Engaging (Alluring Book 2) (13 page)

Chapter Ten

They developed a routine.  Every night Gage would come over for dinner, then put Logan to bed.  Cassie never interfered with bedtime.  She figured it was their father/son bonding time.  She had plenty of hours in the day to be with Logan. 

Gage would spend a few more hours with Cassie after Logan fell asleep.  He never tried to have sex with her, never spent the night, but he would hold her hand, cradle her against his chest, and give her light kisses, sometimes on her lips, her cheek, her neck, and even on her hand. 

They would talk about what they did during the day.  Engage was in the process of recording their new album, so they were at Gage's most of the day doing that.  Cassie had found new homes for two of their dogs and then promptly acquired two more. 

Laurie was in a dither because she started her annual two-week vacation in a few days.  She had planned a trip to Arizona to visit her best friend. Laurie tended to worry about Tail Wagners
a lot
when she wasn't around to oversee things, even though in the past Cassie quite capably handled any problems that had come along.  Laurie would
stress
the two weeks prior to her vacation,
obsess
the two weeks she was gone, and
reassess
everything when she came back.  Cassie seriously didn't know why she went on vacation.  It sounded exhausting.

"Don't forget the concert is tomorrow night."  They were on the porch in their usual position, Cassie's head resting on Gage's chest with his arm wrapped around her shoulders, his fingers playing with a lock of her hair.

"How could I forget.  I'm so excited."

Gage chuckled.  "I'll pick you up at five.  I need to be there a few hours before the concert starts to make sure everything is set up correctly.  Laurie can watch Logan, right?"

"Yeah, it's all planned.  Kyle is spending the night so Sam and Derek don't have to worry about finding a sitter, seeing as Mase will be at the concert, and he's their usual sitter."

"I don't know that I would trust Mase watching my kid,"  Gage said, with a grimace.

Cassie giggled.  "I've only met him once, but I was given that impression as well.  He seemed a little..."

"Crazy?"

Cassie giggled again.  "Maybe nutty is a better word."

Gage stood from the swing, stretching his arms over his head.  "I should probably get going.  I have a lot to do tomorrow to get ready for the concert."

Cassie stared transfixed at the little strip of skin exposed when Gage's T-shirt raised as he stretched.  She loved that little strip of downy soft hairs that started under his belly button and disappeared into his waistband.  She was at the perfect level, that if she leaned forward just a bit, she could lick it.

"Sunshine, you need to stop looking at my dick like you want to devour it."

Cassie felt her face heat, and she gave him a dirty look.  "If you must know, I wasn't looking at
that
.  I was looking at the line of hairs that trail into your waistband.  I remember they were really soft."

Gage took a few steps forward.  "Feel free to check to see if they still are."

With her left hand, she grasped the hem of his shirt and pulled it up while the fingers of her right hand softly stroked the line of hairs.  They were as soft as she remembered.

Gage took a quick step back, causing her hand to be ripped from his shirt.  "Maybe that wasn't such a good idea."

Cassie noticed the front of his jeans were fuller than they were a few moments ago.  She stood from the swing and took the few steps to him.  She wrapped her arms around his middle and rested her head against his chest.  "Let's go inside."

He took a step back from her and cradled her face in his hands, staring intently into her eyes.  "Do you see it?"

She tried shaking her head, but he held her still, so instead she answered, "See what?"

"I'll make love to you when you see it."

And with those parting words, he walked to his Escalade and opened the drivers side door.  "Get in the house and lock up."  He gave a chin tip to the front door.

Cassie watched him for a moment from the porch, feeling confused and frustrated.  She knew he wanted to have sex, all evidence pointed to that, but he turned her down, again.  What was it that she was supposed to see? 

"Cassie."

Right, she was supposed to go in the house and lock up.  He wouldn't leave until she did.  She gave him a little wave before heading inside.  She locked the door and turned out all the lights before making her way to her bedroom.  All the while thinking.  What was she supposed to see?  She hoped she saw it soon because she really wanted to have sex with Gage.

They pulled up in front of the hotel, and Gage left the car running for the valet as he got out, came around, and opened Cassie's door for her.  She stepped out of the truck, very aware that Gage watched her legs the whole time.  She had never owned, much less worn, such a short dress before.  Not only was the dress ridiculously short, it was red, clingy, and had a neckline that plunged almost to her navel.  She almost didn't wear it but, it had been Gage and his no sex policy that spurred her on.  If anything could get Gage to have sex with her, it was this dress.

She had called Sam that morning, begging her to meet at the mall after Cassie had gone through her whole closet and discovered she had nothing to wear.  They'd searched shop after shop until Sam had declared that this was the dress she had to get.  So she'd bought it against her better judgment. 

When Gage had arrived to pick her up, he did a double take, and she saw him bite his tongue.  She'd given him a steely-eyed stare that dared him to say anything negative, and he'd wisely stayed silent.

Laurie didn't have a problem speaking her mind.  "Girl, I hope you didn't pay more than a dollar for that dress because that's all that minuscule bit of material is worth."

Cassie had just rolled her eyes at Gage's grunted approval of Laurie's comment.

Gage took her hand as they walked into the Allure hotel.  Cassie had never been before and looked around in wonderment.  They took the elevator up to the second floor, passing a variety of different shops on the way to the nightclub.

Gage gave Cassie's hand a tug to lead her down a side hall.  "We'll use the back entrance."

Security manned the door but ushered Gage through without incident.  Gage waved to an incredibly good-looking guy and a stunningly beautiful woman.  "Come on, I'll introduce you to Jack and Alexis."

Alexis was petite yet curvy, about Cassie's height with a pile of brunette curls atop her head and gorgeous light-brown eyes.  Jack was ridiculously handsome with wavy, longish, light-brown hair and green eyes. 

The introductions were made, and Alexis said, "It's so nice to finally meet you.  Gage has told us so much about you and your organization."

Cassie gave her a smile.  "Thank you."

After a while of idle chitchat, Jack said, "Why don't I escort these ladies up to the VIP dais so you can finish getting ready."

"Cassie will be staying backstage during the performance," Gage announced.

"What!  Why?"  Cassie demanded.

"If you think I'm going to let you run around in that dress without me by your side, you're out of your fucking mind."

"Let me!"  Cassie shouted.  "You can't tell me what to do."

Gage crossed his arms over his chest.  "I think I just did."

"Well, I don't have to listen to you." 

"You don't and there will be severe consequences for you."

Cassie crossed her own arms over her chest and tapped her foot.  "I'm not your child, Gage."

His gaze perused her slowly from head to toe before coming back to linger on her breasts.  He gave her a predatory smile.  "I'm very aware you're not a child." 

Cassie growled, "You're unbelievable."

"No, what's unbelievable is that fucking dress."

Jack chose that moment to interfere.  "She won't leave my side all night."

Alexis also announced, "I'll stick to her like glue."

Jack looked at Alexis and said, "You're not helping."

Now, Alexis folded her arms over her chest.  "And why's that?"

Jack was quick to reply, "Because the two of you together will have every dick in a mile radius panting after you within three seconds."

Alexis rolled her eyes.  "Now you're being ridiculous, Jack."

"You know how I feel about you rolling your eyes at me, sweetheart."

Gage must have thought it was prudent to interrupt
them
at this point.  "Okay, Jack, Cassie can go with you if you promise not to leave her side."

Cassie glared at Gage.  "Well, thank you very much."

Gage pulled her into his arms and enfolded her in an embrace.  "Sunshine, I won't be able to concentrate on the show if I know you're out there strutting around and any guy can hit on you."

Cassie pushed herself from his hold.  "I do not strut."

"Yeah, Sunshine, you do.  I'm a guy.  I would know."

"You are
–
"

Now, Alexis must have thought it was prudent to interrupt.  She took Cassie's arm and steered her away.  "Come on, Jack."

As they made their way through the light crowd of the nightclub, Alexis said, "This place will be a lot busier in about an hour, it's still early yet."  At Cassie's nod, she continued, "So you and Gage, huh."

Cassie looked at her with a frown.  "What do you mean?"

"Aren't you guys dating?" 

"No.  We're just friends."

Alexis looked confused.  "Gage wasn't acting like just friends."

Cassie sighed, "It's complicated."

Alexis seemed to accept that as an answer.  They walked up the stairs to the VIP dais.  No one was around yet, so they had it all to themselves. 

Jack handed Cassie and Alexis a glass of white wine.  "I thought I heard Gage say something about Sam and Derek coming with you."  He said, to Cassie.

Cassie took a sip of her wine then nodded.  "They were going to until they found out how early we had to be here.  Now, they're going out to dinner first before dropping Kyle off at my house to spend the night with Logan."

At Alexis's look of confusion, she said, "Kyle and my son Logan are in the same class at preschool.  That's how I met Sam."

"I didn't know you had a son," Alexis said, taking a sip of her wine.

"Yeah, that's the complicated part of mine and Gage's relationship.  He's Logan's father."

Alexis gave wide eyes at Cassie.  "You and Gage have a son together?"  She turned to Jack.  "Did you know that?"  She asked him accusingly.

Jack shook his head.  "I knew he knew Cassie from way back, but I didn't know they had a son." 

Cassie knew Jack and Gage were good friends, so she didn't want Jack to think Gage was keeping secrets from him.  She placed her hand on his arm to get his attention.  "Gage only found out about Logan a few weeks ago."  Jack gave her a hard stare.  She didn't want him thinking badly of her so elaborated, "We lost contact five years ago and just reconnected at Mase's party."

Jack gave her hand a pat.  "I know the story.  I know Gage is an idiot."  He gave her a devastating grin.  "So, no worries."

Cassie gave him a grateful smile.

The concert was about to start.  Mase had shown up, a beautiful brunette on his arm, soon followed by Sam and Derek.  They were a festive little group as Gage took the stage.  He was alone without his band.  This was a solo, impromptu performance where people from the audience could request what song they wanted Gage to sing.

Cassie stood transfixed as Gage took the stage, guitar strapped to his chest.  The audience cheered and shouted and several women declared their love for him.  Her heart beat a quick tempo as Gage looked up at the VIP dais, his eyes locked on her, then he blew her a kiss.  The already loud audience went wild.  Cassie noticed several people turned their heads to look up at the dais, but with such a large crowd, they would never know who Gage blew a kiss to.

"I'd like to thank everyone for being here tonight."  Cassie heard Gage shout from the stage.  He went on to describe all the great things Tail Wagners did and the website they could go to for donations and adoption. 

Cassie clapped and cheered loudly.  It felt great hearing all the recognition her aunts organization received.  Then Gage asked for requests.  The crowd shouted so many songs it was hard to differentiate between them.  Gage laughed, then waved his arms in the air for silence before pointing to someone and asking their request.

After about an hour, Gage pointed to someone who shouted,
Love Lost
.  Gage strummed the first few chords before saying into the microphone, "This song is very special to me."

Cassie held her breath, her heart beating wildly as she waited to hear what he had to say. 

"A long time ago, I fell in love."  The crowd went wild, and Gage held his hands up for silence.  "But I was too stupid to realize it, and I let the girl of my dreams get away."