34. Chapter 34

After talking to Cassie, I toss and turn all night. Mostly because I'm angry at her captain. I'd like to set Lynette's squirrels on him. Or rig his pipes to explode. Or punch him in the face. Or all of the above.

She didn't deserve to be treated like her only worth comes from the way she looks and not from who she is. No one deserves to be treated like that, but especially Cassie.

She's smart and tough and drives fierce enough to win the Indy 500. And she's intuitive. Her face doesn't reveal much except that she's always watching, evaluating what's happening, determining who she can trust.

Cassie doesn't trust many people. But, last night, she trusted me with her story. I'm holding tight to that fact and determined to protect her and her words. She's been through more than she realizes, working with a man who tried to humiliate her at every turn.

But those aren't the only thoughts keeping me awake. I can't stop thinking about Cassie being in my bed. Days have passed, but the scent of her shampoo lingers on my pillow and the thought of her sleeping in my jersey makes me so restless, I try reading to calm myself down.

It doesn't work. There's a huntress in my book, and I keep picturing her as Cassie. By the time the sun rises, adrenaline still courses through my veins like I've had too many cups of coffee. So I layer up and go for a run.

The air feels warmer than it should for this time of the day and year, but I chalk that up to my already being worked up before I stepped outside. No one is on the road, so I run down the middle of it. It's plowed and dry while mushy, half-melted snow covers the side of the road.

My feet take me to the shop where all the lights are off. I stop anyway. Cassie is expecting me, but not this early, and I promised her breakfast. Still, I wait longer than I should to see if her lights turn on, wondering what I'll do if she wakes up. Knock on her door at seven a.m.? That doesn't sound like a good idea unless she's a morning person.

So I turn toward home. But along my run back, I come to a decision and spend the rest of the run thinking it through from every angle. As soon as I get inside, I call Grandpa. Early mornings have been part of his routine since the military, so I know he'll be awake.

He doesn't take any convincing when I tell him what I want. In fact, he acts as if he understood what I wanted before I did. Which is possible, so I end the call by telling him I love him.

Then I leave without kissing Mom goodbye—not something I usually skip—because I don't want to run into Grace. It's only eight o'clock, but that's usually when she gets to Mom and Dad's. I can hang out at Britta's until it's time for breakfast with Cassie.

I don't plan to take Molly with me since Cassie's cat can't be trusted, but she's waiting for me when I get to the Jeep. She looks at me with her big brown eyes, and I can't say no.

"All right, girl. Get in." With a happy bark, she jumps in the backseat. "Yeah, you won't be so happy when you have to stay there."

When I get to Britta's, the only other car there belongs to Darlene Voglmeyer. For half a second I consider sitting in my Jeep until she leaves, but after last night, I shouldn't be afraid of facing her. I stood in front of the city council and spoke to them and an entire room full of people, and I did a pretty good job. The council voted to give me a chance, even though she didn't want me to have one. I can hold my head up with her.

So, I leave Molly in the Jeep and go inside. Before the door closes behind me, I say, more loudly than necessary, "Good morning, Darlene!"

She jumps, then faces me, wiping at a spot of coffee she's spilled on her blazer. "Good morning, Bjorn. You're awfully cheerful for someone who didn't get what he wanted last night."

The first thing that comes to mind from last night is my conversation with Cassie, which is exactly what I've wanted for a long time. Then I realize Darlene means the city council meeting.

But she's still wrong.

"Actually, I'm glad I ran into you. Grandpa is coming by your office today to sign the historic designation paperwork for the shop."

She freezes in place, so I step past her to tell Britta—whose mouth is also hanging open—my breakfast order. "I need a couple orders of ebelskiver and another Americano, please. Oh! And bacon!"

My sister's face slowly transitions from surprise to a smug satisfaction. She lifts an eyebrow and the corner of her lip. "Feeling extra hungry today? Or sharing with someone special?"

I return Britta's smile and shrug. I've never been able to keep anything from her.

"So, someone special… I hope it's who I think it is." She looks around me at Darlene, who's still standing behind me. "Anything else, Mayor?"

Darlene shakes her head with her lips pressed together tighter than a pipe clamp, then walks stiffly toward the exit.

"You'd think she'd be happier about winning," I say as the door swings closed behind her.

"You'd think. But it's more about the fighting than the winning for Darlene." Britta calls my order to the kid in the back, working the ebelskiver pans and faces me again. "Spill the tea. Did you talk to Cassie last night? Is that why you're in such a good mood?"

I take a sip of my coffee. "I texted her. Then she texted back. We did that for a little while, then I called her."

"You called her?"

I nod. "We talked for a couple of hours."

"That sounds promising." Britta bounces her shoulders like she's on the dance floor.

I mirror her moves. "She invited me over this morning, so I'm taking her breakfast."

The door opens, and we both glance in that direction. Half a dozen customers walk in, so I move away from the counter to make room for them.

"I'm proud of you, little brother," Britta says as the first person steps up.

I find a table by the door and sit while I wait for my order. A few minutes later, Lynette comes in. She doesn't see me, which isn't unusual. In general, she only sees what's right in front of her or what other people don't see at all.

"Good morning, Lynette." I stand to get her attention, and she turns slowly to face me.

"Oh, hello, Bear." She's got on a neon pink jacket I'm sure she's had since the eighties, but also shows how unseasonably warm it is today.

Her lightweight jacket reminds me I have to cancel practice. The ice won't be thick enough to be safe. Even though Cassie told me to bring my skates, I didn't. There's no way I'll get on that ice or let her on it.

"I'm headed to the shop this morning. I can feed the squirrels," I say to Lynette.

Lynette nods. "The babies are almost ready to be on their own."

"Really? How can you tell?"

I'm surprised her news makes me sad. I enjoy feeding the babies. It's time intensive, but soul-satisfying knowing I'm taking care of a wild animal who's also helpless.

"They're acting like teenage boys," she says, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world. "How else would I know?"

I'm not sure how to respond to that, but before I can, she quickly adds, "tell the lady living there that I did what she asked. Zach promised to tell the aliens they have to give you my pond or I won't sell."

There's a lot to sort through in those sentences, and Lynette moves to the counter before I can ask what she's talking about. My order is called, and I decide the best source of info is Cassie—the lady living at the shop. I feel a shiver of excitement that this might have something to do with the good news Cassie has for me.

So I grab my order and wave goodbye to Britta. When I get to my Jeep, I unzip my coat and toss it into the backseat with Molly. It's too warm for a thick parka, and even if it weren't, I'm too hot to wear it right now.

If I understand Lynette, it sounds like Cassie asked her to give methe pond. And Lynette agreed. I suspect that's the good news Cassie wants to tell me this morning.

But why would Cassie do that? If the buyers agree to it—and they'll have to if they want the rest of Lynette's land—that's a huge hurdle out of my way. The city wouldn't have to buy that plot of land. I'd only have to come up with half the money I need for the other plot the shop is on.

The only other thing I'd have to do is stop Grandpa from signing the papers. City Hall doesn't open until ten, so I've got time. I could drive to his house right now and explain what's changed.

Or I could stay on the road to Cassie's and find out why everything's changed. Is she giving up because she has feelings for me? Or because she's decided she doesn't want to stay in Paradise?

If it's the first, then she's working at cross-purposes. Without the shop, she has no bookstore and no reason to stay. Except for me…

I can't wrap my head around that. Her sacrifice is too big. She'd have to feel what I feel for her, and that's too unbelievable. It's more likely she's not only decided to go back to LA to speak in person to the officers investigating her captain, but also decided to leave Paradise all together.

Which means I can either try to convince her to stay and risk making a fool of myself once again. Or I can call Grandpa, beg him not to sign, and make my breakfast with Cassie both a thank you and a goodbye.

Molly growls at something out the window, and I give her a reassuring pat on her back. I wish she could do the same for me, because I don't like the hard knot settling behind my rib cage.

Despite the sun shining outside, the thought of not seeing Cassie anymore makes the world less bright. I don't want her to leave. But I also don't want my girls to lose their hockey rink if Cassie doesn't feel the same about me.

I pull into the alley behind the shop and turn off the Jeep, but I don't get out. I reach into the backseat to take my phone from my coat pocket. Molly whines and paws at my arm, then barks.

"Settle down, girl." I scratch her ears, but before I can dial Grandpa, Molly goes nuts.

She barks at the top of her lungs, turns in a circle, then paws at the closed window. I worry she'll tear the upholstery in Jenny, so she'll just have to run around outside while I'm with Cassie. I'm sure Molly's seen Lynette's squirrels, but Molly's too gentle to do anything more than bark at them.

But when I open the door, instead of running toward the trees, Molly bounds straight for the pond, barking with urgency. I look in the direction she's running and see someone on the ice moving slowly from the middle to the side. The person is tall with black hair spilling out of a knit hat and can only be one woman: Cassie.

Even though it's still pretty early, the sun's rays reflect off the ice, and I swear I can see it melting from here.

I slide out of the Jeep, not bothering to shut my door, and run.

"Cassie!"

She turns slightly, and even though I can't see her face clearly, her movements are careful and afraid. Molly is already at the edge of the pond, barking warnings it's too late for Cassie to listen to. I pick up speed.

One second, I have a direct line of sight to Cassie. The next second, she disappears like she's been sucked into the earth. Except it's not earth you can dig someone out of. It's water, and it's lethal.

A thousand thoughts fill my head, looking for reasons she's disappeared. She's fallen. She bent down to re-tie her skates. Anything but the one I don't want to believe.

But the closer I get to the pond, all those thoughts disappear and are replaced with one: Cassie's gone through the ice, and I have to get her out.

When I reach the edge of the pond, my worst fears are confirmed. Cassie is nowhere to be seen, but there's a black hole in the ice, maybe fifteen feet away from me. Just then, Cassie's head pokes out of hole and she gasps for air.

"Cassie! I'm here!" I yell and open the emergency box next to the pond. "Keep breathing and try to pull yourself out!" I instruct her while I grab the heavy rope inside the box.

I tightly knot one end of the rope around the stake. The other end, I tie in a large circle, trying to keep my eyes on Cassie as much as possible.

She manages to get onto her elbows, but the ice breaks under her and she starts slipping back into the hole.

"Stay up! I'm coming!" I toss her the rope, and it lands within her reach.

While she fights to stay above water, I fight every instinct to go on the ice after her. "Grab the rope and slip it over your head!"

I grip my end of the rope with both hands and crouch down, ready to slide on my belly toward her if she can't get the rope around her torso. But that's a worst-case scenario. I could make the ice crack more, and we'd both go in.

With one hand, Cassie grabs the rope, but she slips into the water. My breath catches, but she stops herself before going all the way under.

She takes a shaky breath, then dips her head low enough to get the rope over her head and shoulders. When she's got both hands on it, I pull the rope taut.

"Kick your feet!" I stand and with one tug, Cassie's upper body emerges from the dark water.

"Hold tight!" I pull slowly while she kicks until she's all the way on the ice.

Cassie's whole body shakes, and all I want is to get her in my arms. But she's not out of danger yet. The ice is unstable and already threatening to crack under her weight.

"Now roll!" I yell.

She doesn't move, so I pull her a few more inches, but my efforts make the ice crack more. She needs to get off the ice faster than I can pull her the last ten feet. My other worry is that her hands are so cold, she'll lose her grip on the rope. "Cassie, I need you to roll toward me. Now," I say as calmly as possible. "The ice is thicker at the edge."

She tucks her chin in what might be a nod, then rolls once. The second time around, she moves faster. Until, with a few more rolls, I'm able to step on the sturdier ice.

I scoop her into my arms, and in one step, I'm back on solid ground. Cassie curls into my chest, shaking, wet, and cold. I collapse onto the bench with her on my lap. I hold her tight with one hand while rubbing her arms and legs hard with my other hand. She can't stop her shivering and Molly whines at my feet, as worried about Cassie as I am.

Cassie's eyelids flutter, and I ask, "Are you okay?"

I need to get her inside, but I can't move until I know how bad she is. Do I take her straight to the hospital or try to warm her up first?

Cassie closes her eyes and moves her head up and down. "Just cold."

Her voice is hoarse, her face is white, and her lips slightly blue, but her chest rises and falls in deep breaths. She's cold but breathing and alert.

I carry her as quickly as I can toward the studio. Icy water drips from her hair, parka, and jeans, soaking through my flannel shirt. The ground is uneven and the water her clothes absorbed not only makes her heavier than she should be, but also hard to hold on to. At one point, she tries to wrap her arms around my neck, but she's shaking too hard to keep them there.

We finally make it to the studio, and I kick open the door. Cassie's cat meows, and I have the presence of mind to shut the door before Molly can charge in to chase the cat. That's the last thing anyone needs right now.

I take Cassie to the bed, where I set her upright, then kneel in front of her to unlace her skates. Water spills from each one when I yank them off her feet. Next, I unzip her coat.

"We need to get you out of your wet clothes," I say gently while slipping her arms out of the coat. "You can't do it on your own."

"You've allll-readdddy seen," she says through chattering teeth as she clenches her arms over her chest for warmth.

I let out a short laugh and toss her coat to the floor. "There's the Cassie I know. But, I swear, I didn't see anything…unfortunately."

She attempts a smile.

"Can you lift your arms?"

She tries to uncross her arms and shakes harder. I'm not sure if it's because she's still so cold or if she's also in shock. Probably both.

I help her lift one arm and peel her wet sweater over it and her head, then her other arm. She's got another long-sleeved shirt on under the sweater.

"How many layers do you have on?" I ask as I peel the shirt off and find another t-shirt underneath. "It's warm today—hence the melting ice you shouldn't have been on. Only someone from California would dress as if it's forty below."

I hope she hears the teasing in my voice and not the worry. If I can get her to laugh, maybe her brain will understand she's not in danger anymore and quit sending all of her blood to her heart. She's in danger of going into shock.

Before I take her T-shirt off of her, I grab the thick blanket from the other side of her bed. As soon as I have the tee over her head, I wrap her in the blanket for both warmth and modesty's sake. But I still catch a glimpse of her black, lacy bra.

That's an image I'll come back to once this emergency is over.

"Pants next." As hard as it is, I look her in the eye when I say it. I don't want her to think I have anything in my mind other than helping her.

Cassie holds the blanket tight and nods. Color returns to her face when I reach under the blanket and feel for her waist until I find the button and zipper on her jeans. She lifts her hips, and I'm able to slide the jeans off without seeing a thing. But of course, she's got long johns underneath, so we have to go through the process again—minus the button and zipper.

And I'd be a liar if I said the whole thing didn't make my temperature rise.

Once all of her clothes are off, except underwear, because I'm not going there, I help her lie down and put another blanket over her.

"That's better," she says, still hoarse, but her chattering has slowed.

"I'll warm up Jenny, then I'm taking you to my house so you can get in a warm bath while I call a doctor." I stand and take a few steps back, slightly afraid that, even in this state, she'll fight me because I've told her what to do. "Unless you want to go straight to the hospital."

She shakes her head, and I'm about to tell her to stop being stubborn when she says, "Your house. I want to stay with you. Okay?"

A tear falls down her cheek, and I kneel in front of her again to wipe it away. "Of course. You can stay as long as you want."

I stroke her cheek with my thumb. I tremble as the emotion of the last ten minutes catches up with me, and I realize how close I came to losing Cassie.

Suddenly, I can't hold back the feelings I've been fighting for so long.

"Stay forever," I whisper.

Cassie lays an icy hand over the one I have on her cheek and closes her eyes. Then, with a deep sigh, she smiles.

At that moment, I know that I'll do whatever it takes to keep her in Paradise.