“Shit.” I struggle for air as they pull the blanket off my face.
“Don’t come back, dude.” It’s the bouncer that I bothered to tip with a fifty. “Next time bones get broken, if you know what I mean.”
“I have to get back in there.” I pull my wallet out and toss a few hundred dollar bills at him.
“Keep your money, man. It’s not good here anymore.” He pushes me out to the curb as I try to leap past him.
“Cassidy!” I shout so loud my voice echoes down the empty street.
“Do that one more time, and I’m calling the cops.” He shakes his stiff neck without making eye contact. “Believe me, the chick’s not worth the trouble.”
“This one is.” I try to dive past him just as his oversized mitt connects with my jaw.
The last thing I see is Cassidy Clayton running out screaming—that beautiful face of hers staring down at me in horror.
If that’s the last thing I ever see, I’m good with that.
Then the world claps to darkness.
Making Hay of the Situation
Cassidy
Cade James lies cold and dead in my arms as I wail into the night like a creature that’s just been skinned alive. I might as well be. My beating heart has fallen right out of my chest and is rolling around somewhere by my feet—or at least it feels that way.
A hard groan comes from him as he bucks in my arms.
“Cade!” I howl into his face and slap him silly until his lids flutter and dance. He gives a groggy-eyed stare up at me, and I slap him one more time just for the heck of it. “Wake the hell up right this minute!” I shout so loud my voice rubs raw.
Cade grunts and moans, struggling to sit, just as a car pulls up and out spills Piper.
“I knew you two would work it out!” She gives a smug grin just as Caila struts from the side of the building.
“You need an ambulance?” My sister breaks that last word into three distinct parts far better than I could have. Sometimes, I think Caila beefs up her accent just for the hell of it. On second thought, it’s most likely just for the hell of her tips.
“No,” Cade growls as Owen helps him to a standing position.
Piper comes over and helps me to my feet as well. “Everything fine and dandy?”
“Piper”—Cade touches the back of his hand to his cheek and inspects for blood—“we haven’t had a second together.” He winces over at me. “Cassidy,” he presses my name out with such heartache I can’t help but bleed for him—for the two of us.
“He sort of had a conversation with my sister.” I nod over to Caila as Piper squeals like a little pink piglet full of Sunday joy.
“Did she get you?” Piper howls and claps up a storm. “I remember when I thought she was a stripper myself.” She glances to Caila. “No offense.” She turns back to her brother. “I about had a heart attack. Did she take off her shirt? Did you see her boobs and die right there?”
“Yes.” Cade nods incredulously at his baby sis before glancing to mine. “It’s very nice to meet you. I’m sorry about getting on stage and disrupting your routine.”
Piper sucks in a hard breath. “You went up on stage?”
“He sure did.” I glare at him a moment, still not quite sure what to make out of his runway routine. I know he was trying to protect me—but that declaration of love. Was that real? Or just a ploy to get me—Caila—to put my shirt back on? “Well, I’m here, and you’re talking to me. Go ahead, Cade. Anything you want to say to me you can say in front of the people here. I don’t think we have anything else to hide.” I swallow down the heart-shaped lump in my throat. I’m sort of hoping he breaks into song again—the one with the words I never thought I’d hear from a man.
Cade looks around before landing those steel blue beams square over mine.
“I love you.” He staggers forward, landing his strong, warm hands over my arms. His eyes bear into mine with a desperate look of longing. “I mean it, Cassidy. I’ve never felt this way about anyone in my life. What we have is real. I swear to you, it’s too good to pass up. Please, can we go somewhere alone and talk?”
That knot builds in my throat ten times harder than before as I glance to my sister.
“You want to go anywhere with him?” Her eyes cut like glass. I’ve been holing up with Caila this last week and a half. It’s been some long overdue sisterly bonding time, and I don’t regret a minute. Piper knew where I was the entire time, but I swore I’d pop her hot little head right off her body if she uttered a single word. And, true to Piper form, she was loyal to a fault. A part of me wishes she had uttered a word. I’m pretty sure she’s not the reason I’m standing next to her brother at the moment. Only the good Lord knows how, but that boy tracked me down on his own.