A Fresh Start
Chapter Two Hundred Forty Nine
Turning over, Sam wakes up to Jeffrey watching her. "You're watching me sleep again, why?"
"I like watching you sleep." He says, reaching to brush a strand of hair from her cheek. "You look innocent and beautiful." He says, as he lightly caresses her cheek."
"Is something else on your mind?"
"It makes me wonder how the things that were done to you were ever allowed."
"I don't know. I wanted the answer for years."
"You were alone, no one to protect…."
"Momma tried to protect us. She fought for us. But she was no match for my father and his friends."
"Is that what happened with Arianna's mother?"
"I don't know but it's probable."
"Because Jeremiah bribed the judges and lawyers involved with their divorce and custody case."
"I don't know that either, but it's probable too. He learned everything he knows from my father and he bought off anyone that didn't share his point of view or he humiliated them enough that they walked away from the fight."
"I understand what happened with Jeremiah, but how did your father get that way?"
"I don't know. If it was a learned behavior, he didn't learn it from Pop or Gran. He got off track somewhere."
"I always thought I missed out on not having a family. Mom loved me. She died trying to take care of me, but I think that even though I didn't have a father, I was better off than you were. And I want him to know that I will always love and take care of both of you." He says, leaning in to kiss her.
She pulls away after a couple moments. "We already know that." She says, looking at him with a sweet smile. "I hate to be serious when you have something else in mind."
"What?"
"Julien will be here later and you promised not to say or do anything to him."
"I promised that. It doesn't mean I like letting him off the hook."
"You're not letting him off the hook. He followed my orders."
"He should've ignored them." She opens her mouth to argue, but he lays a finger across it. "I promised I wouldn't say anything. I meant that even if I don't like it."
Smiling, she leans in to kiss him again, reminding him of what he had in mind before she stopped his kiss. After a moment, he reaches for her, pulling her to him as she moves closer. Deepening the kiss as she reaches for him, burying her fingers in his hair, he rolls to his back, bringing her with him. She straddles him as he sits up. Slowly he moves his hands down her back, pulling her closer and pressing her body against his, sweet waves of desire rushes over him. Breaking the kiss, he pulls back. "I love you." He says, reaching up to put his hand against her neck. Her pulse beats against hand. Slowly he moves his thumb over her pulse and feels it jump.
"I love you too." She says, wrapping her arms around his neck and her legs around his waist.
He leans forward, softly kissing the side of her neck. Reaching for her waist, he gathers his shirt up and pulls it up as she lifts her arms. Slowly he pulls his shirt up. His hand gently tickle her back and she shivers as he looks up, swallowing as desire surges through him. She looks into his eyes. Reading the fire in them, she kisses him as she moves her hands up his chest, gently scratching him.
She reaches for the shirt and tosses it to the floor as he leans back, bracing his hand against the bed. Slowly he moves his eyes down her body. After a moment, he leans in. Cupping her breast, he looks up and watches her reaction. He smiles when he feels another shiver of desire charge over her. He moves his finger over her nipple and she sucks in a breath, holding it as she swallows. He teases her for several moments as she closes her eyes. "Watch me, I want to watch your desire build." He says, as she opens her eyes.
He watches as sparks flash in her eyes when he squeezes her nipple. Rolling it gently between his thumb and finger, she arches her back, offering her body to him. He knows what she wants but he wants to drive her slightly crazy. He continues and if asked, she would swear she was burning up inside. Leaning in, he flicks her nipple with the tip of his tongue before taking it into his mouth. Heat consumes her. She reaches for him, burying one hand in his hair, she clings to him, refusing to release him. If asked, there would be no way she could accurately describe the fire building inside her, except to say that she was desperate for him and him alone.
After several moments, she decides to give as good as she's getting. Laying her hands on his shoulders, she looks into his eyes when he looks up. He swallows when he reads the fierce demand and challenge in her eyes. Tightening his arm around her waist, he continues playing with her breasts. She leans in, nipping at his lower lip as she moves her hand from his shoulders down his chest as she whispers. "You want to tease me. You know two can play that game."
A throbbing pulse of heat rushes through him. His body tightens as he sucks in a deep breath. Whatever he does, she counters. Playing with his nipples as their breathing gets deeper and the fire of desire burns hotter. Bending her nails, she scratches him, pausing for a moment, to tease his nipple. "Sam, baby!" He groans. Smiling, she rolls her hips against his erection, teasing him
Desire jumps from a controlled burn to a raging fire of need and desperation from that simple though not so innocent move. His hands drop to her hips, holding her against him. She leans into him as he pulls away. Settling his hands at her waist, he moves to lift her as she smiles. Catching his mouth, she kisses him, distracting him long enough for her move back. The moment he feels her body pressing against his, he pulls away. "Sam, I need you, please!"
"You wanted to drive me crazy." She replies, her expression challenging him. Reaching for her, he answers the challenge. Slipping his hand under her panties, he reaches for her desire, teasing her. After a couple seconds, she gasps. "That's not fair." He slips a couple fingers inside caressing her as she gasps. "J…." She moans, rolling her hips against his hand.
A small part of him thought about pulling his hand free, but he couldn't do that to her. Deepening his caress, he watches as her desire continues building. Rushing her towards an intense explosion of desire, he feels her take him deep as the first tingling waves of her release swells over her. Pulling his hand free, he wraps his arm around her as he moves her onto his back, kneeling in front of her, he looks up for a moment.
He reaches for her panties as she lifts her hips. He pulls them down and over her knees to her ankles. She kicks them off as he moves off the bed. Pushing his pajamas and boxers off, he stands up as she leans up, bracing her weight with her arms, she slowly moves her eyes down his body, taking in the rhythm of his breathing and his throbbing erection. As she sits up, he lays a hand on her shoulder as she looks up.
He moves onto the bed as she lays back. Leaning over her, placing his hands beside her, he kisses her for a moment before she reaches for him. He pulls away, moving down her body, gently teasing her breasts before he moves on. He dips his tongue into her navel, teasing her more. He plays with her for a moment as he lays his hand on her hips as he looks up. She watches him before slowly opening her body to him. She expects him to touch her, but he pulls away from her navel. Moving down until he's hovering over her desire. He takes a deep breath and her scent feels his body, driving his desire to a point of almost desperation. He leans in and gently kisses her as she arches her hips. "Jeffrey!" She cries, arching her back.
He slips his tongue inside her, playing with her, slowly moving his tongue over her desire, pushing it higher and higher. He goes in deeper, as he reaches up, slipping a couple of fingers inside her, mimicking their own personal rhythm. Arching her back, she reaches for the sheet beneath her, clinging to it as she rolls hips against his mouth, moving with him, as he takes her higher still. Suddenly the dam breaks, arching her hips higher, staggering waves of release rolls over her.
He pulls back and sucks in a deep breath. As much as he wants to push her to the edge, he goes with her with each caress. His erection is beyond throbbing. He wants her so much that he's not sure how long he can last. He rolls to his back, sucking in a deep breath, holding it for a moment before he releases it in a slow whoosh. Turning her head, she watches him. Sitting up, she turns to him as he holds up his hand. "Give me a moment." He says, taking deep breath as he fights for control. With a soft secret smile, she leans over him, kissing him. "Sam!" He groans, as she moves to straddle him.
Heat rushes through him again. "You think you want to wait, but I think you want me to drive you over the edge." She says quietly.
"I'm afraid…." He takes a deep breath as she reaches for his erection. Gently moving her hand over him, she pauses for a moment at his tip, pay explicit attention to that portion of him. She caresses him, watching him as he fights for control. "Sam, I'm going to…." He sucks in a deep breath when she releases him, before she moves closer. Taking him again, she sinks over him, guiding him inside as he grips her hips. Her body clings to his. He sucks in another breath when he realizes that small fluttering waves of her release still washes over her.
"You want this." She says, leaning over him.
Bracing her hand on his chest, she rolls her hips. Savoring the feel of him inside her, she starts at a slower pace. He's fighting every moment to hold on. She looks up and reading his expression, she sits a steady rhythm, moving over him as he lifts his hips, thrusting into her and slipping deeper. She ditches the slower pace. Rocking her body back and forth, savoring each caress until suddenly her release rolls over her and her body clinches around him. That first throbbing pulse brings a surge from deep inside him
When it's over, she sinks down, lying on his chest as he wraps an arm around her. They lay there for a several moments struggling to catch their breath before she sighs. He reaches up, brushing her hair back so he can see some of her face he asks. "Are you okay?"
She turns her head. With her chin resting on his chest, she smiles. "Yes, I'm fine. Actually, I'm more than fine. I'm wonderful, stupendous, awesome, exuberant…." She pauses for a moment.
Smiling, he says. "I get the point."
"I want this to go on and on and on and on and on and on and on."
"That many times, is it the hormones?" She lightly slaps him as he laughs.
"You know what I mean."
"Yes, I do." He says, lifting his head to kiss the top of her forehead.
They lay there for another few minutes before she finally pulls away. Sitting up, she looks at him and smiles. "Now I think I'll take a shower."
Smiling, he asks. "Do you want me to come with you?"
"It's up to you. But it might be a longer shower." She says, as she moves off him.
He sits up as she moves off the bed. "Already thinking about the next time."
She turns to him and smiles. "Baby, I think about you more than you know." She says, leaning over to kiss him.
When he pulls back, he looks up and smiles. "Good answer." Smiling, she pulls him up. They walk into the bathroom together.
Cassie is in the kitchen when Richard comes downstairs the next morning. She hands him a cup of coffee when he walks in. "Thanks." He says, leaning in to kiss her before he takes a sip.
"I can leave early and meet you at Company." She says, leaning against the cabinet. He looks at her for a moment and then he shakes his head no. "Richard."
"I'm a big boy Cassie. If she wants to argue about Matt, I can handle it. I'm not going to fall apart."
"I know you're a big boy. You proved that yesterday." She says, moving over to him. He slips his arm around her as he leans in to kiss her. "I'm just worried what will happen if she sticks to her guns and refuses her access." She says when he leans back.
"I'll live with it, just as I did before."
"Can you do that?"
"Honestly, what am I missing? I didn't know my brother and his kids know the truth." He says, shrugging his shoulders.
She looks at him and then takes his coffee cup. "Don't down play this with me, you want her to accept you and you want your brother's kids to be a part of your life."
He leans in to kiss her. "I will be fine." He says, as the boys come downstairs.
"You boys eat your breakfast while I get changed." Cassie says, as they walk into the kitchen.
"Hi, daddy." Will says, walking over to him
Richard leans down to pick him up. "Richard, your…."
"I'm fine Cassie. Go get ready I got this." He says, leaning over to kiss her.
She looks at him and smiles before she turns to leave. Richard puts his hand on Rj's shoulder as he carries Will over to his chair. He sits him down as Rj sits down. Richard sits down beside them. "Daddy, can we go riding this weekend?"
"We'll have to see what the weather does." Richard says, as Will eats his eggs.
"Are you coming to my game this weekend?" Rj asks, looking at him.
"I'm going to do my best to be there. I have some stuff to do for the campaign, but I won't be gone long."
"Alright." He says a little disappointed. "Can I go brush my teeth?"
"Finish your milk and then you can go." He says, getting up to refill his coffee mug. He turns around as Cassie walks into the kitchen.
"Boys the bus will be here in ten minutes, you need to hurry." She says, walking over to Richard. "Everything okay?"
"It's fine." He says, as Rj finishes his milk.
"I'm through." He says, putting his glass down.
"Go brush your teeth."
"I'm through too." Will says.
"Go on then." Richard says, as Cassie walks over to the table.
Picking up their dishes, she walks over to the sink as she asks. "What's wrong?"
"Rj wanted to know if I'll be able to make his game this weekend and I told him that I would do my best to be there."
"So, you'll do your best." She says looking at him.
"I've got campaign events for Friday evening and Saturday morning
"I want to be there Cassie. But I don't want to promise that I will be and then not be able to make it."
"You don't want to break a promise to him again." She says, slipping her arms around him. "He'll understand if you can't make it to the game."
"Cassie, I promised myself I wouldn't break another promise to him."
She leans in to kiss him. And then pulls back. "That's noble, but you might be off the hook this weekend. The weatherman is calling for winter weather for Saturday morning, if that comes the game will be cancelled."
"And if the game's not cancelled?"
"Worry about one thing at a time. You have a lunch date to prepare for." She says, releasing him. She walks over to the archway leading to the living room. "Boys, come on. You're going to miss…." They come running down the stairs. "Walk." She says. They slow to a walk. When they reach the archway, she hands them their backpacks. "Give your Daddy a hug and kiss." She says, walking over to the door for her coat and purse.
Richard hugs the boys and then reaches for Cassie's coat, helping her into it as the boys open the door. "I'll race you." Rj says to Will, running across the covered part of the porch.
"Rj, stop." Cassie says, as she puts her purse on her shoulder. "The steps could be slick and you will fall."
He stops and looks at the steps and then turns around. "They look alright." He says.
"Rj, you heard your mom. Stop and be careful." Richard says, closing the door behind him after he locks it.
"You'll call me after lunch?" Cassie asks, looking at him.
"Yes." He says, leaning in to kiss her. "Boys be good at school." He says, walking down the steps to his car. "Next summer we're building a garage onto the house." He says, pulling his coat around him. "Be careful and I love you."
"You to and we love you." Cassie says, opening the door for Will.
"I love you daddy." He calls.
"I love you too buddy. I'll see both of you tonight." He says, as Cassie closes the door for him.
"Bye Dad." Rj calls.
"Bye." He calls back, waving as Rj gets in the car. Cassie gets in and starts the car. Putting it in gear, she follows Richard down the driveway. She stops at the end of the drive to wait for the bus while he turns for town.
Jeffrey is in the living room when Sam comes downstairs the next morning. "You're not dressed?" She says, walking up to him. "You're going to be late."
"I'm not going in." He says, slipping his arms around her.
"Yes, you are." She says, leaning back to look at him.
"You were almost kidnapped last night. I'm not leaving you alone."
"First the operative words are almost kidnapped, and second I will not be alone. Julien will be here." She sees the look on his face. "And you promised not to say anything to him, and if you do, last night will not happen for a very long time, understand."
"He broke the first…."
"He's my bodyguard and he did as I told him. Do you understand that?"
"He should've ignored you and followed his training."
"And he was going to do exactly that, I made him stay. You will accept that. As you said, I ignored the reach and determination of my brother. And I almost cost us more than my life. I won't make that mistake again. I should've called Frank or at least told Rick to do so and brought Julien with me. But I was coming to you, which I thought was safe because it was only a couple blocks away, but still I should've brought him with me. So, you're not going to say anything or do anything to Julien when he gets here. And you're going to go upstairs, get dressed and go to City Hall, because we're not going to be intimidated by my brother."
"I admire your strength but me staying home has little to do with Julien and more about me not wanting to lose you. I can't go through that again. And as much as you say you'll be safe here with Julien. I can't leave it to him. I have to be here with you. I have to make sure that nothing and no one hurts either of you." He says, leaning in to kiss her.
She pulls away and looks up. "Okay, but not a word." She says, as he nods.
"I said I wouldn't." He says, as Julien knocks before he opens the door.
After Frank came to the hospital to interview Ms. Owens, he left there when the officer arrived to guard her door. As he walks in, he sees Sam in Jeffrey's arms and he looks down. "Excuse me." Julien says, as Jeffrey stiffens slightly.
Releasing him, Sam turns to Julien. "Good morning." She says, looking at him as she slips her arm around Jeffrey's waist. Her subtle way of reminding him of his promise.
"Julien." He says, slipping his arm around her and drawing her closer to him."
"I came by last night but you didn't answer the door." He says, closing the door behind him.
"You missed the excitement last evening, but I'm sure you heard…."
"J, you promised."
"He's your bodyguard. I think he should know that you were almost kidnapped…."
"She was almost kidnapped, how?" Julien says, feeling his stomach fall to the floor as he looks from Jeffrey to Sam.
"Her brother sent one of his men to follow her, probably waiting for just this type of opportunity."
"What happened?" Julien asks quietly.
"When I left the hospital, I was on my way to City Hall, just as I told you I was going to do. I stopped at the red light by Company. While I was stopped, one of my brother's men pulled me from my car at gun point."
"How did you get away?"
"My brothers were behind them and they stopped him from taking her." Jeffrey says, looking at him.
There's a long pause while Julien stares at them, replaying all the different scenarios in his head that could've happened. "I'm sorry."
"That's all you have to say."
"I'm glad that you're okay." He says, looking at Sam.
"That's not because you were there to protect her." Jeffrey says, releasing Sam.
"J, you promised." Sam says, reaching for him.
He turns to her and then reaches for her. "I know I did, but I can't ignore the fact that he left you alone. And you were almost kidnapped because of that." He says, caressing her cheek before he turns to Julien. "You were brought here to protect her. She was her first priority." Julien couldn't reply as he looks at Jeffrey. He knew he was right. "You have nothing to say?" Jeffrey asks after several seconds.
"I can only say that you are right. I left her alone." Julien says, looking in the eye.
"So you tell me how I'm to trust that you won't leave her alone again." Jeffrey says, taking a step closer to him.
"This is no defense, but I did try to leave with her. She insisted that I stay and guard her patient. She assured me that she was coming straight to you."
"Which I was." Sam says, both men ignore her.
"You're right, it is not defense. You job was to guard her and no one else, no matter what she says. You are the professional… well I thought you were the professional."
"J, that's enough." Sam says, reaching for him but he pulls away from her.
"You're right." For a moment, Julien looks at him and then clears his throat. "I hereby resign. I will…."
"Whoa, wait." Sam says, raising her voice. "No one expects you to resign Julien. It was my orders you were following." She says, looking at Jeffrey.
"He should've ignored…."
"Let it go, J." She says, as he looks away. She reaches up and turns his face back to hers. "You've made your point. I should've brought him with me and called Frank about Deborah. Maybe I shouldn't've even gotten involved except to treat…."
"Shhh, I'm sorry." He says, putting his arms around her. "As much as I want to protect and keep you safe, I know you can't stand by and let her be sent to prison for protecting her child. And it's not your fault that your brother is the man he is. You didn't make him that way and neither did your father." Sam opens her mouth. "You're father might've been that way, but it was your brother's choice to follow in your father's footsteps." He says, before he sets his chin on the top of her head. He looks at Julien.
"I'll be downstairs, securing the office." He says, stepping back and turning away.
"Julien." Jeffrey says. He turns back around. "You don't have to resign, but if you ever leave her…."
"I won't." Julien says quietly. Nodding, Jeffrey turns his attention to Sam as Julien leaves.
Shortly before one, Richard walks into Company. "Richard." Buzz says, nodding as he fills a coffee cup.
"Hi Buzz." Richard says, sitting down at a table as Marina walks up. She lays the menu on the table. "I'm meeting someone."
"Okay, I'll get another menu. What would you like to drink?"
"I'll have a coke." He says, as he looks up Cassie walks in. Spotting him, she walks over to the table as he stands up. "What are you doing here?" He asks, after they kiss.
"I didn't want you to be alone." She says, as he pulls her chair out and she sits down.
He walks around the table as Marina says. "I'll bring a couple menus. What would you like to drink?" Marina asks, looking at Cassie.
"I'll have a Sprite." She says, as Marina nods.
She leave and Cassie turns her attention to Richard. "I would've been okay and I would've called you afterwards."
"I know, but this way you won't have to call me and I'll be here." Cassie says, as Julie walks in.
Looking around the restaurant, she spots Richard and Cassie sitting at a table. She walks over to them with Marina behind them. Richard stands up to help her with her chair and then he sits back down as Marina lays the menus before Cassie and Julie. "I hope I'm not late." Julie says.
"No. We've only been here for a few minutes ourselves." Richard says, settling into his chair.
"Thank you for meeting me again." Julie says, as he nods. "Hello, Cassie." She says, as Cassie nods.
"I'm sorry to interrupt, but would you like to order." Marina asks.
"I would like some of Buzz's chili." Richard says.
"1,2,3 or 4?" Marina asks.
"One will be fine." Richard says.
"I'll have the chili as well, and make it a one." Cassie says, handing her menu to Marina, followed by Richard.
"Ah, I guess I'll have the chili, but what are the numbers for?"
"It's for how hot do you want it?"
"One will be fine and I'll have a glass of ice tea." Julie says, as Marina writes their order down and then takes Julie's menu.
"We'll have that out in a moment. And I'll bring your tea immediately." Marina says, looking at Julie. She nods and Marina turns to leave.
For a couple of moments, there is silence before Julie clears her throat and looks at both of them. "I'm sure you're both wondering why I asked to meet again."
"Yeah, we are. Since you made it abundantly clear you wanted nothing to do with us." Cassie says, her tone slightly confrontational. "So what's changed?"
"Cassie!" Richard says, reaching for her hand.
"No, she's right. I did make it abundantly clear and I was incredibly rude in the process. And that declaration forced my mother to do things behind my back." She says, looking at Richard. "Yes, I know that my mother brought my kids to see you on a few occasions. I also know about the boxes she gave you."
"She did that on her own, I never…."
"I know. I forced her into it because I insisted that I wanted nothing to do with you or your family. As irrational as this sounds I blamed you for Matt's death. I know what you said about what happened is the truth. His accident was exactly that, an accident. But his death threw me in to a tailspin that I'm just beginning to come out of." She looks at Cassie. "And that day you came to my office, you were correct, I did assume that you were spoiled princess that got everything you wanted, including getting him back." Marina walks up to the table and places the bowls of chili in front of them.
"Will there be anything else?" She asks, looking at each of them
"No, we're fine." Richard says, as Cassie and Julie nod. She walks away.
"I wanted punishment. And I wanted you to be the ones that were punished. You've had everything." Julie says, looking at Richard.
"Not everything." Richard says, looking at her.
"You were royalty. You…."
"I was raised to be Prince of San Cristobel. I had money and privilege. But I didn't have love. My… Charlotte tried to be a mother to me and maybe she loved me, but everything I was raised to believe and everything I did was a lie." Richard says. "And because of those lies, I will never know my brother or my mother." Richard says, putting his spoon down.
"I guess I shouldn't assume." She says, with a half-smile. "I've realized that it shouldn't be you, Cassie or my kids. They deserve to know you. You are the last connection to their father they will ever have. And it is selfish of me to keep that from them." She says, looking at Cassie.
"What are you saying exactly?" Cassie asks.
"I want you to be a part of our lives, that's what I'm saying. Look I know this won't be easy. I'm still working out my feelings. But I know neither of you were responsible for Matt's accident and you had no way of preventing it. And a part of me wanted to punish you because you didn't prevent it." She says, looking at Richard.
"If I had known…."
"I know that. Just like I know if you had any idea that woman was going to come after you, you would've done everything to stop her. You have to understand, Matt was my world."
"I do understand that." Cassie says, looking at her.
"I'm sure you do. Anyway, I wanted to tell you that I have no objection to you seeing my kids or them spending time with your family."
"Can I ask what changed your mind?" Cassie asks, as she looks at her.
"A friend pointed out to me that I did get what I want. It's just not as I envisioned it." She says.
"I don't understand what you mean when you say, you got what you wanted."
"I've dreamed about Matt coming back to me. And we would all be happy. That's part of the reason I was so resistant to your family being in our lives. I'm sure you dreamed about Richard coming back to you and your kids." She says, looking at Cassie. She nods. "Well, you got that. He came back. And I wanted to make both of you pay for getting the one thing I've spent the last five years dreaming about. My friend pointed out that, I've gotten that dream, it's simply not in the manner I expected or dreamed of."
"I'm not Matt." Richard says, looking at her.
"Oh, I know that." Julie says. "The holidays are coming up and maybe you would like to come over for dinner." Richard and Cassie look at each other. "If you don't want…."
"No, we would love to come to dinner. But we've already made plans to spend Thanksgiving with Cassie's family."
"I understand." Julie says.
"We can get together after the holiday."
"That would be good." Julie says, smiling.
"Good. I'm sorry to do this, but I need to go back to work." Richard says, glancing at his watch.
"Oh, me too." Julie says, as he raises his hand to get Marina's attention.
She comes over to the table. "We need the checks." Richard says, as Marina nods. 'Thank you." He says, as she turns to go. Julie looks at him and he asks. "What?"
"You reminded me of Matt." Julie says, watching him.
"Oh."
"He was always polite to people. Maybe that was because he had royal blood in him." She says with a smile.
"I'm sorry that my father abandoned him."
"Thank you, but you're not responsible for the decisions your father made." Julie says, laying her hand on his.
"Thank you." Richard says, as Marina walks up. "I'll take them." He says, as she hands out the check.
"Richard, you don't have to do that." Julie says.
"I want to." Richard says, glancing at her as he hands Marina his credit card. Nodding, she takes the card and walks away.
Less than a minute later, they are leaving Company. Shivering, Cassie pulls her coat around her as they walk to their cars. "Thank you for coming." Julie says, when they reach her car.
"You're welcome." Richard says, as he reaches for the door and opens it.
"Thank you." She says, getting in. He closes the door and she rolls the window down. "I'll call about dinner." She says, looking at them.
"That will be fine." He says, stepping back as she starts her car.
They stand there, watching as she backs out and leaves. When she pulls out of parking lot, he walks Cassie to her car, opening the door for her but she doesn't get in immediately. "Are you okay?" She asks, turning to him.
"I'm fine." He says with a half-smile. "It's getting colder." He says, glancing up at the overcast sky.
She glances up and then looks at him. "The weatherman may be right, we might have our first snow soon." She says shivering.
He steps up and wraps his arms around, pulling her inside his coat. "Then I'm here to keep you warm." She looks up and smiles.
"I don't think we can do that type of warm up here." She says, looking up.
He smiles but says. "I wasn't even thinking about that."
"Ummm hmmm." She mumbles as he leans in to kiss her. A few moments later, she pulls back. "Tell me that again."
"What?"
"Tell me you weren't thinking about warming me up in our bed."
"You are a very naughty girl, Mrs. Winslow." He says, as she leans in to kiss him.
They are interrupted by his cell phone ringing. "Bloody hell!" He mutters as she laughs. Holding her with one arm, he reaches for his cell phone and answers it. "Richard Winslow."
"Richard, its Kevin."
"Yes."
"Sir, I have a couple things I need to speak with you about." Kevin says.
"When?" Richard asks.
"As soon as possible, Sir."
"Alright, I'm finishing up lunch. Can you meet me at my office?"
"Yes sir." He says.
"Five minutes… make that ten." Richard says, looking at Cassie.
"Yes sir." Kevin says, hanging up.
"You have to go." Cassie says, as Richard ends the call.
"Kevin wants to see me about something." He says. "We'll finish this later."
"You can count on it." She says, leaning up to kiss him. "Now go save Springfield."
"I'm not mayor yet."
"Maybe not." She says, stepping back. He releases her. "But you will be."
"I love you Cassie Winslow."
"And I love you Richard Winslow." She says, getting in and closing her door. She rolls the window down. He leans in and kiss her again.
Stepping back, he says. "I'll see you tonight and I love you."
"I love you too." She says, with a smile as she starts the car and he steps back.
He waits till she pulls out before he walks over to his car. Getting in, he starts his car and follows her out of the parking lot and beeps once when she turns for home.
Jeremiah is standing in the prison court yard when the guard leads Rhett out. Jeremiah ignores him until the guard goes inside and then he slowly walks over to him. "You're supposes to be guarding my sister."
"I know." Rhett says.
"Then what the hell happened!"
"His brothers…."
'Who's brothers?"
"Her husband's sir, they came up as I was taking her."
"I told you to get her…." Jeremiah steps closer. "…however you had to."
"I couldn't. They got her gun from her purse and they…." Rhett doubles over as Jeremiah punches him in the stomach.
"Stand up." Jeremiah demands, pulling him up. "You screwed this up." He says again. And again punching him in the stomach. "I said stand up." Jeremiah demands, pulling him back up. "You promised that you would be able to get her. What happened?" Jeremiah demands, as Rhett gasps for breath.
When he doesn't answer, Jeremiah pulls his arm back, balling up his fist. "No, please don't hit me." Rhett says, still trying to catch his breath. "I stayed at her house like you ordered me to do. Yesterday she left the house with the guy her husband has guarding her. She went to Cedars. She was there for about ten minutes and then she left, but this time she was alone. I followed her and she headed for City hall. It was the first time she's been alone since I started watching her and I knew that if she made it to City Hall I probably wouldn't get another chance, so I tried to take her while she was waiting at a red light."
"You did what?"
"I tried to take her as she was waiting for the light to change. I didn't know his brothers were behind me."
"Let me see if I got this straight, you tried to kidnap her at a red light in broad daylight?"
"It was the only chance I've had."
"In broad daylight, when anyone could see you do it and stop you or at least call the police."
"Like I said, it was the only time she has been alone." Rhett says, as Jeremiah punches him again, hitting him over and over until a guard walks up.
"Hey you two, what are you doing?"
Jeremiah turns to him as he holds Rhett up beside him. "We're just talking officer." Jeremiah says,
"Step back from each other." The guard says, watching them.
Jeremiah steps away, letting Rhett go as he does. Rhett stands there barely holding himself up as the guard watches them for a moment. Before he turns to leave, Jeremiah senses that he's about to fall. Out of the corner of his mouth, he says. "Stand up like a man." Rhett tenses but pulls himself up as the guard walks away.
"I'm set for arraignment later this afternoon. Will Mr. Austin…?"
"You expect me to provide your attorney after you botched this." Jeremiah says, looking at him. "I suggest you avail yourself of a court appointed lawyer." He says, before he walks away.