The Troublemaker - Cathryn Fox Page 0,49

wrapped around my heart and hugged. Everything about last night was beautiful, and touching, and not something I’m ready to quit. I don’t even want to think about how many days we have left, and that’s just not good.

Once washed, I dry, tug on my bathing suit, and grab my cover-up. I wander slowly through the cottage. Has Cason ever brought any other women here? Has he made love to them in the very same bed I just crawled out of? Ribbons of unease curl around my stomach and twist. Honestly, it shouldn’t bother me if he has. I mean he is known for his reputation, and heck, what we have isn’t special. We can’t even find one thing to do that we haven’t already done with someone else. Is it stupid that I asked about that? Probably, and I hate that it bothers me so much. The truth is, every time he touches me, looks at me and worships my body, he makes me feel special. Deep down, though, I’m smart enough to know I’m not.

Then again, maybe I am.

My ex’s words hurt, left me insecure, and while I like to think I’m over it, a confident woman, maybe all that uncertainty is lingering just below the surface, holding me back from telling the man how I feel about him. I work to push my worry and uncertainty down as I glance at the photos on the wall. I can’t help but smile, and maybe fall for him just a little tiny bit more. Is that even possible? I touch the frame of one picture to straighten it. Cason doesn’t seem like the kind of guy to hang photos of his childhood or his nephews. I can only assume Nina was behind this, trying to make his house a home.

If I lived here—.

I quickly cut off those thoughts. I can’t go there. We’re just pretending right? Or are we? My God, I am just so confused about everything. If I wasn’t so darn worried about messing things up and scaring him off, I’d come right out and ask.

I tug on my bathing suit cover-up and make my way downstairs to find Nina and Katee knocking on the front door of the cottage. “Good morning,” I say and swing it open. Sunshine and a warm summer breeze wash over me and help lighten my insides. This weekend is about having fun, not worrying over my future, so I’m going to shut down all those worrisome thoughts and do just that.

“You just getting up?” Katee asks as she adjusts her daughter Khloe in her arms.

“Yeah, late night.” I widen the door even more and wave them in, hoping they can’t see the blush crawling up my neck as I think about the reason I was up until the crack of dawn. “I need coffee.”

“I could use a cup,” Nina says. Katee steps in, and Nina closes the door behind them. She spreads her arms and takes a deep breath. “I love my boys, but my God it’s nice to be child-free for a few hours.”

Katee and I laugh at that, and she bounces her daughter. “I’m hoping when little missus here gets older, she’ll enjoy tagging along with the others.”

Nina looks past my shoulders, her gaze landing on a picture of her, Cason, and Cole, probably taken around ten years ago. She smiles, and it’s easy to tell her thoughts are a million miles away. “Cason took me everywhere with him,” she says.

“Really. I didn’t know that.” I start down the hall, and the women follow.

“He was a great big brother. I always thought I was a nuisance, but he liked having me around, even though he never came right out and said it.” A pause and then she continues with, “Is he still saying all the right things to you, Kinsley?” I steal a glance at her over my shoulder and note her curious grin.

“Ah, yeah, kind of. Let’s get that coffee going.” We make our way into the kitchen and I go straight for the coffee pot, needing the caffeine to wake me up. “Did you decorate this place?” I ask.

“I had a little help from my friends.”

“I love all the pictures. It’s so homey.” I bite my lip, wanting to ask more, wanting to ask how many women he’s brought here, but I don’t want anyone getting the wrong idea.

“The place would be all bare walls if he had it his way. It needed a woman’s touch, and