Perfect Sense (Perfect Series Book 1) (26 page)

I let out a sigh. “Oh, no thank you -”

“You’re at a party. You have to drink something.”

Anna leads us over to the kitchen and yanks open the cupboard, pulling out two shot glasses. She reaches for the open bottle of Sambuca on the counter and fills our glasses to the rim.

“Ready?” She picks up her glass and grins. I watch as she puts it to her lips and tilts her head back. I hate drinking, but I will make this one exception. I don’t want to rub Anna the wrong way. One drink won’t kill me. Besides, Cash seems to be having a great time without me. Might as well show him I can have a great time without him too. Seconds later, I do the same. I put down the empty glass and smile at her.

I cough, still feeling my throat burn. “It’s awful.”

“Want to shoot another?” Anna asks.

I am about to respond with a firm no, when from the corner of my eye I spot Cash across the room laughing with a booty-licious blonde whose hand is resting on his bicep. My chest tightens and I want to take off my shoe and whip it at him…or her.

“Yeah, hit me with another.” I let Anna pour us another shot.

“Hey, Anna, aren’t you going to introduce us to your new friend?” asks a tall guy with long brown hair that is tucked behind his ears. He is wearing a red and black flannel shirt and really worn-out blue jeans. He looks like he hasn’t shaved in a few days and has one of those panty- dropping smiles. His eyes move from me to Anna, then back to me.

His friend has short red hair and a pair of really emerald green eyes. His gray t-shirt doesn’t really leave much for imagination and his broad chest is really nice to look at. A small smile is on his lips as he takes a sip from his beer bottle.

“Boys, this is Quinn. She works for the Bexley Bruisers. She came with Cash.”

The one with long brown hair holds out his hand. “Hi, I’m Greer.”

I slip my hand into his and shake it. “Nice to meet you, Greer.”

“I’m Billy. My brother Mike is the one throwing this outrageous party,” the redhead says, giving me a wink.

I nod in his direction. “Nice to meet you too, Billy.”

“Alright boys, give her some air,” Anna says in a playful tone.

“Don’t be jealous Anna.” Greer smiles and takes a sip of his beer.

Anna rolls her eyes at him.

“I’m guessing you’re here strictly on business.” Billy nods his head in Cash’s direction.

A tiny brunette is perched on the edge of the living room sofa and I feel my heart sink as I watch his finger run up the length of her bare forearm. Unease spreads throughout my stomach and insecurity pulls at my heart strings.

Old habits die hard.
I think to myself, feeling my blood heat and bubble as it rushes in my ears.

I tear my eyes off of Cash and the girl’s arm and slam my second shot of Sambuca. “Yeah, something like that.”

“Come on, let’s go dance,” Anna says and leads us over to the dance floor. “You guys want to join us?” she shouts at Greer and Billy over her shoulder.

They both nod and follow us to the makeshift dance floor set up in the middle of the living room. For the next hour I watch Cash from the corner of my eye fend off girls and collect his winnings from anybody who challenges him at a game of pool. Each time he catches my eye, I look away from him, pissed that he has not once acknowledged my presence since we arrived.

The song switches to an upbeat country song and Billy lets out a ye-haw and moves in closer, placing his hand on the small of my back. I reach out for Anna’s hand and spin under her arm to slide away from his touch.

“Dance with me,” Billy says with an impish grin and his hand outstretched to me.

As I open my mouth to tell him no, I spot Cash leaning over some random girl with one too many freckles on her face, showing her how to hold a pool cue. With her backside pushed up against his crotch and the way they laugh together when she misses her shot, it makes my stomach turn. Mortified, I don’t think twice when I grab Billy’s hand and let him twirl me under his arm. If Cash wants to pretend that I don’t exist, I’ll show him what it feels like to be non-existent. When Billy brushes up behind me and starts to grind up against my backside, I let him, seeing Cash’s fists clench.

“Have you ever been to Newfoundland before?” Billy asks, lowering his head to my ear so I can hear him.

I shake my head. “This is my first time in Canada actually.”

He grins. “Do you like it?”

“What I’ve seen so far I like,” I reply.

He slips his hands further down my waist until his fingers are brushing along the curve of my bottom. Feeling a bit uncomfortable, I move closer to Anna and give her a spin under my arm. The last thing I want is for Cash to punch him out. Giving him a taste of his own medicine is one thing, starting an unnecessary brawl, another.

I search the crowd for Cash and I don’t see him anywhere. He is gone and so is the freckled face girl.

“I’m not feeling so well,” I shout into Anna’s ear.

“You know what will help with that, another drink!” She grabs my hand and then looks back at the guys. “We’ll be right back.”

“We’ll be waiting,” Greer says, giving her a wink.

Anna walks us back into the kitchen and pours me another shot of Sambuca. “I know you’re not here on business.” I swallow hard and watch her studying me as she hands me the shot. “I saw you and Cash making out on the porch yesterday. I see the way he looks at you. And the way you look at him. It’s obvious.”

“It’s complicated,” I reply.

“You know; Cash hasn’t been back to Thompson in over a year.”

We click our shot glasses together and pour the clear liquid down our throats. When I look back up, Anna cocks one of her perfectly plucked eyes brows at me. “What’s really going on between you two? Do you even work for the Bruisers or is that some sort of cover?”

I laugh. “Yes, I swear I work for the Bruisers.”

“Then you know about his brother. And Cash’s current situation with Danny? And you’re okay with that?” She cracks open a beer and passes it to me.

“I think I know enough,” I admit, feeling a bit flush from all the shots I’ve taken. “Who’s Danny? Was he involved in the crash too?”

“I shouldn’t have said anything.” Her expression shows nothing but polite concern, but her stream of questions has me back on edge. “I’m not surprised he’s been so aloof. He’s never been one to open up about much of anything. Especially after his brother died. He’s made a lot of reckless decisions. It really messed him up.”

I sigh. “So I hear.”

“You know…Cash has been through a lot, but he’s also created a lot of his own grief.”

“What does that mean?” I ask.

She lets out a sigh and bites her bottom lip. “Look, Quinn, you seem like a really nice and smart girl. I love Cash. He’s been Jake’s best friend since we were kids. And trust me, if he brought you to the one place that haunts him, you must mean something to him. Which is why I am concerned for you.” She looks around the party nervously. “I don’t know what is going on between you two, but whatever this is, you need to accept that he has walls and that he has secrets. Until he deals with his past and the mess he’s created, he’ll never be able to be who you want him to be. He will hurt you.”

I am trying my best not to take her words to heart, but as she stands there eyeing me up with worry, a lump lodge in my throat.

“Do you love him?” she asks.

I continue to stare at her in dumbfounded silence.

“Whatever you do, don’t,” she warns

“Why are you saying all this to me?” I finally breathe out, watching her for any reaction. She bites her bottom lip and says nothing more.

I start to open my mouth, but the sound of Billy’s voice and his hand on the small of my back freezes my words. “What are you two doing?” he asks “We need you out there on the dance floor.”

“Yeah, come on, Anna. You know how much I like to see your booty shake,” Greer says with a devilish smirk.

I shake my head. “No…I…uh think we are all danced out.”

“Come on, Quinn. It’s your last night in Thompson.” His hand brushes along my lower back and I pull away. “Don’t you wanna go out with a bang?”

“Get your fucking hands off her, Billy, or I will smash your face in.” Cash’s harsh tone shocks me, and I turn around to see him towering over me.

“Cash Brooks,” Billy snarls, glaring at him. “Why so pissy? Quinn said she was here on business…and you were busy feeling up Lucy as per usual, so I thought—”

“You thought wrong.” Cash takes one more step forward, putting his body between me and Billy. “Find another girl, Billy. She’s with me.”

Billy lets out a hard laugh. “You know, you’re at my brother’s party, Brooks. And if my memory serves me correctly, the last time I saw you at one of his parties I found you coked out of your mind, fucking our sister. On my bed. Then you destroyed my front door.”

Cash’s jaw clenches.

“We’re even, dick shit,” he continues. “You might have everybody else fooled, but I know exactly who you are and exactly what you are capable of.”

“Fuck you.” Cash puts both of his hands on his chest and shoves him back, hard.

I grab his arm and pull him in the other direction. “Cash! Stop it!”

“He’s all yours, Quinn.” Billy tosses his empty beer bottle onto the lawn. “Get him the fuck off our property.”

“Come on, Billy. What’s in the past is in the past,” Anna begs, glancing nervously between them. “Don’t be that way.”

“I’ll be however the fuck I want. I don’t owe him shit.” Billy walks away with Greer following behind.

Cash jerks forward and I grip his arm harder, digging my nails into his skin. Billy snickers, disappearing into the crowd. “What the hell were you doing letting that asshole feel you up?” he asks

I stand there, humiliated, feeling my cheeks heat. “I don’t know, Cash. What were you doing letting every girl at this party throw themselves at you right in front of me like I don’t exist?”

“Come on, you’re not mad are you?” He takes a step closer, leaving all but an inch between us.

I let out a hard laugh. “Mad? That doesn’t even begin to describe how I feel right now. Try furious, pissed, enraged!”

“You know how the ladies react to me, Mittens. It comes with the territory.”

I shake my head. “I can’t believe how stupid I’ve been. You know…I really thought you wanted this. But obviously you don’t.”

“Quinn, don’t be that way. I’m sorry about the girls—”

“It’s not just the girls,” I am not in the mood for his lame apology. Or the secrets surrounding him that everyone but me in his hometown seems to know about. “It’s the life I don’t know anything about. You are always so guarded and vague. I feel like you are hiding something from me. God! I can’t believe everything I am risking! I’m sick of playing house with you. I need something real. I want more than this.”

Cash staggers backward, the disbelief from my rant written all over his face.

I look over at Anna and force a smile. “Thank you, Anna, for the insightful evening. It was nice meeting you.”

“Cash, I'm sorry. Quinn, please don’t go,” she begs and shifts her eyes between the two of us. “I’ll talk to Billy.”

“Don’t bother.” I yank open the patio doors. “Tell Jake I said goodbye.”

I step out into the darkness and lean up against the side of the house. Seconds later, Cash is beside me.

“What did Anna tell you?” His gaze is fixed on my face, searching.

“You’re such a dick.” I let out a hard bitter laugh. “You’re so persistent about me telling you everything, but when it comes to you, your past is a vault under lock and key. You’re not trying to protect me. You’re just trying to protect yourself.”

“What does that mean?”

“You know exactly what that means. And apparently so does everyone else, except me. I’m sick of trying to figure you out. Let me know when you’re ready to let me in. Until then, enjoy being alone.”

I head briskly toward the end of the driveway. He shouts out my name and follows behind me, but I keep walking, tears stinging my eyes.

His strong hand wraps around my arm. “What are you trying to say?” I wrestle hard to set myself free, but his grip remains firm. “Talk to me, Mittens.”

“I’ve never felt this way about anyone before. I avoid relationships because I can’t count on them. I’ve built my whole life counting on the one thing I can control—my education and now my career. And then you came along….” I let out a bitter laugh. “I’m taking a cab to the airport.”

Sighing, he holds my wrist while I squirm, unable to free myself. “If that’s what you really want, I’ll drive you. But I’m not letting you just walk off in the dark.”

“You’re not in charge of me.” I slam my free fist against his chest. “Let go of me! I hate you!”

He closes his big hand around my fist. “Well, I love you, Quinn,” he says, his voice low and intense. “Don’t you fucking see that?”

I lift my eyes, my heart pounding.

“I love you,” he whispers, inches away from my lips. “And you’re not going anywhere without me.”

I shake my head. “Don’t you dare say that to me unless you mean it.”

“I mean it.” He runs his fingers through my hair. “How I feel about you is never going to change. I’m sorry about tonight—I freaked out. Look, you're right. I was a dick back there, but I had to be. Don't you get that? I couldn't expose us, Quinn. I can't. Most of these people aren’t my friends. I can’t trust that they won’t leak what we have to the media the first chance they get. The last thing I want is to ruin us before we even get a chance. If we were spotted together as more than work associates, who knows what the media would report. Your father is already shoving a wedge between us, and I know how much you care about your internship. I’m just not ready to lose you. Especially after everything that just happened.”

I let out a trembling breath, keeping my eyes lowered. “I want to believe you, Brooks. I really do.”

He places his hands on either side of my face, tilting my head upward. “Don’t you get it? I want to be with you. I love you.”

I meet his stare, my pulse picking up into a rapid tempo. He looks at my lips, pupils dilating. “Whatever Anna said to you…” He shakes his head. “I’m sorry. I know I fucked up tonight,” he whispers. “I swear I’ll let you in.” He takes a step closer. “I promise there will be a time when it’s right.”