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Cassidy laughed and shook her head. “You’re the most optimistic person I’ve met.”
Gia shrugged her shoulders.
“I almost died. More than once. Life is too short to not embrace what’s around us. To not take a chance on love, like I did with Garrett, Wes, and Gunner. Take the chance, Cassidy. At least you’ll never have any regret or ask yourself what would have happened if you’d followed your heart instead of allowing fear to hold you down.”
Cassidy nodded and then headed through the fair looking at all the vendors until the parade began.
She absorbed it all. The way everyone was smiling and enjoying the parade. The laughter of children, the numerous ménage relationships she could easily pick out, and the feeling of being home, of being part of somewhere like she never had before. Could she take a chance and stick around? Blaze was more than likely going to wind up behind bars for a while. That gave her some time to think and to see if getting involved with the men was right. Like Gia said, at least she would know if she took that chance instead of wondering what would have happened if she had.
* * * *
Memphis was walking along the side street looking for Cassidy along with Orlando. Coast had called them and told them about the conversation with Cassidy today. He’d mentioned her using a burner phone and about not wanting to share her problems. She was in trouble, and that didn’t sit right with any of them.
“Do you see her?” Orlando asked Memphis. He couldn’t believe how excited he was to find her and talk to her. He paused a moment, catching a glimpse of Gia first.
“There’s Gia. Cassidy must be close. They were going to be hanging out together before they headed to the barbecue at Casper’s,” Orlando said to Memphis.
Memphis glanced around as they continued walking and caught sight of Cassidy. She was by the sidewalk where the VA table was set up. She was talking to Jack Walker and one of Deanna’s husbands, Teddy.
“There she is,” Memphis said, and he and Orlando made their way closer.
They watched Jack shake Cassidy’s hand.
“So I’ll see you later at Casper’s. We’ll talk more. I can’t wait to learn more about you,” he said, and Memphis felt his gut clench and his temper flare.
Was Jack hitting on their woman? The fact that Memphis looked at Cassidy as belonging to him and the team had him holding back a moment. But the scene didn’t stop Orlando.
“There she is. We’ve been looking all over the place for you, baby.” Orlando then pulled her close, leaned down, and kissed her.
Memphis saw the shocked expression on Jack’s face, and then Teddy chuckled.
Orlando slowly released her lips and then cupped her cheek.
“You look beautiful,” he said.
Cassidy’s cheeks were bright red, and she seemed off kilter.
Memphis stepped forward. “He’s right. We were looking all over for you. How is everything going?” Memphis asked her.
Orlando let her go, and Memphis brought her fingers to his lips. He kissed her knuckles and held her gaze.
“Fine.” She then looked at Jack and then at Orlando, who had a shit-eating grin on his face. He had felt the same jealousy Memphis had. Memphis just knew it. But instead of panicking and stepping back a moment, Orlando had made it quite clear to Jack, and anyone else looking around eavesdropping, that Cassidy was taken. He’d have to thank Orlando later.
Memphis held her hand then said hello to Teddy and Jack.
“This is really nice. A lot more crowded than last year,” he added.
“Sure is. We’ve been busy all day long,” Jack told him as more people approached the table and Jack’s assistants helped them with information.
“Shall we walk around a bit before we head to Casper’s?” Memphis asked Cassidy as he absorbed her pr
etty face, her hazel eyes, and the way her hair moved gently in the gentle breeze.
“I was just finishing up talking with Jack. So, Jack, I’ll see you later.”
“Sure thing. I look forward to it,” he replied, and Memphis squeezed Cassidy’s hand as they started walking away with Orlando and Teddy.
“I’m going to catch up with Deanna and the kids. I’ll see the three of you and I assume the rest of the team in about an hour,” Teddy said and winked at Cassidy.
