5. Cade
5
CADE
In oversized pale pink cardigan.
A pair of black yoga pants.
And a white ribbed turtleneck.
Ordinary clothes.
But as I watch Maya walk into the kitchen wearing them, I have to make a quick pivot to hide the growing bulge in my jeans. On her, it’s the sexiest outfit I’ve ever seen. And when my eyes scan to the floor and see the thermal socks she’s wearing, I might just have to excuse myself to take a cold shower.
What in the hell?
This woman doesn’t want a damn thing to do with me, but my body obviously doesn’t care. She saunters over to the counter, picks up a knife, and starts dicing tomatoes, and all I am thinking about is bending her over the counter.
I need a drink.
“Duchess, I’m going to have a beer. Would you like one?”
She glares at me for a heartbeat while chewing on her bottom lip. “You aren’t going to call me by name, are you?”
“Duchess suits you. It’s better than Ice Princess.”
“I hate Ice Princess.”
I open the fridge and take out two beers. “Why do they call you that anyway?” I twist off the tops. “Wait. Don’t answer that. I’m pretty sure I know why.”
Maya picks up a cucumber and stabs it with the knife. I wince because I know it’s not the veggie she’s stabbing. I’m going to have to lock my bedroom door tonight.
“Look…” I set a beer down next to the cutting board for her, then take a quick step back. That knife is pretty sharp. “I’m sorry. That was rude. We’ll be spending the next few days together, so I’ll try to be nicer.”
“The next few days?” Her eyes pop wide. “What d’ya mean the next few days?”
“I checked the weather forecast. There are multiple storm fronts headed our way. The entire state of Colorado is under a blizzard warning. Everything is shut down.” I take a sip of my beer. “The good news is I went grocery shopping while I was starving, so we definitely won’t run out of food. The bad news? We’re stuck here until the roads are plowable.”
“Days?” She shakes her head. “I can’t stay with you for days.”
I point to the glass French doors. “Did you look outside? There’s already over two feet of snow out there.”
She picks up her beer and drains half the bottle.
“Whoa, there duchess. You should pace yourself.”
She gives me a defiant look, tips the bottle back, and empties it. “I am not happy.”
“Is it because you have to breathe the same air as a hockey player? Or because this isn’t a five-star hotel?” I open the stove, take out the broiler pan, and start to unwrap the steaks. “Medium or well-done?”
“There you go. Acting like a toddler all over again.”
I flinch as the sound of the knife smacking against the cutting board echoes through the kitchen. I glance over my shoulder. “That cucumber never did anything to you.”
Her eyes blaze fire. “Why do you hate me so much?”
“Hate?” I wipe my hands with a kitchen towel. “That’s a strong word. I don’t hate anyone.”
“Fine.” She throws her hands in the air. “Why do you dislike me so much?”
I lean against the counter and study her for a few seconds. I inhale deeply, then ask her the question I’ve wanted to know the answer to for the past three years. “What’s wrong with hockey players? And I want an honest answer.”
“Nothing.” Maya looks at the floor.
“You’re lying.”
“I’m not. I’m telling you the truth.”
“Alright,” I inch forward, pick up the knife, and move it away from her. “Then what’s wrong with me?”
“You?” Her cheeks flash red.
“Yes, me. When I asked you out, you said you didn’t date hockey players. I assumed it was because we don’t meet your high standards, duchess.”
“Is that what you think of me?”
“Truth?” We lock eyes. “Yes.”
Maya’s face pales. She stares at me, chewing on her bottom lip again. “It’s not what you think.”
“Enlighten me.”
“I need a minute.” She pulls out a stool and sits down. “And another beer.”
“Alright.” I head to the fridge, grab her a drink, and then get to work on putting spices on the meat. I definitely went too far because of my wounded pride. If I don’t want to be miserable for the rest of the week, I’ve got to let it go. I slide the steaks under the broiler, swallow what’s left of my pride, and turn to face her. “Maya…”
“My sister was married to a hockey player,” she blurts.
“She was?” I’m shocked.
“Yes. And it did not go well. He left her with three children, a broken heart, and a lifetime of pain.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too.” Tears shimmer in her eyes. “I really loved him, you know. In fact, I wanted to find a man just like him. He was such a great guy. Super smart, funny, and a die-hard family man.” She pauses to take a sip of beer. “But it was a lie.”
“Duchess, you don’t have to tell me this.”
“No…” She chews her lip nervously. “I want to.”
I pull out a stool and sit down across from her. “Then I will listen.”
“He never missed a holiday, a birthday, a family function…nothing. He was there for all of it. Smiling as his picture was taken. Dancing with my sister for videos. And you want to know what?”
“What?”
“Andre had been cheating on Sabrina since their very first date. Can you believe that? He’d never been faithful to her. Not for one minute.” She grips the bottle so tight her knuckles turn white.
“Do you want to know how she found out? Puck bunny videos.”
“That’s horrible.” I shake my head. Puck bunnies came in two forms: enthusiastic hockey fans and dangerous ones who wanted to sleep with as many hockey players as possible.
“It nearly killed her.” Maya lifts her head and looks me dead in the eye. “I vowed that it would never be me.”
“I see.”
“Do you?” One of her elegant eyebrows arches high.
“I do.” I climb off the stool to flip the steaks.
My heart goes out to her. What she went through with her sister had to be hell. Thanks to her sharing her story, all my feelings of inadequacy have evaporated. She didn’t deny it because I’m less than her. She denied me to protect herself. I put the steaks back under the broiler and look out the kitchen window. There will definitely be three feet of snow by morning, if not more. Which means that Mother Nature is giving me an early Christmas present. Time with Maya Prescott. And I’m not going to waste one minute of it.
I pick up my beer, take a swig, then rest my forearms on the counter and lean in close to her. “You need to know something.”
“Enlighten me.” She quips.
I chuckle as she tosses my own words back at me. The girl has sass. “Duchess, we’re not all like your foolish brother-in-law.” I give her my best blinding smile. “And I’m going to prove it to you.”