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“How come you didn’t tell me you had Cassidy Blake in your store?”

I’d barely walked through my apartment door when the phone rang. Man, news gets around fast. As promised, the moment I opened the shop after lunch, a line was waiting for us. Or, more specifically, for Cassidy. The entire afternoon was a complete blur, starting with that kiss and finally stopping once I locked the front door.

No doubt someone put out an alert online as soon as they saw Cassidy in my store. As much as I appreciated the added foot traffic, those who walked into my shop were there because of her instead of me. I assured myself it was okay, that having her fans in the shop would be fine until she went on tour, but to be honest, I was kind of jealous.

Maybe it was that kiss, or maybe it was how the afternoon started. Regardless of the reason, everyone who walked

through those doors took minutes away from me being with her. It was a stupid way to look at it and made me sound like a complete twelve-year-old, but I couldn’t help it. I’d lost myself in Cassidy’s arms, I’d tasted her lips, and I wanted more.

So much more. More than time was willing to give.

“Are you even listening to me?” my sister wailed on the other side of the line. “Why didn’t you say anything?”

“Because it wasn’t my place,” I replied, setting my purse on the kitchen counter.

“How long have you known she was in town?”

“Since the journals.”

“The journals?” And that’s when it clicked. “She’s the mystery woman?” Bridget practically screamed in my ear.

“That’s okay, I didn’t need that eardrum anyway,” I said, holding the phone away from my ear a second too late.

“Oh, come on. I wasn’t that loud.”

I laughed. “You kind of were.”

“Soooo… what’s she like?” She didn’t ask in that fangirl sort of way. She asked as though she already knew Cassidy and I were together.

Are we together? I honestly wasn’t sure. My heart certainly thought we were, but it was just a kiss. A bunch of them. Not to mention the hour or so we spent laying together, running our hands through each other’s hair as I stared into her eyes.

But that didn’t mean we were together, right?

Cassidy had asked me to enjoy the moment, so I did, and I’d continued to do so until she either went on tour or I couldn’t stand the secrecy any longer.

I’d kept her identity and whereabouts a secret this long.

Throwing a relationship into the mix wouldn’t make one bit of difference.

Realizing my sister was still waiting for an answer, I said,

“She’s human? I don’t know what you’re asking.”

“Come on, Evie, I’m not dumb. You’ve been sneaking around with her, haven’t you?”

My heart skipped at the accusation. “No. Not really.”

Maybe.

“Uh huh.” She wasn’t convinced. “Is she as amazing in person?”

“She’s…” I released a long breath and stared at the ceiling.

“Just like the rest of us.” She was flesh and bone, same as me.

She’s also sweet, kind, gentle—

“Okay, okay, I don’t need a grocery list,” my sister said, laughing once I realized I’d said those things aloud. “So when did it happen? When did you finally kiss?”