Chapter 21 – Cassie
“Has Jace let up off the gas any yet?” Ellie asked, refilling a customer’s coffee mug.
“I wish. Yesterday I came home to a framed picture of us at the Grizzlies game. On Wednesday he left the only Fleetwood Mac vinyl I didn’t have to complete my collection on my counter.
I have absolutely no idea how he managed to get his hands on that.
Tuesday he had lunch delivered here while you were off.
It was my favorite dish from Maggie’s with a note that said, ‘Don’t forget to take care of yourself too, when you’re busy taking care of everyone else. ’”
“All those thoughtful gifts, and you’re still not ready to give him a second chance? Not even a little bit?”
“Absolutely not. He broke my heart, El. The last time I was that heartbroken was the night my dad left. I refuse to put my heart on the line like that ever again. I’m swearing off men for good.”
Ellie handed the refilled cup of coffee back to the customer waiting by the counter. “If you say so.”
“What are your plans for tonight?” I asked, because tonight was Halloween—one of my favorite holidays, even as an adult.
“Colt and I are taking June trick-or-treating downtown. Do you want to come with us?”
“I already accepted Molly’s invite to the Twisted Spur.”
The Twisted Spur hosted their annual Halloween Night every year. It was like trick-or-treating—but with alcohol. The only rule? You had to wear a costume to get in.
Last year, I’d gone as Wonder Woman. This year I felt more daring, so I decided to spice it up and go as a Playboy Bunny. A few lemon drop shots, and honestly, I wouldn’t care what I was wearing anyways.
After a long day of coffee orders, I hurried home eager to try on my new costume. Tonight was exactly what I needed to get my mind off Jace and his annoying antics.
I stood in front of my floor-length mirror, checking every detail.
The black fishnets hugged my thighs perfectly, the satin corset clung in all the right places, and the bunny ears were the cherry on top.
I smoothed down my outfit, tilted my head, and gave myself a slow once-over. Damn, I looked good.
I pulled into the gravel lot of the Twisted Spur a few minutes later, the hum of music and voices spilled out the front doors, making my pulse pick up.
Molly: I’m already inside! Hurry!
I practically sprinted across the lot, trying not to roll my ankle in the black stilettos I was wearing. Passing the bouncer after flashing my ID, I stepped into the buzzing atmosphere, the scent of vodka and cinnamon hitting me instantly.
I quickly spotted Molly at the bar, saving a spot for me with her purse. She’d decided to dress as a sexy pirate. Her costume was daring and flirtatious, but a lot less revealing than mine.
I slid onto the barstool just as the bartender approached. “Lemon drop, please,” I ordered, knowing it would be the first of many to come.
Molly looked around. “Do you feel like there’s more people here than last year?”
“I was thinking the same thing,” I said, taking in the fact that there were almost twice as many people as last year’s party. I guess word had spread around that this was the place to be on Halloween if you were of drinking age and not afraid to wear a costume.
After a few minutes, Molly and I were on our second lemon drop shots, courtesy of some onlookers at the bar who bought us another round. We downed the sweet, tangy liquor, then hit the dance floor.
The crowd was packed in like sardines, everybody moving to the pulsing beat. Molly and I laughed, swaying our hips in perfect sync with the music.
“Those guys from the bar are walking over here,” she said, still moving with the rhythm. I turned as they approached. They were both older, probably in their thirties, tall, polished, and definitely gave off city-slicker vibes. They looked nice enough but weren’t really my type.
Yeah, you like dirty cowboys with tattoos, don’t you, Cassie? I froze for a split second. Where had that thought even come from?
“Care if we dance with you guys?” one of them asked.
Molly shrugged with a smile. “Sure,” she said, accepting their offer for the both of us.
“You’re not from around here, are you?”
In Silver Creek, everybody knows everybody, and I’d never seen either of their faces before. That meant they were just visitors.
“Nope,” the dark-haired one said. “We’re both from Great Falls. Heard the Twisted Spur throws a hell of a Halloween party though, so we thought we’d check it out. I’m Ryan, by the way.” He gestured to his friend. “And that’s Josh.”
Josh, the dirty-blond one, was already spinning Molly around. She seemed to be enjoying herself, which left me lingering with Ryan.
“Wanna grab another drink?” he asked, nodding toward the bar.
“Uh, sure,” I said, trying to sound casual as I followed his lead. Ryan wasn’t a tattooed cowboy with calloused hands and a smirk that could undo me, but he was hot. Maybe a night with him would help me forget the mess in my head about Jace––if only for a little while.
Because the truth was, I hadn’t stopped thinking about what Jace said that night at Ellie’s wedding. Or about the sentimental gifts he had left me. Or his grand gesture in my front yard.
My phone buzzed in the tiny black purse hanging off my shoulder. The vibration made me jump slightly.
Jace: Where are you??
Speaking of the devil.
“So, what did you end up getting?” I asked, trying to keep my attention on Ryan instead of the little buzzing piece of plastic that I’d tossed back into my purse.
“A bourbon. I ordered you another lemon drop. Just playing it safe in case dark liquor isn’t your thing.”
“Good thinking.”
Buzz.
My purse shifted against my hip, my urge to resist checking the text not strong enough.
Jace: Why did someone just tell me you’re at the Twisted Spur dressed up in a sexy costume?
I looked around. Who the hell was texting Jace about me? I couldn’t find anyone obviously staring at me, so I looked back down at my phone.
Cassie: Because I am. Happy Halloween asshole.
There. Done. Focus back on the present, Cassie.
“So, what do you do for a living?”
“Josh and I both work for a real estate firm. What about you?”
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
I was sure it was Jace again. Except this time, he wasn’t texting––he was calling. My hand hovered over my purse as I clamped it shut.
I tried to force my brain to concentrate more on Ryan and less on Jace.
“I’m sorry, what did you ask again?”
“What do you do for a living?” Ryan repeated, a playful smile tugging at his lips.
“Oh, right. Um… I own my own coffee shop downtown. You should stop by sometime.”
“I’m not a big coffee drinker,” he said, wrinkling his nose as if I’d just suggested something poisonous. Talk about a red flag. What kind of man didn’t drink coffee? In my mind, any man who couldn’t handle a hot cup of black coffee couldn’t handle me either.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Ryan glanced down at my purse, arching an eyebrow. “You can take that if you want. Seems like someone really needs to get ahold of you.”
“Oh, it’s nothing to worry about. Just a friend,” I muttered, annoyed at having to defend myself to some guy I’d known all of five minutes.
Buzz. Buzz. Buzz.
Dammit, Jace.
I hopped off the barstool. “Give me a second—I’ll be right back,” I announced, walking away, weaving through the dancing bodies as I made a beeline for the bathrooms to escape the noise.
I answered, my voice low. “What do you want?”
“What are you wearing?” His tone was dangerously calm.
“Wouldn’t you like to know?” I asked, smirking despite the heat creeping up my chest.
“I would like to know,” he said in a firm voice. “So go ahead and tell me.”
“Why does it matter what I’m wearing to a costume party, Jace?”
“Because if I come down there and see some idiot drooling over you in what I’m guessing is another extremely revealing costume—like Wonder Woman last year or that devil outfit the year before—I’ll end up in jail on Halloween.”
My stomach lurched. “How do you even know what costumes I’ve worn before?”
“That’s none of your business just like what you’re wearing right now is none of mine apparently.”
I smirked, leaning against the cool tile wall.
“If you really want to know what I’m wearing, you’ll have to come see for yourself.
But you’d better hurry—before the guy at the bar buying me shots talks me into stripping off the rest of what little fabric I’ve got left…
in the back seat of his truck. I’m feeling feisty, Jace, and the night’s still young as they say. ”
I hung up before he could reply. The thrill of my own audacity was coursing through my body. No doubt I had just let the tiger out of his cage.