Page 19 of Jay

“Butyou…what?”

“Well, I’ll leave that to yourimagination,babe.”

“So, you’re telling me that you can satisfy me in bed?” Do not ask me why the fuck I am having this conversation with her, when that gorgeous woman is sitting at my table, waiting for me. The barmaid smiles at me and bites her lip. “Oh, sexy, I could most definitely satisfy you -andmore.”

I lean my elbow on the bar and smile at her. “Oh yeah?” I say withamusement.

“Yeah, baby. Why don’t you ditch the girl and come home with a real woman? My shift ends in three hours.” Before I can answer, a voice from behind me answers for me, and my heart sinks into the sticky wooden floor beneathmyfeet.

“Yeah, Jay. Why don’t you go home with a real woman?” Cassie says, hurt lacing her voice. I clench my hands together, angry at the bartender, but really fucking angry at myself for being pulled into a fucked-up conversation with a woman that held no interest to me. But being a Castle, I took the fucking bait and it hooked me, and now it hasguttedme.

“Kitten, I-” She doesn't want my words. Cassie turns and walks out of the pub, not listening to me when I call out her name. I have fucked up royally. I race after her, but again she ignores mycalls.

“Cassie, wait. Please,” I plead. I catch up to her and grip her upper arm to stop her steps. “Please, let meexplain.”

She turns to face me, tears brimming her eyes. My heart dies a little seeing the sadness on her face. I move closer to her but she steps back. I breath out and pray that she listens to myexplanation.

“She was flirting with me while making our drinks. I was only talking to her. Yeah, I got baited in her little game, but I can tell you now, Cass, the idea of going home with her never entered my mind. The only woman I want to take home is standing in front of me. I am so sorry that I upset you. I’m a dick, I know that. I should have ended the conversation straight away and made her see that I was therewithyou.”

She reaches up and swipes away a stray tear. She reminds me of a time when Dex made Addy cry because he was a total wanker to her. My heart decides that it wants to rule my body over my head, and it forces me to take a step closer. I slide my thumb over her cheekbone, catching another tear that falls from her beautiful, pain-filled eyes. Our gaze locks and the world fades away, we are in our own little bubble right now. The music from the pub, the sound of cars driving past… Everything fades. The only thing that my mind is focusing on is Cassie standing in frontofme.

“I’m sorry,” I whisper. I take a deep breath and say it again. “I am so fucking sorry.” I pour every emotion into the words, hoping like fuck that she can see how truly sorry I am. Kitten nods her head and leans forward, resting her head against mychest.

“I don’t do hurt, Jay. I can’t take more hurt from a man. I refuse to. So, if you want to be with me, then it’s only me. I will not be second to anyone else,” she states, still resting againstmybody.

“Only you. But I do have another female in my life that I love. Do you think you can share me with her?” Her body tenses at first, but then she giggles and pulls her head back to look upatme.

“I think I can share you with a six-month old baby girl.” A big-arse smile stretches across my face and I lean in to kiss herquickly.

“Good, because I don’t think Miss Phoebe would like it if you made me stop seeing her. She’s lethal with her bottle. See this?” I point to a small bruise on my jaw line. Cassie nods her head. “She whacked me with her bottle yesterday. Little minx, she’s going to be trouble when she gets older.” I wink at her. “I have a lot of important women in my life, Cass, but I would never cheat on you. The women in my life, I love with all my heart, they’re family. Plus, if I hurt you, not only will I be hurting myself but the girls would come after me and rip me a new arsehole. They are deadly together. Okay, maybe not Penny, but hell, she can guilt trip the Devil into feeling like a disappointment; she has a way with words.” I shake my head at the way Penny handlesthekids.

“I’ve met Addy, so I can only imagine what her friendsarelike.”

“You truly have no idea.” I lean in and kiss her again, this time I deeper, showing her just how much I like her, how much I want this to work. I know we said we would go slow, but fuck me, she is making me think twice about agreeing to that. And the way her body is melting against mine… I think she is regretting thedecision,too.

I break the kiss and ask, “Do you want me to take you home?”Please say no. Please say no, I chant inmyhead.

“No. Maybe we can take a walk down by the beach.” She sounds hopeful. I kisshernose.

“Come on. We can take the car to the bay, and then we can take a walk on the sand.” I take her hand and lead her over to my car. Her hand feels so small in mine, but fuck it feels good. We reach my car and I open the passenger side door for her. I watch as she climbs in, making sure that I don’t close the door on her leg. Yep, I have done that before and believe me, the girl was not happy with me. She never phoned me again, but she told everyone around town that I did on purpose. She was a bitch, anyway. I was better off without her. Last I heard, she was married to some guy who was now in prison, and she had four kids. Poor kids I say, to have a motherlikeher.

We drive to the bay without talking, music from the radio filling the space. DJ Snake & Justin Bieber’s ‘Let Me Love You’ plays, the words surrounding both of us. From what little Kitten has told me, and from my shitty past with women, this is a pretty great song, it says a lot about us. I reach across the center console and take her small hand in mine, resting them on her bare thigh. Cassie turns and smiles at me before dropping her eyes to our hands. They look good together. Seeing her in my car makes me feel good about the future. Maybe Addy was right all along: Rachel was never right for me. That is why my heart didn’t fully give itself over to Rach, it was waiting forCassie.

Can you fall for someone youbarelyknow?

I know the saying ‘love at first sight’ is all the rage, especially in these romance books girls read. Cassie said she loved to read and watch films. Does she like romance books as well as action books? She did say that she’s a huge Marvel fan, and they aren’t romantic. Are they? I know I liked the look of her when I saw her for thefirsttime.

Ipushopen the door to Dex’s room and see he has a client. I completely forgot he said he had an appointment. My head is fucked at the moment. I had another fight with Rachel last night and she has my head spinning. The chick on the table gasps as Dex lifts his head to see who walked in his room. He frownsatme.

“What thehell,dude?”

“Shit. Sorry, I forgot you had a client.” I step further into the room and offer the very sexy blonde my hand. “Hi, I’m Jay Castle, this dickhead’s brother. And you are?” She is hesitant at first, before she smiles and offers her handtome.

“Hey, Jay. CassieDawson.”

“Nice to meet you, Cassie. Nice ink by the way.” I point to the thigh tattoo my brother is working on. She has a large peacock and some cherry blossoms around the bird. My brother is fucking wicked at his work, and I will admit that I learned from the best. She keeps her gaze on mine, while my gaze travels the length of her body. Damn, she is fucking hot. Short blonde hair, toned arms and legs. Her skin is golden, clearly from hours in the sun, which is a mystery since we don’t get much sun here, so maybe she’s just come back from aholiday.

“Like what you see?” Her voice brings my eyes back to hers. I smirk and nod my head. She shakes hers and smiles at me. Dex laughs but never liftshishead.

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