The ride to Cassandra’s place was carried out in silence.  There was no discussion about their plans.  There was no mention of the movie rental.  There was no order placed for Chinese take-out.  In fact, other than Cassandra giving the driver directions to her place, no conversation occurred.

            JC sat two seats away from Cassandra.  His arms were folded across his chest, his head laid back against the seat.  His eyes were closed.  Was he asleep?  Cassandra couldn’t tell.  His breathing was deep and steady.  The silence was tearing at her.

            She stared outside the window, noticing that they were getting very close to her house.  When the driver made the last turn onto her street, Cassandra picked up her purse, looked inside, and retrieved her house keys.  As quietly as she could, she singled out the door key.

            With moisture-ladened lids she glanced at JC.  Unsure of why he seemed angry, Cassandra looked longingly at his strong features.  She wanted to kiss him goodbye, but was afraid of either waking him or having him reject her kiss.

            The limo pulled to a stop in front of her small home.  Cassandra drew a deep breath as the driver disembarked and went to the trunk to gather her things.  Then he opened the back door for her to leave the confines of the vehicle.

            Quietly she picked up her purse, looked over at JC, whose eyes were still closed, and rose to leave the limo.  As she placed her foot outside of the car his deep voice came to her.

            “Who the hell is he?”

            Cassandra stepped out of the car and turned back to him.  She drew a deep breath.  “Does it matter?”

            JC turned toward the open door, his blue eyes dark with emotion.  Cassandra wasn’t sure what emotion she saw, but it appeared to be anger.

            “Yes, it matters.  It matters very much!”

            “I don’t know why, but, for what it’s worth, he’s my ex-boyfriend.  We broke up last month.  We’ve stayed in touch, but I’m not serious with him.”

            “You’re ex?  How can that be?  Are you expecting me to believe that he was your boyfriend after you told me you had never been given flowers by anyone?”

            “Are you calling me a liar?”

            “No, of course not!”

            “But, you don’t believe me, do you?”

            He didn’t answer.

            “You know, I really don’t need this!  We seem to fight way too much for just being friends.”  Cassandra drew herself up straight.  “Thanks for the ride home.  I appreciate it.”  She turned; grabbing the car door and flinging it closed behind her.  She felt a sudden burst of air as the door bounced back at her.  JC stopped the doors’ motion and reversed it with his foot.  He jumped out of the car to stand in front of her.

            She looked up at him defiantly.  “There’s one thing I’m going to tell you, I am not a liar!”

            He took hold of her shoulders and looked deep into her eyes.

            “Then tell me who he is!”

            She met his gaze head on.  “I told you already.”

            “There’s more to this, then, that you aren’t telling me.”

            “You’re right.  There definitely is.  I just don’t see where it’s any of your business.”

            He pulled her closer to him, his eyes boring into her.  His eyebrow arched, his lips were set in a firm straight line and she noticed how that tiny muscle in his jaw twitched.

            “I’m making it my business, don’t you understand that?  I’m making you my business.”

            His grip tightened as he pulled her closer, yet.  Lowering his face to hers, he touched his lips to hers.  At first she didn’t respond, the anger she felt keeping her from answering his kiss.  Then he started to gently nibble her bottom lip and she was lost in the sensation.  She responded by leaning into him, slightly parting her lips.  The silent invitation beckoned him, and JC followed his instincts.  His tongue found hers and a low moan escaped her throat as the tips touched each other.  He forced himself to pull back, his breathing heavy with desire.

            “Let’s take this inside.”  He said in a raspy voice as he released her shoulders.

            All Cassandra could do was smile.  Her voice would betray her emotions if she spoke.  She wasn’t certain what was going on between them, and until she knew, she had to be cautious.

            The limo driver had used his time to pile Cassandra’s belongings on her front porch. Discreetly he returned to the limo and vanished into the driver’s seat.

            Slipping the key into the lock, Cassandra turned it and pushed the door open.  She moved forward, but JC reached out and stopped her.

            “What?”  She was confused.

            “Just curious, but are we going to be alone?”  She noticed the twinkle in his blue eyes.

            Cassandra smiled shyly.  “We will be for a while.  Marissa’s at work until six o’clock.”

            Looking at his watch, then at her, a wicked smile played on his lips.  “Hmm, that gives us two hours.  Hope that’s enough time!”

            “For what?”  She laughed.

            “For, whatever!”  He winked at her and followed her inside, guiding her with his hand protectively placed on the small of her back.  Cassandra was painfully aware of the closeness of his body to hers.

            She stopped to set her purse on the chair just inside the door and then turned to look at him.  The darkness in his eyes was gone and she noticed what a deep, beautiful blue they were.  Finding her voice she offered him something to drink.  He declined.

            “Well, why don’t you make yourself comfortable.  I’m going to bring my things in and then I’ll give you the twenty-five cent tour.”  She turned back toward the front door.

            Quickly he stepped in her path.  “No you don’t!”

            “What?”

            “You go and sit down.  I’ll bring your things in.”

            “You don’t have to do that.”

            “Oh, yes I do.  Just tell me where you want the stuff.”  He opened the door, stepped onto the porch and picked up the suitcase, hospital bag and the flowers he had sent to her.  “Point me in the right direction.”

            Shaking her head, she grabbed the flowers and pointed down the hallway.  “It’s the first room on the right.”  She set the flowers on the coffee table.

            Without hesitation, he headed toward the room.  He set the two items down in the corner by the dresser.  Taking a brief moment to look around, he noticed the delicacy of the items in the room.  There was lace over the window, a lacey table runner on the dresser and a white eye-let comforter on the queen size bed.  The colors were feminine, mauve and pastel pink and pale blue.  He smiled as he looked around.  Suddenly he realized he needed to return to the living room.  Turning quickly, he bumped right into Cassandra who was standing in the doorway, watching him.

            “So, do you like what you see?”  She asked.

            He lowered his face.  “Very much!”

            She placed her hand against his chest.  “No, silly!  I’m talking about the room.”

            A chuckle rose from his chest and Cassandra could feel it vibrate beneath her fingertips.

            “It’s a beautiful room.  It suits you to a tee.”

            “Come on, JC.  Let’s go out to the living room.”

            “Uh, uh.”  He stood fast.

            “What?  Why not?”

            “I want my twenty-five cent tour you promised me.”

            She smiled at him.  “Alright.  Come on.”

            They stepped into the hallway.  She pointed to the next room and identified it as her sister’s room.  The one across the hall was the bathroom.  To get to the kitchen, you had to double back through the living room.  “There you have it.  It’s not much, but it’s home.”

            “I think it’s great.”

            She moved toward the living room.  Suddenly, she felt a wave of dizziness wash over her.  She grabbed the wall to steady herself.

            “Cassandra!”  JC yelled out, grabbing her from behind.  “What’s wrong?  Are you okay?”

            She drew a deep, steadying breath.  “I think so.  I just need to sit down.  I guess I’m a little tired.”

            Before she knew it, JC had reached to scoop her up in his arms.  She put her arms around his neck and rested her head on his shoulder.  He carried her to the black leather sofa.  Gently, he laid her down.  For a moment he looked deep into her eyes.  He tenderly brushed a fallen tendril of hair from her face and allowed the back of his fingers to linger on her cheek.

            “Are you alright?”  His voice was just above a whisper.

            A weak smile crossed her lips.  “Yes.  I think I’m just tired.  It’s hard to believe that after laying in a hospital bed for so many days that I could say that.  But, I am tired.”

            “That’s to be expected, hon. You need to rest.  Look,” he looked around for a second and noticed an afghan draped over the back of a nearby chair.  He raised himself up and walked over to retrieve it.  He quickly brought it to her and, opening it, he laid it over her.

            “You rest here.  I’m gonna send James to get our dinner and movie.  After we eat, if you’re not too tired, we’ll watch the movie.  If you are too tired, we’ll watch it tomorrow and you’ll sleep tonight.”

            “You’re being awfully sweet, JC.  I’m really not all that hungry, anyway.”

            “Don’t be difficult!  Now, stay put while I give this man his mission.”  He turned toward the door, went outside and approached the limo.

            By the time he returned from giving the orders to James, he found Cassandra sound asleep.  He smiled, walked over to the opposite chair and dropped down.  He put his head back against the back of the chair and closed his eyes.

            JC woke with a start.  He sat up and looked around.  He had heard something.  He wasn’t sure what it had been.  He looked over at Cassandra.  At first glance she appeared to still be sleeping.  Then he heard the sound again.  It was coming from her.  She was making a sound somewhere between a whimper and a cry.

            She tossed her head from side to side.  Her right hand shot out in front of her as if she was shielding herself from some unseen danger.  There was a sheen of perspiration on her forehead.

            Quickly, JC made his way to the sofa.  JC knelt down beside it.  Cassandra started kicking and thrashing about, almost uncontrollably.  He knew he had to wake her, and he knew he had to do it cautiously.

            “Cassandra,” he whispered.  “Cassandra.  Come on, honey.   You have to wake up.”

            Her moans were getting louder.         

            “No!”  She screamed in her sleep.  “Stop.  Please, stop.  Go away!”

            Without even knowing it, she was breaking JC’s heart.  What could be so awful that it would cause a nightmare of this proportion?

            She started to cry out again.  He could take it no longer.  He grabbed her up into his arms and held her against his chest.

            “Cassandra,” he said in a firm, loud voice.  “Damn it, wake up!”

            He felt her body trembling.  She struggled against him briefly, then woke up and looked up at him.  Tears fell freely down her cheeks.  He gently brushed his hand over her cheek.

            “Shhh, baby.  It’s okay.  I’m here.  Everything’s going to be alright.”  He rocked her back and forth. 

            Her sobs were calming and he relaxed his hold on her.  “Are you alright?”  He asked.

            Her eyes were wide with fear.  “I, I, I think so.”  She stuttered.  She drew a shaky breath.

            “What the hell were you dreaming?”

            Cassandra pulled away.  He eyes were wide, like a deer caught in the glare of headlights on the highway.

            “I’m not really sure.”  She said.  “How long have I been asleep?”

            JC took a quick look at his watch.  “Only about twenty-five minutes.  That must have been long enough to get you into a deep sleep.  Are you sure you don’t remember the dream?”

            She shook her head.

            “Let me get you a glass of water, okay?”

            She nodded.

            JC went to the kitchen, searched the cupboards for a glass, then took one down, filled it with cold water and carried it back to her.

            “Here, honey!  Drink some of this.”  He said handing her the glass.

            “Thanks, JC.”

            She took a long, calming drink.  As she swallowed, there was knocking at the door.  Cassandra jumped, panic seizing her.

            “Who could that be?”  She nearly screamed at him.

            “Relax, babe.  I’m sure its just James with our dinner.”

            “How do you know?”

            “I don’t know for sure, but he’s been gone about 30 minutes.  Let me go and see.”

            “Be careful.”

            He looked at her quite suspiciously.  His brow furrowed as he headed to the front door.  Peering through the crack of the door as he opened it, the tension left his body as he saw the larger man standing on the porch holding a brown paper bag.  He took the bag and offered his thanks to the burly man.  Quickly he closed the door and headed through the living room to the kitchen.  He glanced over at Cassandra as he walked past.  Her head was tipped back on the arm of the sofa and her eyes had closed.

            He searched through cupboards and drawers until he found two place settings and set them on the table.  He opened the take-out containers and put spoons into each of them.  He filled the two glasses with ice cubes and opened two bottles of spring water and poured it into the glasses.  He stepped back to study his handy work.  Snapping his fingers in the air, he rushed to the living room.  Spying the flowers on the coffee table, he scooped them up and returned to the kitchen and placed them as the centerpiece in the middle of the table.

            “Perfect.”  He smiled to himself.

            He returned to the living room and quietly approached the sofa.  He was unable to determine if she was asleep.  He leaned down and placed a gentle kiss on her brow.

            Her eyes fluttered open.  “Hi.”  Her voice was hoarse with sleep.

            “Hi, yourself.  Are you ready to have some dinner?”

            She drew a deep breath.  “I’m really not terribly hungry.”  She looked apologetic.

            “Now see here!”  He feigned hurt feelings.  “Here I’ve slaved over a hot cardboard container to fix you one of the finest meals money can buy, and you’re going to refuse to eat it?  I don’t believe I can tolerate that!”

            “But…”

            “No ‘buts’ about it.  Now, you can come to the table of your own volition, or I’ll carry you.  It’s entirely up to you.”

            Cassandra laughed.  “I think I’ll walk there on my own.  I just don’t promise how much I’ll eat.”  She cocked her head to one side.

            “You’ll eat something because you don’t want to go back to that damned green room at the hospital and have another I.V. hooked up, right?”

            “Right.”  She replied, almost timidly.

            Quietly they ate their dinner.  JC noticed how very little of the food actually went into her mouth.  Cassandra spent a good deal of the time pushing the food around her plate.  She stared absently at it, never raising her gaze to his.  He was confident something, most likely the dream, was bothering her.

            “Do you want to talk about it?”

            She set her fork down on the plate and looked up at him.  “Talk about what?”

            “Whatever is bothering you.”

            “Nothing’s…” she started to say.

            JC held up a hand in front of her.  “Don’t even try that line!  I don’t know you very well, but well enough to know that there’s something bothering you.  I’ll bet it has something to do with that dream you had.”  He lowered his head and tone just a bit.  “Let’s talk about it.”

            Her eyes searched his face.  Why, she thought to herself, did he have to be so enticing?  She noticed how blue his eyes were, how one dark brow arched upward as he waited for her response, and how that small jaw muscle kept twitching as his gaze burned into her.  Then he slowly pushed his plate away from him and leaned forward, somewhat closing the gap between them.

            “Well?”  He asked in a near whispered tone.

            She drew a deep breath and pursed her lips together.  Cassandra came with a lot of so-called baggage.  In her heart she knew she didn’t want to unload any of it on this wonderful person whose company she adored.

            Swallowing hard she met his gaze.  “You know what?  I really don’t think this is the time for this.  I’m really enjoying being with you, and that topic of conversation would really be a downer.  Let’s save it for another time, okay?”  She reached out across the table and patted it in front of him.  JC reached over and held her small hand between his.  A shiver raced through her.

            “It’s him, isn’t it?”  His gaze never left hers.

            Confusion was etched on her face.  “Him, who?”

            At first the look JC gave her was skeptical.  Then he realized she really had no idea who he was talking about.  “The guy you introduced me to at the hospital.  This is about him, isn’t it?”

            “He’s not important.”

            “You said he was your ex.”

            “That’s right.  That’s why he’s not important.”

            “Why was he at the hospital.”

            “To visit me.”

            “But if he’s your ex, why did he come?”

            “Maybe you should ask him these questions.”

            “Maybe, but I’m asking you.”

            She pulled her hand back out of his grasp and stood up.  “It’s not something I want to talk about.”

            “Why not?”

            She looked at him exasperated.  “Because I don’t!”  She nearly shouted at JC as she stood up and pushed the chair away from the table.  “Do you want to watch a movie or something?”  She said trying to change the subject.

            Leaning back in his chair he eyed her thoughtfully.  “Is that what you want?”

            Her eyes were wide and sad.  He could have sworn he saw tears welling up, but she blinked and any moisture he thought he’d seen was gone.

            “Sure.  Let’s do that.”

            She spun on her heels and headed back to the living room.  As she bent to pick up the remote control for the television the telephone started ringing.  She froze in place, just staring at the coffee table.

            Seeing that Cassandra wasn’t going to answer it, JC reached for the handset.

            “Hello?” his deep voice drawing her out of her daze.

            She drew herself upright and stared into his blue eyes.

            “Yes,” he said.  “She’s right here.  Hang on.”

            JC handed the handset to her.

            “It’s your sister.”

            “Oh.  Thanks.”  She said as she took the telephone from her.

            “Hi, Marissa.”

            “Hey, sis.  Who was that?”  Her sister inquired.

            “JC.  The guy from the hospital.”

            “Oh, he’s still there?”

            “Yeah.  We just had dinner.  Now we’re going to watch a movie.”

            “You know, Thomas wants to stop by.”

            “And you know I don’t want that.”

            “Yeah.  But Cassandra, he says he’s really sorry about things.”

            She arched an eyebrow as she looked over at JC who stood silently watching her.

            “Does he?  For what?”

            “Cassandra, I don’t think that’s fair!”

            “You don’t!  Really!  Well, let me tell you something.  What he said wasn’t fair either.  I don’t want to see him here.  You can call him and tell him, for me, don’t come over!  Do you understand?”

            “Yes, sis.  I understand.  But I still think everyone deserves a second chance.”

            “He’s had a dozen chances, Marissa.  I can’t take him anymore.  Now, new topic!  What time will you be home?”

            “Oh, I’m not coming home tonight.  I’m staying with Jennifer at her house.  That is okay, isn’t it?”

            Cassandra dropped to the couch.

            “Sure, Marissa.  Go ahead.  I’ll just go to bed early tonight.  Maybe I’ll see you tomorrow.”

            “Thanks, Cassandra.  I’ll see you tomorrow.”

            “Goodnight.”

            She dropped the handset on her lap.  For some unknown reason tears slipped down her cheeks.  JC came around, picked up the handset and returned it to its cradle.  When he turned back to Cassandra, she had curled up against the armrest of the sofa and her head was resting in her hands, her body shaking with tears.  Carefully he sat beside her.

            Gently he took her shoulders and turned her toward him.  He drew her into the warmth and safety of this embrace.  He pulled her against his chest and whispered soothing, caring words against her hair.

            After several moments he felt her draw a deep, steadying breath and felt the shaking of her body subside.

            “I guess now is as good a time as any to tell you the whole story.”  She said into his chest.  “If you still want to hear it.”

            As his fingers gently traced her arm up and down, she knew JC wasn’t going anywhere.