by K. M. Scott
Meadow squeezes my arm under the table, and I turn my head to see her gazing up at Alex like he’s a fantasy come true. I can practically read her mind.
Gorgeous, great job, and so considerate.
Trying to beat Sabrina to the punch before she opens her mouth again, I quickly thank him and add, “Alex, this is my friend Meadow. Her sister Sabrina and I are here celebrating Meadow landing a job with the design firm of Durkin and Chestnut.”
He graciously congratulates her and reaches out to shake her hand. I think Meadow might pass out she’s smiling so much.
“Interior design? I should definitely call you because my place could use some real help. I’m ashamed to say it looks the same as it did the day I moved in, and that’s not saying much. It’s a combination of just graduated with bachelor, and it’s not good.”
Meadow presses her knee so hard against mine I’m afraid she’s going to push me off my chair. She quickly rifles through her purse and hands him her business card. “I don’t have any new ones made up yet since I just got the job, but this one has my number on it. Give me a call. I’d be happy to see what we could do to get that place of yours in much better shape.”
“Will do,” he says with a smile, and I notice he can’t take his eyes off her.
“Well, I better get back to the kitchen or they’re going to think I abandoned ship. Enjoy your meals ladies, and it was wonderful meeting you. Hailey, don’t be surprised if Cade and I come back to Comfort Food to try more of your creations. I look forward to seeing what you make next time.”
Alex gives us all one more smile and walks away. Sabrina lets out a disgruntled huff that I can’t figure out, but Meadow and I let out a collective sigh before turning to look at one another.
“Okay, who is Cade and why didn’t you tell me you met my future husband?” she asks with a giggle.
“Cade is his cousin. Yeah, I think that’s it. He actually looks a lot like Alex. Maybe a few less tattoos. Or maybe more. I’m not sure. I only saw them together that one time. They stopped into the restaurant last week when I made chocolate lace cookies. I think that was Thursday.”
Meadow scrunches her face up at me. “Stop getting lost in the minutiae. Tell me everything about them. Who are they? Why haven’t I ever seen them before in my life? This city isn’t that big.”
“I don’t know much more than you do. His name is Alex, and his cousin’s name is Cade. He drives a red Jag. I do know that.”
Her dark eyes get wide like saucers. “That man, the man who’s the star of every fantasy of mine, drives a red Jag? I think I’m in love.”
Shaking my head, I explain, “No, I don’t know what he drives. Cade drives the Jag. Sorry.”
Meadow lets out a sigh. “It’s okay. I can live with Greek god who has a great job and is sweet and sexy no matter what he drives.”
Chapter Nine
Cade
On my way out the door to drive over to the club and do my time behind the bar for my father, my phone vibrates in my pocket. I consider not answering since it’s probably just boss man wondering why I’m not in the building yet.
As if I need to be positioned behind the goddamned bar at six o’clock at night. Did he fire every other bartender he has in anticipation of having me work day and night there?
When I lift the phone out of my pocket, I see it’s Alex calling and quickly answer. “Hey, I’m on my way to prison. What’s up?”
“Prison? What are you talking about?” Alex asks, obviously confused by my attempt at humor.
“Club X. I’m doing my bartending gig tonight and probably for the rest of fucking time. I’m guessing I have to wear all black and the white stripes come after a few months. Speaking of working, aren’t you doing just that tonight?”
“Yes, and if you’d stop riffing about how much you hate your job, I’d be able to tell you what I called you about,” he says, every word dripping with frustration.
I stop at my car and open the door to get in. “Nobody’s stopping you, man. What’s got you so upset tonight?”
“Not upset, and shut the hell up so I can tell you this. That Hailey girl is here with her two friends. They just ordered their meals, so get down here and coincidentally run into her.”
“What is this? Eleventh grade and you found out where some girl’s locker is so I can coincidentally run into her? Who the hell does that?” I ask as the thought of driving to this job makes me hate life.
“She looks really good, Cade. I just thought you might want to try your hand at getting to know her here. Maybe she won’t run away this time.”
Just what I need from my best friend—some ball busting about her running away from my last attempt. “Fuck you, man.”
Alex laughs at my frustration. “Okay, don’t then. I already made inroads with her friend, who is fucking hot, so you just stay at home alone or behind the bar dealing with drunk women and their slurring when they tell you how much they want to fuck you. Your choice. Either way, I have to get back to work.”
The call ends, and I know I have a choice to make. I can go to the club and do what I promised my father I would and hate every minute of it, or I can rush down to CK and hope to catch Hailey and maybe make some progress with her.
I press my foot on the gas and scream out of the parking lot of my condo toward the restaurant. No fucking way am I ready to give up a good time with a beautiful woman.
Not yet.
After I schmooze the maître d’ and have to throw my family’s name around to finally get in since I’m not dressed for CK, I catch a glimpse of Hailey sitting at a table in the middle of the restaurant. Good. I’m not too late, even though I swear every last soul in this damn city is out tonight and clogging up the streets.
I duck into the kitchen to find Alex before I try to chat Hailey up again, but I hear someone follow right behind me. Turning around, I see my uncle standing there smiling like something’s amusing.
“What’s up, Cassian?”
His eyebrows slowly raise up into his forehead. “I was going to ask you that very question. It’s not every day you come waltzing into my kitchen.”
I can’t tell if he’s angry or busting my ass, so I quickly give him a smile to smooth over whatever feathers I’ve possibly ruffled. “Just here to talk to Alex for a minute. I’ll be out of here in no time.”
Cassian nods, but I still don’t know if he’s pissed. “I thought maybe you’d decided to come work for us after all these years. Your father told me you’re going to be starting a new job soon, so I wondered if maybe I missed something and Kane hired you.”
Okay. He’s busting my balls.
“No, thanks. It’s bad enough I have to go bartend at the club so I don’t starve. At least I know how to pour drinks. Cooking food I have no idea how to do.”
“Okay. Alex is over there,” Cassian says, pointing toward his younger son.
I flash him another smile, and when he walks out of the kitchen, I hurry over to the kitchen doors to see if I can get another glimpse of Hailey. A second later, two servers nearly bash me in the head on their way in.
Jesus, is this a racetrack? I’m trying to see out this damn window, people.
“Cade, why are you getting in my staff’s way?” Cassian says from behind me. “I thought you were here to see Alex, who is in the room you’re in.”
I turn around to answer him and another server comes bounding through the door, nearly knocking me over. I quickly step out of the way and over toward my uncle, who’s giving me a look that says he’s about to throw me out of this kitchen in about two seconds.
“Alex is the person I’m here to see. I just wanted to look out at the dining room. That’s all.”
Truly the dumbest thing I’ve ever said, and considering my past, that’s pretty bad.
This time, Cassian gives me that single raised eyebrow look that says he’s not buying a word of this bullshit. I don’t blame him. I wouldn’t buy it either. It wasn’t my best attempt at concealing what
I’m really doing.
“What’s going on? You never come here, Cade, and now you’re standing in my kitchen, blocking my servers’ way, and staring out the window at my dining room.”
No point in trying to lie anymore. It seems that I’m incapable of conjuring up a good enough answer, so I admit the truth. “Alex called me to let me know someone I’ve been interested in is here having dinner tonight. I was hoping to get a look at her before I go out there.”
For a few seconds, Cassian doesn’t seem to know what to do with that answer. It’s the truth, but he probably doesn’t believe it. Again, I don’t blame him.
Then he finally smiles and says, “Is this how you usually meet women? You definitely take after your father if it is.”
Just what I need—another reminder I’m like my father, or I’m supposed to be.
As Alex joins us in the corner of the kitchen out of the way of the staff, I answer my uncle’s question. “No, it isn’t how I usually meet women, thank you.”
“Why are you still in here?” Alex asks before turning to his father. “The girl he likes is here tonight. I told him he should come down and talk to her. I don’t think she’ll run away here.”
Of course, my uncle seizes on that wonderful tidbit of information and throws his head back in laughter. “Run away? Oh, I have to see this. Just don’t make my restaurant look like some kind of crime scene she needs to flee from, Cade.”
Hanging my head, I mumble, “I fucking hate this family sometimes. I really do.”
“Awww, Cade. We’re just teasing you,” Alex says, not helping.
“Like father, like son with you two?” I ask, truly believing it was a mistake to come down here tonight. “This whole thing is stupid. She liked you better than she liked me.”
“I already went out there and talked to her. Trust me. She isn’t into me, and I already told you she isn’t my type. Her friend, on the other hand, I’m all in on. Stop talking to us and go out there.”
“Fine. I’ll do it just to shut you two up. I swear this family sucks,” I say as I walk out the kitchen doors into the dining room.
I look over at her table and see it empty. Fuck! All that talking to those two made me miss her.
Well, I’m not ready to give up just yet. I’ve already blown off my job for this attempt to talk to Hailey, so I might as well see it through. Hurrying around guests and tables, I run outside to find her walking to her car.
“Hey! What’s new?” I call out as I do my best casual fast walk toward her.
“Are you stalking me or something?”
Not exactly the response I was hoping for. In fact, she’s even chillier than the last time.
“What? No.”
“Then why are you in this parking lot when I know you weren’t in the restaurant. You have no business being here.”
Definitely not a good start to this attempt to get to know her. I try to be cool, but I have to explain I’m not some crazy stalker dude creeping up on her in a parking lot at night.
“I was in the restaurant and I have every reason to be here since my family owns this place. Well, not my immediate family but my uncles. My cousin Alex is a chef here.”
She levels her gaze on me and hums as if she doesn’t like what she’s hearing. “I know. He came over to our table and was very gracious.”
Great. Alex is gracious, and I’m a stalker who she might mace at any moment. I’m not thinking I could chalk that up to an improvement on our last meeting.
When she doesn’t say anything more, I take a step toward her and ask, “So did you enjoy your meal? My uncles run a great place here.”
“I have to go.”
Not good. She doesn’t even want to make small talk. Things are going from bad to worse. Well, not worse since she hasn’t maced me yet.
“Would you like to go for a drink?”
She looks surprised at the question and doesn’t answer for a long moment, so I hold out hope things are improving. Then with just a few words, she dashes my hopes.
“No. I have to go.”
“Are you meeting your boyfriend now?”
“No,” she says, shaking her head.
This is my in. I just have to finesse this right so she doesn’t run away again. Or drive away, as the case may be this time.
“Then why not go for a drink with me? We can get to know one another. It could be fun.”
Again, she shakes her head. “I don’t really drink.”
“Then let’s go for a walk. You walk, don’t you?”
That makes her smile, and I can’t help but notice how beautiful she is when she smiles. It’s like someone has lit her up from the inside.
“Of course I walk. Why are you so interested in me, Cade?”
A woman who gets right to the chase. I can appreciate that. No beating around the bush is the way she wants it, so that’s what I’ll do.
“Because you’re beautiful and I liked that you were watching out that window in that kitchen door at your parent’s restaurant the other day. After tonight, I know how dangerous that actually is and I appreciate it even more.”
She narrows her eyes like she doesn’t understand what I’m talking about, but that doesn’t matter. I just need to get her to say yes to the walk.
One yes and we can see what happens next.
“So you walk. I do too, so let’s do it together. We’re right here at the Riverwalk, so why not?”
“Because you might be a serial killer,” she says with a tiny smile.
“I’m not, but if you want, we can go back into the restaurant and my uncle and cousin can vouch for me. You might get trapped listening to stories about when I was a kid, though, and to be honest, I’d rather not have that humiliation heaped on me tonight. I’m willing to go back in so you can hear I’m definitely not a serial killer, though. You decide.”
Hailey rolls her eyes. “Don’t try to make me laugh. I’m trying to be serious here.”
“So am I. My uncle can’t stop himself sometimes, and he loves to tell the story about when Alex and I were around seven and found his razor and shaved off our eyebrows. Or the one about when Alex’s brother Cash heard about what happens when you stick someone’s hand in warm water while they’re sleeping. He got both of us that night.”
The admission of two humiliating experiences from my childhood makes her giggle, and I watch her icy façade melt right in front of me. She really is so beautiful. I don’t know why she pushes people away, or maybe it’s just me she likes to push away, but I want to see more of this person standing here with me now.
“What happens when you put someone’s hand in warm water while they’re sleeping?” she shyly asks.
Good. I’ve got her curious.
“I’ll tell you on our walk.”
Chapter Ten
Hailey
A minute into our walk and I’m already regretting agreeing to this. Cade is charming and sexy, but there are very few people on the path with us. I assumed there would be a lot of people like always, but then I always come here during the day, not at eight o’clock at night.
“So does walking make you get quiet? I thought we were doing so well back there, but now you’re back to not talking to me,” he says in a sweet voice that should calm me.
It doesn’t.
“I’m just hoping you’re not an ax murderer.”
He laughs, which only makes him more charming or more possibly a real ax murderer. “I’ve been accused of many things, but I think this is the first time anyone’s ever wondered if I was an ax murderer. Personally, I don’t see me as an ax guy. I’m more of a gun guy or even a knife guy.”
I look at him and see him smiling. “That’s not making me feel any better.”
“Well, how about I tell you what happens with the warm water trick and then you’ll know I’m not an ax murderer?”
That sounds like a non sequitur if I’ve ever heard one.
“How is that going to convince me you’re not a serial killer o
r ax murderer? You’re dressed in all black, so maybe I just got your crime wrong. Are you a burglar?” I ask, knowing I shouldn’t be so worried.
People go for walks down here all the time. Maybe not tonight, but I’m sure they do other nights.
My questioning makes him chuckle. “Fair enough. Well, to prove I’m not an ax murderer, the fact that I can’t fit an ax anywhere on me is all the proof I have.”
He opens his arms to his sides and turns around for me, I guess so I can inspect him for that hidden ax. As much as I should be looking for some weapon stashed away somewhere, it’s hard to concentrate on anything other than how great his body is.
Probably spends hours at the gym every day. Yep. That’s what’s wrong with him. He’s an egotistical, self-involved guy whose sole focus is on his body.
With a smile that’s entirely too sexy illuminated by the pathway lamp overhead, he says, “See? No ax. As for the black pants and black shirt, I was going to do a shift at my club, but I decided at the last minute to come down to CK because I heard you were there.”
His explanation makes me more curious about him. “You have a club? What kind? Like a nightclub or a smaller bar?”
“First, I have to fulfill my promise to tell you about that gag Cash pulled on us that night. When you put someone’s hand in warm water, they have to go to the bathroom. Like right then and there. So he did it to Alex first and then me since we were sleeping downstairs at Alex’s house after playing video games for hours. Two ten year olds in sleeping bags full of piss.”
He looks entirely too charming telling me what sounds like a horrible experience that at first I don’t know how to react. I want to laugh since it’s funny, but I don’t want to be rude.
“Feel free to laugh. You should. Looking back, it was hysterical. My cousin Cash thought so that night when we both woke up drenched with him standing over us laughing until his sides hurt. My aunt and uncle didn’t think it was so funny, though, and we got the last laugh watching him wash our smelly, wet clothes and the sleeping bags. And that’s your introduction to the March family. Sorry to say this is a pretty common kind of story with us since there are five male cousins and only two females.”