Cassie jerked awake, heart hammering, applause still ricocheting in her skull.For a moment, she couldn’t recall where she was.Then a snore cut through the silence.
Margie.
Reality slammed back hard: Connor—Clifton—The clubhouse.
She sat up fast, legs tangling in the couch cushions.She hadn’t meant to pass out—hell, she hadn’t planned on staying at all.Snatching up her things, she crept past Margie’s sleeping form and slipped down the hall into the commons.
Harsh morning light fell across the lone figure slumped at the bar.Nash, head down, one arm draped across the wood, the other wrapped around Connor’s cut.
It was a jarring sight—seeing him.Of course, she’d seen him last night when they’d been nose to nose, screaming…but this was different.This was…he was…
Her throat dried, her stomach twisting sharply.
Forget Nash.
She just needed to get the leather and get the hell out.
Easing behind the bar, skirting broken glass, she found Nash not just gripping Connor’s cut—he was sleeping on it.
She was debating whether to try to pull it free—hoping maybe he’d drunk enough that he wouldn’t notice—when:
Bang.Bang.Bang.
Cassie jerked back as Nash shot upright, eyes bloodshot and wild, knee cracking against the bar.He cursed, blinking hard at her, mouth opening and—
Bang.Bang.Bang.
“I know you’re in there, Nash.Open up, you hear me?”
Despite the heat, Cassie’s flesh goose-pebbled—she knew that voice.
“Jesus Christ,” Nash muttered, shoving off his stool and staggering toward the door.
Grabbing Connor’s cut, Cassie shoved it into her bag and made a beeline for the back hall, trying doors as she crept past—each one locked.
Back in the commons, the front door slammed open.“Oh, I fuckin’ knew it.You’re drunk, ain’tcha?You know Junie had a goddamn softball game this morning?That you missed?”
Swearing under her breath, Cassie tiptoed back the way she’d come, pausing at the entryway before diving behind the bar.
“It’s fine, Mama,” came a younger voice.“Stop actin’ like he burned the house down.It’s one dang game.”
“Why you always defendin’ him?He’s a grown-ass man who don’t need no little girl comin’ to his rescue.”
“Could we not do this in front of the kid?”Nash barked.
“Could you start actin’ like she’s your kid then?”
“Look, Addy—somethin’ came up last night.”
Holy hell.Cassie had to get out of here.Her eyes flicked between the bar and the hall a few paces away.If she timed it right, a couple quick steps would carry her past Nash’s office and out the side door.
“Oh, Nash.Yeah, I see your somethin’.She’s tryin’ to sneak out right now.”
Cassie froze mid-step, eyes squeezing shut.
“Honey,” the woman called, voice sharper now, “Nash don’t care what door you leave from, long as you leave.One and done, like the Big Bang.Ain’t that right, baby?Emphasis on the bang.”
“Addison,” Nash growled.“Don’t.”
