Page 55 of Whispers of Redemption

“What of it?” Cassie said, purposely not looking at Ani as she organized her gifts into a neat stack beside her.

“Nothing, nothing,” Ani said, crumpling all the paper into a giant ball. “It’s just that I seem to recall you saying that there’s no such thing as a nice cop.”

Cassie stood and smoothed down the edge of her shorts, then she lifted her chin. “Yeah...well, I seem to remember you saying that women have a right to change their minds.”

CHAPTER 21

Later that night, Wade tapped lightly on Cassie’s door, juggling the grocery bag he was carrying in order to smooth his damp palms on his jeans. His heart was racing. Why did the thought of spending time alone with Cassie still make him sweat? He and Cassie had been spending a lot of time together lately, but usually in a public or outdoor setting. They’d never really been alone—just the two of them. Although he was nervous about it, he couldn’t help but feel excited. The more he discovered about Cassie, the more intense his feelings for her became. But his growing desire for her made him uneasy, as well as some deeper feelings he wasn’t sure he was ready to face.

The door swung wide and he silently sucked in his breath, struck afresh at how beautiful she was. Cassie stood there barefoot. She still wore the simple white shorts and sleeveless black V-neck that she’d had on earlier. He admired the way they highlighted her trim figure and tan legs. Her thick, red-gold hair hung in loose waves over one shoulder, and he suppressed an urge to reach out and bury his fingers in the glossy strands.

She moved aside, making room for him to pass. “I made us popcorn,” she said.

He could smell it when he stepped into the apartment. “Perfect,” he said, and lifted the brown paper bag he was holding. “And I brought us one of my favorite summer mocktails.”

Her face held a bemused expression. “A mocktail, huh?

“Yup,” he said with a grin, moving toward her kitchen area. “And yes, little pup, I have something for you, too.”

“You’re totally spoiling her,” Cassie said as Angel danced in little circles beside him, licking her doggie lips in anticipation. Cassie pulled two glasses out of her cupboard.

“Nothing wrong with spoiling the special ladies in your life,” he said, presenting Angel with her treat and making an unfamiliar but not unwelcome feeling of warmth blossom deep in Cassie’s belly.

“Do you have any ice?” he asked, pulling the rest of the contents out of the bag. On the kitchen counter, he placed a sealed pitcher filled with a cream-colored liquid and a sterling silver cocktail shaker. He unscrewed the lid of the cocktail shaker and held it out for her to drop several chunks of ice into it from her ice cube tray. Then he poured the contents of the pitcher into the shaker, screwed on the lid, and shook it in true bartender style.

“Wow. You really take your mocktails seriously,” she said, leaning against the counter and watching him.

“This is my Coconut Lime Fizz,” he said, pouring the now foamy liquid into their two glasses. “It’s made with lime juice, coconut milk, non-alcoholic rum extract, and honey.”

Cassie took a sip and her eyes widened. “This is delicious!” she said.

He took a sip himself and closed his eyes. “Ahhh.”

She smiled and took another sip. “So, are you ready for Alfred?”

“Sure!”

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