Page 56 of The Other Half

“Are you okay?” he asked.

I looked up to see concerned eyes searching my face.

“I’m okay. Thank you. That was harder than I thought.”

“I’m really sorry for your loss, Cassie. I’m just glad I could be here for you.”

“Thank you, Jake. It means a lot to me.” Not wanting to slide out of his embrace, I held myself against him for a moment longer. Sniffling, I wiped my eyes. “Sorry I cried on your shirt. I feel so pathetic.”

He snorted and tucked a piece of hair behind my ear. “You have every right to be struggling right now. I, on the other hand, am a grown man watching fireworks alone. I’m the pathetic one.”

“You weren’t alone,” I said, then looked up at him.

A long swallow slid down his throat and a soft smile lifted his lips. “Thanks, Cassie.”

God, I wanted to kiss him. It took every ounce of my willpower not to lean up and press my lips against his. That same look returned to his eyes, but last time I tried it ended with me sitting alone on a dock. Aching. Forcing my lips to keep to themselves, I sighed and smiled.

“Well, I guess good night?” As I spoke, hope sprang into my chest.

“Do you...” He paused and sighed. “Do you want to come over and have a bonfire with me? I’m not really in the mood to be jammed in a bar with a hundred hammered people.”

I nodded with more enthusiasm than I wanted. “Yes.”

“Okay.” He smiled. “Good. Why don’t you go get Poppy and I’ll get the fire started? The dogs can play, and we can have a few beers... now that you drink beer.”

“Deal.” I grinned back.

“Okay.”

“Okay. I’ll see you at your house.”

Forcing myself to pull from his embrace, I started down the beach. Even though deep down I knew it was wrong to pursue something romantic with a man who didn’t even know my real name, I couldn’t stop myself. Denying what was going on between us was no more possible than denying gravity. We’d already crossed the line and there was no going back. Now I just needed to figure out how to tell him who I was without putting my dream of taking over the company at risk.

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Jake

My Bluetooth speaker played the soft sounds of country while I tossed another log on the fire.

“What am I doing, Hank?” I asked him while he panted at my side. But this time I knew what I was doing. I was no longer denying myself the happiness that hovered within my reach. The same happiness I’d been too scared to grab onto, instead pushing it away. But seeing her so vulnerable in my arms tonight made me realize I wasn’t the only one who’d been in pain. And if she could fight her demons and try to heal, so could I.

Headlights coming down my driveway sent my heart racing again. It wasn’t just the headlights illuminating my life. It was Cassie. She was like a beacon guiding me through the storm, and this time I wouldn’t sail away from her light. I would let it show me the way.

“Hey, Jake,” she said when she came around the side of my house. “I saw the fire and figured you’d be out here.”

“I’m glad you could make it.” I looked to the little dog clutched in her arms. “And Muskybait, too.”

“Jake,” she warned with a smirk. Hank appeared at her side now, leaping in the air around her. Poppy squirmed, desperate to get down.

“Let her down. He won’t hurt her.”

“Let me just hook up her leash.” She fumbled with the pink strap in her hand.

“Just let her down, Cassie. She’ll be fine.”

“What if she runs off?”

“She won’t run off.”