Page 20 of Whisker Me Away

I stare around the restaurant with wonder. The pictures online were incredible but It’s even more astonishing in person. Cade booked us for the perfect time, it’s less than an hour from sunset and we’ll be getting the most stunning view of it from up here.

“Welcome in,” the hostess greets us. “Can I get a name please?”

Cade gives her the details and she takes us to our table. We sit down with our menus and instead of opening it up and taking a look, I stare out the window. Looking down, my stomach swoops. We aresofar up that it’s dizzying.

“Wow,” Cade says, pulling my attention from the window. “I’m so glad you wanted to come here. This is absolutely amazing, Spencer.”

“I’m really happy we’re experiencing it together. This is beautiful and I would have enjoyed myself alone, but the fact that we’re doing it together makes it even more special.”

“I know exactly what you mean. This vacation has completely changed my life.”

Cade reaches across the table, taking my hand. Emotions slam into me full force and I feel tears well up in my eyes. I blink them away as best as I can.

“Hey, what’s going on in that beautiful mind of yours?”

I shake my head, letting out a wet laugh. “I’m just really happy.”

Cade gives me a soft smile. I get control of my emotions just in time for the waiter to come to our table. We both order a soda to drink and an appetizer to share, cheesy artichoke dip with homemade toasted bread. Once we get our drinks, we order our meals right away. Cade is getting salmon with roasted potatoesand brussel sprouts while I’ve decided on getting a spicy pasta and shrimp dish.

“Can I ask you something that might be a tad on the serious side?”

Cade’s fingers continue to rub my palm, a soothing gesture for the both of us. His eyes are soft but the lines of his face are serious.

“Of course,” I say, ignoring the way my heart is speeding up inside my chest.

“Where do you see this going? Or rather, where do you hope this thing between us is going?”

I swallow thickly, looking out the window at the stretching landscape below. If I squint, I swear I can even see itty bitty people walking across the street but we’re so far up it’s hard to tell.

“I don’t want to say anything that’ll freak you out,” I say slowly. Cade squeezes my hand, giving me the confidence to keep going. “Is it wrong if I said I want to mate you?”

Cade shakes his head. “I don’t think that’s wrong at all. It’s exactly what I was hoping to hear.”

“Really?”

Cade smiles. “I find it really endearing that you always do that.”

“Do what?”

“Ask ‘really’ whenever I say something about you, like it’s hard for you to wrap your head around the fact that I feel the same way about you that you feel for me.”

I narrow my eyes at him. “How dare you perceive me like this, Cade. What the fuck.”

We both chuckle softly, a genuine understanding passing between us. I feel like my brain is melting with how happy I feel. Cade feels the same way about me. He cares about me. He wants to mate with me despite the fact that we’ve only met a week ago.

Is it possible to fall in love so quickly?

“I’m sorry,” he says before stopping. “Wait, I’m not sorry, not really. I’m perceptive because I want to perceive you. I wanna know everything there is to know about you. I want to spend mornings wrapped together in bed with you purring against my chest. I want to learn how you take your coffee so I can always have a mug ready for you before you have to go to work. I want domestic evenings and anniversary dinners and little kittens or little calves running around underfoot. I want the whole nine yards and I want it all with you.”

Is it suddenly hot in here? I pull at the front of my shirt, suddenly breathless.

Oh. My. Gods.

This time, the tears slowly fall down my cheeks. I’m unable to keep them in check, too overwhelmed by Cade’s words. They’re everything I’ve wanted to hear, yet so much better now that they’re real.

“I feel the same way, Cade. I want all of that and more. Is that crazy? Are we being foolish with how quickly this is all happening?”

Cade shrugs. “Maybe a little but I don’t care. It’s how I feel and I’m too old to pretend otherwise. Why hold ourselves back when we both feel the same way?”

---