Cassie (The Mitchell/Healy Family #7)(10)
“Uh, yeah. Rocky and Tammy made some burgers. We had a couple beers while going over the plans for tomorrow.”
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “Why didn’t you change into swimming trunks?”
“Yeah, about that.” He paused. “We didn’t need them.”
I rolled over and buried my head in my pillow. After one night he was already making me question my decision. I feared it was going to get worse, and living under the same roof with a Tammy was going to test my ability to trust my boyfriend; something I’d been very bad at.
“Don’t be mad. We’re in Vegas. There’s lots of naked people walking around.”
He tried to touch me, but I forced his hand away. If he thought for a second I was going to be all right with him sitting around Tammy in all her glory, he was in for a rude awakening.
“I hate it here.”
He said nothing and I was glad about it. Had we gotten into an argument over it, I probably would have been on the first flight home. After all, the grass wasn’t at all greener, at least not yet.
That night I tossed and turned in bed, finally deciding it was better if I got up. I put on some sweats and found my way through the dark house. After stopping in the kitchen to make a sandwich, I made my way outside to the pool. Assuming everyone was asleep, I was flabbergasted when I realized two people were still clearly awake an in a surprising situation. In the dim light, I could make out Tammy, her large boobs bouncing around in the bubbly water, while high pitched sounds escaped her lips. Behind her was a man, but after ducking back behind a tropical tree, I noticed he was built different from Rocky. I covered my mouth with my hands and snuck back inside the house, determined to keep my little discovery a secret. Far be it from me to ruin a relationship when I didn’t even know if there was one at all. My main concern was Brant, and somehow making enough money to keep moving.
The next morning I awoke to find him bringing in a tray of breakfast. I could smell the maple syrup he’d poured over the buttermilk pancakes. “Peace offering time,” he noted while handing me the tray.
I sat up and welcomed the food. My appetite had been non-existent since arriving. “Thank you. It smells wonderful.”
“About last night.”
I shook my head and shoved a bite into my mouth. “I’m never going to be okay with you being around other naked women. I’m not a jealous person by nature, but she’s very different from me, and it makes me uncomfortable.”
“I know. I had too many beers celebrating being free of your parents. It won’t happen again. Besides, she was with Rocky the whole time.”
I raised my brows. “That’s funny. Last night I walked around and saw her f*cking someone else outside.”
“What? You must be mistaken.”
“Let’s hope. I don’t need to be kicked out before we can figure out where we’re going next. We need to save everything, Brant. I don’t want to put roots down here. This lifestyle isn’t for me. I know you like it, but I want a more quiet atmosphere. I want children, and a place to raise them where I don’t have to worry so much.”
He ran his hand through my hair. “I know, baby. I’m working hard to give it to you.”
I was content with his promise, but only because I knew how long he’d stuck by me when my parents did their best to keep us apart. Brant could have given up a long time ago and found someone with less baggage. He loved me enough to wait it out, and so I owed it to him to give him the same amount of patience.
I laced my hands in his and accepted his gentle kisses against my cheek. “I love you. Thanks again for breakfast. As long as this is just a pit stop, I’ll do my best to keep the peace. If that bitch so much as rubs against you, it’s not going to be pretty.”
He smirked at my threat. “I like it when you’re overprotective.”
“Don’t make me get physical. She’s got nothing on a country girl like me. I’ll rip out every damn extension she’s got in that pretty head.”
“Good to know. Good to know,” he repeated.
After breakfast we dressed and prepared to go out on the town with our new roommates. Tammy had picked my outfit, insisting I needed to look the part. She chose a pair of cut off jeans with a tank top and a tied thin flannel shirt overtop. I looked like Daisy Duke, especially when she told me not to wear flip-flops, but my winter cowgirl boots. “Is she for real?” I asked Brant.
“With your southern drawl you’ll have every old man in there not needing Viagra, that’s for sure. I could bend you over and f*ck you right now if we had the time. You better save that ass for me tonight, or I’m going to take it from you anyway. Damn, woman, you make me insane.”
I gave him a quick cackle and checked my makeup in the mirror. I did feel sexy, although it was probably the most inappropriate way to go about it.
For the ride there, I kept to myself, sitting in the back of the car with Brant without saying much. My boyfriend was the only one in the car to know how much I loved to talk, yet refused to carry on a conversation with people I didn’t care for. He fidgeted with my hands, running his over my palms. When they started on me about the plan, I knew I couldn’t back out. It was now or never, and as I looked into my boyfriend’s eyes, I knew I was doing this for an important purpose. Morals were going to have to be thrown out the window. My innocence was about to disappear, and what came next would be nothing but regrettable.