Page 50 of This Is Who I Am

“Hm,” Cass says. “Is that a glimpse of the bossy professor I just caught?” She arches up her blond eyebrows. “I just meant that I’m taller than you.”

I’ll never know whether that’s actually true, but I choose to accept it as the truth because the moment calls for it. “You want to be little spoon?”

“It’s in the name, isn’t it?”

I chuckle. “Sure. It’ll be an honor to be your big spoon.”

“I have a lot of experience with kitchen utensils.” Cass can barely stop herself from bursting out laughing. “Let’s see how you stack up.” She shoots me a quick wink and turns on her side, her back to me.

I wrap an arm around her and sidle up to her. I hold her close and let out a contented sigh. I’ve slept without a woman in my arms for far too long.

* * *

When I open my eyes, I look straight into a furry ginger face. “Meow,” August says.

“Sorry, I tried to keep him away from you,” Cass whispers. “He doesn’t know what to do with himself.”

“Morning to you too, August.” I rub his chin and he leans into my hand.

“He might be falling in love with you too.” Under the covers, Cass’s hands find mine.

A warm sensation spreads in my chest. August is adorable, but he’s also in the way. I want to look at Cass. I curl my fingers tightly around her hand. With my other hand, I try to maneuver August to my other side in order to get a better view of his owner. Gracefully, he jumps over me and I can finally look into Cass’s gorgeous face.

“How does your body feel? Not too sore, I hope?” An inadvertent smile breaks on my face—not a habitual occurrence this early in the day.

“My body mistakenly believes it’s twenty-five years old again.” Cass smiles back.

“How doyoufeel?” I ask, shuffling closer. “Did you get some sleep?”

“I did, until those pesky butterflies in my stomach started on their night shift.”

“But no night sweats?” I put a hand on her belly as though my touch can silence those butterflies—as though, even if I had that power, I would even want to.

“You would have noticed if I’d had a night sweat, I assure you.” She pushes herself into my touch. “How did you sleep?”

“Surprisingly well.”

Cass bring a hand to my cheek. “Last night was…amazingsounds inadequate.”

“I’m glad.” I’m aware that also sounds a touch inadequate.

“So much for that take-it-slow, platonic sleepover.” She giggles like the twenty-five-year-old her body believes she is. “I still have no idea what happened to me last night, what came over me…”

She did tell me that I was the only differentiating factor in the equation.

“The only explanation I can come up with is that I caught some feelings.”

“Caught some feelings?” A grin spreads on my lips. “Sounds serious. Do you need a doctor to help you with that?”

“Even when you make silly jokes, you sound sexy.” She briefly catches her lip between her teeth. “You’re so incredibly sexy. Is it okay for me to say that?”

“Of course.”

“Do you know what my very first thought was when I woke up?” Cass looks so utterly delightful in the morning light, her blue eyes twinkling and her smile bright with mischief.

“No idea.”

“Where can I find lube on a Sunday in Clearwater Bay?” She removes her hand from my cheek and covers her eyes with it, as though she just said something shameful.

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