Page 36 of Second to None

“Thanks, love,” I remembered to tell Emily. “You want a spritz of cologne too?”

She beamed up at me, green eyes wide and happy. “Yes, please.”

Good girl. Jessica had raised her well, and I was trying my best. Finally turning my back on the mirror, I grinned down at her. “All right. Since you said please.”

I passed her the cologne bottle and let her dab a few drops on her throat in a gesture she must have copied from someone—her mum, perhaps. As always, the thought of my sister living on in Emily hurt for a moment, then blended in with the white background noise that my grief had now become.

It was another ten minutes before Cass would pick me up, twenty if he still ran late like he’d used to. I didn’t want to gaze out the window like some cinematic sailor’s bride, so I joined Mason in the kitchen, Emily in tow. He hoisted her onto the kitchen island and moved a bowl of Skittles closer to her, setting aside a song he must have been working on. I’d have to wean Emily off the sugary treats once we got home. Cold turkey might be the method of choice.

Home. Leaving Cass here, in LA. Where he belonged and I no longer did.

“You smell expensive,” Mason said. “Both of you.”

I could still wash it off. Should I? No. Nothing wrong with a little effort that went beyond the obvious. Cass would look amazing, and I looked… I lookedfine. Not the professionally styled kind of fine, but after years of being poked and prodded at, I’d picked up a thing or two.

Stop fretting.

“It’s what happens when you take regular showers,” I told Mason.

“Pretty sure that’s eau de Gucci rather than tap water,” he said.

“Burberry, as a matter of fact.”

“Do I look like I care?”

No, he didn’t. I was about to claim that I didn’t either when Mason’s phone buzzed. He glanced down.

“Look at that—Cass is early. Miracles do happen.”

Already? I’d thought I would have a few more minutes to collect myself, but all right, okay. I wasreadyfor this—ready to pretend we were in love while convincing Cass that I was only acting. Ideally without actually falling for him all over again.

Yeah, piece of cake.

Cass walked into the kitchen looking exactly like I’d expected—like a punch to the chest. His hair was slicked back slightly, soft waves escaping, and he’d gone for dark jeans and a shirt that hinted at the muscles beneath, sleeves rolled just enough to reveal his wrists. When he caught me staring, his lips quirked. They were subtly shiny, a little darker than usual. Lip gloss? Bloody hell, I wasn’t prepared for this level of torture.

“You ready?” he asked as though he’d caught the tail end of my thoughts.

Not even close.

“Sure, yeah. Just give me a second to say goodnight.”

“No rush.” He sounded like he meant it, his smile as loose as his stance.

Emily hopped off the kitchen island to hug me, her small arms tight around my middle, her tone serious. “I promise I’ll eat my vegetables without complaining. Much.”

I tried to stifle my grin, kissing the top of her head. “That’s a mighty promise, love. I’m sure Mason will be very grateful.”

“Very,” Mason agreed.

Cass stepped closer, crouching down to be on her level. His voice dipped into earnest territory, as though he were about to divulge confidential government intel. “Thanks for letting me borrow Levi tonight. I’ll make sure he eats his vegetables, too.”

Emily tilted her head, considering him, before she nodded. “That’s fair. But don’t make him sad again.”

Ah, shit. And here I’d been hoping she’d forgotten all about that minor detail. When I’d explained that I was going to help Cass because that’s what friends did, just like she and I had discussed, she hadn’t brought it up. But, nope. I avoided looking directly at Cass but didn’t miss the shift in his posture as he glanced my way.

“I won’t,” he told her softly, almost like he was sharing a secret.

“Good.” She sounded satisfied.

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