He had his head down.
‘Woody.’ Jason made him look up at him. ‘There is only one way to find out if she’s the real deal, man. Go, but with your eyes open this time. Turn off the gushy damned sex for a couple of days and just be with her. Talk to her, have fun and see if she is really what you want. You have to work out, bro if she means more to you than all us. Find out for all our sakes because she’s an absolute pain to be around lately.’
‘He’s right, Woody,’ Kayden said. ‘She’s even started to piss me off the way she’s demanding to know more. Try as I do, I don’t trust her and you have to have been around long enough to see through an act. You deal with that every time we travel through the portal. All I will add is that if you go and I call, then you’d better be back here double time or don’t bother coming back at all. I’ll know you’ve made your bed and best of luck to you.’ He had an irritable tone to his voice.
Woody stood up, just as angry, ready to give Kayden a mouthful and then snapped his mouth closed and stomped back into the house to throw some clothes in an overnight bag and left.
None of the guys attempted to follow him in or buck up at what Kayden had said. She could feel they were just as disappointed in Woody as Kayden was although the look Kayden flung at them, daring any of them to support their friend, was enough to shut anyone up. He would have told them to go with him being in the mood he was in, and they knew it.
Tension was thick in the air. Even so, Cassie refused to let Ella spoil a day that had been one of her best days ever. The trail bikes had been an absolute blast. She jumped up. ‘Come on, guys, do we really need Woody to have fun? Let’s go play some cards and get drunk, seeing as the big guy’s not here to growl at us tonight.’
She tugged at Kayden until he stood up and let her drag him inside. The boys followed, even though their hearts weren’t in it. Cassie didn’t care; she was determined to take their minds off it one way or another.
Conor went to the cellar and dragged out more wine. This was poured out while the hands where dealt. Only this time, Cassie let them win, acting like a ditsy blond girl. They started having fun with her daft behaviour and even though they knew she was letting them win, they needed silliness to cheer them up. She started to get very tipsy, only this time she slowed right down like Woody had told her to, keeping her head in the game. It was hard though because of the fun she was having.
‘Let’s play strip poker,’ she giggled, thinking that that would make it even more fun. Now, I’ll start wining. She grinned mischievously to herself knowing the thoughts of Woody still gnawed away at them and the men just needed some entertainment. Hell, we all do. She had to think of something totally mind-blowing to stop them thinking for just a while.
Kayden held her face in his hands. ‘You are so very cheeky, honey. We will play your game, only because it’s our turn to amuse you for a while,’ he laughed, knowing she wouldn’t lose a scrap of clothing herself if she started to play for real.
Cassie picked up the cards and shuffled. ‘Okay, here’s the deal. The loser takes a piece of clothing off. Once you get down to the jocks, you nominate someone else to strip. That way it will keep us half decent,’ she said as she dealt the first hand.
What came next was a real surprise and very, very sneaky. The men all conspired against her and Conor lost every hand and started nominating her.
‘Kayden he’s cheating!’ she winged, and giggled as she removed her top.
He just smiled but in his eyes she could tell he was enjoying himself far too much to stop the game just yet. He was so naughty but she had started it and even though it had backfired, she was enjoying flirting with him and watching the fun he was having. Conor lost again and they started clapping for her to remove her skirt.
‘This is so not fair,’ she laughed. ‘You guys are in so much trouble after this game’s over. You know I’ll get you back.’
Jason roared, laughing at her. ‘It will be well worth it, girl. Now get your gear off,’ he said teasingly.
She stood and turned up the music, slowly dancing as she unzipped her skirt. She let it drop before seductively sitting on Kayden’s lap and hugging him.
He lifted her in his arms as he stood up. ‘Show’s over, boys.’ He started heading with her to the stairs. ‘Come, my lovely, the fun is only just beginning.’
‘You are so right about that, boss,’ Jason said as the three of them sprung at them, snatching her out of his arms and running outside to jump in the pool with her. Kayden had no choice but to give in and jump in to save her. They wrestled and struggled until they where spent and sobered up somewhat. She could see they were a lot happier again now and over the Woody thing. It was time she relaxed and just enjoyed their company again. They lay in the pool for a long time talking until Kayden saw Cassie yawn and shiver. ‘That’s it for us, guys, I’m taking my princess to bed.’ He heard no argument this time. The boys were just as tired as they were.