“That footage cannot be released. I’m going to need to speak to your-”
“Sorry, man, it already got out. Don’t know how but it’s not surprising.” The cop shook his head. “If that girl doesn’t forgive you, she’s going to upset a whole lot of Texas fans. I think the entire state is demanding she give y’all another chance.”
Deacon vanished to PR panic and curse the day he met us, I was sure, but I was having a hard time caring about anything more than getting to Cassidy. “Sorry, again. We weren’t exactly at our best last night.”
“Fear of losing the woman you love can do that. All of this is cleared up. Between your lawyer and Jay Kong’s lawyer, we’re just going to all pretend like nothing ever happened.” He watched West put his cowboy hat on and grinned. “I was serious about your game being off. If you take us to a championship and then shit the bed I’ll find you and plant drugs on you.”
West grunted. “At least you’re honest.”
“Alright, come on. The crowd’s growing restless. And there’s someone out back who’s waiting for you.” Deacon appeared again and motioned for us to follow him. “Remind me to thank Kate for all her help in this. She had this whole brilliant idea and now she’s nowhere to be found when it’s time to clean this shit up.”
I saw Cassidy as soon as the back door swung open. She was standing next to West’s truck in a tied off jersey and short shorts. Her long legs and stomach were bare and my body instantlyreacted to the sight of her. She was stunning with her hair in a messy bun and no makeup to be seen, especially with the smile she was beaming at us.
I jogged the short distance to her and yanked her into my chest and off her feet, needing to have her as close as possible. Feeling her wrap her limbs around me was fucking heaven. “God, I fucking love you, woman.”
She shuddered. “I like hearing that. A lot.”
West and Cash were waiting for their chance to hold Cassidy but I didn’t want to let her go. The few days we’d spent without her had been hell and I wanted to make up for lost time. West pressed into her from behind and Cash quickly turned her face to his so he could kiss her.
I could tell the moment Cash slipped his tongue into her mouth by the way her hips shifted against mine. The sweet reunion was quickly shifting into something hotter and I could hear Deacon starting to fuss over it so I eased Cassidy to her feet and stepped back. “Home.”
“How about I drive?” Her eyes were bright and her cheeks pink as she dangled the keys to West’s truck on the end of her finger. “I think I remember liking the way my driving ended last time…”
West bent down and tossed her over his shoulder. “No fucking way. And don’t think we’re not going to talk about how you stole my shit. I’m surprised it’s still running.”
Cassidy was halfway into the backseat when she giggled nervously. “Well… It’s still running. That’s the important part, right?”
Cash pushed West out of the way and climbed into the backseat with Cassidy. “Whatever you broke, baby, you’re about to make it all better.”
“I’m not sure what amount of sex makes up for backing into a telephone pole…” She cleared her throat. “And then sideswiping a dumpster….Thatdumpster.”
I looked back to where she was pointing down the alley and had to fight a laugh. I couldn’t figure out logistically how she’d hit it but it shouldn’t have been a surprise to anyone.
“You’re driving Hayes’ truck from now on.” West shook his head and pulled off his hat. “You’re going to be on your knees for a long time for that one, sweetheart.”
“Jesus, don’t say shit like that in public!” Deacon was still there, still pacing, and still losing hair by the second over us.
Cassidy saw that I was moving to go around to the passenger side and squeaked. “Um, Hayes? You’re going to have to climb in from the driver’s side… The other doors won’t open…”
“Of course they won’t.” West leaned over Cash in the backseat and pinched Cassidy’s chin. “You’re lucky I love you so much. This truck was my baby when the season started.”
I was halfway across the middle console, feeling like a fucking toddler, when I realized she hadn’t said it back to us yet. I froze and glanced back at her. “Do you love us, Strawberry?”
Her laugh made my stomach flutter. “I love y’all so much.”
Cash gasped. “You said y’all. We got a little Texas in you, didn’t we?”
She reached down and unbuttoned her shorts. “I’m trying to get a little more in me so could we hurry?”
West growled. “You’re getting a lot more than a little, baby. I hope you’re ready.”
74
***Cass***
“Wait!” Cash had his hand down my shorts already and West was flying towards their home but the thing I’d been avoiding thinking about had just crossed my mind. Even with Cash’s mouth on my neck and his rough fingertips on my clit, I couldn’t avoid it anymore. “The video. The one Sam had. Is it… Will he release it?”
“It’s gone. A friend took care of it before that fucked up dinner. Sam was never going to have a chance to hurt you, Cassidy.” Hayes watched from the front seat, his eyes locked on mine. “We were stupid but only when it came to admitting our feelings. We protected you.”
