breaths of crisp fall air.
His voice, when it rumbled against her cheek, was softly mocking as his hand stroked over her windblown hair.
“I don’t think anything that happened between us could be cold or calculated,” he told her, a smile of satisfaction curving his tight mouth.
Jeff tipped her chin up, forcing her turbulent gaze to meet his melting dark chocolate one.
“We both know there’s something smoldering between us,” he rasped. “And I think it’s only a matter of time until it bursts into flame.” He held her gaze steadily. “But I’ll guarantee you this. I’m not going to force or coerce you into anything. Whatever we do, it will be after a mutual decision.”
Cassie felt as if the ground were falling away and she wrapped her fingers around his arm.
How could this be happening to plain, ordinary Cassie Newton? She seldom dated. Goodness, she didn’t even know many men who weren’t involved with the children’s agency or her church.
“If you’d prefer, we can go the route of artificial insemination.” His mouth tipped up wryly. “Although, personally, I don’t think it would be nearly as, er, interesting.”
Cassie felt her cheeks burn with the implication behind his words. How could he say these things? It wasn’t, well, decent somehow.
“The direction of our relationship will depend on you, Cassie.”
She knew her mouth was open; that she was gaping at him like some starstruck teenager. She couldn’t help it. The world had tilted in a crazy angle and she couldn’t get her bearings.
“Come on. If we don’t walk, we’ll freeze.”
He tugged her along beside him then, continuing their walk as if nothing unusual had occurred. Except that he kept her hand enfolded in his.
Cassie let the whirl of emotions pirouette through her mind in fast forward. Marry him? She hardly knew him, although he had somehow become an intricate part of their lives over the past weeks.
And always, Jeff watched her with David. Dark head cocked to one side, he would listen intently as she spoke with the boy. Subject matter wasn’t important. Jeff seemed to focus more on the child’s acceptance of Cassie as the authority on the matter. At least marriage to Jefferson Haddon would ensure a home for David and Marie, she thought ruefully.
Nasty suspicions crowded into her confused brain and Cassie stopped dead in the pathway to cast a curious glance at the tall man beside her.
“What’s really behind this proposal?” she demanded, hands on her hips. “Why do you suddenly need me for your plan?”
He looked sheepish. And not a little embarrassed.
“The truth this time,” she ordered. “All of it”
“I do want a son,” he said firmly.
“And?”
“Well, the fact is that most of my funds are tied up in the family trust. Oh, I make a good living,” he offered quickly as she frowned. “My company is doing very well. But I want to expand and that takes a lot of capital. It’s a private company and I’d like to keep it that way.”
He studied her face as if deciding whether she understood what he was saying.
“You mean you don’t want to offer stock or something to raise money?” Cassie asked him doubtfully.
“Yes, and I don’t want to take on private investors unless I have to. Computers are a risky business right now. The markets are changing so rapidly and new advances occur daily. I’d rather not risk anyone else’s hard-earned money.”
Cassie sank onto the iron bench nearby, thinking about what he’d said.
“Judith once told me that your father has money. Maybe he could.”
“No!”
It was a vehement denial that brought two red circles to his cheeks. He flopped down beside her, hands shoved into his pockets. Cassie couldn’t see his face, he was turned away from her. But she could hear the cold hard tones and the anger under them.
“My father would never agree,” he told her. “He wants me in the family business and would be just as happy to see Bytes Incorporated go down the tubes.” He watched her speculatively for a moment. “If he knew about the son idea, he would have a fit. He’s had my wife picked out for twenty years now. He won’t take it lightly when he finds out I’ve married someone else.”
“Oh, but I don’t want to create more problems. Family is very important.” Cassie stared out in front of her, barely registering the beauty of the fall landscape.
“Mine isn’t,” she heard him mutter sotto voce.
“This marriage, if it happens, will already be starting out with a lot of obstacles,” she protested. “If only Judith hadn’t tied everything up.” She swung her head around to stare at him. “Does your father know about the will?”
He shook his head, then bent to pull an oak leaf from her hair.
“He knows she died, of course. And that she left a will. But beyond that, nothing. I specifically asked Jones to keep things quiet until it was all settled.”
Cassie pulled herself to her feet and wandered farther into the woods. It was all so confusing. And she had no one to confide in. On the one hand, it would be ridiculous to turn down such a wonderful opportunity. On the other…well, it certainly wouldn’t be a love match.
You always said you’d only marry for love. This is business. Her conscience pricked her once more.
Yes, but if you marry him, you get to keep the house for the kids. Lots of kids. You could continue the work God called you to. It could become a sort of sanctuary.
It was an internal argument that went on for the duration of their walk. Jeff spoke no more about the issue, leaving Cassie time to sort through in her own mind all the ifs and buts that flew like quicksilver through her muddled thoughts.
How could she deny David and Marie the opportunity that Oak Bluff with all its wonderful prospects presented to the two homeless teenagers? They could have a stable life without worrying about the future. They could blossom and develop into capable, responsible adults without worrying whether or not they would be able to continue their activities tomorrow or next week, or whenever they moved on.
And what about the other children who came into her hands? Cassie asked herself. Could she deny them all the things Judith’s money would buy just because she was holding out for love? Was this windfall really from heaven, or did she just think so because she’d benefit?
It wasn’t an easy question. And it was one Cassie decided to think on long and hard. But after all, she reminded herself, it wasn’t as if she had ten other offers sitting on the table.
And there were definite sparks when Jeff had kissed her back there. More than sparks!
“Help me,” she prayed silently. “You gave me the job. Now show
