by Natalie Ann
“Am I wrong?”
“No,” he said, shaking his head.
“So what are you talking about, Mom?” Ella said.
“Ella,” she said. “How long have you been standing there?”
“Just a second. I came over to see if there was anything you needed help with. Were you talking about Cade just now?”
She looked over at her husband, saw his grin and decided to lie through her teeth. “Not at all. I was just saying how much fun everyone was having and your father agreed with me.”
Ella laughed. “If you say so, Mom.” Then walked away.
“I told you she was on to you,” Gavin said.
“Hush now. It’s fine. I’ll deal with Ella another time. Let’s just watch the show. I might have to give Cade a little shove.”
“I don’t even want to know,” Gavin said, walking away from her too.
Smooth and Charming
Cade had no idea what was going on with his family. No one was acting like they normally did.
Well, that wasn’t true. Brody was always on the edge of something different from day to day. But Aiden was quiet and Mason talkative. Talk about the world tilting on its axis.
Even Ella was acting odder than normal. But in a way that was normal for Ella, so that didn’t count.
He brushed it all off and got Alex her beer, then started to walk her around the party introducing her to various office staff and managers.
Everyone seemed excited to meet and talk shop with her, but he didn’t want to give up any time with her either. He was starting to get greedy and want a little bit of one-on-one time with her and wasn’t sure how to get it.
He’d taken a risk putting his arm around her waist and when she didn’t flinch or pull back, he decided to keep it there. It was easier to guide her around that way too. That was his story and he was sticking to it.
“Did you bring your swimsuit?” he asked her now. They were on the edge of the pool patio for the moment just looking around.
“I didn’t. I don’t normally put one on in public gatherings. Did you bring yours?” she asked, her eyes assessing him from head to toe.
He wanted to ask why she didn’t like to wear a swimsuit in public but figured it might be too personal of a question for now.
“No. A lot of the employees do. They’ll probably get a volleyball game going soon on the other end of the property and then once they get hot, most will jump in. I’ve outgrown the need to put my suit on and show off.”
He hadn’t meant to say that, but when she laughed, he took it in stride.
“So what are you showing off?” she asked, her eyes going right to his arms. This day was already looking promising.
He wasn’t nearly as built as Brody. No one was. But Mason was the most ripped and he never took his shirt off at parties like this. Even if they were entering the gates of hell, Mason wouldn’t take his shirt off in front of anyone other than family for fear they’d see what good shape he was really in. He liked keeping to himself.
“I may have been known to strut around at times. Someone has to show up the rest of them.”
“You’re something else, aren’t you?” she asked, a soft laugh, almost a sensual one escaping her lips. “I thought you were smooth and charming, but now I think you’re pretty funny too.”
“You think I’m charming?” he asked, grinning and then brushing her hair off her shoulder tenderly. She’d kept it down again, the way he liked it. Soft and flowing around her back, making him long to run his fingers through it. The urge to push the boundaries with her was overriding any common sense at the moment.
“I’m not sure there is a woman on the face of this earth that wouldn’t think you’re charming,” she said, laughing.
“Oh, there are plenty,” he said dryly. “Want to go sit on the edge of the pool and put our feet in the water?” he asked, wiping the sweat from her brow with his thumb. Another caress she allowed him. She almost inched in closer to him that time too, or was that his imagination?
Even Jessica had moved over to put her feet on the stairs trying to cool down with Mason right by her side. He found his brothers were never far from their significant others now.
“Do I look that sloppy that you think I need to cool off?”
“Guess I’m not as charming as you thought?” he said. “No. I just figured if we were by the water, people might leave us alone for a bit and let us just relax and watch what was going on around us.”
“Do you like to people watch too?” she asked, some surprise in her voice.
“Actually I do,” he said. “It’s the best way to get a handle on your surroundings and see how people relate to each other. But I figured you knew that based on how I am about the bands we sign.”
“I just thought that was for work. But yeah, I worked for a few hours and though I showered before I arrived, I think my body is still a little heated up. The cool water will feel good on my feet. I’m on my feet a lot, it seems.”
He wished she hadn’t mentioned taking a shower because now he couldn’t get the image of her naked standing under a spray of water out of his head. But he did look down at her leather thongs and noticed her pretty toes again.
Going with what he’d been allowed so far, he placed his hand on her lower back and ushered her over to the deep end of the pool where they both slipped off their shoes and sat down to dangle their feet in.
“So what were you doing working today?” he asked. “It’s Sunday.”
“Did you work today?” she asked. “I bet at least half of the five of you did.”
“I did a few things at home. I know Ella was in the office because she goes in Sundays to meet with the security company to change up cameras, but my guess is the rest of them didn’t go in today. So you might have lost that bet by one.”
They’d been sitting there for about twenty minutes just chatting and watching what was going on around them when his mother called his name. He turned and saw her coming toward him with a beer in each hand, bringing him and Alex more. That was nice of her.
He reached his hands up to grab the beers before she could hand them over when she suddenly tripped and fell into him, causing him to lose his perch and fall into the pool with Alex reaching out and stopping his mother from falling in with him.
“Oh dear,” his mother said. “That was so clumsy of me. I’m not sure what happened. Alex, thank you, dear, from stopping my fall. Something my son obviously couldn’t manage.”
All four of his siblings had come rushing over during the mishap, his father leading the way asking if his wife was okay, no one bothering to check on him bobbing up and down and running his hand over his wet hair.
“I’m good too, guys,” he said, pulling himself up on the side and sitting down. “I can’t say the same for my phone. Damn.” He pulled it out and set it on the concrete.
“I’ll take it,” Ella said, “and go put it in rice in a minute. You’ll be fine without your phone for twenty-four hours.”
“Damn you, Jolene,” his father said, pulling her in and holding her close. “You’re trying to kill me with your antics.”
His mother slapped his father on the arm. “I tripped over my own two feet. The heat was catching up with me. What kind of an antic was that?”
His siblings were staring at his parents, himself included. He had no idea what was going on. “It was just an accident, Dad,” he said, defending his mother.
“I’ll get you some orthopedic shoes, Mom,” Ella said. “Maybe then you won’t trip.”
What the hell? His mother and Ella were having one of their eyeball showdowns in front of everyone. “Ella Marie, are you calling me old?”
“She’s calling you a klutz,” his father said, “and I’m with her on this.”
Cade stood up when Mason handed him a towel, trying to ignore all the looks in his parents’ direction, and then his while he was soaking wet.
“Thanks,” he said. “Shit, now I’ve got to run home and change. U
nless any of you have a change of clothes.” His brothers all shook their heads. Alex was trying to hide her laughter and not doing a good job of it. “What’s so funny?” he asked. “Do you want to cool off too?”
That just caused her to let go and laugh hysterically. “I’m good. I was able to stop your mom from falling in and not get wet myself. Well, except for the water you splashed all over me, but I’ll survive. My phone will too because I left it in the car.”
“Cute,” he said, squinting his eyes.
He made a grab for her to fake send her in, causing her to cling to him. “You’ll go in again if you do.”
“What?” he asked everyone around him when they were just staring. “I wouldn’t do that. I was just kidding.” He sighed. “I guess I’ll be back.”
“Actually,” she said, “when I pulled into the driveway, it looked like you were blocked, unless others want to move their cars to let you out.”
“Great. That is what I get for coming here early. Or I should say thanks, Mom, for asking me to come here and help you set up early. Why couldn’t you ask one of the others?”
“Because they all had girlfriends and wives at home and you’re alone. I’m sure Alex wouldn’t mind giving you a ride to your house, would you, Alex?”
His siblings were all watching him now, most of them smirking.
Alex covered her mouth with her hand, trying to control the giggles now. Great way to impress a woman, falling into the pool. He didn’t even have the excuse of helping his mom since she was the one who did that and rubbed his face in his failings.
“Not a problem. Let’s go now so I can get back and have dinner because whatever Aiden is cooking smells delicious.”
“We’ll hold off for you,” Aiden said. “Since you saved our mom and all.”
“Cute,” Cade said, walking away from them all.
None the Wiser
“I’ll drive,” Cade said to her when they walked to her car at the end of the large property.
She lifted an eyebrow. “I can assure you I know how to drive since it’s my car.”
“I just figured it’d be easier than me giving you directions,” he said smiling.
She was trying not to laugh at him right now. He always looked perfect and now he looked like a drowned rat.
His hair was sticking up everywhere where he towel-dried it. His shirt was clinging to his body showing exactly why he joked about putting on a show and swimming at parties. And his shorts were molding to parts of his body that had her eyes fighting really hard to stay on his face.
“I’m good at following directions. Point me the right way and then give them to me as needed.”
He kept his smile in place, but she could see he wanted to argue. She had no clue what that was about and was trying not to get annoyed that it seemed he had to be the “man” and the driver right now.
“I’m downtown,” he said, then opened her front door. “I should probably go back and get a towel for your seat.”
“It’s leather, it’s fine, and it’s not that far.”
He shrugged and climbed in, she did the same, then started her car and pulled away.
“I appreciate you giving me a lift,” he said a few minutes later, his eyes straight ahead of him. She had no clue what the heck was wrong with him right now.
“Not a problem. It gives me a break from everyone. Don’t get me wrong, everyone has been wonderful so far, but I’m not used to gatherings like that.”
She actually hated them, which was another issue she and Keith had. He was all about going out and showing off; she liked to stay home and relax.
“We’re a pretty laid back group at the heart of it. If you need a breather, just seek me out.”
“I haven’t been away from your side,” she said laughing.
“Sorry. I can give you space.” He turned to look at her, then turned back to the front again. “I was just introducing you to everyone.”
She frowned. “Not a problem. I didn’t mean anything by it.” He was squirming so much in the seat right now, the sound of his wet shorts squeaking on the leather not something she could avoid. “Are you okay? You can tilt or move the seat back if it’s too close. I don’t care since I never sit over there.”
“I’m fine,” he said quickly.
She shrugged and stopped trying to make conversation with him. “Just tell me when to turn.”
They were quiet for another five minutes. “Take a left up there,” he said fast. “Then go about two miles. It’s faster than going into town.”
“I’ve never been down this way before, but I’m sure you know since you travel from your parents’ and home enough. Are you cold?” she asked, reaching for the thermostat. “I can turn the air conditioning down.”
“I’m good,” he said.
“The goosebumps on your arms and legs say otherwise.”
“It’s fine,” he said again. Whatever. She wasn’t going to argue with him. He’d never been this short with a conversation before. Maybe he was just embarrassed over the dunk in the pool.
Another five minutes and they were pulling into a large condo complex downtown. “Wow, you are right in the heart of the city. Not even that far from Fierce.”
He opened the door fast and got out, then took a few deep breaths. “No. Just a few minutes if there isn’t traffic. Ella is the only other one that lives downtown. Everyone else is on the outskirts. Brody is the farthest on Lake Norman. Aiden is in a development just outside of town. Mason is in the country with a few acres of land not far from my parents.”
She was following behind him as he quickly made his way in the building and to the stairs, not making much eye contact with her and still breathing in and out rapidly.
“You don’t take the elevator?” she asked.
“Not always. The stairs are good exercise. I’m just on the sixth floor.”
Six floors and he was taking the stairs. What the hell? “How many floors here? Ten?”
“Nine floors with condos. The tenth is the penthouse.”
She was running out of breath following him up the stairs so fast. Geez. “I’m surprised you didn’t get the penthouse.”
“I would have, but it was taken.” He opened the door to his floor and made his way to the right. Looked like another condo was on the left and that was it. His place had to be pretty huge.
He punched in a code and walked in, going right for the kitchen and grabbing a bottle of water, taking the top off and drinking half of it.
“Do you want one?” he asked, coming up for air. His face looked a little white now that she was really staring at him.
“I’m good. You don’t look it though. Are you sure you’re okay?”
“I’m fine. Do you mind if I take a shower quick and wash off the chlorine? Just make yourself at home. Look around if you want. I don’t care,” he said walking to the end of the condo quickly, and behind what she assumed was his bedroom door, not giving her a chance to even answer.
She shook her head and walked around his place. Not really touching, but just more like peeking. He said she could and she needed something to take her mind off the fact that Cade Fierce was getting naked with only a few walls between them.
***
Almost an hour later they were walking in the backyard of his parents’ house again. He made sure to be friendlier on the drive back to make up for his behavior trying to get to his bathroom. Another ten minutes in the car and he would’ve been more embarrassed than he already was.
“I’m going to get another bottle of water. Do you want something else to drink?” he asked Alex.
“I’ll take a water right now too,” she said.
“Ella is waving you over. Why don’t you go see her and I’ll meet you there. If you want to. If not, I understand too because Ella can be overbearing at times.”
She laughed and it was a sound he was thrilled to hear after her confusion during the drive to his condo. He felt he at least was able to get back to the way they wer
e before his cold dunk in the pool. “She’s not overbearing at all and Nic looks to be moving toward her too. I’ll go chat with them.”
He watched her walk away and then made his way to the back patio where all the drinks and taps were stored. He was just shutting the fridge full of water when his father appeared at his side, looked around, then nodded his head to the corner. “Did you get sick on the drive home?”
He wanted to say something sarcastic back like he normally did to his siblings or his mother, but it was his father, who was always upfront and honest with him. He never got wise to his dad. None of them did. “No.”
His father looked down at the water bottle in his hand. “You took a Zofran the minute you got in the house, didn’t you?”
“Hell yeah. I couldn’t run into the bathroom fast enough. It was still dissolving on my tongue when I was stepping in the shower. I even took the stairs, not wanting to risk the motion of the elevator.”
His father laughed at him. “I figured that was going on when it took you so long to get back. How did you kill thirty minutes until you knew it was working?”
“I took a nice long shower. Since I had chills all over me fighting back the nausea on the ride there, I said I was just trying to warm up. She bought it. Then I gave her a tour of the condo. She was none the wiser.”
His father laughed at him. “You always were a smart one when you wanted to be. Just stick with the water this afternoon so you don’t get dehydrated now.”
He didn’t need his father to tell him what to do. He’d been taking Zofran most of his life once they got a doctor to give it to them. It seemed to be the only thing that worked for traveling now.
“If I didn’t know better I’d swear Mom was punishing me for something I didn’t even do,” he said, laughing and drinking some more.
His father placed his large hand on Cade’s shoulder, then grinned. “Don’t worry about your mom. I’ll make sure she is watching where she steps in the future.”
Work Overtime
A few days later, Alex pulled into the parking lot of Cade’s condo complex again. She was bouncing in the seat for someone who never got excited over small things before. She’d tried to be pretty low-key most of her life.
