Page 41 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“Sounds good,” he yawns.

“I’ll see you in the morning. Don’t worry, I won’t come knocking at 7:00 a.m.” I giggle.

“I wouldn’t mind if you did,” he replies.

His words are flirty and testing every ounce of my willpower. “Cade,” I say with a warning tone.

“Annie,” he replies with the same warning.

This is trouble.

“Ford admitted to me earlier that his dad took on Daddy’s case to get Ford closer to me,” I relay.

Cade’s jaw tenses. “I’m not surprised. He was checking you out all evening.”

“He so much as told me that he wants me back. I told him there was no way,” I make clear.

He nods. “Good.”

“I’ll never be that girl again,” I vow to him.

“I know,” he says, staring into my eyes with a firm belief that tells me he sees how far I’ve come. We have a shared understanding of what it feels like to be walked all over, and Cade knows I can never do that again.

“I’m going to need you to help me when we get back to school. Ford is on a mission to get me back.”

“I’ll be there, Annie. I gave you my word,” he reassures, and his eyes drop to my lips.

It would be so easy for me to close the steps between us. To allow Cade to take me to his bed in the guest room. A part of me wants it so bad. But I can’t allow myself to go there.

“Scarlett messaged me today. She wished me a Merry Christmas and told me she feels horrible. That she made a terrible mistake.”

My heart stutters at his words. Not only because I would never want Cade to be in a position where Scarlett would take advantage of him, but also because I don’t want him kissing anyone but me. That’s slightly problematic.

“What did you say to her?” I ask, my bones tensing.

“I wished her a Merry Christmas and asked her not to text me again,” he replies and his Adam’s apple bobs.

“Good. Because you deserve so much better, Cade. You’re a good guy.”

“Thanks, Annie. Right back at you.” He licks his lips. His very kissable lips.

“Have a good night.” I rock back on the heels of my boots.

“You too.”

With that, it takes everything in me to turn and walk away. I head up to my room and take out the big guns. My trusted pink vibrator. It hits all the right spots and doesn’t leave me with a broken heart.

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Cade

My cell ringing pulls me from my dream. What terrible timing, I was just about to undress Annie. If I can’t have her in real life, I at least wanted a chance with her in my dreams. I miss the call but a few moments later the ringing starts again. It says Mom on the screen.

“Hi, Mom,” I answer.

“Merry Christmas, sweetie.” Her voice rings through the phone and I hear her longing. “This trip doesn’t feel the same without you here.”

“Come on, we never really spend time together on those trips anyway,” I retort.

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