“Right now my heart is hanging out wherever you are, Logan.” Her gaze was on mine, even though I was determined to ignore it. “I’m not trying to get emotional, or scare you away. I know how long it takes for two people to feel deeply about each other. I’m not naïve to what I’ve been through with Brant and my family. I just know that I’ve never felt so safe in my entire life. When I’m with you I can breathe. You make the pain and frustrations go away. It’s not the sex, although it’s been amazing so far. It’s just you as a person. I trust you with my life. I know you, of all people, wouldn’t ever put me in danger, or lie to me about who you are or what you’re feeling.”
I wanted to pull the car over and tell her the truth, but how could I? We were close to seeing her family. Time was running out for me to come clean, and I knew if I did she wouldn’t allow me to continue on. As much as I cared for Cassie, I couldn’t be selfish. I couldn’t keep someone who didn’t belong with me, even if it’s exactly where I wanted her to be. “I’m not perfect, Cassie. I hope you know that.”
“None of us are. As least you’re real. Even if things don’t work out for us relationship wise, I hope you’ll continue to be my friend. In a city of madness I know it’s peaceful as soon as you walk into the room.”
She was putting me on a pedestal I didn’t deserve. “I remember how rude you were when we met.”
“How would you have acted? You’d just caught me in possession of drugs. I was in no position to be able to focus on my demeanor. I was about to go to jail. My life would have been over, and I was desperate.”
“I get it. I’d been watching you for weeks. That little outfit you have to wear for work was a bit too revealing if you ask me. It was impossible to not imagine you naked.”
“Wow, I’m sort of glad you never mentioned that before.”
“Yeah, it wasn’t without effort, trust me. I think what bothered me even more was seeing you with your boyfriend. No offense, but what did you see in him?”
“He was nice to me. I thought he worshipped the ground I walked on, but clearly that wasn’t the case.” Cassie seemed to be uptight. “He made me do things I wasn’t exactly comfortable with. Before I knew it I was becoming someone else entirely. I think that’s why it’s been easier to get over his betrayal and let him go. In all honesty, he was never mine to begin with. His heart wasn’t with me, not the way I needed it to be. I sacrificed everything for him; I gave up my family because he convinced me it was the only way for us to have a future. When we arrived in Vegas I thought it was the start of something beautiful. Instead, it became the end of everything I once thought I wanted.”
“I wish I could have warned you sooner. The day you moved into that house I saw the innocence in you, even before we started looking into your identity. Granted, once you finally got a job it was easier to obtain your information. The casino gave us everything we needed. That’s how I knew I could find you outside that day. I’d been waiting for my opportunity to get you alone. It just so happened you were doing something illegal, which made you an easy target for blackmail. I’m sorry for my part in that, and what happened afterwards. I was just doing my job, Cassie. I never meant for you to have to go through what you did. It was before I knew you,” I lifted her hand up to my lips to kiss it. “Before I wanted you for myself.”
When I glanced in her direction to make sure she wasn’t upset, she was smiling at me. “So you’re admitting you want me?”
“You already know the answer.”
As intense as our conversation was becoming, I knew from the landscape we were getting close to our final destination. The picturesque view was breathtaking, even better than the lodge we’d stayed at.
Then I saw the exit I needed to take. Without saying anything, I merged into the designated lane and proceeded on the road, knowing the meeting location was only about a mile away.
“How come we’re getting off? Is this where your stop is located?”
“Yeah. I have hotel reservations here in Ashville.”
She gave me this look, like for the first time in her life she was questioning her trust where I was concerned. I quickly went back to watching the car in front of me, instead of allowing her a second to figure out I was hiding something.
The hotel wasn’t anything fancy. Once I put the car in park I checked the clock on the display. It was quarter of noon. I wasn’t sure what her parents were driving, or if they’d arrive yet, but it was important to act like nothing was wrong.
Cassie unfastened her seat belt, but grabbed my hand before I could continue out of the vehicle. “What?” I asked.
“Another night at a hotel with you. I’m starting to think I might want to come on more road trips if it has these same perks.”
Looking into her eyes when I knew we were about to part ways was so fucking hard. I stroked the side of her soft cheek, trying my hardest to remember every single light freckle across her nose. I needed to keep my emotions at bay, and as the seconds went by it was becoming impossible. “I never meant to feel this way about you, Cassie. I’ve spent my career being professional, and then you walked into my life. When I asked you to come with me I never expected we’d be like this. You’re so beautiful, inside and out. I’m lucky to know the real you, and I’ll be forever grateful you gave me the chance.”
“Are you getting sentimental on me? I might have to attack you once we’re in the room.”
I reached over and kissed her, knowing damn well she’d change her mind about me the moment she saw her family. Our lips lingered as I opened my eyes and saw into hers. This was how I intended to remember our goodbye, not the way she’d look at me when she realized I’d betrayed her.
We exited the vehicle after our short embrace. Cassie reached in the backseat to fetch her bag, while I got the rest of our things out of the trunk. Little did she know I’d run into the house before we left and gathered her favorite items she wouldn’t want left behind. I’d tucked the bag in the far corner of the trunk and hoped she never noticed it sitting inside.
We walked together inside the hotel, and I headed straight for the front desk. I had to act normal, not like I was there to meet someone. It was bad enough I’d done this behind her back, I couldn’t give her warning before she was reunited with the parents she’d given up on.
Cassie sat down in the lobby expectantly. I kept glancing over, hoping she’d stay put. Then I saw them, the two people with hopes of having their little girl come home. My heart began to palpitate, my palms becoming sweaty. I was overwhelmed with different emotions as they got up closer, drawing enough attention for her to look up.
Her mother was crying, while her tall father stood with his hands to the side. Cassie stood up, but didn’t embrace her mom, not at first. Her immediate reaction was to turn around and look at me. Her face said it all. She knew I’d done this, and it was like a full circle from the first time we’d met. All I saw was anger. She’d trusted me. She’s given herself to me completely and I’d known from the beginning we didn’t have a chance.
I stood watching for a couple minutes, finally seeing her in her parent’s arms. They’d protect her and help her get over everything she’d been through, including me. They’d give her the opportunity to turn her life around. She’d be safe and loved. That’s all I could hope for.
I waved to her father. He nodded back. Cassie turned to follow his gaze and found me standing in the same location. Her father began to approach me, but Cassie remained. He reached his hand out and shook mine. “We really appreciate it. She gave us a real scare.”
“I figured. Your daughter is a wonderful woman. It’s obvious she was raised by two good people. I didn’t tell her we were coming here because she can be pretty stubborn.”