Chapter 5
Cassie
The fall festival is hopping today, and I’ve sold a ton of books.
Thanks in no small part to my brother, Orion.
It’s not every day that we have a real-life celebrity in Maple Ridge, so everyone is eager to catch a glimpse of the famous quarterback whose career ended too soon.
Orion’s been scowling all morning, but he’s handling chores like a champ, never complaining when I ask him to lug a case of books from one corner of the booth to the other.
And he’s bringing potential new readers to the booth too. So, I have no complaints.
Except I’d rather be in bed with Silas right now…
For the first time ever, I can’t wait to leave the festival.
Book signings are my favorite part of being an author.
There’s nothing I love more than interacting with my readers.
But it was physically painful to pry myself away from Silas this morning.
And the delicious ache in my inner muscles after a night of lovemaking won’t let me push my handsome mountain man out of my mind.
When I left this morning, Silas made me promise to return tonight. "There's somewhere I want to take you," is all he said, and I didn’t ask questions. I'm learning that Silas doesn't waste words—when he says something, he means it.
I wait as long as I can before turning to my brother. “You know, Orion, I think I’m going to duck out early today.”
He gives me a look, suspicion etched into his features. “Why?”
I shrug, trying to look as casual as possible. “I’m just not feeling it today.”
Orion crosses his arms. “I know you better than that, Cass.”
“Fine,” I say with a sigh. “I have a date, and I’m anxious to get to it.”
Orion pops up from his chair, rising to an impressive height of nearly six-and-a-half feet. “Who’s this date?”
I roll my eyes, setting my jaw. “As I’ve told you my entire life, you are not the boss of me, Orion Sinclair. So, knock it off.”
“I’m not being bossy,” he protests. “I’m being a protective big brother, and I have the right to know who’s got his eyes on my sister.”
“You do not have the right,” I seethe. “But for your information, he’s a veteran, a landowner, and an all-around great guy. So, back off.”
Orion opens his mouth to retort, but I hold up a hand. “I mean it, Orion. I love you with all my heart, but I’m a grown woman. I’m perfectly capable of making my own decisions, and I can take care of myself.”
Orion’s face softens and he nods. “Okay, but if this guy steps out of line, let me know. I’ll kick his ass.”
A wide grin stretches across my face. “Deal.”
Later that night, I slide into Silas’s truck, a well-maintained Ford that’s almost as old as I am. “Where are you taking me?”
Silas shakes his head, smiling. “I don’t want to spoil the surprise.”
We wind higher into the mountains, the road narrowing as trees arch overhead, creating a tunnel of flame-colored leaves that glow in the late afternoon sun. The truck handles the terrain easily, climbing steadily as we leave the valley behind.
When we pull into a gravel clearing, my breath stops.
Lookout Rock. I've heard of it but never been here. It's the kind of place locals mention in passing but rarely visit—too far up, too much effort, too easy to find a pretty view closer to town.
But this is worth every minute of the drive.
The valley spreads below us like something out of a painting—a patchwork quilt of orange and gold, rooftops catching the last rays of sunset, Osprey Lake glimmering like hammered metal in the distance. The mountains rise on all sides, layer after layer fading to blue in the distance.
"God," I whisper, stepping to the edge carefully.
Silas comes up behind me, close enough that I can feel his presence even before his hand finds mine. Our fingers thread together naturally, like we've been doing this for years instead of a couple of days.
"I know," he says quietly. "I used to come up here a lot. Any time I needed a reminder…” His voice trails off.
"A reminder of what?"
"That beautiful things still exist in the world. That there’s something worth..." He trails off, jaw working. "Something worth being here for."
My chest tightens. I turn to look at him, but he's staring out at the valley, his profile sharp against the darkening sky.
"Silas," I say softly.
He squeezes my hand. "Look," he says, pointing upward with his free hand.
I follow his gaze. Against the velvet sky, the first stars are appearing. And there, unmistakable, five bright stars form a crooked W.
"Cassiopeia," he says, and his voice has gone quiet, almost reverent.
My throat closes. "You know it?"
"Hard to miss once you know what to look for." He's looking at me now instead of the sky. "Bright. Unmistakable. Constant, no matter what season it is. Always there, even when everything else changes."
Heat pricks behind my eyes, threatens to spill over. My parents named me after that constellation—my mother loved astronomy, spent hours teaching me the constellations when I was little. They hoped I'd reach for the stars, she always said. Be brilliant.
But no one's ever made me feel like I actually am that light. Like I shine rather than just reflect.
Until now. Until Silas Whitaker, standing on Lookout Rock, pointing out my constellation and telling me I'm constant.
"You shine, Cass," he says, and there's nothing practiced about the words, nothing smooth. Just raw honesty. "Brighter than any star.”
The words undo something in me. I turn into him, rising on my toes, and kiss him slow and deep under the watchful stars. He kisses me back like we have all the time in the world, his hands cradling my face like I'm something precious.
When we finally break apart, I rest my forehead against his chest. His arms come around me, solid and warm, and we stand there as the sky darkens and more stars appear, one by one by one.
"Thank you," I whisper against his shirt.
"For what?"
"For showing me this. For..." I swallow hard. "For seeing me."
His arms tighten around me. "Always, Cass. Always."
For once, I don't feel like the girl in Orion's shadow—the kid sister, the quirky author, the dreamy one who never quite fits. With Silas, I feel like the protagonist of my own story. The heroine who gets the adventure, who takes the risk, who finds something real.
And I don't want this chapter to end.