Page 85 of The Other Half

“Matt?” Wide eyes lifted to meet mine.

“Yes. Matt.” I chuckled. “It’s a long story.”

“Well then, remind me to buy him a ‘thank you’ drink the next time I see him at the Cornerstone.”

“Actually. You may be seeing him here now.”

“You’re allowing him back at the Ox? Wow. You’ve had a hell of a night,” she said, shaking her head. “I can’t wait to hear about it.”

“It’s been a big one. But most importantly, it brought me back here. To you.”

With a sigh, she slid a hand under my jaw and pulled me down for a kiss.

“Never lie to me again. Deal?” I whispered between kisses.

“I swear. Never. And I want to tell you the whole story. Everything.”

“I look forward to hearing the tales of Cassie Davenport.” I chuckled. “Wait. Do I need to call you Cassandra now?” Furrowing my brow, I searched her face.

“No. Call me Cassie. It’s what my parents used to call me. And it’s who I am now. Or at least who I’m striving to be. Who I know I can be.”

“I know you can do anything. Even eat carbs.”

Her laughter started as a trickle then her whole body shook while she pressed into my arms. Laughing, I kissed her again.

“If you can face your fear of carbs, I can face my fear of getting hurt.”

“I won’t hurt you, Jake. I promise.” Her laughter subsided, and those green eyes locked with mine. “Never. I want this. You. I swear to you that you will always come first.”

As terrified as I’d been coming here tonight, putting my heart back in the hands of this woman, I was more terrified of a life without her. Some risks were worth taking, and Cassie was one of them. We were one of them. With a deep breath I blew out the last of my anger. At her. At Matt. Hell, even my hatred toward Nikki drifted away. In fact, I was grateful now for her deception. If it hadn’t been for her betrayal, I wouldn’t be lying here in the arms of the one woman I ever truly loved.

“You going to help me clean up so we can go home and let the dogs reunite? Poppy has been pouting, wondering when she can see Hank again.”

“Hank was almost as big of a mess as I was.” I laughed and glanced down. “I’ll never look at this pool table the same way again.”

I stood, pulling up my pants before hoisting her to her feet. We worked together to close up the bar, pausing for a kiss beside her car.

“Your house or mine?” she asked, leaning into my kiss.

“Mine. I’m not sleeping at your house until we get rid of that creepy owl lamp by the bed.” With a shudder, I tried to hide my smile.

“Hey! I kind of like that weird owl lamp now!” She laughed and slapped my chest. “It’s grown on me.”

“I’ll see you at my house. Bring the dog. Leave the lamp.”

We dissolved into laughter and I hugged her before helping her inside. With one last kiss, I closed the door. Her engine rumbled when she turned the key and I watched my Park Avenue Princess chug down the street in her bucket of rust. If it was possible, it made me love her more.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

Cassie

“Good morning,” Jake whispered into my ear.

Just the sound of his voice reignited that fire inside me before I’d even opened my eyes. I snuggled in deeper, pressing my face into his chest while his arm tightened around me. “Good morning, Jake.”

Blinking my eyes open, the first thing I saw was Poppy’s smooshed face resting on his opposite pec. His muscular arm held her close to his chest, his deep breaths lifting her up and down while her soft snores punctured the quiet of the room.

“Don’t say it,” he warned.