The sugar melted instantly on his tongue, followed by a hit of spice and heat.
Cassie not only had a gorgeous face and a kind heart, she was a brilliant confectioner as well.
“That was extraordinary.”
She was extraordinary.
Her skin flushed pink at his compliment. “Thank you.”
“Honestly, I think it might be the best thing I’ve ever put in my mouth.”
And as Cassie flushed an even deeper rose, he couldn’t help wondering if she would also taste as sweet…
* * *
Flynn was more nervous than he wanted to admit about tonight’s dinner with the Sullivans. He hadn’t spent much time around families during the past twenty years, not when life with his own had soured him on the idea of family.
Beth greeted them at the front door. “Flynn, Ruby, Cassie—I’m so happy you’re all here!” Just as she had at the café when the three of them walked in, Cassie’s mother took Ruby into her arms. “I’ve missed you so much, my little treasure.”
In response, Ruby reached out happily to pat Beth’s cheeks, making them both laugh.
Settling the baby on her hip, she said, “Come on in and meet everyone, Flynn, while I get you both a drink.”
“We can take care of our own drinks, Mom.” Cassie turned to Flynn. “What’s your poison?”
Three fingers of whiskey would go a long way toward taking the edge off. But Smith hadn’t connected Flynn with his aunt, uncle, and cousins so that he could get drunk in their house. He also hadn’t suggested Flynn stay in Cassie’s cabin so that he could seduce her…
“A beer would be great. Thanks.”
As though she could tell he was nervous, Cassie said, “My family can be a bit much to take in if you’re not used to a million people all talking at once. There are seven of us, not including my parents, but two of my brothers aren’t in town tonight, so that will save you trying to remember a couple of names.”
Seven siblings. He couldn’t wrap his head around it. Flynn had been close to his sister when they were young, and it had felt like the two of them against the world. But once she’d hit her teen years, there had been nothing he could do to keep her out of harm’s way.
The next thing he knew, he was in the middle of a group of men and women who had all stopped talking to stare at him.
“Everyone, this is Flynn, and the adorable little girl in Mom’s arms is Ruby.”
Flynn had been worried that Ruby would be overwhelmed by so many new people and yet another new house. Fortunately, she seemed fascinated by everything around her—the food, the people, the house, and especially the enormous fluffball of a dog lying on the floor in front of the stove. Clearly, that was the place to be if you wanted to catch falling food.
“Flynn, meet Rory, Turner, Lola, and Ashley.” Cassie scanned the kitchen for someone else, finally finding him in the view from the window. “There’s Kevin, Ashley’s son, in the backyard. He’s ten.” She squatted down to scratch between the dog’s ears. “And this is Bear.”
Flynn shook hands with Cassie’s brothers and sisters. The family resemblance was strong—the Sullivans had all been cut from very attractive cloth—but at the same time, they were each distinct. Rory was rugged looking, and judging by the calluses on his hands, he obviously worked with them. Turner, though as broad in the shoulders as his brother, was not nearly as tanned, nor were his shoes as scuffed, so Flynn guessed he worked at a desk. Ashley had delicate features and seemed to be the quietest of the bunch. She barely looked old enough to have a ten-year-old son. Clearly, there was a story there. And then there was Lola, who looked like she’d walked straight out of a fifties pinup calendar.
He knew plenty of guys who would fall hard for both Ashley and Lola. But though they were beautiful women, Flynn didn’t feel the slightest hint of a spark with either of them. Not the way he had from the first moment he’d set eyes on Cassie.
“And this,” Cassie said as a distinguished-looking man walked into the room, “is my dad, Ethan. Dad, this is Flynn, Smith’s friend who is staying in my cabin. And this is his little girl, Ruby, who I’m sure Mom hasn’t stopped talking about since we saw her at the café earlier this week.”
Ethan Sullivan’s grip was strong, his voice deep…and his eyes held a definite warning. Don’t mess with my girl. “It’s good to meet you, Flynn. I’m glad you and Ruby could join us for dinner tonight.” So that I can keep a close eye on you.
Flynn had never met the fathers of any of the women he’d dated. Not that he and Cassie were dating—she was a million times too good for the likes of him. Which her father had clearly sussed out at a glance.
“Thank you for having me to your home.”
Every eye remained trained on him, and though he’d had to prove himself a hundred times over in Hollywood, tonight felt more difficult than any of those film-studio meetings.
He wasn’t here to prove that he was talented. Instead, he was trying to live up to being given a seat at the Sullivan family table. To make matters worse, he had no idea what any of them knew about him. Not when the bits of press that he’d seen during the past three weeks served only to stoke the mystery of who Ruby’s mother might be—and what else he might be hiding in his past.
Cassie handed him a beer and one of the coveted bacon-and-cabbage rolls.
Turner broke the ice. “I’m a big fan of your work. I’ve watched Silent City many times.”
“You wrote that?” Ashley looked pleasantly surprised when he nodded. “You’re really talented.”
“Thanks.” Though he appreciated the praise for his work, Flynn was never comfortable in the spotlight. He’d much rather turn the focus on someone else. That way, there was a smaller chance of screwing up and getting a piece of his story wrong.
Cassie seemed to sense his discomfort, because she said, “Turner works in movies too.”
Flynn had thought her brother looked familiar. “You’re Turner Sullivan, the animator.”
Before Turner could reply, Cassie told him, “He worked on Trolls!”
Everyone laughed at her enthusiasm, with Lola informing him, “It’s one of her favorite movies, if you were wondering.”
“I know.” Flynn was glad to feel much more relaxed now that he was no longer the absolute center of attention. “I watched it last night.”
“You did?” Cassie clearly couldn’t believe it. “What did you think?”
“The story was good.” He smiled at her before adding, “Heartfelt.” He turned back to Turner. “And the animation is great.”
“Thanks. I’m always happy when I can work on something my nephew and my cousins’ kids can watch.”
“What are you working on now?”
“A Japanese anime series.” Flynn recognized the name Turner gave him, though he hadn’t read the books the series was based on. “What about you?”
“I’m sitting on a partial screenplay. Although I haven’t been able to do much with it in the past few weeks.” Again, he wasn’t sure how much Cassie’s family knew, but he couldn’t live with himself if he didn’t at least tell them the same truth he’d already admitted to her. Hoping that none of them would spread the news any further than this house, he said, “My sister passed away three weeks ago. Ruby is her daughter.” His chest clenched as he looked across the kitchen at the little girl who meant everything to him. “She’s mine now.”