Page 33 of Rumor Has It

And not the good kind of on fire either. I figured out how Cassidy reacts to that last night.

She stops once more, keeping her back to me. “Listen, I understand your privacy is important to you or you wouldn’t have been reclusive since Kylie died. You don’t need anyone prying into your life or complicating things.”

“Why can’t I be the judge of that?” Cassidy wouldn’t believe the complexity of my life if it was staring her in the face. “What’s the big deal about your mom… or your dad? Did you not want me to meet them?”

Whoa. That’s a shock to my pride.

Cassidy turns. She blinks the same way any of my past girlfriends or my wife had, looking at me as if I’m dense.

While I have a general understanding when women are certain I’ve done something wrong, I don’t get what she thinks I’ve done.

“They’re all asking questions.” She gestures, flustered.

“What do they want to know?” I’m intrigued.

“About dinner and what you wore and what I wore and the food.” Her shoulders hit her ears.

“About our entire date,” I huff, my chest swelling. A broad grin bends my cheeks, remembering how gorgeous Cassidy was and how much fun I had with her. I’m at ease with this woman and my brain can’t wrap around the fact that I met her less than thirty-six hours ago. It feels longer. “Did you tell them?”

“No! I’m not divulging secrets about your se—love life.”

My chest rumbles. “Last I checked, it’s your sex life, too. Is that why you want to keep it quiet?”

Cassidy was hesitant in the gift shop as well because of the surveillance cameras.

“You were six paces behind me when we got to the steakhouse. I went to the ladies’ room so that you could walk out alone. As for my parents, why bother? Why get their hopes up? Why endure an afternoon of ridicule when you’re about to leave? Once you’re gone, it’ll be ‘poor Cassidy got dumped by Isaiah Roomer, country superstar.’ How am I supposed to live down accepting one date with you when it was never meant to lead anywhere between the two of us?”

Damn. She’s cutting her losses as I’m trying to reel her in.

“Ah,that’s… Practical”Practical as shit,but I’d rather hold my tongue than cup my balls in case Cassidy junk punches me. “What if I stuck around?” I suggest.

“Until tomorrow?”

“Or next week.” I lean in, curling my fingers around the shell of her ear. “I don’t have a date for New Year’s. I heard Cris mention the country club y’all are members at holds a big soirée?”

“Are you crazy? It’ll be swarming with people.” Cassidy’s hopeful expression tells me she wants my request of a second date to be serious.

“Crazy as a bedbug,” I reply, wrapping my arms around her. I place my lips on her forehead, breathing in her sweet scent and December’s fresh, cool country air.

Cassidy sinks into me and we stay suspended in the moment. Holding onto her, I don’t want to leave at all. The ranch and vineyard are beautiful, serene. Cassidy is gorgeous. I’d be content staying at the B&B forever, the way she has been.

“About the restaurant. I didn’t—”think.“It’s a habit I formed when I was married to stop people from getting the wrong idea if I was out with another woman.”And they accuse me of cheating.“It’s going to take me a while to break it. I appreciate your consideration for my feelings by waiting to exit the steakhouse afterwards, especially since I hadn’t recognized I’d hurt yours. And I’m sorry that any of it spilled over into today. Are we okay, chou?”

“Did you just call me your ‘little cabbage’?” Her cute, little button nose scrunches.

“Yes? You filled my plate with coleslaw and it goes best with chicken.” Which is what I am; too chicken to go home and too cowardly to admit that the longer I stay, the less I want to leave.

“You can go back and eat at Cris and Daveigh’s,” she offers.

“Nah,if you are making me a priority, then I can make you mine.”

Chapter Thirteen

ISAIAH

I lace my fingers into Cassidy’s. “Let’s go take care of those boxes you mentioned earlier. Then we can relax.”

“In bed?”

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