“Is she in some kind of trouble? Is she running from someone or something?” Cash asked.
“What’s going on? What is he talking about, Red?” Memphis asked.
Red stared at both of them.
“I don’t know what’s going on. But if she asked you to respect her privacy, then do it,” Red said.
“What if I can’t?” Cash replied, and Red just stared at him. He looked at the cottage then back at Cash and Memphis.
“You all have to. It’s how it has to be.”
* * * *
Cassidy heard their conversation from the window. She panicked and decided that maybe it was best to leave here now. She walked toward her bedroom and pulled out her suitcase. She stared at it. She didn’t want to leave. She liked it here. Hell, she liked Cash’s kisses, and the way it had felt in his arms. She’d never felt so attracted to anyone. But he didn’t come alone. He came as part of a team, a group of soldiers, and one had such a bad attitude she wanted to punch him.
She heard the knock on her door and jumped. Why can’t Cash just let it be?
She needed to resist him. She needed to halt his advances and make it clear she wasn’t going to accept him or his team romantically.
It made her feel bad, and it also pissed her off.
“Damn it, Blaze. You’re such an asshole,” she said through clenched teeth.
She stormed toward the door and was shocked to see that it was Red.
She opened the door.
“We need to talk.”
He lowered his head as he stepped inside. His son and the others had to do the same thing each time they came inside.
She stepped back, and Red held her gaze.
“Want to talk about what went down between you and Cash?”
“No.”
“I think we ought to.”
“It doesn’t matter. I don’t think this is going to work out, Red. I think I should start looking for another place. Maybe head out of Tranquility and head north.”
“Not a wise idea when you have someone looking for you that means you harm,” he said.
She swung her head around to look at him.
“Don’t be pissed off. I put two and two together. That relationship you had in Houston made you quit a great job and drop off the radar. You don’t use a cell phone, you pay cash for everything, and you keep talking like everything is temporary. You can trust me. You can trust Cash and the men.”
She shook her head and turned around to walk toward the kitchen, pretending to keep busy.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You sure as shit do, soldier. You’re a Goddamn Marine. Start acting like one.” He raised his voice. The tears hit her eyes.
“Start acting like one? It’s what saved me from getting my God damn Marine head shot off.”
He squinted at her.
“This guy you were seeing, the bad relationship, he hurt you? He threaten you, abuse you, put a gun to your head, what?” he demanded to know.