by Amber Burns
“Come on, let’s get you home,” he urged.
“Um, actually, the emergency room would be best.”
He stopped and turned to her, anger flashing behind those penetrating green eyes. He started looking her over, checking for any physical signs that she was hurt.
“What did he do? Did he hurt you? I will kill him.”
She snorted and chuckled, but the shaking hurt her hand. His eyes rested on her face and he looked confused.
“I am sorry. It’s just. I hurt myself. I sort of punched him in the nose. Pretty sure it is broken like something in my hand.”
Anger quickly fading from those beautiful green eyes, she saw both humor and concern flood into them.
“You punched him in the nose?” Before she could answer, he kissed her and smiled. “That’s fantastic! I wish I had seen it, but let’s go get that hand taken care of.”
He walked with his arm around her to the bike and they sped off toward the hospital.
***
At first Cade was furious. He was ready to rip that smug face off of Todd’s little cocky head, but when Cindy told him she had punched him in the nose, he had to refrain from doubling over in laughter. While he would have preferred being the one to have landed the punch, mostly because he knows how to not break his bones, he was happy to see her standing up for herself. When they pulled up to her work, he wrapped his arm around her and they walked in.
It was busy at this hour, but her coworkers stopped to stare at her walk through the doors with this tattoo covered man. Feeling their eyes burn into him with accusations, he thought to himself, great, they think I hurt her.
“What did you do sugar?” A woman with gold rimmed glasses stormed towards them.
“Hey Annie, it’s not as bad as it looks.”
Before she could say anything, Annie put her index finger in Cade’s chest and looked him square in the eyes.
“If you had anything to do with this, I will wipe the floor with your handsome face.”
Cade chucked, he liked this woman.
“Annie, I broke my hand punching Todd in the face after I was forced to have dinner with him at my parents. Which is ridiculous that I was forced to do so, but if you only knew my parents.”
Annie stopped, her face shifting from angry mother hen to something else. Cade wasn’t sure, and then the woman bent forward and a loud rattling came from her. He didn’t realize the woman, who had clearly smoked her entire life, was in stitches. She bent back up, her face covered in a grin from ear to ear.
“Oh, so that’s what happened to the princess’s nose! Boy, I wish I had seen it! He came in here with that black n’ blue lookin’ lump in the middle of his face, and when I asked him what he did, he just growled and stomped off! Forced to have dinner with your parents? Girl, tell em’ no!”
“I told her I wish I had seen her punch him too,” Cade added. He was smiling but a quick sharp glance from Annie told him she didn’t trust him yet.
“Let’s go take a look at it,” Annie urged.
Cade began to follow them back, but Annie’s large hand held out to him.
“Annie, it’s ok.”
“No it isn’t. He may be good lookin’ and all, but he’ll have to wait in the lobby like the rest of em’.”
It irked Cade that he couldn’t join her, but he wasn’t about to tell the lady no.
“It’s ok, I will wait for you,” Cade assured her.
Cindy’s blue eyes shown with admiration as she was escorted back by the clucking Ms. Annie, and he took a seat in the hospital lobby.
After about fifteen minutes and a can of soda later, he started pacing the floor. Late night infomercials danced across the television and he tried to find something interesting from them, but he wasn’t interested in a super blender or a tool with twenty possible uses. He wanted to know how his girl was. When the clock reflected an hour had passed, he stood up to walk towards the front desk, but Annie and Cindy came walking around the corner. Cindy’s wrist was wrapped in a colorful cast. She stepped up to him and kissed him on the cheek.
“Annie, let me introduce you to Cade.”
Annie’s eyes narrowed only slightly, something hidden behind those dark eyes.
“Nice to meet you Cade,” Annie managed.
“Nice to meet you Ms. Annie.”
He reached out to take one of her large hands in his, and she yanked him in close. She was strong, which was shocking.
“If you harm my girl here, I know just the right medicinal concoction to make you think your peter has fallen off!”
The woman’s threats only increased Cade’s admiration.
“I will keep that in mind,” he chuckled.
“You be sure you do.”
“Oh Annie, stop it,” Cindy protested. “Have a good night.”
She wrapped her arms around Annie in a hug and the old woman pointed a threatening finger at Cade. It was all he could do not to laugh, but he was glad to see someone caring for Cindy the way Annie did. Nodding his head he understood, he took his coat and wrapped it around Cindy as they made their way outside. Once on his bike, Cindy could only hold him with one arm, but she held on tight. He loved having her so close, knowing she was safe. When he got to her condo, he walked her to her door.
“Oh, I am so tired,” Cindy complained.
“Go get some rest beautiful, you had an eventful night.”
When he turned to leave she reached out with her good hand and grabbed him.
“Cade, do you mind just holding me tonight?”
“Of course not.”
He followed her up into her condo and for the first time in years, he crawled into bed fully clothed. Spooning the love of his life, he held her close and knew this was where he should always be. When her soft snores floated up and over to him, he kissed her hair softly and breathed her in deep. He loved her scent and warmth. When he woke up the next morning, he couldn’t think of a time he slept better than last night. Well, he could think of a couple times he had slept well, and they were both with her.
What had woke him up was Cindy’s body pressing into his. She was stretching and her body that curved perfectly into his was pressing against his early morning arousal. Groaning from the desire that stirred within him, he resisted ripping her clothes off and making love to her.
“Cade?” Her morning voice was warm and husky.
“Good morning,” he whispered.
She turned toward him and kept her hurt hand at her side.
“Good morning,” she responded with a smile.
He leaned over and kissed her nose.
“Want some breakfast?”
“Mmm, among other things,” she purred.
Her eyes flashed down to his arousal and then returned to his own. He kissed her and caressed her arm, little goose bumps rising where he touched and she moaned into the kiss.
Her phone shrilled on the table by her bed, causing them both to jump. Groaning, she leaned over him and saw her mother’s number on the screen. Hitting the ignore button she rolled back on top of Cade, kissing him, trying to avoid hitting either of them with her cast. Her phone buzzed again and she growled as she grabbed it up and answered.
“Yes mother?”
“I’m outside,” she crooned from the speaker. “I see a big black piece of death on two wheels out here. I didn’t want to come up to another naked fest like last time.”
“I will meet you at the door.”
She hung up and sighed. They looked at each other longingly and rolled out of bed.
“Should I sneak out a back window?” Grinning, he followed her down the stairs.
“She has already seen your bike,” Cindy reminded him.
When she opened the door, Cade stayed back as her mother breezed through the door. She held her purse in her hand and kept her body stiff.
“I see Todd isn’t here and…what happened to your hand!” Her eyes bulged and she turned on Cade. “I knew you were no good. I knew it! I will call the poli
ce!”
As she started rummaging through her purse, Cindy grew enraged.
“Mother, stop, NOW!”
Cindy’s voice carried throughout the entire condo and her mother stood shocked. Her tight lips split and her mouth dropped, surprised at the tone in which Cindy used with her.
“I punched Todd in the nose when he tried to take me to his place last night, and wouldn’t take no for an answer. He is disgusting, lude, and a womanizer mother! I am in love with Cade, and since I am a grown woman and this is my house. I suggest you leave.”
As if her mother hadn’t heard any of the last part, she stared mouth still gaping at her daughter.
“You, punched Todd?” She asked.
“Mother, he wasn’t taking no for an answer, so yes, I punched him.”
“Well, I…” She huffed up her chest and seemed to process the entire thing. “Wait…he tried to force you to go with him? You punched him, and you are in love with Cade?”
Her mother started fanning herself, lost in thought.
“Yes, I am in love with Cade.”
She turned towards him and her blue eyes beamed at him, sending waves of excitement through him. Cindy’s mother hooked her by the arm and moved into the next room. She may have been trying to be discreet, but Cade heard every word.
“Are you happy dear?” Cindy’s mother asked.
“What, you have never asked me that before.”
“Are you, happy?” She repeated.
“Very.” Cindy smiled.
“Well, I will talk to your father and we will have to have lunch with you both. If he makes you happy, I will try to look past his…physical mutilations on his arms and try to be accepting.”
“Uh, ok,” Cindy stammered. “Thank you?”
“I love you sweetie. I have never been very good at this whole thing, but I love you.”
“I love you too mom.”
Cade peaked around the corner and saw them hugging. Cindy’s face was scrunched in confusion at her mother’s behavior as she shrugged at him.
“Now go take a shower, you stink. And you,” Cindy’s mother turned to Cade. “Stop peaking around the corner and come in here.”
Cade wondered how she knew he was peaking, but stepped in awkwardly.
“Do you have something nice to wear this time?” Her mother had tilted her head back, chin held high as she inspected him.
“I can find something.”
“Good, make sure you do.”
She tapped him on the chest and that was the second time this week a mother hen had poked him.
“Yes ma’am.”
“Hmm. And please do where something a little more flattering this time Cindy, that dress is awful! Also, you are all frumpy today, did you sleep in it?”
“I will talk to you later mother.” She ushered her mother towards the door.
Cade stepped up and wrapped his arms around her.
“Do I stink?” Cindy asked, trying to check herself.
“Not to me.”
“I am going to go take a shower. I guess I need to wrap this in plastic or something.” She held out her bulging casted hand.
“Do you need any help?”
Passion and lust entering his voice as he moved his hands down her front and pulled up on her dress, causing her to tremble against him. She pulled away after a moment.
“No, you go,” she objected, with hesitation. “I have to go by the hospital and see what they have me scheduled for this week.”
They held hands and he leaned down for one more kiss.
“I should stop by the shop. I feel like my staff thinks I have quit on them. Oh, I forgot to tell you, we have to expand. What time is it anyway, crap! I am supposed to be downtown looking at a potential new location. I will call you later.”
With that he moved to leave. His lust unsatisfied for now, but he would have to take care of that later. Cindy waved down at him from her balcony and he waved back.
13
Zooming down the street, he made it to the address the realtor had given him and checked his phone. He was only five minutes late, but she was tapping her foot by the street corner. He noticed her attitude change when he peeled off his helmet. The next thirty minutes he had to politely dissuade the woman from leaving him her personal phone number, but she still managed to slip it on the back of the business card she handed him. She brushed his fingers with her own and smiled at him.
Ignoring her advances, Cade left her and the ridiculously overpriced building behind. He wasn’t sure where they would move the shop to, but the property his realtor had shown him was outrageous. Returning to his own shop, he found Alex, Cadence, and the new hires lounging in the lobby.
“Hey guys,” Cade greeted.
Cadence jumped up first.
“How was it?” She asked.
He had to think for a second, and realized she meant the building.
“It was nice, but too expensive. I have a few more locations to look at this week. Did you want to tag along?”
He didn’t even think to invite her the first time, but he could see she was dying to evaluate the places herself.
“Yes, please!” She practically jumped at the idea.
Cade narrowed his eyes at his employee, unsure of her still unusual behavior.
“Are you ok Cadence?” Cade asked, glancing at her with unsure eyes.
Her eyes darted to Alex.
“Well, we have some more news...” Cadence teased. Alex stood up this time and put his arm around Cadence. “We are pregnant.”
Cade was floored. That was wonderful news, but it still shocked him. He didn’t even think Cadence liked children, but the excitement in their faces chased any doubts from his mind.
“Well damn. Congratulations guys! That is wonderful news! Engaged, expecting a baby, what next?”
Cadence hugged him and then moved over to Alex who had returned to his burrito. Her joy from a moment ago was replaced with a look of pure disgust and she covered her mouth and ran to the back.
“They say if you have a lot of morning sickness you are probably having a girl,” Alex said between bites and smiled.
Cade’s two new hires looked bored and he viewed the schedule. They were booked tight that afternoon and evening, so that would hopefully satisfy them. Cade wondered how Cindy was doing at the hospital and hoped she didn’t run into Todd while she was there. He clinched his fists, still itching to punch him. He had to stifle his anger earlier when Cindy had explained the whole story to her mother.
“You ok there buddy?” Cadence walked back through looking at his fists.
“Huh, yes. I am good.”
Cade relaxed and checked his email for any new requests. An invitation to a well-known event in the city flashed in his inbox. Usually people dressed as their favorite fictional characters and many vendors had to register early for a spot.
“Cadence?”
“Hmm,” she replied.
“Did you have anything to do with this?”
She peered over his shoulder at the email.
“Oh, yes. Yes I did. Yay!”
“Well, I suppose you can handle the shop and the new hires while Alex and I head to this next week.”
She slugged him in the shoulder and he threw up his hands in mock defeat. He knew she would kill him if he didn’t take her with him.
“I am kidding!” Cade confessed.
Cadence narrowed her eyes at him and brandished a playful fist. “Better be.”
***
Cindy walked through the automatic doors at the hospital and made her way to the nurse’s station. Her hours had changed, and she was no longer on the graveyard shift. Normally she would be upset she wasn’t asked, but this meant she could actually be on a normal schedule for a while. She was distracted when Todd approached the desk. She felt eyes on her and jumped when she saw how close he stood.
“Shit,” she gasped and held her broken hand to her chest.
“Hi.” His voice was gruff his
nose was swollen.
Green and yellow bruising sprouted out on each side. She could faintly see that the bridge was a little crooked and felt some satisfaction and an ache in her broken hand. A dull ache radiated in her wrist at the same time and she remembered it was time for another round of pain meds. Maybe that was karma for feeling so smug that his nose was also broken.
