Page 99 of All The Happily Ever Afters

“I would steal him away from you,” I start and then we all hear the front door open and the sound of several boot steps filter in through the house. “But I have to get going,” I finish as the sight of two men interrupts the conversation.

With a charming smile, the first man pauses to cup the little one’s head. Giving me the perfect comparison of father and son.

Cameron looks just like Trent, Autumn’s husband. His little nose and those large brown eyes. They are all Trent.

With a pout from Mags, and her pulling the baby into her arms playfully, as if to say ‘he’s mine, off,’ Trent chuckles and makes his way to Autumn, planting a kiss on her cheek before setting down a number of plastic bags on the counter next to his wife.

What is it with men and carrying every single bag from the grocery store in at once?

“Thanks for giving him a ride while his car is in the shop,” Autumn’s gratitude is met with a little nod from the second man.

The one who has my heart stuttering from my place on the sofa.

“No problem,” his deep voice echoes and I take the chance to drink him in.

In our small town, all of my friends have found their soulmates and here I am, moving from one crush to the next but never actually settling down. The reason why is standing only a few feet from me now. He’s joking with my best friend’s husband, as I sit on their sofa trying not to stare. With his sleeves rolled up, the tattoos he got while he was away in the marines are on display, curved around his toned muscle that flex with his rough chuckle.

He was years older and left right after high school. I never told him how I felt, we were so young and there was no way he’d ever go for a sophomore like me. Times have changed and now he’s back… and I can’t stop staring and pining over the man I’ve been longing for.

And when he looks my way, with that handsome smirk, rough stubble and gorgeous baby blue gaze… Lord, have mercy.

“Cade Jameson,” Magnolia calls out as she gently sets the infant down for the first time since she snatched him from me. The little bundle lays effortlessly into the rocker at our feet.

With a gentle touch, I rock the little one, still bundled in a ‘choo choo’, blue plaid, train swaddle and look anywhere but at the man who’s become the center of conversation.

In my periphery, I gauge the friendly hug between them. It’s nothing more than polite. Well maybe a touch comical considering how short she is and how he has to bend down to hug her in return. She’s a bit petite and Cade is a wall of muscle, taller than most.

“It’s good to have you back. You staying long?

“I am,” he answers proudly and I only notice that I’m staring, waiting with baited breath for his answer, when his gaze lifts past Mags to where I am.

I’m quick to look away although I continue to eavesdrop about how he’ll be home through the holidays and how he’s stationed here now, hopefully permanently.

My little heart pitter patters at the thought of him being back home for good.

“You staying for dinner?” Autumn questions and it takes me far too long to look up and realize she’s asking me.

“Oh, no. I have to head out and I already ate.” I answer her but then realize once the words were spoken that she already knew that. I told her the moment I got here and stole Cameron from her before Magnolia could.

“You’re walking home?” she questions further, the room of eyes on both of us. I ignore the heat that comes with Cade’s prying gaze.

“That’s how I got here,” I cock a sarcastic brow Autumn’s way and wonder why she added concern to her tone. I always walk to her house, she knows that. It’s one of the reasons I love this neighborhood so much. As I stand, I stretch out my back slightly, focusing on the cream throw I’m folding rather than the man whose gaze is falling down my body.

Years ago I thought the tension between us was imagined. Or at least one sided. But this is the third time I’ve seen him since he’s been back and I swear it only gets more and more obvious that I can’t keep my eyes off of him and I know he does the same. Stealing glances each time we’ve had a run in together.

“Why doesn’t Cade take you home?” Autumn offers, folding a tee-shirt in her lap and then adding it to a pile on the counter.

Oh, the betrayal. She doesn’t have the decency to look me in the eyes. Instead she focuses solely on Cade as my heart completely halts in my chest. “You can take her home on your way, can’t you Cade?”

Alone with this man? In his truck? Late at night with my ovaries still doing flip flops at the sight of a newborn?

Oh, no, no, no.

“Of course I can,” he answers easily, a touch of southern hitting his last word as he slips his hands, which I already know are rough from years of manual labor, into his jean pockets. His asymmetric smile greets me, “Ready when you are, Shar.”

Shar. It takes great effort not to swoon just from the way he says my nickname.

CADE

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