Chapter Two

Max’s reaction shot a thrill through her. The way his gaze traveled up and down her body had Cassie holding back a shudder. Heat flushed into her face as his eyes lightened with arousal. His appraisal of her also gave her the opportunity to stare back at him. She’d suspected Max would be good-looking, since Chase and their dad were both attractive. Still, the hot, heavily muscled man across from her was not what she’d been expecting.

He was taller than both her brother and his, so that had to put him a few inches above six feet. His short black hair was a reminder that he’d just gotten out of the military. Wide hazel eyes stared into hers and his massive chest expanded with each breath. A tight black T-shirt, faded jeans and heavy boots made up his outfit. She wanted to see what was underneath those garments.

The tattoos covering both arms intrigued her. She wondered how he would respond if she ran her tongue along them—and wherever else he might have ink. How much of him is covered in designs?

She flushed and had to tear her gaze away from his body. She turned back to the mini fridge. “So…a beer?”

Alex chuckled and she wanted to sink into the floor. Of course her brother had caught her attraction to Max. There would be no living with him now. Alex was always trying to get her to step away from her studio and date. But until she’d gotten a look at Max, dating hadn’t been a high priority. She’d grown up in a small town. Sure, she’d gone out with a few of the guys, but she had never been serious about any of them.

She popped the tops to four beers and strolled around the bar.

Max had settled on one of the couches and Alex and Chase took the one closer to her. She was going to have to take a seat next to Max. She glared at Alex, who merely grinned in response.

Her heart pounded as she moved farther into the middle of the room.

She passed the bottles to Chase and Alex, ignoring the gleam in her brother’s gaze. She walked over and held out another beer to Max. Their fingers brushed as he took it from her and she barely held in a gasp at the electricity that sparked between them. A glance at his lap showed he was indeed as attracted to her as she was to him. The heavy aroma of arousal and need surrounded them. His erection pushed at the zipper of his jeans. A nice-sized package, she believed.

Since dropping to her knees to help him out wouldn’t go over well with the other two men in the room, she backed away.

When she’d agreed to have Max hang around as security, she’d had no idea what she was getting herself into.

“Thank you.”

His deep voice sent a thrill down her spine. Cassie managed a smile and nodded. She sat gently on the edge of the couch as Max took a long pull on his beer. She watched his throat work. Who knew a throat could be so damn sexy?

She caught herself staring and looked away. Her gaze passed over Alex, who was still smirking. She needed to get control over herself and stop fantasizing about what Max’s large hands would feel like on her body.

Especially under the watchful attention of her brother.

“Shall we get started?” Alex asked in amusement.

She shrugged.

Alex, Chase and Max started going over the plan to beef up security on the property. Since she wasn’t hearing anything that she objected to, she just listened. Listened and watched.

Max reclined back with the bottle held loosely between his fingers. He was a big guy but appeared comfortable. He had a certain amount of power surrounding him. The wolf inside her recognized it and wanted to present herself for him. The only other person she’d ever felt that kind of radiating dominance from was her Alpha.

The inner strength that she was picking up on could very well be why she was so attracted to him. Constantly surrounded by such domineering men, she had found herself more and more comfortable around the type, although her reaction to Max was different from how she’d responded to anyone else she’d ever met.

She studied her brother as his voice rose and fell in a calming manner. Alex was leaning forward, speaking directly to Max about the alarm system. She’d grown up in a loving home. Every day she had known she was loved and her parents had doted on each of their children. Alex had taken on the role after their parents’ deaths in a car accident on an icy road. He’d just graduated from college and had returned to care for her and their younger brother, Jacob.

While he had a business degree and did in fact make a lot of money at the gallery, she knew that it was the ranch, the horses, that Alex truly loved.

The money that the family had, that Alex had made, always went to the animals first. Alex put everything he had, every free minute into the horses. Back when he’d first returned, Alex had been involved with a woman in college. Cassie had met her once, right after their parents’ deaths.

She didn’t know what had happened between Alex and the woman, but she’d never seen her again and Alex refused to talk about it.

Instead, Alex spent his time trying to get her to settle down like Jacob. So far Cassie had managed to turn the tables on him about settling down, but now she wasn’t certain she wanted be able to anymore.

Chase picked up where Alex trailed off, getting into the security cameras and how more should be added. They only had cameras outside the house and stables. Chase wanted some installed in the interior of the buildings, too.

“I don’t want cameras in my studio,” Cassie spoke up.

The three men turned to her.

“The studio was the target,” Chase responded. “It makes the most sense to cover that area.”

Cassie shook her head. “No. I can’t work knowing someone is watching me.”

“They will only be there for your protection. It’s not like we’ll be watching them all the time,” Alex assured her.

There was no way she could handle even that. “No, please.”

Alex opened his mouth, but beside her, Max held up his hand. “Let’s wait. We can go ahead and order some more cameras. If Cassie doesn’t want them inside, we’ll place them over the entry doors. We can work it out so everyone is comfortable.”

Relief washed over her. She was glad Max seemed to understand. She nodded in acceptance.

“Let me look through the houses and I’ll make a map of where I think the new cameras should go. I assume we’ll do both the main house and Cassie’s?”

“Jacob’s, too,” Alex added. “I want them covered.”

Max inclined his head. “I agree.”

Chase stood. “It seems like you all have everything under control. I need to stop back by the Alpha’s place and make sure the new shifts in town have been sorted out. I’ll update him on the situation here.”

Alex and Max both rose with him.

“I expect you’ll hear from the Alpha soon anyway. He’ll want to check on things himself.”

“I’ll walk you out,” Alex offered.

“If you’re ready to take me over, I’d like to see the studio.” Max turned to her.

Cassie placed her beer on the side table then wiped her hands down the legs of her jeans. Suddenly she was very nervous about having Max in her personal space. She spent the majority of her time in the studio. It was her heart and soul. Only a few people had ever been there.

“Yeah, sure.” She climbed to her feet. “Uh, thanks, Chase. We’ll see you later, Alex.”

She waited while Chase hugged his brother and he followed Alex out before she turned to Max.

“Ready?”

He nodded.

She led the way out of the patio door and down the steps.

It was only a few yards from the main house’s porch to the front of her place. Since the break-in, she had been better at locking and setting the alarm whenever she left.

Alex still hadn’t forgiven her for forgetting the night before. But in all honesty, she’d never been the best at remembering. She’d never been worried about someone breaking in. They would have to get into the canyon, go through the property then get in and out without anyone seeing them. And why would anyone want to destroy her art, anyway?

All the questions that she just couldn’t answer, no matter how much she thought about it, weren’t really helping her not to worry, either.

She unlocked the front door with Max close behind her. Her hand shook slightly, but she didn’t think he noticed.

After she pushed the door open, the long beep from the alarm alerted her that it was still armed. She punched in the four-number code and turned to face Max.

“Who has the code?”

“Me, Alex, Jacob and Peyton. Oh, and James.”

“James?”

“He’s been working as my assistant. He just graduated and is trying to get his own showing. He’s very talented.”

“How long has he been working for you?”

“About six months or so. He applied at the gallery and Alex hired him for the reception desk. We met and started talking, and he now works part-time for Alex and part-time for me.”

“Last name?”

Cassie frowned at him. “James wasn’t involved.”

Max lifted an eyebrow.

“Strut. His last name is Strut.”

“Is he part of the Pack?”

“No, he’s not a shifter.”

Max nodded, but Cassie couldn’t let it go. “He’s a good kid. There is no way he was involved.” She needed to be heard. James had seen how hard she’d worked each and every day. He respected art and what she did.

The look Max sent her said he wasn’t convinced. “Then he has nothing to worry about.”

She sighed and figured he was right. She knew James was too dedicated to art for him to ever get involved in something like the break-in. In time, Max would realize he was off base suspecting him.

Max was glancing around and Cassie wondered what he saw. The entryway was open and painted a bright white. There were three wide archways that led farther into the residence.

“Through there is the kitchen.” Cassie waved a hand. He would be able to see the stainless-steel appliances from where they stood. She pointed behind her. “Living room and patio door.” Then she faced the hallway opening. “Back here are the rooms.”

He motioned for her to go ahead, so she stepped around him.

“The first door is the second bedroom,” she told him as she turned the knob. The room was sparse with only a bed, dresser and nightstand. “This is where you’ll be staying.”

Max walked in and placed his two bags on the bed. He spun in a circle. “Okay, show me the rest.”

Cassie didn’t respond right away. It had just dawned on her that she would have a man staying in her house with her. A very attractive man who she wouldn’t mind seeing naked. And he was just a couple of doors down from her bedroom.

When her palms started to sweat, she rubbed her hands down her thighs again.

Max’s presence was a big deal in her life. He would see everything she was. There was no way she could hide her quirks from him.

“Cassie?”

She jumped, not realizing he had moved so close. She tilted her head back to look up at him. Damn, he was tall.

“It’ll be all right,” he assured her.

Cassie found herself shivering. She wanted to reach for him, have Max pull her into his arms. Have the press of his lips against hers. She swallowed and took a step back.

“Uh, I’m…uh…”

He smiled, his hazel eyes bright.

She was losing her mind. She whirled back around into the hallway and took several deep breaths to calm her racing heart.

“Okay,” she said. “Next door is the bathroom. Then the office.” She moved forward as she spoke. Then paused again. “My bedroom.” The nervousness disappeared only to be replaced with dread when she stood in front of the last room.

She hadn’t been back inside since she’d first discovered the incident. Cassie placed her hand on the wood. “The studio,” she whispered. Her eyes burned with unshed tears. She couldn’t do it…couldn’t go in, not yet.

“Has it been cleaned up?” Max asked behind her. Just hearing his deep voice helped the nauseous pit in her stomach.

She nodded. “Alex took care of it. He said…”

Max’s chest pressed into her back and he lifted his hand. “Deep breath,” he spoke softly, his mouth close to her ear.

She inhaled through her nose then let the air out.

“Good,” he said and opened the door.

In her mind, she could see the ripped canvases, the paint spilled over the floor and walls and her brushes in pieces. Cassie gasped in horror.

“It’s all right,” Max told her. “I’m right here with you. I won’t let anyone hurt you again.” Max held his hand down on her shoulder and she blinked.

None of that was there.

Alex had come through like always. The walls had been repainted the mint green that she’d had before. The hardwood floors were glistening and clean. The room had also been restocked.

Slowly, she stepped forward, one foot in front of the other. Her easels stood with blank sheets, her paints were lined up in their holders along the walls and her desk held a variety of brand-new brushes.

She made it to the middle of the room as tears fell from her eyes.

It looked good, but it also reminded her of what had been taken from her. Months of work ruined. She’d put her entire being into each piece. Now there was nothing to show for it.

Cassie sobbed. Max wrapped his arms around her.

“Shh,” he cooed. “It will be okay.”

Sure, she knew it could have been worse, but her heart ached. She clung to Max, allowing him to rock her gently. He felt good pressed to her body. As she soaked up the comfort he offered, peace filled her. Closing her eyes, she rested her cheek against his chest and just breathed in Max’s spicy scent.

Her body started to respond. It was with regret that she forced herself to pull away. “I’m going to lie down for a little bit.”

He released her. Their gazes locked, causing her breath to catch. His sparkling eyes were kind and called to both the woman and wolf inside her.

She spun on her heel, escaping into her bedroom. She had a lot to think about, because all signs were pointing to Max being more than just a bodyguard or security for her. The connection was so strong between the two of them that Cassie was unsure how she would let him go when everything was resolved. There’d never been another that made Cassie want to just curl up on his lap and relinquish control.

Cassie shuddered as she walked down the hall.

Could she give in to her desire and give Max what he was obviously offering? Yes, she thought she could. But should I, was the next question. She didn’t even know Max as a man. Little pieces of gossip were not enough to tell Cassie what Max would truly want and need from her.

She sighed loudly once she was behind her closed bedroom door.

There was no denying she wanted him. Badly craved his hands and mouth on her. Her entire body tingled with need. How was she supposed to live in the same house with him and not give in? Hell, why would she even want to deny herself?

Yeah, she needed a nap, a hot shower and food. Then she could decide how to seduce Max Lawson into her bed, and hopefully, long term into her life.

* * * *

Max woke up with sweat pouring off him and his heart beating frantically. He had been back in that house, the room where he’d thought he was going to die, where his best friend hadn’t made it out alive.

He clenched his eyes closed and tried to get control of himself and regulate his breathing. At least he hadn’t woken himself up screaming. That would have probably scared the hell out of Cassie.

Even once his heart rate had slowed to almost normal, he wasn’t able to get back to sleep, so he swung his legs over the side of the bed. A glance at the clock on the nightstand told him it was two in the morning. It had been so long since he’d gotten a full night’s sleep. He should probably take one of the sleeping pills that the doctor had given him, but he didn’t like how they made him feel the next day. Given his need to keep an eye out for Cassie and the Wilson family, he couldn’t very well be stoned during the day.

Max pushed himself off the bed then pulled on the jeans from earlier. He would get a bottle of water from the kitchen and look over the plans for the Wilson ranch. He’d already gone over everything with Alex the night before, but another look wouldn’t hurt.

He opened his bedroom door quietly, not wanting to wake Cassie, who slept only a few doors down. The fact that he could picture how sweet she’d look curled up in the middle of a large bed spoke volumes to how complicated this assignment was.

There was no doubt he’d been shocked when he’d seen her again. He wasn’t sure why he’d still pictured the young girl from his memories, but Cassandra Wilson was in no way a little girl.

She was a beautiful woman.

It had thrown him off balance when she’d looked at him with those expressive chocolate-brown eyes. He hadn’t been prepared for the punch he’d felt from the pixie woman.

She was much smaller than his big frame. And every single part of him had wanted to wrap her up and protect her.

It had just about killed him when they’d entered her studio and he’d seen the devastation on her face. Yes, the room had been cleaned, but he could see that she was picturing the way she’d found it before.

With her in his arms, he’d wanted to kill whoever had hurt her. His normally quiet and calm wolf had not been any happier. The itch under his skin had been an experience he had only felt a few times in his life. Since he couldn’t shift into his animal, he could pretend it wasn’t even there more often than not. But sometimes, when he was stressed or emotional, there was an extra awareness of his wolf.

Just as he’d started to wonder about his wolf’s response to Cassie, she had shut down.

She’d excused herself from the room and told him she was tired. A door inside the studio apparently led to the bathroom that then connected to Cassie’s bedroom.

Alex had shown up about thirty minutes after Cassie left him. When he asked about Cassie, Max explained what had happened. Alex had finished the tour and told him about the adjoining doors to Cassie’s rooms.

While Alex went and checked on his sister, Max had started drawing a map of where he wanted the extra cameras installed.

Cassie’s studio had a balcony door that linked to the sliding glass door of her bedroom. He’d made a note that both of those exits needed a camera above them. Cassie would still be able to open them when she wanted, but they would be able to see if anyone tried to enter that way.

He didn’t turn on any lights until he reached the kitchen. There, he flicked on the switch and saw a half-empty bottle of wine on the marble counter. Cassie must have gotten up during the three hours he’d managed to sleep.

He pulled a cold bottle of water from the fridge and drank half of it down. He was starting to calm down and feel better already.

Thoughts of the woman replaced the aftershocks of the nightmare.

Since Cassie had been holed up in her room, he’d had a simple meal of a burger and some chips with Alex earlier in the night. He wished he could offer the family more reassurance, but he still didn’t know what was going on.

The worry Alex had for his sister had been evident as they’d talked over dinner.

Max had vowed that he would get to the bottom of the break-in. And he would keep that promise. His laptop still sat on the island top. He checked the alarm and cameras Alex had given him access to. The blinking red light showed him that one of the balcony doors was open. He frowned. Surely Cassie wouldn’t have forgotten to close up once she returned to bed. Not after what had just happened to her studio.

He grabbed his water and hurried down the hall. All the interior doors were still closed. Not wanting to go into Cassie’s bedroom without invitation, he paused at the studio door.

He listened but couldn’t hear any sound coming from inside.

Slowly, he turned the knob and, as silently as he could, pushed the door open. The first things he spotted were several large canvases tossed on the ground half-completed. One of the easels held a blank sheet and paint tubes lay scattered around on the wheeled table. She had made it inside and began working after all. Pride filled him. Cassie was a fighter and this just proved it.

He peered further into the room and spotted her.

She did, indeed, have the balcony doors open as she sat on the deck leaning against one of them.

Max stepped into the room. He hadn’t expected to really find her there. He’d thought the worst. That another break-in had taken place and he’d failed her. His heart was still pounding with the flood of adrenaline.

Max wasn’t sure if he should leave without being noticed or venture farther inside. He didn’t want to disturb her.

“Couldn’t sleep?” she asked quietly, not even turning her head.

“No,” he replied. Since she’d spoken first, he decided to take a chance. He walked closer. “I see you started working.”

She snorted. “It was all shit.”

The anger in her tone surprised him. He strolled forward then paused in the doorway. She looked a little lost, holding an empty wine glass and staring out into the night.

“I’m sure it will take a bit to get back into the rhythm.”

She shook her head. “Fucking sucks.”

Max wondered if she was drunk. He crouched down beside her. “What?”

She turned her head to look at him.

He saw frustration in her eyes. “I can’t reproduce what I lost, never have been able to. I paint…what I feel at the time. And right now I feel nothing, so all that”—she waved a hand back into the studio—“was just a waste of time.”

Unable to offer much in words, Max decided just to listen to her talk. He didn’t know much about art. However, even he had heard about Cassie’s work. She’d been scared, but if he were honest, he preferred the fury. He stretched his legs out and mirrored her position against the second door. He knew what it felt like to have his entire world turned upside down. Sometimes a person just needed to vent. Max could offer her an ear at least.

“I wonder if they knew,” she continued. “Whoever did this shit—did they know that I would never be able to make up what I lost?”

“I don’t know.”

“Yeah.” She sighed. “I guess it doesn’t matter, anyway.”

When she didn’t say anything else, he racked his brain on what he could do to help. “Tell me about your favorite painting.”

Her eyebrows drew together. “Favorite?”

He nodded. “Yeah, out of everything you’ve ever done, what’s your favorite?”

She smiled. “Jacob and Peyton’s wedding present.”

“Tell me about it.”

“About six months before the wedding, Peyton and I went for a run. She was getting nervous about everything left to do for the wedding and I’d just finished my first showing and was exhausted.”

She paused and looked at him. He inclined his head for her to continue.

“We drove farther into the canyon where no one else would be. We shifted and… God, I still remember it. It had been so long since I’d transformed into my wolf. The freedom… I remember thinking that if I never turned back it would be okay.”

She laughed then. “But Peyton was still all tied up inside, so we ran. It must have been for hours. It was still early when we’d first started out and even when it got dark we didn’t stop. We chased turkey and a few small critters, but we weren’t after any of them. We just needed to let loose.”

Max could see it. He could picture it perfectly as she shared her memory. He’d never experienced for himself what she spoke about. Although, listening to her, he felt closer to another shifter than he ever had in his life.

“Alex and Jacob must have gotten worried. They followed our trail and found us. I knew Alex was mad, so I shifted back. But Jacob just went over to Peyton and buried his muzzle into her neck.”

Her voice softened. “It was then that I realized how much they really loved each other. Watching Jacob and Peyton together, I could feel my fingers wanting to reconstruct that moment. Alex and I left the two of them alone and I came straight here. I painted the two of them in a couple of days. Didn’t eat, didn’t sleep, I just had to get it down on a canvas.”

Cassie met his gaze with tears in her eyes. “It was perfect. The moment that I saw, and I gave it to them. They both cried, they loved it so much.”

Max wished he could see the painting she was talking about so passionately.

“That was my favorite.”

Since she was smiling, he was glad he had asked.

The silence was comfortable as they relaxed for several long minutes.

“Can I ask you a question?” she said.

“Sure,” he said easily.

“You don’t have to answer if you don’t want. I’m just curious.”

He couldn’t imagine anything that he wouldn’t want to tell her. “Go ahead.”

“You can’t shift, right? Like at all?”

Surprised, Max jerked. Everyone in the pack knew he was a non-shifter. “No.”

She pressed her lips together. “Sorry, I shouldn’t have asked.”

He hadn’t meant to snap. “No, it’s okay. It’s just been a long time since anyone has brought it up.”

She nodded but didn’t look at him.

“Why do you ask?” He wasn’t sure why he wanted to know but he couldn’t see Cassie being cruel. There must have been a reason she was curious.

“I was sitting out here thinking,” she said quietly. “I haven’t shifted in a few weeks and was getting restless. I just wondered if you felt like that. If it bothered you?”

Max took a long drink, finishing his water. “It bothers me,” he confessed.

Her head turned back to him.

“When you spoke about what it felt like… The freedom? I want to know that.”

“I’m sorry,” she started.

He held up a hand. “I always felt left out when the pack shifted together. At first, when I was young, one of my parents would have to stay with me. Then as I got older I could be left on my own. Don’t get me wrong—everyone tried to include me, but it wasn’t the same.”

“That had to be terrible.”

Grunting, he nodded.

“Is that why you left?”

No one had ever asked him that. He was sure his parents and Chase knew, even suspected Alpha Shawn had a good idea, but no one had ever said the words out loud. “Yes.”

“But you can feel him? Your wolf?”

“Sometimes,” he admitted. “I don’t think it’s the same as you or Chase, but there have been times I’m uneasy or the animal tries fighting to get out. I’ve dealt with him long enough that I can ignore it but…” He didn’t really want to share how much he had despised his wolf at one time.

It sucked to be different. Growing up, he had just wanted to fit in.

They sat for a few more moments in silence.

“I bet he’s fucking beautiful.”

He’d been staring out into the dark night and jerked at her words. He turned to her. She was blushing, her fingers twined together, legs moving slightly.

“Yeah?” he asked, pleased.

She peeked up at him through her bangs and nodded.

“How would you describe him?” he questioned.

She bit her lip and searched his face. He didn’t know what she was looking for, but whatever it was, she must have found it.

“Black, he would be pure black. Chase has some white and gray in his coat, but you would be solid black.”

He was charmed by her. Wanting, maybe even needing more, he moved closer. “And?”

“Powerful.” She scooted the few inches that separated them “Strong and dominant, but not pushy. He’d have broad shoulders and a wide chest.”

He wasn’t sure he should find the conversation about his inner animal so arousing, but it was. His cock was half-hard and getting fuller by the minute.

“A born leader.” She spoke softly. “I’d follow you.”

Their thighs were touching, and he was close enough to catch that her breathing had picked up. He turned his upper body toward hers as she angled her head back to look him in the eye.

“Anything else?” he asked as he raised his hand to her throat. He ran his thumb under her chin.

“Sexy, so damn sexy. Just like you are in human form.”

There was no way he could have denied the attraction that was sparking between them. He slowly inched forward, keeping his gaze locked with hers. Cassie didn’t back away. Their lips met with the slightest touch. He backed his head a little and watched her eyelids flutter then close.

She was the sexy one. He pressed their mouths together with more force and was rewarded with a moan from her. She gripped the back of his neck while their lips moved against one another.

He teased her bottom lip until she opened for him. Max threaded his fingers through Cassie’s hair and held her head tightly, plundering her mouth. She arched into him, opening even more.

It had been so long since he had been with anyone and never had he felt this fierce so quickly. He wanted to claim and control her.

Cassie’s fingers dug into his arms as she pushed into his hold. She wanted this just as badly as he did. It would be so easy to just roll on top of her and let them sate their hunger for passion.

But it was too soon. They still had a lot to learn about each other. He really was starting to believe that Cassie was the type of woman he’d always searched for. The mate he would find himself settling down with someday. First, he had to make sure he would be able to take care of whomever he chose to mate with. He’d somehow lost himself along the way and he needed to get back the man he’d once been.

He pulled back slowly and with regret.

She was still reeling from the events of the night before and he wasn’t exactly a catch with his current emotional mess.

But it was so hard to back away when she stared up at him with need written clearly across her face.

“We shouldn’t do this,” he said to her.

She frowned but loosened her hold.

“We have time. We don’t have to rush into anything.” He barely got the words out before he was on his feet and stalking away. He had to put some distance between them. He was not strong enough to resist Cassie Wilson. If he didn’t get away, he would end up claiming her for his own. And she had no idea who he really was.

Max closed his bedroom door firmly and leaned against the cool wood. For the second time in a day, he’d felt his wolf inside clawing to get out. He knew it was impossible, although if he could shift, he had no doubt he would be on four furry paws.

Running his palm over his heart, he closed his eyes—not that it would help. He could picture Cassie’s desire then her confusion. He had screwed up royally.

He slammed his hand on the door.

It wouldn’t be fair to Cassie to start something. He was still trying to deal with what had happened to him and his team. He grabbed the bottom of his shirt and whipped it over his head. Then, with determination, he walked to the mirror above the dresser.

He ran his shaking finger lightly around the tattoo over his heart.

A name and date scrawled in black. The day that he’d lost his best friend in that hellhole.

Not being able to stop the dreams, unable to understand what had gone wrong, he wasn’t able to offer himself to Cassie. He couldn’t give her what he wasn’t sure still existed.