I jumped and spun around, shocked to see Hayes in my room. “What are you doing?”
He leaned in my doorway and smirked at me. “You look panicked.”
“Why are you in my room?”
He pushed away from the door and walked closer. “I’m in your room because I thought I’d be helpful and tell you what everyone else will be wearing. Dresses. Short ones. Like the one you wore the night we met.”
I crossed my arms and scowled. “That one was borrowed.”
“Can you borrow another one?”
“Not likely. Everyone hates me now. If they did offer to share a dress with me I’d be terrified it was coated in itching powder.” I turned my back to him and acted like I was unbothered. “Also, fashion isn’t a good enough reason to let yourself into someone’s house.”
“Just wear what you have on then. It’ll be great.” I could feel him backing away as he spoke. I’d clearly crossed what he was comfortable with.
I went to my dresser and grabbed a tank top. “What about this? It’s not a dress but I’ll have skin on display. Does that work?”
“Try it on. Let’s see.”
I held up a white tank top and turned to face him. “You want to leave?”
He shook his head. “I’ve already seen it all, sweetheart.”
Instead of letting him embarrass me I called his bluff. I yanked my t-shirt over my head and then unhooked my bra. It was clear he hadn’t expected me to strip by the way his mouth had dropped open. I didn’t linger; I pulled the tank top on and adjusted my boobs before reaching up to let my hair down.
“Good enough?”
Hayes reached up and scratched his jaw. “Yeah. That definitely works.”
“Alright then. Lead the way.”
He tipped his head forward and when he glanced up at me through his lashes with a devastating smirk twisting his lips, I felt dizzy. “Ladies first.”
I held my breath when I moved past him, doing my best to not let any part of me touch any part of him. He ruined my plans when he lightly gripped my upper arm and tugged me to a stop.I made the mistake of looking up at him without bracing for his blue eyes.
“Today, with those guys, was rough. Are you okay?” He sounded sincere but I couldn’t trust it.
“Come on, Hayes, you don’t have to pretend like you care. No one’s watching.” I pulled free and hurried to the front door. Before I could open it Hayes snapped his arm out over my head and braced his hand against it. He was close enough behind me that I could feel his body heat and it warmed me too much, too well. I leaned my forehead against the door and sighed. “You hated me yesterday. Please don’t make this hurt more than it already does.”
19
***Cass***
Hayes’ breath tickled the back of my neck. “Are you going to be able to do this? People are going to be watching tonight and there won’t be space for breaks.”
“I’ll be fine.”
“You cringe every time I touch you, Cassidy.” As if to prove his point he ran his free hand down my bare arm. “That can’t happen tonight.”
Finding my backbone I spun around and stared up at him. Reaching out, I pressed both of my hands to his chest and watched him flinch. “That can’t happen tonight, Hayes.”
“I wasn’t ready. Try again.” There was a hint of teasing to his voice that disarmed me. He bent down so we were eye to eye. “Can you act like you want us tonight?”
My breath caught in my throat. I felt like he could see straight through me. Worse, I felt like he would use it to hurt me. I twisted back around and yanked the door open. Stomping downthe sidewalk to the truck, I glanced back at Hayes and frowned. “Make sure the door catches.”
I climbed into the truck and ran a shaky hand through my hair. I felt raw. Doubting my choice to go out with them, I stared back at the house and wished I was staying in. Each second that passed around the Ford brothers was another second I wasn’t sure I was going to make it out with all my parts intact.
Weston looked back at me with a blank expression on his face. “Took you long enough.”
