Something to Talk About(23)

One thing Rip knew instinctively, he'd never be bored. Casey gave as good as she got. Her eyes sparkled and her cheeks flushed when she entered battle with him, very much like the way she looked when he kissed her. Casey had been right. He'd never dated anyone he wanted to talk to. Hell, he'd never dated anyone who had an opinion. Whatever he said, they were happy to agree. How interesting was that?

Likewise, his appetite for Barbie-girls had dwindled. Casey's subtle curves, sweetly rounded butt, and shiny cap of blond hair did more for him.

And where was she now? Her show should have ended-Rip checked his watch--five minutes ago.

Footsteps rang out on the tile floor, moving in his direction. Jumping up from his chair, he rounded the end of the row and found a man wearing a nicely tailored suit standing by Casey's desk.

"Excuse me, may I help you?" Rip asked.

"I'm looking for Casey Cramer. Do you know where I might find her?" The man had a well-educated voice and a friendly smile, the type that always made Rip's hackles rise. He sounded like what his parents had wanted him to sound like.

"Depends on who wants to know," he replied, sizing up the guy with a disdainful glance.

"Let me introduce myself," the man said, holding out his hand.

Rip hesitated, and then took it.

"I'm Dr. Ferrence Rutherford, Casey's fiancé."

Rip blinked, the only outward indication of the kick in the gut he'd just received. Yes, he'd known she was involved, but realizing they were engaged to be married was a blow.

"Rip O'Rourke." Rip managed to grind out his introduction through his teeth, quickly dropping Ferrence's hand.

"Rip O'Rourke," Ferrence repeated, grinning. "Oh yeah, Casey's nemesis. Nice to finally meet you." Ferrence sized him up in return. "You don't look much like your photograph."

"Huh?" Rip was having difficulties concentrating on the conversation. The only fact echoing around his head was that Casey was engaged. Not something she'd just made up to keep him at bay.

"The infamous Piki Tiki photos and the one of you kissing the transvestite," Ferrence reminded him, chuckling.

"So, you're Casey's fiancé. Funny, she's never mentioned you." Rip's friendly smile did nothing to take the sting out of the barb. His smile broadened as Ferrence frowned.

"We aren't ready to make a public announcement." Ferrence glanced around. "By the way, do you know where she is? I was hoping to steal her away for lunch. I really need to talk with her."



       
         
       
        

Rip's stomach roiled at the picture he conjured of a lovers' tryst over lunch. "So when's the happy occasion?"

Ferrence shifted from one foot to the other and tugged at his tie. "We haven't set a date."

"You haven't set the date?" Rip raised an eyebrow. "Do you mind if I ask how long you've been engaged?"

"Three weeks," Ferrence responded.

"You've been engaged for three weeks?" Rip repeated stupidly. Almost the same timeframe since the Dodi incident...

"Yes, but-"

"Ferrence? What are you doing here?" Casey hurried toward the men, a small frown creasing her brow. Her gaze darted to Rip then back to Ferrence.

"Do you have time for lunch? We need to talk," Ferrence said, bending toward her to kiss her cheek.

At the sight of another man's lips on Casey, Rip fisted his hands at his sides.

"Sure. I'm ready now," she said, gathering her purse from her desk.

Ferrence gave Rip a little two-fingered salute. "It was nice meeting you, Rick."

"Likewise, Ferret," Rip muttered. "See ya around." When Ferrence walked away, Rip caught Casey's arm. "As your fiancé put it, we need to talk."

"We have nothing to talk about." Shrugging out of his grasp, she slung her purse strap over her shoulder and followed Ferrence down the aisle.

Rip stood staring after her as she disappeared from sight with Mr. Perfect. Make that Dr. Perfect.

Casey has a fiancé droned inside his head. "Dammit!" Rip's hand slapped the wall beside him. "He's all wrong for her." The man hadn't even been mad about the photos.





12





Sitting across from Ferrence at a swanky Italian restaurant, Casey searched for a way to tell him the marriage was off. The waiters had cleared the plates, and an awkward silence stretched between them. Casey knew she should just get to the point. Make a clean break and confess her attraction to another man. After watching the curious male posturing earlier between Rip and Ferrence, she reasoned she'd be better off leaving names out of it. No sense rubbing salt into the wound. She was going to break his heart anyway.

She took a deep breath to ease the knot in her stomach and then began. "Ferrence, have I ever told you how dear you are to me?"

His gaze darted to her face, and he shifted in his seat. "I never thought any differently." He reached for her hand across the table and rubbed her fingers between his own, his gaze not meeting hers.

"You've always been there for me," Casey blurted. "You were my first kiss, my only lover-" 

"Casey, please," he said raising a hand to halt her flow of words. An odd, pained expression crossed his face. He took a deep breath and disengaged their hands. "Please, don't go on."

Something in his voice caused Casey to pause.

He ran a hand through his immaculately styled hair. "God, I don't know how to say this."

"Say what?" Casey asked, concerned for his uncharacteristic agitation.

"You know I love you and always will." His eyes pleaded with her for understanding.

Casey's brows knit together. "I feel a 'but' coming on."

Ferrence ducked his head, tugging at his tie, a flush spreading into his cheeks. Taking a deep breath, he met her gaze. "Actually, Casey, there is."

Her eyes widened, and she sat back in her chair. "Ferrence, are you breaking up with me?"

"Well, in my very clumsy way-yes."

Casey pressed her lips together, but couldn't contain the bubble of laughter that erupted.

His eyes rounded, and he held up his hands as if in an attempt to block whatever she might throw his way. "Oh, please don't get hysterical. This wasn't very well done of me. I never meant to hurt you."

Fascinated, Casey watched Ferrence rake a hand though his hair, again. "Ferrence, it's all-"

"Casey, I'm a bastard, I know. One minute she storms into my office-"

"She?"

"Yes, Racine."

"Your secretary?

"Yes. I know this will sound like a very bad soap opera, but I was finishing up work one afternoon and Racine storms into my office, says she's quitting-that she can't continue to work for someone as stupid as I am. Of course, I was flabbergasted. When I asked her why, she said she loved me too much to watch me make the biggest mistake of my life-"

"I take it I'm the biggest mistake of your life?" Casey asked, an eyebrow arching.

"Yes, uh...no! But then she burst into tears. One moment, I'm comforting her, then the next we're kissing, and then..."

She bit the inside her cheek to keep from laughing. "Ferrence! No! Right there in your office?"

He cringed, blushing. "On the desk."

Casey's cheeks grew red at his admission. "I thought you said she was a mouse."

"When I removed her glasses to wipe away her tears-well, she has the most amazing eyes..." He slumped in his chair. "Forgive me, Casey."

She leapt from her chair and flung her arms around him. "I love you, Ferrence Rutherford," she said, punctuating her declaration with a kiss.

"Casey," Ferrence protested, dismay in his voice. "Didn't you hear what I just said? I'm in love with another woman."

"Yes! And congratulations." Casey gave him one last hug then returned to her seat, a smile wreathing her face. She was free. Free to see where her attraction to Rip might lead.

He canted his head to stare back at her. "I take it you aren't mad at me?"

This time she laughed out loud. "No. I'm so happy. I was just getting ready to tell you I couldn't possibly marry you, either."

Relief washed over Ferrence's face. "You're sure? You're not just saying that to make me feel better about jilting you?"

Casey grinned and patted his hand. "Something's kept me from setting a date or announcing our engagement, and now I know the reason. It wasn't meant to be. I'm glad you found the right someone for you."




       
         
       
        
A smile slowly lit his face, and he relaxed against his chair. "Oh, Casey. I love you like a sister, not a lover or wife. With Racine..." He smiled, a wistful expression on his face. "Well, I know it's love. I can't explain it. I just know."

The infatuated look in Ferrence's eyes struck a chord, and Casey dropped her gaze to her water glass. She'd been at a loss to describe her feelings for Rip. Could this be why? Had she fallen for the no-necked jock?

Ferrence's smile faded. "But what about you, Casey? Why aren't you more upset? Have you found your 'someone right'?"