Page 58 of Cornered

“I see the Quinn cavalry is here.” Donovan shook his head.

She opened the door to the back entrance, and what she saw brought tears to the surface. She retreated, closed the door, and leaned against the exterior wall.

Donovan immediately stepped in front of her, shielding her from view. “What is it?”

“My family is awesome.” She sniffled and blinked and ran a finger under her eyes. “They always come to the rescue. Whether I’m in Atlanta or a traitor on Pierce land.”

A door opened, and she felt Donovan’s body shift and his low “Give us a second.”

The door closed.

“You aren’t a traitor.”

She laughed and sniffed. “It was a joke. But did you ever expect to see so many Quinns at The Haven?”

“I don’t know.” Donovan’s voice was low and soothing. “Things are changing. Cal lived here for a few months before his and Landry’s house was ready. And Meredith and Bronwyn are together a lot.”

“The Pierces don’t like it.”

“I don’t know that they have much choice.”

“Maybe.”

“What do you mean?”

“Not everyone is happy about me being here. They’ll be super thrilled”—she layered every word with sarcasm—“when they find out my parents, grandparents, cousins, a few aunts and uncles, and who knows who else decided to save the day.”

SEVEN

CASSIE’S WORDS SPUNin Donovan’s head. Her parents were in there? Great. They weren’t his biggest fans. And he didn’t blame them.

He looked down at the top of Cassie’s head. He’d pulled some idiotic stunts in his day, but telling her they could only be friends? That he thought she was awesome, but he couldn’t imagine their life together? That had, without any doubt, been his dumbest move. Ever.

It had been a lie. Hecouldimagine their life together. He could see getting down on one knee, proposing, and living in Gossamer Falls with her forever.

He would be ecstatic to wake up with her every single day for the rest of his life.

But Cassie? She would wither. And eventually, she would resent him. Cassie was a shooting star, destined for amazing things. Her genius was with the food she prepared, and she needed people who could eat her creations. More people than could be found on the streets of Gossamer Falls. And until today, Donovan hadn’t been able to imagine a scenario where she could possibly be fulfilled if she stayed here.

He’d experienced the bitterness that came when people who claimed to love you stifled your dreams. And he’d seena life cut short because the pain of trying to please others had been too much. He couldn’t do that to her. He had to let her go so she could achieve everything she wanted. She was young, beautiful, fun, and talented, and she would find someone who could live in a place like Charlotte or Atlanta, or even New York or LA.

He wasn’t that person. He’d nearly died trying to be that person, and he knew he couldn’t go back. He certainly couldn’t ask Cassie to do what he wasn’t able to.

So he’d made a decision.

He’d let her go.

He hadn’t prayed about it. Hadn’t sought any kind of counsel. Hadn’t explained himself to Cassie. And when she didn’t fight for him? When she didn’t make any effort to hang on to what they had? He’d held on to the idea that no matter how much it gutted him, it was the right decision.

But now she was here. Her body inches from his own. She’d let him hold her earlier, but she undoubtedly assumed it was a friend offering comfort and nothing more.

She couldn’t know how much he wanted to pull her into his arms, claim her lips, tell her he was sorry, and beg her to be his.

He was sorry about her kitchen. Sorry about this Amos Cartwright character who was giving her a hard time. Sorry that she’d been traumatized.

He couldn’t do it now, but they were going to talk. And when they did, he would come clean. Worst-case scenario, she’d hate him. He’d deserve it if she did. He’d nearly lost his mind when he heard about her date last week, but he knew from his sources around town that it had been a bust. So maybe it wasn’t too late.

Cassie took in a few more shuddering breaths and wiped her hands on her pants. Donovan held his position, with his hands braced on the wall above Cassie’s head while she pulledherself together. He had to focus. Her comments about the Quinns and Pierces had sent warning bells chiming in his mind. Could some of the grumpier Pierces be behind this?

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