by Natalie Ann
“Really?” she asked, her eyes lighting up. Was it the prospect of spending time with him or the potential for a new job? He was afraid to ask because he wasn’t sure he really wanted to know.
“Yeah. Let me know if you’re interested.”
“I’m definitely interested.”
***
Alex hoped that didn’t sound desperate. He was talking about work, right? Another new job? Not spending time with him outside of work. Damn those hormonal urges.
Her mother was the one that pushed this whole thing on her and now she was getting excited at the prospect of spending more time with Cade. When did that happen?
When he started to treat her like a person—like an equal—that’s when.
Not like someone that had a pretty face and didn’t know what she was doing. Not like someone that hadn’t worked a day in her life and didn’t want to. Not like a hot woman that would warm his sheets.
But rather someone she’d like to think he respected.
It didn’t hurt that he was such a treat on the eyes either. Yikes, thoughts like that needed to be kept locked away in her brain. That would be sexist, right? What she hated so much when people thought it of her.
Nah. He wasn’t a treat on the eyes, but rather the main course, as she’d been told she was. The difference was, she knew there was more to Cade than his appearance. There was more to him than anything she’d heard at Duke too.
“What type of music is it?” She was going to try to focus on the business part of his invitation right now.
“It’s a blues band. We mix it up. Some country, some rock and roll, but this is the second time I’m going for blues at the pub. It brings a different crowd in and we like that.”
“I like mixing things up too. I think if you rely on one thing for your business it locks it in to fail.”
“Is that what happened when your parents ran it?”
She frowned. She didn’t think he meant that as an insult, so she wasn’t going to take it as such. “My father only knew one way to do things. When you don’t change with the times, you get left behind. He was a bit stubborn. Over the years I’d talk to him about things he should change, but they cost money that he didn’t want to spend. Then he got sick and passed away quickly. It all fell on my mother and she’d never done much more than office work.”
“I’m sorry,” he said, sincerity in his eyes. She couldn’t remember the last time she saw an emotion expressed like that in someone’s eyes before that wasn’t a family member or co-worker. “I can’t imagine how hard that had to be. Especially being an only child.”
“It hasn’t been easy, but then such is most of life.” No reason to bore him with her past. It was nothing like he’d ever experienced and it was old news to her now.
Lunch was served and it gave her time to eat now and gather her thoughts. There was definitely more to Cade Fierce than met the eye. She wished she could get a grasp on it. So far not much was making sense from what she’d heard at Duke, just reminding her to ignore words if they didn’t come straight from the source.
When lunch was done, she pulled out her credit card the same time he did, and when she lifted her eyebrow, he put his away. She didn’t even need to utter a word. “Sorry, force of habit. I do a lot of working lunches,” he said.
That was better than thinking because he was a man he had to buy lunch. “That’s what this is. My thank you for the business you’ve given me.”
They got up and left, both walking out. There was an awkward silence now between them. Did they just part ways with a “Thanks” again? Hugging didn’t seem right. It was work, not a date.
A kiss was out of the question, even one on the cheek, and she was shocked that thought even crossed her mind. Well, not shocked, just more annoyed she couldn’t seem to stop thinking of him on more than one level right now. Maybe it had to do with those nice full lips of his she was staring at when she shouldn’t have been.
She was at a loss for what to do when he grabbed her hand and just held it loosely, then awkwardly patted it like he realized maybe he shouldn’t have touched her, but was unsure what to do.
“I’ll see you soon,” he said. “And we’ll get you another job out of this band. You just wait. I’m good at what I do.”
“I guess we’ve got another thing in common too,” she said.
His eyes just took on a darker shade and she wasn’t sure what that meant, but she did know that the touch of his hand on hers sent heat all over her body making her fight really hard not to blush. She hadn’t blushed since she got on stage for her first pageant at age fifteen and lost points for that rosy glow, causing her to place second.
Held His Breath
Cade looked at himself in the mirror one more time, made sure his hair was perfect as always, spritzed a bit of body spray on and told himself it was his normal routine, not that he was trying to impress Alex.
It was a work meeting again. Only it was a Saturday night...well, not quite night. He was picking Alex up at her apartment at five, and then they were driving to a bar just outside of Charlotte. There’d be food, drink, and music.
Sounded like a date to him.
Only it wasn’t. Even if it felt like one. Even if he wanted it to be one with a desperation of a man wanting to put it all out there and hoping he was accepted when he tried to act like he had his shit together most of his life.
He couldn’t get a read on what she wanted and that was even worse in his eyes.
His family often said he was clueless, but he wasn’t so much as he just didn’t pay attention to things if they didn’t concern him.
Women had always concerned him. More so after college. After he’d gotten burned enough, set up, and then rumors started to fly that he was nothing more than a playboy out to make his way through as many women as he could.
Some guys probably wouldn’t mind a reputation like that. He didn’t even mind himself for a few years.
Not until he got older and couldn’t break away from it. When he realized how hard it was going to be to convince someone that he wasn’t like that anymore. That he hadn’t planned on being like that to begin with.
That it just sort of happened by mistake rather than design.
But after the dust had settled down, he paid more attention. He tried to know what was going on and what he was getting himself into when it came to a woman.
He didn’t know much at all in regards to Alex other than she agreed to listen to some music with him tonight and talk to the band’s agent who they were going to chat with between six and seven after they’d eaten dinner.
He grabbed his keys and left the house, drove across town to where there were more apartment complexes than houses, and found where hers was located.
He wasn’t prepared for the sight when she opened the door.
If he held his breath and passed out, he hoped to hell she gave him mouth to mouth.
“Too much, huh?” she asked, staring at his face. “I’ll go change.”
“No, don’t. You look great.”
She tilted her head at him. “Great as in sleazy, or great as in better than I look at work?”
He looked over the short tan skirt she was wearing. It wasn’t really short, not as short as some women wore going out, but she had long toned legs and well...they were showcased magnificently.
The sleeveless print shirt wasn’t so much as fitted. That was a lie, it fit just fine around her shoulders and chest, but then flowed a little bit as it rested right on her hips. She had some snug green tank top under it peeking out and showing how tiny her waist was as it hugged her tight.
Her shoes were the killer though. Heeled sandals that were a nice neutral color that looked more like an extension of her legs. The heel wasn’t even high, no more than two inches, but enough to show her calves were in excellent shape and she was sporting a cute pedicure. He was a sucker for painted toes.
“I don’t know if you could look sleazy if you wanted to. But since you don’t,
it’s a crazy question.”
She smiled. “Sorry. I haven’t been out in a long time. I’m just used to wearing jeans and sneakers more than anything. But it’s warm and I figured it’d be warm inside too. This is comfortable and cool at the same time.”
It sure the hell wasn’t making him comfortable or cool at all. “You look really good. Nice. Pretty.”
Her hair was down again, simple waves telling him she didn’t take a ton of time doing it, but that everything about her was just a natural draw to the eyes.
He’d never thought he’d be a sucker for a natural beauty since he always went for the overly made-up ones.
And speaking of eyes, not a lot of makeup, but just enough. Black liner and some white shimmer that made those green eyes of hers pop like an emerald ring on the Queen of England.
“Thanks. You don’t look half bad yourself.”
“Only half?” he asked, smirking at her. He could perfect the Fierce smirk when he wanted to.
“You normally look good, so this is just a notch up.”
He laughed, taking it in stride. He’d accomplished what he wanted. Not knowing if this was anything more than a working event, he wore nice jeans, good shoes, and a designer T-shirt with a light blazer over it. He’d probably be ditching the blazer at some point, he was sure, thinking how hot he was getting just gazing at Alex. Sitting across from her all night, that was going to be like standing in the Arizona sun at noontime.
“If you’re ready, then let’s go listen to some music.” He held his arm out to see if she’d take it. She hesitated and then slid hers through his and he reminded himself once again...this isn’t a date.
***
Alex had stared at her closet for a good hour before she could decide on what to wear tonight.
She had no clue what the attire was for this place, so she looked it up and saw pictures of people dressed for a night of clubbing as well as shorts and a T-shirt. She wasn’t clubbing and this wasn’t a date, but she sure the hell wasn’t going to look like she just got out of work. Her pride wouldn’t allow that.
Though, she wasn’t going to dress like this was a special night out either.
The compromise was a summer skirt and shirt, the tank top under it dressing it down a touch in her eyes, then her summer sandals. She’d had flip-flops on her feet originally and decided that was almost too casual, then grabbed her heels at the last minute.
Her hair was easy, wash and dry, she was done. Makeup, again, her pride wouldn’t let her go out looking too plain. Not when she was trying to garner a potential client. If they’d come to her shop to meet her, that’d be different, but she was on their turf and she had to play the part.
She didn’t want to embarrass Cade since he was the one introducing them. That was what she kept telling herself the entire time she watched her hand dusting the shadow on her eyelids in the mirror. Not that she wanted to give Cade something to look at other than her dirty work clothes.
Somehow she wasn’t shocked when he stopped at the Mercedes convertible in the parking lot. “This is a nice car. You’re keeping the top up, right? Otherwise my hair will look more like a tornado blew through it than that windswept look you see on TV.”
“I’ll keep it up. I don’t drive with it down too much. Not if I’m going somewhere. Coming home I do more often since I’ll be in for the night.”
She liked the sound of that. “Well then, if the weather permits, we could do that.”
“Really?” he asked, climbing into the driver’s side. She tried not to be stunned when he’d opened the door for her moments ago. “Most women can’t stand the top down.”
“You’ve had a lot of women in your car?” she asked grinning at him. He looked uncomfortable and she had no choice but to laugh, then lay her hand on his arm. “Relax, Cade. I’m just teasing. I’d be more shocked if I was the only woman in this car.”
“You’re not the only one to sit in it. Ella has,” he said, then winked at her.
He had just the best personality. Still charming, but not so sickly sweet that it made you want to throw up from eating twenty pounds of gummy bears because you just couldn’t stop after one.
He was more like that decadent dark chocolate you bought at a specialty store and popped one piece in your mouth and savored it, wondering when you could get another.
What hell was wrong with her? This wasn’t a date and she had no business thinking like it was. Damn her mother for putting ideas in her head again. She should have never said she was going out with Cade tonight when her mother stopped over unannounced this morning.
It wasn’t a long drive, nor was it a quiet one. They talked about her work and his work, but nothing of substance. Keeping it level, keeping it cool, keeping it simple.
The place was pretty packed already, but Cade and she were ushered to a table in the back off to a corner.
“How did you manage to get this spot away from everyone in the back?” she asked.
“The agent we’re meeting told them I was coming early and to put us where we could chat without too much interference. If this isn’t good, I’m sure we can find another table where there’s more action.”
“No, this is good. Are we going to stay here when the band comes out? Or do we have to move?”
“Your choice. I personally like to be in the back so I can watch everything. Plus, it’s less chance of getting a stiff neck looking up at the band on stage, or having my eardrums blown out. Not that I expect that with this band tonight. It should be pretty low-key, I’m thinking.”
“I’m good here too, for all the reasons you listed. I’m just happy to get out and do something. It seems like all I do is work lately. I’m not complaining because it’s needed and what I want.”
“Consider this work. This is the fun part of the job. That is how I justify it. Not that my siblings think what I do is work half the time.”
“How can they say that when you’re a lawyer? Everything they do has to go through you at some point, right?”
He smiled at her, his eyes almost glowing with mischief. “Can you tell them that for me, please?”
“Sure. I’ll put in a good word for you.”
Preconceived Notions
“That wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought it was going to be,” Alex said after Tessa left their table. “I wish I’d known the agent was a woman beforehand though.”
“Why?” he asked. “It doesn’t matter, does it?” He was surprised she’d said that.
“It shouldn’t, but sometimes it does. Maybe it was better I didn’t know and couldn’t get any preconceived notions.”
“Meaning what?” he asked, not sure where she was going right now.
“You’re not a girl, you don’t get it.”
“I’ve got a sister, so try me.”
“It’s just that I’ve learned that women tend to be a harder sell for me. Or I should say I have a harder time relating to them. I just seem to do better with men.”
“Because of your looks?” he asked. When she frowned he wished he hadn’t dropped it like that on the table as if it were a bad bite of food.
“I guess. Sometimes when you look too much like a woman, or too feminine, you don’t get taken seriously. By men or women.”
“You should talk to Ella. She has that mastered,” he said.
“How’s that?”
“Being the only girl, Ella is tough as nails around us. She’s had to be. We never took it easy on her at all. Had to make her tough so she could hold her own. If you looked at her, you’d never know. She’s the most fashionable and feminine woman I know. Every day she is dressed like she works on Wall Street rather than the office above Fierce.”
“Why would she do that?”
“You’d have to ask her. I’d only be guessing if I said. I really don’t know. It’s not like she doesn’t wear shorts and jeans, just never at work. Not unless she stops in on a day off. If she even takes a day off.”
He just realized that Ella might be
at Fierce more than the rest of them. Maybe not nights like Brody or Aiden, but she was there long before most of them were out of bed in the morning and normally Saturdays and Sundays for a few hours too.
“Maybe I will someday. It’s been a hard thing for me to balance in my life.”
“So that’s why you dress the way you do at work?”
“And what way is that?” she asked, narrowing her eyes.
He was putting his foot in his mouth like he normally only did around family. He’d have to think about why he was doing it with her and never had with anyone else.
“Just as nice as you look now...only in a different way.”
She rolled her eyes at him. “Smooth, Cade. Real smooth. I’m the boss there. It’s hard to be the boss and walk around in heels when I’m operating machines. Sometimes it’s better to just be one of the guys.”
“It’s all about attitude, Alex, not appearance.”
“Yeah, well, attitude isn’t always easy to master either.”
“Tell me about it,” he said, stunned that someone else felt the same way he did about things. That maybe he wasn’t alone in trying to show everyone he was confident when he wasn’t.
“Do you really think Tessa will contact me?” she asked, moving the topic back to the reason they were here and he was just fine with that tactic, not sure he wanted to talk too much about his lack of confidence.
“I’ve worked with Tessa before. She manages a few bands. She’s definitely a straight shooter when it comes to work. If she says she’ll be in touch, you can count on it.”
“But that doesn’t mean she’ll give me business,” Alex said.
“She needs to see your work. My word alone won’t do it but it will help. Your work speaks for itself. I wouldn’t have recommended you if I didn’t believe in you. That will go a long way too.”