Chapter Thirty-Three
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Cassie waited untilGavin left her alone in the kitchen, took another moment to gather herself, then joined the others.Walking into the living room, she felt off-balance.And, if she was being honest, overwhelmed.
Her mind was cluttered with dozens of thoughts and general anxiety, and now that cryptic answer Gavin had given her, after the comment about anyone else getting stabbed for taking food from Tristan’s plate.She’d noticed months ago that Tristan had certain almost compulsive behaviors with food, and apparently his family knew it too.At least Gavin did.
She watched him talk with his siblings, his warm, easy smile telling her just how relaxed he was at the moment.How secure he was in their love and support.God help her, she was starting to feel that same way with him.
“You doing okay?”Bristol asked quietly, coming up beside her.
“Yeah.Just tired still, I think.”
Her stepsister rubbed her arm.“I’ll bet.You think it was your ex last night?”
“Yes.”She tucked her arms around her ribcage.Rob couldn’t have gone far.With him at the top of the suspect list, she couldn’t see him trying to get on a flight and risk getting flagged.She’d bet he was still somewhere in the area.“I’m hoping they can verify it was him and get a location.”
Ivy was right.Rob was desperate.And unpredictable.If he’d tried to burn her house down around her, then wait to shoot at her and Tristan when they came out, there was no telling what he’d do next.
“You should be safe in here though, right?”Bristol asked worriedly.
Cassie understood.Bristol had been kidnapped from a condo while waiting for protection to arrive.“Perfectly.This building is ten times more secure than the one you were in.”She fell silent again, watching Tristan laugh at something Carly said.“It’s ridiculously adorable, watching those two together.Makes my dusty old uterus cramp.”She’d never considered herself all that maternal, but maybe she’d been wrong.
Bristol snorted a laugh.“Dusty my butt.He’s great, though, Cass.I mean...reallygreat.”
Cassie could feel Bristol watching her.Could feel her stepsister’s curiosity and concern.“Yeah, he is.”But her heart still quaked in fear.She’d already taken a giant leap of faith with him.There was too much shit going on for her to even think about going deeper.
She thought of what Gavin had just told her.She never wanted to hurt Tristan.He’d proven again and again that he was different than Rob and all the others.The question was, did she have the courage to risk opening herself up for the worst pain of her life if things ended between them?
“Excuse me a minute,” she said quietly to Bristol, and slipped down the hall to Tristan’s bedroom.
She walked past the wide, king-size bed dominating the far wall, the sheets still rumpled.In the en suite, she shut the door, stripped, and quickly took a hot shower.The scent of his shampoo and soap wrapped around her, calming her, and feeling clean again helped bolster her mental clarity.
After toweling off and brushing her teeth, she put Tristan’s shirt back on and started buttoning it.A single knock on the door was her only warning before it opened.Her heart fluttered when Tristan stepped inside.
He shut the door behind him slowly, his gaze moving over her with pure male appreciation, lingering on her bare thighs exposed below the hem of the shirt.“You okay?”
“Better now.Did everyone leave?”She didn’t think she’d taken that long, only a few minutes.
“No, but they’re heading out soon.I think they’re waiting to say goodbye, but if you’d rather not, I’ll just tell them you went back to sleep.”
“No, it’s fine.I’ll—”
He cupped her cheek in his big, warm hand, those gorgeous green eyes searching hers.“How’re you doin’?For real.”
Oh, that sweet concern in his honeyed Southern accent.“Best I can.”
He nodded.“Anything I can do to help make it better?”
“You’re already doing it.”
