He’d made a trip over to Knox’s house to sign up for fall ball. Today, he was going to get Daisy Ray again. He’d been looking forward to it since he had her on Tuesday. Cassie was moved to see the change. The excitement. She kept praying.

  And thinking about his hunt for the debit card, which she’d put on his desk after he left for the fishing experience. She wasn’t sure what had happened. Jax had made it clear she was his employee. But they were friends. That was obvious. Part of her wanted to get it out in the open and ask if something was happening between them or if they were just attracted to each other. She hadn’t misread him that day in the back room. Fear kept her silent. He might tell her he’d been caught up in a moment or some other excuse and that he didn’t have any more feelings for her than friendship.

  “So I saw your favorite spot yesterday.”

  “Where’s that?” Cassie entered another invoice into the database. He’d been so behind. She almost had him caught up.

  “The pond on the edge of Knox’s property. He’s got an impressive acreage, but he doesn’t even hunt. How do you have that much land and not hunt?”

  “He plays hockey.”

  “I had six acres and I hunted. He said I can use his land. Need to get my license.”

  Now who was rambling? “I’ve never once eaten deer.”

  “Why?”

  “No one ever offered me any.” She rubberbanded a stack of invoices and saved the data. “You get that highchair done for Ella Welms? She called yesterday.”

  “Just need to get the straps attached. She can pick it up later today if she wants.” He rearranged a few tables in the shop and added a small plant table in the window display. “I didn’t realize you like the woods so much.”

  “One day, I’m building my dream home in the woods. Which is why you can’t fire me.”

  He chuckled.

  The door opened and Cassie grinned. “Hey, Lori. How can we help you?”

  Jax glanced up.

  “Jax Woodall, meet Lori Anderson.”

  “Ah,” he held his hand out and Lori shook it, “so you’re the woman I’m not dating.”

  Lori gave him a confused expression and slipped her hand from his. “Um…”

  Jax swung his sight on Cassie and tossed his hand in the air. “See, now you’ve got me crazy talking.”

  Cassie giggled. “Never mind him, Lori. He’s not much with words, but he can build anything, and it’ll be so good you’ll cry.”

  Lori chuckled nervously and clutched her purse. “I’m in need of an entertainment center. With doors.” She explained what she was looking for and Jax showed her a photo book. Cassie reorganized the counter.

  The phone rang.

  “Wood Alls. Cassie speaking.”

  “Cassie, it’s Lori.”

  Lori non-Anderson. “Jax is with a customer. I know he plans to head that way around two.”

  “Plans have changed.”

  Not good. Jax would have a fit. She lowered her voice while Jax talked with the real Lori Anderson. “Is Daisy Ray sick?”

  Lori left.

  Jax mouthed, “Who is that?”

  “Lori,” she whispered.

  He snatched the phone. “What’s going on?”

  Hello might have been a better way to go.

  “But this is my day! You can’t just—I don’t care. I’m sick of this, Lori. I’ve tried to play nice—no—no but…Then maybe I need a lawyer,” he roared.

  He’d never get to see Daisy Ray on her birthday if he continued to go down this road. Cassie grabbed the phone and ripped it from his ear. “Hi Lori. Look, what can we work out instead?”

  “Give me back the phone!”

  Cassie covered the speaker. “You need to go take a break.”

  Lori’s exasperated sigh filtered through the line. “This is between me and Jaxon, Cassie. Not you.”

  “So you want me to give the phone back to him?” She waited. Lori’s heavy sigh answered the question.

  “Daisy Ray has been asked to play at a benefit tonight that is raising money for a new local art gallery. I can’t say no.”

  No. She couldn’t. Not when it was a great opportunity for Daisy Ray. And Jax would know that, but he was in Hulk Smash mode. Totally irrational. “Okay.”

  “I know I told Jax he could have her, but…” Desperation and exhaustion laced her voice. As if the idea of even calling Jax drained her. Cassie could understand. This wasn’t easy for any of them.

  “Okay. How about this: Let Daisy Ray come spend Saturday night with Jax. I know it’s her birthday, but how many birthdays since you’ve been split has he had her? He’s making that furniture for her and putting it in her room here. You can thank me for saving you a few more fights on that one later. It’s her birthday present. And he’ll come tonight instead.”

  Lori laughed, humorlessly. “Jax barely agreed to a tux on our wedding day. When I say it was a fight, I mean it was a fight.” Silence. “But I’ll tell you what, if you can get him to a four-course meal with rich snobs and artsy types, as Jax calls them, then I’ll give him Saturday night. It’s black tie.”

  “He’ll be there.”

  “He has a tux?”

  “Not a problem.” She cringed as Jax bore daggers into her with his eyes.

  “I’ll be where?” he hissed.

  “Oh, it’s five hundred dollars a plate. Starts at seven.” Lori hung up.

  Cassie felt vomit in her throat. She hoped Jax had that kind of money to toss around. She sure didn’t. He seemed like a real tightwad, and his books were all in the black so...

  “What have you agreed to, Cassidy?”

  “You’d take a bullet for your kid, right?” she squeaked.

  “What did you do?” Jax inched closer.

  “The good news is you get Daisy Ray the whole night on her birthday. Go ahead and thank me now.”

  He stalked into her personal space. “Cassidy James.”

  “You’re going to a benefit tonight. To hear your daughter play. It’s a great opportunity for her. It’ll mean the world that you’re there.” No way Cassidy could go, and she wasn’t included in the deal, anyway. Although, she’d love to see Daisy Ray play. To dress up.

  Jax cocked his head. “What’s the catch?”

  “Well, it’ll cost you five hundred dollars and a tux.” She gave him a shaky grin and tossed her hands out to her sides. “You’re welcome!”

  ***

  Jax felt the geyser about to explode. Lori didn’t have the right to barter! He deserved to see his daughter whenever he wanted. He worked his jaw and took deep, long breaths. “I don’t even have a tux.”

  “I can take care of that. Your eyes say you’re a ten on the angry scale. Your voice says about a five.”

  “Five hundred dollars and a tux is what I have to pay to see my daughter on her birthday and to keep her all night. I’m so far past ten I can’t see straight.”

  Cassidy laid her hands on his shoulders. “You’ll be the sexiest man in that place, and Lori will have to sit there and stew in it, as well as deal with the fact she didn’t get what she wanted this go-round.”

  Sexy, huh? He wrapped his hands around hers. “You’re just trying to diffuse this human bomb.”

  She smirked. “Maybe a little. You shouldn’t have to barter for Daisy Ray. But if you give Lori this, maybe she’ll see you’re committed. I don’t know. It may never be an easy road and you may have to get a lawyer and file for joint custody. Any judge will see you’re a great, responsible dad and grant it.”

  He raised her hand to his lips and kissed it. She thought he was a great dad. He wanted to kiss more than her knuckles. “You wear blinders, Cass. But one day they’ll fall off, and you’ll see that I’m not as great as you make me out to be.”

  She covered the hand that held hers. “You’re going to make Daisy Ray’s night. Showing up looking like James Bond.”

  “And what will you be wearing?” he asked, keeping a hold of her hand. He wasn’t going to this thing alone. He needed Cassidy to rein him in. Seemed like she had a gift to do it. At some point, he was going to have to learn to handle these situations better. If not for his own sanity, for Daisy Ray’s. He didn’t want her growing up dreading her parents in the same room as her. It wasn’t fair.

  “I’m in jeans. Are you blind?”

  “You’re going with me. So you’ll need to whip up one tux and one dress.” He bet she’d pick something green.

  “And five hundred dollars I don’t have.”

  “I’ll take care of all of it. But you are going. So get moving.”

  “Jax, I’m not letting you fork out five hundred bucks for me and dress money.”

  He placed his index finger on her lips. “Ssshh…we have clothes to shop for.”

  She huffed and held her hand out, palm up. Jax chuckled, reached into his back pocket, pulled out his wallet and once again laid his debit card in her hand. “But don’t go crazy.”

  Grinning, she gripped it to her heart. “I do believe I’m liking you more each day.”

  “Well don’t.” He couldn’t have meant it more, but it hurt saying it, even if he had used a semi-joking tone.

  Her smile faltered and her eyes dimmed. “I’ll be back soon. You need to head over to the bridal store and get measured and hopefully they’ll have something that fits or that they can tweak. I’ll take it from there.”

  He groaned. “Can’t you just handle it? I don’t have time for all that.”

  The look of disappointment evaporated. She gave him a pointed look. “Make time.”

  “I’ll get over there in thirty minutes.” He sighed.

  She narrowed her eyes.

  “I will!”

  She turned at the door. “Thirty minutes.”

  Jax endured the fitting and picked up the tux around four o’clock. He’d yet to see Cassidy or his debit card since she’d blown out the door earlier. After showering and dressing in his penguin suit, he dried his hair. At least Cassidy hadn’t made him wear a bowtie. He didn’t care if it was the style now. They were stupid and cheesy.

  He jumped in his truck and headed over to Cassidy’s. The woman better be ready. He pulled into her drive and got out of his truck, but before he could make it to the porch, the screen door screeched open. He’d have to fix that. Wouldn’t take but a minute, but the thought died when he raised his eyes and saw her standing on the front porch in a deep, forest green dress that shimmered, all velvety and long sleeved. She’d worn her hair wavy and gathered to one side of her neck, leaving the other side bare and open for kissing. She held a little purse that matched.

  He’d seen her with no make-up, a little make-up, and now with her eyes accented to bring out the green… He rarely found the right words, but in this moment he couldn’t find a single one. Couldn’t even find his breath. Time had come to a complete standstill.

  She beamed with lush, glossy lips and held her dress as she descended the steps. Green velvety shoes peeked out from the bottom.

  Stepping up to him, her scent dizzied his brain and heart. He swallowed and struggled to tear his gaze from her.

  She brushed his lapel, smoothing it out. “You look fantastic, Mr. Woodall. How do you feel?”

  Like he’d just seen his life flash before him and every day was filled with Cassidy James. Only in that fleeting picture she was Cassidy Woodall. And she belonged to him. Would never leave him. She would look at him like she was looking at him right now forever.

  “I feel fine.” He cleared his throat. “You look nice.”

  “Yes, clearly I was going for nice.” A flicker of disappointment covered her eyes and she shook her head. “I’m not sure why I expected you to say more.”

  She turned to open the truck door, and he caught an eyeful. The back of her dress had a deep V leaving most of her creamy skin exposed. His chest tightened and a burning for her awakened. “Cass…”

  Spinning back around, questions formed in her eyes. Eyes that had him slipping away. He toyed with the glittery earring that touched the edge of her neck then he trailed a finger across her naked collar bone and held her gaze. Moistening her bottom lip with the tip of her tongue drove him over the edge, and he cupped the back of her neck and descended upon her mouth.

  Slow. Tender. Awaiting permission to explore further.

  He wanted more—to give more. What he couldn’t put into words, he could put into action. Into a kiss.

  She responded with a delicate hum, and Jax took his time discovering the gloriousness of Cassidy James. Savoring every pulse of delight that rippled through him. She was so much more than a beautiful woman with crazy rants and quirks. She was passionate. Sincere. Like sunshine after days of rain. And heartbreakingly honest. Never held back the truth even when it was tough to hear and hard to handle. And in this kiss he wanted her to see the truth and honesty that lay deep beneath words he’d botch if he tried to declare them.

  Just a glimpse. Just. A. Glimpse.

  Her arms snaked up his and into his hair.

  Did she realize how amazing she was? Not just an amazing kisser but an amazing woman? Before her neighbor bird-lady got too much of a show, he pulled back as Cassidy’s chest heaved against his, desperate for oxygen he’d deprived her of.

  “How do you feel?” he asked.

  “I feel…” moisture created a sheen over her green eyes, “…beautiful,” she whispered.

  “Good.” He ran a thumb across her cheek. She’d received all the words he couldn’t seem to say. He opened the door and helped her inside, then lifted the bottom of her dress that was still hanging outside the truck and laid it at her feet. “Good.”

  He climbed into the driver’s side.

  “I feel like a princess on her way to the ball to meet her prince.”

  He backed out of the drive. “So Cinderella. You could have just said Cinderella.”

  Pulling a tube of gloss from her tiny purse, she applied it to her lips. His entire body heated up again. She was replaying the kiss in her head. He could tell by the gleam in her eye and the smirk on her lips. “I’m making up for all the words you don’t use.” She shifted toward him. “A little advice: when you marry again, don’t write your own vows.”

  Marriage. Maybe he’d said too much with that kiss. Maybe he’d given her more than his intended glimpse. The heat coursing through his body chilled and fear swept down his back. She needed to know. “Cassidy, I don’t plan on marrying again. Ever.”

  “Oh,” she whispered and looked out the window.

  “I don’t need another ex-wife.” Couldn’t afford that kind of pain again.

  “I see.”

  “I’m sorry if…” If the kiss had seemed like a prelude to a lifetime. He couldn’t give her that. It throbbed inside anyway.

  “No. It’s okay.” She touched her lips and curled up against the door. The aching hurt he’d caused her wouldn’t be nearly as gigantic as the pain he’d cause her in the end. She might seem disappointed now. But later, she’d thank him for not ruining her life. He gripped the wheel and the rest of the ride was tense silence.

  He pulled into the paid parking area and opened her door.

  She looked into his eyes, a storm swimming behind hers. “Not everyone cheats, Jaxon.”

  “I know,” he murmured. He couldn’t handle someone else leaving. Especially Cassidy. Right now he had her in his life. It would have to be enough.

  Inside, he spotted Lori and “Daddy” Logan. He bit the inside of his cheek. Do not make a scene. Keep calm. Deal with it.

  Jax had known Lori long enough to recognize utter shock. Shock he’d come. Shock he wore a tux after the ordeal he’d made planning their wedding, and shock at the fact he’d brought someone with him. He put his hand on the small of Cassidy’s lower back, feeling the warmth and softness of her skin against his callused fingers. Instead of a burst of passionate flames, an abiding calm enveloped him. He glanced at her; she smiled—a forgiving smile—and warned him with her eyes to play nice.

  What was he going to do? He was hopelessly and utterly in love with her. Could he handle just having her at a safe distance in his life? He’d have to. It was the only way to keep them both safe from heartache. Though right now, his heart ached.

  Logan stood in a defensive posture. Jax didn’t feel like picking a fight or making a snide comment about his ridiculous bowtie. Lori scoped out Cassidy then looked at Jax.

  And he saw it.

  Sorrow.

  Like the first time she’d miscarried.

  Because he was with another woman? She’d cheated and left him. Made his life miserable every chance she got. Why would she feel sadness over Cassidy standing next to him? He glanced at Cassidy again. So beautiful. But doing nothing to cause that kind of reaction from Lori.

  “I didn’t think you’d actually come.” She masked her emotion with a slice of arrogance, but it had been there. For a moment.

  And he…felt sorry for her. Regretted the times he’d not been everything she needed. Something in his heart shifted. He couldn’t place it, yet recognized the warmth. It was God. He was doing something.

  And Jax didn’t mind.

  “I wanted to see Daisy Ray. And to have her on her birthday.” He inhaled and swallowed his pride. “Thank you.”

  Her eyes widened and she looked at Cassidy, blinked a few times. “Here are your tickets.” She handed them to Jax.

  He pulled the check from his pocket and slipped it in her hand, her rock from Logan shimmering.

  “Excuse me.” Lori bee-lined it for the ladies’ room. Cassidy frowned. He couldn’t explain to her what was going on. Wasn’t sure he understood it himself.

  Logan shifted uncomfortably. “Wish I could have opted out of a tie.”

  “Daddy! Cassidy!”

  Cassidy gave him a look. “You tell her to call me that?”

  “Nope. But I like it.” He grinned and whisked his baby girl into his arms. “You look like a princess.” He winked at Cassidy.

  “I’m going to play tonight just for you.”

  He glanced at Logan; he only grinned. The guy was a jerk and he’d deserved the beat down Jax gave him the night he caught him in his and Lori’s bed, but it was clear he cared about Daisy Ray. Could be worse, he supposed.