Chapter Sixteen – Cadie
Cadie
The light knock on the bedroom door caused me to look up from my packing. I thought about opening it briefly but decided it was best if I just left. I was stupid to even think I could start a relationship with someone. Kian would always question my past, and if he couldn’t trust me, then we certainly didn’t need to be starting anything.
“Cadie, may I please talk to you?”
I sighed and closed my eyes. “I need to be up in a matter of hours, Kian. Tomorrow, okay?”
“I won’t be long. I just need to apologize for my stupidity. Please.”
Chewing on my lip, I thought about my two options. Distance myself from Kian. Or tell him the truth.
Walking over to the door, the second I opened it and saw Kian standing there, his eyes filled with regret and a pleading look on his face, I had my answer.
Motioning for him to come in, I softly said, “Come on in.”
“Five minutes is all I need.”
He walked into the room and turned to face me. I went to speak, but he held up his hand. “Please, let me go first. ”
His hand went up and pushed into his hair. My lower stomach tugged with desire as I watched him pace back and forth in front of my bed.
“I’ve never felt this way with any other woman, Cadie. When I’m near you, I feel…alive. Happy. Hopeful. I know that sounds crazy when I’ve only known you for such a short time, but it’s true. I just thought…I hoped you would trust me as at least a friend.”
“I do trust you, Kian.”
“Then why won’t you tell me more about your past?”
I closed my eyes and fought to hold off the tears. When I opened them, I let out what felt like the first breath in months. “Let me say first that I feel the same way about you. This feeling,” I clutched at my chest, “when I’m with you, it leaves me breathless in the most beautiful way. I feel safe, and I haven’t felt safe in a very long time.”
He narrowed his eyes. “Why not?”
I walked over and placed my hand on the side of his face. When he leaned into my touch, I felt a tear slip free. “I didn’t want to tell you about my past because I care so much about you, and I don’t want to see you hurt.”
“Why would I be hurt? Are you married?”
Laughing, I shook my head. “No. I’m not married.”
With a deep breath, I took his hand in mine. I could do this. I could trust Kian and needed to trust that I was safe here in Moose Village.
“Let’s sit down.”
Kian followed me, and we sat on the edge of the bed and turned to face one another. I crossed my legs and took his hand again.
“I don’t even know where to start. ”
Kain squeezed my hand. “Do you want to wait until tomorrow? I know you said you have to be at the bakery early.”
“No,” I said, wiping a tear away. “I want you to know everything.”
He smiled, and I was once again struck by how beautiful his eyes were and how his smile did wicked things to my libido.
“My name isn’t Cadie Waterford.”
To his credit, Kian attempted to keep a neutral expression, but his eyes gave him away.
“My first name is Cadie, but I used to spell it Katy. My real last name is Reynolds. I was born and raised in Oregon, but moved to Boston several years ago after visiting there numerous times with my parents. I lived there up until December, when I sold my bakery and left.”
“What?” he whispered.
I swallowed the lump in my throat. “My parents currently live in Italy and probably have three times your family’s money. My brother lives in Oregon still.”
Giving him a moment to absorb it all, he nodded. “Keep going.”
I glanced down at our intertwined hands. “I owned a very successful bakery in Boston. It was featured in a few magazines, and we were even on Good Morning America once.” I sniffled and wiped a tear away. “About two years ago, I met this guy through mutual friends. He was nice, charming, and persistent about wanting to go out with me. He would come into my bakery every morning and get a coffee and a piece of coffee cake. His name is…”
Kian placed his finger on my chin and lifted so our gazes met. “ His name is?”
Drawing in a breath, I slowly exhaled. “His name is Michael Bellucci.”
I waited to see if the name would ring a bell. When it didn’t, I let out a humorless laugh.
“Yeah, his last name meant nothing to me when I first met him.”
He frowned. “Should it mean something?”
“His family has very close ties with the mafia.”
“The mafia?” he asked, his head drawn back in surprise.
“Yes. And I didn’t realize it until we dated for about six months. My best friend, Lauryn Andrews, warned me about Michael’s family. She works for the district attorney in Boston. Nothing had ever been linked to Michael, so at first, I blew off her warning. I couldn’t even imagine Michael hurting a fly. I kept dating him, against the advice of Lauryn, and everything was great. I couldn’t see a future with Michael; he worked endless hours, and we had fun together, but something deep inside warned me not to get too close to him. At least, close as in, I never thought about marriage or kids with him in that picture.”
Kian nodded and looked a bit relieved. “What did he do?”
“He told me he was an accountant for a large banking firm. I hadn’t realized that his father owned the bank, and they were laundering money through it; at least, that is what Lauryn told me.”
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah,” I said with a gruff laugh. “That’s not the worst of it, though. When I noticed Michael changing, the warning bells started to go off like crazy. I asked Lauryn if she had heard anything about Michael being involved with his family’s…business. She said they had been watching Michael since his activities had become suspicious. That’s when I knew I needed to break things off with him. Lauryn told me not to just up and do it. To slowly back away from him. We hardly ever saw each other the last six to eight months we dated. I was always at the bakery or doing volunteer work. My life and his were busy, so I didn’t think it would be a big issue. So, when he would call and ask if I was available for dinner, sometimes I would say yes, but most of the time, I said no. Weeks would go by without us speaking, but he came into the bakery one day. He said he had this big gala for the bank’s investors, and he asked me to be his date. I told him I would need to check if I was available. Lauryn begged me not to go, and initially I told him I couldn’t. He showed up at my condo and said he realized things between us had fizzled out and that it was probably for the best. He also said his father insisted that Michael attend, and he wanted him to bring someone he knew, not a new girlfriend or anything.”
“Why?”
I shrugged. “He said with events like this his father wanted people vetted, only people they knew. I’d never even met Michael’s parents. Not because I didn’t want to, and I’m not sure I did, but Michael never brought me around his family. I assumed it was because of the mafia ties and he didn’t want to be associated with that. Anyway, he did what he was good at. He charmed me until I said yes. A beautiful, stunning evening gown showed up the next day, along with a card that said he had booked a spa day. The full works. My hair and makeup, all of it would be done. I have to admit, it sounded like fun. I had a full staff at my bakery, and I knew I wouldn’t be missed, so I said yes to the dress and spa day.”
My attempt at humor went right over Kian’s head.
“What did Lauryn think?”
“I didn’t tell her I was going. I knew she would tell me I was crazy. But it was a gala; there were going to be hundreds of people there. Michael had a limo pick me up, and I was okay with that. The less impression I gave of us being a couple, the better. At least, that was my thinking.
“I showed up at the gala, and everything seemed normal. I couldn’t find Michael for the first twenty minutes, but eventually he appeared. He seemed distant and cold.” I shook my head. “No, not cold. Distracted. Nervous. He kept looking around, and when I asked him what was wrong, he said he had had a bad day.”
“What happened next?”
“Well,” I said with a sigh. “We danced a few times; he introduced me to some of his work partners, brought me over to his father and mother, and introduced me. I was relieved when he introduced me as a friend of his. His parents were polite, but his father was very distant. Not just to me, but it looked like everyone he spoke to. He asked to talk to Michael alone, and they walked out of the ballroom. After an hour, I got tired of waiting for Michael and decided to leave. I searched the ballroom and couldn’t find him, so I decided to go out the same door I saw him and his father exit through. I quickly got turned around and gave up. I pulled out my phone, ordered an Uber, and started to make my way back to the ballroom. Like I said, I got twisted around and started down a hall. I heard voices, male voices, and thought I recognized Micheal’s voice, so I followed it. The closer I got, the more apparent it was that they were arguing. I almost turned around and left when I heard Michael’s father say, ‘just do it, Michael.’ ”
Kian squeezed my hand in silent encouragement.
“I slipped off my heels and walked around the corner. I could see a room with the door open. I moved closer and froze. There was about six men inside that room. Two of them were police officers. One man was in the middle of them all, I couldn’t see him very well. Michael stood in front of him and had a gun pointed at him. His hand was shaking so badly I wasn’t even sure how he was holding the gun. Before I could even move, his father yelled for him to shoot him, and Michael did. I carefully backed away and ran as fast as I could. Once I got some distance between me and the men, I slipped my shoes on and quickly walked until I found the lobby.”
“Holy shit, Cadie.”
I nodded. “Once I got in the lobby, I calmly walked out the front, and my Uber was already there waiting for me. I had booked it to go to my condo, but I changed it to another house instead. My lawyer’s house. His name is Randy. He was my father’s lawyer, or one of them; I had known him my whole life. I told him what I saw and asked if I should go to the police, and he said no. I needed to leave. So, we came up with a plan that night. I would disappear, and he would find someone to buy the bakery immediately. He was the one who set up everything as far as selling the bakery, changing my identity, and getting me the money after the sale of the bakery. He somehow even managed to get my money out of my bank account and put it in another account with my new name.”
“I don’t even want to know what kind of lawyer he is.”
I smiled.
“Once we had the plan down, I returned to my condo. I wasn’t sure if Michael knew I had seen what had happened or not. Lauryn stumbled upon me packing up a bag. I told her I needed to leave but couldn’t tell her anything else. She wanted me to go to her boss, but at that point, after seeing the police in the room, I wasn’t even sure I could trust him. I left Boston and drove south per my lawyer’s instructions. I met up with a guy I sold my car to. He gave me cash and looked the other way. I then went to North Carolina, where I met the guy my lawyer set me up to meet. He gave me my new identity. He kept my first name; he just changed the spelling. He told me if I could stick to the truth with everything, then I would be okay. So, that’s what I tried to do, but I knew that my being so quiet about my past would draw attention, and it did. From your sister Macy especially.”
“What happened then?”
“Um, after he gave me my new driver’s license and passport, he handed me a bag filled with some of the cash from the sale of the bakery. He told me to use cash for as much as possible, but he gave me a credit card if I needed to use it. He also gave me a debit card to a new bank account that had my new name on it. They even gave me a new Social Security number. He even went so far as to give me a fake resume and told me that if anyone called the two numbers, it would go through him when someone called for references.”
Kian’s eyes widened. “And this guy was arranged by your lawyer?”
I nodded. “I know, I thought the same thing. What in the hell is Randy doing with a guy who makes a completely new identity for people. I’m pretty sure Randy works for the government and that his cover is that he is a lawyer. Why my father has a friend like that…I don’t want to know.”
“It could be innocent. We have a guy in our office who arranges things like this for people who are in protective custody. ”
I nodded. “That makes sense.”
“Did you dye your hair?” Kian asked.
Reaching up, I grabbed my hair and said, “No, why?”
He shrugged. “I was just curious. You’re beautiful as a brunette, but I can’t imagine you as a blonde.”
I laughed and felt the vise around my chest ease some. “No, this guy said I needed to stay as close to myself as possible.”
“What happened after you left there?”
“Randy and I figured that if Michael did look for me, he would assume I would get as far from Boston as I could. So, I drove back north in the car that Randy’s guy had waiting for me. Anyway, I planned to go to New Hampshire or maybe Maine. The rest I already told you. I stumbled on Moose Village, and here I am.”
Kian dropped my hand and stood. “Jesus, Cadie.”
“I know. I didn’t want you to know the truth because if Michael and his family are looking for me, it would put you in danger. I only told Opal about me owning a bakery because she already had an idea. And a part of me was tired of lying.”
Kian was pacing. “I think the first thing we need to do is find out about what happened that night. Was it in the paper or the news?”
“I don’t know. I haven’t had any contact with Randy or Lauryn. I wrote a letter to my brother and parents and told them I had to go into hiding, but I couldn’t tell them why. The secret identity guy mailed those letters for me.”
“Do you remember the night, the date, I mean?”
“Yes, it was the second weekend in December. That Saturday night. I think it was the 13 th .
Kian started pacing again so I stood and reached for his hand. “Kian, I don’t want you involved in this. It could draw the wrong attention if you start looking into things.”
“Don’t you want to know if they’re looking for you?”
I shook my head. “No. And if you even type in my name it could draw the attention of someone. I don’t think they knew I was there. If that were the case, I wouldn’t have been able to return to my condo. They would have had someone waiting for me.”
A look of terror crossed his lovely face. He pulled me to him and hugged me. “I’m so glad they weren’t waiting for you.”
“You and me both!” I said with a laugh.
He drew back. “You really want to just leave this?”
“Yes. Please. I’m Cadie Waterford now. My new life began when I moved here to Moose Village.”
Kian sighed. “Fuck, Cadie. We’re only four hours or so from Boston.”
I let him draw me back into his arms. I snuggled my face into his chest. “I know. But what better place to hide than almost in plain sight?”
He kissed my forehead. “Thank you for telling me. I think we should keep this between us. Don’t even tell Opal. She already knows you’re hiding something, but she doesn’t care. I say we keep letting people guess about your past.”
“That’s my plan.”
I looked up at him and smiled. “I am glad I told you, though. It was so hard lying to you; I can’t explain why, but I wanted to tell you the truth from the moment I met you.”
Kian cupped my face with his hands and leaned down. When his lips swept over mine, I let out a moan. His kisses could render me useless. My hands found their way under his shirt, and the feel of his skin ignited my body. I wanted nothing more than to push him onto the bed and have my way with him.
Drawing back, Kian rested his forehead on mine. “If you don’t want to go any further, tell me to leave now, Cadie.”
Smiling, I lifted and sucked his lower lip into my mouth. With a soft bite down on it, I let it go and said, “I don’t want you to stop.”
A growl came from deep down in his chest. Sweeping me off my feet, Kian carried me to the bed. Gently laying me down, he removed the suitcase then focused back on me. His eyes looked like they were on fire but also black as night. How in the world was that possible?
Reaching for the hem of his shirt, he pulled it off and tossed it to the floor. My eyes took in his perfectly toned body. I lifted my hand and let my fingers run softly down his abs. Kian’s body shivered, and I couldn’t help but smile. I loved that my touch could affect him like that.
“I don’t have a condom.”
“I’m on the pill.”
He stared into my eyes. “Are you sure you want to do this?”
“I’ve never been so sure of anything in my life.”
Sitting up, I pulled my shirt over my head. Kian let out a soft moan as he took me in. The cotton bra had been replaced by a black lace one.
I reached behind my back and unclasped it, tossing it onto the floor with the rest of the clothes.
Kian reached down and put my nipple into his mouth as he rubbed his thumb over the other one .
“I need you, now.”
He reached down and pulled my pants off of me, along with my panties. He started to kiss down my body, and when his lips found my clit, I nearly let out a scream. It wouldn’t take me long to come with how wound up my body was.
When he pushed his fingers inside of me and moved his tongue faster, I lost control. My orgasm rolled off my body in waves, and when Kian moved over my body and kissed me, I felt drained and sedated. When I felt his length between my legs, my eyes snapped open and were met with his intense gaze.
“Are you sure?”
I wrapped my legs around him and guided him to me. “Make love to me, Kian.”
With a low, guttural growl, he pushed inside of me. “Cadie, my God, you feel amazing.”
My hands moved over his back lightly as he moved slowly at first. The feeling of Kian inside of me was unlike anything I had ever felt before. I’d had sex before, even when I thought I was madly in love with someone. But this…this was different. It felt intense.
“Please, Kian. More.”
He groaned. “If I go faster, I’m not going to last, love.”
I dug my heels into his body and gripped onto his shoulders. “I don’t care. I need more!”
He let out a low, “Fuuuuck.” Then he moved. Fast and hard and my body started to wind up in what I knew was going to be an epic release.
“Kian, I’m going to come again!” I cried out at the same time he said my name and spilled into me.
He came to a stop, kissed my forehead, and then rolled off of me. We both stared up at the ceiling, dragging in air .
“This is one of those moments I never want to forget.”
Turning my head, I smiled because I knew in my heart I would never forget this moment either.
My alarm went off way too soon. It felt like I had only fallen asleep five minutes ago. Rolling over, I picked up my phone and turned it off. It was three in the morning, and I needed to be at the bakery by four since I would be the first one there. That meant I only had time to get up, take a quick shower, and get dressed.
“Why on God’s green Earth do bakers get up so early?” Kian groaned from next to me. My body shivered with delight as I turned to look at him. He was lying on his back with his arm covering his eyes.
“Because we have lots to do. I have to be at the bakery in thirty minutes.”
“You’re going to be late.”
I swung my legs over and stretched. My body ached in the most delicious of ways. Last night had been…beautiful. I had never had a man make love to me that way before, and I was looking forward to round two later this evening.
Standing, I yawned then said, “I know, I have to shower and–”
Before I could say another word or even take a step, an arm came around my waist and pulled me under the covers. “No, you’re going to be late because I’m going to make love to you again.”
Giggling like a schoolgirl, I moved my head when Kian went to kiss me. “Morning breath. ”
He looked confused for a moment. “I don’t give a shit about morning breath. I want to kiss you.”
I placed my hand on his chest and gently pushed him away. “Kian, we can’t. Opal is counting on me, and it was my idea for her to take today off and start closing on Sundays. This is the last one, and if I’m late she’ll know!”
He frowned. “How will she know?”
I lifted my brows and gave him a really look.
Laughing, he hit my ass, and I let out a small yelp. “You’re right. She’ll know. You better get going.”
Huffing, I crawled off of him and headed to the bathroom. I could feel Kian behind me. I turned on the shower and stepped in when the water heated. Kian followed.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Taking a shower with you.”
I smiled. “Why don’t you go back to sleep? It’s three in the morning.”
“If you think I’m letting you go to the bakery this early and work alone, you’re crazy.”
“Kian, I’ve done it before. Besides, I need to prove to Opal I can do it.”
He ran his hands over my body and then rubbed my nipples with his thumbs. I dropped my head back and moaned.
“She already knows you can do it. Besides, I want breakfast.”
When he started to kiss down my body, I asked, “Breakfast? Um, I don’t have time to make you breakfast.”
He dropped to his knees and looked up at me. The water from the rain showerhead was making him look so fucking hot. He lifted my leg and put it over his shoulder, and I drew in a sharp breath .
“Has anyone ever done this to you before?” he asked, then kissed the inside of my thigh.
With a shake of my head, I managed to get out one word. “No.”
He winked. “Good. I’ll be the first and last.”
His words sent a thrill through my entire body, and if I thought it was possible that my blood could boil, I would say it was doing that very thing.
“Kian, you don’t…”
My words faded the moment his tongue swept through my lips and flicked my clit. “Holy shit!” I cried out and grabbed onto the walls of the shower. When that gave me no grip, my hands went to his hair. Everything faded away, and the only thing left was the two of us. It didn’t take long for my orgasm to race through my body, leaving me weak, with Kian holding me up and kissing along my neck.
“I think that’s my new favorite breakfast. Now, you better get to work, you’re definitely going to be late.”