Page 18 of Mistletoe Mischief

This week had been joyous to her, and terrifying. So far, Roger had been everything she’d hoped for and more. She looked down at the ring on her finger, still shocked to see it there. He hadn’t shown any regret at giving her the promise ring. In fact, he’d started running his thumb over it as often as possible, as if to remind himself that it was real as well.

Cass didn’t know if the ring was actually worth anything—hell, it could be glass for all she knew—but she didn’t care. The sentimental value was more important than anything. Other than the pictures of her brother, the ring had become the thing she prized most in her life.

No, that wasn’t right. The ring was a prized possession but Roger had become themostimportant thing in her life.

Inwardly, she cringed, but that was how it felt in her bones. He belonged with her. Period. If this was some kind of psychotic break or schizophrenic episode, she hoped they never found a cure. Because her crazy and Roger’s crazy fit perfectly.

Pouring a little salt into the pot of boiling water, she got everything ready to cook when Roger walked in the door. The bread was warming in the oven and the noodles were on the counter, ready to be dropped into the water. The salad was made and ready to go.

She looked up at the clock. Almost six-thirty. Roger had to leave for the graveyard shift at LNF at ten-thirty. They would have four hours together tonight but he was off the next day.

It freaked her out how easy it had been to fall into a schedule this week. As soon as she left work, Roger came over for dinner and cuddling before he had to leave for work. Then, in the mornings, he would bring her coffee from McDonalds before he headed to his own apartment to sleep.

They’d seen each other every day since Christmas, and it wasn’t enough.

Roger seemed to feel the same way. They’d started texting each other, and some of the conversations were obnoxiously sweet. A couple of times, Cass had looked down at the phone in her hand and shaken her head at what she’d written. It didn’t make sense. It was so out of character for her.

But it made her happy. And it felt right.

She’d also had to upgrade the small text message plan for her cell phone.

Brenda was over the moon that her matchmaking had worked, and tended to gloat when she caught Cass mooning over something Roger did or said. Cass let her, because she was thankful. It would probably get irritating eventually, but for now she’d let Brenda have her glory.

Tomorrow night she and Roger had plans to meet the guys and their significant others at the Frog Dog. She was being reintroduced to the group as Roger’ssignificant other. Her stomach bottomed out at the thought. Even though she’d met them before, she hadn’t expected to ever meet them again.

Shit was getting real.

Her quiet life was expanding. Fast.

And though there was some lingering fear in her heart, she would try to be strong, a partner to complement Roger.

What the hell did she do?

There was a tap on her door and she crossed the apartment to answer it. Damn. Would this fluttery feeling in her stomach ever go away?

When she opened the door, she was struck dumb, just looking at him. Roger stood on the other side, of course, heavy coat bundled around him, looking like a damn GQ model. He wore a black skullcap low over his forehead and ears, and his broad mouth was spread in a smile. As soon as he saw her he pulled her in for a hello kiss. Cass reached up to cup his neck, finally able to breathe now that she was in his arms.

When they were apart, anxiety plagued her. In her mind, nothing was as good as she thought. They weren’t in love, and they weren’t so drawn to each other that they couldn’t be apart. Surely she hadn’t allowed herself to become one of those simpering women that doted on their men…

Then he walked into her line of sight and all of the poles aligned again. Those feelings that she scoffed at during the light of day rebounded back, and she was so in love with him that she couldn’t breathe. And he was, too.

Even now as he cupped her cheek and ran his hand down her body, she could feel the need in him.

“I missed you, baby.”

Cass shivered at his words. “I missed you, too.”

He pulled her in against him. She gave a little cry as he lifted her up to move her inside the jamb, then he kicked the door shut behind them.

“I’ve been thinking about you all day and I woke up hard and aching, and craving you.”

Arousal curled through her lower body and it was all she could do to keep her feet. Just those few words totally annihilated what she’d planned for the night. But that was okay. Reaching up, she began to unbutton her blouse, but he stayed her hand.

“Not yet, baby. I want to talk to you for a minute.”

He tugged her to the couch and sat her down into the cushion, then he angled toward her. Cass tried not to be worried, but something about his tone seemed awfully serious.

“What’s wrong?”