Magnificent Folly - Iris Johansen [8]
Andrew felt a familiar stirring in his groin and tried to stop it. Not now. He mustn’t let sex interfere with what he had to do. His lips twisted. Easy to say when Lily was out of sight, but it hadn’t been so simple when he had been standing in front of her and imagining what it would be like to have her beneath him in the sand. To watch her face as he moved between her thighs, to have those long legs clasp him lovingly, desperately, in a fever of—
“Andrew.”
Andrew glanced at Gunner and then grimaced as he saw his friend’s amused smile. “Dammit, stop grinning like a gargoyle.”
“Then stop being so blasted transparent.” Gunner chuckled. “You’re so hot for her, it’s obvious you have no guard at all.” His gaze shifted pointedly to the lower part of Andrew’s body. “Very obvious.”
“Maybe I shouldn’t have brought you with me. I’m not that transparent to everyone.”
“A blind man could read you, at the moment.” Gunner sobered. “If you hadn’t asked me to come, Jon still would have sent me. This isn’t your personal business only, Andrew. Cassie belongs to the Clanad, and the Clanad protects its own.”
“I can protect Cassie.”
“Maybe. But it’s not your job. I’m the troubleshooter. Your value extends in other directions.”
“You can’t believe the possibility of danger is very strong if you brought Quenby along.”
“Quenby can be stubborn. She cares about you.” Gunner added, “And, since she’s very good with children, I thought it might be just as well to have her nearby if we have to take Cassie away from Lily for a while.”
“We can’t do that.”
“We will, if it means keeping Cassie safe.” Gunner’s tone was implacable. “And you know damn well that you’ll sanction it if it comes down to the wire.”
“Maybe it won’t,” Andrew said as he started up the cliff path. “If I have enough time.”
Gunner didn’t answer as he followed Andrew up the trail. He didn’t have to state what they both knew as fact.
Time was running out.
“Cassie, I’m not going to discuss it. Mr. Ramsey’s not going to be invited here and, if he comes to the beach again, you’re not to speak to him.” Lily tried to keep her voice from trembling. Lord, this was hard. Why wouldn’t Cassie give up? Ever since Lily had walked through the door, Cassie had been like a terrier clinging to a slipper, on the subject of Andrew. Now, after a long argument with many tears, Cassie’s disappointment had turned to anger. “You don’t even know this man. There’s no reason for this temper tantrum.”
“Why?” Cassie asked. “It’s stupid of you not to tell me why. You’ve never shut me out like this before. You’ve always explained.”
“You’ll just have to accept that I’m doing what’s best.”
Cassie shook her head so hard, her brown braid bounced. “You’re not doing what’s best. Andrew won’t hurt me. Andrew won’t hurt either of us. Why can’t you see it?”
“Cassie, that’s enough. Now, go take your shower while I fix supper.”
Cassie glared at her across the room.
“Cassie!”
Cassie whirled on her heel and strode toward her bedroom. “I don’t want any supper.”
Lily couldn’t stand it. “Wait.” She swallowed to ease the tightness in her throat. “I realize this is difficult for you to understand, but you know I’d never do anything to hurt you. Andrew is a stranger. He can’t be all that important to you.” She forced herself to smile. “Suppose I let you stay up an extra hour tonight to work on your concerto.”
Cassie glanced over her shoulder, her hazel eyes glistening with tears. “I don’t want to work tonight. There’s no music.” She entered her bedroom and shut the door behind her.
But she had been hearing the music earlier, while she had been sitting in the surf, Lily thought. Before Andrew Ramsey strode down from his damn eagle’s perch, she and Cassie had been serene and happy. Now there was nothing but anger and turbulence. Why the hell hadn’t he stayed away from them? The last thing Lily needed in her life was a kid who had suddenly decided he