Page 99 of The Broken Note

When I get up there, I expect Cadence to be waiting for me with fierce words, but she’s too busy gasping at the view.

“This is incredible,” she whispers. Moonlight spills over the treetops, strokes of silver topping majestic green. Stars close enough to touch, to kiss. Bright enough to blind the eyes.

I lift my phone and take a shot of her, expression spellbound and awestruck.

Cadence notices and snaps out of her trance. “Did you just take a picture of me?”

I pocket the phone. “No.”

Her eyes narrow. She doesn’t believe me.

I draw closer. My face is carefully neutral but, inside, I feel alive in a way that I haven’t in a while.

Would she scream if she knew how obsessed I am with her? Would she shake in fear if she heard that every time I stroke my guitar, I’d rather be stroking her? That I hold my breath when she sighs in exhaustion? That I broke when she cried that time?

She acts like the world is on her shoulders. I want to take that burden from her. Even if it’s just for one night.

“I’ve got snacks in the ice box. That giant, fluffy rug is new. I bought it since it seemed more comfortable than sleeping bags. The projector’s hooked up to a computer filled with all the dumb, girly movies I could find.”

“Girly movies?” Her lips twitch.

“I bought them all. I thought Vi would be here, and I didn’t know what movies she liked to watch.”

Her gaze is fixed on me. “Did you really do all this for Vi?”

I slide my fingers over her face. “You too.”

Confusion knots her brow.

“Vi is important to you. That means she’s important to me.”

Her tongue darts out to wet her bottom lip. “What does that have to do with you?”

“You’re mine. Everything that involves you involves me.”

Her shoulders stiffen, but I don’t let her go.

“I’ll protect who you protect. I’ll love who you love. I’ll hate who you hate.” The words are raw. Honest. I don’t know if she hears me. If she gets it. I just let them come pouring out. “You and Vi are a package deal. That doesn’t scare me.”

“Nothing scares you,” she mumbles.

I shrug. Nod. “No.”

She studies me again, that shrewd, mistrustful look that seems darker and more frustrating tonight.

“Since you planned this camping trip for Vi, you didn’t bring booze, did you?”

My eyes widen.

She chews on her bottom lip deep in thought. Then her gaze lifts to mine. Pure brown and alluring. She takes a step forward. Feet gliding. Dress swaying around her thighs.

My heart squeezes when she stops right in front of me.

And the absolute last thing I’d expect her to say comes out of her sensual mouth…

“Truth or strip.” Her words whisper across my face. “Let’s play a game, Dutch.”

CHAPTERTWENTY-FIVE