Page 233 of A Song for You

I sigh. “I’m just so happy.”

He laughs and moves to stroke my cheek reverently. “And that’s making you unhappy?”

I lean in to his touch. “I destroyed them, Jay,” I whisper.

“Who, baby?”

“Cash and Grace. They should be together. They should be as happy as we are.”

His brows knit together. “That’s not on you, Cat.”

“It is, though,” I huff. “Cash was my best friend. For so many years, he was my favorite person in the world. Now I don’t even recognize him. All he does is drink. And hang out at his stupid club,” I say with a groan. Chase as a club owner? That I can see. But Cash? All he’s ever cared about is James Liquors. Until now. Now that he’s lost control of it, he’s spiraling.

“What can I do?” Jay asks.

“Nothing,” I sigh. We tried to get them back together, and it backfired. At this point, I have to step back and let my brother figure this out himself.

“I know something that will make you smile,” Jay whispers.

“What’s that?”

“Google our names, Kitten,” he says, wearing a sly grin.

Pursing my lips, I narrow my eyes at him. “What did you do, Mr. Hanson?”

Though his efforts are valiant, I know him well enough to see the slight crack in his façade, the nervousness over whatever he’s done.

Wiggling my mouse to wake up my computer, I watch the black screen light up to a picture of Chloe and me in Paris. It’s from the last trip I took before my grandfather got ill. God, that feels like a lifetime ago. Six months ago, if someone had told me I’d be sitting in my office with Jay Hanson right now, I’d have laughed my ass off. Then I would have raged and probably thrown a thing or two.

I never would have believed I’d be spending my weekends with this man and our daughter.

Flicking my eyes to him, I smile, then type our names into the search bar. I suck in a breath as I read the headline out loud. “Jonathan Hanson Confirms Relationship with Catherine James.”

When I turn to him, he’s studying me, waiting for my reaction. “Oh my God,” I whisper.

“No going back now, Kitten,” he says softly, his features still pensive.

Nibbling at my bottom lip, I turn back to the screen and read the press release.

Cat and I have been friends for years, but it wasn’t until Cat started working with Grace Kensington that I was able to see her in a different light. Grace has a tried-and-true method that leads to a real connection, and Cat and I are so grateful to her for helping us realize what has always been right in front of us.

I let out a soft laugh. “That’s one way to spin it.”

“We’ll do some press. A talk show or two. Really beat the story into everyone’s heads so Frank’s brother doesn’t suspect a thing.”

I blow out a breath. “And Chloe?”

He scrubs his hand over his face. “They can’t know she’s mine, baby. I fucking hate it more than anything, but if they know she’s mine? Fuck, it puts you both in danger.”

“More secrets,” I mutter. Though there’s no other option. “I hate this.”

“Let’s just focus on the good. You’re done with fake dating other men. You and Chloe are safe. And we’re together. Who cares what the rest of the world thinks? What matters is our family. From here on out, it’s the three of us, and that’s all I care about.”

“I just wish…” I break off, scanning the barren shoreline outside my window. Fall really is here. It makes me want to take a blanket and picnic basket down there and lose myself in the season.

“What do you wish, baby?”

I shake my head. No more wishing, no more sadness. “Let’s go for a picnic. Let’s pick Chloe up from school, grab waffles, and celebrate.”