Midnight in Montana - Chapter 10

Cass Stroking the gray kitten’s head while the animal curled into her lap, Cass realized he hadn’t shared the whole story of that scary night with anyone else. Sure, she’d had to go over the details twice with the responding officer. And she’d given a sanitized version to her employers so they understood why she’d needed to take a leave of absence from both her jobs. But none of those discussions had given her the sense of unburdening that she felt with Emilio. Like he’d taken some of the weight from her shoulders just by listening. Maybe it was because of the way he looked at her when she confided in him—as if he really cared about what had happened. Really cared about…her? She knew that wasn’t necessarily the case, but maybe he still felt some of the old bond between them. The pull toward one another that she experienced every time they were near. “I’m so damned sorry that happened to you, Cass.” Emilio’s hand stroked her shoulder where he’d curled his arm around her. His touch was comforting, yes. But it stirred awareness at the same time. Reminded her of the way they used to touch. The electric zing she’d always felt in her veins. Even now, she could feel her whole body come alive. “I’m two states away now though,” she assured herself even as she reminded him. “Nothing in my lost wallet would connect me to Montana.” Emilio edged back a little to look into her eyes. “But you need to be careful until they find that guy.” Even as he spoke, his thumb slowly stroked along her collarbone where he held her. A pleasurable shiver chased over her skin. “I will be.” She had no wish to return to a home when the perpetrator had her home address on her license. “Lauryn said I’m welcome here for as long as necessary, and Hope seems grateful for my help.” “My house renovations will be finished next week too. You can have it all to yourself if you need more space since I’m staying in the foreman’s quarters at Kingsland.” The implications of that invitation made her hesitate. Not because she wasn’t interested in pursuing something temporary between them, but because she wondered if he was already thinking along those lines too. Her mouth went dry at the thought of being with him in a way she’d only dreamed about when they were younger. Before she could answer, however, he rushed to add, “Not that I’m expecting anything to happen between us. I mean it when I say you can have the place to yourself.” “I know your offer is genuine.” She laid a hand on his knee and the heat of him warmed her fingers right through the denim. “And I appreciate that.” His gray-green eyes held hers for a long moment, a charge in the air between them. She wanted to kiss him. To see if his lips affected her the way she remembered. Leaning closer, she tipped her face to his, ready for more. The doorbell rang then, however, delaying any chance of a kiss as their food arrived.