Page 9 of Forbidden Earl
Grannie made him smile. She’d looked after Cassidy all their lives and claimed at first she’d done it because her best friend had been Cassidy’s grandma who had died helping them escape. His grandmother had sworn to watch out for Cassidy and Chelsea though Chelsea had chosen to stay close to her parents. Either way Cassidy had always been at their house in California, on every childhood vacation, and in all his classes until college. At college graduation, his grandmother took them both out to celebrate. Now that she was here, it felt like his family was complete again.
He found the clips and marched into Grannie’s room. Without asking he went behind Cassidy and pulled her hair up, pinning it so it stayed out of her face.
Cassidy reached up to stop him, but he gently swatted her hands away. “Remy, what are you doing?”
Once he was done, he knelt in front of her. Clear brown eyes behind the turquoise frames, smooth skin, right now, an angry smile. The same girl he remembered. “I’ve missed you.”
“I’m fine.” She left the clips alone.
Better. He took his seat opposite her and Grannie. A servant brought in trays of savory dishes Grannie had ordered and set it around them, as if his grandmother’s bed was a dinner table. He ignored the commotion and met Cassidy’s bristling gaze. “You almost look like my old friend again. Now you just need to ditch those glasses you’re hiding behind.”
She whipped them off and stared at him. “I’m not hiding.”
Very sharp, very clear, veryfocusedbrown eyes held him captive.
Strange.
He decided to ignore the thought and instead smiled once the servants left them alone. “There, isn’t that better, Grannie? I’ve never understood why you wear your hair so wild, Cassidy.”
His grandmother gave him a warning look.
Cassidy picked up her spoon and stirred her bowl of lamb stew and mushrooms. “You didn’t ask.”
“I’m asking now.” He didn’t turn away as she took a huge bite in an attempt to ignore him.
Grannie sipped her lamb broth, and looked from Cassidy to him. She placed her spoon carefully on her tray and quietly said, “Cassidy, it’s okay to tell Remy. He’s to be your husband.”
Cassidy swallowed, her long graceful neck visible to him with her hair up, and stared at Grannie.
Clearly, they had a secret they shared between them.
He leaned closer to Cassidy, getting a hint of lavender. “Tell me what?”
Her cheeks turned crimson but she met his gaze. “Remember Adam?”
Her college romance. She’d started growing her hair by graduation and when he’d commented Cassidy simply claimed to no longer want bangs. Now his heart thumped and he held his breath. “Your old boyfriend?”
Her nose wrinkled and her hands went into fists. “He was never my boyfriend.”
As he recalled, Adam had been one of the smartest guys in their class and always around Cassidy, who was always the smartest woman he’d ever met. He scratched his head. “But I thought-”
Her grunt interrupted him and he watched as Cassidy deliberately relaxed her hands. “He assaulted me. Then tried to touch me again—I was scared and fought him off. I called Gigi that night and she had me call the campus police.”
His entire body went cold and his muscles tensed. He’d kill Adam right now if he saw him. Instead he stared into Cassidy’s clear brown eyes. “You never told me. I’d have killed him.”
She rolled them, like she usually did when she was annoyed with him. “You were too busy with Tammy, then Florencia, and then Gianna who loved to mention she could be a Gigi too.”
Gianna had been the biggest mistake out of that group but that wasn’t a good reason not to tell him. He’d have protected Cassidy. His skin prickled with the need to do something, but for now he sat back and hid the fact he was rattled. “If we’re going to name all my college girlfriends, please don’t forget Mona.”
She laughed and her face returned to its normal pink tones. “I almost forgot about Mona. She was the nice one.”
He leaned forward to make a point. “You still should have told me. As my wife, I expect to be informed if anyone even swats a fly in front of you.” No one would ever get near her again, not without killing him first. But Grannie’s face paled and Cassidy looked at her stew. Right. He smiled, for them all to relax, and picked up his spoon. “Let’s get back to your hair and how long it is. I love the color.”
She tugged on a piece but didn’t take out the clips. “After that, I grew it out and honestly when I started working I had no time for styling it. Unlike your previous girlfriends, I’ve never had much interest in fashion and my day is easier if I just wash and go.”
He could understand that. “Manicures, massages, haircuts—all of those spa essentials will be scheduled, but you aren’t running an estate on your own anymore. I have managers who work for me, and I’ll need my wife to be seen without hiding her pretty face.”
She bit her lower lip. “I’ll handle it.”
