Bad Karma (20 page)

Sky held up her hand. “I remember. I’m sorry. Cassie.”

“
I didn’t invite you to be my mother and run my life.” She stormed across the deck and down the stairs, running to the haven she had rented.

When she’d locked the sliding glass door behind her, she was shaking. She ran into the bathroom and took a shower.

Throwing on a pair of shorts and a pullover, she got ready for work. She took the Audi, knowing Zach could drop Sky at The Net if she needed the car before her return.

Sybil greeted her when she sat down at the counter. “Aren’t you the little early bird?”

She blew out a deep breath. “I want an omelet!”

~*~

CHAPTER TWELVE

Adoration

When Cassie got home from her shift at The Net, she found a note from her sister.

Sky apologized for her earlier comments and said that she’d switched with another nurse on the graveyard shift and would Cassie pick her up at the hospital at seven the next morning.

Cassie took a breath and tossed the note on the coffee table.

After her outburst and her serving of omelet at The Net, she’d regretted lashing out at Sky, particularly in front of Zach. Sybil had noticed her black mood and enticed the whole story out of her.

“
Javier Rios? He’s a heart throb.”

Cassie stabbed into her omelet. “Ain’t it the truth?”

Sybil folded her arms across her chest. “There are a whole bunch of little Latinas who have tried to rope that big old hunk of man, honey. Don’t you go getting your heart broke, now. Y’hear?”

“
No problem. We have absolutely nothing in common.” Cassie shrugged. “Zach said something about Javier being a local hero. What was that all about?”

Sybil set a glass of juice beside her plate. “Javier came back from the Gulf with a chest full of medals. He did some kind of underwater rescue. He seems to always be in the newspapers for saving someone’s life around here.”

“
Everybody loves a hero.” Cassie lifted the glass of juice and sat it back down, morosely making overlapping circles of dampness on her napkin.

Sybil had patted her arm. “Just be careful.”

Later, as Cassie was trying to decide what to wear for her date with the local hero/heartthrob with whom she had nothing in common, she realized that her own wardrobe was sadly lacking. He’d said they were going to a nice restaurant. She finally opened Sky’s closet and pawed through the rack.

Cassie smiled and pulled a hanger out of the closet. It was a black sheath with tiny spaghetti straps. It was short and Sky had stilettos to match.

“
If Javi wants a woman, I’m gonna give him one.”

An hour later, Cassie opened the door to Javier, reveling in the expression on his face.

She stood taller in the stilettos, her legs bared in the short, fitted dress. She’d twisted her hair up and wore a pair of dangle earrings and a spritz of Sky’s expensive perfume in all the strategic places.

Javi took a deep breath. “What are you trying to do to me?”

She smiled innocently. “You don’t like this dress?”

He stepped through the doorway. A muscle in his jaw twitched. “I really don’t want to take you out like that.”

Cassie’s heart sank. “I can change.”

“
No, baby girl. You look so hot in that dress, I’m afraid I might have to kill any man who looks at you.” A slow grin spread across his face. “You never cease to amaze me.”

“
Is that a good thing?”

He nodded. “Trust me, it’s a good thing. Let’s go before I have to bite that little piece of cloth right off of you.”

Cassie giggled and grabbed the tiny excuse for a purse that went with the shoes. She locked the door and turned to Javi. He lifted her in his arms, carrying her quickly down the stairs.

She grasped the handle and opened the passenger door. Javi swung her up onto the seat. The little black dress slid up her thighs, accidentally giving him a glimpse of her black lace panties.

He winced. “Oh, baby girl, you’re killing me!” He secured her seat belt and shot her a hungering gaze.

She blushed, but was pleased that he found her attractive.

Javi stepped onto the chrome side pipe and leaned in to press a quick kiss on her lips. He closed her door and came around to the driver’s side.

Cassie grinned at him. “Where are you taking me?”

“
I’d like to take you back upstairs.” He expelled his breath. “But I’m taking you to a seafood restaurant. They have a little dance floor. I can put my arms around you, but there will be too many people around for me to rip that dress off.”

Cassie grinned as he revved the motor. “Why don’t you tell me how you really feel?”

His gaze scorched her, sending a rush of warmth to her female parts. “Baby, if I told you how I’m feeling right now, I really would scare you.” He flicked a little smile at her. “And I don’t want to do that.”

At the restaurant, he helped her alight from the truck.

He held her hand as they went inside, walking slow due to her shortened stride in the borrowed high heels.

Heads turned when they walked in. The waiter took them to a reserved table by the window where they could gaze out on the moonlight reflecting on the water. They ordered fresh seafood. When the waiter offered the wine list, Javi asked him to come back for their drink order.

“
Among the many things I don’t know about you is what you like to drink.”

She shrugged, giving him a shy smile. “I’m not old enough to have an alcoholic beverage and I don’t know much about them anyway. You can order something for me.”

“
Baby girl, you don’t have to have an alcoholic drink.” Javi reached for her hand across the small table and drew it to his lips. He kissed her fingers, grazing them with his teeth and sending a little shiver skittering across her shoulders.

“
Are you cold?”

She shook her head, mesmerized by the hungry look in his eyes.

He ordered soft drinks for both of them.

They ate and, afterwards, he asked her to step onto the small dance floor with him.

“
I’m not a very good dancer.”

“
That’s okay, Cassie. I’m a great dancer.”

“
And so modest.” Butterflies played in her stomach as he drew her into his arms. “You’ll have to be good to make up for how bad I am.”

He pulled her against his chest and led her in the simple steps in time to the slow, romantic song.

With her head on his shoulder, she inhaled his crisp masculine scent.

Javi rested his cheek against her temple. “You’re not such a bad dancer,” he whispered.

“
I haven’t speared through your foot with a stiletto yet.”

Javi had a strong lead and he was easy to follow. Cassie relaxed, laughing as he twirled her under his arm.

Later, when he drove her home, he walked her up to her door.

“
I had a good time,” she said.

“
Will you go out with me again?”

“
Yes.”

“
I’ll be on duty for the next seventy-two hours starting tomorrow morning. Will you let me see you Friday night?”

“
Yes, I’d like that.” Cassie melted against Javi as he leaned to kiss her.

“
Then I’ll see you Friday.”

As he turned to go, a chill skittered down her spine. She sucked in a big gasp of air. A “Oh, no! The door’s open. I distinctly remember locking it before we left.”

He tried the door and it slid open on the track.

“
Stay here and let me check inside.” Javi stepped through the doorway and into the darkness.

Cassie stood outside, her hands clasped together. The off-shore breeze teased her bare skin, sending frightening messages to her brain. The tide rolled in. Gentle waves lapped at the shore behind her, but inside, all was silent. “Javi! Are you all right?”

He turned on an interior light and held the curtain open for her to enter. “I’m fine, Baby. Maybe you didn’t lock it.”

“
Yes, I did,” she insisted. She looked around, her heart pumping against her ribs.

Javi enfolded her in his arms. “Cassie, don’t be scared. Maybe your sister came home and left it unlocked.”

“
She wouldn’t do that. It’s too important.” Cassie clung to Javi, trembling against his solid form. “Besides, she’s working a graveyard tonight.”

He frowned down at her. “You’re going to be all alone here?”

She nodded, her eyes filling with tears. “I’m sure I’ll be fine.” She pressed her cheek into his chest to hide her fear.

Javi lifted her chin, his dark eyes narrowed. “You have to tell me what’s going on.

“
I can’t tell.” She stepped away, rubbing her bare arms.

He frowned, his dark eyebrows drawing together. “Cassie, you can tell me anything. Do you have an ex-boyfriend or husband looking for you? It doesn’t matter. I’ll get rid of him for you.”

Cassie had to laugh in spite of her fear.

“
No, Baby. I’m serious. He’ll have to get through me to get to you.” He gazed at her so earnestly she experienced a feathery sensation in her chest.

“
No, I’ve never been married and my old boyfriends are all...” She stopped short, not willing to admit that she’d never had a serious boyfriend. “Don’t worry. It’s not me.” She turned away.

Javi turned her around. “If you suddenly left me, I’d be looking for you everywhere. I couldn’t let you walk away that easy.”

“
How can you say that? You’ve just met me. You don’t know me well enough to say that.”

“
You underestimate yourself, baby girl. You got under my skin the moment I saw you. Anyone who had you in his life wouldn’t want to let you go.”

“
Javi, there’s no one.”

“
Then what is it? What’s got you so scared?”

Cassie’s lips quivered as she tried to form the words. “It’s my sister. Someone is stalking her. He...he tried to kill her...twice.”

“
My God! Have you talked to the sheriff? Rafael Solis needs to know about this.”

She shook her head.

“
It’s okay. In the morning, we’ll go to the sheriff. He’s one of my closest friends.”

“
In the morning?”

He nodded, his eyes fixed on hers. “I’m not leaving you alone here.”

A different kind of shiver ran down Cassie’s spine.

~*~

The graveyard shift was the easiest. All the patients were in bed. Doctors weren’t making rounds. The visitors had gone and best of all for Sky, the doors were locked.