Page 13 of Chasing Sunrise

She started across the floor, Kasey in step beside her. “Quinn’s not going to be happy Sadie brought cupcakes and will be even more upset when we sing. She doesn’t like attention on her.”

“Uh oh, you think she disliked the flowers?”

“She loved them. Women love flowers.”

“My mom taught me well.”

“A shame she didn’t teach your brother.”

“She taught him right from wrong. He chooses to ignore it.”

“Happy Birthday...” Sadie started singing. Everyone in the bar sang along.

Quinn’s face turned red, and her hands fisted by her sides. She glared at Dre who gave a shake of his head. The motion clearly said,don’t blame me. Quinn picked up the cupcake with the candle and blew it out.

Everyone cheered. The lights dimmed, and the music started. Amanda grabbed two cupcakes and handed one to Kasey.

“Thank you.” He peeled the paper back. “Thought I’d have a liquid diet tonight, so this is a treat.”

She couldn’t blame him for wanting to drown his sorrows, yet wished he didn’t feel the need to. She took a bite of her cupcake.

“What’s the other flavor besides coconut?” he asked.

She swallowed the tasty bite. “Pistachio, I think.”

“It’s delicious.” He finished off the cupcake.

Seeing Harper and Kasey’s brothers approaching again, Amanda quickly reached out to squeeze his arm, unsure if she was trying to give him sympathy or courage. She just knew she needed to touch him. “Here she comes.”

He breathed a deep sigh that she somehow felt.

Once Harper and his brothers stepped close, he said, “You want to go outside, Harper?”

She led the way.

Amanda watched them go. Even though this was only the second time she’d met Kasey, she wished for a way to protect him from Harper and the havoc she’d wreaked in his life.

~

The humid-spring airfelt cool and refreshing. Kasey always enjoyed being outside. He followed Harper as she walked to the side of the building. He looked around to see if anyone was close, not wishing to be overheard. Of course, that didn’t mean anything. The last time he’d been with her and wanted privacy, he hadn’t seen the cameras or detected the wire she’d been wearing.

They stopped at the corner. TheTiny’ssign drenched everything with a sickening red glow every few seconds.

“Why did you leave?” she demanded. “We were ready for taping this morning, but you never showed.”

“After what happened yesterday, is it so hard to imagine I needed to get away?”

“You signed an agreement, Kasey. You can’t break our contract.”

He closed his eyes and inhaled. “That was before you blindsided me.”

“I told you I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“How can you say that? You found out I planned to propose. Hamlin told me he let it slip. So, you thought when I did, it would be a great time to break up with me. You called Star Breeze so they could document everything.”

She let out a frustrated grunt. “I did it forHunter Kase. Once the news airs tomorrow, our ratings will be through the roof when the new season releases.”

They’d already taped the season that would start airing next week. Now they were filming next year’s episodes.

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