CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Cassie
I block out the logic that following Haden is insane. Then I push down the voice that says he’s going to think I’m a lunatic if he finds out, and I stay a few cars behind him down the main highway that runs past Laurel Creek.
Finally, a few concessions down from Silver Pines, his blinker goes on.
I watch as he pulls down a long gravel driveway and up to the front of a house that isn’t far from the road I’m on.
The house he’s parked in front of is an old, dark brown brick farmhouse.
There are two barns to the left of it and beautiful pastures beyond.
The last of the day’s sun reflects off the swaying barren trees, but you can almost see and smell that spring is around the corner.
This would be just his style—a woman out here in the country who shares his love for animals.
That feeling of jealousy sucker-punches me again.
Haden shuts his truck off and hops out carrying the cooler. I pull over to the side of the road behind the safety of a hedge at the edge of the property.
“I’m just curious,” I tell myself out loud as I sink down behind the steering wheel.
Right. Just a curious creep. I watch as Haden climbs up to the porch.
He pauses before he knocks, setting down the cooler and opening up a bucket that sits on the steps.
He pulls a scoop from it and sprinkles salt on his girlfriend’s front steps. Goddammit he’s a good man.
I hold my breath as I wait for her to answer.
But when she does, I stare in shock for a few seconds.
The woman who greets Haden is small and pretty with chin-length dark hair and glasses, but she’s …
older. A lot older. She must be at least sixty-five.
Haden pulls her in for a hug and points to the porch like he’s explaining what he just did. As he does so, his eyes flit to mine.
Motherfucker.
I duck down further behind the wheel, my breathing out of control now.
Do I start the truck and leave? Do I hope he hasn’t seen me and he’s already gone inside to be with whoever this woman is?
I decide after a few minutes to raise my head up slightly and peek.
He’s probably already gone inside. I’m worrying for nothing.
Except he hasn’t, and I physically shriek when he knocks on the driver’s-side window of my truck with the back of his first two knuckles.
“Shit!” I cry out as I sit up. I’m so totally and completely busted.
Haden makes the motion with his hand for me to roll down my window, slowly.
I pray that the ground beneath my truck will open up and swallow me whole so I don’t have to face him and that smug smirk he’s wearing.
I take a deep breath and run through every excuse I can think of as I roll the window down.
“You Cassie or Cassie’s twin?” he asks.
I narrow my eyes at him.
“You got my text but decided not to answer me? I mean, I can see why now. I didn’t know you were in a relationship or that you were into older …
You know what, I’m gonna just go,” I ramble, starting to roll up the window.
Haden puts his hand on the top of the glass. I let go of the button immediately.
“I didn’t answer your text because I slept on your sofa last night and my phone died partway through the day.
I just got your message when I plugged it into my truck on the way here.
And Christ, Penny’s my mentor,” he says with the smuggest fucking look on his face.
“But the stalking thing, Princess? Although you clearly suck at it, I have to admit it’s kind of working for me. ”
“I was just curious?” I offer lamely.
“Uh-huh,” he notes, pulling at the handle on my door. “Well, since you’re so curious and you’re here …” He opens my door and nods toward the house. “Get out, and you can help.”