One Dance (Breaking Bounds #5)

1. Cassi

1

CASSI

“Ourfirst full month of freedom and we’re lounging by the pool.Theperfect way to start what’s going to be the greatest summer of our lives.”My best friend Margo’s wistful words put a smile on my face.

“Yeah? What’s going to make it the greatest summer?”

“For starters, now that we’re both legal, we can do what we want.No rules. Nocurfew. Just long summer nights hopefully with hot summer boys.” Margo’s giggle is contagious and we’re both laughing as the sun beats on ourbikini coveredbodies.

I sigh. “Most of that sounds good, but I don’t want a summer boy. I want a man .” The guys in high school never did it for me.They’re immature andnever wanted to talk,onlyfool around.I need more than that.

Margo rolls her eyes. “Not this again, Cassi. You seriously want an older guy?”

“I just want someone who knows what they want. A guy who can make me wanthimjustby a look or something.”

“That does sound nice,” she mumbles and turns over to get some sun on her back. “But Tommy’s finger game gets me going with just a few flicks of his capable fingers.”

“Does that mean he’s stopped rooting around like he’s lost something down there? ” I ask, using her exact words.

“Mostly yes,” she laughs. “Sometimeshegets a little excited and forgets, but I always walk away satisfied. You should try it sometime.”

“I will,” I promise her even though I’m unsure if that day will ever come. “As soon as I find the right guy.” He has to be out there somewhere, right?

Honestly my confidence is shot. My life until now has been pretty sheltered thanks to an overprotective father wealthy enough to build me a gilded cage.

“Good afternoon, girls. Enjoying the sun?”

Margo looks up at my dad, raising her sunglasses to offer him a beaming smile. “Afternoon, Sam. It’s gorgeous out.Howgoesconquering the world one takeover at a time?”

Dad stares at her with an amused smile.“Aslucrative as ever. Get good grades during your first year of college and there may be an internship for you at my company.”

Margo perks up. “Then prepare to spend next summer teaching me the ropes!”

“I look forward to turning you into a shark.”His gaze swings to me and his smile dips. “Cassi, I want you home for dinner tonight. Jordan is in town and Veronica wants us tohave a proper meal together.”

Jordan .Just his name is enough to ramp up my excitement andsadly my arousal. I haven’t seen him since the night we met, two months ago at my father’s wedding just two days after my eighteenth birthday. My eyes somehow landed on the most gorgeous man I’d ever seen in real life and a second later, I was in his arms as he twirled me around the dance floor.

When we danced...electricity passed between us.Hisarms tightened around meanditwas the most romantic five minutes of my life! My mind immediately began spinning fairytales of a midnight kiss, a moonlit tryst. But then he told me, “I’ve never had a sister before.”

“Me either,” I mumbled back. “I’m an only child.”

“Not anymore,” his deep voice sounded right beside my ear.“You have a brother. Stepbrother, anyway.”

I froze as realization dawned.Hewas Veronica’s son, and my very new stepbrother .

Talk about a big fat fucking bummer.

Luckily forme, Jordan had flown back to Chicago the next morning where he runs a tech company andI haven’t had to deal with the crushing blow or humiliation of lusting after a now called family member. Ugh.

“Cassi?”

I blink away the memories and try to refocus. “Y-Yeah, Dad. I’ll be around for dinner.”

With a nod, Dad goes back inside now that he’s sure his orders will be followed.

“So,” Margo coos. “The hot asfuckballsstepbrother is coming to town?” She wiggles her eyebrows. “This is the time to make your move.”

I roll my eyes, ignoring the thrill running through my core at the idea of making a move on Jordan. “He thinks of me as a kid sister.”

Two shitty things. A kid and his sister.

“Maybe so,butshow him you’re all woman and not blood related.There’s nothing holdingyou back but you, Cass.”

As much as I want Jordan I’m too afraid of rejection to risk it.“Not gonnahappen.”

“It’sdefinitelynot going to happen if you don’t go for it,” she scolds me as she stands, arms twisted behind her back to re-tie her bikini strings. “And remember these three words—Best. Summer. Ever.”

“You’re nuts.”

She laughs, “Well, Maybe I am. Okay, I totally am solet’s get upstairs already and find something so smokin’ hot that your new stepbro is going to have to swallowhistongue.”

My face heats up at the idea of it. And while it’s an intriguing thought, I can’t help but remember how wrong this is. “No, no. I need to focus onwhat my future looks likebefore Dad tries to set me up with another boring snob in a suit.”

Margo rolls her eyes. “But you already know what you want to doandyou’re taking steps to become a travel blogger, so it’s settled. Tonight is the first step in your new life.”

Now I do like the sound of that.

First, seduce a hot older man…then tell Dad about my plans and finally go live the life I want. “Fine, yeah, okay Margo.Let’s do this.”