Cocky Prince

by Jules Barnard

  “Is that what you tell them to get laid?” he says absently, rubbing the top of his leg above the cast that stretches up to the bottom of his knee.

  “No need, brother. They flock.” Of course, I won’t mention to Levi how long I’ve been without a woman. He’d give me shit.

  Women in town are either looking to settle down, or searching for someone with deep pockets, and both types are transparent as hell. There is one exception…Hayden is feisty, but she keeps me on my toes. I’m not sure what I would do if she changed her mind and took me up on my flirtation. I’d like to think I’d be smart enough to stay away from the disaster that would be any relationship we attempted, but I’m not sure my large brain is in command anymore where she’s concerned.

  I fold my suit jacket on the bench opposite Levi and sit, tugging my pant leg to cross my ankle neatly over my knee. I shake my head. “Levi, we gotta get you out. You look like a lumberjack, and not a healthy one at that.” That’s not entirely true. Levi is a fireman. He’s always been physically fit, but the patches of his skin that aren’t black and blue are pale now with a grayish tinge.

  Levi pats his thigh and Grace hurries over, licking the crap out of his hand. That dog is easy. “I’m doing fine right here. I figure by staying in the house for a while I’m saving the mothers out there a conversation about the bogeyman.”

  “Who cares what you look like? The cement that fell on your stubborn skull could have killed you. You’re lucky you made it out with all of your limbs and your brain intact. When did the doctor say you could return to work?” If anything will snap Levi out of his funk, getting back to the fire station will. He loves his job more than his own brothers.

  Levi scratches Grace’s side and stares at her fur coat, his voice barely audible as he murmurs. “No more jobs.”

  I take a moment to decipher his meaning. “Your ankle’s busted up, but once it heals, you’ll work again.”

  “I said jobs—fires. There’s no going back. They wanted to reclassify me to a desk. So I quit.”

  I drop my foot and lean forward. “Why would they do that? You’re set to make captain in a couple of years.” I glance at his cast. “You said it was a clean break.”

  He absently touches the left side of his forehead, right above the angry red scar he sustained after a partial roof collapse during his last fire. “The ankle was a clean break. The knock to the head…I lost some vision. Nothing I can’t live without, but enough that the fire department wants me on desk duty.”

  I take in the desolate look on his face, the tension in his wide shoulders. Levi carried the weight of the family—was the responsible one, while I catered to our father and the others ran wild. He knocked our skulls together when we fought, told us to get up when we fell down, and went up against our father when he was being pigheaded about who our friends were, our plans after high school—pretty much everything. And right now Levi is trying not to fall apart; the brother who’s always had it together.

  I swallow the dry ball that’s lodged in my throat. This can’t be happening. Cade men are tall and athletic, but Levi is built like the houses he protects. He’s a brick of a man, and to see him weakened mentally or physically is unnatural.

  I rub my face. “Jesus Christ.” Being a firefighter is the one thing he’s ever wanted. Desk duty would be like a death knell for him. No wonder he’s been holed up these last two weeks, not wanting to see my brothers or me. The only reason I’m here is because I’m a pushy bastard who never listens to what my brothers say.

  I was the conformer in the family, accepting the sports cars our father gave me whenever I did something he liked. I dressed the part of a Cade, wore designer clothes, lived lavishly, while the rest of my brothers did whatever the fuck they wanted. They pursued careers outside of Club Tahoe, lived month to month on their working-class paychecks as waiters, tour guides—firemen—while I danced to my father’s tune, doing whatever Ethan Cade told me to do. Just as long as I got my monthly trust fund check.

  I stare blindly at the pile of logs off to the side. I came here today to lean on Levi and ask what he thought about this Bliss venture, but he’s the one who needs someone to lean on. And I’m no good at being dependable.

  I stand and unbutton my dress shirt. I drop it on top of my jacket. “Wood needs chopping.” I tug my undershirt from my pants and stride across the yard to the ax.

  I don’t know if Levi needs more wood in the bin, but he’s getting some, because I need shit to hack up.

  My older brother can’t be a mess. If he is, that leaves me, as the second eldest, in charge. Not a single one of my brothers respects me. Loves me? Sure, as much as brothers who’ve harassed and argued all their lives can love one another. But their respect was something I lost years ago when I gave in to our father’s demands.

  Chapter Eleven

  Hayden

  I sort the paperwork for the auction and burlesque event. I’ve spent countless hours researching companies to find the right talent for the project that Blackwell put William in charge of. William is one of Blackwell’s Blue Stars, but he’s given me a surprising amount of freedom in helping him. He even handed over things he probably should have managed, like selecting party-staging companies. I can’t complain. I would have had my hand in the formal paperwork no matter what, as head of HR. This way I got to have fun selecting the décor for the party, even if it was extra work.

  I stare at the contracts in front of me. My documentation is thorough; the amount of work I’ve put in obvious. There’s no way Blackwell can ignore my efforts. I’ve gone above and beyond what I was asked to do. I don’t expect praise, but appreciation would be nice.

  Nessa walks in and pauses near the door. “You busy?” She’s wearing dark slacks and a white blouse, but her height is average today, so I know she’s got her platforms on under those long pants, or she’d be four inches shorter.

  Nessa normally comes to my armpit. She is tiny in every way, and beautiful. She probably has no problem finding the right fit when shopping, while I have to buy everything bigger, and either deal with poor fit, or take in the waist. Sucks.

  “I have a minute, but I’m about to head to a management meeting.” I stack my folders and check my hair and makeup in the mirror I keep in the desk drawer. No stray locks sticking up. Lipstick on—check. I’m ready to make a good impression.

  “I won’t keep you,” she says. “I just wanted to find out if you’ve seen the new girl?”

  Ugh, again? Why does everyone want me to meet the woman Adam hired? “I haven’t met Adam’s new assistant.”

  “That was fast,” she stage-whispers. “Did he pick her up off the street?”

  I walk around my desk and meet Nessa at the door. “No idea, but I’ve already got a bet running with him that she won’t last.”

  Nessa’s eyes widen. “Really, a bet? So Mira got to you? She told me how she wants you to get close to him and find out what he knows.”

  I snort sardonically. “She’s living in dreamland if she thinks we’ll become close, but I’ve been harsh on him. He’s annoying as hell, but not a bad guy.” I straighten my sweater. “And as far as the bet goes, I’m doing that to prove a point.”

  “Which is?”

  “That my job isn’t as easy as everyone believes.”

  Her brow furrows. “Who thinks your job is easy? You’re one of the hardest-working employees here.”

  And just like that, I want to cry. I love Nessa and Mira. They know how much time and effort I put into Blue. And that I care about making the casino the best it can be, despite what Blackwell believes. I swallow and take a deep breath. “Thank you.”

  She makes a sound of disbelief at the back of her throat. “It’s the truth. Well, look, I won’t keep you. I’ve got to meet with Deborah about the burlesque show.” Her eyes widen with excitement. “Wait until you see our promo plan. It’s going to blow your mind. You bring in the celebs and dancers, and marketing will do the rest.”

  Adam


  With a tinted glass dome that overlooks the heart of the gaming floor, the executive conference room of Blue Casino is in a class of its own. And I have Club Tahoe for comparison—a thirty-thousand-square-foot casino-hotel situated on the shores of Lake Tahoe and designed to feel like an elegant log cabin. There is nothing like Club Tahoe, with its indoor lazy river, the center of which boasts secluded fire pits for roasting s’mores. But Blue Casino has a vibe Club Tahoe can’t surpass. The patrons come to Blue Casino for high-stakes gaming, a glitzy atmosphere, and the best-looking cocktail waitresses this side of the state line.

  I grab the report off the top of the stack at the entrance, and make my way to the U-shaped meeting table. Blackwell typically runs our meetings with strict efficiency, but you never know. My father’s meetings often ran into lunch. I’m still waiting for that one long-winded coworker to put us to sleep with his meticulous housekeeping of cocktail umbrellas and vending-machine supplies. And thus, I find a spot for optimal people-watching down below in case the meeting drags.

  Scanning the agenda, I note the two upcoming events. Blue Casino is one of the premier entertainment providers in Lake Tahoe. Because of the scope of our next events, it will be all hands on deck today. Which means Hayden will be here. Speaking of whom…

  Hayden stops in the doorway, her figure accentuated in a gray tailored short-sleeved fitted dress. Some chunky gold necklace drapes her throat, cream stilettos pushing her calves into soft swells, and damn if I’m not entranced. I love a put-together woman. Though even if Hayden were in sweats, she’d draw my eye. Despite her prickly nature—or because of it—Hayden has that effect on me.

  A lock of caramel silk hair covers one eye as she rifles through a stack of manila file folders. William—damn his roaming hands—touches her shoulder, alerting her she’s blocking the entrance. She bustles to the side and grabs the agenda. Glancing around the room, she spots me and frowns. She dashes to the opposite end of the table, only to be blocked by Eve, who steals the seat next to Blackwell.

  That’s right, Hayden, only two empty seats left.

  Hayden darts for the second seat, across the table, but William snags it first.

  The universe has it in for her. I cannot contain the joy that fills my heart knowing Hayden is forced to sit next to me. We often get stuck next to each other. Not that I’m complaining. The view works out just right for me, but I think she might object. If I were a different man, I might feel bad, but since I enjoy riling her up, it’s a perk of the job.

  “Are we all here?” Blackwell asks, though the question is rhetorical. He’s already gestured for Eve to close the door. “Let’s make this quick. I have a meeting in thirty minutes.” Blackwell rattles off a few details about the concert coming up, and checks in with the man in charge. When he gets to the celebrity auction and burlesque show, he turns to Hayden. “You’ve worked with William on contracts for outsourcing décor? We’re spending a small fortune to transform the club that weekend.”

  “Yes.” Hayden pushes around her manila file folders. “There are two contracts that support our company policy. These two places are by far the best available. And the burlesque dancers—”

  Blackwell holds up his hand. “Those will go to William. William?”

  William rises and walks around the table. Hayden hands him the folders, her expression one of stunned confusion. “I just received the contract proposals. Three out of the four burlesque companies are in conflict with our policies. I’d hoped to discuss it with you before we moved forward.”

  “That won’t be necessary. William will take over from here. This event must be a success. We’ll arrange for the contracts to go through a special account.”

  Hayden’s jaw drops, and to be honest, I’m stunned as well. “I don’t understand,” she says. “Any time we hire, even for temporary positions, contractors and new employees must be prescreened.”

  Blackwell folds his fingers and sits back. “And they will be. As I said, William will handle it.”

  “But—” I squeeze her knee under the table and a squeak erupts from her throat, but she doesn’t say any more. She stares straight ahead, her lips clamped.

  After a moment, she cuts me a look, and I hold her stare. Blackwell pulled her off a project. One she should be involved with, but to speak out against the CEO is career suicide.

  Blackwell turns to Eve. “Next up on the agenda?”

  Eve outlines a few new policies the casino enacted to keep the employees safe—all bullshit, since Blackwell is working around his own system, which in effect nullifies the policies if no one polices them.

  A secretary enters the room. “Your next appointment is here, Mr. Blackwell.”

  Blackwell presses his palms to the table and stands. “That’ll be all for today.”

  Hayden stares as the management team files out. “Why’d you do it?” She looks over once they’ve left, her eyes furious.

  I stand and close the top button of my suit jacket. “Because you were about to piss off our boss, and I couldn’t watch you go down like that. From what I’ve witnessed these last few months, you’re on shaky ground with him.”

  Every time Hayden stood up to our illustrious CEO, she had just cause, but working at Blue is a political game. One Hayden seems hellbent on not playing. Selfish of me, but I enjoy having her around. I don’t want to see her get fired.

  She stands and lifts her chest—the effect drawing my attention down instead of in the vicinity of her eyes. “Why the hell do you think you can tell me how to do my job?”

  “Hayden.” My voice is deep, a warning. This is to protect her, and I’m not sure how much longer I can allow her to think she has a say in it. It’s about more than her getting fired. The more I learn about Blackwell and Paul, and the rest of the power management at Blue, the more unscrupulous I find them. I fully intend to win my bet with Hayden, but even if the world falls off its axis and I don’t, I’m not letting her stoke the temper of our dubious CEO.

  She crosses her arms. “Have you any idea how much time I spent curating the companies for this event? We’ve never hosted a burlesque show, and a celebrity auction on top of that? I’ve spent months—months, Adam—reaching out to contacts and meeting with people. And Blackwell hands it off to William, as if William has any idea what he’s doing? It’s ridiculous!”

  “Don’t take it personally.”

  “Don’t take it—Have you ever worked your ass off and had your efforts ignored?” She flings out a hand and looks away. “Of course not. You’re the prince of Lake Tahoe, Adam Cade, who can do no wrong.”

  I lean forward, her fiery temper and that chest she’s thrusting in my face making me want to toss her on the table and show her how bad I can be. “I’ve been in your place before.”

  She glares back. “Bullshit.”

  I’ve worked at Club Tahoe every summer since I was sixteen, in every facet of the business, and not once have my efforts been acknowledged, not even after I made Club Tahoe’s golf course a stop on the PGA Tour. I’ve had my work handed off to others more senior than me, my ideas disregarded, or used and not acknowledged. I know what Hayden is going through, but no matter what I tell her, she wants to believe I’m still that insensitive asshole who convinced her boyfriend to break up with her.

  “It doesn’t matter what I’ve been through,” I tell her. “What matters is that you can’t show your emotions when your boss pisses you off. You’re like one of those books you pad your office with, Hayden. We read every emotion that plays out on your face.”

  She steps forward, her chest nearly butting mine. “And that’s worse than being an iceberg?” Her eyes narrow. “Do you enjoy hiding in your icy cave, Adam? Does it keep you warm at night? Is that why they like you? Because you’re so cold, just like them?”

  I breathe deeply, the muscles along my arms bunching. I grab her waist and pull her those last precious inches to my chest. She’s wrong. About everything. “I didn’t tell Jaeger to dump you because I was thinking abou
t him.”

  She winces and her chest rises and falls. Hayden’s eyes dart to my lips and she swallows. Before I can regain my senses and figure out what the hell I think I’m doing, she pulls away.

  “Go back to your ice cave, Adam.”

  Chapter Twelve

  Hayden

  Hands shaking, I close the door to my office and lean against it. “Holy shit.” When Adam grabbed me, my overwhelming instinct wasn’t to slap him, or run away. It was to grab his head and kiss him.

  What is wrong with me?

  If the meeting this afternoon proved anything, it confirmed Adam’s complicity in Blackwell’s plans for the casino, whatever they are. Adam supports the Blue Stars. He wouldn’t have told me to keep quiet if he didn’t. Sure, he said that business about not wanting to see me get fired, but what does he care?

  And if he’s involved in Blue’s background activities, why in the world would I ever let him get close to me?

  He’s attractive, but I’ve always been able to distance my emotions from physical qualities. Until now. Unless it’s not just the surface I’m attracted to.

  “God.” I slink across the room and drop into my chair, pressing my forehead to the desk. “What’s wrong with me?”

  Adam loves to bother me, but he wouldn’t cross the line, would he? Because if he did…I’m not sure I’d refuse him. I’d like to think I would, because I need an unscrupulous jerk in my life like I need a coronary. But with Adam’s sexy mouth hovering above mine, his strong arm locked around my waist, I’m afraid I might kiss him back—at least until I came to my senses.

  Mira storms in, and I jump, my knee hitting the bottom of my desk. “Shit, Mira. Stop sneaking up on me like that.”

  She raises her hand. “Sorry. Didn’t know you were having a moment.”