Chapter 10
Only a few short hours of sleep should have left Cassie dragging. Instead, she stayed charged up and powered through her to-do list with the single-focused intention of getting as much done as possible so she could spend some time, any time at all, with Brody again before she left Sunday. If she caught herself drifting off and staring at absolutely nothing during periods of the day, Cassie figured she had a good reason.
And that reason was Brody Miller.
Salt-N-Pepa’s “Whatta Man” hummed in and out of her head all morning after she’d heard it on the 90’s flash back hour on the radio during the drive home. It was the perfect song to wrap up and summarize her crazy, perfect, wonderful night.
She’d fielded Anna’s phone call, caught up on laundry, nailed her final presentations, and completed a good chunk of her list before the scheduled online meeting with Nathan to talk shop and outline the week.
Cassie had been Nathan’s best friend since all the way back in their high school days. They met while shopping at the mall, bonded over the latest fashions, and a discovered mutual crush on the same boy — one who never acknowledged either of them. They’d been close to inseparable since sophomore year, and he loved her as much as he loved the man he was partnered with.
For Nathan, life would have been empty without Cassie Rhone. They’d gone to the same college since they shared a love of business and taken separate career paths for a while before taking the dive to start Halcyon together. They had also been through the hell of various relationships, including when Cassie’s marriage had fallen apart with that bastard she’d been married to.
Nathan had been one of the few to support her during her divorce, when even her family looked down at her because of it, and to this day, he suspected her family had bought some of the lies Daniel spewed out like the cockroach he was. Only her brother, Christopher, had stood strong by Cassie and Nathan’s side.
So when she’d asked him to follow her to Atlanta to start over, Nathan hadn’t batted an eye. The move and her need to grow something amazing, which was what they were doing, were yet more things her family didn’t understand.
They’d met new friends in the area, plus they’d reconnected with Anna. Most importantly, because of Cassie’s determined drive, Nathan had met the love of his life a few weeks after their move to a different zip code. It was fitting in the universal circle of love that Anna had been the one to play matchmaker when she referred Philip to Nathan to build some customized shelving in their new office space. Nathan fell in love at first sight with Philip’s combination of southern manners, a low-slung tool belt and worn white work pants that fit just right and went perfectly with Philip’s All-Star golden boy looks.
But none of it would have been possible without Cassie leading the charge.
“I’ve got it all covered, Cassie. It’s not the first time you’ve left town,” he said over their video call while stirring his third cup of coffee for the day.
“I know that. Humor me and let’s just go through it again. There’s a lot riding right now, and I don’t want anything missed with the holidays. This is the most critical sales time for most companies.”
“Which is why we, with you as our leader, are one of the best,” Nathan pointed out. “Rock stars, remember?”
He let Cassie take them through all of the items on her checklist, knowing it was the only way she would feel comfortable leaving town. More often than not, they discovered something to improve upon, so the review was always worth it in the long run. Becoming complacent and in a rut was a sure thing to ensure a company’s failure.
“How was the party last night?” he asked when they were through. “We had another get-together to go to first, and I missed you when we did finally get there. Where were you? What a dress Anna picked out for you! You looked amazing. Thanks for sending the picture. You’re glowing by the way, today.”
Dead silence tipped him off that something was up —plus the fact that all of a sudden, Cassie wouldn’t meet his eyes.
“It was fantastic. I got to meet some great people. Chase’s place is outstanding, isn’t it? The first I’ve ever been there. The decorations were off the hook. Anna looked deliriously happy with him, didn’t she? Did you see her dress?” Cassie hedged and rambled like she did only when nervous.
“Yeah, yeah, quit babbling. Get to the interesting part. Who did you meet?”
“God!” Cassie blew out a breath. “How do you always do that?”
“Hmmm… because I’ve known you for — and I do mean for — ever. Because you’re glowing. And you haven’t met anyone for a veeeery long time. And more stalling only means he’s a really big something.”
Cassie blushed like a virgin schoolgirl on a first date. Even through the computer, it was completely obvious.
He couldn’t help but stare at her open-mouthed in shock. “Oh my heavens. You didn’t!” Disbelief rolled over him like a steam engine when she refused to meet his eye. “You slept with the really big something?”
If possible, Cassie went even redder. Nathan raised a single eyebrow, much like Cassie did when surprised or irritated.
“Just how big was the really big something? Spill, or I’ll call Anna and find out anyway.”
Cassie bit her lip and offered sheepishly. “About six five, dark-haired, green eyes, handsome.”
It took Nathan about six point five seconds to connect the dots. “Brody! Brody Miller! Your really big something was Brody Miller!”
Cassie’s continue redness confirmed it.
“Well…” He blew out a breath. Cassie had slept with a man out of the blue? And not just any man! “Holy Jesus. I’m so jealous of you right now I can’t stand it. And so damn proud!” He mimed wiping a tear from his eye. He’d been in on Anna’s plan but doubted the success. Now he owed the crafty blonde fifty bucks. “Please, please tell me how this happened. Anna mentioned she was thinking of trying to set you two up again. I didn’t think she meant for it to be, like, now though. Did he take care with you? ’Cause if he didn’t, I’ll bury him so far underground the ants won’t find his carcass. I don’t care how damn hot he is.”
“He was wonderful. All of it was just wonderful. And he wants to keep seeing me.”
She sounded as though she still didn’t believe that request could be real. Nathan knew why only Cassie would think that about herself and he damned Daniel to hell all over again.
“Of course he does, sweetheart. You’re amazing! Only if Brody were an idiot would he not want to get to know you better and that man has never struck me as an idiot.”
He was a huge fan of Brody’s, after all. Loved his show and all his other work. Pleased and impressed that the famous Brody Miller had taken such care with his best friend, Nathan gave her a smile. Cassie had been bleeding far too long from the wounds left by Daniel. If it took a famous movie star to make her smile again, Cassie had his utter blessing. Telling her exactly that, he watched Cassie’s smile bloom in return.
“Thanks. I was hoping you would be happy for me.”
“Of course, Cassie Bear. Always. Now, details and don’t spare a single thing, especially how he looks naked. Start with the kissing scale — one to ten. Where is he?”