Page 71 of The Perfect Melody

“It’s OK, Cassie. I’m not going to pry.”

“Why not? Most people would.”

“I already know that you’re safe and not in some kind of trouble,” I say, referring to our conversation after her panic attack. “That’s all I need to know for now. I hope you’ll feel comfortable enough to share whatever it is with me eventually, but I’m not in any rush.”

“Thank you.” She arches up to place a kiss to the hollow of my throat. “You’re not mad that I lied about my work experience?”

“I was at first. After I had time to cool off from our spat on the staff training day, I realised you were slow picking up the till system because you’d never operated one before.”

“Why did you let me stay?”

“I decided if you went to the trouble of providing a fake reference just for a job as a server, that you must have been pretty desperate. Mum and I both kept an eye on you. It didn’t take long to know that you weren’t trying anything funny. You’re a hard worker and the customers like you. I didn’t see the point in bringing it up.”

Smiling, she burrows even closer. “You’re a secret marshmallow, Boss.”

“Only for you.”

* * *

Cassie

“I should get back to the B&B,” I say reluctantly, stretching my arms above my head as I get up from where I’ve been snuggled up with Austin on his enormous navy-blue couch.

“You could stay for dinner? I’m not working tonight.”

He looks so hopeful that I’m sorely tempted to say yes, but if I agree to stay for dinner, it will be too easy to stay overafterdinner. As happy as I am with how things have progressed between us, I’m not quite ready for that.

“Thank you, but I think I need a minute to let all this sink in.”

His brow furrows in concern. “Are you having second thoughts?”

“Not at all, but this morning I was still pretty convinced you could only just about tolerate me, and now we’ve gone fromwhatever weird dance we were doing to this.” I gesture between us. “I’m happy about it, really happy—but it’s a lot.”

Austin smiles softly. “That’s fair.”

“Give me tonight to get my head around it?”

“Of course. Can I drive you back to the B&B?”

Rising onto my tiptoes, I kiss him softly. “I’d like that.”

The ride over to The Dragonfly only takes a couple of minutes. Austin parks out front, and I lean over to kiss him before getting out. “See you at work tomorrow.”

“Goodnight, Trouble.”

Esther gives me a knowing look from behind the reception desk when I stroll into the B&B in my borrowed flannel shirt with a plastic bag full of my wet clothes. Austin let me use one of his belts so I could cinch the shirt in at my waist to make it look more like a dress, but clearly I’m not fooling anyone. Esther watched me leave with Austin this afternoon. It doesn’t take a genius to work out whose clothes I’m wearing, even if thewhygoes a little beyond the obvious.

Stubbornly ignoring my burning cheeks, I hold my head high as though there’s nothing to see here, and head straight for my room. No doubt she’ll subject me to an interrogation over breakfast tomorrow, but for now I’m safe. I toe off my trainers then place them upside down on the small radiator to dry. Hopefully, that will dry them out in time for my shift tomorrow. If not, I can wear my cowboy boots, but I’d prefer not to spend eight hours running around in them if I can help it.

My stomach grumbles loudly, but I don’t feel like going out for dinner. Getting soaked by near-freezing rain might have sucked, but the rest of the day was perfect. I don’t want to spoil my glow of contentment by surrounding myself with a bunch of strangers at the gastropub. Tugging on a fresh pair of leggings, I opt to order something to the B&B. There aren’t many options ina town this size, but there’s enough to choose from that I scroll for a couple of minutes before making my selection.

Seeing that my food won’t arrive for thirty minutes, I pick up the book I bought from Wordplay and melt back into the pillows on my bed. It’s been forever since I read a physical book, and I forgot how much I enjoy the experience. Since buying this one, I’ve read a couple of chapters every day and now I’m fully invested in the characters. I can’t wait to discuss it with Phoebe next Monday.

Covering myself with the decorative throw blanket at the end of the bed, I curl up and allow myself to get lost within the pages. I don’t need to worry about how and when I’m going to tell Austin my secret, or if he’s going to hate me when I do. Tonight I’m pushing all the worry, guilt, and what-ifs aside and letting myself enjoy the almost foreign feeling flowing through my body. I’m allowing myself to be happy.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Austin