Chapter 3
THREE
Jada
The beat of the Mariachi music lifted my spirits as Kari and I sat at a table at Blanca’s, our favorite Mexican restaurant. We had been regular patrons in the “pre-Decker days,” as Kari liked to call them. I thought of them as “the good ol’ days.”
“I’ll have the ensalada de pollo,” I told the server over the sound of clinking glasses and silverware.
“What about you?” Julio looked at Kari, straightening his nametag absentmindedly. A group of men at a corner table began cheering, taking Julio’s attention from Kari. The entire restaurant broke out into laughter, which only encouraged the men, who waved and danced in their seats.
“I’ll have that, too,” Kari replied as the commotion in the corner settled down. She took a sip of the large strawberry margarita in front of her. Julio took our menus and retreated to the kitchen. The smells of spices flowed out of the archway and my stomach rumbled at the appetizing aroma.
“I’m so glad you came home. I have missed this so much,” Kari said, sipping her drink again. “I would have been mad if you had gone to Heather’s. Just so you know.”
“I’ve missed this, too.” I relaxed back into my chair, enjoying the peaceful feeling that was starting to settle over me.
My conversation with Decker earlier that day had cemented the direction of my thoughts.
I had stood up to him and survived, and that was a tipping point for me.
I realized that the past was the past. I couldn’t change it, but I could learn from it.
And that’s what I was going to do. I would go forward—tentatively, maybe, but forward nonetheless.
Just be rational this time. Think things through. I have to think with my head and not my heart.
“No, you didn’t,” Kari said, flipping through the little drink menu on the table. “You were too far up Decker’s ass to miss me.”
“I’m not arguing with you.” I flashed her a cool look, warning her not to press the issue.
“I don’t want to argue with you, Jada. But do you realize how bad he was for you?”
“Obviously. I walked in to find our neighbor bent over my dresser, yelling out my husband’s name while he slammed into her from behind. I’m pretty sure I get it.”
Kari made a face. “Well, I hope so. I’d hate for you to be missing him because I’d have to kick your ass.”
“The alcohol is making you bold. I swear I will make the server take your margarita if you don’t stop.” I shook my head, seriously considering my threat.
“Aw, let’s not do that,” a deep voice rumbled behind me. “Tequila usually makes her fun.”
My head whipped to the side as Kari choked on her drink. Max stepped into my line of sight and reached over and gently patted her back, a smirk finding his lips as he looked down at my sister.
His long legs were clad in a pair of dark jeans. He had a black T-shirt stretched across his broad chest and a black baseball cap sitting backward on his head. His dark green eyes were trained on my sister.
“What are you doing here?” Kari asked, regaining her composure.
“This is a restaurant. Logic would say I’m having supper.”
“Oh,” Kari said. “Well, okay. I just wasn’t expecting to see you tonight.”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you.”
“No. You’re not disappointing me.” Kari’s eyes went wide as she reached over and grabbed Max’s arm, making his smile grow wider. “Um, do you want to join us?”
Kari’s eyes darted to me, silently asking if that was okay. I nodded faintly.
If nothing else, this should be entertaining.
Max glanced at me and winked, knowing he had just won a small battle. “I’d love to join you.” He sat down and took his hat off, placing it on his lap.
I briefly questioned if this run-in had been a total coincidence but pushed it out of my mind when Max motioned across the restaurant.
“Hey, man. Over here.” Max waved an arm over his head before turning his attention back to us, his eyes shining. “I was meeting a friend here for a beer and a bite to eat. I hope y’all don’t mind.”
The hairs on the back of my neck stood at full attention. I had the overwhelming sensation that I was being watched, which made me feel vulnerable—like prey on the verge of being captured.
I looked at my tablemates, and their eyes were focused across the room. I glanced at the neighboring tables. Women’s heads were all turning like dominos, with all gazes focused on the same spot.
What the hell is going on?
“Hey, Max.” The voice to my left was low and rumbled through me. I dropped my gaze to the floor, trying to still my pounding heart.
His voice was smooth, confident, with a touch of grit—the kind of voice you could listen to all day and never hear enough.
The air was infused with a spicy, earthy scent—notes of cedar and possibly tobacco lingering in the air.
The combination was heady. Whoever was standing beside me was pure, unadulterated male.
My body heated at the influx of sensations and the feeling of his eyes on me.
A pair of dark boots was a few feet away from my chair, and as I moved my eyes up slowly, I found dark denim covering a set of muscular legs.
A brown leather belt wrapped around a trim waist. A blue button-up shirt was tucked in, hinting at the hardness beneath the fabric.
His shirtsleeves were rolled to his elbows, exposing an expensive-looking watch and a set of tanned, powerful forearms.
I nervously tucked a strand of hair behind my ear, trying to slow my heart that was threatening to pound out of my chest.
“Hey.” Max smirked, his eyes trained on his friend. A hint of mischief danced across his features. “I walked in and saw Kari and grabbed a seat. Wanna join us?”
I inhaled slowly, trying to get my bearings. I turned ever so slowly to my left.
When my eyes met his crystal blues, I froze. A smile lazily broke out across his face. Chills raced through my body, and goose bumps broke out across my skin.
This man was nothing short of divine.
His eyes were the bluest I had ever seen—crystal-clear pools of cerulean. They were wild yet elegant, sort of calm yet lively. They were the kind of eyes you could lose yourself in for hours on end.
The kind of eyes that could get a girl in trouble.
His face was sharp and angular; his jaw was strong and square. A slightly bent nose lent a bad-boy look to his otherwise perfect face. His short blond hair was cropped close to his head. He was beautiful with a hint of rogue, and it was all I could do not to stare.
I pulled my eyes away, feeling my cheeks heat. As I glanced down his solid body, I knew without a doubt that a guy who looked like this was nothing but trouble. He was too delicious for his own good.
Or my own good, anyway.
He gripped the chair in front of him, and I imagined his strong hands gripping my hips.
I have to calm down.
I felt an urge to look back up, and when I did, he was watching me intently.
He held my eyes with his own, and I was pinned in place, unable to tear my gaze from his.
I felt defenseless and completely bared, like he was downloading everything from my brain.
I wanted, needed, to pull my eyes away from him, but I couldn’t.
“Craving Mexican, huh?” He snickered as he sat down in the empty seat next to me, finally releasing my gaze.
Max laughed and shook his head.
“And how are you, Kari?”
“I’m great, Cane,” Kari cooed, batting her eyelashes.
Cane slowly turned to me, his grin turning wicked. My breath hitched as he leaned in. I cleared my throat, hoping it would distract him from the thumping of my heart that I was absolutely certain he could hear.
If there was ever a physical embodiment of sex, it was sitting next to me.
“Max has apparently forgotten his manners tonight. I’m Cane Alexander. And who might you be?”
I smiled nervously. “I’m Jada Stanley, Kari’s sister.”
“I have to admit,” Cane said, looking up at Max, “that I was a little pissed about meeting you here. But all things considered”—he gave me the slightest nod—“I think this is going to work out just fine.”
I took a sip of my margarita as Cane turned to me.
“What do you do?” he asked casually.
I opened my mouth to respond when a set of red fingernails appeared on Cane’s shoulder. His head jerked to the side, taking my attention with it.
If the woman touching Cane could have gotten any closer, she would have been sitting on his lap. With big boobs popping out of the top of her short black dress and her long blond hair floating in waves down her back, she definitely wanted attention. And, apparently, Cane was who she wanted it from.
“Cane,” she purred. “Long time no see.”
“Hey, Miriam,” Cane said, wearing a cocky grin.
I felt a little bubble of jealousy wash over me, and I chastised myself.
Guys like this were my weakness, my Achilles heel.
A gorgeous bad boy with a cocky flair had always drawn me in.
But the fact of the matter was simple—I knew better.
This was everything I didn’t need all wrapped up in one hot package.
“What are you doing here?” Miriam asked.
“Oh, just meeting old friends. And making some new ones, I think.” Cane turned to me and flashed a devilish smile.
“Oh. What are you doing later?” Miriam angled her cleavage to Cane’s eye level.
“I’m not sure yet. Why? Did you have something in mind?”
“Maybe. Do you wanna call me later?”
“Well, no. I don’t even have your number.” Cane shrugged and flagged Julio down. Miriam’s jaw dropped, and I stifled a laugh, covering my mouth with my hand.
“You mean you don’t still have my number, baby?” She stuck out her bottom lip and batted her lashes again.
“I don’t think fucking once warrants keeping your number.”
I bit the side of my cheek as I looked at Kari, not sure whether to laugh or be disgusted. She was watching the show, seemingly unfazed by the ridiculousness.
I bet she sees this stuff from him all the time. Just another reason to ignore him, regardless of how wet my panties are right now.
“Once?” Miriam shrieked. “We were together four times, Cane.”