Page 26 of The Spy Who Ghosted Me

Oh. That made it much better. And I was a fun girl. Just last week I went to a paint night at my local library to support one of our clients. If that didn’t scream fun, I don’t know what did.

“Maybe we have different ideas about what fun is.”

“We totally do,” Lexi said, ever so seriously.

“Well, don’t expect me to do this ever again.”

“I’m only doing this to help you. It’s obvious that you’re really into him, but you refuse to admit it.”

I wished she were wrong. The thing is, I couldn’t admit it because it didn’t matter. Cash was categorically not husband material. And I wanted a husband—like a fully human one I could take pictures of. “Maybe next time you assume I like a guy, you can think of something else for me to do to get his attention.”

Lexi giggled. “Maybe next time you can sing ‘Twist and Shout’ in a parade.”

“You need to quit watching Mama’s old movies.” Although re-creating the scene from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off would have been an easier task than the one I was facing.

“If you play your cards right tonight, maybe Cash can be your Jake Ryan.”

I rolled my eyes. “You’re a nut.” And little did she know Cash had already played that part. He’d excelled at it, but sadly, he didn’t want that role.

Lexi laughed and ran to be with her friends.

Mia’s brows raised. “What was that?”

“I’m guessing the alcohol.”

Mia pointed to her nose. “Good guess.”

The eleven of us stopped at the decorative sign that said Rocky Top Cabin. Unfortunately, Cash’s car was parked next to the cabin, indicating that he was probably there, although there didn’t seem to be any lights on.

“I think he’s sleeping,” I said, hoping they would have mercy on me, all while thinking it was weird that Cash would be asleep by nine. But I hadn’t seen him at the lodge, and it wasn’t like there was a hopping nightlife around here.

No such luck.

“He’s going to get quite the wake-up call.” Jade wagged her brows.

It probably wasn’t every day a woman knocked on his door, asking to borrow his underwear. Or maybe it was. Look at the man. I wished I didn’t have to—he caused the most conflicting emotions.

“Go big sister!” Lexi shouted. “Woo-hoo!” She was definitely tipsy.

It would mortify Mama if she knew what we were doing. It mortified me, but I took a second to watch Lexi and I remembered the baby girl Daddy had put into my arms at the hospital. I’d kissed her cheeks and promised to love and protect her for all my life. Then she spit on me. I had a feeling that was basically a preview of our future, but I had to do something.

Mia squeezed my hand. “Good luck.”

“Yeah,” my voice trembled. I tiptoed up the stone path to the sound of tittering. I just needed to get this over with. It wasn’t like I didn’t know him, and he would probably get a good laugh out of it. With those thoughts, I ran up the steps to the small porch and knocked on the door. Nothing. Oh, this was good. So good. I knocked again and—praise—it was dead silent. I turned, feeling so relieved. “He’s not here.” Or he slept like the dead. Either way, I was grateful.

My tiny moment of solace burst when my dear sister ran up, jangling keys in my face. “I swiped the master key for his cabin.”

“Lexi, you’re not supposed to do that.”

“Oh, please. Cash won’t care. Go in there and wake that sexy hunk of a man up.”

“He’s probably not even in there.”

“Where else would he be?”

I shrugged, desperately trying to think of something. “Horseback riding.”

Lexi rolled her eyes. “The stables have been closed since dusk.”

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