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She pulled from his lips. “Damn it, Coast. I can’t do this. I can’t get involved with you or Cash. I can’t do this right now. I can’t.” She tried pulling away.
He grabbed her wrists and held them up and against his chest.
“Don’t push me away. Don’t minimize what’s happening between all of us. Tell me what’s going on. Tell me about Houston.”
“I can’t, Coast.”
“I want to know what has you so scared that you’re willing to throw away a chance at something great. Cash, Stryker, Memphis, Orlando, and I have been waiting for a woman like you to come into our lives. Now you’re here, we all feel the attraction, and you’re pushing us away. I want to know why you were talking on a burner phone. Why are you trying to hide like someone is after you? Who were you talking to? Are there police involved? Come on, Cassidy. Let us help you.”
She shook her head side to side.
“Damn it.” He scolded and looked away but then looked back at her. These feelings, this attraction was too powerful to let slip through their hands. His team wasn’t here to back him up. He had to do something.
“Can you at least admit to the attraction you feel for us? Can you do that?” he asked.
She held his gaze and turned her hands as he held her wrists against his chest so that her palms lay against his pectoral muscles.
“I feel it, Coast. I definitely feel it.”
He was relived, and it made him want to push for more answers.
“Then tell me about your life back in Houston. Tell me why you came here and what happened.”
She looked away. He felt desperate.
“Fine. We’ll work on that another day. Right now we need to explore these feelings. You need to get to know all of us and realize you can trust us. Then maybe you’ll answer our questions.”
“Please don’t ask me anything. Please don’t push. It’s my business, my problem, Coast. I don’t want or need you and your team, or even Red, involved.”
“I like you, Cassidy. I feel a connection to you, and I just can’t stop myself from asking questions about your life because I want to know more.”
“You have to respect my wishes, Coast. Ever here the saying, ‘ask me no questions’?”
“And I’ll tell you no lies? Yes.”
“That’s the way it needs to be right now. It’s how I need it to remain in control.”
He raised her hands up to his mouth and kissed her knuckles. When he released her hands, he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close.
“You can take a chance, and I’ll respect your wishes. For now.”
He leaned down and kissed her softly before he took her hand and began walking away from the railing by the pond. As soon as he had the chance to confide in the others, he would tell them what had happened today and how much Cassidy needed them in her life.
* * * *
Coast had to leave to head back to work for a little while, but as they met up with Gia and her men, they told him about Casper’s later.
“I’ll see you there, and I’ll let the others know,” Coast told her and then leaned forward and kissed her softly on the lips.
As he walked away, Gia grabbed her arm.
“Oh my goodness, looks like some major changes have been happening since we last talked.”
Cassidy smiled softly. “I guess so.”
“You don’t seem thrilled. Don’t you like Coast?” Gia asked.
“I do. As I like Cash, Memphis, and Orlando, but the timing isn’t really right. I’m not certain that I’m staying in town, as I mentioned the other day.”
