Page 100 of Most Likely to Fear Love

When we reached her car, I set the suitcase down beside the trunk, taking a moment to straighten up. She turned to face me, her lips parting like she was about to say something, but then she stopped. Her eyes met mine, and for a moment, just one damn moment, I thought I saw everything I was feeling reflected back at me.

I couldn’t help myself. I moved closer, slipping my arms around her waist and pulling her in. She came willingly, melting against me like she belonged there, her head finding that spot against my chest that seemed made for her. I pressed my lips to her hair, breathing her in one last time, trying to memorize every detail of how she felt in my arms.

When I pulled back, I cupped her face in my hands, my thumbs brushing against her cheeks. I leaned in, kissing her softly, slowly, pouring everything I couldn’t say into that kiss. When I pulled away, I kept my forehead pressed to hers, our breaths mingling in the cool morning air.

She wrapped her fingers around my wrists, holding me there. “Thank you, Harle.”

“You’re welcome.” I managed to keep my voice steady as I ran my knuckles down her cheek. “Take care of yourself, alright? I’ll be here if you need anything. Anytime.”

She nodded. “I’ll, um, I’ll let you know the results.” Her expression became shuttered, making it impossible to read what she was really thinking.

“Do that.”

I forced myself to step back, giving her the space she needed. Watching her get into the car, her hands trembling slightly as she fumbled with the keys, every instinct screamed at me to stop her. To tell her everything. But instead, I just stood there, hands shoved in my pockets, heart pounding against my ribs like it was trying to follow her.

She looked at me one last time before backing up. I forced a smile, knowing it looked about as natural as Derek the donkey in a tuxedo. She returned it with one just as strained and turned the car around, facing the gates.

As she disappeared down the drive, I turned back to the cabin, the emptiness already creeping in. But certainty solidified in my chest, easing the ache. I wasn’t giving up on her, dammit. I’d give her the space she needed, but I’d be damned if I let her slip away without a fight. This wasn’t over. Not for me. Not by a long shot.

CASSIDY

Ipulled up to Scarlett’s house, giving myself one last mental pep talk. Everything was fine. I was fine. Scarlett had enough on her plate without me showing up looking like I’d just crawled out of my own personal crisis. No, I’d put on my best professional game face for this impromptu workday. This was about helping Scarlett, not me.

Sunlight shimmered on the river behind her sprawling riverside mansion - the kind of place you could afford when you accidentally had twins with a billionaire. I grabbed my briefcase from the passenger seat and headed up the path, past manicured flower beds and tinkling wind chimes.

Before I could even knock, the door opened, and there stood Scarlett, looking a little more frazzled than I was used to seeing her. She had a baby balanced on each hip and she was still in her pajamas.

“Cassidy, thank god. Come in, quick.” Scarlett looked tired, but the happiness was there too, a soft glow behind the exhaustion. For someone who’d had an unplanned pregnancy with a guy she supposedly couldn’t stand, she was doing very well. Though I supposed it helped that the guy had turned out tobe absolutely perfect for her, on top of being head over heels in love with her.

I plastered on a bright smile, keeping my voice upbeat. “Hey, you look like you’ve got your hands full.”

Scarlett snorted, shifting one of the baby’s slightly. “That’s one way of putting it. It’s been a morning.”

I set my bag down on a side table. “Would you like me to take one?”

“Oh, if you wouldn’t mind, that would be amazing.”

She handed one of the babies to me and huffed out a sigh of relief.

“Who have I got?”

“That’s Ava. Little Miss Isabella is extra cranky this morning, so I think it’s best she sticks with me.” Scarlett pressed a loving kiss to Isabella’s forehead. “You don’t mind if we do this in the living room?”

“No, that’s fine.”

I followed Scarlett through, careful not to trip on a brightly colored rattle. “So, what’s going on with these little monsters today?”

“Teething, colds, who knows?” Scarlett sank onto the couch, settling Isabella in her arms. “I’ve barely slept, and Rhett’s been at work all day. He said he’d try to get back early, but I just couldn’t drag myself in to the office. Thank you for coming by, really.”

“Honestly, it’s no problem.”

“Okay, let’s get started then. We’ll go over the documents for discovery in the Willis case first, if that sounds good?”

“Yep, great.”

I settled back, cradling Ava against my chest. The baby’s warmth seeped through my blouse, her tiny fist clutching the fabric as she nestled closer. Scarlett passed me a stack of papers, careful not to jostle Isabella.

I was fine. I was completely and utterly fine. It was just a workday, just Scarlett, just a couple of cranky babies. Nothing to do with Harle, or the emptiness that had been gnawing at me since I left his cabin. Nope, nothing at all.

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