I rolled my eyes. “No worries there.” I was horribly uncoordinated, much to Mom’s dismay. Many a pageant coach had tried and failed to get me to dance, tumble, or even baton twirl, but each attempt had ended in disaster—and sometimes bodily harm. “I’m sticking with singing.” I had a decent voice, not stellar, but decent enough to keep me in the running.
“That’s probably for the best.” Lacey placed a finger to the side of her chin, studying me. “What about your makeup for tonight? Are you going to put on some pageant paint for your hot date?”
I bit my lip. “I might add a little mascara and lip gloss, but I’m definitely not going all out. It would be—” I paused, trying to think of the right word. “Too fake.”
“That’s fine. Just do whatever you’re comfortable with.”
I nodded. If I were someone like Chloe Davenport, I would probably go over-the-top for a date with Cade, but over-the-top wasn’t in my nature. Either he would like me for me, or he wouldn’t. I wasn’t going to change who I was to impress him—I did enough of that with my parents, and it was draining.
I changed into my outfit and curled my hair in soft waves, adding a bit of makeup while Lacey talked about her favorite subject—Oliver Ramirez. She was in the middle of analyzing which classes he might choose for the next term, when there was a knock at the door. I checked my watch, my heart tripping out a staccato in my chest. Cade was right on time.
I glanced at Lacey and she pressed her lips together, clearly holding back a squeal. I felt one bubbling in my chest too, but I squashed it, taking a deep breath as I stepped to the door and opened it.
Cade stood with his hands in the pockets of his jeans. I’d never seen him in regular clothes before, and they looked good on him. He straightened and gave me a half smile. “Hey, Tia.” He glanced at my outfit. “You look great. Are you ready?”
“Yep. Let me just grab my purse.”
“Here you go,” Lacey said, handing it to me with a subtle look that spoke volumes.
“Thanks.” I gave her a wink in return; that meant I would give her all the deets when I got back.
“Have a good night, Lacey,” Cade said, nodding at her.
She blinked. “Thanks … and make sure to get Tia home in time for curfew,” she added in a mock motherly tone.
He grinned. “Will do.”
I shouldered the small purse, trying to get my heart rate to return to a natural beat as Cade walked beside me down the hallway of our dorm.
Jenny Meek, Chloe Davenport’s best friend, walked toward us, her pretty almond-shaped eyes practically bulging out when she saw us together.
“Hey, Jenny,” Cade said, giving her a friendly smile.
“Hey, Cade.” Jenny returned the smile, but it didn’t carry to me. She gave me a calculating look as she passed.
Cade glanced over his shoulder at her as we kept walking, waiting until we were a safe distance before lowering his voice. “She didn’t say hi to you. Don’t you two know each other?”
“Yeah … we know each other. But she and Chloe Davenport kind of keep to themselves in the dorms.” It was the nicest thing I could say without calling them out as the mean girls they were.
Cade nodded once. “I know Chloe.”
I bet you do. I glanced at him sideways, thanking my lucky stars it wasn’t Chloe we’d run into. She probably would have unleashed her claws and slashed my face right here in the hallway if she saw me with Cade. But now that Jenny had seen us, it would only be a matter of seconds until Chloe found out. I would have to watch my back.
I cleared my throat and changed the subject. “You seem to know just about everyone in school. I was surprised you knew my name.” For a private academy, we had a fairly big student body. RLA was the best of the best in terms of academics and was the fast track to the Ivy Leagues. Parents from all over the world sent their kids here. It was ridiculously expensive and exclusive, but that only made it all the more appealing to high rollers around the globe.
Cade looked at me. “Once I got voted in as student body president, I tried to learn as many names as I could. I still don’t know everyone—but I definitely knew who you were.”
The look he gave me made my stomach flutter. I swallowed. “I guess that makes sense. I mean, the part about you being student body president, not the part about you knowing my name.” Ugh. Please say I wasn’t going to be this awkward and tongue-tied all night.
The corner of his mouth lifted, and he opened the door that led to the front entrance of the dorms. “Lots of guys know your name, Tia.”
I stared at him, trying to gauge whether or not he was joking. His expression said he wasn’t, so I shook my head. “Are you sure you don’t have me confused with someone else?” I teased. “I keep thinking that maybe that’s what’s happening here. I’m still trying to figure out why you asked me out.” I glanced up at him through my lashes.
He tipped his head to the side and stopped walking, studying me with an earnest expression. “I asked you out because I wanted to get to know you better.”
“Why?”
He smiled. “Does there have to be a reason?”
I nodded. “You just met me this afternoon, and you asked me out minutes later. There must be a reason why.”
He shrugged. “Maybe I have a thing for artists.” His eyes glimmered with a teasing spark, and he started walking again.
I walked beside him, pretending that statement didn’t cause a rapid-fire reaction of electric pulses through my body. “I still don’t buy it,” I said, playing cool.
“That’s fine. I’m just glad you agreed to come.” He gave me a playful look and led me to his car parked at the curb out front, opening the passenger door for me.
“Is this your car?” I asked, admiring the sleek black Aston Martin. In any other high school, a car like this would stand out like a trophy in the parking lot, but at RLA, it was par for the course. I myself owned a Tesla, and she was my baby.
“Yep,” Cade said, waiting until I was seated before closing the door.
The interior smelled like new leather mixed with Cade’s cologne—and I wasn’t hating it. My heart beat erratically as he climbed in and started the ignition. I was a junior in high school, and this was my first official date. I never dreamed my first date would be with Cade Carlisle.
He pulled out onto the drive leading away from the academy. “I was thinking of getting dinner downtown, and then maybe going to Wings Over Washington. Does that sound good?”
“Sure.” I bit the corner of my lip. “What’s Wings Over Washington?”
He glanced at me, raising an eyebrow. “You’re kidding, right?”
I shook my head. “I’ve never heard of it.”
“I thought you grew up around here?”
“I did, but we didn’t go downtown much. My parents don’t like dealing with the crowds.” They preferred the quiet of their private beach, or their private jet, or their private neighborhood—everything calm and catered to their liking.
He gave me a look. “Tell me you’ve at least been to the Space Needle, because if you haven’t, we’re going there right now.”
“I’ve been to the Space Needle, and to Pike Place.” Thanks to a couple of private school field trips when I was young.
He relaxed his shoulders, smiling as he kept his eyes on the road. “Good. You had me worried there for a minute.”
“What’s Wings Over Washington?” I asked again, curious.
“It’s a ride in a theater where you’re strapped in and it feels like you’re flying over Washington state. It’s awesome. If you like rides, you’ll like this.”
“Sounds fun.” I wasn’t about to admit that I hadn’t been on any amusement park rides, aside from the Seattle Great Wheel and the London Eye … if Ferris wheels even counted. I was excited and ready for anything, especially if it meant spending more time with Cade. I kept sneaking little glances his way as we talked on the drive into downtown Seattle. Every time he met my eyes, it sent a fre
sh batch of flutters through me. I had nothing to compare it to, but if all dates were this amazing, I was definitely a fan.
We ate pizza at a place called Rocco’s, and then went to Wings Over Seattle. I loved every second of the experience—especially when Cade’s hand accidentally brushed against mine as we fastened our seat belts to get ready for the ride. The moment his skin touched mine, it was like a jolt of electricity traveling straight to my heart.
“Sorry,” he said, meeting my eyes as the room darkened in preparation for the ride.
“No problem.” I managed a smile, grateful that the darkness hid my blush as my heart thundered in the silence.
He kept hold of my gaze a beat longer before buckling his seat belt. “Are you ready for this, Tia?”
I loved when he said my name. I took a deep breath and pressed my head against the back of the seat. “I think so?” I honestly had no idea. The music started, and I let out a small shriek as we were lifted off of the ground, impulsively reaching for Cade.
He laughed and took my hand, clasping it in his. “It’s all right. We’re strapped in, so you’re safe.”
I was completely speechless, so I nodded, facing forward again as the giant screen displayed panoramic views of Washington. Fans blew a slight breeze scented with pine and other pleasant smells to enhance the sensation of flying. I absorbed all of it in wonder … but mostly, all I could think about was the fact that Cade still held my hand in his. His hands were warm and strong, and I never wanted the ride to end.
When the movie stopped and we were lowered back to the ground, Cade let go of my hand to unbuckle his seat belt. I instantly felt the loss of his touch.
“What did you think?” he asked, helping me to stand.
“Wow.” My cheeks ached a little from smiling. “That was incredible.”
“I know. I swear it gets better each time I go.” He looked like he wanted to reach for my hand again, but he shoved his hands into his pockets instead. “I’m glad you liked it. Now you’re an official local.”
I laughed. “And it only took me seventeen years. Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime.” He returned my smile as we followed the crowd out of the building. “Do you want to grab an ice cream or something before we head back to the academy?”
I was about to agree to that idea when Cade’s phone rang.
He glanced at the screen. “It’s my dad. I’d better take it.”
“No problem.” I waited while he answered the call.
“Hey, Dad. What’s up?” He paused, listening. “I’m actually on a date right now. Can I swing by tomorrow?” Another pause. “Tia Radcliffe. Yep.” He looked at me and smiled. “Sure, let me ask her.” He held the phone away from his ear. “Would you mind if we stopped by my parents’ house on the way back? I need to pick something up.”
“I don’t mind.” It would be interesting to see where Cade lived, and I was more than a little intrigued to meet his parents. From what I understood, they owned Ascension Tech, an up-and-coming technology company that specialized in 3D printing.
“Thanks. I promise we’ll be quick,” Cade told me before putting the phone back to his ear. “Yeah, she’s fine with it. We’re about to get some ice cream, and then we’ll swing by after. Okay, see ya.” He ended the call and shrugged at me. “Sorry about that. Apparently, my mom thinks I desperately need a new laptop for school, since my old one is over a year old.” He rolled his eyes, one corner of his mouth twitching. “Honestly, the woman is a bit of a shopaholic.”
I nodded as we walked toward his car. “It sounds like she and my mom have a lot in common. My mom can shop with the best of them. Once she flew to Rodeo Drive, the Champs-Élysées, and Fifth Avenue all in the same week on a whirlwind shopping spree.”
He arched an eyebrow. “They really do have a lot in common. We should get them together sometime.”
The thought gave me an involuntary flutter. Was that a hint that he and I would hang out again in the future?
He nudged my shoulder. “What about you? Are you a shopaholic too?”
I wrinkled my nose. “No.” That was just one more item to add to the list of ways I was a disappointment to her. “My mom used to take me with her on her shopping trips, but after she realized I was more interested in sightseeing than looking through clothes racks, she took pity on me and stopped inviting me to come along—though she still always brings back dozens of outfits for me. I have enough designer clothes in my closet at home to clothe a small country.”
“Wow.” He looked impressed. “If we ever have a charity clothes drive at school, I’ll know who to call.”
I laughed. “Seriously. I’d be happy to donate.”
He looked thoughtful. “With designer clothes like that, it might even be worth considering having an auction.”
“That’s a great idea.” I could see the student body getting on board with an auction—and there were a lot of designer clothes floating around RLA’s dorms.
He nodded. “The money from an auction would probably benefit the poor more than wearing Gucci would, anyway.”
I was a little surprised by his comment. Cade had dated a lot of different girls from school and had a bit of a reputation as a heartbreaker. The fact that he actually thought about things like helping the poor didn’t jive with his reputation. I gave him a teasing sideways look. “Did you just brand drop?”
He lifted his hands. “I told you my mom is a shopper, didn’t I? I’m not totally clueless about that world.”
I smirked. “Lacey would be so in love with you right now.”
He stopped walking and tipped his head to the side. “Why’s that?”
I blushed, realizing that might have come across a little strong. “Lacey is big into fashion design. She would totally be into this conversation, and the fact that you mentioned Gucci would put her over the moon.”
“Really?” He paused and slid his hands into his pockets. “That’s good to know—but what I’m really curious about is how to get her friend’s attention.” He gave me a searching look. “Can you help me out with that?”
My heart rate accelerated, and my mouth went dry. “Maybe.” I cleared my throat, forcing my voice stronger. “Which friend are you talking about?”
One corner of his mouth lifted as his brown eyes studied mine, his look making the answer clear. “Now that I know you’re not into shopping … should I talk about art galleries? Which topic would you be most interested in?”
My face warmed, and I turned, hoping walking would help me remember how to breathe. “You can talk about whatever you want. I’m interested in a lot of different topics.” I didn’t dare to look at him, but I could practically feel his smile as he walked beside me.
“You’re different from the other girls at the academy, Tia.”
I finally braved a glance at him, caught by the look of warmth in his eyes. “Different in a good way or bad way?” I hedged.
He held my gaze. “A very good way.”
Butterflies swarmed in my stomach, and I looked away again, hoping Cade couldn’t hear my heart pounding. If I wasn’t careful, I would fall for him, and I would get my heart broken. According to Tennyson, it was better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all … but in this moment, I wasn’t so sure I believed that. I was falling for Cade—hard. And if I lost my heart to him, it might not be worth the pain when it came to picking up the pieces.
Chapter Three
After getting ice cream from Shug’s Soda Fountain downtown—where our conversation stayed mercifully on people-watching and our favorite movies and away from anything that would make my heart pound—we made the drive to Cade’s house. The Carlisles lived in a gated community with a guard station, like my neighborhood. The mansion was impressive, with a fountain replicating a smaller version of Trevi Fountain that sat in an opening of the circular drive out front.
“Home sweet home,” Cade said, parking by the doors before cutting the engine. He checked his watch, frowning.
“I promised I’d get you back in time for curfew, so we’ll make this quick.”
“No worries,” I said, though I was a teeny bit worried. I was a rule follower, and if I didn’t make it back in time for curfew, the resident assistant in our dorm would call my parents. And then my parents would call me, and my mom would find out I was on a date. And then she would make a huge deal out of it and probably want to meet Cade and hear every little detail, which would be super embarrassing. So yeah … I definitely wanted to make curfew.
He smiled and hopped out of the car, heading toward my door. I appreciated the fact that he’d gotten the door for me tonight. Maybe it was a little old-fashioned, but I wasn’t opposed to old-fashioned. For a heartbreaker, Cade sure had some decent manners. And not just toward me; he’d held the door for people at the soda shop, and he was a courteous driver, even with all of that horsepower under the hood.
Basically, he was unexpected in a lot of ways—which didn’t help my determination to protect my heart from him.
He opened my door and offered me his hand. I took it, slightly breathless every time we touched. Did he feel it too? His eyes met mine as I stood, and the air between us filled with an electric charge. I dropped my hand, scared of the magnetic pull I felt toward him.
“This is a gorgeous home,” I said, forcing my attention to the mansion. “How long have you lived here?”
“We moved in a year before I started at the academy,” Cade said. “To be honest, our house in Everett still feels like home to me. That’s where I grew up. But once the business started picking up, Mom was ready for something bigger.” He shrugged. “After I graduate, I’ll be off to college, so I guess it’ll take a while for this to feel like home.”
“Where are you going to school?” I asked, pouncing on the neutral topic.
“I got a scholarship to MIT. I plan to go into the computer science program.”
“Wow.” I gave him an apprising look. “MIT is hard enough to get into, but a scholarship, even? I didn’t think kids from RLA got those very often … considering.”
Don't Kiss The Heartbreaker (Billionaire Academy YA Romance Book 3) Page 2
