Page 17 of It Just Feels Right

I open the front door and wave my arm for her to go in. She steps in and looks around in awe. “Baker, this is gorgeous.”

I try to see it through her eyes. I’ve always liked the open concept. The kitchen is like a chef’s dream. There’s a large couch in the living room in front of the fireplace and a big screen television in the corner. Everything is tucked away and clean looking. “Baker! This is amazing. Did you decorate all this or did you have help?”

I put my hands in my front pockets. It’s been five years since my mom passed, but I still think about her every day. “This is one of the last projects my mom and I did together before she passed.”

The smile on her face drops, and she comes to me, wrapping her arms around her middle. “I’m so sorry.”

I thread my hand through her hair and hold her head against my chest. “Thank you, Cass.”

She pulls back, and I reluctantly let her go. She goes to sit on the couch. “Tell me about her. The fewthings your dad has said about her makes me think she was pretty amazing.”

I blow out a breath. “Yeah, she was. Uh, do you care if I shower my workday off first?”

She leans back on the couch. “Absolutely. Go take your time. I promise not to snoop while you’re in there.”

I start to leave the room and stop. “You can snoop all you want. I have nothing to hide.”

I leave her with that and then go to the bedroom. I shower quickly, not because I’m worried about her finding anything but because I want to be able to spend as much time as possible with her.

I walk back into the living room in jeans and a T-shirt. I sit next to her on the couch and face her. “So… my mom.”

She shakes her head, frowning. “You don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want to, Baker, I just thought—”

I reach over and grab her hand. “She was a wonderful mom. She loved me more than anything, and she was always there for me. She was funny, a little nerdy, but man she was fierce.” I pause. “You remind me of her a little bit.”

She points at herself. “Me? I’m not fierce.”

I roll my eyes. “You tried to break up a fight between two grown men.”

She groans. “Ugh, I’m never going to hear the end of that, am I?”

I cover our hands with my free one. “I’m just saying… you’re pretty badass, Cass.”

CHAPTER 9

CASSIE

“You really think I’m fierce?”

He’s holding my hand and letting his fingers caress my wrist. “Yes. I do. I also think that you have my dad wrapped around your finger.”

I smile as I think about his dad. He has been one of the highlights in my life since I’ve moved back to Whiskey Run. “I love your dad.”

He nods in approval. “He’s the best.”

I frown as I think about something that has been worrying me. I’m probably betraying my mom by saying this, but I don’t hold back. “I don’t want him to get hurt.”

Baker tilts his head to the side. “How do you mean?”

I avoid his eyes because I feel guilty. If my mom hurts his dad, he’s going to blame me somehow. “I don’t know what you know about my mom, but this is her fifth marriage.” I blow out a breath and don’t know how to explain it. “I’m not saying that my mom doesn’t love your dad, but…”

He just watches me, no pressure to continue, just lets me form my thoughts. “From my experience, if my mom loves someone, it’s not always a good thing. She loves on her own terms.”

He clears his throat, and it’s obvious he doesn’t want to offend me. “I can see that about her.” He’s tracing my fingers, and goosebumps form on my arms. “What about you, Cass? How does she love you?”

I laugh. “Yeah, well, I think you witnessed that when you walked into the kitchen. She doesn’t like it if she doesn’t get her way.”

He scoots closer to me. “Is that what that was? She was unhappy that you told Roger you didn’t want to date him?”

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