Chapter 29

"So how was your Tea with Aunt Clara?" Connor asked as he placed a kiss on Cassie's cheek and patted her bum.

"It was very nice. We had Royal Tea."

A confused expression crossed his face. "Do I want to know what Royal Tea is?"

Cassie slipped her arms around his neck. "Royal Tea is Afternoon Tea with champagne added."

Connor placed his hands on her hips. "Aunt Clara sprung for champagne? She must like you."

"We both know she was checking me out to see if I would be suitable wife material for you. She knows that I would be marrying up. I even got to meet Winston."

Connor rolled his eyes. "I guess the lap mutt is still around."

"Oh, stop. He's a cute dog. For a Yorkie."

"You don't like Yorkies?"

"I like big dogs. Goldens. Rotties. Borders. Irish Wolfies."

Connor smiled. "Of course you would like the Irish Wolfhound."

"Nobody would think about messing with you if you're walking a Wolfie."

"That's true." He kissed her cheek. "Come to bed, Cass," he whispered in her ear.

"You drive a hard bargain, Dr. Rhodes."

Connor dropped a quick kiss on her lips. "I'll meet you there. I'm going to shower."

Cassie waited ten minutes then made her way to Connor's bedroom. She undressed quickly, then started for the bathroom. She opened the door slowly and quietly stepped inside, making her way to the back of the shower. She opened the curtain and started to step inside, expecting to see Connor's back. Instead, she saw Connor's front, with his eyes wide open in surprise.

"Hello there," he said.

"Hello, Dr. Rhodes," she said throatily.

"Hummmm… Naughty Nurse Cassie in the house tonight?"

Cassie's eyes gleamed. "Guess you're just going to have to wait and find out," she said as she dropped to her knees.

Connor sucked in a breath. He wasn't expecting what she was doing. "Cass," he groaned. "Oh, my God!"

Cassie smiled. "God has nothing to do with it, Connor."

"I love how you're so uninhibited."

"Lucky you."

He reached down and helped her up. He kissed her neck. "I wasn't expecting company."

"You throw down a challenge like I'm going to shower and you don't expect me to take you up on it?"

"I was hoping."

"All you had to do was ask."

"Lucky me. I love you, Cass."

"Love you too.

Showered and dried, they made their way back to Connor's bedroom. He opened his dresser drawer and pulled out another pair of pajamas that had been gifted to him by his Aunt Clara. He handed her the top, and he took the bottoms. She put the top on. He slipped into the bottoms, and walked over to her.

"I didn't know my pajamas could be so sexy."

"Are these another pair from Aunt Clara?"

"Um hummm."

"Well, she has good taste."

Connor kissed her. Cassie kissed him back. She could feel Connor's passion rising, and she wanted to kick herself. She had left her inhaler in her purse. Connor broke the kiss when he sensed her breathing change.

"Better get your inhaler before we go any further."

She sighed and nodded. She hated having asthma. She hated how it ruined the most special parts of her life. She hated not being able to breathe when she should be enjoying the gifts Connor was bestowing on her. Most of all, she hated that he knew she had asthma. She felt weak and vulnerable with him knowing. Of course, he was such a gentleman, he would never let his true feelings be known, but she really hated that she wasn't perfect. When the doctors had told her she would outgrow her asthma, she couldn't wait. Twenty five years later, she was still waiting to outgrow it. As she filled her lungs with the bronchodilator, she realized she was probably never going to outgrow having asthma.