Chapter 17
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
Cade
When she opens the door, I hold up the bag of sandwiches from the deli. “I wasn’t sure what you’d like, so I took a chance and got two options.”
She smiles widely, sending my heart racing like it usually does when she does that, and steps back. “I’m not too picky.”
“Well, I got a chicken salad sandwich and a ham and cheese,” I say, kicking off the flip-flops I slipped on my feet after running home and taking a shower.
“Either,” she replies, making me stop in my tracks.
“Pick.”
She looks up at me with a question mixed with shock. “Umm, the chicken salad.”
I flash a grin and lean in, pressing my lips against her forehead. “See? That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
She shakes her head and moves into the kitchen. “I guess I’ve never really had someone ask me that,” she says, pulling two glasses out of the cabinet. “What do you want to drink?”
“Water’s fine,” I reply, pulling the two containers out of the bag and placing the chicken salad sandwich in front of the seat she used last time we shared a meal. When she sets the glasses down on the table, I ask, “What do you mean no one asked?”
She shrugs and takes her seat. “If my ex would have brought over two sandwiches, he would have chosen what he wanted first and left me with the second option, whether I liked it or not.”
I sigh, hating how this douchebag has treated her in the past. “What a dick.”
She grins easily. “That he is,” she confirms, opening the container and finding the sandwich she requested as well as a bag of chips inside. “Thank you for this.”
“Well, I can’t let you have just cheesecake for dinner,” I tell her breezily. “You need something to soak up the sugar.”
She grins and picks up half her sandwich. “This is perfect, thank you.”
“Of course,” I reply, opening my bag of chips and shoving a few into my mouth.
“Umm, I do have something I wanted to talk to you about.” She suddenly seems a little nervous, which I don’t like, but I do my best to keep myself casual.
“What’s up?”
“We found out who is filling in for Doc Houston until he returns,” she starts, shifting in her seat. “Lance is one of them.”
“Your ex, Lance?”
“Unfortunately,” she mutters. “Apparently, he’s going to be the physician coming to our clinic Tuesdays and Fridays.”
“Damn.”
“Yeah,” Oaklee agrees. “And I’ll be working directly with him because the new specialty physicians will be starting then, and Allison will be working with them.”
“Can you switch?” I ask, trying to come up with any way to get her away from the asshole who strung her along for years.
“I mean, yes, but it’s not that simple. Allison has filled in for a lot of those types of clinics when they’re down a nurse, so she’s trained in their procedures. And I’m the newbie, and the last thing I want to do is ruffle feathers.”
“But that’s not really ruffling feathers if you once dated the doctor and he’s a complete asshole.”
She giggles. “True. But this is personal. I need to keep personal and professional separate, you know?”
“I do,” I agree between bites. “I get that completely, but in this case, the two are firmly entwined.”
“Yes, but it’s only for a few weeks. A month, actually, and then Doc will be back and all will be right with the world again.”
I’m not sure I agree with her, but it’s not my decision to make.
Having her work beside her ex, even just two days a week, isn’t something I’m a fan of.
Not because she can’t stand up for herself, but simply for the fact she shouldn’t have to subject herself to spending time with the man who treated her like garbage.
And Oaklee is so far above him, he doesn’t deserve to be anywhere near her goodness.
All I know is if I had a woman like Oaklee, I’d do everything I could to make it work.
An unwelcome sadness washes over me. It’s not something I’m accustomed to, but it’s not exactly foreign either.
I look at my parents—and more recently, my twin brother—and see the happiness they have.
I’m not na?ve enough to know it’s not always sunshine and roses, but with them, the good seems to outweigh the bad.
It’s like their main goal in life is to see the smile on the other person’s face, and that’s what I’ve always wanted.
However, I knew it wasn’t going to be easy, and hurt is always right around the corner.
I watched my brother go through deep pain when Whitney cheated on him.
Hell, he ran from it—all the way to the other side of the world.
But it was still there, and that’s a risk I’ve never wanted to take.
So I’ve quietly sat back, lived my life, and had fun, all while hoping someday I’d find that person who made me want the “more” I’d witnessed.
Is Oaklee that person?
Hell if I know, but the fact I’m even thinking about “more” says something.
I guess time will tell, which is why I’m fine with not rushing whatever in the hell this is.
“Promise me something,” I say after chewing a bite of my ham and cheese.
“What’s that?”
“If he gives you trouble, you’ll tell someone. Your boss, the clinic manager, someone.”
She stares at me with those dark eyes, and I can see her appreciation.
She’s grateful I have her back, but also that I’m not insisting she refuse to work with him.
I can’t do that, even if my gut tells me to.
We’re not in a relationship, even though it feels like something is there.
However, even at this stage of whatever it is you’d call this thing between us, I won’t be anything close to the asshole we’re talking about.
She deserves better, and she’s going to get that from me.
“I will,” she agrees.
“Good. Now, finish your sandwich. That cheesecake is staring at me, and if you don’t hurry, I’m about to grab a fork and dive in without you,” I state, returning right back to easy and fun.
Her beautiful eyes narrow. “You wouldn’t dare.”
“Oh, I would,” I confirm, dumping half the contents of my bag of chips in my mouth and chewing loudly.
When I’ve swallowed, I add, “You underestimate my ability to keep my cool when something as delicious as that is dangled in front of me. One thing you should know about me is I have a massive sweet tooth. When I see something decadent, all I want to do is devour it.”
She blushes, just as I had hoped. I also don’t miss the way she wiggles in her seat, leaving me half-hard and with a huge desire to devour. “Noted.”
We finish our sandwiches, and when I get up to throw the containers in the trash, she retrieves the cheesecake and two forks. “Come on. Let’s take this to the couch.”
I follow suit, placing my empty glass next to the sink and walking to the living room. She sets the dessert down on the coffee table and grabs the remote. She pulls up her streaming service and finds a show she’s watching. “Is this okay?”
“I’m gonna be watching you, beautiful, so pick whatever you want,” I tell her, getting comfortable on her couch.
She sets the remote down and grabs the plate.
Handing me a fork, I wait for her to take the first bite, which she does.
Seeing her lips wrap around the fork and hearing her moan of pleasure has my cock hard.
I’m held in complete rapture as I watch the scene.
Her little tongue snakes out and slides along the tine, licking off the smudge of cheesecake.
“Stop it,” I grumble, shifting in my seat to help alleviate the sudden tightness in my pants.
Her eyebrows shoot up, a sassy little grin spreads across her lips. “Stop what?”
“Don’t play coy, vixen. You know exactly what you’re doing,” I insist, narrowing my eyes.
She holds my gaze and licks her fork a second time. “So good,” she sings, swirling her tongue around the tip.
“Fuck,” I mutter, running my hand down my face as I watch her seduce me with a fucking fork.
A giggle slips out of her mouth, sounding sexier than any noise I’ve ever heard. “Sorry, I couldn’t help myself.”
Slowly, I reach for her fork and gently remove it from her hand, placing it on the small plate with the cheesecake, and returning it all to the coffee table.
With slow movements, I angle myself toward her and prepare.
Reaching forward, I slide the tips of my fingers down her right arm, reveling in the sensation of her shivering and responding.
Her eyes turn into dark pools, almost like she’s a little drunk.
“Oaklee?” I whisper, leaning in and running my nose along her jaw.
“Yes?” She’s breathless and right where I want her.
Then, I pounce.
Before she even realizes what’s happening, we’re lying back on the couch, me covering her body with my own, as I tickle her. “Oh my God, Cade!” she barks out through her fit of laughter. “Stop!”
“Sorry, can’t. You have to learn not to tease me,” I insist, moving my fingers in her side and making her squirm.
Maybe I didn’t think this through.
She’s thrashing and laughing, trying to get away from me. The problem is I’m lying on top of her, and unless I get up, she’s not going anywhere.
“Uncle!” she hollers, making me pause my fingers.
“You’ve had enough?”
“I have,” she declares, panting as she tries to catch her breath.
“And you won’t tease me anymore with your fork and the cheesecake?”
She grins devilishly at me. “Not with the fork and cheesecake.”
My dick jumps in my pants, and I’m certain she can feel it, considering our positions. I narrow my eyes and stare at her, catching her wording. “But you’re not opposed to teasing with other means, I take it.”
Her smile is pure innocence, and I don’t buy it for a second. “I would never.”
“Mmhmm,” I mumble, moving my hand so it’s resting on her side. “I hope you’ve learned your lesson.”
She bats her eyelashes innocently. “I have.”
“Good.”
Neither one of us moves. Our eyes stay locked, and I commit the feel of her against me to memory. I’ll use it later when I’m alone and home and jacking off, because being this close, our bodies pressed together, is definitely sticking with me for a while.