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I chuckle, picking up Winona’s suitcase and loading it into the back of my SUV. When I come back, Winona has the front door open. A stack of suitcases and bags is sitting next to the door.

“We’re only going for two and a half days,” I say. “You don’t need to bring a week’s worth of stuff.”

“I need options,” Cass says, rounding the corner.

Her hair is down and curled into soft waves. I stare at her as if I’m seeing her for the first time. She gets a confused expression on her face.

“I’ll leave you two alone so you can say hello properly,” Winona says. “I know what it’s like when I haven’t seen Declan in a while. Don’t mind me.”

Winona practically skips out the front door, but then she turns back. “Do you two need me to shove you together? Go on. Say hi! Give him an I’ve been missing you kiss!”

Cass looks at Winona, her brows raised, but then she starts walking toward me. Winona watches and I wonder if we’re going to have to actually kiss. And now, all I can think about is what it would be like to kiss Cass Carter. It would be incredible. I know that. Jaxon was right when he said the same fire that burns is the one that sets sparks flying. And I’ve already seen what she’s like when she’s trying to be playfully seductive during our dance at the gala. I’ve also experienced her softer side—during her panic attack in the seatrain. Kissing Cass would start off explosives and soften to a warmth that would overtake me. She’d be as dangerous in that as she is in everything else.

I blink, trying to erase the images of my lips on hers. She’s still approaching, and Winona’s watching on like the kiss police.

I extend my arms, and thankfully, Winona turns away, apparently convinced Cass and I are about to have a romantic moment.

The screen door clatters behind Winona just as Cass wraps her arms around me and whispers, “Just play along like we’re kissing.”

She holds me and I pull her close, putting my cheek to hers. Her breath fans across my ear. My heartbeat picks up even though I know we’re just playacting.

She says, “Missed you, Marcus,” in a voice that’s loud enough for Winona to hear from where she’s playing invisible sentry on the porch.

“Missed you too,” I say, loud enough to be heard.

Cass whispers, “You missed me like a headache, I know. And you can let me go now.”

I don’t let her go, though. I hold on a beat longer, not sure why, besides the fact that I love the smell of her hair and the feel of her in my arms.

She tugs backward, forcing me to drop my arms. When she steps back, I try to make sense of the disappointment washing over me.

I don’t want to actually kiss Cass Carter. Do I?

No. Of course not.

“Okay,” I say, clapping my hands together. The sound echoes through the house, filling the awkward silence between us.

I turn toward the door and the pile of suitcases and bags.

“Seriously, Cass?” I say.

“Watch it, Delaney. I pack what I pack. You’ll be glad I did when you see me tomorrow at the studio. I’m going to make the Thunder and Porch Light proud.”

“I’m sure you will,” I say without thinking.

“Don’t use false flattery. I won’t fall for it.”

The thing is, it wasn’t false. Something’s wrong. Terribly wrong.

I grab a giant beach bag, a small square cosmetic case and her rolling suitcase and head out the door like a man fleeing the truth. Because I am exactly that.

I can’t develop feelings for Cass, of all people. I can’t want her. And I definitely can’t have her.

I load her bags into the back of the car. When I turn to look up at the house, she’s locking the door and turning to walk down the steps. Her face hasn’t changed. Her body’s still the same. The brown hair that bounces around her shoulders as she descends the stairs is the same.

But something is different.

My breath literally catches at the sight of her, and I want to put myself through some sort of brutal workout to shake this feeling.