Page 26 of Rumor Has It

Monty’s advice trickles into my ear as I let go of Cassidy. Am I drowning in Kylie’s baggage and, if I am, am I using Cassidy as my lifeline?

One thing is for certain, fucking up whatever this is isn’t an option.

Cassidy is a genuine person. I don’t want whatever is happening right now to come between us later or for it to hurt her. After taking her to bed, I can’t wrap my brain around coming back to Kingsbrier and knowing I blew it when our relationship reverts to nothing more than curt, cordial exchanges.

When she’s in my arms, the concern is secondary. Except, I’d like the opportunity to continue writing songs with her uncle. Whether I make Cassidy the priority or music, I can’t leave Kingsbrier ashamed to show my face here again. And my gut says that even an easy-going guy like Cris would take offense to a celebrity taking advantage of his niece.

“Tell me why my room doesn’t have a view like this,” I say, twisting the hot and cold water to fill a white soaking tub that’s the focal point of the ensuite bathroom.

Forget the shower. This tub has a picture perfect view of everything as far as the eye can see. The whole bathroom belongs in… Well, maybe it belongs at a luxury bed-and-breakfast and I’ve forgotten what it’s like to get out more.

“This was my grandparents room, the master bedroom. The plan is to someday use it for more than something that benefits me. I’m soaking it up for as long as I can. If I knew having a big bathtub was important, I would have suggested Gatlin put you up in a room overlooking the front garden.”

“I have a whirlpool tub like this in my house.” I swish the water around, mixing the hot and cold.

The room grows quiet other than the sound of water spilling into the porcelain basin. I glance up, worrying that I said something conceited without realizing it.

She has this tub. I have mine. Doesn’t that even the playing field?

Still very much in the nude, Cassidy’s arms bind her chest. Her chin rests on her finger, and she’s lazily crossed her legs.

“Did I say something wrong?”

She’s pensive, but not angry.

“That’s the first detail you’ve told me about where you live.”

“I have to have told you more than that.”

“No,” she clearly states.

“Are there things you want to know?” I search through the things that I can tell her about my house. It leaves me with the uncanny desire to bring her with me to Tennessee—Something that I can’t possibly do no matter how much I want to.

“Yes, no. I don’t know. I’m not sure it makes a difference,” she admits what we both know is true.

Maybe it doesn’t make a difference. But what can it hurt to describe where I live? A couch is a couch. She’d be interested to hear about the eight-burner stove in my kitchen and how I can’t boil water on it because you have to turn the igniter, and I’m a push-button kind of slacker when it comes to midnight snacking.

“Get in here with me and I’ll tell you more.” I relax into the water.

“You’re using me for my epic view,” she taunts, accepting the steadying hand and settling between my legs.

“I need you in here because you add to the scenery. You have the most beautiful valleys...” I caress her stomach. Cassidy sucks it in as gooseflesh appears on her skin and her nipples bud. I cup her bare breasts. “Don’t get me started on the mountains.”

I can’t see Cassidy’s face, but I can hear her smile. “If there aren’t any topographical features in Nashville, why do tourists flock there?”

“There are. Just none as tempting as yours.”

I pull a washcloth off of a towel rack. Flicking the lid open on her body wash, I pour a small amount on while inhaling. All of my senses light up.

“Fuck!” It has to be that I’m punchy from a long day, but I’m as excited as I was about the picture window. “This is it, isn’t it? It isn’t anything you baked. Your berry candy perfume comes from a bottle.”

I’ve never smelled anything so edible. No wonder I can’t stop licking Cassidy.

“Paisley brings us samples from a shop when she and Jake visit from North Carolina. All the products from Mind your Own Beeswax make you feel pampered. They combined something sweet with an elderberry scent for this one. It’s my favorite. I ordered the entire line from the online store. Shampoo, lotion, you name it. It is yummy.” There’s a scant smugness to Cassidy as she shimmies her bottom, dipping her chest further under the now deep water and tenting her knees higher.

I twist the bottle to inspect the label. I need some for myself. Not to open and use, but to get me high when I’m low.

While I lather the body wash over Cassidy’s arms, I tell her how the autumn leaves outside of my living room slider look changing colors. If I hadn’t been too depressed to ignore them this fall, they would’ve been striking. There’s a sports sedan in my garage I used to drive. A Tomahawk that, in a brief moment of despair, I considered wrapping around a tree Kylie-style. Monty bolsters my spirits at two am, laying waste to zombies in the game room. If the man has as quick a draw in real life as he has for the VR undead, I’ll never have a problem.

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