Chapter 20: Jealousy

Cassandra dragged herself out of bed after a restless night's sleep, getting Akia and herself ready for breakfast. She was so close to succumbing to Edward the night before. His words were dangerous; she could easily become engrossed in them. But he was a jerk, and she didn't want to be just another notch in his headboard.

"Did you get enough sleep?" Edward inquired as he sat across from her at the table, his mind urging her to look up at him.

"Fine, thank you," Cassandra replied, avoiding his eyes, those eyes in which she could easily become lost.

Akia was hyperactive and kept asking when they were going riding. "All right, daddy, let's go."

"Ok sweetheart, I just need to finish my coffee first," Edward said as he looked at Cassandra.

Akia then shifted her gaze from Cassandra to Edward. "You need to train mommy to ride, daddy," Akia said as Cassandra's mouth opened. "No, that's fine."

Edward gave Cassie a friendly smile. "Oh, I'll give mommy some private tutoring later," he said, grinning at her. Cassandra then looked away.

"Please, daddy, can we leave now?" Akia pleaded.

As he stood up and put on his hat, he noticed Cassandra staring at him. "All right, sweetheart, let's go."

Cassandra stood worriedly squeezing her hands together, watching them from the window. Akia was small for her age and had never tried to ride a horse before, so she couldn't help but be extremely worried. She was overprotective because she had been a single mother for so long.

Mrs. Consuelo noticed her distress and went to sit beside her.

"Don't worry, honey; Edward is an excellent rider who will look after Akia; now, would you please play something for me on the violin?"

She smiled as she looked into the old woman's eyes; she admired Mrs. Consuelo. So she took her arm and went into the other room to play.

Mrs. Consuelo stood up and cheered after she finished a couple of songs, and a smile spread across her face. "That was so lovely, Cassandra; we haven't had music in this house in a long time."

Cassandra replied, "Thank you, Mrs. Consuelo."

"How did you learn to play like that?"

"My mother was a music teacher, and she practiced me to play the violin, which I have always loved."

Maria just walked in. "It's time for you to take a nap, Mrs. Consuelo."

Cassandra received a smile from the older woman. "I must rest now, my dear; please do as you please."

She then went for a walk outside and ended up near the barn. She went inside, grabbed some veggies, and began feeding the only horse left in the barn.

She turned around when she heard someone enter and saw someone walking towards her.

"I'm sorry if I scared you, Miss Cassandra; I'm just here to get this horse out," he said, smiling.

"You didn't startle me, and please remove the Miss."

"So you're Consuelo's guest?" he inquired.

Cassandra had no idea what she was. "Well, sort of. I'm just here to look around because my daughter will be spending a lot of time here." She had no idea why she was telling this to a total stranger.

"Walk with me Cassandra, tell me everything," he said as he started opening the stall door right alongside and led the horse out.

She walked beside Greg, who she found to be friendly and easy to talk to. "Edward is my daughter's father."

Greg then came to a halt, letting the horse behind the fence. "I had no idea he was involved with anyone, let alone had a child."

"Oh, we're not committed; it happened a long time ago; we're not together," Greg explained. "That's good to know; now I must return to work, so maybe I'll see you later."

Cassandra then returned to the house, arriving just as Edward and Akia did. Cassandra gave her a big hug and kiss after she got off the horse. "You're back, did you have a good time?" she inquired.

"Oh yes, mommy, daddy managed to show me all around, and now it's your turn, daddy says he'll take you," Akia exclaimed happily.

"No, I'll pass," Cassandra said, casting a chilly look at Edward.

"You've got to go, mommy. Daddy said you'd be too scared to ride a horse, but I said you wouldn't be."

Cassandra locked her gaze on Edward, wishing she could wipe the smug grin from his handsomely chiseled face. "I'm not afraid of you, but you only have one horse."

"Don't need another one," he said as he picked her up and sat her atop the horse. "Go inside, Akia, and inform Grandma that we've left along with her "He then leaped behind Cassandra, wrapping his arms around her and grabbing the reins.

She could feel his body heat burning against her back. She shivered with his arms around her, the smell of his musky scent, and the feel of his breath on her neck. Not from being cold, but rather from the opposite. The heat within her was rising, and a tingling sensation ran down her body to her core.

She swallowed hard, trying to ignore the sensation she was having. But he wasn't making things easy for her, leaning in closer and whispering in her ear as he pointed out various things along the way.

Despite her initial reservations, she was enjoying the ride. And I was disappointed when it was over. He helped her down, and she moved away when his hands refused to let her go.

Akia greeted them and jumped into Cassandra's arms. "Did you feel scared, Mommy?"

"Not at all, baby," Cassandra replied, kissing her.

"I told you, daddy," she exclaimed. Edward then approached them and kissed Akia on the cheek. When he kissed Cassandra, his face was dangerously close to hers, and his eyes met hers.

"Akia, let's go wash up for dinner," Cassandra suggested, desperate to get away from Edward.

After they ate, Edward asked Cassandra what

she did when he and Akia went riding. When she was done telling him about her encounter with Greg she noticed that Brad was angry. "Is something wrong?" she asked him.

His eyes narrowed, and he stared angrily at her. "Stay away from him."

She glared back at him, "Excuse me." Sensing an argument brewing Mrs. Consuelo asked Akia to go with her and Maria upstairs.

Once they were gone Cassandra stood up and threw her napkin down. "You can't tell me who I can, or can't talk to," she exclaimed.

Edward rose to his feet. "You must do what I tell you because you are the mother of my daughter," Edward said.

She yelled at Edward, "Go to hell!"

He grabbed her arm and swung her around as she turned to leave. "Ignore him; he is not right for you."

"I'll be the one who can say who's good for me, so get your damn hands off me," she yelled harshly as she walked away.

Edward slammed his palm against the table. She drove him insane with her persistent snobby attitude and back-talking; she never listens to him.

He would try again later to convince her.

Cassandra was still enraged after bathing Akia, tucking her into bed, and reading her a bedtime story. Edward appeared to kiss her goodnight. She was quick as soon as her eyes closed.

asleep.

"Let's talk, Cassandra," Edward said.

"What do you want now?" she demanded.

"Please, Cassandra, stay away from Greg," Edward pleaded.

"Why?" she inquired. She was watching his face for a clue as to why he was so opposed to her talking to Greg.

"Because he isn't a nice man, he might end up hurting you," Edward explained as he approached her.

She laughed at him. "He can't be all that bad if he works for you."

"I have my reasons for having him here, and I'm warning you to stay away from him before it's too late for him. I'm trying to be nice, Cassandra," Edward warned her.