Her head shook and she shrugged. “My phone died my first day here. I lost my charger.”
God, I felt stupid. I’d already known that, seeing how her phone was currently in our house being charged with my charger. Which would be why she hadn’t answered her phone when I called on my way back.
Connor continued like we hadn’t been talking. “And yeah, I care about her that much that I’d fly to Texas to make sure she’s all right. As for kissing her and asking her not to go? I’ll remind you she kissed me back, and that promise? She willingly made it, and since you seem to have forgotten this as well, added her own part to it.”
“Nah, man, it’s kinda seared into my brain. I know what she told you. And I know at the end she told you not to wait for her because she was coming back to me. That should have been the last thing she needed to say to you. All this other bullshit is completely unnecessary. Now I’ll ask you nicely one more time. Get. Off. My. Property.”
Mama’s voice got a little higher. “Gage Michael Carson.”
“When you stop talking for Cassidy and treating her like a damn child, and when she asks me to go, then I’ll go.”
I opened my mouth but slammed it shut as Cassidy stepped around me and started walking up to him. Connor’s hands immediately went up to reach out for her h*ps but Cassidy stopped and took one large step back, shaking her head slowly back and forth. I should have been happy that she stepped back before his hands could land on her, but the way they’d automatically gone out to her, like he hadn’t even thought about reaching for her, it’d just happened, was like another punch straight to my chest. Without looking back at me, she reached one hand back and linked it with mine, then dragged me with her as she walked forward, pushing Connor toward the cars.
“What is wrong with you?” she hissed at him as he continued to walk backward, toward his rental.
His face fell. “Cassidy, I had to know. I had to make sure you were okay.”
“Of course I’m okay! I’m with Gage!”
“Cass, he can’t just make you stop talking to me.”
“You’re right, Connor, he can’t,” she said, shocking the hell out of me. “But he doesn’t want me talking to you, so I’m not going to. I meant every word I said to you in California, and I told Gage that too. Connor, I am in love with Gage. He is my everything; don’t you understand that? If he doesn’t want me talking to you because I allowed you to kiss me, because I kissed you back, and because I think of you in ways that I definitely shouldn’t . . . then I have to respect that. And so do you.” She turned her body into mine and let her free hand flail through the air when she continued. “Or don’t, but at least respect me and my decisions. You knew I was coming back to Gage, and you knew when I left your apartment that I wouldn’t be coming back to you. I’m sorry if this isn’t what you want, Connor, but don’t make this into the huge, dramatic scene that it doesn’t need to be. Or more of one, anyway. I already told Gage about you, and he was the only one who needed to know; now I need to unnecessarily explain you to his family.”
“Cassidy—”
“Go home, Connor, you made this into a bigger mess and now I need to clean it up. Just go home.”
He stepped right up to her and cupped her cheek with his hand; my body froze before it started shaking. My free hand was already balled into a fist, but I forced myself to remain silent and still to see what she would do.
“Cass, I need you.”
“And I need Gage,” she said softly, and removed his hand while trying to force herself even closer to me, so I grabbed her and took a step away from him. “It will always be Gage for me. Please, Connor . . . go home.”
I watched as his completely broken face studied her, then turned to me and hardened up into an impressive glare. He wasn’t lying; he really cared for Cassidy. Connor didn’t seem like the kind of guy to back down from anyone, but as soon as Cassidy started telling him how it was going to be, he’d all but crumbled. With one last pained glance at Cass, he got into the Charger and drove away.
Cassidy relaxed as soon as he was off the ranch and her forehead hit my chest. “Gage, I had no idea. I’m sorry, I’m so sorry for everything. I’m sorry for California, I’m sorry for kissing him, I’m sorry for leaving you.” Her chest was heaving up and down quickly and I ran my hands over her back to calm her.
“Darlin’, it’s fine. He’s gone and from the look on his face I don’t think he’s coming back. Are you all right? You looked terrified, Cassidy, did he say something to you?”
“No, but all I could think about was how mad you were going to be. I was afraid you’d think I’d wanted him here or that I’d be happy to see him.”
“And were you?” I asked tightly.
“No! Seeing him here . . . realizing how bad I messed things up and how he could ruin them, God, Gage, I was terrified I was going to lose you.” Her body started shaking and she made a choking sound. “I’m so sorry.” She burst into tears and her knees buckled.
I easily lifted her into my arms and held her tight, letting her cry as long as she needed. Ever since the letter from her mom she’d been more emotional, but I didn’t mind. I loved that she was now open enough that she would easily share this with me too. “C’mon, sweetheart, let’s get you inside.”
She quickly shook her head and wiped at her cheeks and under her eyes. “No, you and Ty were going into town, and now I have to tell your mom and Amanda about Connor. I’d rather not have to see how I broke your heart again.”
“Darlin’, I’m not leaving you when you’re upset like this.”
“I’m fine, Gage, really. I just hate that I put you through that. Go run your errand. I’ll tell them and we’ll have dinner ready when you get back.”
“Cass—”
Her lips pressed to mine for long seconds, and without removing them she whispered, “Go, babe. I’m not running anywhere, I promise. This is my home—you are my home. I’m not leaving. Run your errand, I’ll be waiting here for you.”
My entire body relaxed at her words. “Be back soon, all right?”
“Be safe.”
Chapter Eighteen
CASSIDY
I FELT SOMETHING warm against my neck and smiled, thinking Gage had come for his morning hug. But then it felt like a weight on my throat and it was cutting off my air supply; at the same time I felt hot breath and tiny kisses cover my chin, cheeks, nose, and mouth. My eyes flashed open to see a sun-filled room and two tiny crystal-blue eyes directly above mine before a black nose plunged toward my eye and my face was covered in tons of little puppy kisses again. I reached up to pick the fluffy puppy off my neck and looked at the most precious face I’d ever seen. White muzzle and forehead, double mask of light gray with black spots and a couple brown splashes.
“Hi, precious,” I whispered, and giggled when I was rewarded with more kisses on my nose and cheeks.
“You like her?” a deep, gravelly voice asked from the side of the bed.
I turned my head and smiled brightly. “Like her? I love her! Is she ours?”
Gage nodded and reached over to scratch behind her ears; she instantly turned and started licking and nipping at his wrist. “She’s an Australian shepherd. If you want another kind of dog, I’ll buy you whatever you want.”
“No, she’s perfect! Oh, Gage, thank you so much!” I brought the little ball of fluff to my face and cuddled against her, enjoying her puppy breath. My fingers hit a collar and I pulled her away so I could look at it. Turning it around, my smile widened when I saw the hot-pink color. I would have paid to see Gage buying girly stuff. “Did you name her?” I asked, but where I expected to see a name tag, there was a large white bow instead, and dangling off one of the loops was the biggest diamond solitaire I’d ever seen.
I inhaled sharply and froze, unable to do anything but stare and hold on to the wiggling puppy. Gage sat on the bed near my hip and took the puppy from my hands. Holding her up and keeping her facing me, he gently untied the bow until he could slide the ring off. I looked up long enough to see his green eyes staring at me and his dimples showing his excitement, before looking back down at his hands. The puppy had started chewing on the untied ribbon, but when Gage grabbed my left hand and slowly slid the solitaire onto my ring finger, she started following his hands, licking all the way.
Gage and I laughed softly once, our hands both going to pet her, but always remaining in contact as we looked back at each other. His free hand came up and brushed some hair from my face and held it there as he leaned in until our foreheads were touching.
“Will you marry me, Cassidy?”
“Yes!” I cried, and pressed my lips firmly to his, which were failing at fighting a smile.
The puppy yelped playfully and wiggled her way in between our chests until she felt like she was the center of attention again.
“Then I just need to know one more thing, darlin’.” Gage pulled the pup to the side of our bodies and laid us down. “When can I marry you?”
“Whenever you want,” I answered breathlessly when his lips left mine.
“Right now.”
“Have to give me at least a few months.”
“Few months?” He leaned back slightly and pulled the puppy back to the side when she tried to crawl between us again. “Tell me honestly, Cassidy, are you saying that because you want time before we get married, or you want time to plan?”
“Need time to plan.”
Gage smiled and kissed me thoroughly. “Then no way am I giving you a few months. Few weeks.”
“Weeks? Gage, I can’t plan a wedding that fast.”
“Darlin’, I’m not gonna spend the next few months living in our house without you. I’m not gonna spend the next few months waiting to start our life together.” He leaned up so he was resting on his elbows on either side of my head. “Cassidy, I’ve wanted nothing but to marry you since I first saw you hop out of Tyler’s Jeep nearly two years ago. We have the rest of our lives to be together, yeah, but we’ve already spent too much time apart.”
I smiled softly and ran my hands through his thick black hair. “Weeks.” I nodded and then shook my head. “As soon as possible.”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah,” I agreed, and brought his face back to mine.
“I told y’all no hanky-panky until you marry that girl, Gage! I just knew you were sneakin’ in here. You are just like your daddy . . .” Her voice trailed off when Gage, who still hadn’t stopped kissing me, took my left hand away from his head and lifted it so the ring was facing Tessa. “Oh my God!” I heard Tessa’s footsteps quickly leave as she called for her husband.
Gage smiled against my lips and took my raised hand and brought it above my head, pinning it down onto the pillow.
“And, Gage!” she said, suddenly back in the room. “Get your butt off her and out of that bed this instant!” Gage groaned but only separated far enough to look into my eyes.