Free Sweet Deception (Truth) by Grace Henderson Page B

help myself."
"He? As in Blake? So he set me up? Did he set this whole thing up?" My voice was rising an octave a second.
"He didn't set up the evening. That was all on our grandmothers. But he did ask me to kick it up a notch. Maybe not that far up. But you get the idea."
"So he asked you to flirt with me. See if you could get me all hot and bothered. See if I'd flirt back. Is that right?"
"Nail on head, I'd say." Anger was building inside me and I contemplated picking up the china ornament that was just behind me and chucking it at him.
    "You are such a jerk. You and him. I can't believe he would do that. You need to leave now before I do something I regret. Like tell him you kissed me? I don't think he'd like that very much."
He smiled at my obvious attempt at trying to scare him into contrition. "Don't think for a second that you didn't kiss me back. I felt it. I think we can both leave that part out when we talk to him."
"If you think I'm talking to him now, then you are sorely mistaken. That twat can go to hell for all I care."
"Cassie, you don't mean that. You pushed me away 'cause you care about him. And try to see it from his point of view. You didn't tell him. You kept this dinner a secret even when you had the perfect opportunity on the phone to tell him what you were doing tonight. Talk to him please. He's going to be a miserable bastard otherwise. You are all he's talked about for days."
My heart skipped, and the little butterflies came back. At least Blake felt the same as I did. I sighed heavily, guilt washing over me. "I get what you are saying but he didn't have to do it this way."
James nodded in agreement. "I know. He was just pissed. You need to talk to him though. And if we are going to be hanging out a bit more then I want us to get back on the right foot. He's important to me Cassie. Which makes you important too."
I smiled, who knew he was actually quite sweet. "Okay, I'll think about it. Truce?" I held out my hand for him to shake, which he did, then pulled me into a hug. If Blake wasn't around this guy would definitely make my shortlist. I cleared my throat and pulled away. He looked at me with his stupidly cute mouth half turned up and winked. "Spoil sport".
I slapped him on the arm, "Time to go mister!"

James

Shit . She was hot. What I did was wrong but she was there just looking up at me and begging me to kiss her, licking her lips, leaning her body in. I needed a taste. Which is so damn wrong, I'm pissed I did it. How did Blake manage to get a firecracker like Cassie? She was different to his usual groupies who wanted to fuck 'cause they thought they could get him to fall for them. I guess that's why he hadn’t stopped talking about her. But shit, man, those lips, that smile, that body, that laugh. I blew out a breath, I had to calm the fuck down before I spoke to him or he would know something was up. And I needed a sexy blonde who looked nothing like Cassie to help me get over her. Wanting your mate's girl was not allowed.
     
    I dropped my Nan off home before driving to the bar. I parked my car round the corner, knowing I would just be able to come back tomorrow and collect it easily. I headed straight to get a drink and let a few shots hit the back of my throat before ordering a beer. It was busy and everyone was in party mode by now. I stood with my back to the bar, leaning against it with my elbow. My eyes raked over every woman in the building slowly. I frowned slightly as I noticed how many brunettes were in tonight. Can’t a guy catch a break? Then a crowd of guys dispersed slightly and nestled in amongst them was a blonde-haired angel. She was flirting with a drink in her hand and enjoying the attention the guys were giving her. I loved a bit of competition and as she bent over to put her glass on the table I decided it would definitely be worth it.
    The situation reminded me of a move I had seen in a film and always wanted to try. If it worked I would think of myself as