Page 111 of Enemies in Paradise

I cross the room, raking my hand through my hair before taking the mug. “How are you feeling? Have you been awake for a while? Should you be up?”

“Physically, I feel pretty good. Mentally, I can’t quit thinking about what would have happened if you hadn’t shown up when you did.” Cassie is still wearing my jersey, plus a pair of my wool socks, while her trembling hands cup her coffee mug.

I take her mug from her, hold out a hand. “Get back in bed. You look cold.”

She’s the only one. Between the fire roaring in the wood-burning stove and the heat cranked up, I’m still sweating up a storm.

Cassie tips her head, studying me. “That offer is too tempting for so many reasons, not the least of which is that your bed is very comfortable.”

A pounding starts in my chest. She looks ready to bolt, same as she did after I kissed her. I don’t want to scare her away, butI also don’t want her to leave. Not now that I know what it is to have her in my arms.

“At least sit on the couch.”

Cassie lets me lead her there and tuck a blanket around her. Once she’s comfortable, I hand her mug to her.

“And your other reasons for not getting back in my bed?” I take a sip of my coffee to hide how nervous I am before taking the spot next to her.

Cassie blinks, then meets my eye, looking thoughtful but also as scared as I feel. Shimmying one arm from under the blanket, she lifts her index finger. “Grace.” Holding up a second finger, she says, “If I get back in that bed, I’ll kiss you, and I won’t be able to stop.” A third finger joins the other two. “I have to go back to LA.”

The last reason knocks the air out of me, and I take a deep breath to keep from telling her she can’t leave me. That’s what my heart wants to yell, but my head knows telling Cassie what to do never works.

So, I start with another of her reasons. “We’re coming back to your number two.” I lift my eyebrow, and Cassie pulls back a grin. Then I raise my index finger. “Number one, what does Grace have to do with anything?”

Cassie blinks hard, as if she’s holding back tears. “She’s obviously in love with you, and she’s the girl your mom wants you to be with. She’s a good fit for you.”

“I wouldn’t have stayed in this bed with you if I had any interest in Grace.” I look her hard in the face, hoping she feels how much I don’t want to be with Grace.

Cassie’s shoulders relax, and I move closer.

“But she’s in love with you,” she repeats, still keeping a safe distance between us.

“She’s in love with the idea of us, but we’re not a good match, no matter what you think.” I lift an eyebrow, and Cassie gives me a begrudging grin.

“This might sound cocky.” I sigh and run the tips of my fingers over hers. “Grace would never be her own person if we got married. She’d be who she thought I wanted her to be. That’s not fair to either of us.”

“Does she know that?” Cassie turns her palm and slowly laces her fingers through mine.

“You, more than anyone, should know I’m not great with words. How am I supposed to tell Grace she likes me too much for her own good?”

Cassie lets out a breathy laugh and sends me a slow smile. With my free hand, I cup her cheek to face her toward me.

“There’s only one woman I’m interested in falling in love with,” I say slowly, unable to hold back my emotions. “There’s only one woman I’ve even thought of since the second I spilled coffee all over her. Only one woman I can’t stop thinking about kissing again. There’s only been one woman since the first moment I laid eyes on her… and that’s you, Cassie. You have to know that.”

When Cassie lets go of my hand, she traces her fingertips along my cheek, and all my regrets about shaving my beard disappear. “I mean, I knew you enjoyed looking at me. I’m not blind. But I really thought you hated me.”

Now it’s my turn to laugh. “Ineverhated you. I hated the idea of losing the pond. But the only thing I hate now is the thought of you leaving.”

I press my lips to the warm flesh of her palm.

“Bear,” Cassie draws her hand back and leans away from me. “The pond is yours. Lynette is deeding it to you. I’ve already talked to her and Zach about it. I’m going back to LA.”

I try to hide my smile as I pull her—still wrapped in a blanket—into my lap. “No, it’s not, and I don’t want the pond.”

“What do you mean, you don’t want it? What have we been fighting about if you don’t want it?” Her eyes flash with the angry green I’m so familiar with.

“I thought I did. Then, I don’t know… I wanted you more. Which, I guess Zach knew because he’s already talked Lynette out of whatever you’d talked her into.” Now I do smile, because for once, she has to back down. “Even if he hadn’t, I talked to Grandpa this morning. Historic status application is probably signed and in Mayor Voglmeyer’s hands by now.”

“You did what?” Cassie tries to push me away with both hands on my chest, but I don’t let her. I’m not letting her push me away ever again, no matter how angry she gets.

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