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“Same,” Declan says.
“Shanay would string me up,” Linc says. “When we’re out, she’s my queen. No one gets between us.”
Cass shoots me a look. Busted. Tried by a jury of my peers and found guilty.
But I wasn’t on a date. Not really. Maybe if we were, I would have focused on her more fully.
“Well,” Cass says, her voice sugar-sweet. “Your QB prioritizes his fans. And that’s a quality that I … admire.”
Does she, though?
What’s wrong with prioritizing my fans? Especially when I’m not on a real date?
“So, when he called and asked me to the gala, saying he was thinking of how it would benefit me and Porch Light to get access to the donors and influential people attending, I said yes. He did say how he couldn’t stop thinking of me. He wanted me and wouldn’t settle for any other date to the function. How does a woman turn down that kind of flattery? I guess he’s basically obsessed with me.”
Whoa, Nelly.
She takes her hand, the one that attempted to pinch me earlier, and sets it on my leg. Then she stares adoringly into my eyes while she gently runs her hand from the middle of my thigh down to my knee and back. Her smile is a taunt. One only I can decipher.
“And the rest is history,” I say, needing to wrap this up before it gets even more ridiculous and out of control.
“Oh, we saw history in the making,” Linc says, wagging his brows.
“Yeah, we did,” Trey says. “I don’t know if you know this, Cass. But Marcus and I grew up in the same town—best friends since boyhood. We played all through high school and college together. His mama is like a second mom to me. And I’ve never seen him like he was with you the night of the gala.”
“I’m guessing Marcus never met a woman who challenged him,” Cass says.
Not like she does, no. She’s right. Most women want to date me, not kill me.
I lift the hand that’s dangling off the back of her chair and wrap it around her, giving her shoulder a squeeze. She smiles at me, but the smile is tinged with a private warning.
“I love that story!” Winona says. “I just knew you two would hit it off if you could get past the initial bad impressions. I didn’t foresee this development. But I couldn’t be happier.”
Cass’s face goes soft. I can tell it’s killing her not to tell her sister that we’re faking.
“Well, it’s still early,” I say, hoping that softens the guilt. “We’re not tasting for our wedding cake anytime soon.”
“Definitely not,” Cass says, and then she looks around and tempers her reaction. “Not yet, of course.”
My phone rings and I pull it out of my pocket to see who’s calling.
“Hearthstone,” I say to Cass. “Excuse me.”
The rest of our group starts talking about the cake flavors and which they like best. I breathe out a sigh of relief that Cass and I are no longer in the spotlight.
I stand, squeezing out past Cass and walking toward an empty corner of the bakery.
“Hey?” I answer.
“Marcus! It’s Coleman.”
“Hey, Coleman. What’s up?”
“I’ve got good news. Your offer was accepted. Escrow is starting as of today. The sellers said to thank you for accepting the longer escrow since they aren’t moving out till January.”
“I got the house?”
I glance back at the table. Cass is watching me while everyone else is talking. Her face goes flat. Does she not want me to get the house? She sure tried to stop the process early on. Why would she care? I already live in Waterford.
