Deadline

by Judy McDonough

Back in her own room, Caroline noticed Cade flipping through the pages of her small photo album. "Hey. My dad said it would be all right for you to stay, but he wants to talk to you in his office first."

  Cade grinned, her heart fluttered. "Yeah? I get to deal with the dad?"

  She squinted. "Oh, shut up. It's not even like that and you know it. He probably just wants to put the fear in you about not touching me. I am his princess after all."

  He held up a picture from the photo album. "Okay, Princess, is this the lucky guy?"

  She sat next to him. "Yes, that's Trevor."

  "Nice lookin' fella. What's Trevor's last name?"

  "Callahan, why?"

  "No reason." He tucked the picture neatly back in the photo slip. "Just wanted to see what your last name would have been."

  Standing abruptly, hands on hips and eyebrows raised, Caroline challenged him. "Would have been? You don't think I'm going to marry him?"

  He gave a cocky smile. "I told you, sweet Caroline. I'm gonna sweep you off your feet and you'll be saying, 'Trevor who?'"

  She snatched the picture from his hands. "You're mighty sure of yourself, aren't you? You've known me for five minutes and you think you know me?"

  "I did well in chemistry class, and I know when something is right. And we are exactly right for each other." He brushed the hair from her forehead. "We'd be great together. And you know it."

  Caroline's heart did a back flip into her stomach and she felt lightheaded as she fought back a swoon. Never in her life had a guy made her feel so completely cherished and desired. Trevor's desire was clouded with pure lust. Cade's sincerity and boldness touched her in all the right places. All of them.

  "Well, unfortunately for you, Trevor beat you to the punch. You're about two years too late." The sadness and lack of conviction that seeped through Caroline's voice distressed her more than the ghost issue. Every doubt she had before now crescendoed unbearably in her heart.

  Cade put his arm around her neck and pulled her closer to kiss her forehead. "You're not married yet. I've still got some time."

  His hot breath tickled against her heightened skin, and residual tingles from his feather-soft lips caused flashes of what it would be like to feel them all over her body. His determined words would have sealed her gaping need for reassurance if not for the overwhelming, two-timing guilt snuffing out the burning desire deep in her belly.

  "But I made a promise to Trevor. An engagement is a promise and I can't break it." She sat down on the bed beside him, her posture reflecting her resignation. "I don't want to break it." Trevor's face looked back at her from the now crumpled photograph in her hands. "I won't break it."

  Each word sounded like a lie to her own ears. She was exactly where she wanted to be and nothing could change that. Cade grabbed her hand and threaded his fingers through hers. Her conscience rebelled. Trevor deserved better than this. Caroline looked at their hands together and then up at his face before she slowly pulled her hand from his.

  Cade released a small sigh and stood.

  "Look, I am not going to force you to do anything. You're a grown woman." He ran his fingers through his curls and turned away from her. They shared the silence for a moment, neither knowing what to say, until Cade spun around with urgency in his tone. "But he's not the man for you. I don't know what this is between us, but I do know he's not the guy you should marry." His voice dropped as he whispered his next words. "I see it in your eyes when you talk about him, and I can feel it here when I kiss you."

  He pulled her up to stand in front of him as he placed his large hand just above her breasts in the middle of her chest. Stealing her breath and jumpstarting her heart, Caroline couldn't peel her eyes from his and cursed her body's betrayal to his touch. Cade waited a moment before continuing, never taking his eyes off their point of contact.

  "I promise I'll try not to push you too fast, and I will stop if you tell me what I'm saying is wrong. Obviously, I want you to desire me as much as I do you, and, call me crazy, but I don't think I'm too far off the mark here." Cade slipped his hand up to cradle her face and smirked. "But I'm coming for you, Caroline. Make no mistake."

  She couldn't breathe, couldn't think. No one had ever spoken to her like that. What was she supposed to say? Shame on her for having this strong attraction to another man, but deep down she didn't want him to stop pursuing her. No way could she let him know that, though. She chose the safest thing possible. "Thank you. I can't tell you how much I appreciate that."

  He leaned down like he was going to kiss her, and then stopped short as if he changed his mind.

  He sighed again, squeezed his eyes closed tightly, and rested his forehead against hers, whispering, "I'd better go see Eddie before he sends out a search party for me."

  And just like that he was gone. Her body grieved at the loss of his touch. It was almost like a physical ache that she couldn't explain or ignore. Her eyes popped open, searching, and she found him opening the door to leave. Caroline had to get hold of her emotions before she did something stupid.

  "I'm sure he hasn't finished setting up the firing squad yet. Don't panic."

  He turned back and grinned. "Not in my nature."

  Seventeen