the door.
“May I come in?” he asked, waiting until she’d crossed the threshold.
She winced. “Sure, I guess. But—”
“You know what? I’m sorry to say this, but I only want to talk. We’ll be having none of that sexy business.”
“None?”
“Maybe a kiss. But that’s where I draw the line. Even if you beg me.”
She laughed, and it made everything a whole lot better. Not fixed, though. He’d meant it about needing to apologize.
But he let it alone while she turned on more lights and put down her things. She looked tired, as he knew she would. “What can I get you to drink?” he asked.
“What, an hour behind the bar and now you’re a mixologist?”
He shook his head. “I had no idea how difficult your job is. I could barely keep up, even with Lisa’s help. I’ll tip better from now on.”
“I’ve seen your tips. You don’t have a lot of room for improvement.”
“Those were special.”
“I should hope so,” she said, walking toward him, looking very purposeful. “How about you kiss me, then I go visit the ladies’ room while you fix us both a cold soda.”
“I can do that,” he said, pulling her close, pressing her body against his own. She felt amazing, and he breathed her in like the first hit of fresh air after the oxygen mask came off. When he kissed her, she slipped her arms around his neck as he circled her waist.
They started off just brushing their lips together, and when that about drove him crazy, he broached her with his tongue. She tasted like limes, and that made him grin. Not that he quit kissing her, because he might not get another chance tonight.
Running his hand up her back, he could feel the tension in her shoulders, and as badly as he wanted to use all his time to make out, this wasn’t about him. He pulled away, glad to hear her little protest, but not giving in to her tug on his shirt. “Go. I’ll get the sodas. You have a preference?”
She shook her head.
“Okay, then. See you in a few minutes.”
He turned, but was stopped midway. “Thank you. For helping me tend bar. For being patient. For... Well, just thank you.”
With a heavy sigh, he reversed so he could look her in the eyes. “I should have made the situation better, not worse.”
“You were great. Seriously. And now I’m asking pretty please if we can drop the subject. I’ve got so much to do tonight, and I’m already whipped.”
“You bet. I think I can help with those shoulders of yours. And quizzes. If you need a quiz, I am definitely your man.”
Her smile lit up her eyes. Not the way they did when she was rested and hadn’t had a major blowout with her brother, but still, he was pleased to see it. “I’ll think better after I wash my face,” she said, and then she was off.
He chose a cola for her, and a ginger ale for himself. The cracking of the ice made him thirstier still, and he’d downed a considerable amount by the time Cassie came back.
Little fringes of hair around her face were wet. She did seem somewhat more alert as she lifted her soda. “Here’s to caffeine and memorization.”
He urged her to the couch, where she handed him the textbook open to a list of study questions. It took them several minutes to arrange themselves so that he could massage her shoulders while she answered his questions. As the night went on, her answers came less quickly and were interspersed with yawns.
When the worst of the knots had been teased out of her muscles, he sat beside her. Twenty minutes past midnight, her body rested fully against him, her head on his shoulder.
“Why don’t we wrap this up?” he asked. “You can barely keep your eyes open.”
“I don’t need to see when you’re asking the questions. Keep going.”
He obeyed, knowing her determination wasn’t going to win over her exhaustion.
Finally, she didn’t answer a question. He was loath to move her. Not only did she look impossibly young and beautiful, but there was also a certain privilege that came along with her trust. He’d wanted to protect her at the bar, wanted to care for her now. She’d have objected. And it was true, she could take care of herself. Still...
He moved very carefully, slowly, arranging her on the couch until he could stand. A quick trip to her bedroom let him throw back the covers.
Once he returned