The Game Plan (11 page)

“
Why are you being such a bully
?”
Cassie demanded.
 “
Ca
n’
t you see
I’
m in pain?  I ca
n’
t sit to eat
.
”

“
Oh, yes you can.  It wo
n’
t be comfortable, but you can and will do it.  Do I need to remind you about the cost of disobeying me here in the parking lot
?
”

“
I hate you
,”
Cassie hissed.

Rob shrugged.
 “
Too bad.  Yo
u’
re still coming inside
,”
he said coldly.  Cassie glared at him as he opened the truck door for her and waited patiently for her to exit.  She bit her lip as her bottom dragged along the seat as she pulled herself out.  He held his arm for her to take, pleased that she decided to comply.  He patted her hand and led her inside.

The little diner had been there for years, tucked away under the protective branches of the old, gnarled oak trees.  The waitress greeted them and showed them to a table.  Cassie winced as she slid into the booth.

“
How are you doing, Rob?  I
t’
s been a while
.
”

“
Been busy, Tess.  This is Cassandra, m
y…
friend
,”
he said. 

Cassie looked surprised.  He did
n’
t introduce her as his roommate!

“
Good to meet you, Cassandra.  Are you okay
?”
Tess frowned, noticing the gir
l’
s discomfort. 

Cassie nodded.
 “
Please call me Cassie.  I hurt my back last night and this weather had my allergies in an uproar
.
”

“
Yeah, it looks like we might have a big one coming in.  What can I get you two
?
”

“
Le
t’
s start with your famous latte, okay
?”
Rob said pleasantly. 

Cassie waited until the woman departed.
 “
Your
friend
?  What is that about?  Are you ashamed to be related to me
?
”

“
Will you please cut it out?  I know yo
u’
re mad; so am I.  But le
t’
s work through it.  Cass,
I’
m sorry about what I said last night.  It was wrong of me.  I felt, well, insecure
.
”

“
You?  Insecure?  You are one of the most arrogant and self-righteous people I know!  How the hell could you possibly feel insecure about anything
?
”

“
Gee, why do
n’
t you tell me what you
really
think about me
?”
Rob forced a shy smile.
 “
But, yo
u’
re right.  You make me feel that way.  Yo
u’
re the only one who ever has
.
”

Cassie was silent, staring at him.  She thanked Tess for the coffee and took a sip. 
Mmmm
, it was hot, creamy and smooth. 

“
Good, huh
?”
Rob asked, seeing her response.  She nodded, happy to change the subject.

“
I’
ve never had anything so yummy
.
”

“
I bought a cappuccino machine for the house.  I gotta learn how to use it
,”
Rob said, making small talk.  Cassie smiled, looking at her cup.

“
I’
ll show you how.  I
t’
s not that hard.  Except for an architect, of course
.
”

“
Smart ass
.”
Rob smiled, relaxing.  Tess brought their breakfast and Cassie gasped.

“
Are you feeding an army, Tess
?
”

“
Nope, just your man here.  These Johnson boys can pack it away.  You better learn how to cook if you decide to stay with him
.”
Tess winked, placing the platters laden with thick French toast, scrambled eggs and Canadian bacon in front of them.

“
She cooks great.  Wher
e’
s hers
?”
Rob asked, grinning as he reached for the platter.  Tess smacked his hand.

“
Did
n’
t your father teach you any manners?  Here are your plates.  Fill the lad
y’
s first
,”
Tess ordered. 

Rob chuckled.
 “
Yes, m
a’
am!  Is that enough, Cass
?
”

Cassie just nodded, feeling a little overwhelmed. 

“
How do you know her
?”
she asked after Tess left.

“
Her dad played linebacker and retired a while ago.  Sh
e’
s met Bry, but not Glenn.  Eat.  I
t’
s real good
.
”

Cassie took a bite before launching into the meal.  He was right, it was delicious.  She made a mental note to add nutmeg to her French toast recipe.

“
And a touch of amaretto
,”
Rob added, seeing her trying to decipher the ingredients.

“
You like to cook
?”
Cassie asked, surprised. 

Rob nodded.
 “
Yeah, i
t’
s fun.  I got tired of takeout real fast.  Wait until you see my new kitchen.  I
t’
s a gourme
t’
s dream
.
”

“
I’
ve never seen your house
,”
Cassie said quietly. 

Ro
b’
s eyes twinkled.
 “
No one has.  You will be the first.  In fact, le
t’
s stop by the market and pick up stuff.  We can make dinner together
.
”

Cassie eyed him suspiciously.  He was like hot and cold running water. 

She swallowed nervously.
 “
Are you going to, well..
.
”

“
Yes, I will be punishing you. 
I’
m sorry, but you deserve it and I care too much about you to have you put yourself at risk again.  But it will be done and over with and we can go forward
,”
Rob said firmly, meeting her eyes.

“
I do
n’
t want you touching me again like that.  It makes me feel disposable
,”
she whispered, hanging her head. 

Rob frowned, reaching for her hand.
 “
What do you mean?  If I did
n’
t care, I would
n’
t put the effort into correcting you
.
”

“
You were mad, and you did
n’
t eve
n
…
”
She fought back tears. 

Rob bit his lip, realizing his mistake.
 “
I did
n’
t comfort you after.  Gosh, Cass,
I’
m an idiot. 
I’
m sorry.  I forget that you have different needs than us guys.  You would think, at my age, I would have my shit together. 
I’
m not perfect
.
”

“
I’
m sorry
I’
m such a burden to you..
.
”

“
I swear, if I hear you say that one more time, you will be going across my knee
.”
Ro
b’
s eyes darkened.  Cassie blushed, looking around.  Several people had heard him and were chuckling.  He lowered his voice.

“
I never want to hear another derogatory word about yourself coming from that sweet little mouth of yours.  Ever.  I love you, Cass.  More than I care to admit.  And NOT as a roommate or a neighbor
,”
Rob forced out.  She blushed again, hanging her head.  He cleared his throat, plopping some bills on the table.
 “
Come on, le
t’
s get out of here before the storm hits.  Tess was right, i
t’
s gonna be a doozy
.
”

Cass remained silent as they stopped by the market to get food for the house, watching as he selected the ingredients to make pork tenderloin.  He asked her opinion and she smiled shyly, adding other ingredients to the shopping cart.  He purchased them without question, not missing the baking chocolate and promise of another cake.

Fat rain droplets started landing upon the windshield as they drove another twenty minutes.  Cassie glanced around; the area was well wooded with dense thickets and occasional copses of cypress and willow trees.  A haze settled over the grounds, giving off an eerie appearance.  It was an abnormally cold day for this part of the country.  Rob glanced at her with a smile.

“
This is part of my property.  Got a small lake behind the house.  Like it
?
”

“
I
t’
s pretty.  You must love bugs
,”
Cassie grinned, swatting a mosquito.

“
Part of living in Florida.  I have misters to keep them out of the house.  I also checked, and there are no gators or snakes in the lake
.
”

“
Good, because I hate both.  Except fried
,”
Cassie giggled.  Rob pulled up to a stone and red wood, two story farm house that was nestled in the center of an oak grove, with a small orchard of avocado and orange trees to the side. 

“
This is beautiful!  Wow, did you do it yourself
?”
she asked, getting out of the truck and admiring the structure.  Rob nodded proudly.

“
Yep.  Come in,
I’
ll show you around
.
”

He put the groceries on the island in the kitchen, showing off the high end appliances, ovens and storage.  Cassie clapped gleefully.

“
I ca
n’
t wait to cook in here.  This is incredible
!”
she squealed. 

Rob was pleased and eagerly escorted her around the rest of the house.  The living room had high ceilings with polished dark wood flooring, a large fireplace and sectional couch.  Cassie laughed; the centerpiece, of course, was the 7
2”
plasma TV.  Men.

There was an office, two large guest bedrooms and a full bathroom downstairs, each reflecting Ro
b’
s personal style and masculinity.  Warm woods, cranberry tones and a sense of safety.  Cassie felt that vividly.  Finally, he took her upstairs to the loft master bedroom which occupied most of the upstairs space.  It was HUGE. 

She gasped.
 “
This is perfect
,”
she whispered.  The room had a large wall length window that overlooked the lake.  The vaulted ceiling was made from cedar wood planks and had a fan hanging from the center, and the king sized bed was made of carved cypress knees and raised high off the floor.  The floors were polished hardwood and covered with thick, soft area rugs.  Finally, an antique iron pot belly stove rested on a brick platform near the bathroom door.  What really surprised her, though, was the color scheme.  It was old-fashioned and unusually feminin
e—
lilac and cream, her favorites.  In fact, the whole room had a soft quality to it, despite the heavy furnishings.  It was almost like he had designed it with her in mind.  N
o…
impossible.

The bathroom complemented the decor, with a high claw-foot tub and hand held shower.  The old-fashioned toilet with a pull down chain was in
a‘
water-close
t’
and the dual sinks were deep.  Cassie did not fail to notice the amount of counter space and cabinets, including a colossal walk in closet and dressing room.  The upstairs and downstairs were like Ro
b’
s personality.  Downstairs, for the view of the public, had been very modern and up-to-date while the upstairs was old fashioned and a step back in time.

“
Did you make these
?”
Cassie asked, running her hand along the dresser.  Rob nodded proudly.

“
Almost all the furniture in here.  I wanted this room to be special for the day I would bring my future wife here
,”
he admitted quietly.  Cassie looked at him, not commenting on his statement.

“
I never knew you had this type of creativity.  I
t’
s amazing.  You really did this
?”
she whispered, running her hand along the large dressing mirror whose frame was carved from a single slab of cypress.  She went to the roll-top desk with straight backed chair.
 “
And this
?
”