by Natalie Ann
This time he’d eat, so he pushed himself from his desk and went to get his lunch.
Sarah was on her lunch break and pulled her phone out to see that she had a text from Caden. At first her stomach sunk thinking he was canceling on her, but then he offered for tomorrow. Which actually worked better for her.
Not only was she annoyed over the weather and having to bundle up and not look her best if she was covered in fallen snow, but then she’d be worried she’d fall on her butt walking through the parking lot of a restaurant.
Since she was alone and wasn’t always a fan of texting—and she wanted to hear his voice—she hit the button to call him.
When it went to voicemail, she tried not to be upset but said, “I’m on lunch right now. The weather does kind of suck and I’m bummed, but maybe you’re right. I’ve got twenty-five more minutes if you want to give me a call. Or text. Either works. I’m rambling. Bye.”
She went back to eating her lunch and Nancy came in to sit down next to her. “I can’t believe the snow. This bites.”
“Tell me about it,” she said.
“Guess it’s a good night for a bubble bath and a glass of wine,” Nancy said.
“Hmm, that does sound good.” Not as good as going out to dinner with a sexy man she wanted to get to know better.
When her phone rang in her hand, she saw it was Caden and knew there was no way she was taking the call with witnesses. “Excuse me, I’ve got to take this. Hello,” she said, putting her phone to her ear and grabbing her sandwich to walk out and find a private spot.
“Sorry I missed your call,” he said. “I went to get my lunch and left my phone on my desk.”
“Wow. A man that doesn’t have a phone glued to him nonstop.”
He laughed. “I didn’t go far, but yes, I try not to be connected at the hip all the time.”
“Too many of us are. I’m guilty of it too, but with my job I can’t be on it all day so that helps. My friends forget that though and text me nonstop at times. They are used to me not answering them until I’m home.”
“Sometimes it’s better for people to cool their horses anyway.”
“So now I’m going to think that is why you didn’t answer my call.”
He laughed. “Not likely. If I knew you were going to call rather than text I would have had it in my hand until I heard your voice.”
“You’re a smooth one.”
“I haven’t heard that in a while.”
She was sure he heard it a lot though. “So anyway. The weather sucks. I don’t want to cancel, but am glad you brought it up. I can’t look my best if the snow is covering my head.”
“Now I’m touched you want to look your best.”
“Of course,” she said. “But I happen to be open tomorrow and the weather did look nice.”
“Then tomorrow it is. Hang on.” She took a bite of her sandwich while she heard his muffled voice talking to someone. She still had no idea what he did and figured they could talk about that on their date. “I’m back. Sorry.”
“No problem. I have a feeling you’re an important man.”
“To some. But I do have someone on the phone waiting for me. Tomorrow,” he said. “Same time?”
“Definitely. Bye, Caden.”
“Bye, Sarah.”
She disconnected the call and put her phone to her chest. Oh yeah, she liked the sound of her name on his lips.
8
Time For A Change
Caden was standing in his closet with shorts on and his hair still damp while he tried to figure out what shirt to put on with jeans. He’d gotten out of work on time for once since he’d started, worked out, showered and was getting ready for dinner out with Sarah.
He grabbed a light purple shirt that was hanging with the rest like soldiers in a lineup, then his jeans that were clipped to another hanger. He was efficient and did any of his ironing before he put his clothes away so when he was ready to leave he didn’t have to waste time.
Once he was dressed and in the bathroom combing his hair one more time, his phone rang, so he ran into his room to get it off the dresser hoping to hell it wasn’t Sarah canceling on him.
Nope, it was his sister Morgan.
He was tempted to let it go to voicemail, but then she’d keep calling ready to lecture him. It seemed like that was all his baby sisters had been doing for months.
“Hey, Morgan,” he said. “Why aren’t you working?”
“I am at work,” she said back. “I’m on my dinner break. It’s my late night at the clinic, but it’s a little slow and I thought I’d give you a call.”
“Because you wanted to check in on me?” he asked. “I’m fine.”
“I’m sure you are. How is the hand doing?”
“Great,” he said back. “The stitches are out and it feels good.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” He walked back to the bathroom and put his phone on speaker and set it down so he could continue to get ready. “What are you doing?”
“Fixing my shirt,” he said.
“You’re not at work? I’m so proud of you.”
“I’m not at work,” he said, wondering how much he should tell her about his night. For the moment he’d let it go and see how this conversation went.
“How many times have you worked late since you started?”
“Since I’ve only been there about ten days, does it really matter? I’ve got to get the lay of the land. I’m an important man.”
She laughed. “You sure are. You tell us that all the time too. But you didn’t answer my question.”
“It’s expected I’d be one of the last ones there, Morgan. You know that.”
“As long as you aren’t staying until bedtime and then not eating again.”
“Food isn’t an issue. I’m not going down that road again. I told you all that. Not just because it caused you all to worry, but it scared me shitless. Not only that, it’s an embarrassment.”
“It’s not an embarrassment to be sick,” she argued.
“It is when it’s self-inflicted. That was me. It won’t happen again and I’m not going on any meds.”
He ran his hands through his hair, then picked the comb up to get it just right. He liked it a little bit longer on top, but it took some more styling and a tad bit of product. At least it wasn’t long like when he was modeling and had to really spend more time styling it. Then he’d had a buzz cut. They were constantly wanting his hair changed up between contracts, but he made a lot of money and it was totally worth it.
Now he could look the way he wanted and that was a little longer on top, shorter on the sides. He was clean-shaven at the moment but had been debating letting a nice trim beard grow here. A perfected five o’clock shadow.
And what the hell, he wasn’t that model anymore that had to worry about shit like that. Nor was he out meeting people as much either.
“I’m just glad you are taking care of yourself finally. I still say you need to get yourself a dog. Or a cat. Cats are easier when you aren’t home much.”
“No way I’m getting a cat. A single guy and a cat,” he said laughing. “Nope, not happening.”
“So a dog.”
“As you kindly pointed out, I’m not home much. How would that work out?”
“Doggie daycare. But it gives you someone to be with at night. I’ve got to imagine you are bored out of your mind there. It’s nothing like what you are used to.”
“Which was the point, wasn’t it?” Sure, he was bored, but he had a date tonight and hoped to continue something with Sarah. That would save him from being alone. That was more of his problem than being bored. He could always find something to do and did.
Actually, that had been his problem. He never sat still. He never relaxed.
“A dog would do you good. Pets have been known to reduce stress too.”
“I’ll get a fish.”
Morgan snorted. “You can’t cuddle with a fish.”
“Now you’re insu
lting me.”
“Maybe we want to see you with someone,” she said.
“And you think a pet is someone. That’s creepy, even coming from you.”
“No. But dogs land chicks.”
He was getting annoyed. “I don’t need a dog to land a chick. I’ve got a date tonight as it is.”
“Next you’re going to say April Fools.”
“You have that little faith in me to have a date this new to the area. I’m hurt.”
He picked his phone up and moved back to his closet to figure out what shoes he was wearing, then went to his room and sat on the bed to put them on, the phone next to him while his sister was still laughing.
“You’re hardly hurt. I guess you’re right. You can get any woman you want and never had a problem in that area. I guess I didn’t know you to date much. What’s her name? How did you meet? Tell me about her.”
“No. I’m going to be late if I stay on the line with you and that wouldn’t make a good impression. You got your lecture in, you found out I was fine, and you want me to get a pet. Anything else you need to check off your list for this call or can you go back to work?”
“Wow, you’re crabby. Don’t get your blood pressure up again. That might ruin your date.”
“Bye, Morgan,” he said, disconnecting the call. He wasn’t crabby and he was still grinning, but she couldn’t see him.
He knew his sisters meant well, but good Lord, they weren’t this annoying when he lived home.
All the more reason to make sure he took better care of himself.
And when he was pulling into the parking lot of the restaurant he was meeting Sarah at and saw her getting out of her car, he was pretty sure his heart had just stopped.
Another incentive to stay healthy and not let anyone know what an idiot he was. Look at her!
Dark gray jeans fitting right to her body, black heels on, with her jacket he wasn’t sure what her top was, but didn’t care. Her blonde hair was down and wavy, like she’d taken the time to style it more than normal.
And she was grinning when he got out of his car.
“I should have figured you for a Mercedes. Not even one on the lower end.”
He fought the urge to roll his eyes. “Insult?”
“No, just a statement.”
“How is this for a statement? When you say you want to impress me on the first date, you deliver. Damn.”
“Why, thank you. Much better than my scrubs.”
“You had jeans on when you were walking your niece.”
“Old jeans and a cotton shirt. Nothing like this and you know it.”
She had more makeup on too. Not a ton, but her blue eyes were outlined with black and a little shimmer on the lids. No lip gloss or lipstick and he was happy with that. He planned on getting his mouth on hers and hated when he had to deal with that with a woman.
The wind picked up and blew her hair around, but it still was close to fifty out. Thankfully most of the snow was gone on the pavements and only tiny bits remained on grassy areas.
“Why don’t we go in so you don’t get messed up then.”
“I think it’s more that your own hair is blowing too.”
He laughed. “No comment.”
He put his hand on her lower back to move her toward the door and she didn’t shy away. Even better.
Once they were seated and their drinks ordered, she said, “I need to know. So what do you do for a living?”
He was shocked she didn’t know that. “You didn’t look at where I worked on my chart?”
“No. It’s not on the screen that I need when I’m doing my job and though I could have gone back and checked, I decided to let it be a surprise. I don’t picture you as a lawyer.”
“Hardly. That would be my sister Mia.”
“So you’ve got a sister,” she said. “You know I’ve got an older brother.”
“I didn’t know he was older, just that you had one. But now I do. He’s also married and has a daughter.”
“Yep. So one sister?”
“Two actually. Mia is the baby. Then Morgan, then me.”
“I know you’re thirty-six. That was on the screen,” she said, smirking at him.
“Well, you know you need to share your age.”
“Thirty. Just recently. Sad but true.”
“Nothing sad about it. It’s a good age,” he said. He always thought so. A time when the immature twenties were behind many. But then thirty usually was when women were finding they wanted to settle down. He’d deal with that if it came to it. Right now he just wanted to get to know her more.
“If you say so. Mia is a lawyer. Morgan?”
“A vet. She called me tonight to check in on me and try to convince me to get a pet so I’m not so lonely here.”
Sarah laughed. “Something tells me that you could have company every night of the week if you wanted.”
“I don’t want it though,” he said. “At least with anyone other than present company.”
“Now you are just making my heart go all a flutter. I said you were a smooth one. So, not a lawyer. I don’t think you’re a doctor either.”
“No.”
“This is fun. Let me keep guessing. Valedictorian of your class. Where did you go to college?”
Normally he didn’t care for all these questions, but he could tell it wasn’t an attempt to be nosy as much as, like she’d said, a game. “Carnegie Mellon.”
“Okay. I’ve got it. Business school. Manhattan. You were on Wall Street, weren’t you? Now it totally makes sense.”
“Easy guess.”
“So I’m right?”
“You are.”
“And you are probably competitive, so I bet you were in the top ten of your graduating class.”
“Fourth,” he admitted.
“And that would have annoyed you being one spot from the top three. It’d be better to be eighth than fourth.”
Damn, she was good. “I felt the same way, but it is what it is.”
“Overachiever must be your middle name. But you’re here and that tells me someone like you came for a promotion because you might not want to get away from the action there.”
He wouldn’t lie. “I did get a promotion.”
“So, what are you doing then?”
“I’m the Vice President of a branch here and a new partner.”
“Impressive for your age.”
“It was a goal to hit at thirty-five.”
“And you just missed it. Bet that drove you insane,” she said. The waitress came over and took their orders, then left.
“Actually, I got it right before my thirty-sixth birthday, but it was a transition of sorts before I started. So I did meet it.”
A month after his “incident” Mike and Kyle made him the offer. He’d mulled it over and decided to accept, but since Richard wouldn’t retire until mid-March when Caden would start, it was time they could meet and go over things while he dealt with his own clients. Things like that took time.
“Valedictorian, top five of your graduating class at college, Vice President at thirty-six. My guess is you got that because you were a top-earning broker, but we’ll let it go. What else am I missing? You were an all-star in multiple sports in high school and college?”
He laughed. “Not quite. I was working in high school and my first year of college. Then I was cramming to get my MBA in the four years I was there.”
She shook her head. “Four years of college and came out with an MBA. Not shocked. But I will say that you did all of that while working is even more impressive. I worked in high school and through college too. Middle class family here and they did pay for my education and I was very grateful for it, but I had to earn my own spending money.”
“My father is a college professor, my mother, a social worker. I got scholarships and paid for the rest myself. That made it easier for them to help out my sisters.”
“Commendable. What was your first job?” she asked. “I was a c
ashier at a grocery store for years. I hated it, but money is money.”
After everything she’d been finding out about him, the last thing he wanted to do was admit he was a model, but he wouldn’t lie. “I did some modeling.”
She started to laugh. “I want to say you’re joking or this is some April Fool’s joke, but honestly, I totally see it. And you know I’m going to Google you when I get home.”
“I figured as much,” he said, smiling. “I could do the same for you.”
Her smile dropped and he wondered why that was. “You won’t find much. I’m a nobody.”
“I don’t make a habit of doing that anyway.” He figured maybe she was just feeling a little lesser than him since she was pointing out all his achievements. Which of course was making him feel like shit. “No more talk about this.”
“I just have one more thing to say,” she said. “I figured there had to be something wrong with you to be single at thirty-six. To be moving here when you had what seemed like this big life there. You said you’re from Philly, so no family here, right?”
“No,” he said. “They are all still in that area.”
“But now I think I have it figured out.”
“What do you have figured out?”
“Either you’ve got multiple ex-wives…”
He laughed. “Never been married.”
“Oh, I think you have been. You’re married to a checklist. A goal you need to meet. You make one and you don’t stop until you hit it. Then you find another. Am I right?”
The heat filled his face when she worded it that way. It hit way too close to home and he wasn’t going to lie. “You are. And as I said, it was time for a change.”
“I guess we’ll see about that.”
9
Fun And Happiness
Sarah had plenty of shocks a few nights ago on her date with Caden.
If she’d felt self-conscious about herself being with him before, it was magnified multiple times over after she found out about his career.
Not just brains, but beauty.