Page 88 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

Annie

I have a break in between classes so I head to Cup of Java. Cade and I stopped having our daily meetups here, but I’m pretty sure most people know we are a couple between the social media posts at his hockey game here in Riverside to the posts about Cade punching Ford in the face.

I’m standing in line when I hear my name. I turn to see Ford and my stomach sinks. My instinct is to walk away, but I really need a hot chocolate. I must be getting my period and I’m craving all the sweets.

“Annie,” he repeats my name from behind me in line again.

I turn to him. “I don’t think we have anything to say to each other.”

“I think we do,” he insists, and he raises my hackles.

I furrow my brows.

“I mean, I want to apologize to you. I’ve been thinking about it lately. I let my ego get in the way of a lot of things in my life, and the way I held on to you at Black Jack’s. . .”

“You mean grabbed hold of me and wouldn’t let go,” I correct, figuring there are enough people around that I can be bold.

“Fair,” he says. “Bottom line is, I drank too much that night. I read the situation wrong and your boyfriend had every right to punch me out. I would’ve done the same thing, had I not been the asshole in this scenario.” He smiles and his dimples pop. That smile used to make the world around me melt away, but now I don’t feel anything at all.

“Thanks for apologizing,” I say to him. When it’s my turn to order, I get my hot chocolate.

Ford steps forward to pay.

“I can pay for my own drink,” I insist.

“I know, but I feel bad. Let me pay, Annie.” He taps his card and then orders himself a drink. “I know your dad settled out of court. I hope things work out okay with the farm. I know how much you love it there.”

“Thanks. Daddy is relieved they reduced the penalty, but we are still in a bind. We may have to sell most of the animals,” I say, frowning because I must be getting my period soon, I become overemotional and a small tear escapes. I brush it away and Ford reaches out to console me.

“Your dad is a smart guy. He has a lot of connections in the dairy industry. I’m sure he’ll come up with something.” Ford is being nice. This is how I remember him. He was always a good guy, he just had trouble keeping his dick in his pants.

“Thanks, Ford.”

When I look up, I see Cade walking by. He walks up to us.

“Everything okay here?” Cade asks. He is much bigger and stronger than Ford and when he stands tall, he towers over both of us.

Ford picks up his hand. “I was just apologizing to Annie about that night at Black Jack’s. I feel terrible about what went down. Can we call a truce?”

Cade watches Ford like he’s a loose cannon and he doesn’t know what to expect. I can’t say I blame him.

Ford has his hand extended to Cade, and it takes Cade a few beats to react and shake his hand. “We can call a truce but if you ever lay a hand on my girl again, I can’t promise you the consequences won’t be uglier next time,” Cade warns.

Ford laughs but it sounds nervous. “Okay, yeah, I get it. Annie, I’m glad you have this guy watching out for you,” he says. “You both have yourselves a good day.” He walks off without taking the drink he paid for.

“What was that about?” Cade asks.

“He was literally apologizing like he said,” I inform Cade.

“You guys looked a little cozy when I walked over here,” Cade notes, looking tense.

“Cade Price, are you jealous?” I grin mischievously.

Cade’s response is one of confusion. He looks like he is trying to figure himself out. “I don’t know, I’ve never been jealous before. If you saw me sitting here with Scarlett talking all quiet, would you get jealous?” he asks, throwing me off.

The thing is, I don’t even have to think about it. “I’d be jealous, Cade.”

“Yeah?” he asks, and he looks turned on.

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