Read Online Bayview Heights Trilogy by Kathryn Shay - Free Book Online Page B

promise.”
    “Okay. Go get some sleep.”
    He looked at her, cursing the fact that he
needed her—wanted her—to help him.
    And thanking God that she, at least, was
there for him.
    o0o
    CASSIE LAY BACK against the cast iron of the
old claw-footed tub and submerged her head under the water.
Soothing heat took away the January chill. Surfacing, she slicked
back her hair and closed her eyes.
What a night
. First,
all that stuff with Lansing. Then Johnny.
    Shivering at the thought that the Blisters
had come to Pepper’s, she reached for the hot water faucet in an
attempt to escape the icy fear that gripped her at the thought of
the gang on Johnny’s turf.
    Needing diversion, she tried to clear her
mind and think about school. It didn’t work. Instead, she saw Mitch
Lansing’s green eyes, full of wary need as he confided in her at
Zoe’s party. She felt again the rough touch of his hand when he
tucked her hair behind her ear, the weight of his jacket on her
shoulders, the smell of him enveloping her.
    “Damn,” she muttered, and dunked her head
back under. It didn’t stop the images. She still felt that helpless
reaction of her body to his maleness.
    Maybe it was a good thing he’d pulled his Dr.
Jekyll and Mr. Hyde routine when the call came from the station. He
had an effect on her that she hadn’t expected and therefore hadn’t
resisted strongly enough. It wasn’t all physical, either, though
that was a good part of it.
    The ringing phone interrupted her reflection.
She wouldn’t answer it. She didn’t want to talk to anyone. The
machine could pick it up. Despite her lecture to herself, she
climbed out of the tub, grabbed a thick towel from the rack and a
terry robe from the hook on the back of the door and padded to her
bedroom without drying off. She wrapped her hair in the towel on
the way and hastily donned the robe, then she picked up the
receiver.
    “Cassie? This is Seth.”
    He’d heard already. “Hi. Who called you?”
    “Hal Stonehouse. He didn’t have all the
details, though. What happened?”
    Closing her eyes, she repeated the story to
her principal.
    “Hal said they weren’t arrested.”
    “That’s right. The fight was provoked by the
townies that they beat at pool. Apparently, the cops hauled in the
kids because they were underage and because he suspected some drug
abuse.”
    “Were they using?”
    “Johnny wasn’t. I didn’t get to see DeFazio.
Why don’t you call Lansing, since you were so hot on having him
work in our building.” She regretted her words almost immediately.
“I’m sorry, Seth. I didn’t mean to attack you. This thing with
Lansing has been tough.”
    “I know, Cass. I wish I could make it
better.”
    She chuckled. “You used to say that to me
when I was in your class.”
    He laughed.
    “You do, you know.”
    “I do what?”
    “Make it better.”
    “Yeah, well, only you can cooperate with
Captain Lansing to make it really better.”
    “Oh, Seth. I don’t know. After tonight.”
Especially after tonight
.
    “Try.” He hesitated, and she knew what was
coming. He rarely asked for anything. “I want you to try, as a
favor to me.”
    “You’re so transparent sometimes,” she said
with long-standing affection. The doorbell rang. “Listen, someone’s
at the door. I’ve got to answer it.”
    “Cassie?”
    “All right. I’ll try harder with
Lansing.”
    “Thanks. And check to see who’s at the door
before you open it.”
    “Yes, Mr. T. I’ll see you Monday.”
    As she headed downstairs, Cassie thought it
was probably Zoe spontaneously visiting her. She did that once in a
while, and Cassie was grateful for the company.
    But through the peephole she saw massive
shoulders encased in dark wool. And the unmistakable frame of Mitch
Lansing.
    Opening the door, she shivered with the blast
of frigid air.
    Her physical discomfort diluted her surprise.
“What do you want?”
    He scanned her from head to toe, his eyes
turning as dark as the forest at