Hosed (Happy Cat #1)(51)

“The only one who’s falling in love with you,” she whispers.

My chest explodes. Or implodes. Or maybe that’s just my heart doing the happy dance in a way I’ve never experienced before. Whatever it is that’s happening to me, I don’t want it to stop.

“I’m already there,” I say, cupping her face in my hand.

Her eyes start to shine again, but she’s smiling so big I know she’s not sad. She’s along for this ride with me, wherever it’s going to take us.

“You don’t have to move to San Francisco,” she says. “I’m coming home. I already decided. Tonight. Three hours ago, in fact, when I was lying in bed feeling miserable because I couldn’t imagine going back to a world where you’re not right next door.”

I’m about to ask her—How about a world where your house is my house?

I’m going to do it, ask her to move in with me on the spur of the moment, because that’s what love makes you do, I guess, when the emergency alert on my phone goes off.

I curse softly and reach an arm for the bedside table. “Sorry. That’s work. It must be something serious or they wouldn’t be calling me back after less than two hours off.” But when I pick up the phone, it isn’t dispatch with instructions for where I need to show up and when.

It’s the chief.

“You still awake?” Jessie asks.

“Yeah, I’m awake.” I frown as I prop myself against the pillows. “What’s up? Did that fire out by the highway flare up again? You need me back in?”

“No, nothing like that I…” She sighs. “I just thought you might still be up, and I wanted you to hear the latest development in the Sunderwell case from me.”

I cut a quick glance Cassie’s way to find her watching me with calm, clear eyes, making me think she can’t hear Jessie’s side of the conversation. I force a tight smile. “Sure, just a second, let me run get a pen.”

“A pen?” Jessie’s surprise echoes in my ear as I pull on pajama pants and head for the door. “You’re not alone there, are you?”

“No, it’s fine. You didn’t wake me,” I reply—awkwardly—because I’m terrible at lying. As soon as I’m on the other side of the kitchen, far enough away to be sure Cassie won’t hear me, I add in a soft voice, “No, I’m not alone. Cassie’s here.”

Jessie sighs. “Then you should come talk to me. If it’s gone that far with you two, you’re going to need a friendly ear after you hear the latest.”

A frown claws at my forehead. “Hear what? Cassie didn’t start that fire, Jessie. I’m sure of it. I don’t care what the new evidence is. It’s wrong.”

“It’s inadmissible in court. It’s not wrong,” Jessie says, the compassion in her voice making my stomach clench with worry. “Just meet me at Dough on the Square in fifteen minutes, okay? I’ll buy you a coffee and a donut and we can talk.”

“I can’t, I have company.” I don’t want to leave Cassie alone in my bed, especially not to go hear some bullshit “inadmissible evidence” that came from God knows what source.

Probably the real arsonist, trying to throw small-town law enforcement off his scent.

“I’m serious, Ryan. This is big. I wouldn’t have called you right after your shift if it weren’t. If you don’t want to meet up, that’s fine. I get it. But you’re going to get an earful of this news sooner or later. If you’d like to have the chance to get out ahead of it, decide how you’re going to handle the fallout when it comes, then I’ll be at the donut shop in ten minutes.”

I drag a hand through my hair, eyes squeezing shut. “Okay. Fine. I’ll meet you in ten.”

“See you then,” Jessie says. “And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry. I didn’t want things to end up this way. I always thought Cassie and her sister were good people.”

They are good people, I want to shout, but instead I tell Jessie I’ll see her soon and end the call.

I’m in love with Cassie. I’ve seen every corner of her heart and I know she’s incapable of arson. But me shouting “she’s innocent” isn’t going to help put this behind us. The best thing I can do for Cassie is to go see Jessie, take a look at this bullshit evidence, and convince the chief they’re sniffing down the wrong trail.

I return to the bedroom to find George has let himself in through the now open door and is propped on my pillow next to Cassie, eating something gripped between his paws that’s hard to make out in the dim light.

“No eating in bed, Cooney.” I keep my tone light so Cassie won’t worry. “You know the rules.”

“But he brought me a present,” Cassie says, laughter in her voice as she holds up something on a stick.

I flick on the closet light, laughing as I see the penis lollipop she’s holding delicately between two fingers.

“It’s official then,” I say. “He loves you too.”

George chitters in response, making Cassie giggle.

She’s so happy, and hell if I’m going to let anything take that away. Jaw set, I tell Cassie I forgot something down at the station and will be right back. Then I dress and hurry out the door, ready to battle the powers that be until they back off the woman I love.