Read Online KISS AND MAKE-UP by Leslie Kelly - Free Book Online Page B
Authors: Leslie Kelly
Tags: Romance
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soft, whispered, but they rang in Wyatt’s head. And kept ringing, as more ominous possibilities filled his imagination. “What’s wrong, Cass? You never really answered my question last night. Are you in trouble? Has something happened?” He wondered if she could hear the genuine concern he couldn’t hide, and what she made of it. Hell, he didn’t know what to make of it. All he knew was that the thought of Cassie being sick, or in trouble, filled him with tension. Dread. Fear.
Just as the thought of her kiss filled him with hunger.
“Nothing’s happened, not really,” she said. “Just…my grandmother helped me realize I needed to do some reevaluating. Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you and you have to deal with things you’d thought were over. Plus, to be honest, I needed a break from everything. Work, friends…family.”
Wyatt couldn’t help it, his hand tightened reflexively on his glass as he brought his neat Scotch to his lips. “Your grandmother and parents still trying to run your life?”
Cassie’s voice shook with emotion as she replied, “Don’t say that. They never controlled me. My family loves me.”
“Sure they do.” Wyatt sipped again, then put his drink down. “But they also manipulate you into doing whatever they want you to do. They always did, by disappearing whenever you needed them most, or silently disapproving whenever they didn’t like something you’d done.” Like getting married. “They had you jumping through hoops, trying to make them proud of you. Not to mention trying to make them see you as something other than a pretty girl.”
Cassie was watching him with wide eyes and an open mouth. She looked stunned and confused. And, judging by the way her jaw was clenching, angry. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You never even met my family.”
“I didn’t need to,” he replied, feeling weary. “I knew everything there was to know about them whenever you mentioned your childhood. There wasn’t much you wouldn’t do to get their approval. Including selling out your husband.”
“How dare you say that to me,” she snapped.
“How dare you do that to me.”
“I was worried about you and wanted to help you”
“You were worried about your parents and wanted them to see you as their good little girl again.”
“Wanting a good relationship with my family was a crime?”
“No, but trying to get it by selling me to them sure as hell was.”
Their eyes locked in a long stare, and hers swam with anger and confusion. He knew she was mentally denying his accusations, but she wasn’t doing it verbally. Because she couldn’t. He had said nothing but the truth, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
From the day they’d met until the day they’d split up, he’d known Cassie was forced to walk a fine line with her family. Many of her relatives, particularly her grandmother, were downright cutthroat. Her parents were, to put it mildly, aloof…more interested in each other than their daughter. Which was why Cassie had been so eager for love, to love and be loved in return. And oh, she’d been so easy to love.
Cassie hadn’t even touched her drink, but she stood, anyway. “Good night, Wyatt. Thanks for the drink.” Her lips tightened. “Not to mention the psychological evaluation.”
She turned around and strode through the bar before he could respond. For several long moments, he sat at the table, wondering if he should go and find her, apologize to her, try to dry the tears he suspected were spilling down her cheeks.
He’d made Cassie cry. Again. God, he felt like a scumbag.
But maybe it was for the best. Whatever had driven Cassandra Devane to Boston to look him up, maybe the reality of what he thought of her family would be enough to make her leave again. Which—especially after the heated embraces they’d shared—was the best thing for Wyatt’s sanity, and probably Cassie’s, too.
As for his heart? Well…he wasn’t even
Just as the thought of her kiss filled him with hunger.
“Nothing’s happened, not really,” she said. “Just…my grandmother helped me realize I needed to do some reevaluating. Sometimes the past comes back to haunt you and you have to deal with things you’d thought were over. Plus, to be honest, I needed a break from everything. Work, friends…family.”
Wyatt couldn’t help it, his hand tightened reflexively on his glass as he brought his neat Scotch to his lips. “Your grandmother and parents still trying to run your life?”
Cassie’s voice shook with emotion as she replied, “Don’t say that. They never controlled me. My family loves me.”
“Sure they do.” Wyatt sipped again, then put his drink down. “But they also manipulate you into doing whatever they want you to do. They always did, by disappearing whenever you needed them most, or silently disapproving whenever they didn’t like something you’d done.” Like getting married. “They had you jumping through hoops, trying to make them proud of you. Not to mention trying to make them see you as something other than a pretty girl.”
Cassie was watching him with wide eyes and an open mouth. She looked stunned and confused. And, judging by the way her jaw was clenching, angry. “You don’t know what you’re talking about. You never even met my family.”
“I didn’t need to,” he replied, feeling weary. “I knew everything there was to know about them whenever you mentioned your childhood. There wasn’t much you wouldn’t do to get their approval. Including selling out your husband.”
“How dare you say that to me,” she snapped.
“How dare you do that to me.”
“I was worried about you and wanted to help you”
“You were worried about your parents and wanted them to see you as their good little girl again.”
“Wanting a good relationship with my family was a crime?”
“No, but trying to get it by selling me to them sure as hell was.”
Their eyes locked in a long stare, and hers swam with anger and confusion. He knew she was mentally denying his accusations, but she wasn’t doing it verbally. Because she couldn’t. He had said nothing but the truth, whether she wanted to admit it or not.
From the day they’d met until the day they’d split up, he’d known Cassie was forced to walk a fine line with her family. Many of her relatives, particularly her grandmother, were downright cutthroat. Her parents were, to put it mildly, aloof…more interested in each other than their daughter. Which was why Cassie had been so eager for love, to love and be loved in return. And oh, she’d been so easy to love.
Cassie hadn’t even touched her drink, but she stood, anyway. “Good night, Wyatt. Thanks for the drink.” Her lips tightened. “Not to mention the psychological evaluation.”
She turned around and strode through the bar before he could respond. For several long moments, he sat at the table, wondering if he should go and find her, apologize to her, try to dry the tears he suspected were spilling down her cheeks.
He’d made Cassie cry. Again. God, he felt like a scumbag.
But maybe it was for the best. Whatever had driven Cassandra Devane to Boston to look him up, maybe the reality of what he thought of her family would be enough to make her leave again. Which—especially after the heated embraces they’d shared—was the best thing for Wyatt’s sanity, and probably Cassie’s, too.
As for his heart? Well…he wasn’t even
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