One Touch Page 16

  Filled with the pain of her possible betrayal, he realised then that he shouldn't have waited so long to put his mark on Cassie. But, dammit, he loved her and he'd thought she felt the same way about him, even if she hadn't exactly said so...

  Suddenly, all those times he'd wondered why she was holding back, what she could possibly be hiding, came back to him and it hit him right between the eyeballs. She'd been using him. He was such a fool. He'd fallen for it—hook, line and sinker.

  Later on, he'd changed his mind again, unable to believe she could deceive him so convincingly. He had to trust her. He would wait until he saw her and ask her. One way or another, he would find out the truth.

  * * * *

  Cruising to a stop in the rental car, Jake stared down Cassie's driveway at Richard's truck parked up close to the door. Now that he was here, the thought of asking her, even suspecting her, was making him sick to the gut, but he knew he had to find out one way or the other.

  God, please let his ma be wrong, he prayed. He didn't know what he'd do if what she said was true.

  Sick at heart and gearing himself for the worst, he climbed out, and with a heavy tread, walked down the driveway, his heart beating out a heavy rhythm in his chest.

  He didn't knock. He didn't ring the bell. Why should he? He didn't normally. The sound of Michael Bublé, Cassie's latest favourite singer, drifted down the hall. He had bought the CD for her just last weekend. Last weekend ... It had been a magical time—for all of them, his little sugar included. Taking a deep breath, he stepped inside and pulled up short, hearing Richard's voice calling from the direction of Cassie's bedroom.

  "Where are the towels, Cass? I'm standing here shivering."

  A red haze filmed over Jake's eyes at the implication behind those words.

  "In the cupboard, Richard. Just inside the door."

  She was in the kitchen, but what the hell was Richard doing in her ensuite?

  "Need a hand?"

  The teasing laugh as she said those words tore a hole in his chest. No! Fuck, no!

  "Behave, cheeky woman!"

  Richard's laughing rejoinder chilled Jake, not the words so much as the easy familiarity with which they were spoken. But that laugh of Richard's curdled in his stomach like rancid butter and he leaned on the wall for a second, trying to calm himself, when what he really wanted to do was go in there and beat the crap out of him.

  As the hurt ripped through him, a part of Jake wanted to turn around and walk out and never come back, but then the anger flared up inside him and he just wanted to make somebody pay. Grim, jaw gritted, he walked down the hall, arriving in the kitchen at the same time as a towel-draped Richard.

  "Hello, Richard."

  "Jake!” Richard turned at the sound of the familiar voice. “This is a surprise. I wasn't expecting..."

  Jake had to stifle a sneer. He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned nonchalantly against the wall. “No, I imagine you weren't. Neither of you, it would seem."

  Richard's gaze flicked to Cass in shock, but he turned back to Jake, fists clenching as his hands settled on his hips. “Now just a second, Jake. This isn't what you think."

  "Don't be playin’ me for a fucking fool, Richard.” He pushed off the wall abruptly and leaned closer to Richard. “I'm not stupid. Sure, but I know what's been going on behind my back. The two of you just couldn't wait until my back was turned to get it on."

  "Now hang on a sec...” Richard stepped back, his face registering disbelief.

  Jake had had enough. His body was primed and ready, his fists clenched at his sides, ready to swing. With difficulty, he struggled to rein in his temper. “Just fuck off, Richard. Oh, and by the way, you're fired!"

  "J-Jake, you're wrong, There's nothing between Richard and me. We're just friends."

  He looked over at Cass. Well, she had the innocent little woman thing down pat, he'd give her that. Butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. “Yeah, right. Friends. Sure."

  "No, it's true. It's not what you think!"

  The desperation was a nice touch, he thought. But, oh God, how he would have liked to believe her. He had no idea losing her could hurt this much, but payback was gonna be a bitch...

  Richard must have ducked away while he was talking to Cass because when Jake turned, Richard was coming back into the room, dressed this time looking as if he had a date. Obviously he had busted up their little plans for the evening. What a damned shame. “Where's Chloe?” he asked, his voice finally cracking.

  "A birthday party down the street. Jake..."

  "Good. You and I are needin’ to have a little talk.” He turned to Richard and regarded him balefully. “Still here?"

  "I'm not leaving Cass here with you in the mood you're in, Jake."

  A deceptive calm settled over him. “I'm not planning on hitting her, if that's what you're thinking. That's not my style. But she and I have to talk, and it's private, so if you don't mind..."

  "I know what you're thinking, Jake, and you are so wrong, mate."

  "Really?” His head cocked as he looked at Richard.

  "Whatever you've heard, or think you've heard, it's not true."

  "So, what do you think I've been hearin', Richard? That you've been screwing around with my woman? Yeah, it does go something like that."

  Richard hung his head, shaking it. “Jake, don't do this. You'll be making the biggest mistake of your life."

  "Aye, well, you'd be knowin’ all about that, wouldn't you..."

  Richard walked over to Cass, rubbing her arms, his expression concerned. He looked up when he heard the low growl coming from Jake. “Cass, I'll stay if you want me to..."

  She gripped his arms briefly before she brushed his arms away. “No, Richard. I'll be fine.” The quiver in her voice said anything but. “Th-this is a m-misunderstanding. You go, or you'll be late."

  Richard glared at Jake before glancing back at Cass. “Call me if you need me, okay?"

  "Sure."

  Finally, he and Cass were alone.

  Chapter Sixteen

  No, this wasn't happening. Couldn't be. It was like a scene out of her worst nightmare. Worried, Cass looked at the familiar face she loved, now flush with anger and bit her lip. With a shock, she realised it was the first time she had seen Jake as anything other than easygoing. Sure, there had been the odd moments when he had done his “assertive male” thing, but this went far beyond that. Too far.

  This simmering fury was a side to Jake that sent tendrils of dread through her. He continued to pace. Hands balled into fists and thrust in his pockets, he stopped and turned slowly, his tone snide and his face, a mask of derision.

  "If you were feelin’ that hard-up for a man, why didn't you just tell me, Cass?"

  Cass, not Cassie. The significance was not lost on her.

  "Sure, but I could've taken some time out of my busy schedule for you. It wouldn't have taken more than a moment, surely. Let's face it, darlin'—it never took me long to get you screaming before."

  The sneer on his lips cut her to the quick and Cass stepped back, bumping into the kitchen counter as if she'd been physically slapped. This couldn't be happening ... “What on earth are you talking about?"

  A hard, flinty look narrowed his eyes. “Don't be playin’ dumb with me. I'm the only sucker around here. And you know what I'm talking about. Fucking Richard! Literally!” He moved closer, looming over her, his anger palpable. “So, what? You figured you'd just string me along until you got bored? Little bit of variety on the side?"

  "Excuse me?” She gasped her reply, leaning back in an effort to put some distance between them. “Are you saying what I think you're saying?” Incredulity crept into her voice.

  "Oh, come on. Don't be playin’ the innocent with me. It's obvious, and not just to me what's been going on."

  She sidestepped and moved out from under his thunderous gaze. “I have no idea what you're talking about. I have never..."

  "Save it! I know your type, Cass. One's never en
ough, is it?"

  His lips hardened, a harsh slash across his face.

  Anger boiled inside her. That he could think for one second that she ... Of all the nerve ... How dare he! “Get out, Jake. Just get the hell out!"

  "Don't worry. I'm going.” He began to leave and stopped, turning to face her, and for a second the cold, hard mask dropped and she saw the pain underneath the unreasonable anger. “I was really thinkin’ we had something special, Cass. I even thought ... No, never mind what I thought."

  Desperate, she tried one more time to make him see reason. “But Jake, it's not what you're..."

  "You know, darlin', maybe if you were a little more selective with the guys you choose to share that hot little body with, you wouldn't be a single mum and that sweet little girl of yours would have a father instead of a string of uncles."

  The blood drained from Cass's face and she chilled, her body starting to tremble. Suddenly, she felt faint as if all the strength had been sucked out of her body with his hateful words. “I-I-..."

  He had turned away.

  "I'll be sendin’ somebody ‘round on Monday to pick up the rest of the gear. I'd appreciate it if you'd be keepin’ your hands of this one. Good tradesmen are hard to find."

  Unable to look at him anymore after seeing the disgust in his eyes, Cass turned away. Her body was trembling uncontrollably. She hugged her arms tight around herself to try and still it ... hide it from him. Tears started to well, making her vision blurry but the last thing she'd do was give him the satisfaction of seeing how he'd hurt her.

  "Just leave, Jake. You're not welcome here anymore.” The voice sounded dead, even to her own ears and how she got the words out, she'd never know. Her throat was so tight with unshed tears, it was threatening to close completely.

  "Don't worry. I'm going. And I won't be back, either."

  She flinched as she heard the screen door slam. Unable to support her shaking legs, she slid to the floor, stunned.

  * * * *

  How long she sat there, she had no idea. The tears fell in streams and the ache in her chest felt like a closed fist. All the happy times with Jake were over. And Chloe ... Now she would never know who her daddy was.

  How could he have thought something so terrible about her? Couldn't he see how much she loved him? For a minute she regretted never saying the words to him, but then realised it wouldn't have done any good anyway. The injustice of his accusations hurt as though he'd cut into her with a knife. And how ironic ... The only man she'd ever loved ... the only man she'd ever slept with, and he had the nerve to accuse her of sleeping around? A dry, bitter laugh crept out before it dissolved into another fit of crying.

  Crumpled on the floor, she started to shiver. Somehow, she stumbled over to the sofa, pulling the woolly blanket draped over the back across her body to try to warm the bone-deep chill that had crept through her body. It was a shiver that no blanket could heat. Curled up into a foetal position, she lay there through the rest of the night, his cutting words going round and round in her head. But it was the look on his face that haunted her the most. Those loving eyes that had swept her body with so much heat were now cold as ice. The gentle mouth a savage slash of hate. She shuddered again and snuggled further down in the blanket, wondering if she'd ever feel warm again.

  * * * *

  The following weeks were hard. Harder than Cass had thought they would be. Harder than finding out Jake was engaged the day she got the news she was pregnant. At least then, she hadn't had any hopes to be crushed. This devastation was worse because she had been allowed a glimpse of what their life together as a family could have been. And all over a stupid misunderstanding. He hadn't even given her a chance to explain and that was what hurt the most. That he could believe something so terrible of her. And if that was the case, then he had obviously never loved her.

  She was better off without him. If only she could get her heart and body to agree with her mind, but they rigidly refused to cooperate. Too many nights since then, she had woken up from a dream of Jake making love to her, holding her, kissing her tenderly, only to be shattered by the reality. At those times, the pain was almost more than she could bear.

  The work on the house was finished and she'd had the final bill from Rowling Constructions. She'd sent off the check just that day, knowing that at least now, all further ties between them were cut.

  Except for Chloe, of course.

  Not that he knew about his role in her life. Not that he'd ever know now if she had her way.

  Lizzy and Rach had called in a few times to see how she was. She'd done her best to be her usual cheery self, but they weren't fooled. They'd known her too long and, besides, her heart just wasn't in it. It was still a shattered mess floating somewhere around her body. Maybe someday she'd find the pieces and try and put it back together, but for now it was easier to live with it the way it was. At least she could cope with being numb.

  There were still times, though, when the horror of that night and the cut of Jake's words came back to her. She wondered when ... if ... she would ever be able to put them behind her and forget. Not likely, she thought, as a wayward tear trickled down her cheek. That was one pain that wasn't going to go away anytime in the foreseeable future.

  The house was quiet, which was a blessing. Larry and Deb had taken a two-week holiday up to the Sunshine Coast for the school holidays and had asked if they could take Chloe with them. Deb was the only one who knew what had happened. She'd had to tell somebody. No way could she talk to Lizzy about it—it wasn't fair to put it on her—Jake was her brother, after all. And Rach? Yeah, well Rach, whose love life had been almost as depressing as Cass's for too long, was riding high on a blissful wave of infatuation with a certain policeman. It would be too cruel to dump her own doom and gloom on the first romantic bright spot her friend had had in years. And Deb had promised not to tell Larry, which was just as well because Larry would have killed Jake. The last thing she needed was a homicide on her conscience.

  The phone rang, shattering the quiet, and she was tempted to just ignore it. The temptation to keep the world out was strong. She was so tired. All she wanted to do was sleep. But with sleep came the nightmares. Sleep had been a luxury she had been missing a lot of late.

  Lizzy's voice came on the answering machine, loud and forceful.

  "Pick up the phone, Cass. I know you're there.” Pause. “Dammit! Answer the phone."

  With a shaky hand, she reached for the phone. Picked it up. Like a good girl. Huh! According to Jake, that was the last thing she could claim to be.

  "Hi, Liz.” With a resigned sigh, she cut into her friend's strident words.

  "Ahhh. Finally. Look, are you going to be home this morning?” Liz asked.

  As if she had anywhere to go, she thought dispiritedly. “Yes. Why?"

  "I'm on my way."

  "No, Liz...” “No arguments. I'll be there in fifteen. See you then."

  Lizzy hung up, the click loud in Cass's ear. Great. Just what she needed—a well-meaning visit from Liz. From the sounds of it, she wasn't coming over to swap recipes, either. She had just enough time for a shower and maybe a bit of makeup, too, she thought, as she peered at the dark circles under her eyes in the bathroom mirror.

  With a flick, she turned the tap in her brand new shower in her brand new ensuite. Her excitement over the renovations had gone. The price, as it turned out, had been just too high. Everywhere she looked, there were memories of Jake. She had even contemplated selling up and moving just to get away from the constant reminders, but this was hers and Chloe's home, and she'd be damned if she would run away. The memories would fade in time...

  * * * *

  With her hair pulled back tightly into a ponytail, Cass was just putting the finishing touches of concealer under her eyes when she heard the screen door slam.

  "I'm here,” Lizzy called as she walked through the house.

  With a deep breath, a quick pinch to try and infuse some colour into the pale skin of he
r cheeks and a half-hearted smile pasted on her face, she walked out of the bedroom to face her friend.

  "Hi, Liz,” she smiled. “And to what do I owe this unexpected pleasure?"

  Lizzy looked at her closely, a little too closely for Cass's comfort.

  "You've lost more weight and you look like hell."

  "Why, thanks very much. It's nice to see you, too, Liz.” Her laugh was brittle. And why not? The last thing she needed was a friend, however well meaning, coming round to tell her she looked like shit. She already knew that.

  Lizzy's eyes softened. “Sorry, sweetie.” She walked over to give Cass a hug. “It's just that I'm worried about you. And not only you."

  "What do you mean?"

  Her eyes flickered briefly to Cass's. “Jake, too."

  Jake? What was wrong with Jake? A frisson of fear rushed through Cass's body. She wanted to know, badly, but the last thing she was going to do was ask Lizzy.

  "You don't want to know what I mean?"

  Lizzy was looking at her curiously. Assessing her. She attempted to keep her expression bland. “No.” Liar. “Why?"

  "Oh, for Pete's sake! You two are unbelievable! I say the same thing to him about you and I get that same look."

  "What look?"

  "That worried look. You know, the one that says you care but no way in hell are you going to admit it."

  "I'm not worried. Jake is no business of mine."

  "Are you two sharing the same speech writer? I get the same cock-and-bull line from him when I mention you. Now, one of you is going to tell me what's going on, or I swear I'm going to blow a bloody fuse!"

  After the sharp outburst, Lizzy seemed to deflate a little. “It's only because I love you two, and I hate to see you both tearing yourselves apart like this.” She slumped in her seat.

  "Hey, I'm fine, Liz. I've just been a little under the weather lately. Nothing to worry about. Truly."