Page 85 of Enemies in Paradise

There was emotion in my name.

I step back and give her the space she seems to need. I’ve made the mistake too many times of telling her what to door offering to help when she doesn’t want it. As much as I want her to stay for breakfast, it has to be her choice. Cassie calling me Bear is a win, and I have to hope we’ll continue to make progress. I can move at her pace—that’s why I proposed being friends—as long as we’ve got some forward momentum.

But really, I just want to feed her and see her in my jersey again.

I meet her stone face with a smile. “You’re right. I need to work on my presentation.”

“Thanks for everything. Willy and I will get out of your way now.” Cassie’s words are gentler, which I take as a good sign I made the right move.

Until I realize she’s talking about leaving.

“What do you mean? Where are you going?” I catch myself before my voice rises any further. “There’s still no water at the studio. I need at least a couple of days to re-pipe. Probably longer. I can’t do anything until Grandpa okays it.”

As much as I want to tell her she can’t stay at the studio with no running water, I stay chill.

“I’ll be fine. I can find somewhere else to stay.” Cassie tugs at her ponytail and tosses it over her shoulder.

She does that with her hair a lot, especially when she’s nervous. It’s her only tell that gives away what she’s really feeling. Her eyes are a sea of calm.

“Why? You can stay here.” As soon as I say the words, I know I’ve made a mistake.

Or maybe the mistake was leaning close to her, as if I was giving an order. Maybe it was both things together that was the mistake. Either way, her whole body goes stiff with resistance.

“Not with my cat. I don’t want to inconvenience you any more than I already have.”

“You haven’t.” I’m losing the little ground I’d gained, and I can’t stop myself from fighting to get it back.

Of course, that only makes Cassie dig in her heels further. “If you’ll take me home, I can grab my car and come back for Willy and my stuff.”

“Fine.” I have to give ground to gain any back. “Just make sure you have somewhere to stay first. If you can find anywhere. I doubt you’ll find anyone who will let you stay with your cat.”

I’ve made the same mistake again. I’ve told Cassie what to do. Her whole body has gone rigid because I’ve tried to help her when she doesn’t want it or think she needs it. If I tried to toss her over my shoulder now, there’s no way I’d be able to.

“Then you’ll need to fix the pipes you broke, so that I can stay where I was,” she says with a smile, but not in a friendly way.

I take a deep breath to keep from losing my cool. “I didn’t break the pipes. They broke on their own.” I talk slowly and carefully, but when she raises an eyebrow, I can’t stop my retort. “They’rehistoric, remember?”

I shouldn’t have said that, but she’s being unreasonable. Cassie would rather live without indoor plumbing than have someone help her. That makes no sense.

Which is why Cassie is the most infuriating woman in the world.

She’s impossible to get along with. All she wants to do is fight. I was stupid to believe we could ever be anything but rivals. I was even stupider to believe she might feel anything like what I feel for her. Like I might explode with wanting to be close to her. Wanting to get to know her. Wanting to take care of her.

Cassie doesn’t want any of those things.

And now her eyes are sharp slits. If she could shoot fire from them, I’d be ash.

The longer Cassie says nothing, the harder it is for me to hold still, until finally I crack.

“Get your stuff. I’ll drive you,” I say as gently as possible, realizing too late I’ve given her another order. “Please,” I quickly add.

It doesn’t make a difference. I’ve only made things worse.

“I don’t need a ride. I can call Georgia.” She turns to walk up the stairs.

“The show is shooting in Florence today and tomorrow. Remember?” I try not to smirk, but in a glance back, Cassie catches me.

I should apologize.

---