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CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Thanks to Deck’s generous gifts and the tip on the furniture store closeout I was able to get most of what we needed for the apartment.

Moving in here turned out to be bittersweet though. Signing that lease was a big confirmation that things were looking up but I’d been picturing Tristan being with us. The first night here when it was just Brecken and me, I was really hit hard by the thought that Tristan may never see this place.

The Gentrys continued to be a godsend. I didn’t know how I’d accumulated enough good karma to be folded into their inner circle but I was thankful, especially for Brecken’s sake. Saylor was still picking him up from summer school and letting him hang out at the house all afternoon so he wouldn’t have to be alone here until I was finished with work. Of course Brecken was old enough to be on his own for hours at a time but I was glad he didn’t have to be. He’d lost a lot this year and being in the company of a loving family made up for that at least a little. Saylor would never take no for an answer when a dinner invitation was extended so I was still sitting at their table almost every evening. I was happy to accept. Not only did I genuinely like being around Cord and Saylor but usually Cassie was there too.

Cassie.

Every time she walked into a room my day got better. I thought about her all the time, wanted her all the time. When we first met I sure as hell hadn’t been looking to get involved with anyone. I’d already decided the boys were the only huge priority I could fit into my life. And I was never one to keep girlfriends anyway so I didn’t even want one. Even if I had I certainly wouldn’t have been looking to take a chance with the boss’s daughter.

But that was before I got to know Cassie Gentry.

Not that I’d done anything about it lately. I wasn’t even sure I should. She was still dealing with the aftermath of a terrifying attack. As much as I wanted her to fall into my arms, it couldn’t be because of gratitude or a need for security. I didn’t require any reward. I’d be watching out for her for matter what. And I was her friend no matter what.

When Saturday evening rolled around I was sitting at the kitchen table, flipping through books. If anyone had told me I’d be using my day off to read about American History I would have scoffed. Even though I was determined to make a dent in the material tonight I was still glad to put it down when the doorbell rang.

I was even happier when I saw who was on the other side of the door.

“You shaved,” she said with some surprise when I opened up. My hand immediately touched my smooth jaw. I hadn’t been totally clean shaven in years but this morning I was looking in the mirror and decided my scruffy look could use a little bit of revision.

“Yup. I shaved.”

Cassie bit her lip. “I didn’t mean to barge in. I guess I should have called.” She looked so fucking adorable and crazy hot at the same time with her blonde hair in a ponytail, cutoff shorts showing off her legs. I tried not to stare.

“You don’t have to call,” I assured her, stepping aside so she could enter. I could feel myself grinning like a dumb bastard, just because she was here. “My door is always open for you.”

Cassie stepped inside and held up a big paper bag. “From my mom. She couldn’t resist sending over some food even though she just saw you guys last night.”

“I appreciate it,” I said. “Brecken’s in the middle of a growth spurt and all week he’s been eating everything as fast as I buy it.” Our fingers brushed briefly when I took the bag from her.

“Have a seat,” I offered. “Since I actually own chairs and a sofa now.”

I set the bag on the counter, thinking how much I liked this, being able to invite her into my place rather than having her see me as the charity case on her living room couch.

“Where’s Brecken?” she asked, looking around.

“He ran down to the corner store for some chips and a soda.” I shrugged. “It’s a nice neighborhood so I figured there was no harm in giving him a little bit of independence.”

Cassie dropped her purse on the floor. Instead of sitting down she hovered over the books spread out on the kitchen table. “Are these yours?”

“Yep, courtesy of your Uncle Chase. I guess I’ve got to get cracking on the books if I want to pass the test and finally get my high school diploma.”

“Curtis, that’s so great!” She looked so pleased you’d have thought I’d just gotten into Harvard.

“It’s overdue,” I said. “Thanks for the push though.”

She grinned. “Anytime you want another push just let me know.”

Our eyes locked for a second. I wondered what she saw in mine, if she guessed that her last statement had produced an instant series of dirty fantasies in my head. Before I was tempted to act on a few of them right here and now I started unpacking the bag sent over by Saylor. There were cookies and a casserole dish that I stuck in the fridge. Brecken would probably be happy to gobble it up when he got home.

Out of the corner of my eye I noticed Cassie still hadn’t sat down. She wandered into the kitchen, running her hand over the countertop. Something was troubling her.

“You okay?” I asked, leaning against the counter beside her.

She stopped running her fingertips over the countertop and faced me. “I told them, Curtis.”

“Who?”

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