Chapter 20

...Nicole raised a brow, and Sienna could swear her mouth twitched.

Cassian smiled smoothly. "We'll catch up with you later."

They moved away, still close. And though Sienna knew they were just pretending, her heart wouldn't stop hammering. Because this? This didn't feel fake anymore.

After some mingling, Sienna excused herself from the crowd and found her way into the kitchen, desperate to ground herself. The kitchen was bustling—steam rising from pots, laughter echoing, cousins and aunts moving in and out like a dance.

"Can I help with anything?" she asked one of the older women chopping vegetables.

"Oh, aren't you sweet! You must be Cassian's girl," the woman beamed.

Another cousin looked up from basting a roast. "Wait... you're the secretary, right? We've seen you in those press pictures. You plan everything for him."

"I… yeah. I was his assistant. Still am, technically."

"So how'd that happen? You go from scheduling meetings to candlelit dinners?"

Sienna flushed. "It's... a long story."

Margo swept in just in time to overhear, glass of white wine in hand and a devilish gleam in her eyes. "Oh yes, it's a very romantic story. He realized she knew his calendar better than his own soul."

Laughter bubbled in the kitchen.

"I'm just helping with the salad," Sienna muttered.

"She already acts like family," one cousin said.

"Well, at this rate," Margo chirped, "I'll start calling her daughter-in-law."

Sienna nearly dropped the tongs.

"Margo—"

"Oh, sorry. Mom, right? That's what the in-laws say, yes?"

The room roared with laughter. Sienna turned a spectacular shade of red.

"You're enjoying this," she accused.

"Immensely," Margo winked.

By the time dinner was served, Sienna wanted to hide under the table. But Cassian pulled out a chair for her at the main dining table, right between him and Margo. The long table was surrounded by Hayes relatives of every volume and volume level, plates piled high with food and wine flowing freely.

It started innocently.

"So, Sienna," one cousin began, "do you cook for him, too? Or just run his empire?"

Sienna smiled tightly. "Mostly scheduling and spreadsheets."

"He needs someone to keep him alive," another cousin joked. "Guy didn't know how to boil water at fifteen."

"She's more than that," Cassian said, his tone so sincere it startled her. "She's the reason anything at Evermark gets done."

That earned a round of teasing whistles.

"He's so in love," someone stage-whispered.

"Wedding bells by next summer," another piped.

"I want to be a bridesmaid!"

Sienna blushed so hard her ears burned. She reached for her water, trying to hide behind the glass.

"Oh, Cassian," Margo chimed in with mock seriousness, "have you told her about the family vow that all Hayes men must propose on a holiday weekend?"

Sienna choked.

Cassian leaned toward her with a faux-serious expression. "Better watch out, you might leave here with a ring."

She shot him a glare that only made him smirk.

"Or a baby," someone added.

"OH MY GOD," Sienna cried.

The table roared.

Across the table, Nicole smiled faintly but didn't join in. Her eyes flicked between Sienna and Cassian, and her grip on her wine glass was just a little too tight.

Cassian, meanwhile, sat back like a king watching the chaos, one hand brushing casually against Sienna's knee under the table, a look of quiet triumph in his eyes.

Sienna could barely breathe, but for all her blushing and sputtering, one undeniable truth settled in her chest.

She was having fun.

Later that evening, the chaos had mellowed into a cozy sort of noise. People were sprawled on couches, desserts half-eaten, a few cousins starting a casual game of charades near the fireplace. Sienna sat outside on the stone patio, a cold beer bottle sweating in her hand.

Cassian dropped into the chair beside her and handed her another bottle. "You survived dinner. Impressive."

"Barely," she muttered. "Your family is... a lot."

"You handled it better than I thought."

She gave him a sidelong look. "You mean better than you hoped. You threw me to the wolves."

"Technically, my mom did. I just watched."

They drank in silence for a few minutes, the night cool but pleasant, the sky clear enough to show stars above the trees. Laughter drifted from the house, the warm glow of lights spilling out through the windows.

Sienna's shoulders finally dropped.

Cassian nudged her with his foot. "You're not bad at this."

"At what?"

"Pretending you like me."

Her mouth curved. "It's surprisingly easy when you're not being a smug bastard."

"Hmm. So... half the time."

They shared a quiet laugh, clinking their beer bottles together.

And then Margo appeared at the patio doors, wine in hand and that unmistakable twinkle in her eye.

"Darlings! Your room is ready."

Sienna froze. Cassian didn't move.

"Oh—no, I can just sleep in the guest—" Sienna began quickly, standing halfway.

"Don't be silly," Margo said sweetly. Too sweetly. "You're together, aren't you? It'd be terribly odd for you to sleep apart."

"I—well, yes, but it's just—"

Cassian sipped his beer. Said absolutely nothing.

Sienna elbowed him sharply in the ribs.

"Ow," he said mildly.

Margo's smile grew devilish. "Besides, you two seem awfully cozy. I made sure the fireplace in his room was lit. Very romantic."

Sienna's jaw dropped.

Cassian looked far too smug for someone being coerced into sharing a room.

After a few more failed protests and a chorus of approving whistles from passing cousins, Sienna gave up and allowed Margo to drag her inside with a wink.

A few minutes later, Sienna found herself catching Margo alone in the hallway outside the rooms.

"Mrs. Hayes—"

"Margo, darling. We're practically family."

"Right. Margo. Look, this whole room-sharing thing—"

Margo raised a brow. "You are pretending to be his girlfriend, aren't you?"

Sienna hesitated. "Yes, but—"

"Then it would be weirder if you didn't stay in his room. You'd raise more suspicion sleeping apart than together."

Sienna rubbed her temples. "You're enjoying this way too much."

"Of course I am. Watching my son squirm for once is delightful. And watching you squirm is even better."

Sienna sighed. "You're kind of evil."

"That's why I raised a CEO. Now go on. Don't worry—he knows how to behave. Usually."

She walked away, humming a love song under her breath.

Sienna stared at the hallway ceiling.

Then at the closed door.

Then she opened it.

Cassian was already inside, tossing a blanket over the foot of the bed.

He looked up. "Guest room excuse didn't work, huh?"

"Your mom is terrifying."

"She really is."

And then, with no more protests and a heart that wouldn't settle, she stepped inside and closed the door behind her.