Page 6 of Dear Brother's Best Friend
I stare at her. “Since when?”
"Since you and Hayden flipped the canoe at Lake Eden, and I nearly drowned.”
The memory of an eight-year-old Cassidy begging to let her go canoeing with us pops into my mind. Neither of us wanted her to tag along, but her tears won out in the end when Hayden's mom insisted we take her. Hayden was pissed about having to drag his little sister around, so we thought it would be funny to tip the canoe to scare her. We didn't anticipate her standing up instead of holding on. She proceeded to go right over the edge into the water.
“I forgot about that.” I run my hand over the back of my neck.
Cassidy glares at me. “I didn’t.”
"I was the one that jumped in to save you. That has to count for something.”
“Hardly makes up for the fact that you were part of the reason I fell in the water in the first place.”
She’s right.
“Let me make it up to you.”
“How? Do you have a time machine?”
“No.” I chuckle. “But if I did, I’d go back and kick little Dylan’s ass for making you cry.”
Her steely expression softens. Even angry, she's gorgeous, but I'd much prefer the less angry Cassidy. "How will you make it up to me?"
“I can give you a swimming lesson in the private pool.”
She shakes her head. "And have you and Hayden laugh at me. No, thank you."
"Hayden is taking Jodie out for a surprise dinner tonight. There won't be anyone to see you except me, and I can assure you that I'm not going to laugh."
I can see the wheels turning in her head as she starts to talk herself into it. I don't say anything. I don't want to put my foot into my mouth and ruin this one-on-one chance with Cassidy. The fact that I will get to show off my abs to her and get to see Cassidy in a bathing suit is just a bonus.
“Fine, but if you are just setting me up for some twisted joke between you and Hayden, I will not hesitate to remove a certain appendage from your body that you hold most dear.”
I can’t help but smile. She’s trying to sound menacing, but it just comes off to me as adorable.
“Understood.”
I want to kiss her so badly. I just have to hope that there might be a chance later.
5
CASSIDY
There is no way I would have gotten everything done today without the help of Dylan. His behavior today was just as confusing as last night. He kept me focused on working one task at a time, so I didn’t feel overwhelmed by it all. He even stepped in a few times to help me deal with some cranky vendors, charming them into whatever I was asking them to do. He didn't even flinch at the bridal shop when we went in to pick out a veil for Jodie, and the store clerk confused us for a couple shopping for our wedding.
“We don’t often see the grooms in here helping their fiancée to shop for a dress.”
Dylan loops his arm around my waist and pulls me into his side. “It’s hard to stay away from my girl for too long. I hope you don’t mind that I’m here.”
"Not at all." The clerk giggles. "You two, just let me know if there is anything I can do to help you."
I wait until she’s gone before I pull away from him. This all may be a joke to him, but what I feel is real, and I can’t just turn off my feelings for him like a switch.
"You shouldn't lie like that. Your nose will start growing."
“Who said I was lying?”
We finish up both of our lists just in time for dinner. When we finally get back to the bungalow, Hayden and Jodie are all dressed up for dinner and getting in their rental car when we pull up.
