“Take a picture of his face when you do. I could use a good laugh.” Casey threw a blanket over the ripped mattress. It was going to have to do until she could get another one.

“I’m going to head back to the club after I put these in the dumpster. You need anything before I leave?” He paused in the bedroom doorway.

“No, thanks.” Casey stared at the large man in her bedroom, trying not to remember that it was only last night they had been together intimately. “I’m sorry for using you, Max. I hope it didn’t get you in trouble with your friends.”

“Ice and I have been together a long time, and he knows I didn’t know what you were up to. We’re cool.”

Casey knew he was lying. She had placed a wedge between Max and the Predators. Belatedly, she wished she had used Stump for her plans. She didn’t want Max held personally responsible for her actions.

“I’m glad.” Casey pretended to believe him as she followed Max to the front door. As he was about to step through the doorway, she laid a hand on his forearm. “If I could explain, I would, but I can’t.” It was the best she could give him, though she wished she could give him more. He deserved at least an apology from her.

“That’ll have to do for now, won’t it? Trust me, Casey; no one wants to fix what you did more than me.”

“I’ll keep that in mind,” she promised, dropping her hand.

“You do that.” Max carried the bags out, leaving her behind.

Casey was tempted to run after him and tell him everything. Instead, she closed the door behind him, shutting him out the way she did everyone.

* * *

“Can I borrow one of your pens? Mine have all run dry.”

Casey smiled as a potential new customer for the bank walked away with her new bottle opener.

“Sure, here you go.” Casey handed the woman the ink pen then brushed her hair back from her face.

She wished she could switch places with the woman. It was hot, and the blonde’s booth was more in the shade than hers was. Several more people stopped at her booth for the freebies she was giving away at the large street concert that had taken over a section of the city.

“Thanks, I’ve already gone through three of them. Hi, I’m Penni.”

“I’m Casey.” The two women smiled at each other before their attention was grabbed by the passing crowd. It was beginning to get dark before they had a chance to talk again.

“Here, take a T-shirt in place of your pen. I’m sorry, but it’s as empty as the rest.”

“Do you need another one?” Casey offered, reaching down to her table for another one to give her.

“No, thanks. A co-worker of mine is bringing me some more. I’ve signed all the CDs, anyways, so I’m good.”

“You signed Kaden Cross’s autograph?”

Penni waved her hand airily. “Had to. My boss doesn’t give autographs, but I have to keep the fans happy.”

Casey laughed for the first time in a week at the woman dressed in jeans and a tight Kaden Cross T-shirt.

“He doesn’t mind?” Casey asked.

“I live by the motto, ‘Don’t tell when all you’re going to get is shit for the trouble.’”

As a large group came to a stop at Penni’s table, Casey was busy with a woman who was determined to take an extra bottle opener for her daughter. When she looked up, Max and the rest of the Predators were observing her as Grace moved behind the table with Penni.

“I’m sorry I’m late. Ice talked me into fixing him lunch before he would bring me.”

“From your face, that’s not all you were giving him.”

Casey couldn’t believe the belligerent expression on Penni’s face with the Predators surrounding her table en masse.

“Cut it out, Penni,” Grace reproved her.

While Penni made a comical face at her friend, Casey couldn’t help watching the table. The blond woman was eye-catching and had the personality to match.

“Why aren’t you wearing the T-shirt I gave you?” Penni asked Grace.

“Because I wasn’t going to let my wife have another man’s picture on her tits,” Ice spoke up.

“Until you have some T-shirts printed with your face on them and someone who wants to buy them, she can wear Kaden’s.” Penni took one of the T-shirts off the table and handed it to Grace who put it on over the shirt she had on.

Casey expected the shit to hit the fan; therefore, no one was more shocked than her when Ice gave in.

“As soon as you’re done working, that comes off.” He pointed at the offending T-shirt.

“Yes, Ice.” Grace leaned across the counter and planted a kiss on her husband’s mouth. “Go scare some small kids while I work.”

“I think you should go back to teaching. She’s wearing off on you.”

“I’ll think about it. Now go so I can get some work done.”

“Yeah, run along,” Penni said. “You’re scaring the business away.” Her eyes fell to Jackal. “Are you sick?”

“No.” Jackal had been standing next to Ice. “Why?”

Penni shrugged. “You looked like you were going to puke.”

Max nudged Jackal with his elbow. “I told you not to smile.”

“Fuck off.”

“Get lost. The man I’m going to marry is heading this way.”

A frightening look came across Jackal’s face as the large group turned to watch a man walking toward Penni’s table.

Casey groaned inwardly.

“Who’s that?”

“I have no idea. I haven’t met him yet, and I’m not going to if you guys don’t leave,” Penni hissed as he drew closer.

The man stopped in front of Casey’s table, not paying attention to the others unashamedly listening.

“Casey.”

“Jayce. How are you doing?”

“Fine. I remembered you were working the booth today. When you’re finished, could we take a walk, maybe get something to eat?”

Casey stared down at the table, her nervous hands straightening the few remaining bottle openers. “I’m sorry. I’ve already eaten.”

She liked Jayce enough that she wasn’t going to drag him into the mess she was involved in. She couldn’t let the Predators know there was someone else in her life who could be used against her.

“You won’t even discuss why you broke up with me?”

“I told you it wasn’t going to work with you sharing your time between New York and Queen City. We both know it wasn’t going to work out. Breaking it off was the best decision for both of us.”

Her ex-boyfriend cast the others staring at them a questioning glance. “Friends of yours?” he asked snidely.

Casey had never introduced Jayce to Renee or Mugg, and seeing the superior attitude he projected reinforced her decision.

“No—” Casey began.

“Yes,” Max spoke up, moving closer to her table.

“Which is it?”

“Does it matter?” Casey sought to bring an end to the conversation. “We’re no longer together, Jayce.”

“I thought we had something special, Casey. Obviously, I was wrong,” Jayce snapped.