Page 55 of Hearts on the Mend

She licks her lips. Such a small, calculated move that makes my dick fucking throb.

“That’s the arrangement, right? I sleep here and fix up the house.”

“Right.”

“And that’s what I’ve been doing.”

“And getting new tires for my Jeep, picking up Ruby for me when I have to work late, making sure the woodstove never goes out in the kitchen.”

I bring the tip of my nose dangerously close to tracing the sides of her face. I can smell the chocolate chip cookie she had before she sprinted to the bathroom for her shower on her surprised exhale. “So what exactly is pissing you off here? Let’s go.”

Cassie stares at the sparrows tattooed on my hands, follows the line of my arm to my shoulder, before finally looking me in the eyes. “Get ready.”

I push off the door with a small chuckle as she yells the entire way upstairs, complaining about how cold the house is.

The joke’s on me, though, because I take a shower next, running out of warm water. Stuck in that fruity fog, only to come out and find Cassie in the kitchen with a glass of wine and another cookie. She’s wearing an emerald-green sweater dress that hugs every fucking delicious curve of hers and is tugging on knee-high boots.

“Too much?”

“You’re never too much.”

She groans. “Let’s go. I’m so nervous I could throw up.”

“Not like you need to marry the guy.”

She shoves my truck keys into my hands. “Like it worked so well the first time.”

“You’re saying there isn’t going to be a second time?”

“I can’t afford to end the first marriage,” she scoffs. “No, I’m fine with it being just me and Ruby…” She trails off as I walk behind her. She pivots, peeking at me over her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

“You look…”

I scratch the corner of my freshly shaved jaw.

“Good.” Her voice cracks before she dashes outside.

The sky is close to black, another short day coming to an end.

I’d rather be anywhere than driving my roommate to a date, the same one I still dream about after the best sex of my life, as if this is all perfectly normal.

“Be nice,” she warns as we step inside the Oyster and Pearl. “And use your words.”

I clear my throat, pushing past the reminder of the last time I told her that. Cassie swats my hand away from the small of her back. Fine, that was a jackass move, but until I get a read on who Sloane convinced to show up on a date, I might be a little possessive.

Sloane springs from the table, my brother Ethan joking with Jack and another guy when we enter. Must be her date.

Fucker is wearing glasses and a cream cardigan, his short curly brown hair brushed back. Like someone who is responsibly saving for retirement and makes sure to hit his daily fiber goals.

“Finally, you’re here!” She draws Cassie in for a hug, narrowing her eyes at me before spinning Cassie toward the table. “Cassie, this is Blake Higgins. Blake, this is Cassie Whitman.”

“Gaines,” Cassie adds awkwardly. “Cassie Gaines soon enough.”

Blake stands, reaches his hand out toward Cassie, and she’s already blushing. I lean around to check because… what the fuck. Why is she blushing?

“Oh,” Sloane says, “and this is Nolan. The other Murphy brother.”