Still…

  Impulsively she buzzed her secretary. “Laurie, go online and get me the living section from last Wednesday’s paper. I’m looking for a quiche recipe.”

  Laurie returned a few minutes later and handed Caasi the printout.

  Reading over the list of ingredients, she realized that not only would it be necessary to shop for the groceries, but she would need to buy all the equipment, including pots, pans, and dishes. Quickly she made out a list and handed it to Laurie, who stared at it, dumbfounded.

  “What you can’t find and have delivered to my suite, get from Chef,” Caasi instructed on her way out the door to a meeting.

  Laurie opened and just as quickly closed her mouth, then nodded.

  “Thanks,” Caasi said.

  Caasi was late getting back to her office. Laurie had left for the day, but Caasi wanted to check over the list of phone messages before heading upstairs. She was shuffling through the pink slips when she walked into her office and found Blake pacing the floor.

  He took one look at her and frowned.

  “Blake.” She smiled nervously, avoiding his glare. “Is something the matter?” The atmosphere in the room was cool. He turned away, his back rigid. “Blake?”

  He spun around, obviously upset. “I got a call from my mother this afternoon. She dropped off the card you gave her for Kathleen.” His words were harsh. “What is the idea of giving them a check for two thousand dollars?” The challenge in his eyes was as hard as flint.

  Caasi swallowed tightly. “What do you mean?”

  “They’re strangers to you.”

  “They’re not strangers,” she contradicted him sharply. “I met them when I was with you Saturday night. Don’t you remember?”

  “Kathleen and Bob don’t need your charity.” His eyes were as somber as they were dark.

  “It wasn’t charity,” she returned. Her hands shook, and she clenched them into hard fists at her sides. “I have the money—in fact, I have lots of money. What does it matter to you what I do with it?”

  “It matters,” he shouted in return. “Do you think you can buy yourself a family? Is that it? Are you so naïve as to believe that people are going to love and respect you because of your money?”

  Caasi blanched, her hand shooting out behind her to grip the edge of her desk. She suddenly needed its support to stand upright. From somewhere she found the courage to speak. “I don’t need anyone, least of all you. Now I suggest you get out. I’ll send a letter of apology to your cousin. It wasn’t my intent to offend her or you or anyone. Now kindly leave.”

  He hesitated as if he wanted to say something more, but then he pivoted sharply and stalked out of the room.

  Caasi lowered herself into her desk chair and covered her face with her hands. She took several deep breaths and managed to keep the tears stinging the back of her eyes at bay. It mortified her that Blake thought she was looking to buy herself a family. His family. The thought was too humiliating to consider. She wouldn’t go to the next Sunday family dinner. Maybe keeping her away had been Blake’s intent all along.

  She stayed a few minutes longer in her office, but any thoughts of returning her phone messages had been sabotaged by Blake’s anger. She leaned against the elevator wall on the ride to the penthouse suite, weary and defeated. Blake was right in some ways. That was what hurt so much. No matter how much she tried, she wasn’t going to fit into the homey family scene with love and acceptance. She didn’t belong. A lump had formed in her throat by the time she let herself into the empty suite. What she needed was a hot bath, an early dinner, and bed.

  Dinner…Her mind stumbled over the word. She’d canceled her meal for the evening because she’d planned to bake the quiche. The laugh that followed was brittle. Well, why not? She could cook if she wanted to. Who was to care?

  Laurie had done her job well, and the kitchen was filled with the necessary equipment. After a quick survey, Caasi slipped off her high heels and tucked her feet into slippers. Fearing she’d spill something on her suit, she used an old shirt as an apron, tying the sleeves around her waist. Rolling her sleeves up to her elbows, she braced both hands on the counter and read over the recipe list a second time. Last, she lined the ingredients up on the short countertop in the order in which she was to use them.

  The piecrust was going to be the most difficult; everything else looked fairly simple.

  Blending the flour and shortening together with a fork wasn’t working, so Caasi decided to mix it with her fingers, kneading the shortening and flour together in the palms of her hands.

  The phone rang; she stared at the gooey mixture on her hands and decided to let it ring. Ten minutes later, just as she’d spread a light dusting of flour across the counter and was ready to roll out the dough, there was a loud knock on her door.

  “Come on, Caasi, I know you’re in there.”

  Blake.

  Panic filled her. He was the last person she wanted to see, especially now.

  “Aldo says you haven’t left. Your car’s in the garage and there’s no one in the office, so either let me in or I’ll break down the door.”

  He didn’t sound as though he was in a better mood than he had been in when she’d last seen him.

  “Go away,” she shouted.

  “Caasi.” His low voice held a note of warning.

  “I’m…” She faltered slightly with the lie. “I’m not decent.”

  “Well, I suggest you cover yourself, because I’m coming through this door in exactly fifteen seconds.”

  She caught her lower lip in her teeth and breathed in deeply. Why was it that everything in her life had to end up like this?

  “It’s unlocked,” she muttered in defeat.

  Blake let himself in, then stopped when he saw her framed in the small kitchen.

  “What are you doing?” he asked, hands on his hips.

  “What are you thinking, coming up to my suite like this? I should have Security toss you out.”

  “Why didn’t you?” he challenged.

  “Because…because I had dough on my hands and would have gotten it all over the phone.”

  “That’s a flimsy excuse.”

  Caasi released a low, frustrated groan. “Listen, Blake, go ahead and laugh. I seem to be an excellent source of amusement where you’re concerned.”

  “I’m not laughing at you.” The humor drained out of his eyes, and he dropped his hands.

  “Then say what you came for and be done with it. I’m not up to another confrontation with you.” Her voice trembled. Blake had the ability to hurt her, and that was frightening.

  “To be honest,” he murmured gently, as he took several deliberate steps toward her, “I can’t recall a time I’ve seen you look more beautiful.”

  For every step he advanced, she took one in retreat, until she bumped against the oven door. The handle cut into the backs of her thighs.

  “There’s flour on your nose,” Blake told her softly.

  Caasi attempted to brush it aside and in the process spread more over her cheek.

  His gaze swept over her and he shook his head in dismay. “Here, let me.”

  “No.” She refused adamantly. “Don’t touch me, Blake. Don’t touch me again.”

  He looked as though she’d struck him. “I’ve hurt you, haven’t I, Cupcake?” he asked gently.

  “You can’t hurt me,” she lied. “Only people who mean something to me have that power.”

  He frowned, his dark eyes clouding with some unreadable emotion. Surely not pain, Caasi mused.

  “For what it’s worth,” he said quietly, “I came to apologize.”

  She shrugged, hoping to give the impression of indifference.

  “I got halfway home and couldn’t get that stricken look in your eyes out of my mind.”

  “You’re mistaken, Blake,” she said pointedly, struggling to keep her voice steady. “That wasn’t shock, or hurt, or anything else. It was…” She stopped abruptly when he placed the tips of his fingers over her lips. Helplessly, she stared at him, hating her own weakness. By all rights she should have him thrown out after the terrible things he’d said.

  His hands slid around her waist and she tried to push him away, getting dough on his suit jacket.

  “I told you not to touch me,” she cried. “I knew something like this would happen. Here, I’ll get something to clean that.”

  “There’s only one thing I want,” Blake murmured softly, pulling her back into his arms. His mouth settled hungrily over hers.

  Caasi’s soft body yielded to the firm hardness of his without a struggle. His arms tightened around her waist until every part of her came into contact with him. For pride’s sake, Caasi wanted to struggle, but she was lost in a swirling vortex of emotion. She could feel the hunger in him and knew her own was as strong.

  His teeth gently nibbled on her bottom lip, working his way from one corner of her mouth to the other. Caasi wanted to cry at the pure sensuous attack. No one had ever kissed her like that. What had she missed? All these years, what had she missed? Her breath came in quick, short gasps as she broke out of his arms. Tears filled her eyes until he became a watery blur.

  “Don’t,” she whispered achingly, and jerked around, her back to him as she placed her hands on the counter to steady herself.

  His ragged breathing sounded in her ear as he placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “That’s the problem,” he said quietly. “Every time I touch you it nearly kills me to let you go. Someday you won’t send me away, Cupcake.”

  “Don’t call me that. I told you that before.”

  The phone rang and she glanced at it guiltily, not able to answer it with her dough-covered hands.

  “Aren’t you going to answer it?” Blake demanded.

  She waved a floury hand in his direction.

  “Wash your hands. I’ll get it for you.”

  Because the water was running in the sink, Caasi didn’t hear what Blake said or who was on the line.

  “It’s someone by the name of June. She sounded shocked that a man would answer your phone.”

  Caasi threw him an angry glare and picked up the receiver. “Yes, June.”

  “Who was that?” June demanded in low tones.

  “My general manager. No one important.” Caasi smiled at Blake sweetly, hoping the dig had hit its mark.

  “I just got out of the doctor’s office and he said that everything is looking great. He also said that I could have someone in the delivery room with me when my time came, and I was wondering if you’d like to be there.”

  Caasi didn’t even have to think twice. “I’d love to, but what about Burt?”

  “Oh, he doesn’t mind. I can have two people with me, and I wanted you to be one of them.”

  “I’m honored.”

  “I’m going to be touring the hospital facilities on Friday. Could you come?”

  “Yes; that shouldn’t be any problem. I’ll phone you in the morning once I’ve had a chance to check my schedule.”

  “I’ll let you get back to that unimportant, sexy-sounding manager.”

  Caasi laughed lightly, knowing she hadn’t fooled her intuitive friend. “Talk to you tomorrow,” Caasi promised, and hung up.

  When she returned to the kitchen, she discovered that Blake had taken off his jacket, rolled up his sleeves, and was placing the piecrust into the pan with the ease of an expert.

  “Just what do you think you’re doing?” she demanded righteously.

  “I figured you couldn’t possibly eat all this yourself and you’d probably want to invite me to dinner.”

  “You have a high opinion of yourself, Blake Sherrill.”

  His boyish smile would have disarmed a battalion. “And if you plan to invite me to dinner, the very least I can do is offer a hand in its making.”

  Chapter Five

  “Well, don’t just stand there,” Blake insisted. “Beat the eggs.”

  Caasi hesitated, her feelings ambivalent. She wanted to tell Blake to leave, to get out of her life. He had hurt her in a way she had never expected. But at the same time he had awakened her to what it meant to be a woman, and she wanted him with her. He made her laugh, and when he touched her she felt more alive than she had in all her twenty-eight years.

  Not fully understanding the reasons why, Caasi decided to swallow her pride and let him stay. She took the eggs and cracked them against the side of the bowl one by one. Silently they worked together. Caasi whipped the eggs until they were light and frothy while Blake chopped onion and green pepper and sliced zucchini.

  “I’m going to the hospital Friday,” Caasi mentioned casually.

  Blake paused and turned toward her. “Is something wrong?”

  “No,” she assured him. “It’s one of the most natural things in the world. Babies usually are.”

  A stunned silence crackled in the tension-filled room. “Did you say ‘baby’?”

  Caasi was enjoying this. “Yes,” she murmured without looking up, pouring the milk into the measuring cup.

  “Are you trying to tell me you’re pregnant?” Blake demanded.

  Caasi had trouble keeping a smile from forming. “I’m not trying to tell you anything. All I did was make a casual comment about going to the hospital Friday.”

  “Because of a baby?”

  Caasi nodded. She could see the exasperation in his expression.

  Blake’s eyes raked over her, and she noticed the way the paring knife was savagely attacking the green pepper. “Who’s the father?”

  “Burt.”

  “Who’s Burt?”

  “June’s husband.”

  “But that was June on the phone and…” Blake stopped in mid-sentence, as understanding leapt into his eyes. “You little tease,” he said deeply. “I should make you pay for that.”

  “Tease? Me?” Caasi feigned shock. “How could you accuse me of something like that? You have to remember, I’m not a real woman, with real blood.”

  Blake linked his arms around her waist and nuzzled her neck. “I don’t know, you’re becoming more womanlike by the minute.”

  “You think so, do you?” A throb of excitement ran through her at his touch. Fleetingly Caasi wondered why she hadn’t experienced these sensations with other men.

  “Yes, I do.” He turned her into his arms, linking his hands at the small of her back. Hungrily, his gaze studied her.

  Caasi gave a nervous laugh and broke free. These feelings Blake was creating within her were all too new, too strong. They frightened her.

  “I want you to know,” Caasi began, taking a shaky breath, “I thought about what you said at the dance—about having ink in my veins.”

  A silence seemed to fill the small kitchen. “And?” Blake asked her softly.

  “And I think you’re probably right. Ever since Dad died, I’ve been so busy with Crane Enterprises that I’ve allowed that role to dominate my life.” She slipped the onion and other vegetables he had chopped into the egg mixture and poured it over the thinly sliced zucchini already in the piecrust. “June and Edie tried to tell me the same thing,” she said, and gave a weak laugh. “Edie said what I needed was an affair.”

  “An affair,” Blake repeated slowly, his dark eyes unreadable. “So that’s what this is all about.”

  “What?”

  “You heard me. What happened then? Did you suddenly look at me and see the most likely candidate?” His words went cold.

  “Of course not. I thought Edie was nuts. I’m not the type of woman who would have an affair. Do you honestly think I’d do something like that?”

  “Why not? I won’t be around much longer. You can have your fling and be done with me.”

  Words momentarily failed her as she struggled to control her outrage. “Why do you do this to me? I started out by telling you that you were right in what you’d said about me and suddenly I’m on the defensive again.” One hand gripped the oven door, and she knotted the other until the long nails bit into her palm. “June and Edie had noticed that I have no life except the business. All I’m saying is that I’m trying to change that.” Irritated with her inability to explain herself in simpler terms, Caasi walked across the suite to stand in front of the large picture window. Her arms hugged her stomach. These changes made her vulnerable to Blake. If these changes only brought pain, then she wanted no part of it.

  He came to stand beside her but made no attempt to touch her. “Have you noticed how we can’t seem to be together anymore without disagreeing about one thing or another?”

  “Oh yes, I’ve noticed.” Her hands dropped to fists at her side.

  “By all rights you should throw me out.”

  Caasi knew that, but she didn’t want him to leave. He might have the power to wound, but just as strong was his ability to comfort and heal.

  “That wouldn’t be fair.” A wry smile twisted her mouth. “You made half the dinner.” It didn’t make sense, Caasi realized, but she wanted him with her, liked having him around.

  “Truce, Caasi?” His voice was soft and gruff at the same time.

  “For how long?” They hadn’t gone without fighting for more than a few minutes lately.

  “Just tonight. We can get through one night without arguing.”