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“Right now, I need to face Dalton and warn him about Bobby.”
“Okay, fine. We’ll chat later. But, Cassie, live your life for yourself—not your father.” She hangs up, and I’m left stewing over the fact she’s right. I’ve lived my entire life being told what to do and how to act. I don’t even know if I can take charge.
I glance back at my reflection. My eyes are definitely defined. More seductive. I like the look. Hopefully, Dalton will too. I suck in all the courage I can and march out of my bedroom door. It’s time to put this awkwardness between us to rest.
Stopping outside his bedroom, I rap my knuckles on the wooden panel. His door swings open, and my breath hitches as those rich dark eyes bore into mine. My gaze dips down to his bare chest and tattoos and heads straight to his abdominals. He’s wearing nothing but brief running shorts. The black color accentuates his tanned skin, and holy moly, I want that body wrapped around me. He looks absolutely delicious. It’s unfair for someone to look this darn good.
My voice comes out weak. “We need to talk.”
Chapter Seven
DALTON
No matterhow many times I tell myself this attraction to Cassie isn’t real, nothing prepares me for the visceral reaction I have every time I see her. I want to scoop her in my arms and claim every inch of her body, which is why I’ve avoided her. But it’s impossible to hide with her standing in front of me.
Long lashes fan across her cheeks before looking up at me. Her coated pink lips part, drawing my attention. A slight growl rumbles from my chest. I want nothing more than to devour those luscious lips and claim that mouth as mine. I should feel bad, but she knows what she’s doing. She wouldn’t be biting that lower lip, teasing me, otherwise. If she weren’t turned on, she certainly wouldn’t have wide eyes and dilated pupils. No, she wants me just as badly.
And that confuses me.
How can she still want me when she has avoided me at every turn?
But something about her has changed. Soft exotic eyeshadow replaces the neutral tones she usually wears. It’s the most daring look she has worn yet, and my vain side wonders if the extra effort is for my benefit. Her hair hangs in soft curls framing a perfectly heart-shaped face. Shamelessly, I lower my gaze to her gorgeous body. I don’t hide that I absorb every curve of her length. She lost the privilege of me caring about her opinion when she left me hanging for three years. My gaze lingers on the tiniest hint of cleavage. It’s the raciest shirt I’ve seen her wear since my arrival. My dick stirs to life. Shit, I can’t allow that to happen. She can’t elicit this type of reaction from me. I look for the cross pendant to snap me from these thoughts, but it’s still missing. I noticed she wasn’t wearing it the first day I arrived but didn’t think much of it. Most people remove jewelry before swimming. But she never went a day without wearing it three years ago.
I shut down my attraction. No matter how much my body physically wants her, Cassie doesn’t reciprocate those feelings. No way will I let her abandon me again. I cross my arms and stare down at her. She flinches. The move isn’t made to intimidate her but to keep my wits. I can’t cave like I did the other day out in the hallway.
“What do you want to discuss?”
She barges through my door and stops short in front of my unmade bed. Her body stiffens as she eyes it for a moment. I step toward her but halt when she turns around and faces me.
“Why are you here?” The sharpness in her voice throws me off. She sounds irritated at me as if I was the one who chose to be here. This pisses me off more.
“Why do you think? Obviously, I didn’t get called up.”
“No. I mean, why are you in California?”
I still don’t follow her question. Of all people, she should know her dad runs baseball boot camp. “Baseball players with attitudes get sent to your dad.”
“I know that.” She grits her teeth and takes a few breaths to calm down. “I thought you went to the University of South Carolina.”
“Plans changed.”
“So you switched schools?”
I don’t know why this is any of her concern. She never cared where I was going before. She left without a single text or goodbye. Fuck this. I’m done answering questions. It’s time she gives me answers.
“Where do you go to school, Cassie?” I step toward her. She straightens her stance but doesn’t answer. Her eyes remain hard, not revealing any emotion. “It seems you have a shit ton of questions for me, yet you’ve never answered any of mine. And when you did, they were lies—including your name.”
At least she has the decency to drop her head at my accusations, but she doesn’t offer any explanation. I continue as silence swells between us, “Don’t have anything to say to that?”
She turns away, her back to me, but not before I catch a glimpse of remorse crumbling her face. I should back off, but I’m too much of an asshole to let her off that easily.
I erase the distance and press against her backside. Leaning down, I place my mouth next to her ear. “Do you know how long I searched for Cassie Green?”
Her breath stutters, but I continue, “I spent night after night scouring every search engine. Why did you lie to me?”
Silence meets me.
“Why, Cassie?” I demand, my tone growing angrier.
