The Troublemaker - Cathryn Fox Page 0,40

time with Kins. Beginning to wonder if we could have more after our month together. We’re having fun, I know, and I’m not supposed to be having deeper feelings, but dammit if I can help that. Maybe I’m saying the right things, because we were friends first—and a part of me knows she could be the right girl for me. Maybe I won’t fuck this up, like I fuck everything else up. Then again, maybe I’m getting ahead of myself. She’s anti-marriage, right? But could there be a chance she might want to try for more?

“I want the details. I might be able to use it in a book,” she says.

Kinsley laughs. Hard. “No, Nina, your books end with a happily ever after. That’s not what’s going on here. Cason is just helping me out, then we’re done.”

At least that answers my question.

12

Kinsley

“You sure you got this?” I ask, holding my phone to my ear as I pace inside Cason’s big mansion. It was just a few days ago Kat called in sick, and here I am asking if she can take over the running of the truck—again. I haven’t had a break in a year, working seven days a week, and now here I am taking my second vacation this month, and heading to Cason’s cottage—with a handful of wedding receptions for his friends.

“Yes” I got this,” Kat says. “I’m feeling perfectly fine now, and Jason is up for giving me a hand. He might only be seventeen, but he’s an aspiring chef and this will do him good.”

I met her brother Jason. He’s a good kid, and I really shouldn’t worry so much. My truck will be in good hands, but maybe that’s not what I’m worried about though. Maybe I’m worried about going to the lake with Cason, and falling just a little more in love with him. I sigh, and Kat must have misread it.

“Don’t you trust me?”

“For sure I do, Kat.”

“What’s wrong then?”

I lift my gaze when Cason comes into the living room, and my heart beats just a little faster in my chest. He raises his brow, and I nod to let him know the weekend is a go, and Kat is feeling better. He gives me two thumbs up and I chuckle.

“Nothing wrong,” I fib. “I really appreciate this, Kat.”

“You just remember that when you open your new restaurant, and need an assistant.”

I chuckle. “I’m pretty sure there’s a promotion for you and a position for Jason.”

She lets loose a loud whoop, and I hold the phone away from my ear. “Okay, go. Have fun. We got this.”

We end the call, and Cason wraps his arms around me. “Everything in order?”

“All set to go,” I say and he angles his head.

“You sure you’re okay?”

I plaster on my best smile, and put a rope around my emotions, to rein them bad boys in. Cason puts his big hand on my cheek, the sweeping of his thumb stirring those barely leashed feelings growing inside me.

“Just worried about my truck,” I say.

“Understandable. At least we know the fan won’t fall and kill anyone.”

I follow him to the front door, and he scoops up my duffle bag. There’s another bag in the back seat of his car, one I stashed there earlier without him knowing, and it excites me.

“I really appreciate you and Cole doing all that work on the truck. You didn’t have to do that. I actually feel kind of bad. This marriage seems so one-sided.”

He chuckles. “It’s not, but if you really and truly feel that way, this weekend you can show me how appreciative you are.”

I laugh at that. “Didn’t I do that last night?”

His smile curls through me, warms me from the inside out. “Yeah, you did. But I want more.”

God, I want more, too, but not just in the bedroom.

We head outside, the late day sun falls over us, and we climb into his car. “We have to make a pit stop,” he says.

“Oh, where?”

“It’s a surprise.”

I take in his mischievous grin. “I don’t like surprises.”

“You’ll like this one.” He reaches for my hand and takes it in his. His warmth shimmers through me, and I smile. Even though I know I’m going to end up heartbroken, I haven’t had this much fun in a long time. “You’re smiling.”

I chuckle. “Something wrong with that?”

“No, Kins. I love when you smile.” He turns his focus to the traffic, and I take in the buildings as we hit downtown Seattle.

“What are we doing