Page 97 of The Broken Note

Dutch swings his car keys around his finger. “Hop in.”

We drive Viola to Shanae’s mom, one of the few mothers I actually trust to watch my sister when neither Breeze or I am available. Once we park, I climb out and grab my sister by both shoulders.

“Vi,” I speak in a low voice, “you’re not making this up because he asked you to, right?”

“Are you kidding? Dutch said he was taking us camping tonight.” She frowns. “I really want to go, but this project is due Monday. Shanae and I will have to work all night because we waited until last minute.”

It’s totally believable that Vi would push off her homework to the last minute. And it’s believable that she wouldn’t tell me about it too.

Still, I grasp at straws. “Maybe you can work on it tomorrow.”

“Shanae has church tomorrow.”

“But…”

“Are you that scared of being alone with Dutch?” Viola wiggles her eyebrows. “Because if you don’t want him…”

“You’re thirteen. Don’t you dare finish that joke.”

My sister laughs. “You haven’t really enjoyed yourself today.”

“I did,” I argue.

“No, you were always asking me what I want to do. What I want to ride. What I want to eat. For once, why don’t you just have fun for you?” Vi nods at where Dutch has climbed out of the car and is leaning against it, waiting for me. “I bet he can help.”

My heart hammers.

“I’ll text you, Cadey.” My sister gives me a knowing smile. “I have a feeling both of us will be spending the night outside.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR

DUTCH

“Thisis camping?” Cadey says, not ripping her eyes away from the view in front of her. String lights pierce through the foliage, sending sprays of golden light on the forest floor. Wooden slats balance on top of heavy branches. Warm tones. A lazy hammock. It’s pretty freaking brilliant architecture.

“This?”Cadence points up for emphasis.

I try to keep the pleased smile off my lips. Cadey will think I orchestrated everything just to get her alone if she catches me grinning like a maniac.

I took my brother’s advice and made this day about her and Vi.

Mostly Vi.

Which, hopefully, touched her too.

‘Show her you can take care of them. Be a gentleman,’ was Finn’s advice.

It’s no wonder girls leave our beds hating us and themselves, but they leave Finn’s willing to die for him.

I decided to take his advice. There were zero expectations on getting naked with Cadey tonight. Dreams? Fantasies? Hell yeah. But I figured the anticipation would simmer until I could get her alone and taste her the way I desperately want to.

I didn’t expect the reward for my patience to arrive so soon.

“How much did you spend on us today?” Cadey mumbles, drawing near to me. Her face is upturned. Plump lips full of poison. Eyes that have me by the throat. Hair getting tangled in the breeze.

She’s freaking stunning. A work of art I want to etch on my skin.

“Dutch.”

---