Maybe not. But if you honor my terms—”

“Cassie, I—”

“I
was the one hurt tonight. In your
house. I should keep running. I shouldn’t look back. But I… I want to be with you. I want to see where this goes. I can’t do it the way you want. But I’ll… I’ll meet you halfway. Oliver?”

He said nothing. She was banking on his fear of losing her to keep her
safe
. That was the hand she’d been dealt.

Would Oliver play?

Chapter Thirty

The restaurant was nestled in the heart of Stephens’ Point. The menu on the sidewalk promised a crab bisque and braised ribs. Cassandra loved the feel of the night against her skin.

But she once again she had no appetite.

“Cass? Over here.”

She saw Iris at a table and stepped towards her. Iris rose and scanned her up and down. Cassandra’s royal blue dress seemed to cling closer to her body.

“So. You’ve healed?” Iris asked.

As if her spotless face didn’t tell the story.

Well, it didn’t tell the entire story.

“Sure. You?”

Iris reached for her glass and downed her wine.

“I’m done with it. With him. Did you hear? He has warrants out for prescription fraud. Mescaline. Makes sense, right?

Perfect sense
.

“Anyway, no more Adam.”

Cassandra still worried that Iris would fall back into something even
worse at the first chance.

“So—”

“Oh! Great!”

Cassandra turned to see Jeff, clad in a suit and tie, slowly moving towards the table. When he was near enough to touch, Iris took his arm and pecked his cheek.

Jeff
.

It was still platonic enough to not cause alarm. Naturally they’d bonded at the Empire. At least Cassandra knew him. Jeff would play nice and take the good times for what they were.

“Hey, Miss Dodd. You look… nice.”

Iris slapped his shoulder.

“Don’t stand on ceremony. Call her Cass.”

Jeff shuffled where he stood.

“I… I can’t do that.”

Iris rolled her eyes.

“Yes you can.”

Iris stared hard at Cassandra.

“Do I
need to get you out of a jam?”

She started to protest when Oliver appeared.

He was at her side in a flash and pulled her close to him. Jeff was all smiles as Iris stared at Oliver, hard.

“What’s this I hear about a curfew?”

Cassandra took Oliver’s hand.

“My idea, Iris. It’s what he needs.”

But Iris wasn’t backing down, and she pressed her hands to her hips.

“Oh really? What do you need?”

Cassandra gazed up at Oliver. This wasn’t going to be simple. It would be every shade of complicated. He had agreed to daily trips into town, as long as someone was at her side. Sometimes it was Jeff. Other times it was Faye. And regardless of the chaperone, she had to be in by seven. It was the earliest curfew that she could remember. More often than not, Oliver was already waiting with a drink in hand. She always saw him on the edge of breaking until she finally appeared. But when she did, he relaxed and offered her a glass. After discussing the day, they returned to the guest room. Cassandra was still uneasy. And Oliver understood. He seemed content to just hold her until the morning came and the day repeated itself in what became familiar patterns.

The answer to Iris’ question was simple.

“I need him.”

Iris plopped her napkin on her lap and talked of appetizers. Jeff pointed out
his
favorites.

Cassandra lifted her menu and smiled at Oliver from behind the display of specials.

“You okay?” she asked.

Oliver sipped his water and finally smiled at her.

“Hardly.”

At
least he was honest.

She took his hand.

This was a shot in the dark. There was no way of knowing if he would grow comfortable enough to stick with her terms. He had agreed on that night and carried her back to the house. To the guest room. He laid her out night after night and simply slept at her side. She knew he wanted her. Cassandra wanted him. But it was still too soon. He could wait for that. And the promise of its return seemed to fortify him in the face of her request for some leeway.

Cassandra touched his face and stared at him with what had to be love. Why
else would she be doing this?

“It’s a meal, Oliver
.
Thank you. I like being seen with you.”

He pushed the menu down. Iris and Jeff stopped talking, and they both waited for Oliver to speak. Cassandra saw him trying to make this normal, but he was still so far away all that meant to say anything.

So it fell to Cassandra.

She took Oliver’s hand and raised it to her lips.

“This is nice,” she said. “A toast.”

Jeff quickly raised his glass, and Cassandra followed. Iris was slower but soon made the necessary gesture.

Only one man was still out.

“Oliver?”

He took up his glass. Cassandra placed all of her focus on him. She knew that a part of him still hated the arrangement she had negotiated. But still he agreed.

“Here’s to a chance.”

They clinked glasses. Oliver was the last man to the table. But he toasted with the rest of them and sipped his wine.

He smiled at Cassandra with his eyes. Oliver was fearful. But he was on board.

It was a chance worth taking.