The Forgotten Night Read online

  “I’m fine, that weird bug has been going around. It’s nice to see you care though.” She moved to kiss him again but he stepped out of her reach.

  “I don’t want to catch the bug,” he said with a teasing grin.

  “Well, whether you like it or not, if I have it, I’m giving it to you,” she said, pulling on his jacket, causing him to stumble toward her. She pulled him down and kissed him long and hard. When they finally parted, Andrew’s mouth broke into a smile.

  “Baby, I would take any sickness of yours to have you kiss me like that again,” he teased.

  “Go get your drink,” she said, hitting him on the arm playfully. “But do not get drunk.”

  “Like I told you a year ago, I’m going to be the one to carry you up those stairs,” he said before walking off to the other room where the bar was stationed.

  “You and Drew done making out for now?” Rachel asked, walking up to Cassidy.

  Cassidy smiled. “For now.”

  Rachel sipped from the cup she had in her hands. “I saw the bombardment of dad’s clients. What’d they say?”

  “The same stuff, just wanting to know about me and Andy.”

  “I know, you two are the talk of the party, it seems.” She pointed to a group of women socializing in the corner.

  “Why?” Cassidy asked.

  “Drew was single for nearly two years, he got the rep of being the ladies’ man and now they find out that he’s been dating you for a year. That’s big, Cass.”

  “How can you have a rep of being a ladies’ man without having been with any ladies?”

  “Rumors, mostly I think it was Brian and those guys though. They hated seeing Drew out of the dating scene. Where is he anyway?”

  “Brian?”

  “No, my brother.”

  “Oh, he went off to get a drink, probably got stopped by one of your dad’s clients though.”

  “Yeah, sounds about right. What about you? You’re not drinking anything, and you hate these parties.”

  “I’m not feeling too good, haven’t for the last couple of days,” Cassidy said.

  “Well, that stomach bug has been going around,” Rachel said. “Do you want me to get you some water? You should be drinking plenty of fluids.”

  “Yes, Mother,” Cassidy said meekly.

  Rachel narrowed her eyes before walking off to go get some water.

  “You don’t have to get me anything,” Cassidy called.

  “No, you called me mother and I’m going to mother you now,” Rachel laughed.

  Cassidy watched as her friend walked away. She loved Rachel and smiled at the notion that one day they might truly be sisters. Andrew hinted at it enough. She knew their bond was so strong that nothing could break it. Everything they had gone through only made them stronger. And she knew she couldn’t live without him either. She drifted off for a moment, thinking about the wonderful cruise they’d taken this summer.

  “Cass? Cass?” she heard faintly.

  Cassidy shook her head, trying to focus on what was happening in the present.

  “You looked like you were recalling some good memories,” Ian Morrow said with a laugh. “Did I interrupt anything?”

  “I was remembering some good memories, but no you didn’t interrupt too much. What’s up, Ian?”

  “Have you seen Rach?” Ian asked. Ian and Rachel had been dating since the previous summer. They had met on the cruise and fell in love shortly thereafter.

  “She went to go bring me some water, mothering me,” Cassidy said.

  “And where’s your knight in shining armor?” he asked.

  Cassidy laughed. “He’s off getting a drink and mingling.”

  “You were right,” he said, changing the subject.

  “Right about what?”

  “Aunt Cecile and the rest of the Winbright family.”

  “Ah, so you’ve met her. I love that dear old woman, but sometimes…”

  “She pinched my ass after Rach introduced us,” Ian exclaimed.

  “Well, she can be eccentric at times,” Cassidy tried to explain.

  “She’s not eccentric, she’s a bit crazy and a little more than scary.”

  “Talking about Aunt Cecile?” Rachel asked, handing Cassidy a water bottle.

  “How did you know?” Ian kissed her tenderly.

  Cassidy smiled at the couple, Ian was by far Rachel’s best boyfriend, not to mention the longest.

  “She’s the only one of my relatives that Cassidy would call eccentric,” Rachel said, putting her arms around him.

  “Well, at least the worst part is over,” Cassidy said. “Just be glad you weren’t there at Thanksgiving.”

  “Why? What happened?” Ian asked. “I was supposed to go, but my family didn’t want to hear it.”

  “Well, it was a family gathering of both the Winbrights and the Ames families,” Cassidy said.

  “It also just happened to be when Drew accidentally let it slip that he loved Cass, in front of her dad,” Rachel said.

  “You have to realize that my dad is very protective of me,” Cassidy said. She smiled as she remembered the night’s events.

  “Baby, what are you thinking about?” Andrew said, waving his hand in front of Cassidy’s face.

  Cassidy glanced over at Andrew and smiled. “I was just thinking about you.”

  “Something good, I hope.”

  “Oh, very good.”

  “Yuck,” Rachel chimed in. “We were reminiscing about Thanksgiving, then you got this strange goofy look on your face, but really we don’t need to know.”

  Andrew wrapped his arm around Cassidy. “You feeling any better?”

  “Yeah, Rach got me some water,” she said, holding up the half-empty water bottle.

  “Good, so you up for a dance?” he asked.

  “With you? Of course.” She kissed his cheek tenderly.

  Andrew guided Cassidy onto the dance floor and pulled her closer to him for their traditional Christmas dance. “I’ve missed this,” he said softly.

  “Me too, we didn’t get to do this last year,” she said, resting her head on him. They danced together slowly until the music faded. “Incoming,” Cassidy whispered in his ear.

  “Aunt Cecile?”

  “Who else?”

  Cassidy took a step apart from Andrew and he turned just as Aunt Cecile walked up to the pair. “That was wonderful, kids, a little tamer than usual though,” she commented.

  Cassidy raised her eyebrows at Andrew, he smirked at her and thanked his aunt.

  “That was unexpected.” Cassidy smiled up at Andrew. “I was expecting another one of her Dancing with the Stars comments.”

  “I think my mother finally told her that she needed to stop acting as if everything had to do with ballroom dancing.”

  “Remind me to thank your mother.”

  Andrew laughed and took her back in his arms. “We’ve put in enough face time, haven’t we?”

  Cassidy smiled. “I think so. What do you have in mind?”

  “Oh, you’ll find out soon enough,” he said as they walked into the kitchen.

  “Drew, man! Where have you been?” Brian asked. He and the others had just set up outside, and Brian was obviously retrieving some more alcohol. “Are you here to join us?”

  “Brian,” Andrew said curtly.

  “What’s with you? We haven’t seen or heard from you in like a year.”

  “Andy, I’ll just—”

  “Oh, her. You’ve ditched us because of her?” Brian asked, not hiding the disgusted tone from his voice. “Dude, we’re your fucking friends. Not this bitch.”

  “Say it again, you fucking asshole,” Andrew said coldly.

  “What’s wrong with you? She’s done something to you, messed you up.”

  “She’s done nothing. It’s you, Brian. My problem is with you and the others.”

  “See! You never would have felt like this. This fucking whore has messed with your head!” Brian cried.

>   “Don’t.” Andrew’s simple word spoke volumes.

  “Come on, man. I don’t know what your problem is, but we have everything set up. Just come play Kings with us.”

  “So you can get me drunk again, so you can cheat me over? Are you going to try and set me up with Ashley again or is it someone else this time?”

  “Dude, what are you talking about?”

  “Don’t fucking lie, I know you guys played me two years ago.”

  “I don’t know what that bitch told you but—”

  Andrew pulled his fist backward and punched Brian square in the jaw. He hit him a couple more times before the guys pulled the two away from each other.

  Cassidy held Andrew back. “He’s not worth it Andy. Don’t.”

  “You’ll pay for this! You’ll pay for your mistakes!” Brian yelled out.

  “Is everything all right in here?” Roger asked, walking into the kitchen followed by Rachel and Ian.

  Rachel looked from Andrew to a bloodied Brian. “Rog, I think you should escort the guys out,” she said.

  Roger nodded and addressed the group, asking the guys to follow him to the front entrance.

  “What happened in here?” Rachel asked once the guys had all left.

  “Brian said a few things and Andy got a little upset,” Cassidy said, still shaken by Brian’s venom toward her.

  “He insulted you again, I take it,” Rachel said and Cassidy nodded. “What were you two doing anyway, or do I not want to know?”

  “We were just heading upstairs when we ran into him,” Cassidy said.

  “You’re all right?” Ian asked.

  “Yeah. We’ll be fine,” she assured them. “I got it from here.”

  “Okay, I’ll see you tomorrow morning then,” Rachel smiled. “Try to get a little bit of sleep tonight, you know how grumpy you get when you’re sleep deprived.”

  “I could say the same thing to you, missy.” Cassidy hugged her friend. “See you later, Ian,” she said as Rachel led Ian out of the kitchen. “You okay, babe?” she turned to Andrew.

  “Yeah. I’m fine. I hate what he called you. I just hate him.”

  “So he called me a few things, he didn’t try and hurt me.”

  “He’d get a lot more than a few punches if he ever hurt you,” Andrew said, gripping her shoulders.

  Cassidy smiled. “You’re sexy when you get protective.”

  Andrew’s eyes softened. “Really?”

  “ Oui, mon amour ,” she said and saw the shade of his eyes darken.

  “God, you keep talking like that and I’m going to have to take you right here.”

  “We are not doing anything in your parent’s kitchen.”

  “Then I’m just going to have to hurry,” he said and without another word he scooped her up in his arms. She squealed at the abruptness and clung to him as he carried her up the stairs to his room.

  Andrew set her down and shut the door behind them. He turned toward Cassidy and pulled her to him. “I love you, baby,” he whispered softly against her lips.

  Cassidy wrapped her arms around his neck and pulled him toward her, pressing her lips to his. Andrew met her lips in soft quick tantalizing kisses. When Cassidy thought she couldn’t take it anymore, he began to linger longer on her lips until he was kissing her long and hard. She opened her mouth to his and he deepened the kiss. He trailed kisses down her jaw to her neck and wanted nothing more than to taste every part of her.

  Cassidy tilted her head and moaned when he kissed the sensitive part of her neck. She ran her fingers through his hair and down his chest and helped Andrew slip out of his suit jacket. Then slowly she pulled out his tucked-in shirt and began to unbutton it. She pushed it off his shoulders and tossed it to the side with his jacket.

  Andrew ran his hands down Cassidy’s back while he continued to kiss her softly. He stepped out of his shoes and reached for the zipper to Cassidy’s dress. Slowly he began to unzip her dress. Cassidy reached out and unbuckled his belt and slowly unzipped his pants. She pushed down his pants and ran her hands back up his chest. Andrew ran his hands over her bare back then pulled the dress down so it pooled around her feet.

  Like he always did, he raked his gaze over her body and smiled. Before she could say anymore, he reached out and scooped her in his arms and carried her to the bed. After placing her gently on the bed he pulled his undershirt off and sat on the edge. Slowly he took off her shoes and placed them on the ground. He lifted her leg and kissed her ankle and slowly moved up her calf.

  Satisfied with her soft moans of contentment, he moved so he straddled her. He bent down and kissed her shoulders and began to unclip her bra. He discarded it on the ground and slowly moved down her jaw, her neck, to her breasts, taking one in his mouth. She moaned and arched her back as he teased and toyed with the other in his hand. He moved down further and kissed her stomach. He sat between her legs and slowly pulled off her lacy underwear.

  He kissed and licked her, getting Cassidy's body stoked with more internal heat. She closed her eyes and sucked in her breath when he inserted his finger in her. He moved in and out of her, slowly at first, teasing her. As her breath became more labored and she began to moan his name he moved faster, bringing her to climax. She arched into his fingers and breathed his name. When she relaxed, he pulled out of her and slowly climbed over her. She opened her eyes and smiled. How he managed to undress completely without her taking notice would always baffle her.

  Cassidy grinned and pushed Andrew to the bed, switching spots. She straddled his waist and bent down, kissing his neck and down his chest. He let out a deep breath and Cassidy slowly positioned herself over him.

  She ran her body down his, teasing him, and he let out a soft groan.

  “Cassie…baby…I need you,” he breathed as she continued to tease him. Andrew opened his eyes and she smiled mischievously. Before she could do anything else, he pushed her back to the bed and took control. He straddled her again.

  Andrew reached down and picked up his tie that was thrown haphazardly to the ground. He bent down and kissed her lips and ran his hands up her sides, pulling her arms above her head, running his hands over them until he reached her wrists. As he continued to kiss her, he tied his tie around her wrists and onto one of the bars on his headboard.

  “Andy?” she questioned a bit nervously. This was new.

  “It’s my turn to tease you now,” he said.

  He kissed down her jaw and neck, and then to her breasts. He moved to kiss down her stomach and her muscles tightened under his touch. She let out a soft whimper and he slipped his fingers in her, touching a sensitive spot, making her moan and thrash under him. He moved in an out until she could take it no longer.

  “Andy, please,” she begged, trying to pull the tie free.

  Before he brought her over the edge, he pulled his fingers out of her abruptly and moved to lie on top of her and just as quickly he entered her. He thrust into her and she arched to meet him. He ran his hands over her arms and undid the tie and she wrapped her arms around him. He clamped his mouth over hers as she cried out in pleasure and he too groaned in delight.

  “I love you, Cassie,” Andrew whispered hoarsely against her neck and slowly pulled away and held her close to him.

  “I love you too, Andy.” She smiled. “Andy?”

  “Hmm?”

  “What did Brian mean when he said that we would pay for our mistakes?” Cassidy asked, turning around to face Andrew.

  “Baby, he wasn’t talking to you, just me. He’s mad at me, not you.”

  “No, Andy, he hates me. You don’t understand.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “Andy, he has hated me since high school,” she said calmly.

  “How do you know? Why would he hate you anyway? You’ve done nothing to him,” Andrew said, caressing her cheek.

  “That’s not true. I did do something to him,” she said and she felt Andrew’s hand pause. She couldn’t look him in the eye. “When
we were in high school, do you remember Charlie Wick’s party?”

  “Yeah, but I thought I told you that you and Rach couldn’t come.”

  “You did, but you know how Rach is, she wanted to go so she dragged me along with her. We got there and you were already too busy making out with Sheldon Woods to notice us. Somehow Rach and I split up and I ended up outside, playing cards with the guys. We were playing poker at first, but after I kept winning all the guys backed out until it was only me and Brian.”

  Andrew frowned, rubbing her shoulder. “Go on.”

  “Anyway, I beat him, and he got really angry. I mean, he called me names and threw a huge fit about it in front of the guys, calling me a cheater and all kinds of things. Later, he cornered me, and he got a little physical, but I managed to get away.”

  Andrew looked down at Cassidy, obviously furious. “He dared to touch you?”

  “Of course that’s all you would dwell on.” She heaved a sigh and turned around.

  “Cassie, I didn’t mean it like that. I just don’t like seeing you get hurt.”

  “I took care of him, Andy, and that’s why he hates me.”

  “Just because you wounded his pride in front of the guys? That’s absurd.”

  “That’s not the only thing I did though. Every party after that he tried to get with me, but I kept turning him down. I shot him down multiple times and more than once in front of the guys. I was the only girl he couldn’t get and that made him frustrated, but what made it worse was that I was snubbing him in the worst ways possible. I would try to embarrass him in front of his friends, in front of crowds. I think I was angry at the way he treated other women but that's no excuse.”

  “How did I not know about this?”

  “You were always busy and Brian made the guys swear they wouldn’t tell you. Brian was always good at threatening people if he thought they would tell you.”

  Andrew didn’t say anything but continued to stare at Cassidy.

  “So, I’ll ask you again. What did Brian mean when he said we’d pay for our mistakes?”

  “Nothing,” Andrew said without hesitation. “He’s a lot of talk. You said yourself he’s good at threatening. He won’t do anything, I won’t let him.”

  Cassidy kissed him softly on the cheek before turning around settling herself comfortably on the bed. Andrew wrapped his arm around her protectively and it wasn’t long before both had fallen asleep.