Nodding her head, she turned toward Kade. His hand found the small of her back, guiding her forward when her feet seemed reluctant to cooperate. He pulled out a chair for her, waited until she sat, then settled into the seat beside her. That small gesture made the overwhelming tableau slightly more manageable. Still a tad terrifying, but manageable. It helped knowing everyoneat the table, except for Mrs. Sweet, knew the truth of their arrangement. What none of them knew, however, was how many nights she’d dreamed of a family just like this one. Loud, close, and there for each other.
Mrs. Sweet sat at the head of the table. “Pass the potatoes down, Carson. Garret, don’t let that gravy bowl sit there getting cold.”
Plates moved with practiced efficiency, hands reaching and passing without anyone needing to ask twice. Cassidy accepted each dish as it came to her. Pot roast, mashed potatoes, green beans with bacon, fresh rolls still steaming, butter in a glass dish. Why weren’t these people as big as a house?
“So, Cassie,” Alice’s voice was gentle, and comforting, “have you always lived in Las Vegas?”
The table quieted slightly, everyone continuing to eat but clearly listening.
“Yes, ma’am.” She swallowed hard. This was it. The moment of truth—or at least most of it. Just enough not to get tangled in a web of lies, but not enough to reveal the true nature of their arrangement. “I’ve lived all over Nevada. Foster care.”
For just a moment, she saw a flicker of something akin to pain in Alice Sweet’s eyes. Just as quickly, a curtain of pleasantry descended and Alice smiled. “Do you like it there?”
“It was okay, but I don’t think the flash and bling could ever compete with what you have here.”
“Oh, we have plenty of bling,” Jillian teased.
Rachel chuckled beside her sister. “Our aunts own the Corn Hole Heaven shop. You see, Honeysuckle is the corn hole capital of Texas and bling seems to be growing in popularity. Just ask Mildred McEntire.”
Cassidy blinked. “Corn hole?”
“The game,” Kade prompted. When her expression didn’t change, his gaze narrowed at her. “Have you never played corn hole?”
She shook her head.
“Oh boy,” someone said and the next thing she knew they were all babbling over each, wrestling for who was going to introduce her to the game, what weight bags she had to have, and who would partner with her at the next local tournament.
Who knew an entire town, never mind state, could be so animated over what she now understood to be a backyard game, and according to most of the siblings, better than horseshoes or croquet combined.
By the time people started to stand and clear the table, Cassidy almost felt as if she’d always been a part of this raucous family. Kade’s mother was being so kind and sweet and sensitive, Cassidy just knew the woman was dying to ask some serious questions about their meeting and whirlwind marriage, but she didn’t. She tread carefully and made Cassidy feel so much at home that she already felt absolutely horrible about deceiving this nice lady. Even if it was supposedly for her own good.
She and Kade were relegated to the living room for dessert. She’d come within inches of taking a seat in the comfy looking upholstered chair when it struck her that newlyweds would want to sit close. She headed for the sofa, more pleased than she should have been when Kade sat beside her. Not too close to invade her personal space, but close enough for his mother to think they actually loved each other.
With everyone seated in the massive living room, every time Kade’s mom seemed to be on the verge of asking more about the sudden wedding to a near stranger, one of the siblings distracted her. They were awfully sweet. It made her smile how much they loved their mother, their ranch, and yes, their brother too. Sheliked feeling caught up in the protective wave that covered Kade, and by association, her. That would be twice in as many days that someone had stepped forward to protect her. A girl could get used to that.
The next thing she learned was that in ranching country, where ranchers rose before the sun, they also went to bed early. One by one the siblings bid their goodnights to their mother and each other, Carson and his wife and son the only ones still living in the main house.
“Shall we?” Speaking softly, Kade extended his hand to her.
Taking hold of the proffered hand, they climbed the stairs in silence, Kade a half step ahead, leading the way. The master bedroom door was open, light spilling into the hallway. Kade closed the door quietly behind them, and suddenly the room felt much smaller.
Low and rough, his voice sounded from beside her. “Cassie…”
She liked how his name for her rolled off his tongue.
He took a step closer, reached out, not for her, but for a stray thread on the sleeve of her t-shirt, his fingers brushing her arm. The contact was electric, a jolt of pure, unadulterated awareness that made her forget to breathe. “I know we have a deal.”
She nodded.
“But the bed is… big enough. I’ll stay on my side. Promise. Okay?”
Her head barely managed a nod. “Of course. Yes. Fine.”
He gave her a small, lazy smile that could have made her forget her own name, and took a step back. “Jillian put my things in the tallboy dresser. I’ll just pop into the bathroom and change if you want to go ahead and unpack. You can have mom’s dresser and all the closet space you want.”
“Right.” She spun around and glanced at the two suitcases someone had placed by the wide dresser. “I, uh, think I’ll unpack tomorrow. I’ll just fish out my pajamas and toothbrush.”
In what felt like only a minute, she’d barely had time to grab what she needed out of the suitcase when Kade appeared in sweatpants and a Don’t Tread on Me t-shirt. “Do you have a preferred side of the bed?”
