Page 137 of Dust Storm

Mickey and Sadie were both seeking respite from the chaos in the quiet building.

Cassandra’s old Hollywood waves swished across her back as she looked over her shoulder. “What? Sorry. I was checking the status of a permit we need for?—”

I knelt down beside her and fished around in my pocket. I wasn’t much of a suit guy, but I had pulled out my Sunday best for the occasion.

Her eyes widened. “What are you doing? Why are you on your knee? You’re not doing what I think you’re doing. Because if you’re doing what I think you’re doing, then I’m going to say ‘no,’ and it’s going to be very awkward for the next few days.”

I chuckled as I opened my palm.

“Christian, I can’t—” she froze and looked at my hand. “What’s that?”

I chuckled under my breath. “They—uh—they go on your heels. You know, so it’s easier to walk in dirt and not sink in.”

I held one of the little wooden blocks between my fingers. It wasn’t very wide, but it had a deep notch in the top that fit the spike of her stiletto, and a flat, flared base for more surface area on the ground.

“I stained them so they’d match your shoes and not stand out so much,” I said as I lifted her ankle to rest on my knee and wedged the little piece onto the tip of the heel.

Cassandra sat still as I gently put her foot down and lifted the other one to do the same.

She looked completely dumbfounded. “That’s… the sweetest thing someone’s ever done for me.”

I shrugged it off. “Just something I fiddled with while I helped the girls with their homework. If they work I can make some more. You know, so you have them to match all your shoes.” I took her hand and kissed it. “Maybe someday we’ll have sidewalks around here for you.”

“I can always go to New York when I need my fix,” she said, draping her arms around my neck.

I pecked her lips. “Just as long as you come back to me.”

I closed my eyes as she combed her fingers through my hair. I’d left it down today at the girls’ request. “Feels good,” I murmured listlessly.

“Bree was actually asking me about New York this morning.”

I leaned into her touch. “Yeah?”

“Mhmm. She wants to go. Apparently between me and Becks she’s convinced that New York is the most magical place on earth.”

“You told her about the crime rate?”

She laughed. “No, I told her about Broadway and Times Square and this little hole-in-the-wall place in the Village that has the best pastries.”

“And about the crime rate.”

“I told her about the Met, and what it’s like during Fashion Week, and?—”

“And the crime rate,right?”

She stopped massaging my scalp. “Has anyone told you that you worry too much?”

I pecked her lips. “Yeah, I pay a therapist to tell me that once a month. What’s your point?”

“I’m not going to tell you to stop worrying,” she said softly. “It’s attractive.”

“Then between the ranch, the building projects, and raising teenagers I’m going to be irresistible these next few years.”

She shut down the computer. “How’s the party going?”

I stole another kiss and took her hand. “It needs its hostess before Ray makes it all about him.”

Cassandra laughed, standing as the black dress she was in cascaded down her body. “While that’s fair, considering he’s at the top of the leaderboard going into the finals tomorrow, we might need to make sure his ego can still fit inside the tent.”

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