8. Baker

CHAPTER 8

BAKER

Brandi leans forwardand asks loudly, “What do you mean, she can’t? She can do anything she wants, and I’m sure she’d love to go to the movies with Roger.”

I stare at her, wondering what’s up with her. Anyone that knows Cassie would be able to see that she’s been uncomfortable the whole time she’s set here.

My dad tries to help. “Now, honey, maybe we should…”

She cuts him off. “She’s my daughter, Ryan and I know what’s best for her.”

I can’t help but take offense. I’m a police officer, and Roger is a doctor. I don’t begrudge Brandi if she wants Cassie to have a good life, but I don’t think that’s what this is about. “I’m sorry, Brandi, but Cassie already has a commitment tonight.”

She looks at her daughter, and I lean forward to block Cassie from seeing her angry gaze. “She can’t because we are serving on the carnival committee, and we have a meeting tonight.”

“Carnival committee?” she snarls. “Why would you be helping with the carnival?”

“I do a booth there every year.”

My dad chimes in. “His dunking booth makes the most money of any booth there.”

I nod and turn to Roger. “Yeah, so we have a lot of planning to do. I’m sure you understand, Roger.”

Roger is watching Cassie, and I wish I could block him. I don’t even like him looking at her.

Cassie clears her throat, and her voice is a little shaky when she starts to talk. “Yeah, uh, Roger. Actually, I think you’re a great guy, but I think it might get awkward if we go on a date since you’re my doctor.”

I glare at the other man and dare him to pressure her. All it takes is for him to say one thing that’s inappropriate and I’ll climb over this table to get to him.

He opens his mouth, looks at me, and then nods his head. “Yeah, sure. I completely understand, Cassie.”

I sit with one hand on Cassie’s knee as Brandi excuses herself. It’s obvious she’s mad. Cassie stands up, brushing my hand from her leg. “I’m going to go help Mom bring in dessert.”

As Dad starts talking to Roger, I get up and follow Cassie and her mother into the kitchen. I don’t trust my stepmom, and I’m not really sure what kind of relationship they have, but I do know I’m not going to stand by and let Cassie get upset.

As soon as I get into the kitchen, I see Brandi cornering Cassie against the counter, and when she hears me come in she steps away and turns to me. Her smile is instant, but it’s too late. I’ve already seen the pure evil on her face. I position myself next to Cassie. “Cass, I’m sorry to do this to you, but I’m going to need to get to it. Do you think we can skip dessert so we can get to our meeting?”

She’s overwhelmed, that much is obvious, and she has been since I got here tonight. I hate it and that’s one of the reasons I want to get her out of here. She nods and sighs in relief. “Of course, I’m sure you’re tired after working a full shift too. I’ll grab my purse.”

I wait for her to go and without a word to Brandi, I walk back into the dining room. “Dad, Cassie and I are going to go ahead and go. We have work to do.” I look at Roger and hate that my parents brought me up with impeccable manners. “Roger.”

My dad stands up. “Roger, I’ll be right back.” He follows me to the front door, where I wait for Cassie. I’m on high alert because if Brandi goes looking for her, I’ll be following.

My dad is looking around the empty entryway. “Everything okay? What’s going on?”

I grit my teeth. I have done my best not to talk shit about his wife, but man, it’s hard. “Nothing, Dad.”

He spits out, “Bullshit. Talk to me. Is Cassie okay?”

I nod slowly. “Yes, she’s all right. I’m not sure what the hell your wife was thinking trying to fix her daughter up with that man.”

He holds his hands up. “I’ll talk to her and tell her no more blind dates.”

I want to punch something, but I know it’s not my dad’s fault. The poor guy is innocent in all this. “Okay, sure, thanks, Dad.”

Cassie comes down the stairs. “I’m ready. I should probably go—”

I cut her off. “It’s okay, I’ve already told them bye for us.”

My dad nods his head. “It’s fine, honey. You two have a good night. Let me know if you need a ride or anything.”

I roll my eyes. He has been the best dad ever, but seeing him as a girl dad has been something else. I like that he’s protective and caring over Cassie, though. She needs all the people on her side she can get. I put my hand at the small of her back and help her out the door. My dad waves bye to us, and Cassie starts to walk to her car. “I’ll follow you since I’m not sure where we’re going.”

I laugh. “Nope, you can ride with me.”

She jerks to a halt. “Baker, that’s ridiculous. You know you’re tired, and you’re not going to want to drive all the way over here to bring me home. I can just drive.”

“Cassie,” I say sternly.

She reaches out and wraps her hand on my forearm. “I’m just thinking about you. You look like you’re dead on your feet.”

I cup her cheek. “Will you please ride with me? I want to spend as much time as possible with you.”

She takes a step back and looks up at the house. “I’ll ride with you. But this isn’t a date. I appreciate you getting me out of that sticky situation, but this is us working on the carnival together.”

I let out a breath and walk around to the passenger side of my squad car and open the door. “You’re the boss.”

She comes to get in and stops next to me. “You mean that, don’t you?”

I shrug. “Of course I mean it. I haven’t hidden the fact that I like you, Cass, but ultimately whatever happens between us is up to you.”

She seems more than satisfied by my answer as she gets in my car. I only live two neighborhoods away, and as I pull into the driveway, she leans forward to look out the window. “Is this where you live?”

I nod. “Yeah. Why? You seem surprised.”

She doesn’t wait for me to come around to open her door; she gets out and meets me at the front of the car. “I’ll withhold judgment until I see the inside. I mean, you are a bachelor. Am I going to see bean bags in place of a couch?”

I laugh and lead her up the stairs to my front porch. “I think you’ll be pleasantly surprised.”

I open the front door and wave my arm for her to go in. She steps in and looks around in awe. “Baker, this is gorgeous.”

I try to see it through her eyes. I’ve always liked the open concept. The kitchen is like a chef’s dream. There’s a large couch in the living room in front of the fireplace and a big screen television in the corner. Everything is tucked away and clean looking. “Baker! This is amazing. Did you decorate all this or did you have help?”

I put my hands in my front pockets. It’s been five years since my mom passed, but I still think about her every day. “This is one of the last projects my mom and I did together before she passed.”

The smile on her face drops, and she comes to me, wrapping her arms around her middle. “I’m so sorry.”

I thread my hand through her hair and hold her head against my chest. “Thank you, Cass.”

She pulls back, and I reluctantly let her go. She goes to sit on the couch. “Tell me about her. The few things your dad has said about her makes me think she was pretty amazing.”

I blow out a breath. “Yeah, she was. Uh, do you care if I shower my workday off first?”

She leans back on the couch. “Absolutely. Go take your time. I promise not to snoop while you’re in there.”

I start to leave the room and stop. “You can snoop all you want. I have nothing to hide.”

I leave her with that and then go to the bedroom. I shower quickly, not because I’m worried about her finding anything but because I want to be able to spend as much time as possible with her.

I walk back into the living room in jeans and a T-shirt. I sit next to her on the couch and face her. “So… my mom.”

She shakes her head, frowning. “You don’t have to talk about her if you don’t want to, Baker, I just thought—”

I reach over and grab her hand. “She was a wonderful mom. She loved me more than anything, and she was always there for me. She was funny, a little nerdy, but man she was fierce.” I pause. “You remind me of her a little bit.”

She points at herself. “Me? I’m not fierce.”

I roll my eyes. “You tried to break up a fight between two grown men.”

She groans. “Ugh, I’m never going to hear the end of that, am I?”

I cover our hands with my free one. “I’m just saying… you’re pretty badass, Cass.”