Page 67 of Lucifer's Hounds

“What’s wrong, babe?” I ask, walking with Cass to the parking lot.

“I don’t like waking up,” he grumbles, with furrowed brows and half- squinted eye.

I fight the urge to laugh out loud at how adorable he is. Instead, I smile and try to hide my face in the shoulder of my shirt.

“What’s so funny?” Cass’s voice makes me laugh even harder and there’s no hiding it. I have tears in my eyes from laughing so hard.

“You’re so fucking adorable,” I say.

“Hmm,” Cass mumbles.

Cass opens the passenger door for me and places the suitcase in the back seat. Even grumpy, he’s still a gentleman. “Where’s your car parked?” Cass asks, cranking the truck.

“Umm. Somewhere on the second floor?” I say, more of a question than a statement.

“I’ll drop you there. Then I’ve got to get to the bar and see what’s going on there.”

“I won’t be far behind you, boss man,” I tease.

“I kind of like the way that sounds. It’s almost kinky. Can you call me that while I’m inside you?”

“Umm. We’re going to go with no on that one. Sorry,” I say.

Cass smiles for the first time since we got off the plane. “Fine.”

“Great. My car’s down here on the right.” I point over to the right side of the aisle we’re driving down.

“I see her.” Cass pulls up behind Betty and I lean over the center console to kiss him on the cheek…then the lips.

“Where are you going when you leave here?” Cass asks.

“I need to run to the house first, then to the bar to help Mindy get everything for tonight. I figure everyone will start showing up around eight or nine, so that gives us four hours to get this ball rolling.”

I give him a smile and lean over to kiss him again. I hop out of the truck with my purse in one hand and the keys to Betty in the other. “See you in a little while, babe.”

“I miss you already,” Cass says as I close the door. I get in my car and sit there for a minute, letting the events of California play through my mind. He has no idea. I think I’m falling in love with this man. Okay, maybe more than think. I’m about ninety-nine percent sure I’m falling in love with him.

As soon as I sit down, I grab my cigarettes. This whole no smoking on a plane thing is for the birds. Smoke fills my lungs, and I feel my whole body relax. Cranking Betty, I dig my phone out of my purse. There is a message from Mindy.

Mindy: Are you in Louisiana yet?

Lilly: Yes ma’am. Just landed. Going home then to the bar to help you.

I lock my phone and toss it onto the passenger seat then make my way in the direction of home.

Chapter Ten

It only takes an hour to get from the airport to my house, giving me just enough time to change clothes before I have to leave and go to the bar. When I arrive at the bar it takes a few minutes to find a parking space because it’s packed already.

Inside, I find the place in complete chaos. There has to be at least a hundred people inside, all of them looking around and mingling with one another. I try to make my way to the bar but a large hand on my wrists stops me abruptly. I turn around to find Scott standing there.

“Hello, babysitter,” I greet him with a hug.

Scott chuckles. “Hey, Lilly.”

“Where’s Cass?” I ask.

Scott points toward the bar. My gaze follows to find Cass standing behind the bar. He looks disheveled, stressed, and slightly panicked. People are lined up at the bar, flashing their money at Cass, Mindy, and two other girls I haven’t seen before. I assume they’re Ryan and Lucy.

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