by Delilah Hunt
“Yeah.”
“I love you, baby girl.”
She clutched the frame of her Toyota for support. “I love you too.”
The moment he retreated into the house, Shakara staggered into the seat of her car, slumping her head to the steering wheel. Come tomorrow, he’d regret ever uttering those words to her. Cade’s company, his legacy, would not fall into the gutters, not by the likes of her.
Chapter Nineteen
“Feeling better?” Cade tugged a strand of hair behind Shakara’s ear.
“Yeah,” she answered quietly. “The ibuprofen helped a lot.”
“Glad to hear it, because I have big plans for us today.” He dropped a handful of blueberries, her favorite, into the smooth batter. He planned on dedicating the entire day to her, pleasing her, charming her, before popping the question.
Her eyes shifted to the stove. “You didn’t have to make breakfast, especially not pancakes, which you don’t even like.”
“Baby girl, I know I don’t have to do it. I like taking care of you.”
Shakara sighed and leaned against the counter, her eyes geared toward the living room. Arms folded she turned to him. “I don’t need you to take care of me. You’re not my father, Cade.”
His brows went up, taken aback by her attack. Was he missing something? It was pancakes, for God’s sake.
“I get it. You’re a big girl and you have your pride. I’m not trying to be your father. That’s the last thing I’d want to be accused of.” He pushed the spatula under the two pancakes, flipping them from the skillet to a dish.
“Can you please turn that off? I need to talk to you.”
He looked at her in puzzlement, stunned by the caustic tone of her voice and the shadows on her face. Her large brown eyes appeared lackluster, missing their usual sparkle. The lids were puffed out, telling him she hadn’t slept well. Grimacing, the thought struck him that something might have happened to her at the restaurant last night to explain her out-of-the-ordinary headache.
He turned the knob on the gas oven and the flames vanished. “First, I need you to tell me if someone hurt you last night?”
“I’m fine. Work has nothing to do with this. I want to talk about us.”
His heart stopped and the blood in his veins froze. “What about us do you feel the need to discuss?” he asked with maximum composure.
She closed her eyes, opening them on a harsh breath. “I thought this was what I wanted but it’s not. You’ve been great to me, more than I deserve to be truthful, and I know it’s not fair to you. I—”
His patience snapped, anger and betrayal bubbling to the surface.
“Say it,” he demanded, slapping his hand on the granite counter top. “Whatever it is you’ve been meaning to tell me since last night. I assume this is the source of your mysterious headache.”
She raised her chin a notch, looking him square in the face. “I didn’t want to tell you like this. I…” She paused and shook her head. “It’s over.”
Cade stood with his feet planted to the ground, unable to move. His chest tightened with pain and his heart rose to the front of his throat. She was leaving him. His baby girl had decided she no longer loved him.
“Why?”
Her eyes widened and a single tear made its way past her lashes. That angered him beyond reasoning. She had no reason to cry. He wasn’t the one terminating the relationship. It was all on her.
“I asked you a question. Why now? I’m leaving to go abroad in two days and you choose to do this now.”
“Oh God, Cade I—”
“You didn’t remember? I should be thankful, I suppose. At least I wouldn’t have returned home expecting to see you only to encounter an empty house.”
“I’d never do that.”
His lips thinned into a hard line and he felt a hand twist itself around his heart. She was a liar. She had used those same deceptive words, assuring him she would never leave him in old age. He needed her out. Away from his house and out of his life. Another minute looking at her and he’d shame himself, begging her to change her mind.
“Get out,” he grated. Her reasons were no longer a source of relevance to him. “I don’t want to see a single item of yours inside this house.”
She pressed her lips together and another tear fell from her eye. He hated her for crying. Worse, he despised himself for wanting to comfort her.
“I don’t want you to hate me,” she whispered.
Cade hardened his jaw, pulling her to him. “Tell me you made a mistake, you didn’t mean it. If you say it, we’ll move on and forget this.”
She shook her head slowly, her eyes brimming with unshed tears. “I’m so sorry. I didn’t want to hurt you. I really didn’t.”
“If you go, I don’t ever want to see you here again. You have so much goddamn pride let’s see how far it takes you in life. I swear to you, Shakara, if you walk out of here and I see you on the streets, I won’t hesitate to turn the other way.”
Her shoulders stiffened and she swiped at her eyes. “I’ve never asked you for anything and I never will.”
“No, you haven’t, but now I’m asking you to get your things and get the hell out of my house.”
“I heard you the first time,” Shakara said, striding past him.
His gaze fell to the cold pancakes. Cade curled his lips into a sneer, hurling the dish into the sink, the enamel shattering.
Lowering his head, he laid it on the counter top. His chest ached with each breath he took and tears burned at the back of his eyes. Emptiness and longing assailed him. He loved her more than life itself, and she’d thrown it back in his face.
Cade lifted his head and made his way to the bookshelf across the living room. What a fool he was, imagining that later tonight they would cuddle up in bed, with the engagement ring fastened around her slender finger. At least he wouldn’t have to suffer the humiliation of being dumped while proposing.
He pushed a dusty book out of the way and grabbed the ring box, pocketing it. Useless. Shakara’s eyes would never glimpse the inside of the box he so desperately wanted to hand her. Not her or any other woman. Although the cost of the ring set him back a couple thousand dollars, it was not enough to leave a dent in his bank account. That dissolved all rationale for selling it.
Sighing, he shoved it deeper into his pocket, forcing it out of his mind. A soft thud caught his attention and he turned his head to the side.
Shakara was climbing down the winding staircase, struggling with a dull suitcase that banged against the hardwood with each step she took.
Cade gritted his teeth, refusing to take notice of how vulnerable she looked with the worn suitcase in her small hands. He planted his feet on the ground and watched her go to the door.
“One day you’re going to understand it’s for the best. Our relationship wouldn’t have survived anyway.”
He scowled and closed the distance between them in a vengeful stride. Grasping the handle, he wrenched it open, ushering her out. “I realize it already. You’re a mistake I won’t repeat, Shakara.”
He slammed the door, unable to bear the hurt in her expression. What did she expect from him? Laughter and joy that his greatest fear came to fruition. He had no right falling in love with her yet it happened and for the briefest time life was great. Better than great. Exquisite, perfection, bliss. She was his sweet baby girl and the only woman to rip his heart to shreds.
Chapter Twenty
Shakara stroked her fingers over Cade’s cheek. Her heart twisted inside her chest. He appeared stern and unbending, the complete opposite of the man she loved. The man who treated her with utmost gentleness and care, as if she were his queen. It pained her that all he had to show for it were callous words and a missing photograph.
She meticulously laid the stolen photo in her bedside table drawer. She’d look at it again later today, returning her most treasured possession to its rightful place on top of the chipped wooden table. The first and last thing she saw
each day.
Julie was coming over and she didn’t want to rouse her suspicion by parading Cade’s picture in her bedroom. It surprised her that Julie wished to continue their friendship. Silently, she said a ‘thank you’ to Cade for hiding the details of their breakup. Someday she would let him know the truth, but first he needed to move on and let go of his pain.
Shakara sighed, hating the idea of him moving on, lumping her into his past. She didn’t want to see his arms around another woman. A nameless, faceless woman wearing his ring while pregnant with his child. It should be her.
She shook her head and her lashes fluttered with wetness. This had to stop, the on and off crying for the past five days.
A sharp knock from outside urged her to swipe the back of her hand across her eyes.
Drawing in a deep breath, she opened the door. Julie stood in the dim hallway, a solemn look on her oval face.
“What the hell is going on between you and my brother?” she asked, sitting on the couch. “I called and asked to speak with you and out of the blue he snaps that you’re no longer his concern. Just like that. He wouldn’t say anything more. And you, I tried calling you like fifty times and you wouldn’t pick up. Hello, this is me. Your best friend. I expected my brother to be tight-lipped, but not you.”
Shakara fastened her gaze to a blank spot on the wall. “The relationship wasn’t working, Jules. I care about him but I don’t think we’re meant to be more than friends.”
Julie’s eyes widened. “Friends? You really think Cade wants friendship? Not after this. He loves you and it doesn’t make sense to me that all of a sudden you decide it’s not worth it. I’m not buying it.”
“Why? What’s so hard to believe? I thought I was in love with him. I was wrong. Cade and I are a world apart.”
“Is that so?”
She lifted her eyebrows at the sarcasm and censure in Julie’s voice. “Yes. It is.”
“I hope to God, you’re not going to mention your race because we both know that has nothing to do with this. Cade couldn’t care less and neither should you.”
Shakara narrowed her eyes and stood up, her hands resting on her hips. “I never said it was about race. I don’t even know why you’re asking all these questions. It’s over and it’s private.”
“It’s not private. He’s my brother and I love him to death. From what you just said it sounds like you were the one who broke up with him.”
Damn. She didn’t want to get into it with Julie. Not like this. “Jules, seriously, it’s none of your business. The fact that you’re his sister doesn’t carry any weight. Not in this situation.”
Julie gasped. “I didn’t come over here with the intention of defending Cade, but listening to you, seeing you. It’s like you don’t even care that he’s hurting.” Julie stared at her and laughed bitterly. “Friends or not, Shakara, we both know you could do a hell of a lot worse than my brother. You were lucky he wanted to take you out of this dump.”
Shakara stiffened, convincing herself that those words had not just left the mouth of her best friend. “What did you say?”
Julie cocked her brow and folded her arms. “You heard me. I’ll be happy to let Cade know that he was wasting his time on you. He deserves a lot better than the person standing in front of me. I didn’t think you would break his heart.”
“Jesus Christ, you make me sound like a heartless bitch. I never lied about my feelings for him and as for breaking his heart; we both know Cade won’t have a hard time finding someone new.”
Julie smirked and Shakara wanted to slap the grin off her face. “Of course he won’t. Luckily he has Donna, my wonderful boss, to help him pick up the pieces.”
Fiery dots of red flared before Shakara’s eyes. “Cade has no interest in her,” she countered, unable to rein in her jealousy.
“She’s closer to him than you are at this point. Guess who he took with him to Singapore? Yep, that’s right. Donna’s with him. So you see you might have done him a favor anyway.”
Shakara’s heart hammered wildly and it felt hard to breathe. Not once had he mentioned that Donna would be accompanying him. Why didn’t he tell her? She touched her throat. It felt tight as if the air was being sucked out of her. Cade and another woman. How could he move on so quickly? He loved her. Didn’t that count for anything?
She blinked back a teardrop and looked up to see Julie staring at her, mild concern on her features.
“You should go now, Jules.” She picked Julie’s handbag up off the coffee table and handed it to her.
“Yeah. I think its best.” Julie headed to the doorway and paused. “Maybe I’ll stop by and we can talk or something another time.”
Shaking her head, Shakara lifted her shoulder in a shrug. “I don’t know. I’m going to be busy, plus I probably won’t be here much longer. My lease is about to end and I have to find a new place. I’ll be occupied with sorting it out.”
Julie nodded, a hint of relief flickering across her face at Shakara’s babbled out excuses.
And just like that, Shakara watched as her last connection to Cade made a hurried exit away from her apartment and, possibly, her life.
Chapter Twenty-One
Shakara plucked a strand of hair from her lips, tucking it behind her ear. The bristling autumn wind whipped through the air and she drew her shoulders together.
The walk from the bus stop to the lavish two-story colonial house took longer than she had expected. Her car was low on gas and she wanted to save the remaining fuel for tonight. Pursing her lips, she dreading the hours to come.
Shakara reached the house, stopping in the front yard. She wondered if Cade knew the restaurant had closed. Ronny, asshole that he was, waited until the last week to tell her and the other girl that he no longer owned the place. A couple from Massachusetts held the ownership and Ronny didn’t hesitate to mince his words, letting them know their services would not be welcome at the future home of the family-friendly restaurant and arcade.
If it wasn’t for her daily task of job hunting and filling out applications she would have broken down sooner. Much sooner than today. Over a month had passed since she’d last seen and spoken to Cade. Biting her lips, Shakara pulled her jacket toward her center, crossing her fingers in hopes that he would hear her out.
Another hour without him and she was likely to go insane. The emptiness inside her heart was becoming harder to deal with each day. It also shamed her to admit her decision to seek him out today of all days was not without motive. She needed a place to sleep and, pride be damned, she needed his help.
She needed him. Shakara pressed a shaky finger to the doorbell, regretting the action a second too late. What was she doing? He’d warned her that he would look the other way. There was also his company to think about. Oh God, she was being selfish.
Panicking, she spun in the direction of the street. This was by far her dumbest idea yet.
Almost immediately, the door opened, stopping her furtive lunge for escape.
“Cade.” Her heart stopped and her mouth felt dry.
His eyes darkened. “What are you doing here?”
She flinched. Her mouth opened and closed. She didn’t know what to say. His impatient look wasn’t helping either.
“I wanted to see you.” I missed. I love you. I’m sorry.
His fingers curled around the door frame. She stepped back, expecting him to slam it in her face.
“I can’t imagine for what reason. You made it plain how you felt and so did I. We’re nothing to each other. There’s no need for you to see me.”
She swallowed hard. “I know what I said, but I wanted to explain it to you. And I remember you told me once that I could come to you if I needed help.”
“If you’ll recall, I said those words when I had feelings for you, cared about you.” He ran a hand through his hair and shook his beautiful head. “Our situation isn’t the same anymore, Shakara. Whatever it is, I’m afraid I can’t help you.”
“I get it
,” she whispered. Tears welled in her eyes, washing away her visions of him calling her his baby girl and lifting her up in his arms. She gave a slight nod. “I suppose I deserve that. It’s not like what I had to say was important.”
“If we’re through here, I’d like to return inside.” He avoided her gaze.
Her stomach knotted at his impatience to leave her. She wanted to ask him if Donna awaited him in his bedroom. She bit her tongue and, above all else, kept silent, resisting the urge to blurt out the truth.
He was over her, unaffected by their break up. Her heartache tripled. She knew she had to find a way to be happy for him. He wouldn’t care one way or the other about her reasoning. If she spoke up, the only thing she’d accomplish would be to make a fool of herself for the second time this evening.
Shakara went to him ignoring the cautious reproach in his eyes and kissed his rigid jaw line. She felt his muscles relax beneath her lips and she pulled away, satisfied to have given him a real goodbye.
“I’ll see you around.” Her fingers curled into a tiny wave as she retreated toward the pavement. The bitter wind that nipped at her neck went unnoticed. Shakara felt numb. Maybe it was for the best. The emptiness would become her ally.
****
Cade parted the drapes on the window in his office, glancing out. The moonlight shone on the oak lined street. It pained him to know that less than two hours before, Shakara had walked among them, strolling out of his life for the second time.
“Fuck.”
He pushed away from the window and sank into his chair, his shoulders slumped. She needed help and he’d sent her away. What else could he have done?