First Kiss

by Bernadette Marie

  “Life happened. You haven’t really talked to me since the day you kissed me in the tree house.”

  He smiled and touched her face. “My first kiss. Not one I’ve ever forgotten.”

  She pursed her lips. “Cade, that was a different life. This one is more serious. I have him to think about. You have your life back in Green Bay. I’m not asking you to come home and take over your dad’s place.”

  He knew she meant that figuratively and realistically. “It’s a good house. I could rent it out, or keep it to come back to.”

  “When? When you needed someone? Not when they needed you?”

  Whatever had happened to this woman after that kiss in the tree house, she had no intentions of trusting him or letting him into her life.

  “You’re not even going to try to trust me, are you?”

  “I haven’t had a lot of practice in trusting men. Or you.”

  “Some of us change.”

  “And some don’t.” She dropped the diaper bag back in the car. “This is a mistake, Cade.” She reached her arms out for Gage. “We should just go. You should finish fixing up the house, sell it, close out his accounts, and get back to your life. Gage and I need to…”

  He couldn’t take anymore of her common sense. He moved in and planted a firm kiss on her lips.

  She pulled back. “Not in front of him.” She glanced at Gage.

  “He needs to know someone else thinks the world of you, too.” He looked at Gage. “I have something for you.”

  He headed toward the garage with Gage still in his arms, and he could hear Olivia grunt as she reached back into the car for the diaper bag, slammed the car door shut, and followed them.

  Cade opened the side door to the garage and set Gage on the floor in front of an old, antique pedal car. Immediately Gage hurried over to the toy and climbed in.

  “Cade, that is wonderful. Where did you find it?”

  “Dad had it buried in the back of the garage under a tarp with all of Conner’s things.”

  The smile on her face diminished. “It was Conner’s?”

  “Yeah, I’d forgotten all about it. I think he had it when he was Gage’s age. Seems like it broke when we were about five. His mom beat his ass for it.” The words had come out before the feelings hit him. The car broke because of him, not Conner. Conner had paid for that, and Cade had never told a soul.

  He cleared his throat. “I fixed it up. It’s his now.”

  “Oh, no.” She was quick to reject his gift. “He can’t have it. It’s not his.”

  “I want him to have it. Dad would want him to have it.”

  Olivia walked out of the garage. Again, he had her in tears. Most women would slap him across the face and leave him to move on to the next woman in line. This one was different.

  “C’mon, big guy, let’s drive this on the driveway.”

  He helped Gage out of the car and pushed it out in front of the garage. Olivia was on the back porch wiping her eyes.

  Gage quickly figured out the pedals and was off, giggling and driving about. Cade slowly walked up the few steps to the back porch, watched Gage climb from the car and try to turn it around before getting back in, and then walked toward the grill and turned it on.

  “Dad must have cooked out here not too long ago. The grill plate was clean, and the propane bottle was full.”

  Olivia looked out over the driveway. “We celebrated his birthday. Sixty was certainly too young for him to die.”

  “He’d turned sixty?” He closed the lid to the grill. “I don’t think I ever knew how old my dad was.” He sat down in the chair next to her, but she kept an eye on Gage. “I don’t think I knew much about him at all.”

  “It’s not too late.”

  He sat back in the chair and rubbed his knee. It ached as bad as his heart did. “I suppose I’ll know plenty when I start going through all the things here.”

  “He had a full life before he settled here.”

  “You’ve talked to him a lot about that, huh?”

  “He’s all I had, Cade. I know that probably makes you mad, but…”

  “No. Not mad. Sad that I wasn’t a good son. I always blamed him for that.”

  Now she turned around and her eyes narrowed on him. “You blame him for your lack of compassion?”

  She deserved to be angry. He was angry at himself, too. “I always did. I had it in my head that he drove my mother away. If a mother didn’t even want her son, the father must have been horrible.”

  Olivia shook her head. “He loved her. She just couldn’t love him back.”

  “So why have his son?”

  He watched her take in a deep breath and then look out over the driveway at Gage. “He said she thought she could change.” She turned back to him. “She thought she could try to do the domestic life, small town, man at home and a baby. She was wrong.”

  “Nice. You know more about my mother than I do.”

  “I asked.”

  Cade knew that was more than he’d ever done. He’d never asked where his mother was. He’d only accused his father of pushing her away. However, his father never argued that either.

  “What about Gage’s dad? Did you love him?”

  She looked down at her hands which were folded in her lap. “I thought so. He’d always been there when I needed someone.”

  The subject caused her an enormous amount of pain and wasn’t very comfortable for him either. If he pursued the conversation, he just might find out that little boy he’d fallen in love with was his brother. He wasn’t ready for that. He wanted Olivia to himself.

  “Conner was in the Army?” he asked, breaking the awkward silence that had developed.

  “Marines.”

  Cade nodded. “I found his duffle bag in the garage with the rest of his things.” He looked across the back yard at the burned out foundation of the house Conner had lived in. He took a breath and asked, “When did Conner die?”

  Olivia lifted her head and looked at the house, too. “A few months after your accident.”

  “He came to see me, didn’t he?”

  She nodded. “You said you didn’t know him. You had security escort him from the hospital.”

  At the very mention of the accident, his neck hurt, his head throbbed, and even more his heart ached. “I was on so many pain medications I didn’t know who I was. But, somewhere, I’ve always known he was there. I wish I could tell him I was sorry.”

  Olivia only nodded her head and then turned her attention back to Gage. “Your dad was there, too.”

  He reached his hand to her arm, and she turned back to him. “My dad? No one ever told me he was there.”

  “He asked them not to. Someone named Ashley got him into your room so he could spend some time with you while you were sedated. He asked them not to tell you. He figured it would just upset you and set you back.”

  Cade ran his hand over his head and let it sink in. Were there two more stubborn men in the world than him and his father?

  He stood from his seat and headed into the house, without another word, to start dinner and get a grip on his emotions.

  Olivia cried when he walked inside. There was so much Cade needed to know about his father. The man loved him. He just was a man and couldn’t show it. The only time he’d ever loved someone they’d left him so, of course, he was going to be afraid to show love, even to his son. But the truth was he was proud of Cade, and Cade needed to know that.

  She watched Gage climb from the car and push it around. He was safe and content in Austin’s driveway for a moment. She stood and walked into the house.

  Cade was at the sink mixing a salad. Steaks sat on a plate next to him, seasoned and ready for the grill.

  She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

  He clasped his hands over hers. “This whole journey has been upsetting. I miss him, and I realize I didn’t even know him.”

  He turned and gathered her in his ar
ms. “Tell me, were you in love with him?”

  “Cade…” She tried to pull away, but he held her close.

  “No. I need to know.”

  Olivia pushed away and paced the kitchen while he watched. “Once, maybe. One of those foolish girl things.” She shook her head. “He wasn’t one for scandal.” She wanted to laugh, but, in her heart, she couldn’t. She took a breath to explain her silly, childhood crush when they heard Gage scream, and they both ran out the back door and to the driveway.

  Gage stood near the end of the driveway behind the truck, which had done some off roading and gotten stuck in the rocks. He pulled and he pushed and he screamed again.

  Once Olivia’s heart stopped pounding, and she could catch her breath, she could laugh.

  Cade walked over to the car and pulled it from the rocks. “It really isn’t four wheel drive, buddy.”

  Gage gave him a knowing nod and climbed back in and pedaled off.

  Cade looked up at her. It was going to break her heart into a million pieces when he went back to his life. But standing there in the driveway, his eyes matching those of her son and his heart exposed by the smile on his face, she couldn’t help but love him—this time as a woman.

  She walked across the driveway, wrapped her arms around his neck, and pulled him in for a deep and satisfying kiss.

  “You’re going to break my heart, aren’t you?”

  “Never on purpose,” he said in her ear as he held her tight.

  “We will stay with you.” She inched back to look at him. “And I know my heart is going to shatter, but don’t hurt Gage. He’s already trusting you. You can’t hurt him.”

  Cade looked up to where Gage rode around in a circle. “I didn’t know a grown man could fall in love with someone other than a woman.” He looked back down at her. “I’d never hurt him. I promise.”

  Well, he’d given her his word. She just wondered how good his word actually was.

  Chapter Eight

  Olivia sat down at her desk on Monday morning and sifted through the papers she’d left there on Saturday afternoon.

  Again, her mind wasn’t on her work. It was on Cade.

  This time, however, she was smiling.

  He’d given her son a priceless gift and, even though it had pained him physically, he’d even carried him up to the tree house. He’d cooked her an amazing dinner. And then, while her son slept in his own crib in the first home he’d known, Cade had made love to her all night, gently and sweetly, in his old bedroom which his father had kept pristine.

  Her entire body still tingled at the thought of every touch, every kiss, and every flowing movement between them. He’d taken her to the edge and then fallen over with her. Then he’d held her, caressed her skin, and whispered sweet things in her ear. Things only Cade Carter would know she’d want to hear. She wasn’t a fool to think it would last forever, but she was going to enjoy every moment she had.

  Parker tapped on her door. “Good morning.”

  “Good morning.” She smiled up at him.

  “You look refreshed.”

  “I am. New week. Time for moving on.”

  He nodded and then shut her office door behind him. “Listen, I know this isn’t any of my business, but I heard Kat talking and…” He rubbed the back of his neck. “I know Cade has been staying at your place, and last night you stayed at his.”

  Olivia gritted her teeth. “I didn’t realize who slept in my bed had anything to do with my job.” Her voice had risen to a pitch she’d never wanted to use around her boss.

  “Oh, no.” He looked up at her, his eyes wide. “No, nothing like that. I just wanted to say that if you’re involved with Cade then I’m sorry about the invitation to have pizza the other day. I didn’t mean to step over any boundaries.”

  Olivia dropped her shoulders. “Parker, Cade is an old friend.”

  “Oh, I know. You two were very close once. I just didn’t know you still were.”

  He was right. There was no reason for anyone to think that she and Cade had anything left in common except for his father. “Thanks for the invite anyway.”

  He nodded. “Sure. If you need anything, let me know.”

  The door to her office opened again and Kat stuck her head in. “Hey, darling, your boyfriend is here.”

  “Mrs. McCormick, he’s a customer of this bank. Not my boyfriend.” How was it the woman could be so endearing and so crass at the same time.

  “Right. I’ll send him in.”

  Cade walked through the door a moment later, nearly running Parker over.

  “Good morning, Cade.”

  “Parker.” He slipped his sunglasses behind his head as Parker shot her a glance and shut the door.

  She tried to push past his obviously foul mood. “Good morning, sir.” She smiled and pushed up from her chair to reach across the desk to kiss him, but when he looked up at her and narrowed his eyes, she relaxed into her seat. “What can I do for you?”

  “I need a checking account.”

  “We can do that.” She opened the drawer with the necessary papers in it. “Why do you need this?”

  “It seems as though no one in this town takes credit, and an out-of-state check is out of the question.”

  “What are you writing checks for?”

  “I have to get that house fixed up. Already this morning, I’ve had three contractors there to give me bids. One won’t take my check, and the other two came in much higher than the other. Both have made comments that they knew me, and I dated their daughters. Neither of which I remember, but hell, I guess this town has its opinion of me.”

  He had certainly soured her mood.

  “Do you really think the people in this town are just trying to mess with you? I mean really you…”

  “Didn’t even show up for my own father’s funeral.”

  How could she argue with that logic?

  She collected the information she needed, and Cade filled out and signed the necessary papers.

  “Well, Mr. Carter, you are officially a new customer of this bank.”

  “Great.” He took the papers she’d tucked into the bank envelope for him and shoved them into his back pocket. “I have some business to take care of. I’ll be gone a few days. Keep an eye on the house?”

  Her mouth opened and she shut it quickly. So much for the nice, warm good morning he’d given her. Officially he’d frozen her out. “Sure.”

  “Great. Thanks.”

  And, with that, he put on his sunglasses and headed out of the bank.

  Olivia balled her fists to her side. She walked directly down to Parker’s office. “Is that dinner invitation still open?”

  He looked up at her and nodded. “Of course.”

  “I think we should do it soon. Tonight?”

  “Yeah. Sure.”

  “Great. I’ll meet you there at six.”

  He nodded again. “What about Cade?”

  Olivia held up her hand. “Do you see a wedding ring on this finger?” With that she walked away. Oh, she’d been so stupid.

  Cade had started out of town much later than he’d wanted. At this rate, he wouldn’t hit Las Vegas until the wee hours of morning. He was sure his aunt would be awake, but perhaps not home. He’d have to get a motel room and rest up. This certainly wasn’t what he’d wanted to deal with.

  He’d hoped Olivia would show up after work. He’d had half a mind to invite her along, but his aunt was nasty and Olivia didn’t need that. Besides, he’d been in such a bad mood when he’d gone to the bank that he wouldn’t blame her if she didn’t talk to him at all.

  Cade rolled over the Rose Bridge and headed out of town, but a quick glance at his gas tank and he knew he wouldn’t be getting far. He checked his watch again. It was seven-thirty. Maybe he should just wait until tomorrow to leave.

  He pulled into the 7-11 and stopped the car in front of the pumps. It hurt to get out of the damn car. As soon as he was back in Green Bay he was selling the stupid thing to Ash
ley. That had always been the deal anyway.

  He opened the door to the tank, started the pump, and waited. It was then Olivia’s car caught his eye. A moment later, she walked out of the pizzeria across the street with Gage on her hip, and he was screaming.

  It broke his heart to think Gage wasn’t happy. But to see him warmed him to the core.

  A moment later, Parker Woods exited the restaurant with two children, one on each side. Cade had no idea how old children were supposed to look, but they didn’t look very old at all. Each of them had one of his hands and tugged in two different directions.

  He watched as Olivia buckled Gage in the car, and Parker unlocked his car and the two children at his side hurried in.

  But then he watched Parker and Olivia each walk to the back of their cars which were parked next to each other. The conversation was intimate, not the kind where they were talking about a bank loan—that much he could tell. The air in his lungs nearly stuck there when he watched Parker reach for Olivia’s hand and then he moved in and kissed her on the cheek.

  What in the hell was going on? One night with him and the next night with Parker? What kind of game was Olivia playing?

  All of this only days after his father died, and hadn’t she admitted to having feelings for his father?

  Well, he’d been dumb enough to fall for her charm and drag her to bed. Shit! He cared for that little boy, and he was just a ploy in her game.

  The gas pump shut off, and Cade quickly hung up the hose, closed the tank door, and climbed back into the car. With a thunderous noise, he peeled out of the parking lot of 7-11 and headed out of town. From his review mirror, he could see her head snap up. He’d made his point.

  Chapter Nine

  It had been the worst night ever. Gage was awake nearly all night screaming. She’d hoped the two nights without the night terrors was the signal of the end.

  She combed her hair and looked over her reflection in the mirror. Dark circles plagued her eyes.

  Simply put, it was going to be a very long day.

  Michelle had suggested Gage spend the day with his grandmother, and though Olivia didn’t like the idea, she agreed.