Free The Bad Boy's Secret by Susan Stevens, Jasmine Bowen Page A

longer glares across the table at Dave’s presence, or marked silences whenever he spoke. They had even been to his house a few Times, swimming in the huge indoor pool or bringing their retro video game system to play on his huge TV screen.
    “Are you happy?” Chuck asked her, as dinner wrapped up. “I know this is a shit ass boring town, Sas, it’s nothing like New York, but do you think you could stay here?”
    “Yes,” she answered, positively. “It’s different of course, but I like it. I’m happy here.”
    He smiled, as he took another sip of his beer, equally content.
    “Maybe though, you and I could visit the big city one day, again? Together?”
    She gulped, pausing before she answered. Despite Jones behind bars, the fear was still there. Plus, there wasn’t a place in New York she hadn’t set foot without Scott. Every corner, every store, every landmark would remind her of him. Going back to New York might make the pain seem as fresh as the first day.
    But Chuck was waiting patiently, and she knew he would wait forever, until she was ready.  He would always be there for her, to deal with her fears, and give her courage. For New York also reminded her of Chuck, of feeling safe as they walked through the streets in the pre-dawn air. The adventures he took her on, the movies he would sneak her into,  and the Times he would buy her umpteenth amounts of penny candies to spoil her dinner. New York wasn’t all bad, and it wasn’t all fear and sadness. With Chuck, it might be alright.
    “Yeah, I’d like that,” she replied, trying to remain calm. “We could go to get some frozen hot chocolate maybe.”
    “I was thinking we could go to Time Square and party, but I forgot, you’re boring,” he replied and she shoved him so hard she did knock his plate over.
    “Children,” Richard warned, starting to clear the table. “Don’t make me put you in Time out.”
    “Try it and I’ll knock your jaw out,” Chuck replied although it was good-naturedly. Richard rolled his eyes.
    “Bring it, kid,” he said, and Chuck just laughed.
    “When you least expect it, then.”
    “I always expect it,” Richard replied. “Now, get off your ass and help with the dishes.”
    “Can’t do it yourself, Superman?” Chuck teased.
    Once the dishes were clear, and the dessert was about to be brought out, Dave stood up.
    “There’s umm, one more gift,” he said, and everyone looked at him, and then looked under the tree confused. It was empty, and Peter even leaned over to see if he missed something.
    “No there isn’t,” he said, and Dave reached into his pocket.
    “Sorry, it’s here. It’s uh, for Cassie,” he said, and then got down on one knee.
    Cassie shrieked, bringing her hands to her mouth. Her heart felt like it physically skipped a beat, but this Time it was for a good reason. Dave pulled out a gift wrapped box and looked up at her.
    “Cassiopeia Winters,” he said, slowly and she shrieked again. Chuck smacked her.
    “He hasn’t said anything yet, nitwit.”
    “Uh,” was all she managed to say.
    “This past year, you’ve made me pretty much the happiest man alive. I grew up here, but my parents made me travel the world with them. And in all that, I’ve never met someone as wonderful or as strong or as…awesome as you are.   You’re so strong and patient, and you’ve gotten through more than most people would in a life Time. And I know that we’re young, and we can wait years if you want…but there’s nothing that is going to change my mind.” He opened the box. With all the money that he had, one would perhaps expect a huge rock on a solid gold band.
    But a huge diamond would get caught in her skating costume, and Cassie almost never wore gold, so it wouldn’t match. Instead, it was a silver band with a rock built into it, a pure but small diamond. It played on her love of simplicity, her love of singularity, and her love for him.
    “So…if it’s ok by you…by all of you,” he