Chapter 4 #2
“I guess I’m just confused. I was told Max made an appointment to see me today, and then I come in here, and you have that look on your face. Sorry if I feel slightly addled right now.”
Cane looked genuinely amused. He stood and leaned against the desk, rolling his white shirtsleeves up, baring his forearms one golden inch at a time. It was a completely natural thing to do, but watching him do it was almost like foreplay. I felt my chest rise and fall harder.
“Max is a contractor and I am a real estate investor. I buy properties and Max gets them ready to resell. He manages the construction part of Alexander Industries.”
“I see.” I adjusted my bag on my shoulder, feeling awkward. “So how do I come into play?”
“I want to put Solomon Place—this building—on the market. And I thought you could help me with that.”
“Can I ask you a question? Why did you call our office? You have never done business with us before.”
I pushed a breath into my constricted chest, feeling my lungs press against my ribs.
This wasn’t what I had in mind for my first day back.
I was supposed to be serious and focused, starting my life fresh.
Instead, I was looking into the eyes of a gorgeous playboy, trying to decide if his intentions were professional or if he was trying to manipulate me.
Why do I always find these guys? Why couldn’t Max’s friend have been an accountant or something?
“This property needs to be put up for sale. Max mentioned that you were a real estate agent. It seemed like it could be a good partnership.”
He stood straight, and the mood in the room shifted. “What can I say, Jada? You made an impression last night.”
I squared my shoulders and fought the urge to smile at his playful tone. “If you want to list this property, it would be my pleasure. But if there are ulterior motives, please spare me.”
A smirk slowly made its way across his lips. “I was trying to keep this professional, and you start talking about pleasure.”
I rolled my eyes, smiling despite myself. “I don’t even know what to say to you right now.”
“Words can be twisted to mean a million different things.” His eyes were locked on mine, sparkling with mischief.
“That’s true, I guess.”
“It is absolutely true. Words can mean anything. It is actions that really speak.”
I nodded and bit my lip to keep from smiling, staying silent.
“If you would rather figure things out physically, I’m good with that. Very, very good from what I hear …”
I couldn’t help but laugh. While I was absolutely sure that, on some level, he was serious, his carefree way and lighthearted tone put me at ease.
“Yes. Let’s get physical immediately,” I said, watching his eyes darken. “Let’s take some measurements, and I’ll let you get back to your day.” I set my bag down and grabbed a notepad and my measuring tape.
“There are dozens of innuendos that could be taken from that. But,” he said, growing serious as I flashed him a warning look, “I will refrain from making any comments.”
I led him to the main room, and he chuckled as he followed. I wished that I had remembered my digital laser.
“Okay, grab this end of the tape and walk down there.”
“How long have you done this type of work?” He moved gracefully to the other wall, holding the tape against it.
“I grew up helping my dad do this kind of thing. I worked for him before I moved to Boston, where I worked in real estate, too. Really, I’ve done this my whole life.”
“What sent you to Boston?”
My throat constricted. “I moved there with my husband. I’ve just been back here a few days, actually.”
“You aren’t married now, right? Or did I misunderstand something?”
“No, I’m not married anymore.” My voice gave more away than I intended, earning me a suspicious look from Cane. I noted the measurements and started toward the other room, his footsteps close behind me.
“Are you all right? I didn’t mean to pry.”
The genuineness in his voice took me by surprise. “Yeah, I’m good. Things happen, you know?”
“This explains a lot.” He held the tape against the far wall, and I scratched down the number.
I looked down at the notepad for a moment longer than necessary, trying to get ahold of my rioting thoughts.
I didn’t want to discuss this with anyone, but especially not a client.
Regardless of this more genuine-seeming nature than the night before, he was still a client. Nothing more, nothing less.
“What’s that supposed to mean?” I huffed, giving in.
He held a hand up in defense. “I didn’t mean anything. Just that you seem … pissed off.”
“Well, maybe that’s what ended my marriage. Maybe I’m hard to deal with.”
“Well, you are hard to deal with.” He leaned against the wall, crossing one ankle in front of the other. “But what I really think happened is that guy did a number on you. Just saying.”
“Yeah, well, I don’t really want to talk about it. Just saying.” I made a few notes in my notebook, avoiding his pointed stare.
“I could form a better opinion about that if you weren’t so damn hard to figure out.”
My face jerked to his to see a teasing look. I shook my head, walking back into the office and putting my things inside my bag. “Thank you for your help today.”
“Thank you for coming by on such short notice. Let me know if you need anything else.”
He stroked his chin with his thumb. “I think we made a good team, even though you came in here with a bit of an attitude this morning.”
I winced. The sound of him calling me out embarrassed me. “I’m sorry about that. I just wasn’t sure what was going on when you were sitting there all smug.”
“Words are hard for you, too. We should have started off with the physical. I knew it.” He snapped his fingers in the air.
I shook my head, making my way to the front door. I needed to get out of there quickly. He was being nice—and that wasn’t playing fair.
“Jada.” Cane’s voice was a command, and I stopped dead in my tracks. I turned, and he was glancing at his watch. “Would you want to grab dinner later? I feel like I owe you something for coming over here first thing, and I don’t like owing anyone anything.”
The light shone through the window, casting shadows upon his features.
He looked sharper, sexier, and more devastatingly handsome than last night.
And as much as Cane Alexander intrigued me, I knew I wasn’t ready.
My divorce was too fresh. Besides, Cane screamed complicated, and I didn’t want that.
His interest was flattering, but I couldn’t buy into his charm.
“You don’t owe me anything. Don’t worry about it.”
“I can’t help that I feel that way.” He winked. “You’re just going to have to go to dinner with me.”
“I’m sorry, Cane. I can’t. Thank you, though.” I started to leave again but stopped when I heard a soft chuckle behind me. “What’s so funny?”
“Nothing, really. It’s just that I rarely invite women to dinner, and I never get turned down when I do. Am I losing my touch?”
“I wouldn’t know. I don’t know if you had it to begin with.”
He put his hand on his chest over his heart. “That hurt.” He took a step toward me, and my breath caught. “What is it about me that you don’t like?”
“Nothing, per se.”
“I think you don’t want to like me. But here’s the thing—I can read women better than anyone. It really is a gift. I know you’re interested. So what’s holding you back? I am just asking for dinner. I’m not out-and-out asking you to fuck—yet.”
His words were a match, sending my libido up in flames.
I tried desperately to control my response to him, but it was easier said than done. The crudeness should have offended me, but my body was humming instead.
“Do you talk to all your business associates this way?” I asked, trying to distract him.
“No. They’re usually overweight, middle-aged men.” He made a sour face. “I actually keep business and pleasure separate. You’re just an exception.”
The air between us crackled, but each of us held back.
“Cane, look, I’m sorry.” I took a step back until I could feel the cool glass of the front door at my back. “I really do need to get back to the office.”
“You have to eat. What’s wrong with sharing a meal with me?”
“Dinner leads to dinners, which lead to lunches, and I just don’t want to go there.”
“You’re putting the cart before the horse, don’t you think? I may not like you. So while I admire your ego, I think you’re jumping to conclusions.”
“My ego? That’s hilarious coming from you, Coach,” I exclaimed.
He burst out laughing. “So while I admire your confidence,” he said, raising his eyebrows with a cheeky grin, “it’s just dinner. I’m not sure what’s so risqué about that.”
There was no way I would have even considered dinner with him the night before, but I found myself now wavering.
As I considered him, all six-foot-something alpha male, he reached up and ran his fingers through his hair.
My heart pounded at the sight of his biceps flexing.
He really is the whole gorgeous package.
Shame I’m not in any headspace to consider dating yet.
I tore my eyes away as my brain took back over.
“I just … I can’t.”
“You did say you didn’t have a boyfriend, right?”
“I don’t.” I rolled the ring my mother had given me as a little girl around my right ring finger nervously. “I just got my life situated again, and I really need to focus on me right now.”
“Dinner—that’s it,” he reiterated, his eyes searching mine. “It’s one meal. I don’t usually do one meal with a female unless they’re making me breakfast.”
This is the Cane from last night. This is exactly why I can’t have dinner with him.
Before I could change my mind, I pressed on the door with my back, letting the heat rush through. “No, I’m sorry, Cane. Maybe some other time.”
I grabbed my bag and walked out into the sun, my emotions a verifiable war zone.