“Cassandra?”
“The one and only. Do I need to repeat my question? Should I speak slower?”
“What are you doing here?”
I throw her question back at her in the lamest attempt in the world to buy myself time to come up with a story. I didn’t expect to come clean about who I am this morning, but I guess today’s the day. This is going to be a clusterfuck of epic proportions.
She crosses her arms over her chest and throws daggers at me from her eyes. Lucky for me, the daggers aren’t real because I’d be a goner otherwise.
“I asked first.”
If I have to have this conversation today, I’m not doing it here where the entire town of Winter Falls is listening. Knowing this town, the betting sheets are being drawn up as we speak.
I shackle her wrist and tug her out of the spa and down the street. Out of the corner of my eye, I notice Sage and her cronies following us. The gossip gals were a pain in the ass when I was a kid, and, based on the stories Rowan has told me, they’ve only gotten worse. Lucky for me, Lyric stops them.
I draw Cassandra into the alley betweenNaked Falls BrewingandBertie’s Recording Studio.When we’re halfway down the alley, she tears herself away from me and retreats a few steps.
“What’s going on? Why are you in town?”
I shove my hands in my pockets and shrug as I try to come up with a way to tell her the truth, which won’t cause her head to explode.
“Okay. Fine. I’ll return to the party and ask them.”
I can’t let her go. She’ll burn my tiny house to the ground if she learns who I am from the town and not me. And, make no mistake about it, the residents of Winter Falls are done keeping my presence here a secret. I’m surprised I got away with it for as long as I did.
I know they’re aware of me camping outside of town. The pies and casseroles left on my doorstep aren’t exactly stealthy, although the box of condoms did come in handy.
I grasp her shoulder before she gets too far. “You don’t want to do that.”
She rears back. “I don’t, do I? You don’t know what I want to do or don’t do. You don’t have the first clue about me.”
I use my hold on her shoulder to haul her near. “Wrong. I know lots of things about you. I know you melt in my arms when I nibble on your ear.” She shivers and I continue, “I know you taste of the sweetest honey.”
She leans into me for a few seconds before shaking herself and pushing me away. “Stop it. I’m not going to let you have your wicked way with me in an alley.”
At the thought of having my wicked way with her, I smirk. Wrong move. A muscle ticks in her jaw as her nostrils flare. She resembles a princess riding out to defend her kingdom. I don’t tell her what I’m thinking, though. I prefer my balls where they are.
“How do you know everyone in town?” she grits out.
I can’t continue to delay. I should have told her the truth by now anyway. But I wanted to stay in our bubble for a little while longer.
“Rowan’s my brother.”
Her jaw drops open. “Rowan as in Ashlyn’s husband?”
I nod.
“But his brother’s name is Cedar.”
“Cedar Archer to be specific.”
She pokes my chest with her finger. “You lied to me.”
I capture her hand and caress her wrist as I explain, “I never said Rowan wasn’t my brother.”
She yanks away from me. “You never said he was!” she screeches.
“You didn’t tell me you knew everyone in Winter Falls.” As defenses go, this one is pretty lame.