I uncross my arms. “Wait, you walked all the dogs?”
“All fourteen of them.”
“How did you manage that in this amount of time?”
“I walked a couple at a time.”
“Even Rosco? And Bruiser?” Rosco and Bruiser are our longest residents because, well, let’s just say they’re not always the friendliest with men.
“Yeah. It was easy. Nothing to it if you’re a pro with dogs like me. Now what do you say? Walk with me?”
I roll my eyes, grinning. “How is it that even when you’re being charitable, you’re arrogant?”
“It’s not arrogance if it’s founded in reality.”
“Whatever.”
“So are you in? Or am I going to have to tell Mr. Cheeky and Bobo that they aren’t getting a walk today?”
“Fine. One walk. But it’s for the dogs.”
“Of course,” he says, grinning with his hands up. I sigh, following him to the dog room, walking past Janice on the way.
“Glad to see you two getting along,” she says, winking.
I shake my head. “We’re not.”
“If you say so,” she says, turning to the filing cabinet as I follow Cash outside to the dog runs.
“Maybe you should take him home for Killer,” I say as we put Bobo back in his cage, making sure he has food and water an hour later.
“I mean, his name isn’t Killer for nothing. Pretty sure Bobo needs a home with a nicer brother.”
We’ve finished our walk, and Janice is getting ready to lock up. I have to admit, even though I’m a self-proclaimed cat lady, spending time out in the sunshine with the three dogs was pretty awesome. Although maybe it was the company I’m keeping.
Walking with Cash was fun and easy. There was no need to impress, no small talk. Just simple fun, laughs, and a whole lot of barking as Cash tried to show off his dog training abilities—and failed miserably.
I say goodbye to Janice as Cash and I walk out to our cars.
“So,” he says, hands in the pockets of his sweatpants as he stands near my car.
“So,” I repeat.
“Do you maybe want to get a drink? I mean, after all that barking, I could use something to take the edge off.”
“Can’t. Sorry.”
Cash sighs, rolling his eyes. “Come on. I know it’s not your thing. But I’m not half bad, right? I mean, look, you survived an entire hour with me on that walk, and you didn’t go running away. That’s a good sign, right? I’m not that terrible.”
“I never said you were.”
“But it’s not your thing,” Cash murmurs, shaking his head.
“No, drinking is definitely my thing.”
“Not with a guy. Too date-like.”
“Not in sweatpants when I smell of cat pee and dog kennels.”
“Oh,” he replies.
“And you’re right, too date-like. Wouldn’t want you getting the wrong idea. Volunteering together is one thing. Going out for drinks—too risky.”
I open my car door, but he puts a hand on it.
“Coffee? How about a cup of coffee? I saw a tiny dump of a shop on the way over here. It’s like a block away. Coffee is nonthreatening. Hell, I bet even Janice goes for coffee after work. What do you say? One cup.”
I grin. “Do you ever give up?”
“No.”
I bite my lip, shaking my head. This seems like a terrible idea. Cash Creed is already worming his way into my life way, way too much. But I don’t know. I did like talking to him on the walk. And a cup of coffee seems pretty mild. I have coffee with tons of people in a week.
“One cup. But this isn’t a date.”
“Obviously,” he says. “I mean, look at that outfit you’re wearing. I wouldn’t be caught dead on a date with a woman dressed like that.”
I pinch his arm, but he just laughs. “You’re not looking so hot yourself,” I reply.
“I think your eyes dancing over me as I was cleaning the kennel say otherwise.”
“You’re such an ass,” I say.
“An ass you’re having coffee with.”
“Don’t push it,” I argue. I hop into my car and shut the door, Cash heading to his car. That man is infuriating and ridiculous.
But on the one-block drive to the aptly named Coffee Hole, I find myself grinning stupidly at him, at our day, at our bantering.
It feels good to have a man who can run with me, who can keep up with me. And even if I don’t want to admit it, I’m a little excited at the prospect of unwinding for a while, learning more about him, and sipping some probably terrible coffee in a dumpy little shop with a sexy man in sweatpants.
“You better not tell anyone about this. I don’t want word getting around that Sage Everling is getting all romantic,” I murmur when I get out of my car and follow Cash inside.
“Darling, look at this place. I don’t think the word ‘romantic’ would ever come to mind. If anyone saw us right now, they’d be more likely to think you’re involved in a drug ring.”
“Lovely thought. You’re really winning me over for this coffee thing,” I say.
“I don’t have to win you over.”
“Oh yeah?” I ask as he opens the door to the Coffee Hole, the door screeching at an ear-splitting decibel.
He leans in, whispering. “I think I’ve already won.”
I hit his arm, laughing. “You wish.”
I walk over to the counter where a twentysomething is leaning on the dirty counter. There’s no one in the place, and it’s a good thing—there’s exactly one table in the corner. I don’t feel clean walking in the place, let alone drinking the coffee. Still, we order two cups and head to the table.
This isn’t my kind of place at all, and I don’t think it’s Cash’s either. I smile, though, mentally telling myself it’ll all be good. No one’s died from a cup of coffee, right?
“This place is atrocious,” Cash murmurs.
“This was your idea,” I argue.
“Only because you were too busy playing hard to get to agree to go for drinks. Wouldn’t margaritas at a decent place be better right now?”
My mouth waters a little at the thought of margaritas. “Pretty sure we’re dressed for Coffee Hole, not margaritas at a nice bar.
“We could always change, meet up later,” he says.
“Nice try,” I reply.
“Was it? Because that wasn’t even my best.”
I roll my eyes as the barista—if we can call a dazed dude in a T-shirt who poured some coffee into a Styrofoam cup a barista—brings our coffee over. It looks like tar in a cup.
“Maybe we should just call it a night,” I note, looking into my cup with disgust.
“Don’t be ridiculous. I just bought you an amazing cup of coffee. The least you could do is chat with me while we both pretend we’re going to take a sip of this stuff. Come on, it’s not so bad. Tell me about you, won’t you? I mean, I at least deserve to know something about the woman who was grinding all over me on the front-page of the paper.”
I smile, studying him. His dark eyes peer back at me, and I feel my heart beat a little faster. “Well, what do you want to know?”
He studies me for a long moment before speaking. “Everything.”
“Is that all?” I ask, teasing.
“I’ll settle for anything right now,” he says.
I shrug, thinking. “Well, let’s see. I’m obsessed with Ed Sheeran. He’s probably the only man I’d consider marrying, even though he’s already engaged so that’s off the table. I have two cats, a hairless cat named Monticello after my favorite vacation spot and a blind cat named Barcelona whom I adopted from Seaside Serenity. I love pancakes, coffee, and orange soda. They’re my guilty pleasures. And I also like making pottery, although I haven’t really had time lately with the business picking up. My parents are both assholes whom I don’t really talk about because it just pisses me off. I’m an only child, my business is everything to me, and that’s about it.”
He smiles at me.
“What?” I ask, realizing I’ve probably overshared. I think this is more than I’ve ever told man about me in like five years.
“Nothing. It’s just nice to finally meet you. Kind of backwards, you know? I get carnal knowledge of you before I know your favorite food.”
“Well, don’t get any ideas. This doesn’t mean anything. I’m not—”
He covers my hand with his, and I jolt at the electricity of his skin on mine. “I know. Me neither. Will you relax a little? Jesus, it’s not an audition for marriage. Just wanted to get to know you a little, since we’ll be volunteering together and all.”
I take a breath, easing back into my seat, staring at him.
“Your turn,” I say.
He proceeds to tell me about his apartment back in Texas, his family, and his favorite television shows. It’s simple, really, the two of us in a dive of a coffee shop, not drinking a single sip of coffee, talking about little things that mean a lot.
When an hour has passed and the seemingly stoned barista tells us it’s closing time—at six o’clock—Cash walks me to my car.
“I had fun today,” he says.
I shield my eyes from the sun. “Me too,” I admit.
“Friends?” he asks, extending a hand. “Or is that against the rules, too?”
“I don’t know. I don’t have a rule for that. I usually don’t see my lays more than once,” I admit, smiling.
“Sage Everling, you’ve got a heart of steel. Has anyone ever broken through it?” he asks me.
I stare at him defiantly. “Never,” I confess.
“Well, I’m not one to give up, you know?”
I open my mouth in protest, but before I can say anything, he’s pinning me up against the door of my car, his mouth pressed against mine. I want to stop him, my head telling me this isn’t a good idea. But as his hand moves through my hair in just the perfect way, as he takes ownership of me with his lips, I ease into it.
He’s a little bit aggressive and a whole lot of confident.
He’s the alpha to my alpha, and it’s just the way I like it.
It’s a power struggle with this one, both of us trying to take the reins.
Somehow, though, the tug-of-war works. I like it, I admit to myself.
I like him.
Just when I find my hands wandering to his hips, thinking about how good it would feel to let him take me in the backseat, he pulls away.
“See you later,” he says, calmly strolling away, leaving me breathless against my car, wondering what the hell just happened. He shoots me a smile and a wink before climbing into his car and driving away.
I open the car door and slump into the seat, resting my head on the steering wheel.
Damn, that man’s good.
For a moment, I almost thought maybe I was going to break my rules. I shake my head, wondering what game Cash Creed is up to and how I’m going to beat him at it.
Thirteen
Cash
After taking care of some paperwork at the condos and the apartments, I head over to Wild Hearts on Monday evening to see Levi. When I get there, I take a seat at Midwestern Nights, the café attached to the horse-riding coral, and listen to Reed animatedly chatting with customers.
“Hey,” he says once he’s finished selling a couple some Texas sheet cake from the display. On a typical day, he runs Midwestern Nights here with Levi. It’s a branch of his husband Lysander’s Midsummer Nights. “What are you up to?”
“Just stopped by to see Levi. Wanted to check the place out.”
“He’s on the trail with a group of fourteen-year-olds here for a birthday party.”
I shake my head. “Sounds like hell.”
“That’s what I thought too. Especially after our day. We had a group come over from the senior center this morning. That was a trip.”
“Glad to hear things are busy. It’s good to see Levi’s dreams coming true again.”
I mean it. It was a rough year the year he had his accident. Although I never quite understood the bronc riding thing, I did understand his devastation when it ended. It’s good to see my big brother picked himself up, dusted himself off Creed style, and rebuilt his life with a new dream.
“You want some sheet cake while we wait for him to get back?” he asks.
“Probably should watch my figure. Haven’t been to the gym since I got here.”
“Please. That figure’s looking fine to me. I’m sure Miss Everling would agree.”
I roll my eyes. “I swear. Can we have just one conversation that doesn’t involve her?”
“Get me one of those new bags I’m hearing about before they hit the store online, and maybe.”
“I don’t think that’s in the cards for you.”
“A man can dream.”
“That he can,” I say as Reed winks, rushing to the display case to pull me out some Texas sheet cake. He brings it over and slides it to me on the table, sitting across from me.
“Damn, that’s good,” I say after a couple of bites. “Maybe even better than Mama’s. Just don’t tell her.”
“Thanks,” he says, beaming as I wolf down the rest of the dessert.
“So,” I say through a mouthful of cake. “What’s new with you and Lysander?”
Reed shrugs. “Can you keep a secret?”
“No. Not really.”
He raises an eyebrow. I shrug. “Just being real. But go ahead. I’ll give it my best.”
“We’re going through training to become foster parents.”
“What? Are you serious? That’s wonderful, man,” I say, putting down my fork.
“Yeah. I mean, there was a time I wasn’t sure about being a dad, but being with Lysander, it’s really shown me that it’s possible, that I can be a dad. And I thought who better to understand what it’s like being a foster child than me? Since I grew up in it, I know exactly what it feels like. I think that could really help me help out other kids going through it.”
“That’s beautiful. I know I don’t know you that well, but it’s going to be great. Listen, I know things can get tricky. If you ever find yourself needing legal advice, you know, to look over paperwork or whatever, you know where to find me.”
“Thanks,” he smiles. “We haven’t told anyone else yet. We just want to wait until we get through training and all, until it’s official.”
“I won’t say a word,” I reply. It’s kind of cool that Reed trusted me with this even though I’m not really on the inside of the group yet. Of course, maybe that’s why he trusted me. No risk when you don’t know someone that well.
“Won’t say a word about what?” a voice bellows from the door. We turn.
“What happened to the party?” Reed asks, standing.
Levi shakes his head. “The girls thought it was too hot out, and the mom who was with them wouldn’t stop whining. Said she wasn’t an outdoorsy kind of person. I mean, judging by the stilettos she wore to go horse riding, I sort of got that. Anyway, they decided to cut it short.”
“Sorry,” Reed says, grimacing.
“I’m not. God, it’s been one hell of a day.”
“Want a beer?” Reed asks.
“Bring us a round,” Levi nods, taking a seat across from me now. “And what is Ocean City’s finest landlord doing here? You come to ride a horse, brother?”
“You wish. No, just thought I’d stop and see how things were going.”
“Busy. Busier than hell. I’m glad I have you here to run the other end of things.”
“Don’t get used to it. You know….”
“You’re just here for summer. I know. Unless that Sage character bangs you enough to make you want to stay longer.”
“Or marries him,” Reed yells.
“Listen, you know me, brother. You know that’s not my game.”
“Sometimes the game changes,” he says, readjusting the hat on his head.
“Not this time,” I say, shaking my head, shovi
ng aside the afternoon I spent with Sage yesterday, the slight breaking of my own rules.
“So did you see her again?” Levi asks.
I sigh. “Why so much interest in my love life? Last I heard, you have your own.”
“Truth. But Mama’s paying me good money to keep tabs on you,” Levi says. I’m not completely sure he’s teasing.
“Well, if you must know, yeah, I saw her. At the animal shelter yesterday.”
“You’re volunteering there?” Reed asks, joining us in the booth.
“Yeah, what can I say?”
“Sexy, confident, and an animal lover? No wonder the women swoon for you. Levi, maybe you’re lucky you got here first. Maybe Jodie would have went for this one.”
Levi punches Reed in the arm as I laugh.
“So did you sleep with her again?” Levi asks.
“No. I’m playing things a little differently.”
“Oh yeah?”
“Yeah.”
“As in….” Levi says, waiting for me to fill in the blank.
“It’s not a big deal. I just took her for coffee. Talked a little. I think women like Sage need a different approach. I wooed her a bit, teased her a bit, and then pulled the old hard to get card. We’ll see if it works.”
“You know, some would be bothered by your irreverent discussion of games and love.”
“This is me you’re talking to. You weren’t always a stranger to the game.”
“What game? Are we playing Cards Against Humanity Again?” another voice asks. We turn to see Jodie strolling through.
“Oh, that one’s fun. Remember that card your mom played?” Reed asked.
Jodie groans. “Don’t remind me. How’s it going, Cash?”
“What, Cash gets a hello before me?” Levi asks, shaking his head.
“You get all kinds of hellos, did you forget?” Jodie asks.
“That’s my cue to get home to my hubby,” Reed says, hands in the air.
“Oh please. There’s not a single person here who is a prude. Not a single one.” Jodie says, shaking her head.
Lone Hearts (Lines in the Sand Book 6) Page 7
