Page 88 of Meet Dare

“My head’s not up my ass. Cassie’s the one who broke up with me.”

“And you’re going to just let her go.”

I concentrate on peeling the label from my beer as I consider my answer. I don’t want to let Cassie go. She’s my princess and I love her.

But maybe she’s better off without me. After all, someday a better job will come along and I’ll leave. But Cassie’s here to stay. Her business and her family are here. She won’t want to go anywhere with me. Especially not after our last fight.

“What the hell, Cedar. You obviously love her. What’s holding you back?”

A metric ton of baggage. The kind I’ve been dragging around with me for over a decade. It’s heavy, but I’ve got this. I will always have this. Because I’m not discussing my baggage with him. I never want Rowan to know. I don’t want this to come between us.

“What aren’t you telling me?”

I bark out a laugh. “A lot.”

He drops his gaze to his beer bottle. “You can tell me anything. I know how to keep a secret unlike the rest of the people in this town.”

I frown. Keeping his infertility issues a secret was stupid. And wrong. But it can’t be compared to the secrets I’m carrying.

“I’m staying until we iron this out.”

“I think your wife and daughter won’t be happy with your decision.”

“Are you kidding? Ashlyn packed my tent and sleeping bag. She even filled a cooler with food, although how she thinks I can survive on chocolate caramel cake is beyond me. I don’t even eat caramel. It’s too sweet.”

“Are you serious?” I don’t wait for his answer before standing to peer out the window. Sure as shit, there’s a backpack on my porch.

“Ashlyn doesn’t mess around when it comes to what she wants.”

“And yet it took you forever to admit you love her.”

“I had issues.” He clears his throat. “Thanks for circling back. Now, let’s discuss yours.”

“What are the chances I can kick you out?”

“You can try, but I don’t think your dollhouse will survive the destruction when I kick your ass.”

“Tiny house,” I correct.

“Tiny house? Dollhouse? It’s pretty much the same thing.”

“This is what I get for opening the door,” I mumble.

“My sparkling personality is free of charge.”

“You’ve seriously been hanging around Ashlyn too much.”

“That line is courtesy of Bryan.”

“I can’t believe he’s been your assistant through the NFL until now with your bakery.”

“Some people are loyal.”

Shot to the heart. “I’m loyal.”

“Which is why you’re going to stick around this time.”

“Being a wanderer doesn’t mean I’m not loyal.”

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