O Face, page 3
Jamie shot her a look. “Traitor.” Then he gestured to my second shot, still waiting. “You’re behind, old man. Let’s see it.” I grabbed the shot, raising it to my mouth, but Jamie stopped me. “Hang on. What’s the toast for this one?”
“I have to toast for all of them?” I asked.
He nodded, clearly about to tell me yes, but Jess cut him off. “You could dedicate the next one to the girl who saved your life.” Her eyes shone with what could only be mischief and nefarious intent.
I had a bad feeling about where this was going. I’d hoped it was just coincidence and friendly nostalgia that had made her come along tonight. Jess and I hadn’t run in the same circles four years ago. Mainly because her circle was more like a two-point line: Jess and Cassie Franklin. Despite Jamie and Jess being twins, or maybe because of it, he and I had pointedly steered clear of the duo back then. But I did know that since their parents had passed, Jamie had been spending more time with Jess. Maybe adulthood had mellowed her.
I looked back at Jess, noting the calculations going on behind her sharp gaze. Huh. And maybe not.
“I don’t know who you’re talking about,” I said. Before she could answer, I raised shot number two high in the air and added, “To not ironing a uniform ever again,” before tossing back shot number two.
Jess smirked and sipped her beer.
But Jamie wasn’t letting it go. “The girl who saved your life? Who is she talking about?”
I didn’t answer.
Jess, however, was more than happy to jog his memory. “Cassie. Franklin Industries. The company that supplied Liam’s doctors with the tech that saved his hearing...”
Jamie’s eyes widened as her meaning finally struck him. I’d already explained to him how the military had only been willing to buy me a top-notch hearing aid and a bottle of Motrin on my way out. It had been Franklin who’d donated the implant as part of a trial they were doing. “Shit balls. I totally forgot. You have to give that speech and kiss babies and whatever as thanks.”
“As my plus-one, I urge you to find a more diplomatic way of describing our presence there.”
He pinned me with a devilish grin. “Did you see her when you went over there today?”
I sighed, suddenly glad for all these shots. A buzz was going to be the only way to survive this conversation. “Yeah.”
Jamie’s eyes widened. Clearly, he hadn’t expected me to say yes. Even Sophie looked interested now. Probably because I hadn’t mentioned that fact to her when she’d asked me about it earlier. Now, she put her phone down, listening intently.
“Hot damn,” Jamie said. “And? Is she still hot as hell?”
“You tell me,” I said. “I’ve been gone for four years. You’ve lived in the same town as her—”
But Jamie shook his head, cutting me off. “She doesn’t go anywhere except for the office. No one sees her anymore. Not even Jess.”
My gaze flicked to Jess who looked away now, troubled.
Jamie was oblivious. “Does she still have ice in her veins?” he asked, leaning toward me.
“She didn’t smile at me if that’s what you’re asking.”
Jamie snorted. “Maybe with all that medtech her daddy owns, they could do some sort of smile transplant. Make her at least appear happy.”
I thought about the offer she’d tried to make me earlier. It was definitely all about appearances with her, though considering her terms, I wasn’t sure happiness was her end goal. I still couldn’t believe she’d tried to pay me to pretend to be her boyfriend. Or, not me, exactly. But someone. She was going to pay someone. Pretend with someone.
Just not me.
And I remembered her making it clear sex wasn’t included, but I wondered how far the fake relationship was really going to go. It was hard to picture Cassie intimate with anyone. Since the moment I’d left her office this morning, every time I tried to, it ended up being my face on the guy’s body. And it was really starting to piss me off.
“I’ll drink to that,” I told Jamie, though I wasn’t even sure which part I was agreeing with. Cassie smiling, maybe? That would be a new one. In all the time I’d watched her growing up, I’d never seen her smile. No one had. Except maybe Jess.
At my words, Jess scowled. I raised the third shot to my lips and offered her an evil grin in return before I tossed the drink down my throat.
“She’s not as much of a bitch as you guys like to think,” Jess said.
“She’s not as much of a saint as you like to think either,” Jamie shot back.
They glared at each other, and I shook my head. I still couldn’t believe those two were twins. Different as night and day. And not just in their choice of friends. Sophie looked up from her phone, her expression apologetic and I knew she hadn’t heard a word of this, not really. “Guys, I’m sorry. I have to go.”
“Work again?” I asked.
She nodded, wincing. “I know tonight was supposed to be our big celebration,” she began.
I waved her off. “Sis, anytime you need to bail on me to save someone’s life, do not apologize. Besides, we’ll always have Florida,” I added, citing our recent family gathering at our parents’ new place.
When I’d flown home to recuperate from surgery, I’d done it there and Sophie had flown down for the last week or so. It had kept my parents happy and given me time to pay for renovating the house I’d just bought from them up here. The money the military paid out as a parting gift was getting put to good use.
“Thanks. I’ll see you at home.” She planted a kiss on the top of my head, grabbed her purse, and headed off, waving at Jamie and Jess as she went.
When she was gone, Jamie’s brows knitted. “I thought your sister worked for a divorce attorney.”
“She does,” I told him. “Can you imagine how many lives have been spared by divorce?”
He snorted, but he wasn’t looking at me anymore. Instead, his gaze was locked on something across the bar. I followed it and shook my head. “Nancy Miller, huh?”
Jamie whipped around to look at me. “What? No. We’re, ah, just friends.”
Nancy waved and Jamie’s answering smile was more than friendly.
Jess rolled her eyes. “You have the worst taste in women ever.”
He smirked at her. “We have that in common then, because your best friend is a glacier.”
“Ugh.” She groaned. “Why did I even come here tonight?”
“No idea.” He shot me a look that seemed to ask for permission.
I sat back and gestured toward Nancy, whom I remembered for her love of flavored lip glosses back in the day. I decided not to mention that part just now. “Go with God,” I told him.
“His name will be called upon later.” Jamie grinned, grabbed his beer, and disappeared.
Jess stared back at me, her expression sulky. “And then there were two.”
“You don’t have to stay,” I told her.
“Thanks, Dad.”
I debated flipping her off and then decided against it. Irritating or not, she was Jamie’s little sister. And they had just lost their parents last year in a car accident. Besides, I knew I was just grumpy from all the hands I’d shaken today trying to navigate the hardware store. That and my mysterious meeting with Cassie earlier. What the hell was happening in her life that made her want to hire someone for something like that, anyway? Was she in some kind of trouble?
Not your problem.
“You know, I can see why you and Cassie are such good friends,” I said dryly. “Your knack for deadpan sarcasm is unmatched except for each other.”
I waited, expecting some pissy retort for the dig, but she only studied me intently, her expression growing thoughtful as she cupped her beer. “Tell me, Liam Porter, what else do you see?”
“What do you mean?”
“When you spoke to Cassie today, what else did you see?”
“It’s Cassie Franklin. I saw what she wanted me to see.” I shrugged. “You of all people should know that.”
She wasn’t put off. “I do. But not everyone else realizes how much of a front it is.”
My brows shot up. “Then they’re idiots.”
“Exactly.” She leaned forward, and I knew I’d just fallen into some sort of trap. “Which is why I was hoping you would agree to a favor.”
Fucking A. “What favor?”
Jess hesitated, her gaze flicking down to stare at her beer, and I knew whatever this was had been carefully planned. No wonder she’d agreed to join us tonight. I should have known it wasn’t to finally become friends with me. But I’d forgotten how devious Jess could be. “Look, Cassie and I have been friends for a long time, but even I don’t get to see everything,” she said.
I grunted. No surprise there. One conversation with Cassie and I knew instinctively she was a private person.
“There have always been limits to what Cassie shares,” Jess went on. “I’ve known that. Always been fine with it. She’s a private person, I get it. It’s not exactly easy for me to share about some of my stuff, either. But a couple of months back, something changed. Cassie shut down. Like completely. She stopped telling me stuff and then she even stopped hanging out with me. Won’t return my calls. Won’t get together. No explanations. She’s been distant—even for her.”
“I’m sorry for your...issues,” I said, making it sound like a question. When the hell had this become a sharing circle? I cleared my throat. “But what does this have to do with me exactly?”
“You’re smart, Liam. And you’re good at reading people. Jamie told me about some of the stuff you did while you were in the military. The interrogations and investigations.”
“What the hell? That’s top secret—”
“Yeah, yeah.” She waved a hand. “Your secrets are safe. Who the hell am I going to tell in Summerville, anyway?” She snorted, and before I could answer, she’d leaned in, turning serious again. “My point is that you’re qualified. You know how to watch people. To read them. But besides all that, you don’t have any preconceived ideas about Cassie. And you don’t want anything from her so you won’t hurt her.”
I couldn’t help but choke on that last part—the part she’d said with particular force. Who did she think I was—some sort of saint? Oh. Right. Liam Porter, war hero. Apparently that title knew no limits in Summerville. Goddammit it all. Although, apparently it also canceled out my previous reputation with the ladies. A point in its favor.
I reached for shot number four still sitting in front of me on the table.
“What exactly do you want from me?” I asked, holding the small glass between my fingers.
Jess eyed me, gaze imploring. “I just want you to talk to her. To make sure she’s okay.”
“And what makes you think she’ll tell me?”
Jess softened, the first hint of a smile since she’d brought it up. “Because there’s another thing I know about you, Liam Porter.”
“What’s that?”
“If anyone can get Cassie Franklin to talk—or do anything else—it’s you.”
“What the—?” I stopped, the last shot halfway to my mouth.
Jess looked smug. “So. Will you do it?”
“Are you going to explain what the hell you meant by that last comment if I say no?”
She rolled her eyes as if I’d just asked the world’s dumbest question. “Of course not.”
I could feel Jess watching me, but all I could think about now was a certain job offer. Clearly, Jess knew nothing about it, but I wasn’t naïve enough to think Cassie had been kidding around or acting on a whim. That offer, combined with Jess’s suspicions, suggested Cassie probably was in some kind of trouble. And Jess wanted me to help get her out of it. When all I wanted to do was go hide in my damned woodshed.
But how could I say no to Cassie Franklin?
I stared at Jess, willing her to blink or back down. But I should have known Jamie’s sister would have a killer poker face. This was going to be a damned disaster. I could feel it. And yet, I couldn’t seem to think of a reason to say no.
“Fine. I’ll see what I can do,” I said finally.
Jess lit up, turning her usual scowl into something actually pretty attractive. I decided not to tell her that and risk the wrath I was sure would follow. “Thank you,” she said, her voice genuine for the first time since I could remember. At least when she spoke to me.
“Don’t thank me yet,” I said, bringing the fourth shot to my lips and tossing it back. Not that I needed it. I was already buzzed, and the tingling brought on by the alcohol had less to do with the drinks and more to do with the idea that I could possibly affect Cassie in any way—especially the way Jess had just implied.
“Why not?” Jess asked, wary now.
I smiled, knowing full well it was a predatory sort of smile and not caring in the least. Jess had asked for a favor—and she was going to get it. “I’ve been away for a long time. And I think you’ll find I’ve become a different person than the one you remember. If Cassie needs help, I’ll help her. But I’m not going to lie and say there isn’t something in it for me.”
“Liam, I’m serious. If you hurt her—” Jess warned.
“You have nothing to worry about there,” I said, and I meant every word. “I have no doubt if anyone’s at risk of injury when dealing with Cassie Franklin, it is not her.”
Jess couldn’t argue that. “What’s in it for you then?”
“The opposite of pain, actually,” I said, already enjoying the look on Cassie’s face when I accepted her offer. Aside from the time it would require in the spotlight, which I hated, this might actually be fun. Cassie had always been an enigma. A puzzle that was too untouchable to put together. But earlier, she had made me an offer that, as it turned out, I couldn’t refuse. And maybe after all these years of her face stuck in my mind, I’d unravel her enough to let go of the curiosity. Answer all the questions. Satisfy all the wanting.
“Pleasure,” I said finally. “Lots and lots of pleasure.”
Jess snorted, her expression going from concerned and wary to amused and almost inviting. Her eyes glinted in challenge. “If you think you’re up for it, good luck,” she said.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked, more thrown off by her blessing than if she’d tried to argue with me.
“If there’s one thing I know for absolute certain it’s that Cassie Franklin doesn’t do pleasure. But you go ahead and give it your best shot.” A small smile played at the corners of her mouth, covered finally by her beer as she brought it to her lips. She paused, her next words nearly lost to the music as she added, “This is going to be fun to watch.”
Chapter Four
Cassie
I gritted my teeth, pressing my lips together to keep from spewing profanities. My hands clutched my thighs, squeezing hard until my fingernails dug into my skin and sent a sharp pain all the way to my ankles. This was torture. All I’d wanted was to be taken seriously. No, scratch that. All I’d wanted was freedom. But my father wasn’t capable of giving it just like he wasn’t capable of running our company into the black again, apparently. No, that was up to me.
And thanks to the debacle earlier with Liam Porter, I also had no other options left. When he’d left, I found out the guy from the escort service had tweeted a photo of the building as he was trying to get through security. A big no-no according to all the signage posted in the lobby. When they’d detained him to question him on it, he’d blurted out the entire thing. Cassie Franklin had called for a hired date. I’d denied it, of course, and he’d been thrown out and labeled “crazy,” but I couldn’t afford to try that again. And now, here I was with Evan—the absolute last person I wanted to admit my problems to or ask for anything from. But I had nowhere else to go.
My life was a shit show.
I was the star.
“Cassie, if you just hold still—”
“I am still. I’m a fucking statue here,” I snapped.
The pressure on my shoulders lifted. Evan drew back and leaned around to look at me, frowning in a way that made his disapproval clear. I hated that frown almost as much as I hated my current predicament. “I’m getting a lot of hostility here.”
I rolled my eyes. “That’s because I’m giving a lot of hostility.”
Evan sighed and went back to rubbing and poking at the knots in my shoulders—a horrible attempt at a massage I’d let go on for way too long already. And not just because he was awful at it but because of the invitation he would take it for. The way his fingertips prowled over the skin along my neck made me want to deck him. But I couldn’t. We both knew it. I also couldn’t bring myself to let him touch me for another second, not even if it meant saving my future.
I yanked free of his touch and stood abruptly.
“Where are you going?” Evan asked, wearing that frown again.
“Home,” I said tersely.
I was moving fast for the door—but he was faster.
“Alone? Cass, do you think that’s a good idea with your stress level so high?”
I stalled as he moved to block me, his entire expression drooping to appear concerned. All it did was put me on edge. Evan was literally the only person in the world who knew my stress had reached levels requiring prescription drugs. And he used every opportunity he got to remind me he knew.
“You’re crowding my space again,” I said, using a phrase I’d gotten from a self-help book as a trigger for anxiety.
But he didn’t move. If anything, he only sagged more, intent on appearing to care. “Cass, you can’t just walk out of here when you have a flare-up like this. Let me take you to dinner first. Get some food in you.”
“I’m not hungry.”
He pressed his lips together, the entire thing reminding me too much of my father to be of any help. “Evan, I mean it. Get the hell out of my way. I’m leaving.”
“At least let me drive you home.” His voice was full of patience, but it was also full of false charm. I knew that better than anyone.
“I pay a driver for that.” I pressed my fingertips to my temples, massaging in vain.
