He thought of how her confidence in his ability to be a good cop fed his own. He thought of how much he had healed already in her presence and knew without doubt that he wanted this woman in his life.
The price was irrelevant. He would do what he needed to do to make this happen, to convince her to give them a chance.
“I’m ready,” he said to Clem. “Tell me the price.”
Reyna was agitated.
She was never agitated, not anymore. Being self-reliant and in control of her life meant that there were no stray variables to shake her up. She managed all the details and her life was serene.
Or it had been until she’d invited Kade in the door.
In fact, in hindsight, her life might have been a bit boring before Kade.
Maybe she’d missed more than the feel of a man’s hands on her skin. Maybe she’d missed the unpredictability of sharing time with someone else, someone who didn’t always do what she wanted, someone who could turn her world upside down in a heartbeat.
This was dangerous stuff. Kade was dangerous stuff. Reyna knew she was agitated because she felt that this fling was spiraling out of her control. That terrified her. If she couldn’t keep Kade at a distance, he might do a lot more than give her a big orgasm. He might really shake her world. Shatter it even.
She might end up starting all over again.
If she was lucky.
She tied on a heavy apron—not a pretty one—got out her industrial rubber gloves and started to clean the ovens.
She reminded herself as she scrubbed that she knew Kade wasn’t like Sean. She wouldn’t have asked him into her shop if he’d had one single thing in common with Sean.
Well, there was one thing. He had a motorcycle.
He looked great on his bike. That was another.
He kissed like a god. That made three.
Reyna scrubbed harder.
Kade surprised her and had done it more than once. She exhaled and went after some tough burned residue. Okay, his surprises had made her laugh instead of leaving bruises. But still, the unpredictability was there.
So was the excitement. She felt the same sense of being drawn into something she should be smart enough to avoid, and that was what agitated her.
Like this dinner. It was a bad idea to spend more time with Kade, especially as he seemed determined to charm her. On the other hand, she couldn’t not go, because his plan to defend her reputation was a pretty good one.
Even if the horse was out of the proverbial barn on that.
Was she using his plan as an excuse to spend one more night with him? It wouldn’t have surprised her, given her weakness for that slow smile and that steady gaze.
Shit. If only she hadn’t liked him so much.
And that was the nut of it. She liked Kade. She trusted Kade. Her instincts were at odds with her experience, and that was chewing her up.
Reyna had to resolve this and she would. She’d go for dinner, she’d dump him afterward, just like he’d suggested.
Then she’d spend all night wishing she’d invited him in one last time.
She shook her head, knowing it was true, and scrubbed harder. She also knew it was the right thing to do, the only thing to do, and she would do it.
This dinner would be the end of her fling with Kade.
No matter how persuasive he might prove to be.
Uncle Derek was sitting on the back porch, reading the Saturday newspaper the way he always did on Sunday morning. Kade nodded a greeting and was going to continue to the house, but his uncle cleared his throat. “She’s a nice girl.”
Kade paused, recognizing that he was being told that the news had traveled. “She is.”
His uncle looked over his paper. “Too nice to be used.”
“I don’t have any intention of just using her,” Kade said. “She’s the One.”
His uncle smiled. “Does she agree?”
“No, but actions speak louder than words.”
“And actions can move mountains.” He nodded at the parcel Kade was carrying, the wrapped book from Clem’s store. “Is that a gift then?”
“It is. Clem says it’s the one book she wants, so I hope he’s right. Otherwise, I’m the proud owner of an expensive first edition book of fairy tales.”
“You could probably sell it, if you had to.”
“I hope I don’t need to.” Kade knew he’d probably tell Reyna to keep it, no matter what she decided to do about them.
He really was a goner.
His uncle closed the newspaper and set it aside. “Have you made any other decisions?”
Kade knew what he was asking. His uncle had been a state trooper before his retirement and he was both the man who best understood Kade and Kade’s inspiration.
Kade sat down in the other chair on the porch, the book in his lap. “I’m going back to Portland this week. I had dinner with Chris last night and am going to the shrink again on Wednesday. I went back to the range yesterday, too.”
His uncle was studying him closely. “And?”
“Better but still too much hesitation.” Kade shook his head, frustrated. “I’m going to beat this, Uncle Derek.”
“I know. You’ve given it time, and now you need to give it determination.” Again, the older man surveyed Kade. “Is this business with Reyna tied up in that?”
“It is. She’s so strong. It makes me want to be better, to be stronger myself, for her. I don’t want to let her down. Ever.”
His uncle nodded and sat back. “She’s a very independent young woman.”
“Someone hurt her, badly.”
“No doubt. But it’s a big change to go from complete independence to having a partner in your life.” Uncle Derek picked up the newspaper again. “Don’t be too hard on her if she needs a little time. You need time to get past this incident. It’s a great healer, time.”
Kade nodded. “I’ll miss dinner tonight, by the way. I’m taking Reyna to the lodge.”
“To change her mind?”
“Something like that. I might even make some progress.” The two men exchanged a smile. “Then I’ll head back into town in the morning.”
“Guess I’ll have to finish the porch trim myself.”
“I’ll be back, but you’ll probably have most of it done before then.”
His uncle nodded and snapped his paper. “Best tell your aunt about dinner.”
“I will.”
“And good luck, Kade. Reyna’s a smart woman, too. I doubt she’ll let you slip away when it gets right down to it.”
And when would that be? Kade hoped it would be soon, but he wasn’t sure. He just had to try and hope for the best. In the meantime, he’d get that next section of porch trim sanded and primed before he left.
Reyna found a note slipped under the front door of the shop later that afternoon. She’d ignored the knock on the door, calling herself a chicken as she did it, so she guessed who it was from. Her story was that she’d been cleaning the bathroom to a shine.
It was true. Her house was spotless.
The note was from Kade, of course.
* * *
I made a reservation for seven.
Meet you there?
K
* * *
Was he asking her to meet him at the lodge so she’d have her own vehicle there? She knew she was glad of the suggestion and had to think Kade had anticipated her reaction. She also knew it would be easier to look composed and independent if she arrived on her own. She ran her fingertip across his handwriting, knowing she would miss having her legs wrapped around him on the bike.
But that would have only led her into temptation.
Reyna sighed. Maybe he understood her too well.
Maybe he was ready to end the fling, too.
That was a depressing idea, even though it shouldn’t have been. She was just as tangled up about Kade as she’d been before, maybe worse.
Clearly, she had to plan what she was going to wear.
Kade
halfway thought Reyna wouldn’t show. He hadn’t been so nervous over a date since high school. He had a feeling that Reyna would look fabulous if she did show, and he wanted to keep his end of the deal. He had a dark suit, one that was still here because he’d worn it last at a funeral that he’d attended with his aunt and uncle. He gave it a brush and thought it looked pretty good.
His aunt fussed over the collar of his shirt, insisting on giving it another press for him, which didn’t help at all. Still, he accepted her offer—to his uncle’s amusement—wanting to look his best. He even shaved the short beard he’d been cultivating, which won Aunt Louise’s hearty approval.
His uncle studied him, and Kade guessed that man understood something had changed in Kade’s perspective. “Have a good trip back to the city, in case I don’t see you before the morning,” Uncle Derek said and they shook hands.
“Don’t mess up the colors on that porch while I’m gone,” Kade teased, then tugged his leather jacket over the suit jacket and strode to his bike.
The lodge was a huge timber building, one that had been given additions at will over the years. Kade guessed that the impressive foyer was a new addition, because its ceiling soared high and it had many large windows. With the fire glowing on the double-sided hearth and dozens of low lights, it was more than welcoming. The other side of the massive fireplace opened into the restaurant, which looked to have been built at the same time as the foyer. It shared that high ceiling and the large windows, as well as having the same gleaming dark wood floor. Enticing aromas carried from the kitchen, roast meat and garlic, and he realized he was hungry.
The pretty girl at the desk suggested he leave his leather jacket and helmet with her. “It’s our version of a coat-check,” she said with a smile, indicating the room behind the desk. Kade was trying to figure out where he’d seen her before.
He kept the book, which Clem had wrapped for him. “Have I seen you at Fran’s?”
She smiled. “I’m her granddaughter. I wait tables there as well as working here.” Her eyes shone. “When I get done with school, that diner is going to change big-time.”
Kade smiled. “I bet.” He didn’t think it was a good idea to mention the coffee and was saved from making conversation by Reyna’s arrival.
She looked fantastic, but Kade wasn’t surprised by that. She was wearing a navy raincoat that had pink polka dots on the lining, which he saw when the girl offered to take the coat. Reyna was wearing a navy suit with a straight skirt and a string of pearls. Her lipstick was pale pink, as was her purse and her shoes—which weren’t sky-high heels.
The shoes were a sign, he suspected. Red ones might have been interpreted as an invitation, as would stilettos. These shoes said he shouldn’t get his hopes up. His first reaction was that they looked as if he had a job interview with her.
In a way, he supposed he did.
Kade smiled when he met her gaze, wanting her to see that her message was received. There was another line in the sand and he respected that. Every date didn’t have to end with sex. He’d invited her to dinner and to talk. If anything else happened, that would be great, but he didn’t want her thinking that she owed him anything.
“You look great,” he said and meant it.
Her gaze flicked over him as she came to his side. He saw appreciation in her eyes and her lips curved in a smile. “So do you. I’m not really surprised that you clean up so well, though.” She raised one hand to his jaw, as if she couldn’t resist touching him.
That had to be a good sign.
“Thanks.” Kade smiled and kissed her fingertips, then gestured to the restaurant. She glanced at the package he was carrying, then walked ahead of him. “I hope you’re hungry, too.”
“I’ve never eaten here,” she admitted. “I just supply them with cupcakes.”
“I’ve been here only once. It was great.” He shook his head. “Even though I didn’t have dessert.”
“Maybe you should,” Reyna said, a challenge in her eyes.
“Maybe I should,” Kade agreed easily, holding her gaze. “It’s good to check your assumptions once in a while, don’t you think?”
The waiter came so Reyna didn’t reply, but Kade knew she’d understood his meaning.
The menu reminded Kade that the lodge was expensive, but he didn’t care. They were seated near the fire and there were only two other couples in the restaurant. He couldn’t hear their conversations due to the distance and the acoustics of the high ceiling. He liked the sense that their dinner was private.
After they’d ordered and tasted the wine, Reyna met his gaze steadily. “This is the part where you change my mind, right?” She indicated the package. “By overwhelming me with a gift?”
Kade didn’t resent her implication that her mind couldn’t be changed. “No. This is the part where you tell me why you make cupcakes,” he replied.
She looked at the package.
“Maybe it’s not for you,” he teased.
Reyna smiled. “You’re sneaky.”
“No, I’m Kade,” he replied deadpan, glad when she laughed. “Come on, tell me about cupcakes.”
“What about them?”
“How’d you end up making them your business?” He shrugged. “Why you make them. What you like about making them. Speak to me of cupcakes.”
Kade in a suit was very serious eye candy. Reyna wanted to stare and stare, then eat him up with a spoon. Maybe without a spoon. He looked even more handsome clean-shaven—and much more obviously not a bad boy.
Well, except for the gleam in his eyes. He watched her as if she was amazing, and if she wasn’t careful, she could start believing he really thought that.
Actually, she pretty much already did.
The only mercy was that Lexi apparently wasn’t working. Reyna hadn’t caught a glimpse of her friend and she’d worried a bit late that Lexi might be their server. She didn’t have to worry about Lexi’s questions and assumptions tonight at least.
Tomorrow would be another thing altogether. There was no way Lexi wouldn’t hear about this date and demand to know more.
She became aware that Kade was patiently waiting for her reply.
Cupcakes. “Well, they’re trendy,” she offered.
“You must have had a better reason than that to start your business.”
“Yes and no. I wanted to run my own business, and I wanted it to succeed. I didn’t want to take half a dozen tries to get it right. So, I made a list of what I do well, then edited it down to the things that I’d like to do over and over again.”
Kade bit back a smile.
Reyna pointed her fork at him. “I didn’t know you then, so that didn’t make the list.”
He grinned and she realized too late that she’d encouraged him when she hadn’t meant to—even if it was true.
“And it’s tacky to do it for money,” she added.
“Good point,” he agreed with a playful wink. Their appetizers came, a salad for her and the soup of the day for Kade. He waited until the waiter was gone again. “I’m going to guess that you looked at the market with that list in your hand.”
“I did. I like to bake. My grandmother taught me and we always baked together. I also always liked art class although I never found a particular discipline I loved.” Reyna shrugged. “I didn’t have a lot of opportunity to pursue that.”
“Limited programming at your school?”
“Something like that,” she ceded, deliberately being vague. What would Kade think if he learned she’d never finished high school? She knew that his aunt Louise had been a high school teacher. He wouldn’t be impressed and it might even turn him off, but Reyna wasn’t in a hurry to confess that shortcoming all the same. “So, I looked for something that was just starting to go big. If I was doing it today, I might choose macarons, although they might not run so hot for so long.” At Kade’s blank look, she smiled. “I’m convinced that part of what gives cupcakes longevity as a trend is that there are so many ways to decora
te them. Just when I think they’ll slide out of view, someone somewhere does something brilliantly creative and they get another second wind.”
“They’re portable,” he noted.
“Yes. The single serving thing is a big part of it. The packaging is part of it. They can be an indulgence, but not an expensive one. They can also be an addiction, and I have my regulars. They can be festive for really any occasion. Kids love them. There are lots of reasons for their popularity.”
“And you like making them?”
Reyna smiled. “You know, I really do. Even when they’re elaborately decorated, each one is a small project that can be completed and admired. I like the challenge of coming up with new flavors and designs and themes.”
“What else?” he prompted.
“I like the people. I like how much joy my cupcakes can give them, although that sounds silly.”
“It doesn’t sound silly at all. What could be better than to create something and have people be glad about it?” He finished his soup. “What about weddings?”
“Those, actually, are my favorites, because the individual cupcakes come together to be something bigger.”
“Like the peacock.”
“Exactly! And people get really excited about those. I think there were as many pictures of the peacock as of the bride at that wedding.”
“Novelty,” Kade guessed. “There’s a bride at every wedding but not necessarily a peacock made of cupcakes.”
Reyna found herself laughing again. “Maybe that’s it. Either way, I have a lot more fun with this than I expected, which is a good thing. Making a living doing what you love is just about as good as it gets.”
“I can relate to that,” Kade said. “In fact, we have that philosophy in common.”
The waiter came again and Reyna considered Kade’s words. That was his scheme. He was looking for common ground between them, maybe to prove to her that they would be good together. It wasn’t a bad strategy, and she suspected he’d find a lot.
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