Page 42 of Rumor Has It

However, I’m not stalling. Isaiah and I simply got carried away by the moment. Like all the characters in romance books and Christmas movies, I’m allowed to revel in that, aren’t I? Thathewantsme.

I flick the switch, to get a trash bag for the larger pieces when the gig is up.

“Cass?... Cassidy!” My entire body tenses hearing Gracyn’s shrill call.

Being petite as a kid, I squeezed into the smallest spaces and remained quiet as a church mouse. I never once lost a game of hide and seek played in Gran’s house. Now, I’m standing stock still, pretending I have childlike magic to turn invisible.

Is it too much to ask that Gracyn will look right through me?

Of course it is.

“Cassidy, are you here? I just got a phone call from Mr. Roomer’s assistant. She says he got hurt.” My no-holds-barred older sister follows the cord like the dotted lines on a treasure map.

A miniature version of my Aunt Daveigh, Gracyn barges past me and stares at the chalky outline on the comforter where Isaiah lay after he fell. She sees red when she spots the hole in the ceiling.

“What on earth is going on here, Cass?” Gracyn scolds. “A man’s suitcases are in your room. There are clothes—men’s clothes!—strewn on the floor… In there and in here! If it’s not you,who the hellis using your shower?”

Taking a play from my sister’s playbook, I ignore the worst of it: She’s already spied Isaiah’s rumpled jeans and my shirt. His boots and socks. My bra. Need I go on?

“It was an accident. Isaiah stumbled, picking up the last of the Christmas ornaments.”

“Why was he even in the attic? How long ago did this happen?”

“An hour or so… Give or take…” I trail off.

“Cass-i-deee,” A welcome intrusion, Rhiannon’s voice, full of mirth and mischievousness, comes from the hall the way Gracyn’s did. “Ohmigod, you lucky bitch. Is he still here?” She pops into the suite. “Ooh. Well, that’s a lot of damage for a pussy pounding. Told you those panties were guaranteed to be the bomb.” Her brows waggle.

I cover my red face.

“You slept with him!” Gracyn accuses.

Rightfully, but still.

“The shower is on, so you might want to correct your tense. Bitch is sleep-ingwith literally the biggest super-hot celebrity recluse.”

“Why are you here, Rhi?” Gracyn puts a hand to her hip.

“Because I’m nosey AF and wanted to hear about Cassidy’s date with Isaiah Roomer. Which, obviously, hasn’t ended yet.” Rhiannon snorts cheerily, coming over to hug me. “I’m so proud of you. Our baby has grown up. She made it to the big league, Gracyn!”

“Will you stop that?” I bat Rhiannon’s hand when she pats my hair.

I’m not mad at her, though Rhiannon’s attempts to diffuse the situation aren’t helping.

Our older sister is my boss, and she takes everything around here seriously.

“Cassidy, he’s a guest. There’s an unwritten rule that you don’t fool around with the guests,” Gracyn mock-whispers.

“Girl, you should’ve put out a company-wide memo for that one. I’ve broken it a time or two. Have you seen the groomsmen who stay here for weddings? And the biceps on the guys who work the ranch?” Rhiannon fans herself.

“Put a sock in it, Rhi!” Gracyn loses her cool.

“Y’all, I’m right here!” I stomp my foot.

When the three of us are together, you’d think I was the youngest, not the middle.

“He’s threatening to sue,” Gracyn snaps at me. “If you needed a sense of adventure, you should’ve tried backpacking across Europe when you were eighteen.” Her angry words sting.

“I know you have two kids with Joe, but that’s low for a woman who carried on in secret with the cop who brought her home in the freaking paddy wagon when she was a teenager, so Mama and Daddy didn’t find out you werefuckingtheir friend. Are you afraid I’ll usurp the crown, Gracyn, and you’ll no longer be the reigning queen of questionable choices?” I bite back.

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