How Cassie Got Her Grind Back Read Online Free PDF

tilted his chin in Cassandra’s direction and then slid Samson a sidelong glance as they leaned against the bar and said, “Cassie sure does look pretty tonight. Busy little bee.”
    “You noticed, too?” Samson said as he sipped from the remnants of his own glass, feeling mellow as he watched her chatting with her friends, taking a break from helping with the wedding. He’d found out she’d made the cake, and although he wasn’t a connoisseur of crème-filled-whatevers like his brother, he’d thought it was delicious.
    Veronica kissed Hank before she joined Travis out on the dance floor, and Hank gestured discreetly at Cassandra. “What possessed you to leave her behind, Cutter? Despite what happened with your folks, I figured wherever the service sent you you’d pack her up and take her with you. Keep her close.” He looked out toward the dance floor, obviously enjoying watching Veronica dance, and grinned. “It’s not good for a man to live alone so long. I remember what it’s like.”
    “Of course, that’s no longer a problem for you.”
    Hank sighed happily as he turned to face the bar and set his empty glass aside. He leaned in to speak so only Samson could hear. “I hope you don’t miss your chance. Bill did his best to follow in her father’s and grandfather’s footsteps.”
    Samson tensed, his hands cranking into fists as he faced Hank. “How do you mean? Did he hurt her? Did you ever need to pay them any official visits?”
    Hank shook his head. “Nothing like that. You remember how sneaky and manipulative that bragging bastard was. Being married to him wasn’t exactly a cakewalk, I’m sure. I’m glad she had the kids to see to. It wasn’t easy for her…or her mom.”
    Samson gazed down into the dregs of whiskey in his glass. “I didn’t realize it was him she’d married until I talked to Ivan and he filled me in. Evidently he knew she was in Divine all this time, although he didn’t realize she’d divorced.”
    Hank nodded, and Samson saw the muscles move in his jaw as if he was clenching it. “I delivered the divorce papers to her shortly after she’d gone into business four years ago. I think Bill wanted to hurt her just for spite there at the end. He requested I deliver the papers to her as early as possible during the day, but wouldn’t you know…dispatch needed me on one urgent call after another. By the time I got back over to the coffee shop, she was closing up for the day. Still hurt her. I saw that much. But at least Bill didn’t have the satisfaction of twisting the knife in front of her morning rush crowd.”
    “Why would he do that, Hank? She doesn’t have a mean bone in her body.”
    “Bullies secretly hate themselves, and when they see qualities in others they know they lack, they hate them for it. He’s always been a bully, and he enjoyed harming someone who was weaker and softer than him, taking pleasure in causing someone else pain.” Hank made eye contact with him and shook his head. “Not the same thing as what we do at all.”
    “Worlds apart,” Samson said, sliding his glass to the bartender and requesting a Coke.
    Hank shrugged. “Maybe he knew she never stopped caring about you.”
    “All these years? That doesn’t make me feel like the good guy.”
    Hank chuckled. “For better or worse, the years are gone, and here you are with an opportunity. She’s single. You’re still single. Ivan, too,” he added helpfully. “Just sayin’.” Samson elbowed him, and they laughed. Samson watched as another man approached Cassie and asked her to dance. She smiled at him and nodded then glanced in their direction at the bar.
    “Interesting,” Hank said, the observant motherfucker. Looking around the room, Samson noticed other men ogling her in her curve-hugging dress. Oblivious to their scrutiny, Cassie carried on a friendly conversation with her dance partner. When she wasn’t bound up by self-consciousness, she moved with such easy grace. He’d