Casey’s first impulse was fear.He’d come into her room and she’d never known.Her second was picturing what he was doing.Remembering the condition in which he’d emerged last night, she jumped out of bed, grabbing for her robe and slippers as she ran a hasty brush through the tangles in her hair.This time when he came out of the shower, she had no intention of being anywhere in sight.
When she exited the apartment, she stood for a moment on the landing, savoring the Mississippi morning.It was going to be another hot one, she could tell.The thought of freshly brewed coffee and some of Tilly’s hot biscuits and jelly drew her down the stairs with haste, across the courtyard, in the back door of the mansion, and into the kitchen.
“Something smells good,” she said.
The woman standing at the stove turned in quick surprise.There was a faint flush from the heat of the oven staining her face and a warning in her eyes.
“Casey Dee, you scared me half to death.”
“I’m sorry,” Casey said, and went for her good-morning hug.
Tilly smoothed and fussed at the long hair hanging down Casey’s back, then hugged her tightly to soften the accusation in her words.“Well now, girl, what are you doing over here without your man?”
She sighed.If only things were as simple now as they’d been back when she was a child.
“He’s in the shower.”Casey slumped in a chair with a pout.“Oh, Tilly, Delaney has made such a mess out of my life.”
“No, ma’am.Delaney didn’t do it, you did.He just went and made some silly rule, and as always, you’re still running along behind him, trying to make everything right.”
Casey was speechless.This wasn’t the sympathy she’d been wanting.She tried to glare, but it just wasn’t possible.Not at Tilly.And then she sighed.Tilly always gave her sympathy, but where Casey wanted it or not, it also came with the truth.
“So, he started it,” Casey said, and managed to grin.
“And you sure did finish it, didn’t you, girl?The very idea!Going down to the flatlands to find yourself a man.”
Casey’s eyebrows rose.“How did you know?”
Tilly snorted delicately and returned to stirring the eggs she’d been cooking.“I know, ‘cause you’re my baby,” she said softly.“I know ’cause I make it my business to know.”
The air in Casey’s throat became too thick to breathe.She stood and slipped her arms around Tilly’s waist, then laid her cheek in the middle of her back, relishing the familiarity of freshly ironed fabric and a steady heartbeat.
“And I thank God that you care,” Casey said softly.“You and Joshua are all the family I have left.”
Tilly set the skillet off the fire and turned until she and Casey were eye to eye.“No, girl, you’re wrong.You’ve got yourself a husband now.”
Casey’s laugh was brittle.“I don’t have a husband.I have a stranger for a year.”
Tilly took her by the shoulders and shook her.“What you have is a chance.Now make the most of it.”Before Casey could argue further, Tilly waved her away.“Go tell your man my biscuits are about ready to come out of the oven.By the time you two get back, bacon and eggs will be ready, too.”
“But I don’t know if he likes…”
Tilly’s stare never wavered.“Then don’t you think it’s about time you found out?”
Casey exited the kitchen with as much grace as she could muster.After her and Ryder’s encounter last night, she was almost afraid to face him.The tail of her robe was dragging as she walked up the stairs.When she stumbled and came close to falling, she picked it up and walked the rest of the way with the hem held above her ankles.
Ryder met her at the door.She knew that she was staring, but she hadn’t been prepared for the change in his appearance.Clean-shaven, smelling like soap and something light and musky, he seemed taller than ever.She tried not to gawk, but the new blue jeans he was wearing suited him all too well, and he’d left the top three buttons on his long-sleeved white shirt undone, revealing far too much of that broad, brown chest for her peace of mind.The only thing she recognized from before were his old black boots, and even they were shining.Still damp from his shower, his hair gleamed black in the early morning sunshine.
“Mornin’,” he said softly, and stepped aside to let her in.“Someone from the house just called.Said they wanted a ride into the city.”
Casey blinked, telling herself to concentrate on what he was saying instead of how he looked, but it was difficult Today, those grey eyes of his almost looked blue.
“It isn’t even eight o’clock,” she muttered.“You haven’t had breakfast, and they can wait.”
A slight grin cornered one edge of his mouth and then slid out of sight.“I don’t know what we’ll eat.Yesterday I forgot to buy milk.”
“It doesn’t matter.This morning we’re having breakfast in the kitchen with Tilly.She said to hurry.”
“Who’s Tilly?”
