Page 57 of Just Business

He glances at the time on the microwave. “Lemme grab the ATV keys from my uncle and I’ll take you. It’s too damn hot to walk. When we get back, is it all right if I spend some time with Cass? I wanna make sure she’s all right.”

“Of course! I’ll hang out with the rest of your family while you do that.”

“All right, I’ll grab the keys and we’ll head there.”

He comes back, keys in hand, and I follow him outside to a black ATV and we climb in and head down the gravel driveway. Just as we pass a pond with a wooden pier on one side of it, the roof of an A-frame cabin comes into view. As we approach, I see that it’s absolutely gorgeous with tall windows and a large front porch where two rocking chairs sit. Off to the side of the house is a detached garage that matches the house’s exterior.

“I’m warning you, it's not much,” Austin says, cutting the engine. “I’ve never really been here enough to make it feel like a home. It’s more of a house than a home, if that makes sense. But it does the job, I guess.”

“What do you mean it’s not much? It’s amazing!” As soon as I’m out of the ATV, I’m bounding up the steps, running my hands along the rough wood railing.

Austin unlocks the door and I follow him inside. It’s very neat and minimalist with an open floor plan. There’s a set of stairs that lead up to a balcony overlooking the living area. His kitchen is white and stainless steel. I make my way into his living room, and it’s also very minimalist. Almost bare, in fact. I’d have never guessed someone actually lived here if it weren’t for the shelf full of trophies and awards.

I turn to him, eyes narrowed. “This isn’t exactly what I expected.” I don’t want him to think I dislike it, but there’s nothing personal here. Nothing that tells me anything about the man who owns this house.

Austin huffs a laugh. “It’s a bit sparse, I know. I’m honestly not here enough to make it my own. I’m mostly in Nashville, and when I am in town, I spend most of my time up at my aunt and uncle’s.”

I turn to look up at him, flashing a flirtatious grin. “Can I see your bedroom?”

“I’ll show you my bedroom, but I told Cass I’d meet her in twenty minutes.” He lowers his voice to a deep rumble. “And just so you know, I’m gonna need more than twenty minutes for the things I want to do to you.” My whole body heats from my head down to my toes.

He leads me up the stairs, and when we get to the top he opens the first door we come to.Thisis more like it. He’s in every square foot of this room. The walls are painted a dark gray, making the room warm and cozy. An enormous bed takes up a large portion of the room. It’s covered in a dark blue duvet, with what looks like a hand knitted throw blanket folded at the foot. The wall behind his headboard is different types of old wood, and vintage concert fliers are framed on the wall to my right. Another wall has a collection of acoustic guitars hanging on hooks, and the biggest TV I’ve ever seen hangs on the wall opposite his bed.

There’s a door leading to a bathroom and I can’t help myself—I’m a sucker for a nice bathroom. When I flip on the light, I’m met with the largest walk-in shower I’ve ever seen. Spray jets are on every wall and a fancy rainfall shower head hangs from the ceiling. Suddenly, this is beginning to feel like a luxury vacation.

Austin comes up behind me. “You’re the first woman who has ever stepped foot in here.”

I turn to look at him. “Not even the friend with benefits?”

“I told you the other day, that was an arrangement. More times than not we only saw each other when we needed to make public appearances.”

Raising up on my tip toes, I gently press my lips to his. “Thanks for allowing me to be here. I know trust like this is hard for you.”

“Yeah,” he says, kissing me back. “But I’m starting to realize that on the very short list of people I can trust, your name is making its way to the top.”

“All right, Cass. Tell me everything.”

My sister and I are sitting on the back porch while Penny spends some time getting to know my family.

Cassie’s eyes instantly well up with tears and she scrunches her nose, taking a deep breath. “I think I was in denial. I’ve known deep down that things weren’t good. Things were off long before this.” She stands and walks to the steps of the pool, sitting to dangle her feet in the water. I slip off my shoes and do the same.

“You know this is the same type of bullshit I talk to my patients about all the time. So many women out there are willing to put up with whatever from a man. And here I am, no different than them.” She goes quiet, looking down at the water. I don’t say anything because I know this is how Cass processes things, and she doesn’t always require a response.

“And you know what the worst part of it is?” Cassie straightens, looking over at me. “If I’m being completely honest with myself, I’m not sure I even liked him anymore. I’m devastated by everything that’s about to change, but I don’t think it’s because I’ll miss him. I’m mostly embarrassed and ashamed that I didn’t listen to the people who warned me about him.” She looks back down at the water. “He wasn’t nice to me.” Her words come out in a whisper.

“What do you mean, he wasn’t nice to you? Did—did he hurt you, Cass?” My vision turns red and I have to take a few breaths to tamp down the flare of anger.

“Not physically, no.” She glances up at me and back down. “But he wasn’t ever kind to me. He never complimented me or thanked me for anything. Anytime I’d cook, even if it was foods I know he likes, he’d find something to complain about. When I’d fix myself up to go to dinner, he’d find something wrong with the way I looked. I’d begun to think something was just wrong withme.”

“No, Cass, that’s fucked up. Nothing’s wrong with you. He’s a narcissistic douchebag. You’re absolutely perfect just the way you are.”

“You have to say that. You’re my brother.”

“I say it because it’s true. You deserve better than that. You know that, right?” I ask, my eyes scanning her face. My sister looks so much like my mom and I wish she was here right now for me to say the exact same thing to her.

Cassie must see where my mind goes because she lays a hand on my arm. “I’m not her, Austin. I’m not gonna be her. I left.”

“Damn right you did.” I reach over and squeeze her hand.

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