Page 60 of The Other Half

Cassie. Hearing him say that name yanked me back to the reality in which he held a woman in his arms he didn’t know. Guilt flooded through me. I’d made myself a promise on my way here tonight I wouldn’t pursue things with him until he knew who I was, but I’d lost all my resolve when those lips had touched mine. I needed to tell him the truth. I had to. He’d been lied to enough, and I didn’t want to be another reason he didn’t trust anyone. Now to figure out how to tell him the truth.

Strong arms held me tighter as I pressed myself along the length of him. Tonight, was about us. But tomorrow I would call Grandpa and explain things, then tell Jake the truth. And I could only hope he would forgive me.

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Cassie

The morning light shining through the slats in the window landed right in my eyes. Groaning against the unwelcome assault, I clamped them shut harder then rolled over with a grumble. Jake’s arm tightened around me and I sighed when I remembered where I was. And who I was with.

“Where do you think you’re going?” he asked.

Smiling, I rolled back over to see those sparkling eyes staring at me. “Nowhere now.” I pressed a soft kiss to his lips, but he slid a hand behind my head and deepened it to one that got my pulse racing once again. “Three times last night wasn’t enough?” I quirked an eyebrow.

A mischievous smile curved his lips. “Not even close.”

Laughing, I looked over and saw Poppy curled up in his other arm.

“Don’t say anything,” he warned when he saw the enjoyment on my face.

“Don’t say anything? You’re snuggling with Poppy. It might be the cutest thing I’ve ever seen in my life!” The excitement in my voice stirred her and her snores softened while she peeked open one big eye.

“Shhhh. You’ll wake Muskybait,” he whispered. With a big yawn, Poppy snuggled deeper into the other nook of his arm, mirroring the one I was in on the opposite side. We both burst out laughing when a loud snore rippled through the room and she fell back asleep.

My heart swelled to bursting seeing my tiny dog safe in the muscular arms wrapping around us both.

“Could you be any more perfect?” I sighed and pressed my head into his chest, placing a soft kiss on the chiseled pec that made a perfect pillow.

“I’ll be even more perfect after I get done whipping you up my famous omelet.”

“I thought you didn’t cook?”

“I’ve got a few things in my kitchen arsenal. Meet me on the porch and we’ll have breakfast out back.” After kissing the top of my head, he gently lifted still-sleeping Poppy and set her down beside Hank who was passed out at our feet. Like a limp rag doll, Poppy didn’t budge even when Hank pulled her in tighter with his nose.

The bright sunlight finally gave me the full effect of Jake’s naked physique. He walked to the closet, and I watched from beneath the covers until his perfect ass disappeared beneath the jeans he tugged up. When he headed out of the room without a shirt covering his impossibly chiseled abs, I smiled. Breakfast would be even better sitting across from that.

After a long stretch, I climbed out of bed and looked at my still-soaked bra and underwear crumpled on the floor. There was no doubt the rest of my clothes scattered through the house like crumb trails to our lovemaking were likely water-logged as well. I walked to the closest and fingered through the t-shirts all lined up on hangers. Settling on the one I thought he’d appreciate most, I pulled it over my head and giggled when it fell almost to my knees.

Drowning in the camouflage tent, I headed downstairs and found him in the kitchen cracking eggs into a bowl. The sight of his shirtless body in the kitchen had me ready to yank him back upstairs to bed. He turned to look at me, and a wide grin appeared when he looked at my getup.

“Now that is a good look for you!” He laughed, and I gave him a little twirl. “I can’t imagine a better t-shirt for you.”

He gestured to the photo of the antlers across the chest with the words “I Love Big Racks” written beneath them.

“I thought you’d appreciate it.” I smiled and padded across the tile then slid my arms around his waist.

“I do love big racks.”

“Is that so?” I arched an accusatory eyebrow and peeked up at him.

“Well, I love your big rack. And only your big rack.”

“That’s better.” Rising on my toes, I gave him a kiss before heading out to the porch. I saw my purse still sitting on the desk, so I stopped to grab my phone and check my messages before heading outside.

Three missed calls and a barrage of texts awaited me. I didn’t need to look to see who’d been messaging me in the middle of the night. For the past four days Donovan, Liza, and the rest of my former “six-pack” had been hounding me wondering where I was. I had hoped by now they’d just replace me and move on, but late-night cocktails and drug-induced ragers had them calling me to their side.

Liza: Bitch, where are you????

Donovan: Baby! Are you in rehab or something? Why aren’t you answering us???