Page 33 of Growing Into Love

“Dec and I are only looking out for you,” I say.

Cass turns the full force of her sapphire eyes on me, making my chest crackle. “I don’tneedyou to look out for me,” she hisses. “I won’t be treated like a child anymore. Not by you, not by Declan, or anyone else in my family. Got it?”

“Got it,” I say quickly. “I’m sure David doesn’t treat you that way,” I add, attempting to be supportive of this new relationship.

David, though. Even his name sounds boring.

“He doesn’t,” Cass says, lifting her nose into the air. “He’s very mature and he treats me like an equal.”

“Bully for David.”

“Don’t be sarcastic.”

“I’m not.”

“You were.”

There’s an awkward pause. “You should tell Declan about him,” I say. “I know he’d want to meet him.”

“First of all,” Cass snaps. “I don’t have to tell Declan shit. Secondly, how do you know he hasn’t met David already?”

Crap. I don’t want to tell Cass I was asking about her dating life with Dec last night.

“I—he…” Inspiration strikes. “I’m pretty sure I would have heard about it. Declan’s not one for keeping secrets.”

Except when it comes to starting a family, but that’s his and Autumn’s secret to keep.

Cass’s eyes narrow. “No, Declan has not met him. Declan doesn’t know about David because he’d be even more of a dickhead than he’s already been for the past few weeks.”

“That’s not fair,” I say. Cass doesn’t know Dec is juggling farm duties alongside trying for a baby and worrying if he’ll be a good dad.

“No, this isn’t fair,” Cass hisses. “You coming with me on this trip isn’t fair. Delilah breaking her leg isn’t fair. It’s not fair that there are a hundred Naturally Sweets out there that need rescuing and I can’t help them because my brother is a stubborn prick. It’s not fair that I’ll probably lose at the Classic now. That my dream is over before it had a chance to start. I’ll have to go back to Hart’s Crossing and be Cass-the-Kid forever.”

Her cheeks flush the prettiest shade of pink at the end of this speech.

“Hey,” I say. “That’s not true. You said yourself Nigella is your stiffest competition. So you know what you’re up against. I may not be a trainer, Cass, but I’ll do anything I can to help you win. Whatever you need from me. Got it?”

Her top teeth press into her lower lip and it sends an unexpected ache through me. “Don’t make promises you can’t keep, Jaz.”

The darkness of the cabin envelops us, giving the sense we’re the only two people on this plane. Like we’re in a moment suspended in time.

“I believe in you Cass.”

I put my hand on her knee. The warmth of her body radiates through my palm. I wonder if she can hear my heart beating—it’s pummeling so hard against my ribcage I’m surprised the entire plane isn’t aware. I’ve never looked at her like this. Her skin is a creamy confection. The broad lines of her cheekbones are evened out by the tiny point of her chin. There’s a freckle beneath her right eye. Her hair is tied up in a little high ponytail, revealing the slender length of her neck, the tempting dip at the base of her throat.

I’m suddenly very conscious of my cock straining against my jeans. What am I doing? I’m not some schoolboy who can’t control his urges. But as I attempt to wrench my thoughts away, the plane hits a bout of turbulence and Cass is lurched toward me. She catches herself against my thigh but her knuckles brush the bulge. Her eyes widen.

“Sorry, I—” she stammers.

I jump like I’ve been hit by a taser and cry, “Fine worries!”

I meant to sayno worries, it’s finebut half the sentence is still clinging to the back of my throat. The bloke next to me jolts awake and I cross my legs painfully, desperate for my body to return to normal.

“Turbulence, eh?” the man says, then immediately falls back asleep.

“Could I get some of your water?” I croak to Cass.

“Sure, yeah.” She spends probably more time than necessary rummaging through her enormous purse before she hands me her water bottle. It gives me enough time to calm my hard-on.

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