honey. I’ll help you strip off those clothes. Ain’t nothin’ I haven’t seen before.”
She started the shower and worked Rhett’s shirt off him. “My, I have seen it before up on the big screen, but lemme tell you, up close and personal does it for me every time.”
Gloria removed his pants and socks and nudged him toward the shower. “I’ll have a towel and some clothes for you by the time you’re out. Have a good soak, honey.”
◆◆◆
Cassie paced back and forth, TJ’s head swinging from left to right as if he watched a tennis match. Shep sat next to the cat on the leather sofa, his head on his paws.
She hadn’t slept much. Couldn’t force anything down. Was afraid to go for a run and not hear her cell ring. She did manage a shower and actually took the time to blow her hair dry and put on a little makeup to disguise the dark circles under her eyes. If Rhett turned up, she didn’t want to look like the Bride of Frankenstein and scare him away again.
The buzzer rang in the kitchen. Someone wanted in the front gate. Cassie walked over and saw a dilapidated Buick with two people sitting there on the monitor. A man was slumped against the open window, his head down. The woman had on dark lipstick and wore a big smile. Cassie flipped the switch to speak.
“Yes?”
“Hi, there. Am I talking to Cassie? This here’s Gloria Redmond. I’ve got someone that wants to come home. Say hi, Rhett, will ya?”
Cassie watched the screen and saw the man sit up.
It was Rhett.
Gloria began explaining, “Rhett couldn’t quite remember the combi—”
Cassie pushed the button to open the gate and raced from the kitchen. Shep and TJ jumped down from the couch and followed, not about to miss out on the action.
She threw the front door open and ran to the circular driveway as the Buick chugged along the long drive. She couldn’t stand it. The car barely moved. Rhett might not get here before New Year’s at this rate. Cassie took off running as fast as she could, reaching the car, and seeing Rhett.
She pulled the handle and yanked the door open, falling into his lap, covering him in kisses.
They both murmured bits and pieces as they touched each other’s face, stroked hair, clung to one another as if the world was about to end. The driver chuckled to herself. Cassie heard the laughter faintly in the background as she made it her mission to kiss Rhett Corrigan until they were both breathless.
She succeeded.
Finally coming up for air, she actually looked at him.
“What Mack Truck ran over you, Corrigan?”
The driver laughed again. “Oh, Rhett, you’re right. She’s definitely a keeper.”
Cassie glanced at the woman. Had she called herself Gloria?
The redhead stuck out her hand. “Gloria Redmond, at your service. Wasn’t a redhead until a beau of mine thought I’d look good that way, and with my last name being Redmond and all, I thought I’d give it a whirl.”
“Sweetheart, you need to get off me,” Rhett announced.
Cassie looked back at him. Rhett wore a ratty, black biker T-shirt two sizes too large and lime green sweat pants. He was barefoot.
“Corrigan, you’ve got a lot of explaining to do.”
CHAPTER 27
Rhett awoke to the smell of fresh coffee. He opened his eyes to find himself in his own bed, sunlight streaming through the open curtains, Shep parked next to him.
“Good morning.”
He watched as Cassie entered the bedroom with a breakfast tray in her hands. His stomach rumbled in response.
She crossed the room and set the tray on the floor. “Let’s get you propped up.”
Cassie fixed the pillows behind him as Rhett struggled to sit up. He managed to come to an upright position but he was glad the pillows supported him. She reached for the tray and set it across his lap before crawling onto the bed next to him. She nudged Shep over and Rhett saw TJ had taken up residence near the foot of the bed.
“I see the gang’s all here,” he said as he picked up his fork to dive into the omelet.
Cassie buttered his toast and smeared strawberry jam on for good measure.
“How do you feel?”
Rhett savored the egg concoction, chewing thoughtfully. He tasted cheese, spinach, mushrooms, tomatoes, and chives in his first bite.
“Rested. My body still hurts like hell but my head is finally clear. What time is it?”
“About ten. It’s December thirtieth, by the way. You slept for the last twenty-four