Chapter 22

...Failing miserably.

The next morning brought the scent of pancakes, birdsong, and the soft rustle of trees in the distance. Sienna woke alone. The pillow next to hers was slightly dented, still warm, and she had no idea when Cassian had returned from his icy shower.

She found him already dressed and downstairs, chatting with cousins over coffee like he hadn't spent the night next to her being every inch of temptation incarnate.

Breakfast turned into brunch. Brunch turned into wandering groups. Everyone had plans: board games, gardening, naps under sun-dappled trees.

Sienna, however, found herself pulled aside by Margo on the stone path behind the house, a basket in her arm and a gleam in her eye.

"Walk with me."

Sienna complied, a bit dazed. Margo always seemed to be in control of every conversation—even the ones you didn't know you were having.

They followed a small path that wound between towering oaks and evergreens, the sunlight dappling through the branches above. Margo's stride was confident, her basket swinging.

"It's beautiful out here," Sienna murmured.

"This forest's been here longer than we have. This land goes back generations."

Sienna looked at her, curious. "You mean this estate?"

Margo nodded. "Old money. Hayes line is steeped in it. But it dwindled. Wars, poor decisions, modern shifts. This place is the only true piece of it left. The rest? Gone."

Sienna blinked. "But… Cassian—"

"Cassian made himself," Margo said with quiet pride. "He inherited this estate. Everything else? The company, the empire, the reputation—he built it with his own hands. That's why I call him impossible. Because he is. And yet… he's everything we ever hoped for."

Sienna's heart twisted.

"You're proud of him."

"Every minute. Even when I want to throttle him."

They walked a little longer, until laughter and footsteps echoed from behind.

"There you are," one of the younger cousins said, jogging up the path toward them. "Cassian went walking with us but then we told him he should walk with her."

She gestured obviously to Sienna.

Margo gave a theatrical sigh. "Children and their romantic instincts. I'll go pretend to supervise lunch. Go on, darling. The lake's that way."

Cassian appeared down the hill, hands in his pockets, head tilted as he walked toward her. He looked so at home in the forest, so different than the city version of himself. Lighter somehow. Sunlight caught in his hair.

"Hey," he said when he reached her.

"Hey."

He fell into step beside her. The woods grew denser as they walked, the air cooler, the birdsong louder.

And Sienna could not breathe.

Her heart raced, her palms sweat. This—this wasn't a fake relationship moment. There were no eyes on them. No parents, no cousins, no Margo smirking in the background.

It was just them.

Cassian glanced sideways. "You good?"

"Yep," she said, voice high. "Just having an internal existential crisis. No big deal."

He chuckled. "It's just a walk."

"Yeah, well, it feels like a date."

He stopped.

She stopped.

He turned to her slowly, smile tilting. "Is that bad?"

Sienna blinked. "No. I mean. Yes. I mean—maybe. I don't know. Shut up."

He grinned. "Relax. We can call it a forest-based strategy meeting if it helps."

"Please stop talking."

They kept walking, but the air around them had changed. It was warmer. Brighter. And Sienna's head felt light.

They crossed over a mossy log, navigating the slight slope down toward a wide glade. Cassian pointed toward the trail. "Watch your step here, it gets a bit—"

She slipped.

Cliché as hell.

One minute she was upright, the next she was gasping and falling—and then she wasn't. Cassian caught her, one arm tight around her waist, the other braced against the tree behind her.

"Whoa."

His face was inches from hers. His hand on her waist was firm. And her heart—her damn heart—was not doing okay.

"You good?"

"Mmhmm," she squeaked.

He didn't move for a second. Neither did she. Her hands had landed on his chest and now she could feel his heart beating beneath her palms.

He cleared his throat and helped her upright again.

"Careful. Wouldn't want to break my fake girlfriend."

She tried to laugh. It came out strangled.

They walked the rest of the way in silence, the trees finally giving way to a glittering lake, hidden deep in the woods. The water was still, glassy, reflecting the sky like a mirror. A wooden dock jutted out, worn from years of use. Someone had tied an old tire swing to a branch overhanging the edge.

Sienna took it in with wide eyes.

"It's beautiful."

Cassian nodded. "My favorite place here."

Cousins were already lounging near the shore, skipping stones, taking photos. One of the younger girls whistled.

"Cassian's face is red! Are you sunburned or in looooove?"

Cassian groaned and flipped her off casually. The others just laughed.

Sienna, still breathless, sat down on a rock near the water.

Cassian joined her, tossing a pebble into the lake.

"They're relentless."

"They love you."

"Unfortunately."

The silence between them this time was easy. Gentle.

Sienna curled her legs under her and watched the ripples in the lake. The sunlight caught on the water, fracturing into gold.

"I thought you'd be different," she said suddenly.

"Different how?"

"I don't know. More... detached. Cold, maybe. In college, you were the guy everyone wanted but no one could really get close to. Even now, at work—you're intense. Unreachable."

"And now?"

She looked at him. "You're a guy who built a life for himself, who shows up for family, who walks girls to secret lakes in the woods."

His smile was soft. Real.

"You're surprising, too," he said.

"How so?"

"You've always been the composed one. No-nonsense. You ran the company before I even figured out how to check my email. And now you're blushing every five minutes and making me want to say things I probably shouldn't."

Her breath hitched. "Like what?"

He didn't answer.

Instead, they both turned back to the water.

And inside, Sienna was spiraling.

Because this wasn't fake anymore. Not really. The way he looked at her. The way he touched her. The way her body responded, not to his hands, but to him. The way he caught her. The way he smiled when she laughed. The way she wanted to lean in, just a little, just enough—

She couldn't breathe.

She was falling.

And it terrified her.

But God, it felt good to fall.