Page 56 of Cade

“Is that a good thing?” He took a sip of his champagne.

The glow of the kitchen light lit up his soft blonde hair like a halo.

“He wants me to take over the company,” I said the words out loud for the first time since this morning, feeling their weight. I expected them to be heavy, like steel beams, but in the presence of Cade, they didn’t feel quite as heavy.

“And that’s not something you want?” he pressed, taking another bite of food.

I took a bite myself, relishing in the smooth, buttery texture, and the taste was absolutely perfect.

“Oh my God, Cade, this is amazing.” I groaned my pleasure as I hurriedly went for another forkful.

“Thanks. I know it’s not like authentic or five star, but... sometimes a homemade meal is nice too, you know.”

I didn’t know. Not really. When I thought about all the homemade food I’d had, it wasn’t really quite like this.

Margo made most of our food, and my parents were always obsessed with healthy foods and gourmet stuff that didn’t really appeal to me. I would have been fine with a pepperoni pizza, but as it was I didn’t even have cheesy, junky pizza until I’d moved into the city on my own.

No one had ever made me dinner before... romantically. I’d never gone on a date that didn’t end in a large bill, up until I’d come here to Jasper Springs.

“I just don’t know if I’m right for the job,” I said as I took another bite of my dinner.

“And no one has ever made me dinner before, so you’re definitely getting a five star Michelin review from me,” I said as I finished my bowl in two more, appreciative bites.

Cade looked at me in shock.

“You’re kidding, right?” he asked.

I shook my head. “Wish I was, but no. Most of my exes preferred to dine out at the swankiest restaurants and bars as opposed to sitting in and ordering room service, and my parents never cooked. We had staff for that.”

“I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to sound ignorant.” Cade set his fork down, reaching his hand across the table to cover mine.

“You didn’t. I promise. It’s just... you’re right, it is nice. This whole place is nice, and you...”

“If you say I’m nice, I’m going to have to take your drink away,” Cade teased me.

“You’re perfect. How in the hell are you still single?

I watched as Cade blushed six shades of red.

“Well, there is this guy...” he said shyly, avoiding my gaze, and immediately my blood ran cold.

Life had always managed to knock me on my ass when I least expected it, so in theory if Cade really was interested in someone else, that would have been my luck, but the way he looked up at me from under his lashes told me there was no one else.

There was only... me.

Oh, Cade...

“Really?” I said, deciding to play his game.

“Tell me about this guy, is he an ass?”

Cade shook his head as he collected our bowls.

“Mmm, I thought maybe he was at first, but he’s kind of surprised me, actually,” he said.

“Oh really? How so?” I asked as I followed him to the sink.

I watched as he set the bowls in the sink, noting he couldn’t see me, or my hands that settled on the edge of his counter alongside him.

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