His smile was warm and boyish even as his fingers slid over my sex. “You love me?”
I bit my lip but my own smile broke through. I nodded. Of course I loved him. My heart pounded even harder. “You love me?”
His smile grew and he nodded back at me.
63
***Cass***
“You look beautiful, honey. Stop messing with your hair, though. I still need to spray it.” Aunt Jolene stood behind me in the bathroom mirror and didn’t even blink as she sprayed a criminal amount of hair spray at me. While I choked and tried not to inhale enough fumes to destroy the ozone layer, she just laughed at me. “Rookie.”
When I could breathe again I looked at her through the mirror and frowned. “Maybe I should wear the black dress?”
“This one looks amazing on you, Cass.” She spun me to the side and whistled. “Look at your ass in this one. It’s a showstopper.”
“I don’t want to stop any shows. I just want to be…appropriate? I don’t know why I’m even going to this thing. It’s going to be so awkward. And I’m never going to look as nice as Savannah or Sam’s new child girlfriend. Maybe I should just cancel.”
“You’re not going to look as nice because you’re going to look even better. You’re beautiful, Cass. You’ve been through it with all the publicity but you can’t fall for the words of stupid people.” She hugged me tight and sighed. “And as much as I don’t think much of Sam Ford, you have to go for your men. The men you love, by the way.”
I scowled. “Since when are you reasonable and logical?”
“Hey! I can be boring sometimes.”
“I said reasonable and logical.”
She patted my butt. “I heard what you said.”
I stared at myself in the mirror for a while after she left and wondered what the hell I was doing. The dress was beautiful, an off-white color that made my tan look great, but it hugged my upper half tightly and made my boobs feel like they were on display and in danger of spilling out at any minute. The bottom flowed out around my thighs and made me think of fairies but I wasn’t a fucking fairie. Add in the huge curls, makeup, and cowboy boots and I was having an identity crisis.
I heard a knock at the front door and panicked. I couldn’t wear the cowboy boots. It was crazy, no matter what Aunt Jolene said. I ran into my room and found my favorite low-top sneakers. They were white and way more comfortable so I counted it as a win.
Aunt Jolene appeared in my doorway and laughed when she saw the shoe change. “I don’t hate it. It works for you, kid. And you can run in them if you decide you need to make a quick exit.”
I winced. “Don’t jinx me.”
“Never. Now, come on. You’ve got three hot young men on the front porch and the neighbors are starting to stare. You’re going to create a riot with the soccer moms if you don’t get those guys away from here.”
My stomach was in knots as I hurried to the front door and spotted my guys. They were each in nicer versions of their usualclothes and I suddenly felt very thankful for Aunt Jolene’s nice clothes selection.
Hayes was too hot for words in his button down with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. West’s usual cowboy hat had been changed for a black one that matched his henley and the change made him even more mouthwatering. Cash’s tattoos were on display in a white t-shirt that hugged his muscles the way I wanted to. His hair was styled away from his face and he’d shaved the shadow that always kept his face perfectly scruffy.
My mouth watered and I wanted to skip the dinner for a whole different reason. I basically launched myself at them and laughed when West pushed Hayes aside so he could wrap me up in a tight hug first.
Aunt Jolene tutted from the door. “If you’re going to do that, at least keep her ass covered. We don’t just give that away for free.”
I flushed and pushed West away so I could push the dress down. “Maybe I should change-”
“No!” Cash swallowed and shook his head while staring at my thighs. “No. This dress is…”
“What?” I fidgeted, wondering what word he was looking for.
“Sorry. I can’t think of anything appropriate to say in front of your aunt…”
I hugged him and pressed a kiss to his cheek that left behind a lipstick mark. I hardly ever wore lipstick and the sight of the red lip print on his smooth skin made me grin. I reached up to wipe it away and the move reminded me of all the times I’d watched crappy romance shows or movies and seen a woman do the same thing to her love interest. It felt so…domestic.
“Get out of here. Your googly eyes are making me sick.” Aunt Jolene waved us off the porch and then winked at me. “Have fun.”
Hayes wrapped his arm around me and flashed a grimace at her. “It’s a family dinner with the father from hell. No one is going to have fun.”
