“Use the guest room closest to her room. My housekeeper should be able to help you settle in.”
“Thank you. I will tell Harley you called as soon as she wakes.”
“Yes, thank you.” He knew he had to say goodbye, to end the call, but he wanted to hear her voice longer. The air was filled with silence on both sides. She hadn’t ended the call. What else was he waiting to say? What else was he expecting her to hear? Should he bring up the kiss? Was it the right time, over the phone, when he couldn’t see her eyes, her face, her expression, and her body language?
“I’d better go. If there’s nothing else, my friend will arrive any minute now.” Cade broke the silence.
“Ah, yes. Right. See you later then.” He could already feel a void filling up his chest, but his mind would be flooded with thoughts of her. “Thanks again, Cade, for guarding Harley. For keeping her safe.”
“Goodbye, Mr. Clark.”
“Goodbye.” As soon as he said the word, she ended the call. There were so many thoughts that rushed into his mind. There wasn’t that emptiness he was used to feeling. He had Harley back in his life, for good. And Cade. She might be there for a specific reason, but he was convinced he could get her to stay for another.
Chapter Five
“Gram, you should really get Sheila to help you out with the groceries. Dr. Billings wants you to take it easy,” Cade admonished over the phone. Wednesday nights were for phone calls to her grandmother in New Jersey. The octogenarian had another spill in the bathtub and had passed out. Thankfully, one of the neighbours came by for a random visit.
“Oh, dear, I’m feeling all right. Don’t you worry about me.” That was an expected response.
“Gram, I’m serious. Sheila said she doesn’t mind helping out until I can get to you. It’s just this assignment.” Cade pinched the bridge of her nose.
“An assignment! You’ve got one? I’m so pleased to hear that, Cadence. Maybe you’re one step closer to the truth.”
“I hope so, Gram. I didn’t expect to be watching over a child, though.”
“A child? How old?”
“Eight.”
There was a pause before Gram asked, “Is she in danger? Why does she need your protection?”
“She’s got a condition. They just moved here and her father is very busy. She doesn’t require a lot of work and she’s a real sweetheart. She’s going to a new school in the fall. Her father has a tour coming up, and Harley requires some looking after.”
“So you’re a babysitter?” Gram sounded entertained.
“She’s not a baby. She’s eight.”
“I know that but I’m saying—”
“It’s fine, Gram. I’m having a good time, actually.”
“Well, that’s good. But don’t forget why you’re really there, Cade. Remember your ultimate goal.” Gram’s voice turned serious.
“I haven’t forgotten, Gram. I haven’t forgotten.”
After ensuring that her grandmother would agree to seek help when required, Cade bade her farewell.
Two phone calls in the span of half an hour. That was a record for Cade. She refused to think over the conversation with Jax, or think of the man at all. The reminder from her grandmother replaced her thoughts of the sexy rock star.
“Focus, Cade,” she quietly told herself. She hadn’t expected that her ultimate goal would take so long. Secrets needed to be revealed. Although they weren’t life threatening, they would save her sanity. She almost lost grip of reality after what her father had revealed on his deathbed. Even when Cade had taken care of the man round the clock, he’d refused to show even the slightest love to his daughter. Before letting out his last breath, he had stabbed her with his own version of truth.
After numerous talks with her grandmother, and only a few months since her father’s death, Cade had decided to move to Vancouver in hopes of getting closer to the truth: was Mac her biological father? Or was her father’s revelation a vengeful dying man’s last hurrah?
Cadence had to know. According to her grandmother, Mac and her father had been best friends, army pals. They’d dated two best friends—Irene, Mac’s wife, and Mila, Cade’s mother. Cade had met Irene numerous times. The woman had a nurturing nature. She would have made a good mother if Mac and Irene had ever had kids. Irene took to Cade right away, however, because of the true nature of her move to Vancouver, Cade realized it wouldn’t have been ideal to get too close to the woman if later on she ended up breaking her heart. Such actions had made Mac wary of Cade and before she could fix it, Mac made sure Cade was never too close to him and Irene. The man clearly had trust issues.
After receiving the much excited Juliette, and taking the overnight bag her friend had packed for her, Cade found Harley in her bedroom, lying still on her back, staring at the ceiling. Without hesitation, Cade lay beside Harley, and propped one arm over her forehead.
“Don’t you sometimes wish we lived different lives?” Harley asked quietly.
Cade sighed before replying. “You have no idea.” A few minutes passed before either one said anything. “How are you feeling?” Cade glanced at her.
The girl shrugged.
“Your dad called earlier, but you were resting. He was very…concerned,” Cade said.
Harley tilted her head and leaned it on Cade’s shoulder. “You mean he was pissed off at Fiona?” Cade chose not to answer, and ignored—only this once—the words she thought a little girl like Harley should not be using. “I don’t blame him, though. My mother can be quite irritating.”
“Does she always talk to you that way?” Cade’s voice was full of concern. She didn’t mind letting Harley know that.
“Not always, but most of the time. I hope she doesn’t make me live with her again.” Harley pushed a heavy breath out of her mouth. “Fiona gets very upset when she’s having man problems. I didn’t think her new marriage would last very long, but I also didn’t expect it to be this short,” Harley explained.
For a young girl, she had experienced and seen more than some adults would ever have in all their lives. The burden was too heavy on Harley, but she had found strength from her Nan. With her gone, she was lost. Her father had tried to guide her, but it wouldn’t be enough. Harley placed an arm over her new protector’s stomach. Cade, in turn, put her arm over the girl’s arm. Cade was there for her. She would find strength through Cade. The two fell asleep holding each other, both feeling, hoping.
***
Cade was definitely avoiding him. Since coming home from LA, Jax had only seen glimpses of her for weeks. His place was enormous, but it wasn’t big enough to lose anyone. He initially reasoned that Cade was watching over Harley. Jax spotted the both of them throughout the house, whispering and laughing, always in and out during the day for excursions in the city. Then, he blamed his lack of free time. With a tour coming up, his schedule had filled up quickly. Tina was constantly on his tail, spouting off the most recent addition to his schedule.
At one point, he asked Tina to clear an afternoon so he could spend time with Harley, and hopefully, Cade as well. He planned a drive to the sea wall and perhaps have a quiet dinner. But Cade had an emergency. She had been quick to let Zee know and a replacement was readily found.
The drive he had in mind was not the same as he thought it would be, but it was a delightful surprise to Jax. Harley was overjoyed she was spending time with her father. Jax felt a pang of regret for not making more time for her, while secretly wishing he could have some alone time with Cade again.
The city was active as usual. He liked that Canadians were respectful enough to leave him alone. There were glances thrown his way, and it was hard not to see some on-lookers taking photos with their cellphones, but no one approached him for anything. It also helped to have two hulking, intimidating bodyguards around them.
Harley, still high on her times with Cade, had been unusually talkative. Her stories comprised of detailed events of her visits to the museum with her bodyguard, shopping for
toys, and just goofing around the house. Harley blurted out that she and Cade were planning to paint her bedroom a different colour. Jax wasn’t surprised to hear it, but he was envious that his own daughter was more comfortable making such decisions and plans with a near stranger than her own father. Then again, she should consider him as a stranger as well since he had only been back to her life a short time. Harley had been closed off and distant with him from the very beginning of her stay, but acted quite the opposite with Cade.
They managed to get a quiet spot right away in one of the restaurants. Jax was surprised to know that Harley had been there before—with Cade, naturally. After placing their orders, Jax decided to open up a discussion that he himself had been avoiding.
“So about your mother…” Harley’s shoulders slumped as soon as she heard her father speak. “I know you don’t want to talk about it, but we have to.” Jax reached out a hand to Harley, but his daughter didn’t take it.
“I know.” Her voice was almost too quiet to hear. Harley started fiddling with the napkin on the table.
Jax held her hand in his. Her fingers were too light and tiny in his palm. “Harley, look at me, please.” Harley slowly raised her head. Her eyes were full of trepidation. “I’m sorry you had to go through what you did with Fiona. I’m sorry I wasn’t there to stop it.”
Harley pursed her lips. “It’s okay. Cade was there. She helped me deal.”
“I know. And I’m grateful for it. I’ve spoken to Fiona. I told her never to speak to you like that again.” Jax couldn’t help the tension building in his jaw as he spoke about his ex to his daughter.
“What…” Harley exhaled heavily before she continued, “What did she want, anyway? Is her marriage over?”
Jax was shocked at first but then he couldn’t help letting out a laugh, garnering a confused look from Harley. “I’m sorry. It is kind of funny that you’d think that right away, but no, it isn’t. I guess your mother was having one of those days. She asked me about the summer and if I planned to keep you with me the entire time. Only because she wants to spend the whole summer in Southern France with what’s-his-face. I told her yes, of course I wanted you to stay with me, since—”
“But you have the tour,” Harley interjected.
“Yes, I’m hoping to bring you with me until school starts.” He waited for a response but all he received was silence and her usual worried look. “You don’t want to go? I should have asked you first, before deci—”
Harley leapt out of her seat to embrace her surprised father. “Of course I want to go! Are you kidding? I’ve always wanted to go to one of your concerts.”
Jax hadn’t expected Harley’s excitement. He basked in the warmth of her embrace, an action he’d never gotten from her since she was a toddler. Once she settled back in her chair, with a genuine show of happiness still present on her young face, he told her the specifics of the tour.
“We’ll head to LA first thing Monday. It’s going to be a lot of work for the band, but you’ll be able to hang out and watch some of the rehearsals. We’ll take Miss Williams with us so you have someone to be with if you choose not to stick around.” An added excitement lit up Harley’s eyes when he mentioned that last bit. “Rehearsals can be long and technical. Boring for you. I’m sure you two will be able to find stuff to do.”
“I don’t doubt it. She’s never been to California. She’s never been anywhere else much really except when she was younger. I mean she’s been to places, but not for long.”
“How so?” Jax tried very hard to mask the interest in his voice.
“Her dad was in the military. They travelled a lot before her mom died.”
Jax was saddened by what he had just learned, but intrigue still ruled. He wanted to ask Harley more about the elusive woman who had been plaguing his thoughts when the server came out with their food and Harley began to talk about other topics—nothing about Miss Cade Williams. He resorted to thinking that whatever else he wanted to know about her, he would just have to find out on his own. One way or another.
Chapter Six
Avoidance was key.
Cade had to remind herself that she had been successful at dodging Jax and all his sultry self the past few weeks. She had stolen glances his way whenever he walked around the penthouse. There had been too many incidences when female bodyguards had fallen or been involved with their own clients. If she fell for that trap, Mac would never trust her with anything ever again. If only Jax would stop sauntering around without his shirt on, and get rid of those butt-hugging ripped and torn jeans he always wore. Cade’s mouth dried up every time he would lift an arm to stretch or yawn, his lats and arms lengthening, pushing down an inch or two past the protuberances of his hip bones, making her think that he didn’t wear underwear underneath those dark jeans. After her shift, she was safe from his sexual prowess as soon as she stepped out of his building, and headed home to do nothing but try not to fantasize about her boss.
But now, they were living across from each other in a California hotel. Harley would be bunking with her in a two-bedroom suite. Jax’s suite was also a two-bedroom, just in case Harley decided to spend the night there instead.
Cade felt she should be grateful to have such a privilege, living in the lap of luxury, flying first class, staying in elegant locations. What was the best part? She would be attending some of the band rehearsals, meeting the rest of the crew, and enjoy LA as much as Harley wanted. Harley had given her a list of places they could visit. Although the girl was born there and had spent eight years of her life in LA, she hadn’t been allowed to travel around the city—not when her mother had often been sick or passed out from intoxication.
Cade unpacked her suitcase, hanging all the standard black and grey suits she owned in the closet. The rest, her pyjamas, favourite jeans, and a few t-shirts were stuffed in the drawers, along with her underwear and socks. Harley came bounding in from across the hall and into the living area of the suite when Cade finished.
“Dad said we’ll have lunch, and then go with him to rehearsal so you can meet the band,” Harley announced. “Aren’t you excited?”
“Thrilled.” Cade had to hide her anxiety. She had studied and memorized everything and anything about Jax’s band mates. None looked threatening, although she expected indifference from the lot, and from their wives, girlfriends, and/or groupies.
“Is that what you’re going to wear?”
Cade glanced down at her usual getup. Harley hadn’t asked with malice. The girl was just curious. “What’s wrong with this?”
Harley knitted her brows together. Was she scrutinizing her? “It’s too formal.”
“I’m working.” Fact.
“Do you have to wear a suit when you’re working?”
“Yes.”
“Why?”
“Because it’s in the rule book,” Cade quickly replied.
“What rule book? I checked your contract. It doesn’t say what you have to wear while watching over me.”
Cade’s jaw dropped. She blinked furiously, trying to come up with an answer. She could almost tell that Harley was up to something. “I’m more comfortable in this.” Cade smoothed her hands down to her hips.
Harley screwed up her face. They had a silent stand off until Harley shrugged. “Suit yourself.” And laughed. “Get it? Suit? Yourself?”
Now this was the type of girl she should be, not a girl who browsed contractual agreements. Cade kissed Harley’s head and pulled her onto the sofa.
“Let me braid your hair, Har.”
“Okay.”
Harley sat, humming a tune, which was familiar only to the child. Cade wondered where she had gotten it. The melody was serene, calming.
“What song is that?”
“Hmm?” Whenever Cade played with her hair or braided it, Harley would turn into a purring cat. “What song?”
“The one you were just humming.”
“I was?”
“Yes.”
�
��I’m not sure. It’s always been in my head. I think Dad sang it to me when I was younger.”
Cade’s heart swelled. Jax might come off as the bad boy rock star, but when it came to Harley, he was sweet and loving. He really was trying to be a better father, Cade had witnessed it. On the flight over, Harley had told her what they’d done when Cade had pretended to have an emergency and asked Zee to find her a replacement. The little girl’s eyes brightened as she recalled the lunch and quiet walk by the sea wall.
A sharp pang of jealousy rocked her as Cade wondered what it would have been like having a father who actually cared for her, who took her to lunch, who sang to her, who loved her. She pushed the feeling aside. It had no room in her mind at the moment.
“All done.” Cade swung Harley’s braid over a shoulder. “We should see if your father wants to go for lunch now.”
“M’kay.” Harley jumped off the sofa and ran across to the other room.
Once the door closed behind her, Cade widened her stance as she stood by the sofa in the living room. Jax’s suite was bigger and a lot more elegant than hers. She itched to adjust something, the collar of her blouse, the lapel of her suit jacket, or the pleats on her pants. Anything to keep her from wanting to touch Jax, who’d walked into the living area in nothing but a towel around his hips. As soon as he saw her, she forced herself to look out the windows, but she didn’t miss the grin on his face.
“I’ll just put some clothes on. My agent called earlier and I got distracted,” he told Harley, but Cade thought the explanation was meant for her. The skin of her lips buzzed as she remembered the sensation from their one and only kiss.
Moments later, Jax reappeared in a white tee, with sleeves straining around his toned biceps, and low-hanging dark wash jeans, ripped around the knees. As he pulled a light sweater over his head, his shirt revealed those ab muscles and the V of his hips, which had haunted Cade’s dreams. Life had been so cruel to her. Throwing her this bone—a sexy as sin boss who made her feel all tingly, not to mention girly—was unfair. It was a little too late for Cade to feign interest as Jax pressed down the sweater over his abdomen with his hands. The bastard smiled at her, a tilted, swoon-worthy, delicious smile.
Harley (West Coast Rock Star #1) Page 4
