Chapter 24 #2
“Linda, please. I’ll see you both soon. We’ll be celebrating Cade’s dad’s birthday in a couple weeks, and we’d love to have you join us.”
“Oh,” I spit out, not really knowing what to say. Hanging out with friends is one thing, but going to a family function is an entirely different animal.
“I’m sure Oaklee will be there if she can,” Cade says, catching me by complete surprise.
“Good. I’ll keep you posted on the date and time,” she says, going back over and hugging her son. She’s quite a bit smaller than he is, especially when he wraps his arms around her and squeezes.
“Love you,” he tells her, walking her to the front door.
“Enjoy your night,” she says before throwing me a final wave and walking out the door.
He watches to make sure she gets to her car safely, not even caring he’s standing in the doorway wearing a towel. When she backs out of his driveway, he finally steps back and closes the door. Turning my way, he places his hands on his hips and says, “You’re not naked.”
“Uh, no. It would have been very rude to answer the door for your mother wearing nothing but my birthday suit.”
He takes a step toward me and snakes his arm around my waist. “You can wear your birthday suit now.”
“Your mom was just here five seconds ago, and you’re already thinking about sex?”
“Baby, I’m always thinking about sex,” he replies, leaning down to kiss me. “She likes you.”
“She’s very friendly. I bet she likes everyone,” I retort, slipping my arms around his waist and sliding through a few water droplets.
He snorts. “And you’d be wrong. Mom is very fair and tough, and while she usually has a very sunny, friendly disposition, she most definitely doesn’t like everyone. In fact, she wasn’t a fan of Whitney.”
“Whitney?” I ask, knowing I haven’t heard that name before.
“Collin’s ex. She cheated on him when he was in Washington in the Air Force. She was friendly to her face, but I knew she didn’t really like her. I think she knew Whitney wasn’t the one for my brother.”
“Possibly,” I reply.
Reaching behind him, I hear the click of the lock moments before his hands are back on me as he lifts me up. “Let’s go, Nurse Oaklee. I believe you owe me a little personal attention.”
My legs are wrapped around his waist as he carries me toward his bedroom. He slaps me on the ass, making me giggle. All thoughts of meeting his mom and what she said are forgotten.
For now.
* * *
The music isn’t very loud, but the atmosphere is electric.
Charli and Sommer invited me to join them for Lizzie’s Saturday paint night at the bar, and so far, I’m having a blast. We’re painting a pumpkin sitting in a field, and even though I’m far from an artist, I admit mine doesn’t look half bad.
Of course, that could be the alcohol talking, thanks to the Drunk Ghosts.
That’s the name of the drink.
Drunk Ghost.
It’s a mixture of coconut rum, vanilla vodka, coconut cream, and lemon-lime soda, with a cute little ghost Peep on top, and it is delicious. I think I innocently hugged Collin when he handed me my third drink.
“I don’t know about you, but I’m well on my way to being a little intoxicated. These drinks are yummy,” Charli murmurs to me before taking a long sip from her straw.
“Definitely yummy.” Glancing to the bar, I find the bartender’s yummy twin brother sitting on the bar stool in the corner, keeping an eye on me and my friends.
Every time I stand up, he’s moving in my direction, wanting to know if I need something, if I’ve eaten enough food, if I’m having a good time.
He’s very attentive, even when I’m out with friends, and it feels good.
“Stop ogling my brother. I already have to deal with that shit from Collin and this one,” she says, pointing to Lizzie, “But now you and Cade? It’s nauseating.”
I roll my eyes. “I can’t help it. He’s as yummy as this drink.”
“Eww,” she replies, grabbing her paintbrush and giving her attention to the front once more.
“Don’t mind her. She’s just jealous because she doesn’t have anyone yummy to ogle,” Lizzie states loudly.
Charli points her brush at Lizzie and says, “You’re right. I wish I had someone yummy.”
As if on cue, the door opens, and a small group of guys walk in. I recognize them immediately, especially since the one in front is Cade’s youngest brother, Camden. His friends Quinn and Robby are with him, and admittedly, I don’t know them as well.
“Single guys, four o’clock,” Sommer announces.
“Eww, what the hell is wrong with you? He’s my brother!” Charli bellows, pretending to gag.
Her friend rolls her eyes. “Obviously, I wasn’t talking about your brother, silly. The other two are good-looking and single.”
Charli glances over to the trio, who are now sitting at the bar with Cade. “Robby is seeing Sierra Harrison. He’s not single.”
“Okay, fine. But Quinn is.”
“Quinn is…no. He’s immature and annoying. And he’s practically a brother to me. That’s just gross.”
But her eyes don’t match her words.
Something in the way her gaze lingers a little too long over there catches my attention. I don’t comment on it, just file it away for later.
We keep painting, laughing, and drinking, and by the time my portrait is about complete, I’m exhausted in all the best ways.
I’ve had the most fun I’ve had in a long time, and it’s because of these people.
And not just the ones sitting at the table with me.
Allison and the girls I work with. Cade, Collin, and the rest of the guys at the bar.
This is comfortable.
This is home.
Cade catches my eye and offers a smile. It’s full of promise and makes my core clench with need.
Need for him, and not just a sexual demand.
I need his smile, his light, and his warmth. I need his strength when I’m weak and his touch when I need to be grounded.
I watch as he laughs with his brothers and takes a sip of his water. He’s not drinking, and that’s because I am. Because he cares enough to make sure I get home safely. He’s a natural protector, even when he doesn’t have to be.
And I’ve fallen in love with him.
The realization hits me hard in the face, like a glass of cold water thrown at me.
This wasn’t supposed to happen.
It was meant to be fun…a fling.
But here I am, realizing I’m helplessly in love with the one man who won’t ever love me back.
It’s like history repeating itself, but that’s not fair either, because Cade is nothing like Lance.
Except, like Lance, I’ll never have the one thing I’ve always wanted.
The one thing I refuse to live without moving forward.
The one thing not on the table.
His heart.