Page 3 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

We meet our other friends at the entrance.

“Hey,” Ruby says, walking over and giving each of us hugs.

“It feels like forever since we’ve been here,” I note.

“It has been forever,” Ruby agrees, since we were here months ago with our other friend Charlie. She and Finn got off on the wrong foot and things were tense back then.

We all head inside. The guys booked two lanes. We divide up with Cade, Hayden, Ruby, and Briar on one lane; and me playing with Luc, Aaron, and Macklin in the other.

The waiter comes around and we all order beer.

We start throwing some axes.

Cade looks like he has whiplash and splutters a loud, “What the fuck?”

His odd reaction gets our attention. We all look in the direction he’s zeroed in on. Scarlett is here and her tongue is down some guy’s throat. Scarlett is his longtime girlfriend. Charlie saysshe is a bitch. She is pretty sure she cheats on Cade and looks like she is right on. My stomach twists into knots. I know how it feels to be cheated on. Worse, I know what it’s like for it to happen for everyone to witness. My high school boyfriend, Ford, comes to mind. A shiver runs down my spine.I haven’t told anyone he’s transferring to Riverside this winter. He wanted me to help him find housing, but I texted him back that I was sure he was capable of finding it on his own. He and his father have been helping Daddy with the lawsuit. I’m grateful but I would never get back together with Ford. I now realize how messed up our relationship was. I was partly to blame, in the sense I put up with a lot of the crap he was dishing. I’m not that girl anymore, besides I don’t want a relationship. Watching how dysfunctional my parents are has led me to the conclusion that happy ever afters don’t exist, and given how my only two relationships left me feeling used and cheated on, well, I won’t go down that path again.

Cade stalks away with determined purpose toward Scarlett. Briar gives me a wide-eyed look and my heart hurts for Cade. He is such a sweet guy. He makes his way over to Scarlett, who is sitting on a stool at one of those high bar tables. Her long blond hair is covering her face so she doesn’t notice Cade standing beside her with his arms crossed, his chest heaving.

This is bad. Poor guy.

The guys follow Cade over to the table like each one is his bodyguard.

“What should we do?” I whisper. “I feel bad for him.”

I tilt my head to the side so the girls will follow me. They do because these girls are my ride or die. We get closer to the guys to hear Cade clearing his throat. Finally, Scarlett stops the tonsil hockey she is playing with the other guy and slowly pulls away from him. Her blue eyes turn round as saucers when she takes in Cade beside her. “Honey, this is nothing. It was a dare.” Her laugh sounds like a freaking hyena.

“I’m fucking done, Scarlett. This is bullshit. I don’t know how I’ve put up with your lies this long,” Cade bites out, as tension burst from him in scary waves.

Scarlett quickly gets to her feet and walks over to Cade. “Honey bunch.” She places her palm on his chest.Barf.Her long red fingernails splay across his chest like claws.

“Take your fucking claws off me,” he barks, radiating anger but also hurt and betrayal lace his tone.

Huh, they are claws. I was right.

I need to do something. He must be feeling so humiliated in front of everyone. Old memories come back to bite me in the ass. I will not let Cade drown when I am around. “Cade, there you are, babe,” I say, walking up to his side. I place my palm on his chest, causing Scarlett to take a step back. I move in front of him. I’m not thinking, just acting on impulse, when I lean in, sealing our lips together. I think the kiss is going to be a peck, but his full lips are warm and inviting so I tug on the back of his head, bringing him closer. He deepens the kiss as warmth bursts through my body. Something tightens deep in my belly as he slips me tongue. My tongue comes out to mingle with his and a fire sparks through my body. Cade is a good kisser. No, he’s an amazing kisser. Everything around us blurs into the background as I take all he is giving.

“What the hell is this, Cade?” Scarlett shrieks. Her hysterical voice brings our surroundings back into focus. I don’t want to stop kissing Cade. I want to give Scarlett a taste of her own medicine.

“Let’s get out of here, Calvin,” Scarlett scoffs. I hear her, but Cade doesn’t pull away. He seems to be enjoying the kiss as much as I am, or maybe he is enjoying the fact he can stick it to Scarlett. I sense her walking away with the guy but Cade doesn’t pull away. He brings me closer with his arms wrapped around my waist. People around us begin to holler and cheer. I know this has to end, but with Cade’s tongue down my throat and the warm feelings inside me, I tune out again and focus on his tongue and the feel of his strong shoulders beneath my hands.

“Show’s over, she’s gone,” Macklin announces. Cade groans into my mouth, but doesn’t pull away right away. That vibrating, animalistic sound coming from the back of his throat causes a little moan to escape me. It scares the shit out of me, so I pull away from him. We are both breathing hard with flushed cheeks as we take each other in. I smile at Cade, feeling kind of shy.

He licks his lips. “What was that?”

“You’re welcome.” I wink, pat his chest, and walk away back to our axe throwing booth. My heart is ricocheting in my chest. That may have been the hottest kiss of my life. My head is spinning, but I plan on keeping my cool. I’m not the girl who falls apart anymore. I’m not the girl who can be walked all over.

Briar and Ruby follow me. I hear the guys asking Cade if he’s okay. He seems to be in shock. I’m in shock too. My lips are swollen in the best way and wetness pools between my thighs. It’s been a long while since I’ve been with a guy. After I swore off my last boyfriend, freshman year, I decided I was never going to be in a relationship again.

“Um, do you want to explain what just happened there?” Ruby asks.

Briar waits expectantly too.

“Come on, the guy was drowning. He needed a lifeline, and that was me.” I shrug like it’s no big deal, when it’s a big freaking deal.

“Um, holy shit. That was hot,” Briar agrees, her eyes popping.

“No big deal,” I repeat, brushing them both off.

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