We drank our coffee in silence, stealing glances at each other when we thought the other wasn’t looking. The tension was so thick I could barely breathe.
“About last night,” she finally said, “we should talk about what happened.”
Our eyes met, heat and hunger flashing through the kitchen.
That pout was still on her lips and I wanted to kiss it right off. Actually, I wanted to put cock right on it, tease those lips of hers open and—
A knock at the door made us both jump.
I frowned. Nobody came up here. Nobody except…
Groaning, I went to the front door, adjusting my cock in my pajama pants before I opened it.
Amos was standing on my porch, his usual shit-eating grin plastered across his face.
Timing dude. Your timing sucks.
“Hey, man,” he said casually. But then his eyes went wide when he looked past me and spotted Cassidy in her nightgown.
“Well, well, well.” He let out a low whistle. “Now I understand what’s been going on.”
“Amos.” My voice came out harder than I intended. “What are you doing here?”
“What am I doing here? What areyoudoing here?” He pushed past me into the cabin, completely ignoring my attempt to block him. “You haven’t been at work in days, brother. Haven’t answered a single text. The boys were starting to think a bear got you.” His grin widened as he looked at Cassidy again. “But I see you’ve been… busy.”
Something hot and possessive flared in my chest.
Amos was my best friend, but he was also a little whore who’d slept with half the women in Fernwood. The thought of himanywhere near Cassidy made me want to put my fist through a wall.
I stepped between them, blocking his view of her. “My phone’s probably out of power.” I hadn’t looked at it in days. “There was a fire at the farmhouse down in the valley below. Cassidy’s staying here until it gets sorted out.”
“Cassidy,” Amos peered around me, that charming smile of his on full display. “Pretty name for a pretty lady. I’m Amos. Hall’s better-looking friend.”
“Nice to meet you,” Cassidy said politely, but I could feel her eyes on me. Watching how I was acting.
“The fire was bad,” I said flatly. “I’ve been helping her deal with the insurance company.”
“Uh-huh.” Amos’s knowing look made me want to punch him. “Is that what the kids are calling it these days?”
“Amos.” I grabbed his arm and steered him toward the door. “I’ll be back at work next week. Tell the guys I’m fine.”
“Alright, alright.” He held up his hands in surrender, but his grin never wavered. “I can take a hint.” He glanced back at Cassidy one more time. “Nice meeting you, sweetheart. Don’t let this grumpy bastard scare you off. He’s actually a teddy bear once you get to know him.”
I shoved him out the door, but he stuck a foot in it before I could shut it and mouthed, “Are you tapping that?”
“No,” I responded sternly. “She’s just a friend.”
Amos laughed and quietly added, “Those are the best kinds. But… does that mean she’s on the market? Because if you don’t want to take a bite of that, I’d like to get me a taste.”
“Nothing’s going on between us,” I growled. “Get out of here.” I knocked his foot out of the threshold and shut the front door firmly behind him.
When I turned around, Cassidy was staring at me with an expression I couldn’t read. She’d seen the way I’d acted just now.
Territorial. Possessive. Like she was mine to protect.
Embarrassment burned through me. She must see now how much I cared about her. How attached I’d already become. And that scared the hell out of me.
“Hall.” She set down her coffee mug and crossed her arms. “Do you want to talk about last night?”
