Semua Bab Fake Dating With The Playboy hockey Captain: Bab 121 - Bab 130

Cassie's POVThe heaviness sat there until Lady Celeste finally broke it with a dry laugh. “Well. So much for the spa easing the tension. Seems we’ve come full circle.”“Not quite,” Lady Adelaide replied, her tone lighter now. “We still have massages next.”“Thank God,” Alison groaned. “I feel like a seventy-year-old. My shoulders are killing me.”I said nothing and the conversation moved on without me. My mind was on the whole Jude situation. I thought I was warming up to him, but there seemed to be some lingering feelings left.“Are you alright?” I heard Alison ask beside me.“I don't know, to be honest.” I admitted. She didn't say anything at first. Instead, she gave me a slow nod, like she actually understood. “You know… I get it. Even though father and I aren’t close, if he just disappeared for years and then suddenly popped back in? I’d be furious. Hurt too. Adult or not.”It was my turn to nod. You'd think it would be easier to deal with as an adult, but somehow I felt worse.

Ledger's POV “What?” Cassie blurted out.I paused. I'd agreed to give her space, So the fact that I was even turning back around must’ve shocked her. Hell, it shocked me too. This wasn’t planned. I just had a feeling that if I didn't join her now, I'd regret it.“I mean… Sure!” She said before I could say anything. The corner of my lips quirked up slightly at how quickly she had spoken. I watched as her cheeks turned red slightly. She looked away, mildly embarrassed. I gingerly took off my clothes, taking my time and making sure everything was within her view. It was nothing she hadn't seen before anyway.The tension between us thickened with every piece I dropped. By the time I slid into the water, she wasn’t even pretending to look somewhere else.I swam closer, slow, watching her track me. She didn’t move. Didn’t say anything. Just waited until I was close enough that she pressed a palm against my chest, stopping me inches away.Her hand was warm, light, like she wasn’t sure sh

Cassie's POV The silence after crying that hard was weird. Heavy and also empty. The fact that I'd completely lost it and mom and Jude were there to witness my complete melt down made me want to hide myself away in embarrassment.I adjusted myself, taking on a sitting position.Jude noticed. Of course he did. His eyes were still red, but softer now. “You alright?”I cleared my throat, looking anywhere but him. “Yeah. Just… uh… you should probably go back to the others. Take Mom with you.”He looked confused, and I pursed my lips. There was nothing more embarrassing than having to explain that I was now embarrassed after my crash out.“Please. Just go.”He frowned, looking ready to argue. Then Mom chuckled. She walked to him and grabbed his arm gently. “Come on, Jude. Let's go.”“But…”Mom rolled her eyes. “Read the room. She's obviously embarrassed. Let’s not make it worse.”Jude nodded. “You have nothing to be ashamed of. But… we'll give you some time to get herself together.”I mu

Cassie's POVI wanted to sleep so badly, but with the way things were shaping up… yeah, no chance. My body kept begging for rest, but my brain refused to shut down. There was no way I could drift off now. Not when I was almost certain the people piloting this plane weren’t who they said they were.I paced. Quiet steps back and forth along the aisle, laptop balanced in my arms like I had an actual deadline pressing down on me. When one of the attendants noticed and asked why I was awake, I put on the most tired, sheepish smile I could muster and said, “I have an article due at eight. I put it off to enjoy the break, now I have to pay the price.”They didn’t push further, just gave me one of those awkward half-smiles before walking off. I didn’t miss the sideways glance he threw toward the others though… or the way he stopped to whisper with another attendant once he thought I wasn’t paying attention.That was enough to keep me moving. Keep me awake.Then I found Lady Adelaide brewing

Cassie's POV I flinched when a shot rang out in the plane. And then another. My hands flew up, covering my ears before I even realized what I was doing.“Open your eyes, Cassie.” I heard Jude say, his voice urgent.I slowly forced my eyes open. He was right in front of me, body squared, shielding me. Behind him, the attendant who’d been smiling politely just minutes ago was now coughing blood, her hand still raised, pistol aimed toward his back.It hit me all at once—he’d stepped in front of me, taken the shot.A low grunt escaped him.“Jude!” My voice cracked, terrified he’d been hit.“I’m fine,” he grunted. “Bulletproof vest. Hurts like hell, but I’m fine.”The woman collapsed, but Jude caught my chin, turning my face sharply away. His touch was firm, almost fatherly. “Don’t look. Eyes on me.”I nodded fast, fighting the urge to glance back. Fighting the reality that someone had just died two feet away.“Cassie!” Ledger’s voice rang out as he rushed over.“Take her and join the oth