I Knew You Were Trouble - Cassie Mae Page 0,19

look.”

“There’s a look, huh?”

“Yep. And it happens every time I tell people that my parents own that house up there. That this guest house is usually rented out, but they gave it to me to use while I went to school… that they also pay for. Oh, and guess what? They pay my utilities, too.”

“Damn.” The word falls off my tongue, and yep, I’m giving her the look. I know it. She knows it. And I can’t help it.

“See!” She points at my face. “Told you.” A hollow laugh flutters from her lips, and she tucks her hand back under the blanket.

“You called it.”

“Finally, you agree with me.”

I smirk. “Is ‘the look’ why you never told me?” I thought I had her pretty much pegged as a person. We’ve worked together for two years. I know she’s an only child, that she started painting at the age of five, that she listens to country music, that she dropped out of university to start art school. I know her favorite color is all of them, that she cuts and dyes her hair every six weeks, that she’s ticklish on the elbow, and she loves to order virgin drinks in fancy glasses.

This is all that I’ve learned from her just by knowing her. Candace isn’t too much of a mystery, but her wealth is definitely something she’s kept hidden.

I am surprised by a few of her fears, though. I haven’t even gotten through the whole list.

Candace shifts and doesn’t answer. It’s cool if she doesn’t feel like sharing. I’m not too keen on letting her know my financial situation. Especially now.

I lean up and dig in my back pocket for her list. It’s damp and the ink is bleeding all over it. Candace’s mouth pops open, shock and disgust written in the darks of her eyes.

“Is that my list?”

“Thought we could go over some of these.” I peel it open, careful so I don’t rip the thing to pieces.

“Stop.” She snatches it from me and hoists herself out of the couch. The cushions are so comfy though it takes her a couple of tries, tripping over me to get to her feet. “I’m getting you a new one.”

“What’s wrong with that one?”

She glares at my joke, and then disappears down the hallway. I rub my hip where hers was keeping it warm, missing her body heat already. For such a little thing, she sure puts off heat like a radiator.

When she comes back, she slumps into the couch, her hip no longer up against mine, and hands me her new list.

I force down a laugh. It’s laminated.

“Can we start with the red ones?” she pleads. “I’m much better easing into things.”

“You don’t say.”

“I have a tendency to overshare when I get all panicky.”

My shoulders move in silent laughter. That is something I’m very familiar with from her. Probably why I know as much as I do.

“Well, before that… Can I ask how you know this guy is worth the trouble?” And by trouble, I mean money.

“Zach?”

“Unless there’s another guy you’re trying to impress.”

She sticks her tongue out at me before slouching into the back cushions. “You’ll think I’m stupid.”

“I’d never think you’re stupid.”

“Silly then.”

“Okay, yeah… maybe that.”

She lets out a long breath through her nostrils. Her teeth pull at the inside of her bottom lip, making her chin jut out. There’s a freckle by the left corner of her mouth, which is pretty darn cute. Haven’t noticed that one before.

“So, I got this super deep gut feeling when I first saw him.”

“Oh geez,” I say, a smile curling my lips. “You believe in love at first sight, do ya?”

“No. Maybe. Kind of.” She adjusts on the couch, kicking her feet up and sitting crisscross to face me. Her knee presses into my thigh and an unexplained kernel-like sensation pops through my skin. “I’m going to explain, so try to keep up.”

“You have my full attention.”

“I’m serious, Pete.”

“So am I.”

“Then why are you smiling like that?” Her finger juts out and points at me accusingly, and my smile only deepens.

“You’re being cute, is all.” Her bossiness has always been cute, and she hates it when I tell her that.

“Shut up.” Her gaze drops to the blanket between us, and even though she rolled her eyes at me, there’s a tinge of pink in her cheeks as she continues. “Okay, so… I’m not saying I love him or anything. It wasn’t that kind of epiphany per se. It was more like, wow… I’m ready