Page 11 of The Billionaire's Lust

I didn’t disagree with that, cringing inwardly as I remembered the number he did on the dressing room. Cade drunk as a skunk and opening up to me. Being vulnerable. Being human. I was letting him explain himself for that guy. The guy that clearly needed a friend.

“So you what?” I said after a moment. “Camped out in front of Jacob’s apartment building?”

I almost snapped the coffee stirrer in my hand in half, remembering what I’d been doing in plain sight on the balcony of Jacob’s place. I told myself that his surveillance operation couldn’t have included staking out and observing the coming and goings and activities that went on behind closed doors. He wouldn’t have been able to look at me without ‘I saw you naked’ being written all over his face.

“I was parked out front, yeah.”

I let out a sigh and went back to stirring.

“I almost went upstairs. To talk to both of you.”

“I’m glad you didn’t,” I said honestly. Even though Jacob made it clear that he could control himself in the name of professionalism, showing up at his place would have been pushing his luck.

“Well I’m going to need to talk to him at some pint. Every time Lisa tries to set something up, he’s busy or out of the office,” Cade said, leaning against an armchair a few feet away.

He’d been blacklisted, an honor Jacob bestowed on nagging members of the board and clients that got a little trigger happy with his contact information. The last client who’d been banished to the list was Rachel Laraby. Apparently, Cade was the latest addition.

But it didn’t do anyone any good to confirm the obvious fact that Jacob was dodging him, so I just shrugged. “He’s been busy since we got back from Italy.”

“Right.” The word was a tight, uncomfortable response that he cleared with a rumble of his throat. Cade wasn’t buying my excuse and probably wasn’t very appreciative of the fact that he had to blow up Whitmore and Creighton’s phone at all. Even though the nature of our business was handling clients and publicity situations, the word ‘handled’ left a bitter taste in the mouth. For a person used to being worshipped and having all the power, surrendering it and being powerless wasn’t easy to accept.

“I want to call a truce.”

I clicked the lid back on Jacob’s coffee. “I wasn’t aware we were fighting. I’m handicapped from the get go since you decide when you want to be a jerk and I’m supposed to just take it.”

“I’m trying here, Leila.”

I bit my lip, knowing he was right. I either needed to leave or let him explain. I decided on the first. “Fine.”

“I don’t have many friends,” he began. “I mean, I have guys I can call up for a beer every now and then. And girls that I can…” He trailed off, averting his eyes.

If he’d played that card a few months ago, I’d be all over it. But I was wary of him, wondering if he had an angle, waiting for me to put my guard down so he could set fire to my best intentions.

“I know them all through the business,” he continued. “And I know they’d all lose, block, or erase my number when the lights die down. Hell, half of the people in my contact book distanced themselves after I became box office poison.” It was clearly a sore subject because his eyes were flashing, a stormy sea of green and gray. “Fake as hell. Fair weather friends.” He exhaled. “But not you. You’re real.”

I wavered, but I didn’t let on. “Thank you.”

“And after everything I’ve put you through, I have no right to ask for your friendship, but…” He stuffed his hands in his pocket. “I’m asking.”

“When we met up for coffee, it was supposed to be ‘as friends’ and we both know how that turned out,” I said softly.

“I’m not perfect, Leila. Nowhere near it. And I’ll admit that at first, my intentions were anything but honorable.”

I could tell he was struggling, wanting to come closer but knowing that wouldn’t make it better. The Cade I’d been getting to know lately would have done it anyway. This Cade was respecting my boundaries. Or at least trying really hard to anyway.

“I think that when you meet people,” he went on. “Special people, it’s a good idea to hold onto them. And I could be a good friend to you, if you gave me the chance.”

I wanted to believe him. I wanted to trust that he was different and wasn’t trying to get close out of some deep desire to sabotage me and Jacob. That part wanted to say yes. To be his friend. But I wasn’t ready to make that leap. Not yet.

“I should get this coffee to him before it’s ice cold.” I scanned his face slowly and said something I hoped I wouldn’t regret. “I’d like to be your friend, Cade. But I need time to think about it.”

His lips broke into a grin and he was practically giddy with excitement until he reined it in with a curt nod, hiding it away. “Cool. That’s all I ask.”

I sunk my teeth into my lips to keep from smiling myself as I stepped out of the coffee shop. Hopeful.

****

Megan’s eyes nearly popped out of her skull. “I can’t believe it.”

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