Longing for You

  He savored his last glance.

  The time they’d spent together was burned into his mind, never to be removed. Watching her walk out the door was the hardest thing he’d done in a while. Probably harder than the day he left Savannah. Consequently, he let her go back then too. Yet this time, things were different.

  For the first time in his life, he was getting everything he wanted. He and Cassie may not have made it official yet, but he knew it wouldn’t be long. She liked the idea of them, even said as much when he asked if she did.

  As the taxi disappeared up the street, he gazed over the city. The sun began descending into the horizon. It cast its rich red and orange hues around the last of the storm clouds drifting toward the ocean.

  If the rain had left sooner, he would have taken Cassie back to the studio to get her car. As much as they drank last night, he was glad she’d left it there and asked him to walk. Had things turned out differently between them, she may have left for home and ended up in an accident. She could have been hurt. Or worse…

  He gritted his teeth and faced his room but remained in front of the window. Losing Cassie was not an option. He refused to let anything take her away. Not death, not his uncertain future, not some asshole that thought she belonged to him.

  The only thing capable of screwing this up was his failure to keep a promise, the one that brought them together from the start. He couldn’t let a simple conversation keep him from getting everything he’d longed for.

  It was time for the final round of this game he was playing. All he had to do was allow the pieces to fall into place. That wouldn’t happen until a certain conversation occurred.

  Luckily, he didn’t have far to go to make the verbal exchange. The hands on the clock were dwindling down, closing in on the hour of their date. Only it was more than a date. It was his chance at having the life he’d always wanted. He couldn’t fuck it up now.

  It was time to find Jonah.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

  “Damn it, Theo, I wish you would have come.”

  Cassie grumbled the words under her breath as she stood outside her door, fumbling with the lock and key. There was too much to carry. She realized as much when she walked onto her porch. The items she’d grabbed at the grocery store were hard enough to lug inside. That didn’t include the item awaiting her arrival.

  As helpful as it would be to have him there, it wasn’t the only reason she wished he’d come. She hated leaving him at the hotel. They could have hung out before they left to meet Ally and Jonah, but the last twenty-four hours convinced her it was best they didn’t. They had to separate until evening. If not, they’d end up right where they left off.

  Tonight was about her friend, not her.

  A minute later, the knob twisted enough that the door opened. Once she slid around it, she closed it with her foot. A few items fell to the ground with a thud. Luckily, there was nothing in her bags that would break, unlike the glass vase in her hands.

  She stared at the arrangement as she proceeded to the living room. Pink petals and deep green leaves filled the vase, along with a tiny card. She itched to open it and see who had sent the camellias. It was nowhere near her birthday so it couldn’t be from her parents.

  The coffee table came into view as she passed through the room. The bare top provided plenty of space to set the vase. The flowers would make a great centerpiece anyway. They were beautiful.

  When they were in place, she tugged the envelope off its holder. Anticipation bubbled within as she loosened the flap and slid out the card. Black font spread across the paper, forming letters and words into a short message.

  I want to be your permanent weekend guy.

  No name accompanied the message. Neither did any initials. The florist might know who purchased them but it didn’t guarantee they’d give her the information. Besides, it was too late to call.

  Perhaps Theo sent them…

  She gazed at the clock and checked the time. It was nearing the two-hour mark since she’d left his hotel room. She doubted he had enough time to order them. Aside from an occasional bathroom break, they’d barely been apart since she walked into his room last night. Besides, she’d never given him her address.

  It was possible that he followed her home, or he found her info somewhere online. As far as she knew, her personal information was unlisted. Of course, it wasn’t impossible to get—for a price. Would Theo go to the trouble?

  Mike wouldn’t need to. He’d been to her house before. Not long after their first hookup, he joked about being her weekend fling. The things he said and did last weekend, as well as last night, were proof that he was thinking about something more. She’d been too caught up in thoughts of Theo to realize it then.

  Though he’d never sent her flowers before, she’d never kept her distance from him the way she had the past week. Was he getting desperate for ways to communicate?

  Easing onto the sofa, she shrugged her purse straps from her shoulder and leaned into the cushions. Whether Mike sent the flowers didn’t really matter. She had to speak with him. It was time to set him straight. No matter how unsure she was about Theo, she knew for certain the casual thing with Mike was over.

  Texting him as much would be the easy way out, but she wasn’t a coward. He deserved to be told to his face. Anything else seemed cruel. She didn’t hate him. He just… He wasn’t Theo.

  Brushing off the thoughts, she focused on her task. She wouldn’t tell him the news over a text, but she would set up a time for them to meet. The sooner they did, the better.

  Hopefully, he wouldn’t make a scene. He wouldn’t if they were in public. They could meet somewhere downtown, even outside of Midnight Blues if they had to. She would be in the general vicinity when she met Ally anyway.

  Opening her purse, she grabbed her phone and removed it. The light caught on something inside, drawing her attention to the camellia hair comb. She hadn’t worn it since the prior weekend when she first ran into Theo. The next day, she was questioning the legend behind it.

  As she typed a message to Mike, she gawked at the comb and cursed herself. It only took a week to fail at her mission on debunking its legend. If anything, her reaction to Theo validated it. Was it possible he was her true half?

  They were a lot alike…

  After she finished typing Mike’s message, she read over it once more then tapped the send button. There was no turning back now, not that she wanted to. Mike was never meant to be the permanent man in her life. She knew that going into their agreement. Why he changed his mind, she didn’t know. Probably never would.

  People changed. Certain things became less important. New goals were made. It was the evolution known as life. She and Mike were among billions of people doing the same thing. Living.

  Theo was a different story. He was the same guy she knew since childhood, except the passionate side of him had fully emerged. Every minute they’d spent together convinced her as much. They weren’t just living. They were hanging on a moment that could lead to forever…

  As good as it all seemed, she hadn’t forgotten why this all started. She and Theo were supposed to be working on Ally and Jonah’s relationship, not one of their own.

  Still, Theo was hard to resist. The way he kissed her, touched her, and savored every part of her was more than anyone had. It awoke a desire inside her that she never knew existed.

  “Holy shit… It’s true,” she whispered the words as reality slammed into her, but there was little time to consider what it all meant.

  The doorbell chimed throughout the house.

  She shoved her phone inside her purse, covering the comb, then proceeded to the front door. Just as she gripped the handle, a familiar knock resonated. The door swung wide, then Cori brushed past her. Her sister grumbled something under her breath about being inconsiderate, along with a few obscenities. Whatever had her in a tizzy was still unclear, but judging by the way she glared in Cassie’s direction, Cori was about to unleash a full-fledged r
ant.

  “It sure is nice to know you’re alive. I guess it’s okay for you to treat me like I’m still five and demand I check in, but the moment it’s required of you, it’s a different set of rules.”

  Cassie closed the door before joining her sister. “What in the world are you talking about, Cori?”

  “Uh, last night. I saw the whole thing, Cass. Then you were gone. I couldn’t find you. I tried calling but got your voice mail. When all else failed I went searching. I’ve been all over this damn city looking for you at places I know you frequent. I’ve been worried sick.”

  Once Cori paused for a breath, Cassie motioned for her to follow. As they entered the living room, she glanced at the camellias before she responded, “You should have tried Midnight Blues. You would have found me.”

  “That’s what I’m talking about. I was there.”

  “When?”

  “Last night.”

  Cassie stopped short of the coffee table and faced her sister. “You were at Midnight Blues last night?”

  “Are you fucking hard of hearing? I said yes.” Cori rolled her eyes but continued. “I had enough time to get a drink before I spotted you and Theo McCabe on the dance floor. I didn’t know you were into him, sis.”

  Neither had she until he came back to town.

  “What makes you think I’m into him? We were dancing.”

  Cori’s forehead wrinkled as her brows rose. “Cass, that wasn’t dancing. You and Theo were fucking with your clothes on.”

  A wave of heat washed over Cassie, making her face sting. Cori didn’t just make an opinionated observation. Her sister called her out on the truth. She and Theo may not have had sex at that point, but she sure as hell had been thinking about it.

  “I saw Mike approaching, but I didn’t have time to warn you. I don’t think I could have gotten your attention anyway.”

  “So you saw the argument between Theo and Mike?”

  “Yes. You rushed out before I could reach you. I did my best to track you down but gave up around three a.m. Where did you go?”

  “To talk to Theo.” Cassie avoided her sister as she focused on the camellias. She touched the pink petals and thought about their meaning…longing. She was in such a state. The need to be near him again was overwhelming.

  Cori served as a good distraction. She plopped down in the seat across from the sofa and continued her tirade. “Did you guys talk all night, because I’ve been by here three times this morning, and you haven’t been here.”

  Damn it. She did not want to have this conversation with her sister. It was bad enough that Cori made snide remarks about Theo and Jonah earlier in the week. Now she’d witnessed the chemistry between Cassie and Theo.

  She would ask more questions, ones Cassie didn’t know how to answer. She hadn’t given Theo an answer on how she wanted to proceed. There was no way she could explain it to her sister.

  “Yes, Cori, we stayed up late talking. I told you we’ve been devising a plan to get Ally and Jonah together.”

  “Yeah… So you said before. Does this mean you guys are just messing around while he’s in town or is this a two-for-one deal? Get your best friend the guy of her dreams, get your dream guy free.”

  And there it was. The question she couldn’t answer, along with the hostility she sensed in her sister. Cori had no reason to hate either of the McCabes any more than she had the right to drill Cassie with all these questions.

  “I’m not sure what’s happening between Theo and me, but it isn’t anyone’s business. I don’t know why you dislike him and Jonah, but I’m not listening to it. You know where the door is.”

  Before she could move away, Cori gripped her shoulder. “Hang on. I’m not going to bash you for liking him. I just… I think you should—”

  The doorbell rang once again. It made Cassie cringe. Hopefully, it wasn’t Mike. He hadn’t answered her text to confirm a time to meet. Had he taken it upon himself to stop in? Surely not on a Saturday. He’d be at the bar by now, prepping for the evening.

  “Hold that thought. Let me see who’s at the door.” She didn’t wait for Cori to respond. There was no time for this nonsense. She had things to do before she met Ally, and the minutes were flying fast. Tonight had to be perfect. There couldn’t be any problems. Ally and Jonah deserved their chance at happiness.

  So did she and Theo.

  Guess she had her answer to his question. She wanted to be with him regardless of his career. The instant they were alone tonight, she would tell him.

  It was hard to contain the smile on her face when she opened the door. It didn’t remain once she noticed the broad shoulders in front of her, then Mike’s face.

  Great. This night kept getting worse. And to top it off, she had an hour before she met Ally. What a horrible time for shit to get real.

  * * *

  The hotel corridor seemed to grow in length with each step Theo made. It wasn’t his first trip down the hall. He’d been to his brother’s room twice already. If the old adage was true, third time was the charm. Jonah had to be there by now.

  Each second that ticked away made his heartbeat increase. If his brother wasn’t back, he was screwed. They had an hour before they were supposed to meet Cassie and Ally.

  He could not ruin this…

  Quick strides brought him to Jonah’s door. He took a deep breath and released the tension in his shoulders. He had to make light of this situation. Aggression would only send Jonah into defense mode. Then they’d have a huge argument.

  Banging his knuckles against the door, he knocked loud enough that Jonah would hear him even if he were in the back of the suite. He listened for any sign of movement. There were no footsteps, but it sounded as if someone were speaking in a low voice. Was it his brother or had he left on the TV?

  “Jonah? Let me in, bro. I know you’re in there.”

  Another round of silence greeted him. His heart pounded so fast that it echoed in his ears. This couldn’t be happening. Jonah had been at his suite every evening. Why of all nights had he chosen this one to go out?

  He was about to walk away when the handle rattled. The door swung open. Jonah stood before him, brows scrunched so tight that his forehead creased. He didn’t meet Theo’s eyes or say anything when he motioned for him to enter.

  Sweeping past his brother, Theo entered the suite and proceeded to the center of the sitting area. He studied Jonah from head to toe then surveyed the room.

  “Took you long enough to answer the door. What were you—” A sweet scent filled his nose. He drew in a few breaths as he second-guessed himself, but there was no denying the scent of perfume. “It smells like a woman in here,” he chuckled, reminding himself to keep things casual. “Did you sneak one in, big bro?”

  Jonah’s lack of response increased the awkwardness. The reality of what was happening made Theo’s chest tighten. He narrowed his eyes on his brother’s face and fought to keep his anger at bay.

  If Jonah was with someone, Theo had no one to blame but himself. He’d waited too long to tell him about the date he and Cassie had planned. Of course, with Jonah’s mood this past week, he made it impossible to approach him.

  “You got a chick in here, Jonah?”

  His brother nodded.

  It felt as though a bomb exploded inside Theo. Everything he’d worked for was slipping away. How could he face Cassie and tell her the truth—that he’d waited too long to talk to Jonah? His brother had only made things worse by hooking up with some random chick. Fucking idiot. He didn’t realize the chance he was blowing.

  “What the hell, man. Why would you go hook up with some girl? I told you I had someone in mind for you. In fact, that’s the reason I’m here.”

  “Theo, I’m not interested.”

  “You don’t even know who I had in mind. If you did, you’d bend over and kiss the ground I’m standing on. Trust me. You’ll want this girl.”

  Jonah clenched his jaw. He peered toward the hallway that led to his room. The
n he trudged toward the mini-bar. “I appreciate your effort, little bro, but I’m not—”

  “It’s Ally, asshole.” Theo stormed toward his brother and pulled his cell from his pocket. He found his texts with Cassie then shoved his phone in Jonah’s face and pointed to the screen. “I started texting Cassie last Saturday to set up a time for the four of us to get together. She’s supposed to talk to Ally. I’m supposed to talk to you.”

  Jonah scanned the phone then glanced back to the hall. It was as if he hadn’t heard anything Theo had said. This wasn’t the time to pretend like he didn’t care. Ally may have bought that charade, but Theo couldn’t. He knew the truth. Jonah just needed a reminder.

  “I thought you’d want to hook up with her after seeing her at the show. What was it you were saying about her dance moves?”

  “Shut up, Theo.” His brother growled the words but kept his focus toward the hall.

  “Dude, it’s been six years. Aren’t you the least bit curious if she—”

  “Theo! I’m going to punch you if you don’t shut up.”

  Something inside Theo snapped. His brother wasn’t just screwing up his chance with Ally. He was ruining Theo’s chance with Cassie. “You’re an idiot.” He smacked his hands atop the bar. “You’re passing up a chance with Ally Jacobs. What’s standing in the way this time?”

  Jonah glared at the top of the bar where Theo’s hands lay. His nostrils flared before he cast his anger-filled eyes on Theo’s face. “Nothing’s standing in my way. If I wanted to be with Ally, I would be. I don’t need your help.”

  “Obviously not, since you got some chick here.” Gritting his teeth, he raked his fingers across his head and gripped his hair, resisting the urge to knock some sense into Jonah. “Do you realize you just screwed me? Hooking you up with Ally meant I finally had half a shot with Cassie. You know how long I’ve waited for this. At least you should. It’s as long as you’ve—”

  “Theo!” Jonah’s voice echoed. “Shut up!” Half a chuckle passed his lips. “Damn it, man. You don’t know when to stop, do you? You’ve always run off at the mouth, speaking before thinking about who your words would affect.”