CHAPTER NINETEEN
BELLA
The kiss was fantastic. And the make-out session? Even better.
Not that I expected to find myself in Cade’s strong arms at the start of the meeting.
No, I was flustered when I arrived at his office and cursed myself for being late.
I held myself to better standards than that, and Dad had been nothing but a stickler for things like being on time.
Being on time showed respect for yourself and for the people expecting to meet with you.
And I had full intention of arriving early at the meeting.
But then I got that blasted phone call from Lilly’s school.
It was also the first time I had no idea what the call could be about. Her tuition was paid, her meal plan was up-to-date, and her grades were all As, and they didn’t mention FanZone.
I hadn’t expected bullying. It threw me off—made me question a lot of things.
If this had been going on for a few months, then why hadn’t Lilly mentioned it during any of our conversations?
And if it had made her so embarrassed, why hadn’t she at least texted me about it?
I was her sister. Hadn’t we made a promise to each other to always talk about important things and to never keep things from each other?
One I had recently broken.
All those thoughts pushed their way to the back of my mind when Cade started kissing me.
Our lips touched softly at first, a tentative brush that sent a shiver racing down my spine, like the first drop of rain after a long drought.
But then he deepened the kiss. His hands found my waist, pulling me closer until there was no space left between us, his body warm and solid against mine.
And there was no way I’d ask him to stop.
Kissing him felt so natural, so unifying, and so strangely fulfilling in a way that kissing other people had never been.
It was as if every press of his lips unlocked something deep inside me, a puzzle piece slotting perfectly into place.
His tongue teased mine, slow and deliberate, tasting of mint and that faint, intoxicating hint of his cologne that always lingered on his skin.
I melted into him, my fingers threading through his hair, tugging gently as the kiss grew more urgent.
He responded with a low groan that vibrated against my mouth, his hands sliding up my back, pressing me harder against him, our breaths mingling in ragged bursts.
Time blurred as the minutes stretched, the world narrowing to the heat of his touch, the way his lips moved with mine in a rhythm that felt both familiar and electric.
He guided me backward without breaking contact, my shoulders hitting the cool wood of the office door with a soft thud.
Pinned there, I arched into him, breathless, my pulse thundering like a storm in my veins.
His kisses trailed to the corner of my mouth, then down my jaw, nipping lightly at my neck before returning to claim my lips again, each one more insistent, more consuming, as if he were trying to erase every doubt, every hurt, with the fire between us.
But about ten minutes after we started, he lifted his head, breaking his connection with my lips. I was shoved against the back of the office door by then, breathless, my heart beating fast in my chest and throbbing in my ears.
“Dinner,” he said against my forehead, his voice deep and husky. “Have dinner with me.”
“Tonight?”
He nodded. “Right now. Do you have any other plans?”
I shook my head.
“I can get us in at Alden’s. I have a standing reservation.”
“You do?” I didn’t know anyone who had that kind of pull at any restaurant, much less at one of the most sought-after dining spots on Worth Avenue.
Everyone in Palm Beach knew about that place, even me, although I could barely afford to order a glass of house wine there.
“I thought their waiting list was months-long.”
“Not for me.” He stepped backward and regarded the simple black sundress I’d thrown on before leaving my apartment to come to this meeting. “You look beautiful. We can go now if you’d like.”
“Are you sure?” I asked with a mix of excitement and nervousness. "You seemed pretty upset with me just a few minutes ago."
“Can’t think of anything else I’d rather do,” he replied with a reassuring nod. “I'm sorry about the way I acted. Please come with me and let me make it up to you.”
I smiled, heat spreading through me. “All right, then. Let’s go.”
As we walked out of the office, he took my hand in his, giving it a gentle squeeze. “Ready for a night to remember?” he asked, his eyes sparkling with anticipation.
I nodded, a sense of adventure bubbling up inside me. “Absolutely.”
With the promise to collect my car after dinner, we were soon side by side in his car, speeding across the bridge to the restaurant.
The city buildings reflected off the water, creating a mesmerizing view of the estates lining Lake Trail and the yachts docked at the waterfront marina.
French house music played softly on the car stereo system, adding to the alluring ambiance.
I glanced over at him, feeling grateful for this moment and excited for what the night had in store.
“Everything is good at Alden’s,” he commented as we made a sharp turn. From here, we only had a few more blocks to go.
“I’ve heard the cheese soufflé is to die for,” I replied, making a reference to the dining review I remembered reading online from The Palm Beach Post back when the chef revamped the menu.
“It’s spectacular. We can order it if you like.”
He pulled the car to the valet stand, and an eager attendant hurried to the passenger side to open my door and help me out. I startled at the gesture, not used to being treated with such chivalry, and once I got out of the car, Cade rushed to my side and offered me his elbow.
I grinned. “You’re such a gentleman.”
“Nobody would call me that.”
“I would.”
His eyes darkened, a slow smirk tugging at his lips as he leaned forward, voice low.
“That’s because you don’t know me very well, Bella.
” Considering that breath-stealing kiss, I had a feeling he was right.
That had not been “gentlemanly” by any stretch.
My lips were still tingling, and my heart rate had only recently slowed to normal.
If that was how he kissed, imagine if we did more?
Cade guided me to the sidewalk and then the entrance to the restaurant.
It occurred to me as we stepped across the threshold that there was no doubt things had shifted between us in the last few hours.
The kiss wasn’t the only sign; there was so much more.
The way he looked at me. How he seemed so spatially aware of every movement I made.
And it felt like there was nobody else around even though we were in a crowd.
Alden’s was one of the best restaurants in Palm Beach for many reasons.
Even before the tuxedoed hostess led us to a corner booth, I knew this was the kind of place where every aspect of the meal was meant to be remembered, even the parts that didn’t include food.
And by the time we took our seats, I almost couldn’t believe that we were about to have dinner in a place like this.
“You look excited,” Cade said once our napkins were in our laps and a bottle of champagne was on order.
“I am. This restaurant is overwhelming.”
Cade regarded the rest of the crowded dining room. “The people are too. And I know half of them.”
“This island is unique. Growing up here, I didn’t really understand it. But now that my circumstances have changed, it totally makes sense.”
“Your life is probably better in some ways. Less pressure. Less... commitment. And less bullshit.”
“Oh, trust me, as you’re well aware, my life has some major bullshit.”
“Nothing we haven’t been able to fix.”
I didn’t know how his security group were able to do it, but I hadn’t received any more text messages during the week. Thank God. That invasion had shaken me, and I’d struggled with work as a result. I was no longer @marie0505, which was fine. But I had to once again find another job.
What had been strange was how much I’d... missed Cade. We’d barely been friends last weekend, but he’d shown me his protective side at the fundraiser, and I hadn’t realized until then how much I’d missed having someone in my corner.
And that kiss just showed me how much I’d missed sex too, which was not a good thought at this fine-dining restaurant.
The champagne arrived with a flourish, and the server cut open the bottle with a saber, causing the liquid to spill out and a few of the other diners to look on with interest. “Is this a special occasion?” he asked.
“You might say so,” Cade replied.
“Well, we’ll take care to make sure this is a meal the two of you will not forget.”
The waiter handed us two full glasses of champagne, placed the open bottle in a chill bucket next to Cade’s seat, and said he’d give us a moment to toast before he returned with menus and information about the specials of the day. When we were alone again, Cade raised his glass.
“To the unexpected.”
I lifted my glass, the candlelight catching the pale gold of the champagne as I paused, letting the moment sink in. Unexpected? God, yes. The word felt like it was carved into the air between us. “That’s a good toast.”
Our glasses clinked, and I took a sip, savoring the smoothness of the bubbles and the way they tickled my nose.
Champagne had never been a favorite, but there was a major difference between the occasional bottle and whatever this vintage was that Cade chose.
This tasted like honey and peppermint mixed with sweet sugar, and it went down with a flourish.
It was a little bit like heaven.
“We can order a second bottle if you’d like,” Cade said. “I think that saber destroyed at least half of what was in there.”
“Only if it matches what we’re eating. You’re the one who knows this restaurant in and out.”