Cassidy shrugged and stabbed a piece of broccoli with her fork. “Jules once kept some poor guy locked up in her room for nearly two weeks. He was a tourist she met while she had some time off work, so I guess she didn’t want to waste a single second. As long as you aren’t an asshole, the girls shouldn’t have a problem with you.”
“Thank you, Cass, seriously.” I reached across the table to stroke the back of her hand. “On Sunday I’ll cook for you all. Whatever you want.”
She lifted a single eyebrow. “What if it’s one of the plenty of things you don’t know?”
“Then I’ll learn.”
That week was one of the best in living memory.
I’ll admit to having a few panicked moments, wondering if Cass would get sick of my ass and throw me out and warn me never to darken her door ever again. I even had a fleeting worry that I might get sick of her.
There wasn’t a single other time in my life where I’d spent so much time with another person. Cass was now my longest relationship ever, and we hadn’t even made it official yet. Not that we needed to, I guess. All we were missing was the label. So, of course it was only natural that I’d worry about getting my fill of her.
It never happened.
It seemed to be the growing trend. The more I had of her, the more I wanted.
I never thought I could take pleasure in just relaxing with someone, lounging on the couch and watching awful TV, talking in bed until our voices grew hoarse. I wasn’t prepared for the thrill that went through my body when she kissed me unexpectedly, touched me as she moved around me.
Despite our God-awful start, Cassidy had let me in.
And I was going to barricade the door so she couldn’t toss me back out.
Even work was better that week. Everything balanced perfectly. No cash was different, all stock accounted for. Ashley was still a pain in my ass, but then I guess we can’t win ’em all.
I did, however, win over the roommates. Maggie, a tall redhead with a quiet voice, and the ever-cheerful Jules were bowled over with my sizzling sesame Korean beef with bok choy and rice.
“I’m going to have the fattest ass ever after this week,” Cassidy groaned, throwing herself facedown onto her bed.
I gave said ass a firm smack and started undressing for bed. “I love your ass. Don’t be talking shit about it in front of me.”
“Thank Christ you’re going home tomorrow. I’ve never been this well fed in my entire life.” Cassidy rolled onto her back and watched me shed my clothes.
I grinned at her blatant perusal. My girl liked the view, and I was more than happy to provide it. “If you’re that concerned, I can think of a few ways to burn off some calories.”
She gave me a slow, sleepy smile and stretched her body, making her T-shirt rise up and show me a generous expanse of her smooth, flat stomach. “I’ll bet. Have you always had a one-track mind?”
My grin was wicked as I crawled across the bed toward her. I grabbed her ankle and tugged her underneath me, making her yelp then giggle. “When it comes to you, hell-fucking-yes.”
Cassidy laughed and slid her hands up my arms. “Is it weird that I seriously like how insatiable you are?”
I shook my head and squeezed her hip. “It’s a fucking relief. I’ll never get enough of you, Cass. Never.”
She cupped my throat, her fingers over my pulse. “Is it just the sex then?”
There was nothing in her body language to betray her insecurity. She stroked her foot up my calf and her nipples were rock-hard beneath her T-shirt. But there was a sliver of doubt in her pale-blue eyes that made something in my gut clench.
It wasn’t as if we’d been banging like horny teenagers every night this week. For one thing, that night was only the second night off I’d had, but there had been plenty of other opportunities. Like the mornings I’d slid into her bed as she was just waking up. It had been liberating having unlimited access to her body. And we did take advantage of having each other so close. But we’d also been content to just lie in each other’s arms, flesh close and relaxed.
Just being with her, in any capacity, was enough for me.
But that uncertainty…it wasn’t the first time I’d seen it in her eyes. A part of me wanted to ask who had put it there and what I could do to make sure I got rid of it forever.
“With you, it’s everything,” I admitted quietly. “You make me really fucking happy, Cass.”
Cassidy smiled, but it wobbled at the corners. “I’m glad.”
I rubbed my thumb across her bottom lip. “Are you happy?”
She nodded, her eyes softening. “Really happy.”
“You know you have me, right? However you’ll have me.” I swallowed, my heart thumping so hard it felt as if the muscle would bruise. “Are you mine?”
Cassidy lifted up a little so she could press a soft, lingering kiss against my mouth. “I have been for a while now, Seth.”
It was like being released from shackles. She’d freed something inside of me with those words, fixed something I hadn’t been quite been aware of being broken. I wanted to be the very best for her—be someone she was proud of, someone she wanted to show off.
I knew, looking into those eyes that were more expressive than any other I’d ever seen, that this was it for me. There never would be anyone like Cass for me again.
So I’d better do everything in my power not to fuck this up.
* * * *
It was like seeing a completely different guy. The Blake in front of me wasn’t one I had seen recently. He was visibly relaxed, his entire body languid and at ease. His eyes were bright and focused, his face holding both a sense of calm and an air of delight.
I was flipping burgers on the grill while Blake lounged in a chair, sipping a beer with his feet propped up on the table. Marley emerged from the kitchen with a platter of buns and tossed a bottle of ketchup in the air, that mutt trotting along beside her, never taking his eyes from the platter.
“Your girl finally get sick of you?” Blake asked, flashing me an amused smirk.
I waved my spatula at him. “Watch your tongue, or the hound gets your burger.”
Marley huffed. “Haven’t you made him one anyway?”
For a second I just stared at her, unable to tell if she was joking. When her expression didn’t change and it appeared that no, she wasn’t joking, I added another burger to the grill that I’d made and kept just in case anyone wanted seconds. “And to answer your question, I kept my girl far too sated to get sick of me.”
Blake snorted a laugh. “I’ll bet.”
Marley swiped at Blake’s arm with a laugh. “Will you give your brother a break? He cleared out for an entire week, Blake. We owe him one.”
“More than one, if you think about it. How can you put a price on having freedom in your own home? I liked knowing that no one would walk in on us, no matter where we were,” Blake murmured, wrapping an arm around Marley’s waist and tugging her so she fell into his lap.
Marley giggled and leaned down to kiss him.
Maybe the whole me moving out thing wasn’t such a bad idea. Now that these two were all over each other like a pair of sex-starved nymphomaniacs, I doubted any of us would want me around for much longer. I sighed loudly to remind them I was still there.
Marley laughed and pushed Blake away. “Is Cassidy coming to dinner, Seth?”
“Not tonight. She’s on back shift this week, I won’t get to see her much.”
“No, not tonight, dummy. Saturday,” Marley said.
I twisted around to look at her. “What’s Saturday?”
Marley swiveled to pin Blake with a glare. “You didn’t ask him?”
“I forgot. We were sort of preoccupied,” Blake said, squeezing her thigh.
She sighed and turned back to me with a smile. “It’s my birthday. We’re going out to dinner with your parents and, if you can make it, you and Cassidy.”
Me and Cassidy. Cassidy and my family.
Did I want
to do that to an innocent girl?
“I’m assuming by your silence that I shouldn’t have said anything.” Marley’s eyebrows pinched together.
Ah, shit, I’d upset her. I flashed her my most charming smile. “Don’t be an idiot. We’ll be there. But you’d all better promise not to be freaks or assholes around Cass. I haven’t scared her off yet. I don’t want you all to.”
Blake snorted again and opened his mouth to reply. Marley, probably sensing it would only be something antagonizing, slapped her hand over his lips and smiled. “We’ll be charming and respectful. Scout’s honor.”
“You know Scouts are boys, right?” I asked with a laugh.
She rolled her eyes. “So sexist. Someone really should change that stupid rule.”
“Where are we going anyway?”
“Guy Savoy at Caesars.” Marley grinned like a maniac from Blake’s lap. “I’ve wanted to go forever and your dad set it up.”
Oh, fuck me. That place was pretention city. And knowing Dad, he’d hired one of the intimate private dining rooms. This was going to intimidate the hell out of Cass. Fuck.
* * * *
To say she wasn’t thrilled at the idea of sitting down for a meal with my nearest and dearest would be putting it very lightly. The curse words that came out of that filthy mouth made even my eyebrows shoot up in surprise, and I swear with the best of them. But after a lot of pleading and bartering—I owed her another night under the stars and a cooked meal whenever she felt like it—Cassidy finally relented.
I didn’t tell her where we were going. I figured that little nugget of information would be enough to push her over the edge and she’d point-blank refuse to come. For all Cass wasn’t like normal girls, and didn’t give a shit what people thought of her or whether they approved of what she wore or how she acted, I knew she’d feel awkward as hell at going to dinner at a place like Guy Savoy, where the customers would be dripping in wealth.
Which was why I had a secret weapon up my sleeve.
Cassidy scanned me from head to toe and frowned. “I don’t get it. I thought we were going out to dinner.”
“We are,” I said with a grin. Moving inside her apartment, I made a slow circle around her. “That is a very nice dress.” And holy Christ, it was. The navy fabric clung to her curves without being trashy. It shimmered and shone like a star but didn’t come across as overly flashy. It was sleeveless, had a high neckline and ended a few inches above her knees, showing off those delicious legs of hers. She’d piled her thick hair on top of her head in a messy yet elegant updo, and she stood a little taller in matching navy pumps.
My girl looked a million bucks.
“Fuck me, Cass, you look amazing,” I said, grasping her hip and tugging her forward.
She giggled and tilted her face up to meet my kiss. “You look like a hobo.”
I nipped at her bottom lip before pulling back to look at her with an air of innocence. “What? Why?”
Cassidy took a step away and gestured to my carefully thought out ensemble. “Because I doubt that T-shirt could survive another turn in the wash, and those jeans are more holes and rips than they are fabric. Where are we going, anyway?”
“Guy Savoy.”
“Guy Savoy,” she repeated, deadpan.
I gave a quick nod in confirmation. “Guy Savoy.”
Cassidy laughed, the sound high-pitched and manic. She stared at me for exactly five seconds before exclaiming, “What the fuck, Seth?”
“It’s where Marley wanted to go.”
She looked down at herself and I stepped into her space and took her chin between thumb and forefinger, raising her face so she would meet my eye.
“Don’t even think about questioning what you’re wearing. You look incredible, seriously. Like the winning pot at a high-stakes poker game. Don’t doubt yourself.”
Cassidy released a shaky breath. “I’m terrified now. You get that, right?”
I smiled and kissed her, soft, quick. “I know. I promise I’ll make it up to you.”
She nodded and moved away from me to pick up her small purse. “Will they even let you in dressed like that? Shouldn’t you be in a suit or something?”
“First of all,” I said, following her out the door, “I don’t give a shit what I should be anything. I do what I want. I wear what I want. Same goes for you. Second of all, I’m a Hamilton. There isn’t a place in this town that would refuse me.”
Cassidy rolled her eyes. “Are you sure we’ll both fit in your car with that ego?”
“It’ll be a tight squeeze, but I like you pressed up against me,” I said, giving her ass a gentle pat.
“You are incorrigible, Hamilton.”
“You love it, Reynolds.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Cassidy was practically vibrating when we got to Caesars. She clutched my forearm in a death grip from the second we boarded the elevator and I’d bet by the time we actually made it to the restaurant, I’d have permanent scars.
“You’re so cute when you’re nervous,” I said with an obnoxious grin.
She almost tripped over her own feet. Cassidy glared at me as we entered the restaurant and mumbled under her breath, “And you’re such a jackass.”
Guy Savoys was quiet. No music, just the soft hum of other diners’ voices and the usual bustle of activity in the kitchen. Low lighting made it an intimate escape from the speed and noise of the Strip. It was a far cry from the laid-back vibe of Billy’s. Why couldn’t Marley have craved ribs for her birthday?
We were fussed upon within seconds, and were told the rest of our party was already seated.
Cassidy shot me a wide-eyed look as we followed the host to the Krug table. Fucking typical Anthony Hamilton, getting the most expensive table in the place. “Are we late?”
I rolled my eyes but checked my watch anyway. No way—ten minutes early…that had to be a personal best—when it came to meeting my father, at least. “Nah, they probably all got here a while ago for pre-dinner drinks.” From what I knew, Marley got on really well with my mother, and Blake…well, Blake was still the good son who was all too happy to pucker up and kiss Dad’s hairy ass.
Mom saw us approach first and got to her feet with a wide smile. She was the polar opposite of Blake and me. Where we were tall, tanned and dark, she was slight in build, pale and blonde. We took after our dad, Blake in personality more than me.
When the rest of the table saw Mom get up, they also rose. Mom rounded the table with her smile that seemed to get bigger. She reached out to clasp Cassidy’s hand between both of hers. “You must be Cassidy, I’ve heard so much about you. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you in the flesh.”
Cassidy smiled back, and I didn’t know if Mom had actually put her at ease, or if she was just as good at bullshit as I was. “You too. I love your dress. Is that Dior?”
Mom nodded. “It is. And I just adore yours. It’s so flattering on you. What I wouldn’t give to have your height.”
She laughed. “Trust me. It’s the shoes.”
Marley was the next to appear, popping up at Mom’s elbow and grinning like a kid on Christmas morning. “Cassidy, I’m so glad you could make it.”
“Thank you for inviting me,” Cassidy said, flashing another confident smile.
Mom nodded before turning to Marley and saying something that made her giggle and nod.
“How did you guess who made the dress?” I asked, dipping my head to whisper in Cassidy’s ear.
She laughed softly. “That was no guess. Jules drooled over that dress when she saw it in a boutique last week.”
I snorted, far louder than I expected. So I was right. My girl was just as good at bullshit as I was.
At my obnoxious laugh, Mom turned back to face us. “Come, come, sit down,” Mom said, placing her hand on my shoulder to usher me forward. She winked when Cassidy’s back was turned and I couldn’t help but laugh. Only my mother would be impressed I’d finally brought a girl to a family outing. If on
ly Dad was so easily pleased.
“Seth,” Dad said, outstretching his hand for me to shake. “I see you took the dress code as seriously as always.”
I shrugged. “I’m here to eat. What the hell does it matter what I’m wearing while I do it?”
Dad clenched his jaw, but did it so subtly I was probably the only person to notice. He swung his penetrating stare to Cassidy and offered her his hand. “Anthony Hamilton.”
“Cassidy Reynolds. It’s a pleasure to meet you, sir.”
I choked back a derisive snort.
Dad’s face softened and I realized her manners, which she never extended to me, might actually win the old man over. “Same to you, Cassidy.”
“Seth, Cassidy, you two are over here beside me,” Mom said, waving her hand at the table. “Cassidy, sit by me, darling. Us girls can chat while the boys talk about whatever it is boys talk about while they’re trying to be important.”
Cassidy giggled and took the middle seat between Mom and me. Great. Me and the boys.
“I don’t think we’ve met yet,” Blake said to Cassidy.
I wanted to roll my eyes. No shit, Sherlock.
Her smile slipped for half a second. “No, I don’t believe we have,” Cassidy said, her voice a degree or two cooler than it had been before.
Blake didn’t seem to notice. He sat back down in his chair, still smiling that stupid, charming smile. “I have to admit that I’ve been curious about the girl who monopolizes all my brother’s time. Aren’t you sick of him yet?”
A tiny crease appeared between Cassidy’s eyebrows. “Why would I be?”
Blake’s smile widened. “Because he’s Seth.”
“Exactly. You’re his family. You’ll know as well as I do how special he is.”
At that, Marley and I exchanged a glance. She looked as perplexed as I felt until it suddenly hit me…Cassidy was pissed at Blake. It wasn’t surprising, really, given that what she knew about him consisted of him being accused of fathering another woman’s baby—the woman in question who was also sleeping with Marley’s ex at the time. He’d been a total dick to me when I’d tried to help him out with Marley, and he’d hit me. It was a wonder the girl was managing to remain civil.
Secrets, Lies & Imperfections Page 23
