Blaze's Second Chance (The Sinclair Men) Read online

  Another growl.

  “Yeah, yeah, yeah. Give me a few minutes to wash my face, and I’ll take you downstairs and miss my beautiful sunset.”

  She really needed to stop talking to her cat.

  Over the past three years she must have had more conversations with that living bundle of fur than she had ever had with another person.

  Cassie washed her face and combed her hair, huffing as she picked up the fat cat. Every day he seemed heavier. She made her way down to the kitchen.

  Molly stood at the stove humming.

  “Hello, Molly.”

  Molly turned, and her face melted at the sight of Whiskers.

  “Oh my lord, he or she?”

  “A very lazy he,” Cassie said. She stroked his head.

  “Can I hold him?”

  Cassie had no problem passing on his weight.

  “He is so adorable.” Molly cooed to the cat.

  Cassie sat in a stool and watched the older woman lovingly stroke her cat. Whiskers basked in attention.

  “He needs feeding.”

  Cassie watched as Molly prepared her cat some food. The woman was so loving and caring.

  “What is it about women and cats?” Blaze came in and took a seat next to Cassie.

  “They’re much better companions than men,” Cassie said immediately.

  “I agree,” Molly said.

  “Well, if I knew you lovely women would be ganging up on me I’d have stayed in my room.” Blaze laughed.

  “Where’s Blaze Jr.?” Molly asked.

  “He’s in bed. Dad’s reading him a bed-time story.”

  “I’ll go and say good night.” Molly left the kitchen.

  Cassie moved to give Blaze her whole, undivided attention. He was as sexy as she remembered. Stubble marred his face where he obviously needed to shave. Ruggedly handsome came to mind, or sexy as sin. His body was still hard. She could see that under his casual clothes. Everything about him screamed sex appeal. It wasn’t fair. The man was positively dripping with sex. Her body responded to his magnetic pull. Her pussy was wet as she remembered the power this man had and the rough sex they’d had on the edge of his desk. It had been the most surreal moment of her whole life, one she dreamed about all the time. If she hadn’t wasted time by being afraid, Blaze Sinclair could have been her husband and Blaze Jr. could have been her child.

  “Stop looking at me like that unless you want me to do something about it,” Blaze said. His eyes filled with hunger.

  “What look am I giving you?” she asked. She couldn’t disguise the heated lust in her voice. Cassie sounded desperate even to herself.

  “The look that says, ‘I want to fuck you.’ You’re eating me with your gaze, Cassie, and if you keep doing it, I’ll not be held responsible for my actions.” He got up off his stool and moved around to the opposite end of the island.

  “I’m not eating you with my eyes,” she said.

  “You’re eating me up. You want me, Cassie. You always have and always will want me.”

  The ego of the man. “No, I don’t. I admit that you’re att—”

  “How many men have you fucked in the last three years?”

  The question caught her off guard. How many men had she been with? The answer was embarrassing. Her life had been so busy trying to forget him that she had neglected to even enter into a relationship. The pathetic answer was zero. However, if she counted her vibrators then it had to be three. Even she had needs. Especially when she woke up in the middle of the night sweating and aching for release. Aching because this man had fucked her and then left her. Her needs and curiosities begged to be answered.

  “I’m not telling you,” she said, answering his question anyway.

  “You want me, Cassie. That one night, I made you mine.”

  “Yeah. In that moment you used me. You never had any intention of taking me further.” She shouted back at him, oblivious to the other people in the house. “Well, I’m over it, Blaze.” She stormed out of the house leaving him shocked.

  ****

  “Wow, it appears the Sinclair men know squat about love and women.” Trent entered the kitchen.

  “Keep your opinions to yourself.” Blaze followed after her.

  He couldn’t cope with the thought of her hurting. He found her on the patio staring out into the night sky.

  “Cassie.”

  “Don’t bother, Blaze. I’ve nothing I want to say to you.” She stopped him. Blaze watched her back.

  “I missed you,” he whispered as he placed a hand on her shoulder. He felt her flinch from his touch. When she’d come to him that night, she’d been so beautifully passionate. A hot sensual woman. She hadn’t flinched but touched back.

  “Don’t do this to me, Blaze,” she said.

  “I never thought I’d see you again.” Chris had never told him about their relationship. He wondered what else his younger brother was keeping from him. “My life with Francesca was a mistake. We were miserable together. Even when I was with her I thought about you.”

  Blaze had to tell her everything. He’d wasted so many years fighting his attraction and the desire for Cassie. She was so close to him, and he could have her. Blaze knew a day wouldn’t go by when he didn’t fight for her.

  “How can you say these things to me?” He heard the sob in her voice, and he hated himself all over again. “This was supposed to be a relaxing weekend, and so far I’ve done nothing but want to cry. Tell me what’s wrong with that?” She turned, and he saw the tears coming out of her eyes.

  He reached out and touched them with his thumb. “I’m a bastard,” he said.

  “No. You’re not.” She rubbed the tears away and faced forward. “We didn’t have any claim over each other. That night was nothing more than two consenting adults giving in to temptation.”

  “Don’t say that.” He stood directly behind her with both of his hands on her. “That night is the only memory keeping me alive.”

  “That’s a little dramatic, Blaze. Even for you.”

  “Mock and laugh at me all you want, Cassie. It doesn’t change the way I feel about you.” Blaze moved round to face her. He grabbed her chin roughly and forced her to look at him.

  “I was just an employee to you,” she said.

  “You were so much more. You never realised how much I fought for you.” He slammed his lips down on hers. This wasn’t a make-up kiss. This was about possession. Blaze wanted to claim her for his own. To seal every little shred of himself inside her and never let her go. His fingers sank into the smooth, dark hair, and he grasped her head. He held her in place while he thoroughly loved her lips and mouth. Kissing her was becoming a drug in his veins. Cassie fought him. Her struggles were feeble, and he calmed her down, never breaking contact. She melted beneath him, and he loved her submission to him.

  Her full, tight breasts pressed against his chest. He wanted to suck on them, to taste their full plump red nipples between his teeth.

  His dick was as hard as rock. Her little moans escaped from her lips, and he took every little advantage. He plunged his tongue into her depths.

  Their sighs of pleasure mingled. Blaze couldn’t hold back any longer. He needed to touch her. His hand slid down from her hair, over her neck and passed her collarbone. He cried out at the same time as Cassie when he cupped one of her tits in his palm. That night so long ago he’d not taken the time to love these soft mounds. Providing he played his cards right they’d have the rest of their future together. Her erect bud pushed against his palm, and he ran a nail over the tip through her summer dress. Blaze wanted more. He took her strap and pushed it past her arm exposing the full breast to the naked air and his consuming vision.

  Her chest rose and fell with her breathing. He broke away and stared into her dilated eyes. Cassie was as turned on as he.

  “Do you know what you do to me?” he asked.

  She shook her head.

  Blaze took her hand and rested her palm on top of his trousers where hi
s bulge was clearly outlined.

  His finger circled the tip of her breast. “I want you so damn bad.”

  “This doesn’t change what you did,” she said.

  Blaze cursed and looked up at the sky. He wished he could turn back the clock and tell her a million times how much he loved and cared about her. The past three years had taught him everything about the true meaning of lust and love. Back then he should have told his father no. Living with Francesca and witnessing the true maliciousness of the woman had shown him how stupid his actions had been.

  For the year Cassie worked for the Sinclair Industry he’d felt more alive and welcome than in the two months of married life he’d spent with Francesca.

  Blaze recalled the wedding and the honeymoon period. They’d gone away to Milan, where he spent the whole time wishing he was with another woman. And Francesca had spent it shopping in all the designer boutiques. His marriage had been a nightmare and one he hoped to never relive again.

  “I know. Back then I was a stupid man. A heartless fool. Please, Cassie. Give me one more chance. I know I’m divorced, and I’ve got a son now, but couldn’t you find it in your heart to give us a shot?” he pleaded. He ran his thumb over her plump bottom lip. She had the sexiest mouth he’d ever tasted. He wanted to kiss her and make love to her and spend the rest of his life with her. Chris was a meddling bastard, but in this he seemed to know what he was doing.

  “What if it doesn’t work?” she asked.

  He understood her fear. When she had given herself to him all that time ago, he’d taken and dumped her faster than anything.

  “Take a chance. You’re a business woman. I know you felt something for me back then. Seeing you here with my family – in fact just seeing you – has reminded me how much I’ve missed you. I want you, Cassie. This time, the next three weeks, gives us a chance to see what we could be.”

  Blaze stopped and waited for her answer. He lifted the strap of her summer dress and covered up her body. He took her hand away from the length of his cock and brushed a kiss across her knuckles.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  He smiled. “I’m going to show you I want you for more than sex. For the next three weeks, no sex. We have each other’s company.”

  “So, sex is off the menu?”

  Did he detect disappointment?”

  “Yes.”

  Blaze smiled, held her hand and waited.

  “Fine. The next two weeks.”

  He leaned down and kissed her once on the lips. “Thank you. You won’t regret it.” He walked her back to her room and wished her goodnight. After checking on his son, Blaze went to his own room.

  He poured a glass of bourbon and toasted his reflection.

  “To second chances,” he said.

  Blaze slung back the dark liquid and went to bed, his mind awash with plans for seduction.

  Chapter Eight

  “I thought we could take a trip into town. We could take Blaze Junior to the fair and then have a dinner at a restaurant?” Blaze asked.

  Cassie couldn’t take her eyes away from the arguing couple on the lawn. David and Molly were having yet another argument.

  “Why does she stay with him if all they do is argue?” she asked.

  “What?”

  “Your parents. They only argue.” She pointed down to the main lawn. Cassie spotted his son on the other side of the lawn playing with his uncles, the young boy completely oblivious to the spat occurring.

  “Molly isn’t my mother.”

  She turned back to Blaze, shocked by the anger in his tone.

  “Explain?”

  Her ex-boss ran his fingers through his hair, and she couldn’t help being drawn to the movement. Those hands and fingers had touched her body intimately the previous night. Her heart sped up, and she folded her arms over her breasts. Her treacherous nipples were erect and already begging for his touch. Cassie hated the lack of control over her own body.

  “Fine. Molly is dad’s second wife. My mum died giving birth to Trent.”

  “How awful,” she said and glanced down at the lawn.

  “Yeah. Dad’s convinced the Sinclair men can only love one woman. My mum was his one woman,” Blaze said.

  Cassie watched the couple. She saw the pain on the older woman’s face. It hurt to see even from a distance.

  “Why did he marry her then?”

  “What?”

  She rolled her eyes. “Why did your father marry a woman he knew he’d never be able to love?”

  Blaze turned and stared at the arguing couple. “I don’t know.”

  “I feel sorry for her.”

  “You feel sorry for Molly? Please, she got a family and this wonderful house and sons. Not to mention everything else,” he said.

  Cassie shook her head and picked up her breakfast plate and cup. “I imagine she didn’t want any of those things without love.” She stormed off into the kitchen, suddenly feeling really angry.

  She placed the plate and cup into the sink and turned around. Blaze stood close, trapping her against the edge of the sink and his hard body.

  “Get away from me,” she said.

  “What’s the problem now?”

  “You. You’re my problem. And your lack of sympathy and feeling.” She shoved him back and walked past him.

  “What about our plans?” he asked.

  “I never agreed to your plans. Look, maybe this whole company thing was a mistake. I think you need to look at your parents and see the future for yourself.”

  “We don’t have anything to do with my parents, Cassie. What about coming with me and my son to the fair?”

  Cassie paused with her hand on the doorframe. She turned back and stared into the eyes she’d spent so long dreaming about. The way he had looked at her with such intense emotion as he plunged inside her body and the passion that had burned between them had overridden any of her common sense.

  “I’d love to go, but I made plans today. I’m sorry.”

  She picked up her purse and coat and walked out of the door.

  ****

  “So how come you’re spending time with the Sinclairs?” Erica asked as she came out of a dressing room. After they’d walked for a few hours, they decided to cool off from the summer heat in one of the more luxurious shopping malls.

  Cassie hadn’t been able to find anything in her size, but Erica was a little smaller than she. The other woman came out of the room wearing a beautiful figure-hugging strapless red dress.

  “Wow, you look gorgeous,” Cassie said.

  Erica did a few twirls in front of mirror and shook her head. “I look stupid. I mean, I’m a working girl. Where the hell am I going to wear something this classy?”

  “You could always buy it, and when you’re feeling down in the dumps put the dress on to make you feel better?” Cassie said on a laugh.

  Both women sobered up when two rather thin looking women passed them and let out a giggle. Cassie knew a blush stained her cheeks.

  “I hate girls like that,” Erica growled and charged back into the changing room. “That’s it. We’re going someplace else. A place where women can have rolls of fat and a wobble underneath their arms and not care. I’m tired of being ridiculed by women who eat nothing but a celery stick while I love a piece of fried chicken.”

  Cassie laughed. She understood the other woman’s problems. Even though she’d dropped a dress size in the last three years, it didn’t stop the sniggers from other women.

  “Don’t think I’ve forgotten my question either,” Erica said.

  Cassie stopped laughing and waited until her friend was dressed. They exited the shop and moved to a part of the mall with clothes for real women.

  “Spill then,” Erica asked again.

  Cassie pulled a skirt off the rail and placed it up to get a good look at it. She tried to avoid white when she could, but the length of skirt and design were too lovely to ignore

  “There’s nothing to tell. I left
their employ over three years ago, and I started up my own business. Chris helped me. He’s a godsend, and I wouldn’t have done anything without him.” She held onto the skirt. At least she could try it on.

  “You think so?” Cassie heard the sarcasm in her friend’s voice and turned to see the other woman staring intently at the shoe section. “I think you need heels with that skirt.” Erica pulled out a pair of six inch stiletto heels.

  “You’re having a laugh if you think I can walk in them.” The women shopped for a couple of minutes before moving to the changing areas. “What do you have against Chris?” she asked when they both tried on a dress and came out to get the other’s opinion.

  “Purple is not your colour, and I’ve got nothing against him,” Erica said.

  They walked back into the rooms and changed. Cassie put on the white skirt with the pastel blue crop top she’d found.

  Erica was waiting. “Wow. You look beautiful.”

  Cassie smiled and walked over to where the other woman stood. “Erica, you can tell me.”

  “I’m hungry.” Erica made to walk off, but Cassie stopped her. “Okay. How about we get some lunch, and then we’ll talk. You’ll spill the beans on what happened before you left, and I’ll tell you my issue.”

  “Deal.”

  Thirty minutes later they entered an Italian style restaurant and found a private booth toward the back.

  “I love it here. It’s nothing like the city,” Erica said.

  “I know. I think I’m going to look for a house or something. The city is great for getting from A to B. But I want a place to start putting down roots. I love the beach as well.”

  A waiter took their orders. They both agreed on the pasta puttanesca followed by chocolate torte.

  “You go first.” Erica took a bread stick out of the pot. Cassie took one for herself and glanced around the busy restaurant.

  “You remember that Christmas party I did. The only one?” Cassie asked.

  “Yes. The best party anyone had been to.”

  “Well, when everyone left – and you’ve got to promise to keep this to yourself.” Erica did the cross over her heart. “I had sex with Blaze Sinclair on his desk.”

  Cassie watched as her friend’s eyes opened wider, and she took a huge bite out of the bread stick.