Chapter 22
Chapter Twenty-Two
Hayden
The instructions for the new HR software are making me crazy. I check the form the database manager sent me one more time. They still make no sense. “Grrr!”
A second before I throw my keyboard across the room, Adam steps into my office and locks the door behind him.
I swivel toward him, my heart rate increasing.
Whatever frustrations I felt are forgotten as I watch him stalk across the room.
I’ve been thinking about him all day, wondering if I dreamt this morning and our connection over the weekend.
Everything is different. I’m trying to not overthink Mira’s question about being in love. I am not in love with Adam.
I am in like with him. Heavy, heavy like.
In typical Adam fashion, his hair is combed, his suit couture—and not at all like the man I glimpsed these last two days. The dark intent in his eyes, however, is exactly what I saw beneath that polished exterior. The same eyes that made me mad with lust this morning.
I stand. I don’t know why, but I do. And then I’m being swept up into his arms.
“I missed you,” he murmurs, and kisses me.
I wrap my arms around his shoulders and slide my fingers into his hair. I’m ruffling it, and I don’t care. He is polished and beautiful, but he’s also the sweet guy who fell asleep on my bed last night. And he’s kissing me again, when I wasn’t sure he would.
Adam backs me up against the desk and presses his body to mine. “I have a question for you.”
“Um-hmm,” I mumble, kissing the corner of his mouth and his neck. God, he smells good. I need to bottle it so I can sniff Adam whenever I need a pick-me-up.
“I don’t want to wait until I finish your closet in order to see you again.”
I smile against his neck. “Okay.” My voice is breathless.
And yes, I sound like a love-struck girl, but whatever.
I worried that he put a stop to things this morning because he was having second thoughts.
Considering the firm ridge of deliciousness pressed against my belly, the man is happy to see me.
“Come out with me tomorrow night,” he says. “To a cocktail party I’ve committed to. Be my date.”
I pull back and look in his eyes. There’s a hint of nervousness there, but also excitement, if I’m not mistaken. “Are you asking me, or telling me?”
“Asking.”
I lean up and kiss his chin. “Yes.”
“I’ve never brought anyone here before,” Adam says as we pull down the drive to Club Tahoe. His hand is casually draped over the steering wheel, and he looks a bit mystified, as though he’s surprised by his own actions.
Adam is wearing a sport coat and a crisp white button-down with a casual tie, and he looks delicious enough to eat.
The speed with which this man changes from hot mountain guy to hot businessman gives me whiplash, but I’m not complaining.
I like the unguarded, casual Adam best, but this Adam will do.
I glance at the entrance and see the valet running over, an eager look on his face, as though he recognizes Adam’s car. “You never brought dates to your family’s resort?”
“No.” He puts the car in park.
The valet opens Adam’s door and greets him by name.
Another valet opens my door and helps me out.
I’m wearing a blush-pink cocktail dress with a vee neckline and cinched waist, the skirt flowing just above my knees.
There’s a nip in the air, but I didn’t grab a wrap before I left. I figured we wouldn’t be outside long.
“Why wouldn’t you bring them here?” I ask across the hood of the car as Adam makes his way around.
He rests his hand on my lower back and guides me to the entrance. “Club Tahoe isn’t me,” he finally says.
A doorman opens one of two massive doors made of wrought iron and logs.
I should be looking ahead, but my gaze is stuck on the chandelier above us.
It’s a showstopper, with opaque beige glass and ornate wrought iron to match the door, the top twinkling with gemlike glass and small lights that in actuality are probably as large as my hand.
I’m slack-jawed, and this is just the outdoor lighting.
Adam ushers me through, and I realize why the designer went to such great lengths on the front. Inside, Club Tahoe is like a log cabin—if a log cabin were on steroids and someone had tens of millions of dollars to spend on décor.
More wrought iron chandeliers dangle from log ceilings.
The walls are dark, knotted wood paneling with rough stone arches over alcoves and walkways.
Plush Persian rugs adorn the wood floors, and tufted, worn leather ottomans rest in front of velvet couches with silk throw pillows. And that’s just at a glance.
I step back and take Adam in, now that I’ve seen the place.
Between his tailored Italian suit, incredibly handsome face, and confident posture, he looks like a man you’d see advertising this place.
And then I think of the guy who likes hot wings and spent his weekend building a closet for a girl because he lost a bet.
And I think of the way he kisses, with utter care and passion all mixed in one.
“No,” I say. “You’re nothing like Club Tahoe. It’s beautiful and austere, and you’re so much more.”
His gaze darkens. He leans down and kisses me, his breath fanning across my chin as he lingers before lifting his head. When he does, there’s a naughty glint in his eyes. “Ready to play the part?”
“Of the attractive, fun-loving date to the spoiled little rich boy?” Adam rolls his eyes and reaches behind me, grabbing my ass. Hard. “Eeep.”
“Come along, Ms. Marcos. Play the princess to your prince. Better yet, just be yourself. My father expects me to marry a society woman. I’d like him to see how much better I’ve done.”
I glance out of the corner of my eye, because he just mentioned marriage and me in the same sentence.
He’s joking, but my chest is fluttering like someone unleashed a kaleidoscope of butterflies in there.
Even if Adam isn’t serious about the marriage part, that’s the sweetest thing a guy has ever said to me.
I need to stop underestimating him. If we’re dating, and based on tonight, it’s safe to say we are, I have to get used to the idea that he’s more than I imagined a man could be, let alone the man I once believed incapable of caring for anyone other than himself.
Adam takes me across the wide expanse of the lobby, down a beautiful corridor with antique trestle tables, glowing candle arrangements, and colorful oil paintings of mountain landscapes that hang beneath stone wall arches.
We wind around a corner and he opens a wood-planked door with iron decorative detail.
Another spectacular room waits on the other side, this one holding a party.
A long bar centers one wall, and there’s a small dance floor in front of a tall, triangle-paned window overlooking the lake.
A corner of the room contains more windows that reveal the back of the lobby and what looks to be an indoor winding pool, or river.
“This is amazing.”
He looks down at me. “You’ve never been here? Not with your parents years ago?”
I laugh. “You do realize how expensive your father’s resort is for the rest of us humans?”
He glances around, his brow puckered. To him, this place must seem like nothing special.
“Club Tahoe hosts proms from time to time,” he says. “I just thought you might have been here before.”
“I was only a sophomore when I left. I didn’t go to proms until after I moved. Not that I would have been high on anyone’s list as a prom date in this town.”
He frowns and squeezes my waist. “We’ll pretend this is your Lake Tahoe prom.” He quirks his brow and ushers me toward the bar. “Let’s get you a drink and see if I can corrupt my prom date.”
“Is that how you were in high school?” I’m only half joking, because it actually was the impression I had of him back then.
He flashes me a grin. “Only with the girls who didn’t mind being corrupted.”
I feign affrontedness. “And do I look like that kind of girl?”
He places an order for us with the bartender, then looks down, his face suddenly serious. “You’re not like anyone, Hayden.” Adam tips up my chin and kisses me lightly, one protective arm banded around my waist.
I’m staring into his gorgeous blue eyes, reading all sorts of silent meaning behind his words—when a pair of broad shoulders squeezes in beside us.
Adam turns, his face broadening into a smile. “Levi. What are you doing here?”
The man named Levi has on a sports coat similar to Adam’s, and his shirt is light blue, the same color as his eyes.
Adam’s eyes are ocean blue with gray-green framing the edges. Yup, I’ve paid attention. Particularly since we’ve gotten closer and Adam’s eyes have left their hypnotic mark while luring me in for a kiss. Okay, fine, there wasn’t a lot of luring required.
In addition to the jacket and slacks, Levi is also wearing a cast on one leg from his knee down.
“About time you got here,” Levi says.
“Me?” Adam chuckles. “I’m surprised you dragged your ass out for the occasion.”
Levi releases a deep sigh and shakes his head. “The old man called a half a dozen times. Decided it would be better to show up than bear any more of his calls.”
“Smart move.” Adam turns to me, his arm still wrapped around my back. “Hayden, this is my older brother, Levi.”
“Nice to meet you,” I say, taking in the resemblance.
They are of equal height, and very handsome, though Adam’s hair is slightly darker and longer on top.
Where Adam fits in naturally at Club Tahoe, Levi shifts his shoulders and looks uncomfortable in his sports coat, as though he’d rather be anywhere else.
“The pleasure is mine, though I am wondering why such a beautiful and sophisticated woman is wasting her time on this sorry specimen I call my brother.”
“He promised to get me liquored up,” I deadpan, because I get the sense that the banter Adam and I engage in is a part of the Cade charm.