Page 69 of A Little Twist

After last night, I wanted to scoop her into my arms and kiss her, ask her how her day went, ask her if my funny daughter had done anything else new and amazing. Instead, I put my hands in the pockets of my jeans and hung back, waiting for us to take our seats.

When I woke up this morning, the bed was sadly empty, and when I returned to the main house, I found Cass in the kitchen with Pinky making breakfast tacos. My daughter stood on the stepladder beside the stove in an apron, holding a taco shell, and Cass stirred scrambled eggs in a skillet.

They were so cute, chatting about baseball and making plans for the day, I left them to it and got ready for work. I was already running late from sleeping in, so the most I had time for was a stolen kiss behind the refrigerator.

Now we’re in this meeting together, and I want to put my arm around her.

“How did he have time to make elevations?” Britt whispers to Cass.

The girls sit between Aiden and me. Piper is up front in the press section, and Adam has the kids across the street on the ball field.

Now that my little slugger has learned she can hit a homer, she’s determined to do it again. Owen and Ryan are equally determined itwon’thappen again, but it won’t stop her from trying.

“I know this is an unpopular opinion,” Harold Waters smiles from behind the long desk, “but I think Drake raises some interesting ideas. Sorry, Mr. Redford, I should say.”

A wave of muttered groans meets his suggestion, but there is also a smattering of applause. I glance at Aiden, and his brow lowers.

“I wouldn’t expect you to know this, Harold, considering your background and all,” Terra Belle, who represents the older part of town, leans closer to her mic. “Eureka doesn’t aspire to be Hilton Head or Kiawah. Those places are designed to deal with the strain heavy tourism puts on a town.”

While I’m not a fan of pulling rank, she has a point. Harold moved to Eureka from Chicago two years ago, and after opening the successful Popcorn Palace on Beach Road, he introduced the hilariously popular dog race at last year’s Founders Day Festival. It made him a bit of a town celebrity, and he was elected to the council to represent newer residents who live on the outskirts of Eureka.

“I’m not saying it’s a slam dunk.” Harold holds up his hands like a true politician. “I’m just saying there are business interests to consider.”

“Thank you, Harold.” Drake’s smug tone isn’t helping him. “And you can call me Drake.”

“What plans do you have for infrastructure to support this development?” Terra isn’t letting him off the hook. “A development of this size requires additional roads, utilities, sewage…”

Loud applause breaks out, but my eyes are on Cass. A wavy lock of dark hair falls over her cheek as she looks down at her lap, and I want to hold her hand.

Leaning closer, I whisper in her ear, “I’d like to take you fishing on Sunday.”

Her blue eyes slide to mine, and she smiles. “I’ve never been fishing in my life.”

“I seem to recall you love a challenge.”

“I never considered fishing a challenge.”

“You’d be surprised.”

Britt’s eyes are on us, and I clear my throat, looking up to where Drake is answering the woman’s question. “We have plans for all of that.”

Nice non-answer.

Edna breaks through the noise, holding up her hand. “We’ll conclude this preliminary hearing. We’ll take up the matter at our next official meeting, since there does seem to be a definite interest in your proposal, Mr. Redford.”

“Thank you, Mayor.” Drake nods in an obnoxious gesture of subservience.

What an asshole.

Everyone stands, and Cass turns to face me. Our eyes meet, and it’s the first time I’ve had a chance to really look at her since our love-fest last night. Do I have heart-eyes?

“What the fuck is going on here?” Britt grabs Cass’s left hand, yanking her third finger closer for inspection. “Is this what I think it is?”

“Ahh…” Cass shoots worried eyes at me as Aiden steps up beside his wife to inspect the situation.

Somehow that fucker Drake is right behind him. “Are you two lovebirds still keeping that under wraps?”

“What is he talking about?” Britt frowns, turning her eyes on me.

---