My eyes flicked to him then back to Lindsey.
She glanced at me. “I thought you knew. She said she’d talked with you about it.” She smiled a little and lowered her voice. “He’s a nice guy, even kind of cute in his own way.”
“I’m not interested,” I said, quickly dispelling any rumors…or concerns on Cade’s end.
“Yeah, Amy mentioned that too. That resident is probably more your speed anyway.” She tore off a piece of bread and popped it into her mouth.
Cade’s shoulders drooped and he stared at me, his expression looking very “What the fuck?”
I cleared my throat. “Amy sure is chatty. I’m not into the resident either.”
“Oh, I just thought, you know, since he asked you out…that maybe…”
“How do you know that?” What the hell was going on? When did shy little Lindsey become the gossip queen, and why in the world was my love life at the center of it?
Lindsey glanced at Cade again, whose gaze was seriously burning into me. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Claudia mentioned something during our shift today, and then Amy said he’d asked you out, so I thought maybe you two were like a thing.”
“What? No. I hardly know the guy. He asked for a restaurant recommendation. That’s it.” My insides knotted and tension rose into my shoulders. Claudia said something? And what about Amy? Was she spreading rumors about me? And if so, did I even want to work with girls like that?
Her expression twisted into embarrassment, like maybe she thought this little girl chat would somehow bond us and she’d realized too late, it’d really only ticked me off. “Sorry, I must have misunderstood.” She’d finished up the half sandwich she’d been working on and closed the box. “I need to get going.” She looked between Cade and me. “I, um—Enjoy your lunch. I’ll see you tomorrow.” She stood, shoulders slumped, tossed her trash and left the atrium.
I sat back. What the hell had just happened?
“I had no idea there was so much competition.”
“Because there isn’t any.” I crossed my arms. “I don’t get it. Why is everyone talking about it?”
“While I could have lived without hearing all that, you know how work gossip goes.”
Dammit. The very rumors I was scared would follow me here had been stirred through no fault of my own. I closed my salad, having lost all appetite.
“You ready to go upstairs?”
“Yeah.”
We stepped into the elevator and Cade pushed three. As the doors glided shut he turned to me. “You okay?”
“Yeah. It’s dumb, I know. Hell, people talk shit about me all the time and I don’t care. But for once I have something I’d like to share, yet here I am going out of my way to keep things between us quiet and rumors are still going around.”
The corner of his mouth tugged up. “I don’t care what other people think or who knows what. After all, you’re not dreaming about them, so clearly they can’t be that important.”
A smile broke free, and I relaxed. “Clearly.”
He pulled me to him and kissed the top of my head.
The elevator bounced and I pulled away. Game face. I stepped out with Cade and Scout following.
“I’m going to clock in. I’ll see you in there.”
Cade cocked an adorable smile and said, “See ya.”
They headed into the playroom, and I smiled. The sounds of kids cheering leaked out. I opened my locker and shoved my phone inside.
“Hey, girl.”
I turned as Amy walked in. “How’s it going?”
“Good.” I forced a friendly smile.
She may not have complete control over my future here, but she probably could hinder it if I wasn’t careful.
“How was your weekend?” She opened a locker and pulled out her purse.
“It was good. Yours?”
“Pretty good. Had a cake tasting and picked out invitations for the wedding.” She shoved some cash in the front pocket of her scrubs, then put her purse back in the locker. “I’m going to grab a coffee. Want anything?”
“I just had lunch with Cade.” Shit. If she was gossiping about me, I’d just fed her more info.
“Okay, I’ll be right back.”
Weird. She hadn’t even seemed to notice my mention of Cade. Which didn’t add up to what Lindsey had told me. Maybe Lindsey really was just making small talk. Maybe I was being too sensitive.
I headed into the playroom, which was empty, and passed through the doors leading to the park. Cade and Scout were seated under the big tree, surrounded by kids. I watched for a bit while waiting for Tyler to show up. We’d been assigned to decorate a door for a patient’s birthday.
Tyler finally walked up. “Hey. I just passed Amy; she said everything we need is in the supply cabinet.”
“Okay, we should probably get going.”
The door decorating was a surprise and needed to be finished before the little girl returned from the playroom, and though I wanted to stand around watching Cade, this took precedence.
As we walked out of the room I glanced back at Cade. He stared at Tyler but when he realized I’d busted him, he looked away with a sheepish grin. It made me all sorts of giddy to see his jealousy. He had nothing to worry about, but I kind of loved the possessiveness.
We reached the door and set our supplies down. “Where do we start?” he asked.
“Maybe some streamers.” I picked up a purple roll and handed it to Tyler since he’d be tall enough to reach the top of the door frame.
He hung the strips as I cut them to size. “How was your weekend?” He stepped back to check out his work.
“Good.” I taped a banner across the door. “How about yours?”
“Great.” He raised his eyebrows and smirked.
“Cool.” Whatever he was aiming at, I wasn’t biting. “What do you think?” I stood back and admired our finished work.
“Looks good. Think this is enough streamers?” he asked.
“Yeah. I like it.”
“Cool, want to help me deliver some toys?”
What I really wanted to do was go back before Cade left, but it wouldn’t look too good if I stood around while Tyler worked. And this was the problem with getting involved with someone from work.
“Sure.”
We headed back to the playroom and grabbed a cart, filled it with toys then set off downstairs.
In the ER, I picked up a few abandoned toys and placed them on the bottom shelf for re-sanitizing. “Did you get the list of rooms we need to stop by after this?”
Tyler nodded and reached in his pocket, then checked the other one. “I must have left it upstairs.”
“I’ll run up and get it. I’ll meet you back here.” Though I was being helpful, I also would take any excuse to see Cade.
I rode the elevator up and went back to the playroom to search the area we’d pulled supplies from and the carts, figuring Tyler must have set the list down somewhere. As I retraced our steps, I peeked into the park. Cade stood off to the side, talking with Claudia. Hadn’t she already left for the day? She playfully pushed his shoulder as he laughed and nodded. My insides burned with seething animosity. If I touched him like that here, he’d be added to my list of love interests in two seconds. She gets all handsy and it’s cute.
I couldn’t stand around watching that crap. I searched for the list, banging things around with a bit more force than necessary. It was childish, but let’s face it, I didn’t exactly have the best handle on my emotions. This shit was all pretty new to me.
I finally found the list and headed out, resisting the urge to peek back at Cade. I glanced at the list to see where we’d be headed next as I made my way back to the elevator, but a familiar voice dragged my gaze up.
Thatcher. Ugh.
He waited for the elevator, talking with some other guy. He glanced up and I darted off in the direction of the stairs. I’d rather take the three flights down than spend thirty seconds in the elevator with him.
“Hey.”
I spun around at the sound of Cade’s voice. “You scared the crap out of me.”
“Sorry, I was trying to catch you before I left. So you want to stop by after your shift? My roommate won’t be home until six.”
I smiled. “I’d love to.”
He glanced around then grabbed my chin and kissed me. “Can’t wait. Now get out of the stairwell, you shouldn’t be in here alone.”
“It’s how I meet guys.”
“Well, let the next one know you’re taken.” After another quick kiss, he spun away and headed back upstairs. “See you soon.”
I smiled and hurried back to Tyler before he questioned what had taken me so long.
—
After work, I went home and changed out of my scrubs and into a dress because it was crazy hot outside…and I hoped to make Cade crazy hot.
At his apartment, I lifted my hand to knock but was greeted by Scout outside. Cade walked a few feet behind him.
“Hey.” He smiled. “Perfect timing.” He unlocked the door and held it open for Scout and me.
Scout wagged his tail and jumped up next to me as I sat on the couch. Cade walked by, grabbed me by the waist and sat down with me in his lap.
“I’m not even going to pretend I can be good with you in this dress.”
I smiled. “Guess my plan worked.”
“Evil.” He slid his hands under my dress. “How was work?”
I shifted and straddled his lap. “Good.” My lips brushed his as I tilted my head forward.
“Let’s go out tonight.” He grazed his fingers over my belly. “Like a date. A real one.”
“What if someone from work sees us?” I rocked forward as his palm dipped down over my body.
“We’ll go downtown. A bar. They don’t hang out at the college bars.”
“A date at a bar. Hmm, tempting.”
He chuckled. “Well, I’m guessing I can’t convince you to go to a restaurant. And it’d be easy to play it off if we saw someone. Say we ran into each other. Invite your roommate and her boyfriend.”
“I was serious. A date at a bar sounds awesome. I’m not much for candlelight and all that crap.”
He laughed. “A girl after my own heart.”
I pulled back and stared at him.
He put up both hands. “It’s an expression. Don’t worry. We aren’t diving into all those messy feelings,” he teased.
But we were. And it scared the shit out of me. “Let me text my roommate. If they can go, I’m game.”
“Really?”
“Yeah.” I reached over and grabbed my phone from my purse.
Cade settled back, slouching a bit on the couch, and rested his hands on my hips as I texted Brinley.
No sooner had the text gone through than the phone rang.
“Hello?”
“Cade, as in therapy dog Cade?” Brinley asked.
“Yes, that’s the one.”
Cade’s hands slid down my thighs and back up my dress. “The hot one,” he mouthed.
I rolled my eyes and fought back a grin.
“Oh my God. I have to meet this guy. Where were you thinking of going?”
“Downtown.”
Cade wiggled his eyebrows.
I shrugged, like she could see me. “Maybe The Box.”
Cade lifted my dress and, with his hands resting on my hips, ran his thumbs along the top of my panties.
“Hang on.” Brinley’s words muffled as she spoke to Ryder. “Okay. We can do that. What time?”
“Um, what time?” I asked Cade.
His eyes were locked on my midriff. “Later. I have something I need to do first.”
“Is he right there?” Brinley asked.
“Yeah.”
Cade inched down the sides of my panties.
“Can he hear me?” she asked.
“Maybe.”
Cade nodded.
I laughed. “Definitely.”
“Hmm, okay. We’re going to talk tonight.”
Cade stood, picking me up with him, totally catching me off guard.
“Ah, um, I’ll call you back when we figure out what time.”
“Yeah. Okay. Let me know.”
I pressed “end” and tossed my phone onto the couch as he carried me to his room.
“What are you doing?” I asked.
“Since you never told me where the dream ended, I’m improvising.”
He kicked his bedroom door shut and tossed me on the bed. Like an actual toss that made me bounce. He flipped my dress up, hooked my panties and yanked them down. He slid onto the bed, and, with his hands on my thighs, pushed my legs apart.
“Oh.” My hips tilted forward as his tongue slid over me.
Despite my frequent flyer miles, I’d never let a guy go down on me. Weird as it sounded, it seemed more intimate than sex.
It also freaked me out that Cade was exploring uncharted territory.
If I shut down during sex, how would I get through something more—“Oh, fuck,” I gasped as he ran his tongue over me again.
His mouth was so hot. It scorched my skin and sent a thousand tiny bolts of electricity shooting through my thighs. My breath trapped in my lungs and I gripped the blankets of his unmade bed.
My thighs quivered as pleasure coursed through me. But a battle waged between completely letting go and the fear I couldn’t.
Cade moved his mouth to my inner thigh and gently brushed kisses down one leg then up the other. “You okay?” he asked.
I nodded, not ready to admit defeat yet.
With his eyes locked on mine, Cade skimmed his lips back down my thigh. And something about the way he looked at me as his mouth slid over me caused my breathing to pick up. Then he flicked his tongue directly at my core, while his finger slid inside.
My head fell back and every nerve in my body sprang to life. It was impossible to even think straight, much less analyze the intimacy of the moment. My hips rolled under his mouth.
Cade’s finger worked in a perfect rhythm as his tongue swirled around, responding to every sigh, moan or gasp I made.
It felt beyond good, better than anything I’d ever experienced, and part of me never wanted it to end. But the fire burning deep in my belly threatened to consume me if it didn’t. My breathing came in nothing but whimpers as he brought me close then slowed his pace. I arched my hips in protest, trying to find the spot to finish this, but he seemed to be one step ahead. Always keeping the finish line in sight but just out of reach.
He teased with his tongue, hitting the spot that caused me to cry out then backed away before I could find my release.
“Cade,” I begged.
And he finally took pity on me, or maybe I was just so worked up it was inevitable. He knew exactly where to move his mouth, and with a few flicks of his tongue he brought me right back to the height of pleasure. I gasped and bucked my hips.
With his hand on my lower stomach, he held me down as he worked his mouth over me until I shattered under him. My body trembled. I gasped. Held my breath. And the most intense wave of bliss rolled through me. It rocked me to my core and I swore there might have been stars.
I tried to catch my breath as Cade pulled my panties back up. But holy shit. That had been fucking amazing.
Tossing my arm over my head, I mumbled, “Oh my God.”
“No need to get all formal. You can still just call me Cade.”
I peeked out from under my arm as he slid up beside me, looking way too pleased with himself. “I’d push you off the bed right now if my arms worked.”
He tucked me into his chest. “No you wouldn’t.”
And he was right. I had a newfound level of respect for what he was capable of. I curled into a ball, with Cade spooned righ
t up against me, and closed my eyes.
And for once, life was pretty damn perfect.
Chapter 14
Being a Monday night, The Box wasn’t very busy but they had a local cover band who had a bit of a following so it wasn’t dead either. It was pretty perfect. The chances of running into too many people I knew were slim.
Brinley pulled me to the side while Ryder and Cade fetched drinks at the bar.
“He’s so cute!” She clasped both my hands and practically squealed.
And I’m not going to lie, part of me wanted to hop around squealing “I know” because he was the hottest guy I’d ever dated.
Dated.
Wow, I’d never really dated. I’d hooked up and had a boyfriend. I liked this place in between.
“He’s pretty amazing. In every way.” I grinned.
“I bet.” She nudged me with her hip. “So how long have you guys been a thing?”
“We’ve been talking since the internship started but I guess this weekend we just sort of took it to the next level.”
She stared at me as a huge smile stretched her face. “You really like this guy, don’t you?”
“Yeah.” Which scared the fuck out of me.
“That’s a good thing, Fallon.” She squeezed my hand.
“I guess. No more talking about it though. We’ll jinx it.”
She pressed her lips together and nodded, just as Ryder and Cade walked up. They seemed to have hit it off, but really looked like such opposites it was almost comical. Ryder was all messy dark hair, pierced lip—nothing like who I’d picture Brinley with—while Cade was all…golden. Perfect. Tan skin, wheat blond hair, and those eyes locked on me with the same hunger I saw in them a few hours ago.
He handed me a beer then slipped his hand in mine. Warmth trickled down my neck as his lips grazed my cheek, making their way to my ear. “That dress is killing me.”
I bit my lip as a smile tugged at it. We settled into a table and thankfully Brinley was good at small talk. She asked Cade questions about Scout and his work at the hospital. Every now and then she’d toss me an approving smile. And, dumb as it was, I appreciated her approval. She was the closest thing I had to a girlfriend and when it came to picking guys, she’d chosen well. I never would have picked Ryder out of a lineup as her future soulmate or anything, so she must have had some inside track, a sixth sense or something. Whatever it was, if she saw a hint of that between Cade and me, I’d be thrilled.
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