4. Baker

CHAPTER 4

BAKER

My dad hashis arms crossed over his chest, just watching me. I’ve never been able to hide things from him, and I’m not going to try to now. “What? Go ahead. Ask me.”

He gestures to the house. “She okay? Do you know who did that to her?”

“There was a fight at the Whistler. She was trying to break it up, and one guy pushed another and the guy took Cassie down with him when he fell. That’s how she got the bruise on the forehead.”

He chuckles, and I shake my head. “What’s funny about that, Dad?”

“Your sister. I swear she’s a spitfire. There’s not many women that would interfere with two grown men fighting.”

He’s right about that. She is a spitfire, and I’ve never met a woman like her. But I still hate that he’s referring to her as my sister. I don’t have any brotherly thoughts about her at all.

“You want to come in?”

I don’t… but I do.

I’ve only been back in town for a week, but I’ve avoided coming to see my dad and his new wife. The truth is, I don’t really care much for Brandi. I’ve tried to be nice to her, but it’s hard. I’d only been around her a few times before I went to Jasper for the undercover job, but those few times were enough to let me know that I want to limit my time with her. I was fortunate enough to miss the whole wedding performance since I was working undercover. But no matter how much I don’t want to see my stepmother, I don’t want to miss a chance to see Cassie.

“Sure. I’m still on my shift, but I can come in for a minute.”

My dad doesn’t try to hide his surprise. I follow behind him, and I’m holding my breath the whole way. In mere seconds, I’ll see Cassie again, and hopefully I can explain things to her.

I practically shove my dad to the side when I get in, hoping to see Cassie, but the only one sitting in the living room is Brandi.

She does a double-take when she sees me, and for just a brief moment I see the displeasure on her face. I know she doesn’t like that my dad and I are close, but she’s quick to hide it. “Baker… what a nice surprise. You doing okay?”

“Yeah… where’s Cassie?”

She turns back to the television. “Oh, she went out tonight.”

I roll my eyes as Dad starts to tell her about what happened. I wait for Brandi to express her concern or to get up and go check on her, but she does nothing except shrug her shoulders. “That girl. She’s always looking for trouble.”

I grit my teeth. Yep, I like her even less now.

“Hey, Dad, I’m going to use the restroom. I’ll be back.”

My dad gives me a knowing look. “Sure thing, son.”

I bypass the bathroom on the first floor and take the stairs two at a time. I walk down the hallway to the bedroom that I know Dad and Brandi had talked about giving Cassie when she came back from school. The door is shut, and I want to push it open, but I knock softly instead.

There’s a rustle behind the door, and then it swings open. Cassie gasps and rears backward. “Baker? What are you doing?”

I walk into her room and shut the door behind me. She’s already changed clothes, and I let my eyes trail down her body. The shorts and tank top do nothing to hide her from me. I fist my hands at my sides because I want to reach out, grab her by the hips, and pull her flush against me. “I had to make sure you were okay.”

She nods, eyes wide, looking between me at the closed door. She looks trapped, and I hold my hands up. “Hey, I’m sorry. I can leave.”

She crosses her arms over her chest. “Why didn’t you tell me that you… that we’re…” She blows out a big breath. “Why didn’t you tell me that you’re my stepbrother? I thought…”

I take a step toward her, wanting her to continue. “You thought what?”

She uncrosses her arms and slaps her hands on her thighs. “Forget it. It doesn’t matter now.”

I move before I can talk myself out of it. My hands go straight to her hips, and I pull her against me. She fits me perfectly, but I knew she would. “You thought that I was attracted to you… that I’m interested in you.”

She juts her chin at me. “I did, but I didn’t know that my big brother was just playing me.”

I lean down until our lips are only inches apart from each other. I keep one hand at her waist, and the other comes up and wraps around her neck. Her pulse is racing under my thumb, and I rub it back and forth. “I wasn’t playing you. I want you.”

She swipes her tongue across her lower lip, and I groan. She has no clue that I’m barely hanging on. She sucks in a breath, and I feel her pebbled nipples cut across my chest. Fuck me.

She tries to pull away, but I don’t let her. “Baker, you’re my step—”

I cut her off. “Don’t say it. We’re not related.”

My little spitfire rolls her eyes. “We are… you’re my—”

“I’m yours. That’s how you should word that sentence… Tell me you’re mine.”

Her hands go to my chest, but she doesn’t push me away. “Baker, we can’t… we shouldn’t.”

“Baker! You okay, son?” my dad hollers up the stairs.

Cassie tenses, and I reluctantly let her go. “Yeah, I wanted to check on Cassie. I’ll be right there.”

She pulls from my arms and hisses at me, “Baker… They’re going to know you’re in my room… they’re going to wonder what we’re doing in here.”

I put my hand on the door to stop her from opening it. I lean down, pressing my lips softly to the bruise on her forehead before pulling away. “We’re just talking… tonight. Even though I’d give anything to stay in here with you the whole night, I can see you need some time to warm up to the idea.”

She can try to deny it all she wants, but I see the way her eyes light up. She may not want to feel what she’s feeling, but it doesn’t change the fact that she wants me. And that right there is all I need right now. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”

I open the door, and without another look back, I walk out of her bedroom. The only reason I don’t look at her is because it’s nearly impossible to walk away now. If she gave me any indication she wanted me too, I’d stay. Fuck everyone else because from this point forward, whatever Cassie wants, Cassie gets.

As I come down the steps, my dad is waiting at the bottom. The look he’s giving me is knowing, and I’m sure he’s wondering what I was doing, but I don’t care. I wait until I’m standing next to him. “Make sure she takes some Tylenol for her head. Call if she needs anything.” I put my hand on his shoulder and squeeze him affectionately. “Love you, Dad. Talk to you soon.”

I get to the door before he stops me. “Son.”

I knew he wouldn’t let me off the hook so easily. That’s just not who he is. “Yeah, Dad?”

He comes closer, and I notice that Brandi is still sitting on the couch with her full attention focused on the television. My dad’s voice is hushed. “Is there anything you want to tell me?”

I shrug. “What do you want to know?”

I wait, holding my breath. It’s obvious that I’m interested in Cassie. He’d have to be blind to not notice it, and of course, I’m worried he’s going to try and forbid it or tell me all the reasons why it’s a bad idea. But he surprises me. “Don’t hurt her.”

I shake my head. Did I just hear him right? “Did you just tell me not to hurt her?”

He lifts his head and looks me in the eye. “That’s exactly what I said. Cassie is special.”

I nod. Even though I just met her, I already know that. “I know she is, Dad.”

He shifts his feet and positions himself between me and the door, stopping me from leaving. He crosses his arms over his chest. “I’m serious. I see that look in your eye. I’m telling you, she’s special. Don’t start something that you don’t plan on finishing. Do you understand what I’m telling you?”

I don’t even blink. I search his eyes, and I don’t know what to say to him to convince him, so I say the first thing that comes to mind. “She reminds me a little bit of Mom.”

He looks shocked for just a second, and so I continue. “She took on two men bigger than her because she didn’t want them fighting. She cares about others more than herself. She was worried about her friend having to leave to take her home. She cares about her job, her sister. And I just met her tonight, Dad. Trust me, I know she’s special.”

He must realize that I’m being sincere because he moves to the side. “Okay. Have a good night, son, and don’t be a stranger.”

I walk out into the night. “See you soon, Dad.”

Because sure enough, I’ll be spending some more time here.