CHAPTER ONE #2
We head outside and stop at a table near the others.
The girl—no woman—who stopped the earth moving is standing there talking to…
Asher… that’s his name. She reaches over and does something to his arm that has him howling out.
“OOOWWW! Why? Just why do you always gotta pull my arm hair? We’re not kids anymore!
” He glares at her, and every cell in my body wants to stand up and get in between them to protect her from him.
He keeps glaring at her. She rolls her eyes and puts her hands on her hips.
“Then quit annoying my favorite brother-in-law! What did you do to Logan this time?” Asher looks down at her.
“That’s between me and my husband, who, by the way, is your only fucking brother-in-law, dear little sister.
” Ooohhh. She’s his little sister. I get that.
The things Emma and I used to do to each other, I’m surprised we both survived.
Hanna must be done with whatever conversation she was having with her brother because she turns and smiles in my direction. She hands Zane his water without even looking over at him, but sits down next to me and gently hands me a bottle. “Mom said you just wanted water. No beer?”
I smile at her and nod. “Yeah, sweetheart. Water’s perfect.
Thank you.” She rolls her eyes at me and looks at me, as if she’s seeing through me.
“My name ain’t sweetheart. It’s also not darlin’ or princess or any of those other names guys use when they can’t remember a woman’s name.
I’m gonna give you the benefit of the doubt since you’re just meetin’ everyone and I have a feeling Zane here ain’t told ya all our names.
I’m Hanna.” She holds her hand out across the table.
I lean forward, and I swear, when we touch to shake hands, electricity shoots through my arm.
I watch her face, and she immediately makes eye contact again. That smile comes back.
“Well, Hanna, like you might’ve heard, my name’s Cade. Think you could keep me company while I eat?” She nods and relaxes into her chair.
Hanna
I don’t know what that was, but the second our hands touched, it was like an electrical current went through me.
I mean, I’m not blind… well, not yet at least, and can see the man sitting across from me is the epitome of sex on a stick.
But I need to know if it’s just surface level or if there’s something more.
I watch as he takes the first few bites of Mom’s lasagna and hear him moan the way almost everyone does when they first try it.
He looks over to Zane and glares at him.
“You’ve been holding out, motherfucker. I may have lived in New York for a few years, but this is not just the best lasagna I’ve ever had.
I think it’s otherworldly.” I can’t help the smile that crosses my face.
“Well, it’s my mom’s recipe, but today’s food was my doing. For almost the first time ever, Mom let me make the lasagnas from start to finish.”
Cade looks at me with surprise. “You made this dish sent down from heaven?” I don’t know how to respond to that, so I just nod in affirmation.
He grins and shocks me with what he says next.
“I don’t see a ring on your finger, so I’m gonna ask, will you marry me?
” I laugh because he’s ridiculous, but his eyes tell me he’s not completely joking. I might be in trouble.
“You don’t have to propose to have me cook for you. I like to, and as long as it’s in a kitchen I can figure out, I’m always happy to cook.” The man is listening because he looks at me and tilts his head as if he’s trying to dissect what I just said.
“What do you mean a kitchen you can figure out? I’m not the best cook, but aren’t they all pretty similar in what they have?
” He’s not wrong, but he’s about to learn why so many guys hightail it away from me as fast as they can.
“They are for the most part, but as someone who’s losing their vision, they’re things that matter more to me than would to most people. ”
He finishes his bite and surprises me by not changing the subject but asking a question. “What are the things that matter to you? I’m guessing it’s not so much if the stove is gas or electric?” I shake my head.
“No, but I do like to cook on gas more, but that has nothing to do with my eyesight. Actually, right now, the biggest thing is bright lighting. My night vision is nonexistent, and my peripheral vision is worsening every year. I have a really strong prescription, but my eyesight has gotten significantly worse in the last couple of years. I can still see, but not great and not super far away. One of these days, I will lose my sight completely.” He hasn’t stopped paying attention once.
I don’t know why I spilled that all out to him like that.
I never do that. I shake my head. “I didn’t mean to be a Debbie Downer and just spew that all out to you.
It’s not something I usually talk about the first time I meet someone.
I’m not sure why I shared all that with you. ”
He gives me a slight grin. “I asked you to keep me company, and we’re getting to know each other. Both are good in my book.” Huh.
My mouth moves before my brain. “Losing my vision doesn’t scare you off? My experience is that most guys hear about it and run for the hills. Even the few who stick around for a bit end up getting frustrated with it.”
Cade leans forward in his seat with a serious look on his face.
“Hanna, those were boys and not men. A man, a real man, won’t see that as a frustration or a reason to run for the hills.
Now, you tell me you don’t like coffee or chocolate, and that’s a reason to run for the hills.
” My laughter comes out loud and immediate.
He smiles and it lights up his face. I’m definitely in trouble.
Tonight’s ending up being way more interesting than most family days.
I’ve spent almost the entire night getting to know Cade.
He’s fascinating and one of the funniest guys I’ve met in a long time.
He was able to keep up with the verbal banter from Asher and the other brothers, including Saxon, Juan, and Ry, and that’s saying something.
We’ve been enjoying the evening around the table, and between the lights and the fire, I’ve been able to see Cade and the brothers near me all night.
Zane stands up and looks at the group. “As much as I would love to stick around and do more prospecting chores for you, we’ve got to get going.
It’s a couple of hours back, and we’ve got practice in the morning.
” He goes around saying his goodbyes. Cade, who’s been sitting next to me, leans in.
“I’ve had a much better time tonight than I thought I would, and I’m pretty damn sure you’re the reason for that.
I’d like to continue to get to know you.
I can’t promise I can make it up here a lot during the season, but would you be open to continuing this conversation through text or voice messages? ” I nod and give him my phone.
“Put in your number and I’ll send you a text. I can either do voice messages or voice-to-text when my eyes are tired.” He types in his number and must send a text because his phone buzzes in his other hand. He gives me a smile.
“Wanted you to see I didn’t give you a bullshit number or anything. You can text me whenever you want. If it’s during a practice or game, I’ll answer as soon as it’s over, but you might find out that my life is pretty fucking boring most of the time.”
If he only knew. “I have a feeling you’re underselling yourself, but that’s okay because my life is boring enough for both of us.”
He shakes his head as he stands up. He bends down to get close to me and whispers, “I would ask you to walk with me to the SUV, but it’s dark over there, and I really don’t like the idea of you walking back alone after we leave.
I’m going to say goodnight to you here and tell you that you better text me so we can get to know each other more and I can eventually ask you out for a proper date.
” He leans in, kisses my cheek, and murmurs, “Thank you for a great evening. I hope it’s just the first of many more with you, beautiful Hanna.
” Maybe this kind of trouble is just what I need.
After they take off, I get a ride home from Asher and Logan since Mom, Dad, and Pops went home a while ago.
When Asher pulls into the driveway, Logan turns in my direction and gives me a big smile.
“We’re coming over for dinner tomorrow, and you and I are gonna have to talk about what’s goin’ on with you and that hunky rugby player who came tonight. ”
Asher glares at Logan, then looks at me.
“What the hell do you mean what’s going on between you and that guy Zane brought around?
You just broke up with Mario!” I can’t help but roll my eyes at my oblivious big brother.
“That was a few months ago. Nothing has happened…yet. He asked me out for a date sometime.” I can tell Asher is gonna say something that’ll piss me off, so I cut him off and continue.
“I’d like you to remember I’m a grown-ass adult and only living at home because the place I want isn’t available for a couple of months.
I’m older than Logan was when you two got married.
Now I’m gonna go inside and go to bed, and all you’re going to do is say goodnight and turn on the brights so I can see my way to the door.
” I lean forward and pull one of Asher’s arm hairs for good measure and hop out of the truck as fast as possible.
I hear him howl and Logan laughing and shouting out his goodbyes.
I hurry up the stairs and get inside, quietly making my way to my room. As soon as my bedroom door closes, I feel my phone vibrate in my pocket. I pull it out and check my messages. With the enlarged font, I can read it fine tonight since my eyes aren’t tired.