Chapter 7

CHAPTER 7

T wo days later, Cassie wandered down Goldmine to the very end of the road. The sun burned brightly in the mid-day sky, and the warm June breeze kissed the heat of its rays off her shoulders. The temperature held at a pleasant seventy-five degrees. Perfect sundress weather. Since she'd finished all her orders for the day, she decided to treat herself to a stroll down the river walk and a bowl of double-fudge surprise from Sally's Ice Cream Shoppe.

All her ice cream had been inhaled the previous two nights after Del's insane kiss. Damn him, she still couldn't get the tempting taste of him off her tongue. No matter how many pints of Mint Madness or bottles of Cabernet she went through.

In truth she was simply mad at herself for even considering his proposal.

After two days without a peep, it might be that he'd given up on the ludicrous idea of marriage. She didn't know whether to be relieved or disappointed. Marrying Del would make some things easier and others a mess of complication.

Whatever she decided, she needed to do it fast. Time was running out, and she'd canceled her last two meetups because she couldn't stand to go on any more bad dates.

And she couldn't get the feel of Del's hot, delicious body pressed against her out of her mind.

She took a giant bite of ice cream, telling her inner self to shut up.

The end of Goldmine ran along Clear Creek, a small-sized river that provided fishing, tubing and, when the water level was high enough, kayaking. The water came from the icy mountain snowmelt, but there were always a few brave souls who stripped down to take a plunge. Today was no exception. As she passed a street musician playing a beautiful rendition of Moonlight Sonata on her violin, Cassie noticed a couple of teenagers floating down the creek on black inter-tubes, laughing and pushing each other as they floated through the water. A smile curled her lips. They were outrageous; she never went in the creek until mid-July at the earliest.

As she sat down on a wooden bench facing the water, she sighed, heart weary. She loved this town so much. Kismet was the only home she'd ever known. She hated to complain. Most people would love to travel, see as much of the world as she had. But traveling of your own volition and being forced to pack up every six months and start somewhere new as a child were two very different things. Plus, with her parents' jobs with Doctors Without Borders, it wasn't like they were going to view the Seven Wonders of the World.

Cassie had seen some of the worst of humanity in her younger years. War-torn countries; curable diseases running rampant because of lack of medicine; and starving men, women, and children. She learned at a young age that life could be cruel to those who never deserved it. She didn't have her parents' medical skills, but she did have money. She used her inheritance to fund several charities helping supply food, water, and medicine to those in need all over the world.

Her jewelry-making paid the small number of bills she accrued. She loved using her artistic talent to make pieces that brought smiles to people's faces. Crafting jewelry was her tiny contribution to make the world a little more beautiful.

In all honesty, her life was pretty wonderful. She had a job she enjoyed, amazing friends, and a town she loved with all her heart. Continuing to live in Gran's home should not make one lick of difference in her life.

But it did.

That house was the only place she could still feel both of her parents. Though they may have put her second most of the time, she loved them and missed them with an ache that would never go away. Gran's house felt like the last connection she had to them.

Would she lose it forever?

Her spoon scraped loudly against the empty plastic ice cream bowl. Frustrated at herself for getting so melancholy about her silly predicament when she knew others in the world had it much worse, she mentally kicked her own butt. She knew better than to mope. Whining did nothing but make you look like a baby. Gran always said so.

Cassie leaned over and tossed her empty food container in the trashcan next to her. A soft breeze blew, the smell of fresh pine and sweet blossoms floated on the wind. She inhaled deeply, allowing the aromas to soothe her troubled soul. Body relaxing, her eyelids drifted shut. So at peace, she could have fallen asleep if not for the familiar tune worming its way into her brain.

Ears perking up, she realized the tune came from the violin player and…

"Is that ‘Don't Stop Believin''?"

Opening her eyes, she turned her head and her jaw dropped. There, by the tall street musician, stood Del, looking—oh damn—looking very good in black jeans and a gray long sleeve v-neck with the sleeves pushed up to his elbows. He looked like a GQ model.

He stepped toward her, hands behind his back. "Cassandra—"

"Is she playing Journey? Did you pay the violinist to play Journey?"

He stopped in front of her, shrugging and looking very un-Del-like. "Maybe."

"Why?"

"It's your favorite song."

True. Everyone knew her father had shared his love of eighties hair bands with his daughter. No matter how many boy bands came and went, her first musical love had always and would always be Journey.

"Del, what's going on?"

With a wink, he took his right hand from behind his back and offered her a single red rose.

Call her cliché, but she loved roses. With shaking fingers, she reached for the flower.

"Del?"

Her mind put together the scene and jumped to conclusions, but when he went down on one knee, her breath caught. Holy crap! He was really doing it. This was happening. Delta Jackson had finally lost his mind.

"Cassandra Brown," he began in a loud voice. "You are the most amazing woman I have ever met, and I can't believe how lucky I am to have a woman such as you even give me the time of day. You are a goddess among us mere mortals."

"You're laying it on pretty thick there," she whispered under her breath.

Del ignored her, smug smile widening. "I know I could never deserve you, but it would make me the happiest man in the world if you would agree to be my wife. Will you marry me?"

His left hand came out from behind his back, a small black box held in his palm. When he opened it, her breath caught. A ring? He actually had a ring? This was too much. She couldn't say yes, it would be foolish. Marrying her best friend's little brother? No one would believe it!

"Del, I…"

"Oh come on honey," he lowered his voice to a whisper. "You can't say no in front of all these people."

She glanced around to notice they had gathered a small crowd. Tourists mostly, and the violinist, still playing away with a hopeful smile on her face. Couples whispered to each other, a child tugged on his mother's coat asking what was going on, and…was that guy filming them?

"Isn't this what you dreamed of?" Del asked, tone still hushed. "Your perfect proposal?"

Yes, a picturesque setting, a few people, but not too public, a beautiful ring, even her favorite song. Everything was magical, but it felt…wrong.

Because it's not real, dummy!

Oh, right.

"What do you say, Cassie? Make both of our lives a whole lot richer?"

She got his meaning. If she said yes, they could both get what they wanted. She'd have Gran's house and he would get the start-up money for his restaurant. A win-win. Then why did it feel like losing?

Mind torn in a hundred different directions, she went with the easiest answer.

"Yes."

A smile curved Del's handsome lips. He stood, pulling her with him. In the next heartbeat, his arm settled around her waist and he tugged her close, brushing his lips against hers in a soft kiss too tempting and too short for her liking.

"She said yes!" He pumped a fist in the air and shouted to the people watching.

Sighs, applause, and well wishes rang out. Cassie found herself blushing in spite of the falsities. As the small crowd dispersed, she and Del walked down to the edge of the creek, away from any curious ears.

"How'd I do? Come on." Del grinned like a puppy waiting for a treat. "That was pretty good, right?"

Good? It had been wonderful, romantic, dream-worthy.

She only wished it had been real.

No. No, she didn't. At least, not with Del…did she? No. She didn't.

She needed more ice cream.

"It was perfect. But even with the grand proposal, how do you suggest we pull this off?"

At his questioning glance, she let out a sigh of frustration. "I need the marriage to look real or my cousin will call foul and take the house. We have to look like an actual couple, Del. How do we do that when for the past…forever, we've hated each other?"

Leaning against a large pine, he crossed his arms casually over his chest. "Okay, first, we don't hate each other. At least I don't hate you," he added when she arched her brow. "We annoy each other. Which is great."

"Why is that great?"

"Because it lends credence to the rumor that we've been having a secret relationship for months."

"We have?"

"Yes." Pushing off the tree, he stepped closer. "For years we've been sniping at each other in order to deny the heat between us."

She shifted on the uneven dirt banks of the river, uncomfortable with his too accurate story.

"About a year back, we gave in to our desires—"

"Had sex you mean."

One blue eye winked. "What other kind of desire is there?"

How like a man to reduce every feeling in the world to his penis.

"Continue."

"We started a relationship, but we were afraid of how my sister would take it, what with you being her best friend and all."

Cassie chewed on her lip, nerves racing around her stomach like the hundred-foot drop of a rollercoaster. "I wouldn't want Charlie to choose between us if we ever broke up."

"Exactly." He smiled as she picked up the story.

Little did he know she spoke the truth. In the dark of night, she'd admit to a fantasy or two about Del. The guy was walking sex; what straight woman wouldn't? But her friendship with Charlie always held her back. She knew Del's style. Love 'em and leave 'em. Cassie wasn't wired that way. If she and Del started something and then broke up? She'd be the one hurt, and she didn't want to force her friend to choose sides, because she was afraid she'd be left out in the cold. She may have been an only child, but even she knew you never pick a friend over blood.

"How do you explain me going out on all those dates? Wouldn't my secret boyfriend get pissed if I started dating other guys and did it right in his place of work?"

Del smiled, grabbing her hand and stroking her knuckles with his thumb. The touch sent a rush of warmth through her.

"The thing is, when your grandmother died and you learned about the stipulation in her will, I freaked." His face turned somber, voice softening. "I didn't want to be pushed into marriage, so I ran. Broke up with you. But it was the biggest mistake of my life, Cassie. Seeing you with those other guys?" He tugged on her hand, and she went willingly. One strong arm wrapped around her as he pressed her close, lips a breath away. "It killed me. I'm so sorry I hurt you, baby. I thought I wasn't ready to settle down, but the thought of living without you kills me."

The warm heat of his breath caressed her lips. Her eyes started to close, body quivering with anticipation.

Oh, he was good.

"Typical man," she said, not as steady as she wanted. Sucking in a deep breath, she tried again. "Always afraid of commitment." There. That sounded better, stronger, not like she would cut off her own leg to taste him again.

She wouldn't. A toe at most.

"I'm not afraid anymore, baby."

Pushing out of his arms, she gave him her sternest glare. Being Del, of course, it had no effect.

"Okay, if we're going to do this thing, let's get one thing straight."

"One thing?"

"Many things, but let's start with the nicknames. I am not now, nor have I ever been any man's baby." Grimacing she added, "Except my father's. But you're not my father, so pick another nickname."

He bit the corner of his lip, holding back a laugh, no doubt. "I already have one for you, but you always yell at me when I use it, Sassy."

"I knew this was a mistake," she groaned, holding her head in her hands.

"Hey," Del grabbed her hands, pulling them off her face. His thumbs stroked the pulse points at her wrist, currently going a million miles an hour. "It's going to be okay. We can pull this off. I even got my buddy Steve to film the proposal for authenticity."

The guy with the camera. "That was your friend?"

"Believe it or not, some people actually like me."

She smiled at his joke. "I like you, Del. I'm just worried. And I don't like lying to your family."

The humor left him. Del was sexy when he smiled, but his serious face was on a whole other planet. Planet Smolder. Why did he have to be so damn good looking? This ruse would be a lot easier if the guy looked like a hobgoblin. Goblins were notoriously easy to resist.

"We're not lying," he said. "Just hiding certain facts."

Sure, like the fact that they weren't in a relationship and never had been.

"Legally, we are going to be married," she reminded him. "No one needs to know what goes on behind closed doors."

And there lay the crux of her torment. Because even if their marriage was purely for show—a legally binding contract with no basis in reality when they were alone—part of her really, really wanted to have all the benefits Del could offer.

Bad idea. Very bad.

But sometimes being bad could feel oh so good.