Chapter 14

14

Cash woketo Harlow’s alarm going off at 8:00 am. After waking him up every two hours all night long, it appeared she’d finally crashed so completely that she didn’t even hear it. Reaching over her, he grabbed her phone and silenced it.

After checking that she was completely out, he shuffled into his bathroom, took care of business, and then checked his own pupils. There was no sign of any dilation, nor did he have any sort of headache or bump on his head.

Good as new, he thought to himself. Still, while he was on his way downstairs to start the coffee maker, he put in a call to the healer’s office to report how his night went.

“That’s great news,” Healer Whipple said. “It sounds like the potion did its job, and you’re free to resume your normal activities.”

“That means I can get back to the remodel on my house?” he asked specifically because he knew Harlow would fuss at him.

“Yes, Cash. It’s fine. You have no more restrictions. Just pay attention to your body. If you start to get a headache or feel dizzy or anything, stop whatever you’re doing and call us. Got it?”

“Got it,” he said. “Seems like that potion of yours is a miracle worker. Don’t concussions usually take longer to heal?”

“They do if there’s no magic involved. Lucky for you, I’m very good at my job,” she said and then told him she had a patient waiting.

He ended the call, fixed two mugs of coffee, and headed back upstairs to find Harlow still sound asleep, looking like an angel with a tiny smile claiming her lips. Damn, she was gorgeous. How could he tear himself away when she was lying there so peacefully? Usually by this hour, he was already hard at work on something around the house. But today, as long as Harlow was in his bed, he wasn’t going anywhere.

When he finished his coffee, he laid back down, but instead of spooning Harlow the way he had when they’d fallen asleep together, he propped himself up on an elbow and gazed down at her, taking her in. He didn’t think he’d ever appreciated a moment more. The sun was spilling in the window and splashing over her face, making her look like a goddess. His fingers twitched to touch her, but he kept them to himself, determined to let her sleep.

“I know you’re staring at me,” she said so softly he barely heard her.

“How do you know?” he asked, amused.

“I can feel you watching me.” She blinked the sleep from her eyes and gazed up at him, her lips curved up just a touch. He loved when she looked at him like that.

Happy. Relaxed. Content.

Cash vowed to wake up to that expression on her face every day for the rest of his life. He gave in to his temptation and brushed a lock of her mussed hair behind her ear and then let his fingers trail down her cheek. “Good morning.”

“Morning.” Her gaze locked with his, and it was as if the rest of the world just melted away.

Cash bent down and pressed a soft kiss to her lips as his hand trailed over her shoulder and down her arm. He felt, rather than saw, the gooseflesh that popped out on her skin, and he couldn’t help the ripple of satisfaction that ran through him.

She wanted him just as much as he wanted her. There was no doubt about it.

“Cash,” she said, reaching for his hand as his fingers started to caress the bare skin of her stomach under her T-shirt.

“Hmm?” he murmured as his lips found her neck.

“Gods,” she said with a contented sigh. “That feels amazing, but we can’t do this. Your concussion.”

“I already got the all-clear from the healer. It’s fine,” he said roughly, pressing his body against hers.

“Seriously?” she asked with a disbelieving chuckle. “You called the healer to find out if it is okay to get it on?”

“No.” His chest rumbled just before he bit down lightly on the nape of her neck. “I called to check in, and when I told her all my symptoms were gone, she lifted all restrictions. Now, what about you? What do you want, gorgeous?”

“You know exactly what I want, Cash,” Harlow said, letting out a tiny moan when his hand inched up over her breast.

He did, in fact, know what she wanted. Cash knew every inch of her body and exactly what she needed. It had been far too long, and every molecule in his body craved her. His body pulsed with need, and he had to fight the urge to rip her clothes off and waste no time making her his again. But he didn’t. He was going to savor this. Rediscover her and show her how much he loved her.

And he did exactly that. Each kiss was a declaration of love, each touch a promise of devotion, and when he finally took her, his eyes were locked on hers, sharing an intensity he’d never experienced before.

Finally, she was his and he was hers again, mind, body, and soul.

* * *

Cash was whistlingto himself when he finally made his way downstairs again. He’d just left Harlow in the shower with the promise of feeding her. They’d spent a few hours in bed, making love twice and just enjoying holding each other. When Harlow’s stomach finally grumbled, he’d taken her to the shower and then made love to her again. He just couldn’t get enough of her.

When he’d teased her about a fourth round, she’d laughed and shooed him out of the shower, insisting he get her food before she passed out. He’d finally relented but left her with one last searing kiss.

The house was full of sunlight streaming in, and the scent of spring was in the air. Cash felt like a new man as he pulled eggs and bacon out of the refrigerator. He’d just cracked his second egg when he spotted movement out of the corner of his eye.

On reflex, he pulled the iron chain that Harlow had given him out of his pocket and whirled, ready to trap any spirit that had invaded their sanctuary.

“Whoa!” Shaun cried, holding his hands up and backing away. “I come in peace.”

“Damn, Shaun. You could have warned a guy you were here,” Cash said, stuffing the chain back into his jeans pocket.

“What?” Shaun asked as he pulled two small earbuds from his ears that Cash hadn’t noticed.

“I said you could have warned a guy,” Cash repeated. “I thought you were still with Imogen.”

“Nope. I’ve been here for a few hours, actually,” he said, neatly sidestepping the fact that he’d spent the night with Harlow’s sister. He glanced toward the doorway that led to the stairs and then back at Cash. “I guess things with Harlow are back on track?”

“You could say that,” Cash said, turning his attention back to his eggs.

“Then I’ll invest in some noise-canceling headphones until we can soundproof the bedrooms,” Shaun said with a chuckle. “Imagine my horror when I heard Harlow crying out your name.”

Cash tsked, not at all embarrassed. In fact, he stood taller, basking in the ego rush. “At least you weren’t treated to the sight of your brother’s hairy ass.”

Shaun sputtered. “My ass is not hairy.”

“How do you know? Have you checked lately? From where I was standing, it looked like you could use a little manscaping,” Cash taunted.

“You’re full of—” Shaun started.

Harlow appeared in the doorway and cut him off when she cleared her throat.

“Oh, uh, good morning, Harlow,” Shaun said, his face turning bright red.

“Shaun,” she muttered and then glanced away as she added, “Have a good night?”

He coughed and muttered a yes.

“Are the two of you dating now?” Harlow asked pointedly.

“That’s, um, not something we’ve discussed,” he said, sounding nervous.

“So last night was… what? A one-night stand? Friends with benefits? A hookup with potential?” Harlow didn’t sound mad, not to Cash at least. More like concerned.

“Last night…” Shaun shook his head. “You know what? I’m not comfortable discussing this. I’m sorry, Harlow, I know Imogen is your sister, but what happens between us is between us. If you want to know more, you’ll have to ask her.” Then he turned and quickly exited the kitchen.

Cash frowned as he watched his brother. While he agreed that whatever was between Imogen and Shaun was their business, he also got the feeling that Shaun was struggling with something. He just prayed it wasn’t regret. Having his brother at odds with Imogen would be a complication none of them needed.

“Hey, babe,” Cash said, walking over to Harlow and giving her a kiss on the temple. “I’m working on breakfast now. Give me about twenty minutes and we’ll be good to go.”

She looked up at him, her expression softening as she glanced at the stove and then back at him. “Would you be too upset if I took a raincheck? I want to get home and make sure Imogen is all right.”

He raised his eyebrows in question. “You’re worried about her and Shaun?”

“Aren’t you?” she asked.

“I don’t know that worried is the word, but I am curious about what is going on. Shaun hasn’t dated anyone since he and his fiancée broke up.”

“He just said they aren’t dating,” she said, her expression troubled. “I know hookups are a thing and they’re both adults. They don’t need to answer to me. And I know that Shaun’s a good guy. It’s just that Imogen isn’t the one-night-stand kind of girl and I… I don’t know. There’s nothing wrong with that, but it’s not her personality, and that worries me. And what about Shaun? I’ve never known him to be a hit-it-and-quit-it type of guy. Have you?”

Cash averted his gaze and frowned.

“Oh no,” Harlow said.

“It’s not that bad. It’s not like he’s been parading hookups around. In fact, I haven’t seen him with anyone since Shari, but he did just confirm yesterday that he’s not a monk, so I took that to mean that he’s definitely shared a bed or two.”

Harlow groaned. “I don’t want to talk about our siblings’ sex lives. It’s too weird.”

He chuckled. “I agree.” Then he sobered and pulled her in close. “Will I see you tonight?”

“Sorry,” she said, giving him an apologetic smile. “I have a girls’ night planned with Hanna from the café, and Imogen is coming along. Tomorrow?”

“Count on it.” He gave her one more long, lingering kiss and then walked her out.

As he watched her Subaru disappear out of his driveway, he had the intense urge to follow her. Instead, he turned around and went back into his house, already mentally making plans for their future.