And for the second time in less than an hour, my heart slams to a dead stop.
“Cash” is notCash Banks.
“Cash” is Spencer Devereaux.
My mind can’t even begin to process what is happening.
Carter claps him on the shoulder. “Cash, buddy! Finally, you get to meet my sister. Rhea—this is Cash. Cash - Rhea.”
Spencer—Cash—whatever the hell this man’s name is—extends a hand toward me.
I take it before I can think. His fingers wrap gently around mine, and the heat surges instantly up my arm.
“Rhea,” he says, his voice smooth. “Actually, it’s Spencer. ‘Cash’ was your brother’s idea of a joke back in college. Unfortunately, it stuck.”
We all laugh. At least I try to make a sound that passes for laughter.
And then Spencer looks at me, his eyes sharp with meaning. “You look exactly like someone I once knew.”
What is he doing? Calling me out? No—he wouldn’t. He has no reason. Noright.
But then I realize, he’s not exposing anything. He’s giving me a choice.
An opening.
A moment to decide how we play this.
Do we pretend we’re strangers?
Claim our roles as grantee and grantor?
Ghosts and regrets?
I shake it off, draw a breath, and somehow find a smile.
“Well,” I say, lightening my voice, “I’m not sure if that’s good or bad—but it’s nice to finally meet the mysterious Cash Banks.”
Imakemyself flash him a smile.
I can do this. I can play this game. I stay in control of myself and the situation.
Even if my hand is still tingling where he touched me. Even if my stomach is twisting in ways I don’t have words for. Even if I’m standing face to face with the man who broke me open in a single night and never looked back.
Even if he is themysteryfather of my daughter, Esme.
EIGHTEEN
SPENCER
I hand her the moment. Not much, but just enough to say we weren’t strangers.
“You look exactly like someone I once knew,” I say, soft but clear—an invitation, if she wants it. A chance to say,Yes, we do know each other. Yes, we shared something real.
But she sidesteps it with a joke.
“Well, I’m not sure if that’s good or bad—but it’s nice to finally meet the mysterious Cash Banks.”
And I’m pretty sure I know how to read that. She’s not taking the bait. She’s moved on.
