Page 57 of Dust Storm

I leaned back on the swing seat and took another sip. “Do you have somewhere else to be?”

“Time is money.”

“You’re being paid well. I authorize the checks myself.”

Her gaze darted away like she was avoiding the topic.

“Why’d you take this job?” I pressed.

“Becks—”

“I know Becks made the connection. But why did you say yes?”

Cassandra swallowed. “I either had to take my lumps and go on the assignment no one wanted, or be out of a job.”

“What are you talking about?”

Her beer nearly slipped from her fingers. I caught the bottle before it shattered on the porch and set it by my foot. “Hey?—”

But Cassandra just waved me off as she blinked away the glossy coating that blurred her pretty eyes. “I’ll circle back when I have a more concrete plan that aligns with your goals.”

“Will you cut the corporate shit and just sit with me for two goddamn minutes?”

She looked stunned that I had snapped at her.

Frankly, so was I.

Not much fazed me. But she did.

I dropped the folder on the ground and patted the spot she had vacated. Cassandra’s jaw flexed as she gritted her teeth, debating whether or not she would be compliant.

I waited her out and kept slowly rocking on the swing.

Finally, Cassandra plopped back down onto the swing. “Look, I’ve signed NDAs out the ass. So if I tell you this, you have to swear to me that you’ll never say a word about it. Not to your brothers. Definitely not to your kids. Not even to the fucking cows.”

I lifted my eyebrows, but didn’t say anything.

Cassandra amused me. Her spunk was entertaining.

“Well?” she pressed.

“You told me not to say anything.”

Cassandra huffed and rolled her eyes.

I took a swig of my beer and snickered. “I promise.”

She took a deep breath. “Do you know who Lillian Monroe is?”

“Sounds vaguely familiar.”

“She’s an actress.”

“Can’t remember the last time I watched a movie.”

Cassandra smirked as she leaned down and snagged her beer. “You’re not missing much.”

I reclined on the swing, kicking my feet out and resting my arm across the back of it. Her hair danced across my arm like a whisper. “Tell me.”

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