Page 116 of Moonshine Kiss
“Icando everything myself,” Cassidy argued.
“Well, you don’t have to, you idiot! What’s with all the secrets? I cut you some slack over the DNA tests. But you’re datingmy brotherand didn’t think to tell me? This is your second strike, Tucker.”
Devlin raised his hands peacemaker-style. “Maybe we should all sit down and discuss—”
“Get out!” Scarlett and Cassidy commanded.
“Yes, ma’ams,” I said, running like hell for the patio doors.
Devlin was hot on my heels.
I left the glass door open a crack so we could eavesdrop safely and then sat down on a cushioned lounger that must have belonged to Devlin’s past life.
He was pulling out his cell phone.
“You can’t call the cops. One of them’s already here,” I joked.
“I’m calling for pizza.”
55
Cassidy
“Ican’t believe Bowie told you,” I groused. I wanted to pace but there was no freaking room in Scarlett’s stuffed house.
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell me! We’re family!” Scarlett hollered. She was on the other side of the armchair and two laundry baskets full of Devlin’s gym clothes.
“You don’t know the whole story. And you’re not exactly known for keeping your mouth shut!”
Her green eyes narrowed, and I knew I was entering the Danger Zone.
“You think I don’t know Connelly’s basically tied you to a desk and is holding your employment hostage? And do you really think Bowie came a runnin’ telling tales about you? Why I’m so mad at you right now, Cassidy Ann, I could spit!”
“Bowie told you something I asked him not to.” Christ. Did this mean he’d spilled the beans about the photos of Callie Kendall, too? My head was starting to hurt and only part of it was the smell from those fluorescent orange deviled eggs.
“Now you listen here, Deputy Assface,” Scarlett said, climbing over the armchair and scaling the coffee table. “Gibson guessed that you two had hooked up and Bowie did that twitchin’ thing he does when he’s lying so we all knew.”
“All? All who?” My voice was an octave higher than usual.
“The whole damn family. Since Black Friday. I gave you two dang weeks to tell me the truth! My best friend and my brother and you don’t think I deserve to know?”
I flinched. “It’s not that you didn’t deserve to know. It’s just…complicated.”
“I don’t fucking care if its astrophysics! This keeping shit to yourself has got to stop.” She was close enough to drill a finger into my nameplate on my uniform. “Get this straight, deputy, handling shit is one thing, but shutting people out on purpose is another thing.”
I set my jaw. “Look. I’m sorry. I didn’t know how serious this was gonna get and I didn’t want you to get excited if we burned out and there was nothing to get excited over. Plus, Connelly doesn’t want me to have anything to do with y’all. If he knew that Bowie and I are dating, he’d have my badge.”
“Dev! Find out if that’s a possibility,” Scarlett screeched at the patio doors. “I know what you’re doing. Bowie hurt you way back when and you made it your mission in life to never rely on anyone again. That’s some shit for you two to work out. But I have never once in my entire life let you down.”
I couldn’t say the same thing to her. Not honestly.
“There are reasons. My job—”
“Your daddy’s been doin’ his job an awful long time without shutting people out and alienating them,” she shot back.
That took the wind out of my sails a bit.
“Look,” Scarlett said, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m not saying you should be breaking laws for us. I’m saying use your discretion to not be some asshole’s puppet. That Connelly sat on those DNA results until they’d make the biggest impact and then he pulled together a dog and pony show and brought the press down on us like locusts. Hell, I wouldn’t be surprised if he were the one who leaked the results.”
