7. Cade
Chapter seven
Cade
Dating has never been easy for me, especially not after the immense success of Hart Incorporated. When I developed the plan to open my business, I never imagined I’d receive the success I have, but with the right backers, I was able to secure incredible funding for my biggest projects.
I’ve been hiding the truth from Sloane because I know what it’s like to try exploring things with someone who only sees the relationship as a financial gain for them. I don’t believe Sloane is capable of that level of betrayal, but I can’t help the doubt that grows inside me. I’ve been burned enough times than I can count by women, especially ones I allowed near my son, and that is something I refuse to do again. It’s one thing to hurt me a dozen times over, but it is a whole other thing to hurt my son.
No one hurts Liam.
But as she sits in the passenger seat of my car, I can’t deny the guilt that washes over me. Mike, Mia, and her parents know about Liam, but Sloane doesn’t. I wish I could place the blame on her, but I did tell them not to mention anything about my son to her due to certain reasons. My past is riddled with some complicated things—things that I make a habit of not bringing up due to safety concerns. So the less I reveal about myself and my past, the better off everyone close to me is. But that also makes dating sometimes impossible, especially when it comes to honesty.
I don’t expect everyone to have a clean past when mine is anything but. My problem in the past was that I would find a good woman, but keep certain information close to my chest. They took it as me not being interested.
So, there are many factors why I’m still single. No woman could hold a candle to the one I lost, and it’s something I’ve taken a lot of time coming to terms with.
Well, not until now…
I can’t think like that. Sloane and I live very different lives, and I can’t get past the feeling that she’s hiding her own dark secrets. It already wouldn’t work between us for that reason, but something about her makes me want to try harder to change that. I may not be ready to share everything, but perhaps dropping my walls a tad for her wouldn’t be the worst thing.
“So, where are we going?” she asks.
I glance over at her to acknowledge her. I like to believe she has some idea of how successful I truly am, but I think there’s a part of her that is repressing that idea by asking the question, like she’s attempting to form her own conclusion before getting confirmation.
“To my home,” I tell her.
She looks at me, confused. I turn to point in the opposite direction, smirking as she realizes that where I just was wasn’t actually where I live.
“Wait… whose house did you just leave?” she asks.
I sigh softly at her impatience. “Be patient, will you?” I laugh as we pass just outside the Rose Valley town limits and into Meadow Falls, another tiny town, but just as quaint and beautiful. Part of the reason I moved out here was the land. Rose Valley has tons of land, too, but most of it is shrouded in grapes for the Rose Winery. The history of the winery is quite interesting, but to make a long story short, the Roses are the oldest family in Rose Valley—hence the name. If not for their winery and their contributions to building the town, it wouldn’t be standing today.
But not every history has a happy ending.
We turn off a dirt road and through a patch of trees, and I can already sense the tension building from Sloane. “You’re not bringing me out here to kill me, are you?” she asks. She sounds like she’s only half-joking.
I laugh loudly as I shake my head. “Sloane, never change, please,” I reply as my estate comes into view, causing Sloane’s eyes to widen in awe. I smile a little, but I can only hope that this doesn’t backfire on me. I don’t enjoy making a habit of flaunting my wealth, hence the seclusion of this place, but I wouldn’t mind spoiling my woman if it was the right one.
We pull up to the front door after driving around the circular driveway, her eyes never leaving the mansion that stands before her. It’s an elegant farm-style home spanning fifty acres, allowing for privacy and the biggest backyard my younger self could ever imagine.
I step out and open Sloane’s door as she takes in the scale of my estate outside of the car. She turns to me, speechless. “You live here?”
I nod firmly, watching her eyes dart to anywhere and everywhere they can see.
“Come on, I’ll show you around,” I tell her, taking her hand in mine so we can walk up the steps to the large front door. Inside, we’re met with the double-sided stairway that opens up to the loft and leads to a few bedrooms.
“This is unreal, Cade,” she says breathlessly, taking in the huge entryway. Her heels click against the marble, which is fitted with thermal heating for the horrible upstate New York winters.
She circles around the entryway, staring at everything in disbelief. She meets my gaze, and I smile proudly at my home. I worked hard for it. I worked even harder to build it to my specifications, and now Liam and I can be happy. All that’s really missing is someone to share it with besides my son. Despite wanting to be careful about who I bring into my life, I’d be remiss if I didn’t crave the companionship.
“I have more to show you,” I say, placing my hand on her lower back and guiding her further into the house as we find ourselves in the grand kitchen. It's fitted with a wine cellar that’s fully stocked with my favorites from all over the world. I walk inside the cellar and take out a wine bottle. Then I walk over to the glass cabinet, pull two glasses out, and pour as Sloane continues to marvel over the house.
When I slide one of the glasses in front of her, she immediately looks down towards it, but makes no moves to pick it up. Instead, she gulps and then meets my eyes, smiling like it’s nothing. “So, Mr. Hart, you seem to be doing pretty well for yourself,” she says wryly.
I chuckle softly, modestly even, but the playful banter is welcomed. “Yeah, I can’t complain,” I say as I take a sip of my glass. “So go ahead, ask your questions,” I add, holding my hand out for her to throw anything she wants at me.
She quirks her eyebrow and then smirks, looking around the house one last time. “Is this from shady dealings or something?”
I laugh louder, taking another sip while I shake my head. “Of course not.” I smile in disbelief that she’d even suggest that. “No, Hart Incorporated is like an investment company.”
She stares curiously at me. “You mean, like your investment in the marina?” she asks.
That’s when I sigh. One of the things Sloane has missed while she’s been gone is the way the town has deteriorated financially. Rose Valley was once like a small-town version of the Hamptons without being near the beach, and much cheaper, too. But over time, the appeal started to dwindle, so businesses began to struggle.
“Yeah, like the marina…and O’Malley’s, and Caffeine n’ Fiction, and several other places,” I reply as she stares at me in awe. “I’m a silent partner to about ninety percent of the businesses here. They still have ownership, but I keep their doors open,” I explain further, finishing off my wine as she pushes her untouched one towards me with no explanation.
“So, what, the town was going bankrupt before you came in and saved it?” she asks light-heartedly, but I shrug and nod because, in a way, yes, that’s exactly what was happening. She was away for so long that she wasn’t informed or affected by the decline.
“I’m working on securing the winery next,” I say as I start working on her glass. “My goal is to preserve Rose Valley to its fullest and make it profitable for future generations. It starts by restoring the charm, fixing some broken spots, and then remarketing it to tourists.”
She stands there quietly, taking in the information. It’s a lot to process, especially when you’re not in this line of work, but despite her lack of knowledge, she’s listening.
“And the house across from my parents? A secondary estate?” she asks.
I chuckle again, shaking my head. The thought of having a second house, even for me, seems too ostentatious, but after seeing my estate, I can imagine why she would think that. Money has a way of bringing out the worst in people, and even worse are the stereotypes that surround it.
“No,” I tell her as I finish off the second glass. “A rental property.”
She takes a deep breath and sighs, letting everything finally settle over her. I can understand how this is a lot to process. Everything she knew when she left has changed, but I’ve done my best to at least prevent it from getting worse. I don’t ask people to repay me much for saving their businesses, just that they keep up the good work and give me five percent off the top, which is nothing in the grand scheme of things. It’s because I’ve helped everyone save their businesses that I’m reaping the benefits I am now.
Reinvesting in my community was the best investment I could have ever made.
“Hard to believe no one has snatched you up, then,” she jibes, smirking softly, only for me to return the smirk.
“I’d have to be more than willing to be snatched up,” I reply as she leans on the counter, giving me a full view of her cleavage. I try not to look, but to no avail. Based on her flirtatious smirk and the hint of lip-biting, I think it’s intentional.
She laughs. “And you aren’t?”
“I haven’t decided yet.” I stare back at her in challenge.
Once again, we’ve fallen into this sexually charged moment that makes me want to be reckless and impulsive. I wish she wasn’t so desirable. At least then, this would be easier to ignore. But unfortunately for me, that isn’t the case.
“Well, when you are, let me know so I can get all my old friends off my back about my love life,” she replies.
And just like that, our playfulness turns serious, like being splashed with cold water. It isn’t something I mind, but it definitely leaves me with more questions than answers.
“I assume this has to do with the bridal shower,” I say. Ah, yes, the bridal shower. The one I decided to steal her from so she could have a little moment to herself. Based on how her demeanor has changed, I can only assume the interruption was welcomed.
One thing I know about the Bennetts is that they are appearances people. They aren’t wealthy, but they aren’t poor, either. They do well for themselves, and their house is a beautiful colonial that’s apparently been a part of their family for generations. It doesn’t mean they are bad people—far from it—but there is a reason why there are a hundred-plus guests at Mia’s bridal shower, including friends of Sloane’s who aren’t even friends with Mia.
“I just wish people would understand that my work is important to me.” She rolls her eyes and sighs. “Like, is it so bad to want to focus on what I love for a little longer? I’m not even thirty yet,” she adds as she rests her chin on her open hand.
Sometimes, I wish I would have done the same. I love Liam to death, but I normally wouldn’t have brought a child into my world prior to my return to Rose Valley. I would have waited. But I fell in love, and that was that.
“You have time to find the right person,” I tell her. “Besides, why rush? You’d be more likely to do it twice if you did,” I add, and she smirks.
It’s situations like that bridal shower that make me dislike small towns. I love Rose Valley. It will always be special to me and be called home, but the small-town mindset always has its caveats. For one, everyone knows everyone. That means everyone knows your business or at least tries to know your business. Secondly, if they don’t know your business, they insert themselves into your business, thinking they know it.
That’s a lot of business, but none of minding of your business.
“With that logic, no wonder you’re still a bachelor,” she replies.
I shake my head, smiling.
“But you’re right,” she says. “I still have much to do and learn about myself, both personally and professionally.”
I nod firmly at her sound answer. “You’re more than welcome to use the estate should you need a place to get work done or escape—whichever,” I say, hoping I can offer her some form of comfort.
She smiles once more. “I think you just want to get me alone again.”
I chuckle. I’ve entertained this idea all day, but as I think of flirting back, Mike’s face pops into my head, stopping me short.
Suddenly, I look away and clear my throat awkwardly. “The room upstairs at the end of the hall, I think you’ll like it.”
She suddenly sits up straighter. “Why?”
I smirk. “You’ll just have to come back and see for yourself,” I reply, winking suggestively, but she seems to ignore it.
I wonder what that’s all about…
“Oh, shit, what time is it?” she cries out, her panic pulling me away from my thoughts.
I check the time, and tell her it’s around six in the evening.
“Oh no, no, no , my mom and Mia are going to kill me!” She rises from the stool she is sitting on.
I round the counter to calm her down. “Hey, listen, I can drive you—”
I’m cut off as my phone rings and Sloane looks down at it. I lift it up and see it’s Janet, Liam’s grandma.
I meet Sloane’s eyes. “I have to take this.”
She nods firmly and starts backing away. “It’s fine,” she says tersely.
“I can still drive you—”
She holds her hands up and shakes her head. “It’s okay. I’ll call a rideshare. Have a good night, Cade,” she says as she quickly turns back to walk out the front door, leaving an echo as it closes behind her.
I sigh heavily and rotate my neck before answering the phone. “Janet, is everything alright?”
“Liam wants to come home early, Cade. I told him that it’s only a few more days, but I don’t want to force him,” she says.
I sigh heavily. Between what just happened with Sloane and now this with Liam, it feels like all the good things I was starting to put together are slowly falling apart. I just wish I knew what I did wrong with Sloane to make her leave so abruptly. I showed her my life, let her into my home…
“Sure, Janet,” I reply. “I’ll book a flight home for him tomorrow afternoon. Have a good rest of your night.”
I just offered Sloane to come by whenever she wanted, and my son—the son I’ve yet to inform her about—is coming home tomorrow. Something tells me this will not go well.