by Taylor Hart
He shrugged. “Fridays she goes somewhere.”
Kade’s heart raced, had she already gone?
Ernie pointed to the building. “There she is.”
Without thinking, Kade took off into a sprint after her.
She was faster than she looked, rushing to the curb and pulling open what looked to be an uber car. It took him by surprise to see she was dressed in jeans, a t-shirt, hoodie, and tennis shoes. “Felicity!” He called out just as she started to get in.
Abruptly, she stopped, whipping back to him.
He got to her, not the least bit out of breath, but definitely out of sorts.
“What are you doing here?” she asked with accusation in her voice.
Unable to make up a lie, he took off his sunglasses and searched her face. “I had to see you.”
Rolling her eyes and looking extremely put out, she shook her head. “Not today. I have to go somewhere.”
He wasn’t the type to be deterred. “C’mon, I went out on two dates. There’s no more KadeSong,” he said, feeling stupid but not caring. “Plus, we’re both incognito.” He flashed his Zeus smile at her.
“Lady, get in, or I’ll go find another passenger,” said the uber driver.
Scowling at him, she let out a breath. “I’m probably going to regret this, but get in.”
A hole in the defense. He pounced on it. “You won’t. I promise.”
Chapter 19
The homeless shelter was in the inner city, and there were clusters of men huddled together outside of it. A bigger group of men were clumped together a safe distance away, next to a bridge. Before she’d left the office, she’d changed into jeans and a crappy hoodie. She’d learned the hard way before not to come dressed nicely into this neighborhood.
“What are we doing?” Kade asked quietly, looking around and staying glued to her side.
“Good thing you came as your inconspicuous self, or I couldn’t have brought you.” Unfortunately, she thought he would still stick out a bit. It was hard to hide his good looks. “Next time, skip the Top Gun sunglasses.”
He spread his hands. “You make no sense.”
Looking back to the shelter, she scooted closer to Kade. “Shh.”
She looked for her dad, but couldn’t see him among the men. Nerves pounded in her gut. Why had she had a moment of weakness and wanted to show Kade her biggest vulnerability? Why? Why? Why? She’d regretted it the whole way over.
Suddenly, she felt his hand hold hers for a moment before releasing it slowly. "Hey,” he said.
She met his eyes and noticed he’d pulled his sunglasses off. Those beautiful blue eyes stared back at her. They weren’t intense and laser-like. They were kind. “What’s going on? Is everything okay?”
Again, she searched for her dad, grabbing Kade’s hand and ducking into a store doorway. “I shouldn’t have brought you here.” Her heart pounded into her chest. “Let’s just get another uber.” She whipped out her phone.
His hand gripped hers firmly, preventing her from typing on her phone. “No. We’ve watched too much game tape for that, don’t you think?”
His football analogies always made her smile, but she didn’t understand them as quickly and naturally as he handed them out. “ Sometimes, I don’t understand anything you say.”
His lips smiled again. “It means you’ve seen too much of my offense, and I’ve seen too much of your defense. Now, we're in this together.”
“But you haven’t seen the defense,” she said. “Not yet.”
Kade looked past her. “I’m pretty sure your dad’s at two o'clock.”
Before she even turned, she was baffled, again, by Kade and the fact that he remembered her father. He’d only seen him that one night. She finally saw her dad and stayed in her hiding spot next to Kade.
Snaking an arm around her waist, he pulled her into him. His cologne filled her senses. “I think it’s better to hide here. No one will see you.”
Meeting those deep blue eyes, a nervous energy wove through her. The same energy that was always there when Kade was near her, but it had intensified. She thought of the night of the dinner cruise again. How it had felt to be held in this man’s arms. How it felt now to have the feeling of being protected.
Leaning into her ear, he whispered. “You’re so beautiful.”
Warm chills washed over her, and she found herself slipping. For so long, she’d tried to deny what had started between them. Deny how much she wanted, needed this feeling, this protection and attraction and the intensity of being wanted by a man. She hadn’t let herself get close to anyone for so long. Hadn’t let herself feel wanted. Needed. Kade had been running the ball down the field, and somehow, when she’d taken her eye off the ball for just a second, he’d broken through her defenses. She smiled, realizing she was actually thinking of her own football analogy.
Sensing her weakness, she felt him pull her closer. “What are you smiling about, Felicity?” His breath was on her face, and every part of her wanted to tilt her head and meet his lips.
“Football,” she said, gently leaning into his shoulder, relaxing against him.
“What?” he asked as a light laugh escaped out of him. He didn’t complain about her being closer to him. He held her tighter and ran a hand down her hair.
“I’ll explain later.” She watched her father, chatting with his buddies, lighting up a cigarette. He looked filthy and haggard, but at least he had other filthy and haggard friends. It made her sad, but it was better than him being alone.
Kade ran another hand down her hair, and she felt herself giving in to his touch. “Everything okay?” he whispered.
Pulling back from him, she nodded. “Let’s go. I just wanted to—”
Unexpectedly, her father turned, and it appeared he was staring right at her.
Ducking into Kade’s embrace, she pressed her face into his neck. She began to panic. “He can’t see me.”
Kade put an arm around her and started walking in the other direction. “It’s okay.” He took off, tugging her along with him.
She kept pace.
“Why do you come here?” he asked as he navigated them down the sidewalk to the bridge.
She was confused. “Because he’s my father.”
“I know that,” he said patiently. "I saw him the night of the auction. But what is the purpose of these Friday lunches? Does he meet you? Do you talk?”
"No.” She knew it would be impossible to explain it to Kade. “I just I have to check on him. I can’t … even though it’s been awful, I can’t …”
"You feel responsible,” Kade said quietly.
They were still walking, and they’d gotten halfway across the bridge and far enough away that she could relax. She stopped, moving closer to the side so people walking by could pass easily. How could he know that? Annoyed, they got to the bridge, and she grasped the chain link fence that prevented people from jumping.
He was next to her, holding to the fence too. “Your father began to drink when he couldn’t stay on top of all the bills. Your medical bills. Your parents fought. You feel like the unraveling of their marriage is your fault.”
Her heart thumped, and she didn’t like being on this side of it. “Don’t be my psychologist, Kade. I just have to make sure he’s okay, and it was a bad idea to bring you.”
For a few moments, neither of them spoke. Then Kade took her hand.
She let him, hating how much she liked the warmth of it. Hating the way having him here and hearing that he understood, as no one had understood before, was more than comforting. She blinked.
“He’s talking with some guys and laughing. He looks good,” he whispered.
She didn’t turn back to look. "Sometimes, I don’t even get this close. I just look through these.” Lamely, she pulled out mini binoculars. “Whenever he sees me, he freaks out around me." She sighed. “But I have to check on him.”
Kade squeezed her hand gently. “You’re a good daughter.”
; Hating that his words brought her a huge amount of validation and comfort, she knew it would be a lie to say she didn’t want them. She found herself resting her head on his shoulder. “It’s complicated.”
He scooted closer to her. “Aren’t family relationships always complicated?”
She smelled his spicy cinnamon scent as she stared out over the bridge at the boats on the water and the Tours of Dallas boats that were showing people around the city. “I told you about Jimmy.”
A look of sadness washed over his face. He nodded.
There was nothing to do about it. She didn’t even know why she was telling him this. “That’s when my dad really lost it, after he got killed. It was like he kind of lost hope, ya know? I had had all these unsuccessful surgeries, and my brother died. I think he just, well, I know he just couldn’t handle it.”
He squeezed her hand. “I’m sorry.”
It was strange that she actually felt better after telling him. “Kade."
“Yeah.”
“You won’t tell anyone about any of this, will you? Or that you came here with me today?”
He put his arm fully around her, and he pulled her into him. “Your secrets are safe with me.”
She snorted and then felt embarrassed she’d said that. She knew he wouldn’t. “I know, I just … thanks.” It astounded her she was actually grateful he was here.
He tugged her chin up, and she hated that he saw the tears silently falling down her cheeks.
He tsked his tongue. “I’m not gonna lie to you, Felicity Song. It makes me kinda feel better that you may actually need my friendship too.”
She blinked and ignored her rapidly beating heart and how she hated that he had seen the real her.
“Exposed again.”
How did he seem to know what she was thinking sometimes. “What?”
Pulling her into him, she felt herself give in and enjoy the strength of him. “You work hard to protect your image too. That’s why I had to extort friendship.”
She almost laughed, but just tucked her head into him, turning to look at her father. “It kinda feels nice to have someone else know what I do during Friday lunches.”
He held out a pinky to her. “I pinky promise to keep your secret.”
The gesture made her laugh. It was a tension releasing laugh. She held up her pinky, and they linked them together.
Their eyes held, and her heart quickened as she thought about how beautiful this man was. How different he was from any man she’d ever known.
A slow smile spread across his lips. “Hey, maybe we’re like best friends now. We could get matching necklaces.”
Begrudgingly, she gave him a smile. “I’d love to see you wearing a broken heart necklace.”
He frowned. “Don’t tempt me. You’ll see it on the next date I have to go on.”
She actually hated thinking of him on another bimbo date.
“What?” he asked quickly.
“Nothing,” she said sticking out her chin and pulling away from him.
Letting out a soft laugh, he pulled her back into him. “Do you have plans this weekend?”
“You mean tonight? Tomorrow? Yes.”
“No,” He shot back, shaking his head. “You don’t.”
“I have dinner plans tonight,” she said, feeling ridiculous.
“With who? You don’t date,” he said stiffly.
“Are you imitating me?” She smiled, because his imitation was ridiculous.
He shrugged and took his arm back, a casual look on his face. “Want to take a trip with me?”
Instantly, she was grouchy. “No.” She pulled completely back from him. She couldn’t do that.
“Why? Friends take trips with friends all the time.”
“No.” She turned away and started walking down the bridge. “They don’t.”
He followed, taking her hand. “It’ll only be two nights, and you’ll have your own room.”
Dang. Dang. Dang. Her heart pitched.
“Why?” He pressed.
“Friends don’t take trips together. I couldn’t afford where you probably want to go, and you’re not paying for me.”
Another slow smile. “I’m a bratty billionaire. I always pay.” He cocked an eyebrow. “Add it to the list of my annoying quirks.”
She scowled at him. “Tell me it’s not an island with a staff of people.”
He looked instantly bugged. “It’s to see my grandma. Will you come with me or not?”
His grandma? She rifled through her memories and never remembered hearing or seeing his grandmother in the press. She frowned at him. “Is this lady real?”
He let out a surprised laugh. “You think I would make up my grandma?”
Irritation and curiosity warred within her. “I don’t know.”
Rolling his eyes, he smiled wider. “Fair enough, but I think you kind of owe me."
Shocked, she felt like she was being played by the Kincaid machine. “What? How in the world do you figure that?”
“For making me almost die going skydiving. And eating at a buffet.”
She grinned. “Hey, you opted for the buffet.”
He rolled his eyes. “You see, the reason I’m drastically afraid of heights stems from my grandmother’s house.”
This made no sense at all, but her curiosity was peaked.
"In or out, Song?”
She frowned and felt uncertain. “You don’t get to pressure play me.” She unlocked hands with him and pushed ahead.
He was next to her in less than a minute, falling easily into step. “I’m good at the pressure play.” He had his puppy eyes on, an expression she’d never seen from him before.
“Why are you looking at me this way?”
He sputtered out a laugh. “Dang, girl, you’re not letting me get away with any moves on you?”
It was unnerving to say the least that he was actually trying moves on her. She thought of the reason she didn’t date anyone. Or go on trips with anyone. Or have real dinner plans. She shook her head, thinking of how her mother had been pressuring her to get back in with the heart surgeon and check on the stability of her valve. “No.” She pulled out her phone and ordered an uber.
“Why?"
“Why aren’t you figuring out your route back home?” she asked, not looking at him.
“Because we’re getting friendship necklaces, so I didn’t think you’d mind sharing an uber with me.”
Annoyed and a bit out of sorts, she saw her car pulling up. She got in. He got in too.
She frowned. “You’re not going back to work with me.”
“Why? Your boss kind of adores me. I’ll just go sit in his office and make small talk until you go home. Then I’ll follow you some more.”
It really annoyed her that he was right. Mr. DaVinci had a serious man-crush on Kade. He was always asking her if she’d seen him.
He took her hand.
She yanked it back. “Stop.”
“How was the senator’s daughter today?” Kade said, leaning into the seat and casually putting his hand over the back of hers. Like this is what they did all the time. Like they were some couple.
“No.”
He waited.
Looking out the window, she knew it was impossible to ignore this man. “Of course, she texted her boyfriend more inappropriate pictures and was shocked when they went public. Now, her parents are scrambling to get the phone.”
“Teenagers.” He played with her hair.
She hated how confused she felt around him. “How was your day?” she asked politely.
“Ya know. Practice. Weight room.”
“Protein shakes.” She filled in for him.
He scrunched up his face and gave her an immature look.
Unable to stop herself, she laughed.
Happy to see her relax, he laughed too.
The moment went slow and sticky between them.
“Speaking of protein shakes, have you eaten lunch?”
; She shook her head. “I don’t eat on Fridays.”
He looked horrified, shaking his head. “Unacceptable, Song.” He leaned forward. “Driver, pull over up here please.” Kade ordered.
Her heart picked up speed. “No.”
“Yes.” Kade leaned forward, pointing. “Right there.”
The driver did what Kade said.
“No, keep driving.” She pounded the seat and noticed a sushi restaurant next to them. She turned to Kade. “I need to get back to work, and I don’t have money to eat out all the time.”
Cocking an eyebrow at her, he furtively slid his hand into the crook of her arm as the car stopped, opening the door and pulling her out. “Calm yourself, Song. It’s just a sushi bar I like, not the Taj Mahal and quit talking about paying.”
Chapter 20
If someone would have told Felicity a month ago she’d be hanging out in the rougher part of Dallas, at a dive sushi bar with Kade Kincaid, she would have laughed her butt off. She would have laughed her butt off even more if someone would have told her she would like it.
Like him.
They sat on the floor, a small table between them with their shoes off. He told her the rest of the really horrible joke he’d been explaining to her. “No, see when you have a priest and a rabbi joke, you always have to have a cowboy in their midst.”
Giggling at his insanity and intensity, at the way he tried to make her understand the finesse of the rabbi, priest, and cowboy joke, she closed her eyes and giggled harder.
“Are you laughing at me, Song?”
She peeked and saw he was starting to break his intensity too.
“Shut it, Song." He pointed at her.
This made her laugh even harder.
He couldn’t hold back his own laughter anymore as he said, “I swear, you have no culture.”
This just made her laugh even more.
It’d been a casual, fun time. She’d been impressed at how, when Kade was incognito, he seemed just like a normal person.
“What? You’re getting that look on your face.” He cocked an eyebrow.
She looked at his empty plate of food. “I guess you are more adventurous than protein shakes.”