Page 106 of Enemies in Paradise

We finally make it to the studio, and I kick open the door. Cassie’s cat meows, and I have the presence of mind to shut the door before Molly can charge in to chase the cat. That’s the last thing anyone needs right now.

I take Cassie to the bed, where I set her upright, then kneel in front of her to unlace her skates. Water spills from each one when I yank them off her feet. Next, I unzip her coat.

“We need to get you out of your wet clothes,” I say gently while slipping her arms out of the coat. “You can’t do it on your own.”

“You’ve allll-readdddy seen,” she says through chattering teeth as she clenches her arms over her chest for warmth.

I let out a short laugh and toss her coat to the floor. “There’s the Cassie I know. But, I swear, I didn’t see anything…unfortunately.”

She attempts a smile.

“Can you lift your arms?”

She tries to uncross her arms and shakes harder. I’m not sure if it’s because she’s still so cold or if she’s also in shock. Probably both.

I help her lift one arm and peel her wet sweater over it and her head, then her other arm. She’s got another long-sleeved shirt on under the sweater.

“How many layers do you have on?” I ask as I peel the shirt off and find another t-shirt underneath. “It’s warm today—hence the melting ice you shouldn’t have been on. Only someone from California would dress as if it’s forty below.”

I hope she hears the teasing in my voice and not the worry. If I can get her to laugh, maybe her brain will understand she’s not in danger anymore and quit sending all of her blood to her heart. She’s in danger of going into shock.

Before I take her T-shirt off of her, I grab the thick blanket from the other side of her bed. As soon as I have the tee over her head, I wrap her in the blanket for both warmth and modesty’s sake. But I still catch a glimpse of her black, lacy bra.

That’s an image I’ll come back to once this emergency is over.

“Pants next.” As hard as it is, I look her in the eye when I say it. I don’t want her to think I have anything in my mind other than helping her.

Cassie holds the blanket tight and nods. Color returns to her face when I reach under the blanket and feel for her waist until I find the button and zipper on her jeans. She lifts her hips, and I’m able to slide the jeans off without seeing a thing. But of course, she’s got long johns underneath, so we have to go through the process again—minus the button and zipper.

And I’d be a liar if I said the whole thing didn’t make my temperature rise.

Once all of her clothes are off, except underwear, because I’m not going there, I help her lie down and put another blanket over her.

“That’s better,” she says, still hoarse, but her chattering has slowed.

“I’ll warm up Jenny, then I’m taking you to my house so you can get in a warm bath while I call a doctor.” I stand and take a few steps back, slightly afraid that, even in this state, she’ll fight me because I’ve told her what to do. “Unless you want to go straight to the hospital.”

She shakes her head, and I’m about to tell her to stop being stubborn when she says, “Your house. I want to stay with you. Okay?”

A tear falls down her cheek, and I kneel in front of her again to wipe it away. “Of course. You can stay as long as you want.”

I stroke her cheek with my thumb. I tremble as the emotion of the last ten minutes catches up with me, and I realize how close I came to losing Cassie.

Suddenly, I can’t hold back the feelings I’ve been fighting for so long.

“Stay forever,” I whisper.

Cassie lays an icy hand over the one I have on her cheek and closes her eyes. Then, with a deep sigh, she smiles.

At that moment, I know that I’ll do whatever it takes to keep her in Paradise.

Chapter 35

Cassie

Am I in somekind of cold-induced hallucination or did Bear just tell me I could stay forever? I know I didn’t imagine his hand on my cheek, wiping away my tears. I felt his warm skin on mine.

The thought of his touch sends a much-needed flush of warmth from my head to toes. I grow even warmer with the memory of him gently undressing me. There was nothing sexual about it, but his tenderness and concern for me got my blood pumping again. I’m still shivering, but the feeling in my fingertips and toes is back.

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