Chapter 23

...But God, it felt good to fall.

They were still sitting near the lake when a splash of high-pitched laughter echoed from the trees.

Nicole.

She emerged like a damn perfume commercial, all long limbs and strategic tan lines, striding toward the water in a scandalously tiny bikini that screamed designer. Her golden hair was tied in a loose braid over one shoulder, and her hips swayed like she had an audience—because she did.

Sienna froze.

"Cassian," Nicole said, like the syllables of his name were dipped in sugar. "There you are. Didn't know if you'd made it out yet."

Cassian's jaw flexed. "We took the long path."

Nicole's eyes flicked to Sienna and back again. "Clearly."

She smiled sweetly. Too sweetly. Then turned and walked off toward the dock, water glistening across her shoulder blades.

Sienna exhaled slowly.

"Wow," she muttered.

Cassian leaned closer. "Don't let her get to you."

"I'm not. I'm just—she's bold."

"She's predictable."

Before Sienna could respond, three girls burst through the trees—Cassian's cousins, all around her age, glowing with mischief and sun.

"Sienna! You didn't bring a swimsuit?"

She blinked. "I didn't think there'd be swimming."

"Girl, this is the lake. Of course there's swimming," one cousin said, grabbing her hand. "Come on. We've got extras in the guest bin."

Before Sienna could protest, they pulled her toward a little wooden changing cabin nestled beside the trees. Inside, it smelled like cedar and sunscreen. A woven basket full of towels and spare swimwear sat near the bench.

One of the cousins locked the door behind them.

"Okay, before we get into this, we need to introduce ourselves properly," the tallest one said. "I'm Camille. The loud one outside is June. And the other pulling out swimsuits like a maniac is Ren."

"I'm so sorry," Sienna said quickly. "I should have remembered your names—"

"Girl, no. You work with Cassian. You have trauma. We get it."

Sienna laughed despite herself.

"Now," June said, holding up a pale lavender bikini, "this one will look amazing on your skin tone."

"I haven't worn anything like that since college."

"Perfect. Welcome back to hot girl life."

Camille leaned against the wall. "So… Nicole."

"She's… something," Sienna offered carefully.

Ren snorted. "She tried to sell us vitamin drops last time she visited."

"For dogs," Camille added.

"Actual dogs."

Sienna was laughing now. It felt nice. Warm. Safe.

Outside, they could hear Nicole's friend chatting—clearly not inside the cabin with them.

"She's always like that," Camille said, pulling a one-piece from the bin. "But you—you're glowing. Seriously. I don't know what magic you're doing, but Cassian is toast."

Sienna blinked. "What? No—he's just…"

"Have you seen the way he looks at you?" Ren asked.

"Like he wants to press you against a tree and write poetry about your jawline," June added.

Sienna's face went crimson.

"Oh my God."

Camille grinned and handed her the lavender bikini. "Try this. Trust me."

She did. And when she stepped out of the changing stall and faced the mirror… she froze.

The lavender suit was delicate, high-cut at the hips and shaped to fit like it had been made for her. Her skin looked soft, warm in the light filtering through the slats. The top lifted everything just enough. Her waist curved just right. And her eyes—framed by loose strands of hair—looked wide and unsure.

She looked… beautiful.

Not the tightly wound professional version of herself, buried in blazers and structure.

This was her. Soft. Feminine. Confident.

"Damn," June breathed.

"You are so hot," Ren said. "Cassian is going to die."

"He's not even going to remember Nicole exists," Camille added.

Sienna's blush deepened. But she didn't hide.

They walked out together, laughing, arms linked, and when they stepped back into the open, the sun caught her skin like she was part of the lake's reflection.

Cassian sat near the water with his cousin Theo, skipping stones and talking about nothing important.

"She's fitting in pretty well," Theo said.

"Yeah," Cassian murmured, staring into the woods.

"Your ex looks pissed."

"Which one?"

Theo barked a laugh. "Nicole. She's glaring holes into the water like it betrayed her."

Cassian didn't answer. He was too focused.

Because through the trees, Sienna appeared.

And he stopped breathing.

Her hair was loose around her shoulders, soft curls falling in a way he'd never seen at the office. Her skin glowed in the sun. The lavender bikini fit her like a secret. Her legs seemed to go on forever. She walked with the girls—laughing, alive—and Cassian felt something inside him snap into attention.

It wasn't just arousal.

Though, God, there was that, too. His sweatpants weren't built for moments like this.

But it was more.

She was stunning.

She wasn't trying. She wasn't posing. She was just her. And it wrecked him.

"Wipe your damn drool, man," Theo muttered, tossing a rock.

Cassian blinked. "Shut up."

"Go say hi to your girlfriend."

He hesitated.

"Cass," Theo said with a grin. "You're so gone."

Cassian got up.

He made his way to her, and she turned just before he reached her.

"Hey," she said, a little breathless.

"Hey," he said back, and his voice came out lower than intended.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear. "Is it too much? The suit? I can go change."

He stared at her for a second too long. Then said, honestly, "No. It's perfect. You're perfect."

Her eyes widened. She looked away.

"We were just going to dip our feet in," Camille said, barely suppressing her smirk. "Join us."

Cassian sat beside Sienna on the dock, their legs brushing.

The girls started tossing pebbles into the lake, laughing and teasing.

But Cassian and Sienna just sat there, water lapping at their toes, hearts beating too loudly, both wondering how long they could keep pretending.