22

The food was good, but the company? Not so much. Cassie tried several neutral topics, which immediately turned to sniping and sarcasm. Even sports was contentious, since Jake rooted for the Angels and Adam favored the Mariners.

She rolled her eyes as they traded barbs and scooped out some Rocky Road, which seemed fitting for the two men in her life. She gave Adam an extra scoop, hoping to put some meat on his lanky frame. He raised an eyebrow at the amount, then his eyes flashed thanks when he saw Jake's tiny portion.

"Penny pinching?" Jake said archly.

"Something like that." She folded her hands on the table and added, "How about retreating to neutral corners?"

Adam licked his spoon, and when he saw her watching, he slid his tongue sensuously around its underside. Cassie's face flamed as his hooded eyes watched her, pleased that he was getting to her, and throwing it right in Jake's face. "No such thing," Adam said, dropping his spoon into the cup with a clatter.

Jake smirked at Adam's obvious ploy, and bumped his chair against Cassie's. "Let me help you clean up."

He stood up so abruptly that his forehead collided with hers. She started rubbing the spot and said, "I got it."

"Are you OK? Do you need ice?" Jake's hand touched her cheek as he examined her, and his warm breath fanned her face.

Cassie sensed Adam's displeasure and stepped back. "I'm fine."

She started loading the dishwasher while the two boys sat in stony silence. Finally Jake said, "I know you don't believe me, Adam, but I am here to help."

"Who, your witch hunter friends?"

"They aren't my friends."

Adam replied, "Neither are we."

Cassie tossed a towel at him. "Adam, this isn't helping."

He came over and began loading dishes. When one of the pots clattered loudly, he said, "This won't work, Cassie. There's too much distrust."

"On your part?" Her voice was barely above a whisper.

He frowned at Jake, who flashed a phony smile. "Among others."

Cassie knew Faye also had major problems with Jake's presence. "And you have good reason, but I think his intentions are good."

Adam reached for the salad bowl and caught her hand in his. Her breathing quickened when he caressed her palm with his thumb. "So are mine."

Jake was no longer smiling. "Enough whispering, Conant. What are you, five?"

She slid her hand out of Adam's. "This isn't helping. We need to work together."

Adam leaned against the counter, his hip very close to hers. "Playing nice isn't Jake's strong suit."

Their pissing contest was getting on her nerves. "Or yours."

He blinked at her tone, but finally nodded. "We should call the others and meet up tomorrow night."

Jake said, "Sounds good. Shall we meet up at the house?"

Cassie was happy they were finally in accord. "How about 9:00?"

Adam and Jake exchanged frosty glances and in unison, they said, "Sure," and parted ways without another word.

Adam parked around the corner from Cassie's house and watched Jake drive away. He was half tempted to follow him, but his desire to be with Cassie outweighed his need to know what Jake was up to.

After a few minutes, he locked his truck and approached Cassie's house from the back. Her shining hair was reflected in the lamplight as she finished up the dishes, and her golden beauty stunned him into reverent silence. The warmth that suffused his body was like nothing he'd ever experienced. It was dazed desire mixed with strong emotion, and that's when Adam realized he'd fallen hard.

He'd loved Diana with all his heart, but that started to fade the moment Cassie came into the picture. It tore at him to admit that Diana was right about everything, except there was no going back. Neither of them wanted to say they had no future, but he'd come to the realization that his Dad was right about destiny. He'd be damned if he let Jake step in and tear Cassie to pieces with his agenda. For there had to be an agenda, and he'd figure out what it was.

Adam tapped on the back door and raised his brows when she peered through the glass at him. "I thought you'd gone home."

He shook his head. "Nope. Thought you might like some company."

Cassie's rosebud lips widened into a lovely smile. "I'd like that."

She stood aside to let him pass, and just after she latched the door, Adam slung his arm around her waist and pulled her close. "I'm glad," he said softly, hands resting on her waist and loving the way she curved into him.

Her hands rested on his shoulders, sliding slowly down his arms as if testing his measure. "There's more to you than meets the eye."

His eyes closed when her fingers ran down his chest and teased the edge of his shirt slightly upward. "Uh...Cassie, you might want to..."

Cassie stood on tiptoe and wound her hands around his neck. With her lips only inches from his, she said, "Do this?" Her mouth brushed across his, and Adam moaned deep in his throat when she traced the outline of his lips with her tongue. His mouth opened wide under her insistent pressure, and every part of him yearned to take her right there. He scooped her into his arms and carried her to the couch, where they both started shedding layers. When they were almost down to bare skin, Cassie pulled an afghan over them and whispered, "Stay with me?"

Adam murmured against her throat, "Thought you'd never ask."