Page 100 of The Rented Bride

“Cassie,” he rasped. She grasped his shoulders and shivered when his muscles bunched beneath her fingers. He thrust hard into her quivering core. Once, twice. On the final plunge, he hit hard and deep. He growled as he erupted.

She banded her arms around him, holding him close. Finally, Trent collapsed on top of her. His heart thundered against her breasts. She drew a deep breath.

His hands roamed over her. He gently kissed her lips, then slipped from her body, rolled to his side and pulled her flush against his chest. Cassie relaxed into the calming tempo of his even breathing. Her eyes grew heavy. She’d just close them for a moment. She needed this…she needed him.

***

Cassie woke warm, protected, and wrapped in Trent’s arms. For a blissful moment, she remembered only the passion she and Trent shared. Then reality crashed over her in a suffocating wave. Last night had been intense. Trent had woken in the night and made love to her a second time. Unlike the fiery sex earlier, he’d made slow, sweet love to her. Had they made love? James had said that Trent loved her. Could he have been right? Did she dare risk her heart to stay a few days and find out?

Trent’s even breathing told her he slept deeply. She didn’t want to wake him. He needed sleep, needed time to distance himself from the shock of losing of his grandfather. Carefully, Cassie eased from his arms and slid off the bed. She gathered her clothes, tiptoed to the bathroom, and quickly dressed. When she emerged, Trent had shifted onto his back, one arm thrown over his head. He looked so peaceful. Quietly, she headed to the door and slipped out of the room.

Cassie reached the kitchen and found coffee waiting. Doris sat at the table in the breakfast nook. Well, hell, she was going to know where Cassie spent the night. Embarrassment warmed Cassie’s cheeks. Trent’s close staff knew the marriage was a ruse. What if they thought she’d taken advantage of him in his moment of crisis?

Doris smiled. “Good morning, Cassie. Did you sleep well?”

Cassie filled one of the coffee cups. “Better than I expected. I think I emotionally overloaded.” She added cream to the coffee, then took the cup and sat next to Doris. “It seems strange that I can miss him so much when I barely knew him.” She smiled, remembering James. “He made an impression.”

Doris nodded. “I knew him for over twenty years. It won’t be the same around here.” She sighed heavily.

Cassie’s blinked back tears. “He said our loved ones are always with us and that we’re never truly apart. Do you think he’s right?”

A speculative light entered Doris’ eyes. “I know that this life is short. That when we love someone, we should let them know.” Doris laid a hand on hers and squeezed. “And when they’re gone, we keep them in our hearts and in our thoughts.” She rose. “I need to get busy. The funeral service is tomorrow.”

“So soon?” Cassie said.

Doris nodded. “It’s the last thing I’m going to be able to do for that man. I loved him, and I’m going to make sure he’s smiling down on us.”

“It’s a bit more of a production for Catholics,” Cassie said.

“James didn’t want the mourning to go on for days or weeks,” Doris said. “Over the past few weeks, he made sure I knew what he wanted.”

Cassie stood. “Can I help?”

Doris shook her head. “No, honey. James is gone now and, forgive me for being presumptuous, but Trent needs you now. You can help by being here for him.” She didn’t give Cassie a chance to respond, but turned and left.

Cassie sat at the table and stared out the window as she finished her coffee. Dark clouds loomed over the horizon. The same stormy uncertainty rumbled inside her. Tears filled her eyes. She thought of last night, of being in Trent’s arms. “Never apologize for living life,” James had said. But what did that mean this morning, after all that happened, with the lies, the omissions, her family—

Her family, she remembered with a start. God, by now they must’ve left a dozen messages on her phone. Cassie put her cup in the sink, then went into the kitchen office and dug her phone from her purse. As expected, there were several voicemails. She pressed the button and listened to the first one. Sophia, asking if Cassie was okay and to call if she needed anything. Calls followed from Mia, Bobby and her mother.

The fifth message played. Cassie froze. A man identified himself as Trent’s attorney. He relayed a transaction number for a twenty-thousand-dollar transfer into her account. Was this for real?

Trent had the marriage payment wired into my bank account.

The terms of the contract had been fulfilled. The lawyer wanted her to know that Trent thanked her for the services provided. She’d done more than expected and Trent felt she’d earned the extra ten thousand dollars. Had that been a shift in the lawyer’s tone? How much had Trent confided to his attorney?

Cassie ended the playback and stared at the phone. Services provided? Is that what he called letting him fuck her—twice? Well, once. Trent couldn’t have known she would have sex with him last night. Would he send another ten thousand dollars for that extra service?

The day after James’ death and the contract was finished and paid for. She’d been a fool, a big fat fool. He’d paid her immediately. Talk about not letting the door hit her in the ass on the way out. She got the message—loud and clear.

Cassie jumped to her feet. Fine, she’d been paid, the contract was fulfilled, so she could get the hell out. Tears burned her eyes. Trent wouldn’t have to pretend anymore. The marriage was over. Cassie grabbed her purse, dropped her phone inside, and went in search of Henry.