Stress and The City. Stephanie Rowe

pathetic like that.

      She hoped.

      Note to self: sometimes delusions weren’t a good thing. Like thinking she could fly. Imagine if she thought she could fly, and jumped off the Empire State Building. A clear example of when a delusion could be a bad thing.

      Or imagine attending a dance where your ex-fiancé would be. Imagine thinking you were prepared to face him, only to learn that no, you actually weren’t.

      A great little nugget she’d be sure to incorporate into her future de-stressing strategies.

      See? Something good could come of every situation. Was she a plucky survivor or what?

      “Are you okay?” Ty’s amused expression had morphed into one of endearingly genuine concern. Or it would have been endearing if she wasn’t feeling so ill. What was up with the chocolate? It obviously wasn’t working exceptionally well at the moment. He touched her shoulder, his hand warm and reassuring through the soft angora. “You don’t look so hot.”

      “Thanks. It’s every girl’s dream to be told she doesn’t look hot.” Deep breaths. Deep breaths.

      Ty’s cheeks turned a faint red, or at least she thought they did. It was hard to tell in the dim light with her eyes getting all foggy and the room starting to spin. “I didn’t mean it like you didn’t look good. You do look good. Pretty. Not that I noticed. I just meant you look like you don’t feel well.”

      She would have patted his arm in consolation, if she weren’t clinging to the wall for dear life. “Just a touch of indigestion. I’m fine. Really.”

      “Cassie! It is you.” An unwelcome hand latched on to her arm. “I didn’t realize you were back.”

      She saw Ty’s eyes flick over her shoulder, and she knew this was her moment. All eyes in the room would be surreptitiously aimed in their direction, hoping for a scandal, a scene…anything to gossip about.

      She could spin around, slam her knee into Drew’s crotch and then saunter off as if she were a total diva. Or she could remember that some people in the room were future clients and might not be all that impressed with a stress management consultant perpetrating violent acts on the weaker sex.

      Refusing to contemplate the irony that her emergency stash of chocolate was in Leo’s purse on the dance floor, much too far away to be of any use whatsoever, Cassie took a deep breath and lifted her chin.

      Then she plastered a brilliant smile on her face and turned to face her ex-fiancé, Drew Smothers. “Hi, Drew.”

      There he was, in his blond glory, his suit that…hmmm…didn’t seem to fit nearly as well as Ty’s did. And he was wonderfully pale, a victim of December in Gardenbloom.

      “Didn’t you take our tickets?” he asked.

      She frowned. “Yes.”

      “Bad weather?”

      Bastard. Cassie peeled off her watch and stuck out her wrist. “Any more questions?”

      “Oh. I see. Your skin never did take to the sun well, did it?”

      “Ty noticed my tan.”

      “Ty?” Drew echoed blankly.

      Sweet, wonderful Ty settled his left arm around her waist, then extended his right hand toward Drew. “Ty Parker. Nice to meet you.”

      Good God. Not only was Ty a total hottie, but he was perceptive, too. Unbelievable.

      Drew barely managed a handshake, gawking at Cassie. “He’s…he’s with you? But…I assumed you’d be alone.”

      “She’s not.” Ty wrapped his arm tighter around Cassie’s waist, his thumb rubbing almost absently against her hip. And he smelled damn good. Tantalizingly delicious. Like spicy woods. Raw and masculine, yet refined and tender. She inhaled deeply, trying desperately not to be obvious as she prepared to pass out from olfactory bliss.

      Maybe she’d add that to her list of de-stressors. Soothing scents…which would obviously differ from person to person.

      She knew what worked for her. Maybe she could bottle Ty and keep him on her dresser.

      Or by her bed.

      Or better yet, in her bed.

      “Cassie’s with me,” Ty said possessively, sending chills down her spine.

      He swung his arm around her shoulder and hauled her up against his side. The man was like a rock and she fit perfectly under his arm. The heat from his body was so intense that she felt her insides begin to bubble and simmer. “You haven’t introduced yourself, yet,” Ty added. “Always like to meet the folks from my girlfriend’s life.”

      His girlfriend?

      Drew’s face was hard, his lips a thin line. “I’m Drew.”

      “Drew who?” Ty began twirling his fingers in the soft tendrils of hair hanging beside Cassie’s neck, an intimate action that wasn’t missed by Drew. Or by her. She felt as if her knees were going to buckle. Never had Drew’s touch made her feel like all her bones had melted. Never had anyone’s touch made her feel like this. Like…like wow.

      Drew sighed impatiently. “I’m Drew.”

      Ty glanced blankly at Cassie. “Should I know who he is?”

      Hide the grin, Cassie.

      Drew’s cheeks were turning an interesting shade of purple, making his head look sort of like a gigantic red grape. “I’m Drew Smothers. The man she was supposed to marry three weeks ago.”

      Ty didn’t even react. “Oh. Well, nice to meet you.”

      Okay, there was a new definition of the word “hero” in her dictionary. It was Ty. Not only had he recognized a maiden in distress, but he’d also vaulted onto his white steed to rescue her. Not that she needed rescuing, but she certainly wasn’t going to turn down the offer.

      She definitely owed him a free de-stressing session or two.

      Or maybe she’d just sign over her entire savings to him.

      Or maybe she’d pay with her body.

      Yeah, right. As if she could even be that wanton. That wasn’t her nature, even for a modern-day knight.

      Drew lowered his voice and scowled at Cassie as if Ty, leaning over her shoulder, wouldn’t be able to hear him. “How could you go to another man already? Didn’t I mean anything to you? After four years together, you can just forget about us?”

      “Forget? About us?” She was so stunned, she couldn’t string more than two words together at a time. “How can…but you…with her…”

      “It was a mistake. A one-time thing. Prewedding jitters. I still love you. It’ll never happen again.”

      The absurdity of his claim released the dam and the words came tumbling free. “Prewedding jitters is sitting up all night unable to sleep, wondering if you’re doing the right thing. Prewedding jitters is calling up your fiancée to remind yourself of all the things you love about her. Prewedding jitters is not having sex with another woman the night before your wedding!”

      She heard Ty suck in his breath and make a sound as if he was choking.

      Okay, so he hadn’t known about the Incident. He did now.

      Drew grabbed her hand, ignoring her when she tried to peel his fingers off hers. “Cassie! I love you! I’m not going to give up fighting for you.”

      Cassie yanked her hand free, trembling with rage. “Get away from me.”

      “Not until you give me another chance.” The lascivious jerk had a glint of cockiness in his eyes as if he knew she’d fall victim to his carefully orchestrated plea, as she always had in the past whenever he’d irritated her.

      But