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defensive tone.
    â€œOkay.” Brice’s dark brows drew together. He clasped her hand and stroked his thumb against her dirt-smudged knuckles. “Let’s go back to being friends.”
    Can’t do magic. Ha!
    Even now his charm-the-panties-off-a-nun grin wove a spell through Cassie’s spirit, lifting her to lofty places that she knew better than to perch. Friendship was too much of a liability. However, for his grandmother’s sake, Cassie would be civil. “Casual acquaintance is the most I can offer.”
    â€œYou’ve claimed my bed and my clothes. I’d say we’re beyond the casual stage.”
    â€œBorrowed,” she corrected. “I don’t claim things that aren’t mine. You can have your shirt back when we get home. And for the record, the sheets on the bed are mine. Yours are in the closet.” Cassie stepped around him.
    Brice’s firm fingers squeezed her shoulder. “Sleep in my shirt. Hell, roll around naked on my bed. I don’t care. Just explain why you are living with my grandmother.”
    The tops of Cassie’s ears heated more from irritation than embarrassment. Three days ago, she’d awoken in her trailer to the sound of bulldozers. The scuzzy landlord had failed to inform his tenants that the county had declared eminent domain over the mobile home park. The residents had fifteen minutes to pack and vacate the premises or face arrest for trespassing. “I lost my home, and your grandmother invited me to live with her.”
    Cassie bristled at Brice’s impassive expression. “I’m not taking advantage of her. I cook, clean and run errands in lieu of rent. Your parents are aware of the arrangement. I guess they forgot to mention it when they called you.”
    â€œI haven’t spoken to my parents in five years.” The cold, hard edge in his voice caught her off guard.
    â€œSeriously?”
    â€œDisownment isn’t something I joke about.” Hurt shimmered beneath his grim expression.
    Something wasn’t right. Gavin and Abigail Walker were proud of their son, but had they been unable to accept what he’d become? Was that why he’d moved away?
    Cassie’s stomach worked itself into knots. “So, you don’t know what happened last night?”
    â€œNo. Enlighten me.” His dramatic splay of hands irked her.
    â€œIt’s not my place to discuss your family’s matters. Talk to your parents.”
    â€œCassidy, what the hell is going on?” Worry threaded through the irritation in his voice.
    Cassie decided if she said the words superfast, the effect would be like ripping off a Band-Aid. A sting at first, and then the worst would be over.
    For her, anyway.
    She drew two steady breaths and blurted, “Yourgrandmotherhadaheartattacklastnight.”
    Brice simply stared, squinty-eyed and pensive as if he hadn’t heard her at all. Cassie huffed, gathering the gumption to say it again. This time, a little more slowly.
    â€œYour grandmother had a heart attack last night.”

Chapter 4
    B rice slumped, his mouth fell open and he appeared to have stopped breathing. He was a tall, tall man, and from the way he swayed, he looked ready to topple.
    â€œI’m too late?” His words were barely audible in the silent woods.
    â€œNo.” Afraid he would drop from shock, Cassie stood on her toes and tapped his face. “She isn’t dead. Okay?”
    Though he stared at her through large, unblinking eyes, his trembling hand found hers. He held her palm to his cheek, pressed his nose against her wrist and inhaled shallow breaths until his composure returned.
    She ignored the ridiculous notion that he drew comfort from her touch. Maybe the cherry-scented body wash she used smelled like his girlfriend’s fragrance. Although Cassie imagined the women Brice dated would be able to afford a more luxurious and expensive brand than the dollar store variety she