Page 80 of Enemies in Paradise

I stop and look down at Georgia. “Does Cassie believe that?”

“No, I’m just asking.” She puts up her hands, as though she’s the one who should feel defensive.

“Wow. Thanks for the confidence. Tell me what kind of guy you really think I am.” I yank open the cabinet and take out a stack of towels.

“You can’t blame me for asking, Bear. Not after the mice and the squirrels.” Georgia’s voice is gentler as she holds out her arms for the towels and as an apology.

I stare at her for a few seconds before setting all the towels in her outstretched arms. They rise past the top of her head.

“I didn’t mean all of them,” she says from behind the towels.

“The squirrels weren’t my fault. Cassie’s mangy cat is to blame for that. I was just trying to help Lynette.” I step around Georgia, taking none of the towels from her. “Are you coming?”

She follows me back to the studio, only losing two towels along the way. “Speaking of the cat, you’ll have to take him to Cassie tomorrow. We’re shooting in Florence for a couple of days. Zach will be here, but he can’t take care of the cat. He swears he’s as allergic as you, and he’s been sneezing up a storm, so it’s hard to doubt it.”

I sigh. I’m sure my brother’s exaggerating, but I also don’t want Cassie to leave. “Fine. He can stay in the garage. Cassie has to stay at my place until I can re-pipe here. If I can convince Grandpa to pay for it.”

Georgia drops the towels on the table, then smiles softly at me. “Thank you…now, I’ll follow behind with towels. You vacuum up the water and think about how to convince Cassie to fall for you as hard as you’ve fallen for her.”

I roll my eyes, but there’s no use pretending I don’t know what Georgia is talking about. She’s known me my entire life and can read me faster than my brother Adam can read one of the romance books he likes so much.

“I don’t know if that’s possible.” I cross the room to plug in the vacuum where the floor is drier. “She thinks I kissed her to convince her not to buy the shop—which makes no sense—but when—”

“—Wait! Hold up!” Georgia puts up both hands and blinks fast. “You kissed her?”

“We kissed each other.” I flip on the vacuum. The motor roars to life, drowning out whatever Georgia may want to say next.

Doesn’t matter. Her mouth stretches into her famous smile and speaks volumes. I turn my back to her. That doesn’t do any good either, because I can still hear that smile when she yells, “And?”

“And what?” I yell back.

Suddenly the vacuum quits. I turn around to find Georgia holding the unplugged cord in her hand.

“You know what! How was it?” Her question tumbles out at the same time my cousin, Seb, opens the door.

“How was what?” he asks, and now I know I’m in real trouble.

“What are you doing here?” I ask at the same time Georgia says, “Bear kissed Cassie.”

“Georgia told me to come help.” Seb scans the entire room, taking in the mess, until his eyes land on me and his lip tugs into a grin. “Bro, you kissed her?”

“He did.” Georgia practically sings the words.

“Dude… how was it?” Seb’s smile matches Georgia’s, and I’m no match for either.

“Amazing.” I can’t hold back my own smile.

“When did this happen? So are you two a thing, or what? Are you still trying to get the shop torn down?”

Georgia and Seb bombard me with questions, but the only one I answer is the last one. “Of course, I still want the shop torn down. I still want a rink for the kids.”

They both go silent, then look at each other. Georgia is the first to roll her eyes, but Seb isn’t far behind.

“So you like this girl—”

“—Woman,” I correct Seb.

“Woman…but you don’t want her to stay in Paradise?” Seb finishes.

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