Page 27 of Worthy

“Like you said, I’m not into one-night-stands. But just because I’m not doesn’t make me better or worse than the people who like casual sex. Especially when those people are willing to give up a sure thing to help me.”

“Are you complimenting me now?” He cocks an eyebrow in my direction.

“I am.” It’s impossible not to grin when he looks at me like that.

“You think I’m a sure thing?” A sexy smirk tugs at his lips.

“That wasn’t the compliment.” I try to scowl but I can’t because his expression is making me laugh. “Only you could turn a genuine compliment into something dirty.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment too, since you admitted you like my flirting.” He winks just before he stands up. “And now that I know you appreciate my dirty humor as well, it’s time to go before I take ittoo far. Besides, as you heard earlier, I have no idea how to attach a hoop skirt to a bike, and the race isn’t too far off.”

“Why you?” I blurt.

“Huh?” He looks confused.

“Why are you building her bike?”

“Oh,” he says, and I swear he turns a little pink. “I do some welding.”

“That sounds interesting.”

“Yeah, I guess. Keeps me entertained.” He stuffs his hands in his pockets, which I assume means he’s just shared more about himself than he intended to, but now I’m even more curious.

“It’d be cool to see your work.” I hint.

“Yeah? Okay, maybe I’ll show you sometime.” He smiles, although this one is different. It’s not laced with innuendo, it’s genuine. Thoughtful.

He seems to rock forward, like he’s going to come closer, but instead he gives a little jerk of his head. “Have a good night, Maddox.” He turns toward the door.

“You too, Cade,” I call after him.

When the door clicks shut, I let out the breath I’d been holding for most of our conversation. I should be disappointed that Cade is every bit the playboy I suspected he was, but honestly, I’m not bothered. How can I be when he was so honest about it? When he let me see more of what’s beneath the surface?

And I didn’t hate what I saw.

Chapter eight

Cade

Ihead straight to my garage when I get home, desperate for something to keep my mind off the things Maddox said earlier, and my little studio is the perfect outlet. There’s something about the process of creating things that gets you outside of your own head, which is exactly what I need right now.

The hinges creak as I open the door, and I remind myself for the hundredth time to grease them before I leave, which I’ll probably forget since the WD40 isn’t in plain sight. Unlike all my welding supplies, which are everywhere.

Most people would look at my studio and see just clutter, but I see it as organized chaos. It’s full of old tools, metal scraps, and discarded wood from our job sites, random things that I’ve collected to work with, and I pick them just as randomly when an idea strikes.

I rarely have a goal in mind when I start messing with materials. I just look at what’s available and piece it together. Sometimes it turns out to be a sculpture, sometimes a piece of furniture, but I never really know what the finished product will look like until it’s done.

Trying to build something specific for Ally will be a new challenge, but I’m kind of looking forward to it. First, I have to figure out thishoop skirt thing, so I google it and scroll through the different images that come up.

It really does look like a tall umbrella, and I now understand why she thinks this shape will keep her long coat from getting caught in the bike gears. But to make sure the fabric doesn’t get caught I’d have to make this hoop frame just as long as the downward stroke of the pedal, which will make it difficult to even get on the bike. I have no idea how to do that just yet, but I have to admit the hoop skirt thing makes a certain amount of sense now that I understand what it is. Too bad I’m not sure I can make it look as well as I can make it function, which probably isn’t what Maddox had in mind when he said he’d like to see my work.

And now my thoughts are back on Maddox…

Dammit.That’s exactly what I was hoping to prevent by coming in here to work.

I’m still freaked out by the conversation we had at his house tonight. I had no idea he could overhear Deacon and me talking, and if there’s any conversation I didn’t want him privy to it was that one. I mean, not only did Deacon allude to my fondness for sex, he specifically called me out about wanting to have sex with Maddox, which yes, I did.Do.But I won’t since he’s not the meaningless fuck type.

Thank God Deacon didn’t reveal I’ve never actually had sex with a guy—there’s no way Madd wouldn’t accuse me of trying to experiment on him if he knew—and yeah, since dudes are a new interest of mine of course my sexual curiosity is piqued, but not in an‘I wonder if I’m into guys’way. I’m definitely into them, I’ve just never encountered someone I wanted to pop my gay cherry with until Maddox.

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