Chapter 24 #2
Sebastian grunts before adding, “Yeah. Our place.”
Looking at them, I roll my eyes. “I cannot be at your place and listen to you two—” I glance at Zelle, reach up and cover her ears, and then mouth back at them, “Afternoon delight.” I wink.
“Are you talking about sex?” Zelle says a little too loud because of my hands over her ears.
Ford turns bright red. Stone chuckles, and Sebastian chokes on a laugh.
“You could stay with me,” Clay offers.
I’ve heard about this brother and his damsel in distress ways. However, I am not a damsel even if I am a little stressed lately.
Ford’s head snaps in the direction of another brother. He glares again.
Boy, he really does not want me staying with his family.
“Thank you for the offer,” I demurely reject. “But I’ll figure something out.”
Ford reaches over the table with a second hot dog in a bun aimed at me.
“I’m good.” I wave off the offer as I already have the one on my plate that I hadn’t been able to eat. I might take it home and pour liquid gold over it, placing it beside my prized awards.
Ford exaggerates bending his arm and forcing the hot dog back in my direction.
“Fine.” I huff taking the bun and noticing a word once again written in mustard over the meat.
MINE.
My head snaps up and I stare at Ford, tilting my head as I wonder if I’m reading this right. It is written on a hot dog after all. And the stoic, calm expression on his face gives nothing away, but that jaw tick of his hints he’s waiting on an answer. Maybe even holding his breath for one.
“Ford Sylver, are you asking me to move in with you?”
A chorus of strangled laughs and fisted coughs follow my question. The pink tips of Ford’s ears give him away.
“Winnie, Cadence is coming to live with us,” Zelle announces before Ford answers.
“Not live,” Ford quietly corrects.
“Hurray!” Winnie cheers, wildly waving her arms in the air, almost whacking Knox, who sits beside her, in the face.
“Just stay,” Ford continues.
“Stay in me woom.” June mouths.
“Room,” Ford corrects. “And no, Cadence can have her own room.”
When our eyes lock, I bite my inner cheek, fighting the flirty question on the tip of my tongue. Can we sneak into each other’s rooms? Instead, I glance at Stone who fights a smile and nods his head once, giving his approval of this plan.
Looking back at Ford, I say, “Okay. But I intend to earn my keep. I can help with the girls. And anything you need.” Another sharp cough and a strangled laugh at the other end of the table has me amending myself. “With your arm.”
Ford’s face tightens but a simple nod seals the deal.
I’ll be staying with Ford for a while.
+ + +
As I open the bathroom door, I’m met by a hand on my belly and gently pushed back into the small space. The door closes behind Ford with a snick.
“Well, this feels strangely déjà vu,” I state.
His hand doesn’t leave my stomach.
“Why’d you come see me in Chicago?” His body is coiled with tension, his features carefully blank but his eyes burn with need. Need for answers and something more. There’s a slight tremor to his hand, and I cannot attribute it to a bum shoulder.
His question was not what I expected him to ask, and for a second, I couldn’t think. Those eyes blazing. His body so close to mine, the nearness causing shivers along my arms. The leather and fresh grass scent of him plays havoc with my nerves.
“And hello to you, too, darlin’.” I swallow hard, to calm my nerves. “It’s been a while.”
“Cadence,” he growls, the bear coming to life.
“Why’d you immediately say staying with you was a bad idea?”
His jaw ticks again but his gaze lowers, looking slightly contrite. “Answer me first.”
I sigh. “Because you were hurt,” I remind him, fisting my hands at my sides so I don’t pull him closer to me.
He shakes his head. “Why’d you really come?”
We glare at one another. His demand ratchets up my heart rate. I glance away from those prying eyes a second before flapping out my arms and looking directly at him, huffing. “Because I care about you, okay?”
The hand on my belly slips down to my hip and Ford steps closer to me. “Then why did you change your phone number?”
“I told you, I didn’t change my number.”
“I called you after you left Arizona. Someone answered and said the number would be changed, so lose it.”
What? When did this happen? And why? And who didn’t tell me Ford had called?
“And you never thought to call the number again?” I snap.
“I got the message the first time. I do what I’m told.” Ford continues to stare at me, but his gaze drops to my mouth. “Outside, I panicked. I don’t know what to do about you.” The rugged waver in his voice and the nearness of his body suggests he has some ideas, though.
“Ask me nicely to live with you?” My own voice struggles, strong while raspy.
Ford leans closer, his face dipping toward my neck. On instinct, I tilt my head, allowing him access to my skin. His nose runs along the column of my throat, then curls around the shell of my ear.
“Cadence,” he hums. “Will you come…”
I swallow hard, suddenly squeezing my thighs together.
“And stay a while with the girls and me?”
The disclaimer does nothing to settle my racing heart or calm the pulse suddenly flaring to life down low. Turning my head, my cheek rubs against his, his beard rough. My mouth finds his ear.
“Quack,” I whisper.
Ford lets out a sharp laugh and pulls away, the moment shattered . . . as it should be. Because Ford Sylver was about to kiss me. Every atom in my body felt the connection, the pull, but I can’t trust that Ford won’t toss me out again. Not yet. He needs to prove himself to me.
“Is that a yes?”
With a shaky breath, I reply. “Yeah, cowboy.”
And while everything in me says this might be a horrible idea, nothing has felt so right in months.