Caden: Ride with Me

7. 7

Caden pulled up in front of the address Olivia gave him and forced himself to take a deep breath and let it out slowly before he got out of the truck. He couldn’t help tugging at his suit jacket as he approached the door, making sure it hung straight before he knocked.

He didn’t have to wait long before the door swung open. He stood there stunned for several seconds before he was able to speak. She looked nothing like he remembered. He wasn’t sure he would even have recognized her if he wasn’t sure this was the right place, and she wasn’t dressed in a lacey confection of a gown that ended just above her knees.

Caden opened his mouth to tell Olivia how amazing she looked, but no words came out. He coughed and tried again.

“Wow. You are stunning.” He thought women complained that bridesmaids’ dresses were never flattering, but Olivia looked like maybe she was the one getting married, well, maybe if the dress wasn’t a bright red instead of white.

She smiled and posed a couple times before stepping forward. “You look pretty good yourself.” She stepped out, then turned and locked the door. “I hope you don’t mind leaving right away. My sister is a little anxious and has been texting me for the last twenty minutes asking when I’ll be there.” She shook her head and turned back to face him, that stunning smile still on her face.

“No, not at all. You didn’t tell me where we’re going.” He walked her back to the pickup, opened the passenger door for her and helped her into the seat before closing the door. As he headed back around the truck to his door, he couldn’t help but be grateful his parents had made sure he knew basic etiquette, even if it hadn’t meant much to him before now.

She gave him the address while he climbed into the seat, buckled up and started the pickup. It wasn’t far away. Not that anything in Dickenson was far, but they would be there soon.

“Any last-minute warnings you want to give me? Someone I want to steer clear of or anything not to do around your family? Anything you’ve told them about your fake boyfriend I need to know about?” He glanced her way before turning his attention back to the road.

“No. I have been careful not to say too much. Before this week I’d not said anything more than I was seeing someone new.”

“What did you say this week?”

“It was more this morning than this week.” She turned and looked out the far window before continuing, “My sisters were pestering me to find out more about you. I told them a little, about the real you, not some made up boyfriend. I thought that would be easier for us both.” She turned back and gave him a hopeful look. “I hope that was okay.”

“That’s fine. I just wanted to know if I needed to be from somewhere specific or I had a different name I needed to answer to.”

Olivia shook her head. “I haven’t given anyone a name. This morning they were bugging me, asking if they knew you. I told them you weren’t from here, so probably not. Then I told them you moved a lot. You don’t really consider anywhere home. I hope that was okay.”

“It’s fine.” He gave her a smile to settle her obvious nerves. He glanced at her again and found she sat, her hands folded in her hands, but gripped so tight her fingers had turned white. He didn’t bother to resist the urge to reach over and cover her hands with his. After a moment she released her own hand and took his, weaving her fingers among his.

“Oh, I almost forgot. I need to give you this to hold for me,” she handed him some folded bills. “I’m not taking my purse in, and I want to have cash for the dollar dance.”

Caden felt his eyes go wide. He hadn’t thought about something like that, and he didn’t normally carry much cash.

Olivia giggled, drawing his attention back to her. “I can see the panic in your eyes. You don’t have to dance with my sister, but I brought enough for you too if you want to.”

“I can’t let you pay for me. I’ll take you up on it, but I will be paying you back.”

By the time they’d arrived at the wedding venue, she’d relaxed enough, her hand wasn’t stiff in his.

“You don’t have to do this,” Olivia blurted as soon as he’d parked the truck. “I mean if you’re not comfortable, I understand. I shouldn’t have let my big mouth run away with me.”

“I’m fine. I like spending time with you.” He turned to face her. “I get that you’re a little nervous, but it will be okay.” He leaned a little closer. “There is something though.”

“What?” She frowned, her voice a little breathless.

He didn’t tell her what, instead leaned close and dropped a brief, gentle kiss on her lips.

“I’ve been wanting to do that for a while,” he said when he pulled away. “And I didn’t want our first kiss to be in front of all your family.”

She leaned back, her eyes wide. One hand lifted to touch her lips. He wondered what she was thinking, but she didn’t say anything, not until her phone buzzed in the small purse she’d brought along.

“That’s going to be my sister. I’m sorry. I have to go.”

“Stay there, let me help you out.” Caden climbed out and went around to lift her down. They stood for a moment there in the open doorway of the pickup, her staring up at him with side eyes, his hands on her waist.

“Thank you.” Her voice had gone husky. “And thanks for the kiss too. I’d like to try it again later.” With that she stepped back and hurried off as quickly as she could on her heels.

Caden closed the truck door and hit the button on the fob to lock it as he caught up with her.

“Let me walk you in. I know your sister wants you, but there’s no reason we can’t arrive together.” He reached down and took her hand, much like he had in the truck.

“Sorry.” Olivia shook her head. “I’m a little flustered.”

“And I’m sure an unexpected kiss didn’t help with that.” He didn’t want to admit what it had done to his own thoughts, at least not until he had a chance to think about it. “Sorry about that.”

Her hand squeezed his, even though the didn’t slow.

“Don’t be sorry. I liked it. But Lainey is a little freaked and I need to let her know I made it and take care of whatever she’s worried about.”

Together they stepped in through the gates and took a few steps. A voice called out and Olivia turned toward it.

“Livey! There you are. Your sister’s about losing her mind worrying about you.” An older man approached them. Caden thought it was probably her father.

“Hi, Daddy. I’m here. I told her I was on my way.” She tugged him with her, stopping in front of the man. “Daddy, this is Caden. Caden, my father, Mike Duncan.” She turned and looked at Caden. “I hate to abandon you like this, but Lainey is going to flip if I don’t go check in with her. I’ll be back as soon as I can.”

“No problem. Go take care of your sister. I’ll be here when you can break away.”

“Thanks.” She surprised him by stretching up and placing a peck of a kiss against his lips. She squeezed his hand then took off, leaving him standing there with her father.

“So, you’re seeing Olivia?” A glint in Mike’s eye led Caden to think he was amused by his daughter’s kiss rather than annoyed by it.

“I am.”

“How serious are you?”

“Not too serious. Yet. We’re still seeing where things are going, but I like her. A lot.” He met her father’s gaze, hoping he would see the honesty and determination in his own.

“At least you’re honest about it. It’s nice to meet you.” Mike extended one hand.

Caden didn’t hesitate. He extended his own and shook Olivia’s father’s hand. The older man glanced down and from the way his gaze lingered just a moment longer than usual, Caden knew he’d seen the tattoos covering the back of his hand. He had to give the other man credit. Mike didn’t let his expression betray what he might be thinking, and he didn’t say anything. Caden was prepared for any reaction. He’d seen most of them, and his father had read him the riot act when he’d seen them. Caden hadn’t cared. The stigma of tattoos wasn’t what it used to be and while it meant he couldn’t serve in the military, he was okay with it. The Military had never been in his plan as he’d had enough of moving all the time.

“Step on over here, I’ve got some people for you to meet.” He led Caden to where several men in suits stood.