Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
Oaklee
I shove my feet into old slip-ons and check my appearance in the mirror.
It’s a beautiful Sunday afternoon, but the weather is definitely starting to turn cooler since it’s now early October.
I’m wearing a pair of old jeans, a T-shirt, and a crewneck sweatshirt, compliments of Cade.
It’s the one I wore last weekend when we went camping and never returned.
I like it too much, and possession is nine-tenths of the law, right?
It doesn’t smell like him, since I’ve washed it the two times I’ve worn it, but it feels like an extension of his warmth.
Like a hug. He’s even seen me wear it earlier in the week when we were hanging out but didn’t ask for it back or comment about me stealing it.
He just smiled and moved on. I can’t help but wonder if maybe he likes seeing me in it.
Warmth spreads through my chest at the thought.
I ignore it.
The loud knock has me spinning around and exiting the room. I grab my bag off the couch and meet Cade at the door. “Hi,” I greet, stepping out into the early afternoon sunlight.
“Hey,” he replies, his eyes dropping down to take in his sweatshirt. He grins, but doesn’t say a word. “Ready?”
“Yes.” Glancing down at my outfit, I ask, “Is this okay?”
He takes his time, perusing my body as if assessing my appearance.
When his blue eyes return to mine, he nods.
“First off, you could be wearing a potato sack, and you’d still be the most stunning woman in the world.
But I know that’s not what you meant. You were asking about your attire in regard to our little fishing adventure, and that answer would be yes.
As long as you’re fine getting a little dirty. ”
My cheeks heat up, because in that moment, I’m replaying the last time I got a little dirty.
Friday night, after an exceptionally long day of dealing with Lance at the clinic, we met at my place to watch a movie and unwind.
No movie was actually watched, but I had two orgasms right there on my couch.
I slept like a baby that night.
“Knock it off, dirty girl. You’re supposed to be learning the art of fishing today, not thinking about the different things you’d do to my pole.”
Shaking my head, I let a little giggle fly as we walk to his truck. Once I’m inside, on the passenger’s seat, I glance behind me after catching the scent of something sweet. There’s an insulated bag sitting there, and even though I can’t see what’s inside, I have an idea.
When Cade climbs behind the wheel, I ask, “What’s in the bag?”
He grins mischievously. “It’s a surprise.”
“Is it cookies? It smells like cookies. Chocolate chip ones. And brownies,” I insist, watching as the smile falls from his lips.
“How did you know that?”
I want to keep playing the ruse but am unable. I start to giggle, covering my lips with my hand.
“You peeked, didn’t you!” he blurts out, glancing back to see if the bag is open.
Shaking my head, I claim, “I didn’t, I swear. There wasn’t enough time for me to peek.”
His blue eyes narrow. “Then, how did you know?”
Smiling sweetly, I shrug my shoulders. “A woman never reveals her sources.”
Exhaling, he throws the truck in reverse and backs from my driveway. “Lizzie,” he finally states, shaking his head. “Mom took some to Collin this morning too.”
“I heard they’re delicious.”
“They are,” I agree as I head toward Wyatt’s place. “Almost everything Mom makes is top-notch, with the exception of Salsbury steak. She ever makes that, and we’re skipping the dinner invite.”
I can’t help but laugh. “My grandma used to make tuna cakes, and I’d want to vomit the moment the scent permeated the air.”
“Tuna cakes?” he asks, making a horrified face.
“Like crab cakes, but with tuna. Way cheaper to make, and to be honest, completely disgusting. That smell would linger for days, Cade. Days!”
He chuckles. “No tuna cakes, good to know, but what about crab cakes?”
“Those I like. This nice little gourmet restaurant not too far from where I lived back home had them for special every Friday night. I’d order them with a side salad often. They were delicious,” I recall, wishing I were back there for a night, if only to order the crab cakes.
“I’m not sure we have anywhere in Cooper Town that makes crab cakes, but I’m sure they do in North Ridge. I’ll do some checking and see if I can find a place. We can go for dinner one night.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I know I don’t have to, but I want to.”
Warmth moves through me, spreading from my chest through my extremities.
Any time he says something sweet like that I want to swoon.
He’s definitely a charmer, and often puts my wants and needs before his, but when he says things like that I start to entertain ideas I shouldn’t.
He’s not a relationship kind of guy. I’ve known that from the beginning.
So I need to keep those thoughts out of my head.
We’ll never be anything more than just friends with benefits, if that’s what you want to call this, so the sooner I get that through my thick skull, the better off I’ll be.
We ride in silence out to Wyatt’s farm, both of us humming along to the song on the radio. Turning into the driveway, I find the barn open with Wyatt’s big truck parked in front. “We aren’t interrupting his day, are we?” I ask, releasing my seat belt as he turns off his truck.
“Don’t care,” he replies with an ornery gleam in his ocean-blue eyes. “No, I texted him and let him know we’re coming. He’s out in one of the pastures mowing and knows we’re headed back to my spot.”
I nod and catch sight of the side-by-side sitting next to where we parked.
Cade starts unloading the gear from the bed of the truck, while I grab the bags from the back seat.
Of course, while I do, I pop open the bag and sneak one of the soft chocolate chip cookies.
I pop it in my mouth and take a bite, savoring the gooey goodness that’s practically melting on my tongue.
“What are you doing?”
I spin around, guilt written all over my face, I’m sure. “Nothing,” I mutter, my mouth still full of the cookie.
He shakes his head and slowly moves toward me. His motions are calculated and smooth, like an animal stalking its prey, and all I can think about is the time he tickled me on the couch. “I think you’re lying to me.”
I chew fast and swallow, hiding the fact I still have half a cookie in my hand. “I would never.”
The corner of his mouth ticks. “No? So you’re not hiding something behind your back right now?” he asks, reaching for my hand.
“Of course not.”
Why do I sound so breathless?
Probably because I secretly want him to find the cookie and punish me like the bad woman I am.
My cheeks burn hot.
When his hands wrap around my wrist, he slowly brings the evidence into light, revealing the fact I am a liar. “Hmm, as I thought.”
With the cookie still gripped in my hand, he brings it up to his face to inspect it. Then, catching me completely off guard, he bends down and wraps his mouth around it—and my fingers. He bites at the treat and smiles when he stands up to his full height and chews.
The Cookie Monster has nothing on Cade Miller.
Also, my panties are soaked.
“That was mine,” I mutter, not really sure what to say.
“And you stole it. Therefore, you’ll have to ask me very nicely if you want another one.”
I already know which nice way I’ll be asking him, but I refuse to state that now. However, judging by the smirk on his face, he knows exactly what my plan is and that it’ll involve my hand, tongue, and his erection.
“Later, beautiful,” he whispers, popping the last bit of cookie in his mouth. He bends down and kisses me, the taste of chocolate chip cookie heavy on his tongue.
Just as we break apart, his phone chimes with a notification in my pocket. He pulls out the device, taps the screen, and laughs. He holds the phone out so I can read it.
Wyatt
Quit fucking making out in front of my camera! I don’t need to see that shit!!
I giggle, turning around to where the camera is attached to the corner of the barn, just beneath the overhang, and wave.
A second later, the phone chimes again.
Wyatt
Hi, Oaklee.
Wyatt
Now, remember, I have other cameras out on my property. Like I tell Collin every time he takes Lizzie back there, if I see something inappropriate, I’m gonna share it with everyone. Nothing is safe.
Cade
And I’d gut you like a fish.
He’s smiling as he sends the message, clearly just tossing his good friend a threat he doesn’t mean.
Wyatt
Well, then keep your bare ass covered up, my friend.
Cade
*insert middle finger emoji*
He slips his phone into his pocket and double checks the bed of his truck. “All right, beautiful. Let’s go.”
I climb into the cab of the side-by-side and watch as he starts it up.
He drives us back to the timber, snaking through the trees as we head for our destination.
I look around, remembering last weekend when we camped out here.
The memories are fresh, and even though the weather is already changing, I can’t wait until I have the opportunity to do it again.
We reach the creek at the back of the property and stop. “Ready?” he asks.
“I am.”
“All right, let me get everything set up and then we can bait some hooks.”
I climb out of the cab and look around. “Give me something to do.”
He looks in the bed of the vehicle and pulls out a pair of small chairs. “Go ahead and pick our spot by the water.”
I nod, taking the chairs and moving in the direction of where we’ll be sitting.
I glance around the space, finding the perfect spot in a clearing in the trees.
There’s a log in the water upstream a bit, but we should be far enough back to avoid getting tangled in it.
“How about here?” I ask, turning around to where Cade is setting a tackle box and two poles.