Chapter 20
Chapter Twenty
Caden
I removed my hands from her hips and wrapped my arms around her back as she collapsed into me. Our breathing was ragged, and I could feel her heart pounding against my chest. She did most of the work and excelled in every way, as she always did.
“When is your meeting?” she asked me.
“Tomorrow morning. I thought we could do some shopping today.”
“Sounds good.” She smiled.
I stared into her eyes and brought my hand up to her cheek. Flashbacks of that night filled my mind and startled me.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. We should get dressed if we’re going out.”
She climbed off me, and I got up from the couch and headed into the bathroom. When I came out, she was already dressed and sitting out on the terrace of our room.
“It’s beautiful out here,” she spoke.
“Wait until you see it at night. Are you ready?”
We went down to the lobby, climbed into the limo waiting for us, and had the driver drop us off at Bloomingdale’s first.
“Are you shopping for anything in particular?” Brielle asked.
“Some new ties.”
“And you can’t buy new ties in New York, why?” She smirked.
“Because we’re here in Chicago right now, and we’re shopping.”
“If you say so. This one is nice. So is this one and this one.”
“Not my style.”
“I know. That’s why I picked them. I think they would look great on you. Maybe it’s time you step outside the box and wear something a little different.”
“Excuse me? There is nothing wrong with the ties I wear.”
“No. There’s not. Not if you like boring. I’ll be in the women’s department.” She walked away.
“I’ll have you know my ties are not boring!”
I picked up the ties she showed me and took them up to the register. I’d show her. After I made my purchase, I headed to the women’s department, where I found her trying on straw hats.
“Well?” She turned around. “What do you think?”
As much as I wanted to tell her I didn’t like it, I couldn’t. The truth was she looked sexy as hell wearing it.
“It looks great on you.” I smiled.
“Thanks.” She grinned.
I had the driver drop us off at Eddie V’s Prime Seafood and Steak. When we walked inside, people filled the space, waiting for their table.
“Welcome to Eddie V’s. Can I help you?” A perky redhead smiled at me.
“How long is the wait for two?” I asked.
“Do you have a reservation?”
“No.”
“The wait is a little over two and a half hours.”
I reached into my pocket, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill, and discreetly placed it in her hand.
“I’m sorry. How long did you say the wait was?” I winked at her.
“Let me check again.” She flirtatiously smiled. “A table for two just opened up. Follow me.”
“Impressive.” Brielle smiled as we took our seats.
“Everyone has a price,” I spoke with an arch in my brow.
“I suppose so.” She picked up her glass of water.
Our waiter took our drink order while we glanced over the menu.
“Tell me more about your childhood,” I said to her. “You’re a very smart woman, and I get the impression you were an exceptional student. I’m sure you never thought you’d become an escort for a living as a child.”
“You’re right. I didn’t. My mom was a single parent who worked two, sometimes three jobs to make ends meet. We lived in a shoebox with one bedroom. I never had much growing up, but I made do with what my mom could provide.”
“What about your father?” I asked as I picked up my drink.
“I never knew my father. He took off when I was a year old. My mom came home from work one night and found all his things gone with a note on the bed saying he couldn’t do this anymore and needed to start a new life somewhere else.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I wouldn’t have wanted a spineless coward of a man like that in my life anyway.”
“Your mother never married? I assume.”
“No. After he left, she couldn’t trust another man again. She dated on and off over the years, but the relationships never lasted very long. She always found a way to sabotage them out of fear. I always knew I wanted more out of life and was determined to get it. I was a straight-A student, graduated as Valedictorian of my graduating class, and received a fully paid scholarship to any college of my choice. But then, as you know, my mom got sick, and I needed to give it all up.”
I stared into her eyes as she told me her story. She was strong and brave, something I truly admired about her.
“Now that I’ve shared my story with you. It’s only fair that you tell me yours.”
“There really isn’t much to tell. I grew up with a silver spoon in my mouth. I attended the most prestigious private schools and graduated from Columbia. My childhood was a good one. I have no complaints.”
“Why did your mother teach you and your brother to play the piano?”
“She told us that nothing soothes the soul more than making beautiful music. I hated it at first. She’d make me sit for hours and practice. While all my friends were out playing ball and having fun, I was sitting behind a piano. But truth be told, as the years passed, I was grateful for everything she taught me. Playing relaxes me. In honor of her at her funeral, my brother and I played a song that was her favorite.”
She reached over and placed her hand on top of mine while a beautiful smile crossed her lips.
“Okay. Enough talk about our pasts. Let’s enjoy this delicious food sitting before us,” I said.
The night was dark, and the rain fell so much that the wipers could barely clear the windshield. My voice grew louder, as did hers, trying to outdo the hammering sound that hit the windows. I was so angry about what she’d done that I lost all control. The sound of the wheels screeching on the slick pavement hurt my ears, as did the screams that came from her. My eyes flew open, and my heart pounded out of my chest when I heard Brielle calling my name while shaking me.
“Caden, wake up. You’re having a bad dream. Caden.”
I looked at her as the moon's light sifted through the slit in the curtains, and she stared at me. My body was encased with sweat, and my breathing was constricted. I quickly sat up and turned on the lamp that sat on the nightstand.
“Are you okay?” she asked.
“I’m fine. It was just a dream. I’m sorry if I woke you. Go back to sleep.”
“No. It wasn’t just a dream. It was a full-blown nightmare. You were yelling.”
I ran my hand over my face before climbing out of bed and going into the kitchen area for a bottle of water. I paced back and forth around the living room while I brought the bottle up to my lips. Fuck.
“Do you want to talk about it?” she asked as she stood in the bedroom doorway.
“What do you think?” I snapped. “It was just a nightmare. Go back to bed.”
“Caden.”
“I said go back to bed!” I shouted at her in a commanding tone.
Before I knew it, she was no longer standing in the doorway. I took a few moments to calm down and drank half a bottle of water. Walking into the bedroom, I sighed as I saw her lying there, turned the other way, as far away from me as she could be. I climbed into bed and pulled the covers over me. She didn’t move. I couldn’t deal with her right now, for my nightmare wasn’t a nightmare. I was reliving the events of that night. Something that I thought I’d buried years ago.