Page 18 of Caden's Situationship

“That’s inspiring,” I told him, andwow, did I really mean it. His words forced me to think about my situation even more. To wonder how people could be affected by circumstances in their life or decisions that others made in a way that they don’t even realize.

“But starting the ranch didn’t get rid of that emptiness I felt completely,” he explained. “One day, I was talking to my mom about it and she told me that there were probably plenty of families out there who felt abandoned despite the fact that their loved one was answering their call of duty. It was then that I realized ever since Carter had left, everyone who knew us only talked about how amazing he was for fighting for our country. Yet, no one asked how his leaving affected us.”

I swallowed the lump in my throat, my heart breaking a little to hear such a strong, resilient man admit that being estranged from his brother had forced him to try and help others deal with the same abandonment. Unable to find the words, I grabbed his hand and leaned by head against his arm as he continued speaking.

“No one cared that I lost my brother and best friend to a righteous cause, which made me feel like an asshole because I didn’t understand how a person I was so close to could leave and not look back. I decided that day I wanted to offer a safe space mainly for the family of veterans. A place they can escape to and meet others who feel how they do. We’re even going to have a healing garden and special rejuvenation hikes. And, of course, because I am proud of my brother and what he’s accomplished, I also wanted to offer veterans—not just their families—that same escape because I know Carter isn’t the same man I remember.”

“Have you spoken to him since he’s left?”

“Not much,” he said. “For the most part, he’s been a ghost.” He clenched and unclenched his jaw, my gut telling me there was more to the story than he was letting on.

“I’m sorry,” I whispered.

“I appreciate it. And I’m telling you all this because, in answer your question, the reason I want to partner with Red Rose Investment Firm is because your cousin, Lance, is a veteran, correct?”

I nodded. “He is. So is my dad.”

"Exactly. Over the years, your family's firm has invested in so many businesses of veterans or the families of fallen shoulders. Lance has connections in the military, and I want military families to know that they have a friend in Wild Valley Ranch. A partnership with Red Rose means we can double our resources and help more families.”

My heart started beating fast for reasons I didn’t even want to figure out at the moment. “I guess now is a good time to tell you that before I even knew everything you just told me, our firm wanted to partner with Wild Valley. After your meeting in Texas, Lance felt like you would be the perfect partnership.”

“I’m honored,” Caden said. “I did a lot of research on Red Rose, and I’m surprised that I didn’t come across your photo or anything in my research.”

Sighing, I told him, “Let’s just say, my male family members have always gotten the spotlight. One of the downfalls of being born a female in the Rose family I guess.”

He squeezed my hand a little tighter. “I’m sorry you’re not treated as an equal. I do some business with my friend, Kat, and if I treated her any differently than the men we work with, she’d have my ass.”

Kat?We may have recently reconnected by pure coincidence, but the mention of a female friend made my ears perk up. “Will I meet Kat while I’m here?” I asked as casually as I could.

“Actually, you already know her. She used to visit Hou and I when we were in college, and you both hit it off whenever she visited.”

My eyes widened. “Oh my goodness, of course I remember Katrina!” There weren’t too many women who I immediately connected with, but she was one of them.

“I actually sent her a message this morning asking if she would be available sometime this week to take you shopping for some clothes more fit for Wild Valley,” Caden informed me. "I don't want you to ruin any more of your outfits. Hope that's okay."

Normally, I would give a speech similar to the one I’d given my cousin about not changing my wardrobe because it made others uncomfortable. In this case, I didn’t even hesitate to say, “That would be perfect. And I’m looking forward to seeing her again.”

“Good.” He glanced down at me at the same time I looked up at him, and my breath caught at just how sexy Caden Madden had gotten over the years. Those cognac-colored eyes of his paired with his rich, dark cinnamon complexion had me panting on the inside, with hopes that I looked a lot calmer than I felt on the outside. When his eyes dropped to my lips, I thanked my fairy godmother that I’d chosen to put on my favorite sultry, mauve matte lipstick. It was the best color I owned, and judging by the way Caden’s eyes were pinned to my mouth, I’d say the lipstick was doing the trick.

Cordelia, what is going on with you?Ever since I arrived in Cranberry Heights, all I could think about was finally appeasing my curiosity and kissing Caden Madden. I wasn’t sure there was a time in my life when I’d been as consumed with thoughts of a man as I currently was of him.Except maybe thoughts I had of him back in the day.

Caden was every southern woman’s naughty fantasy wrapped into one tall country package. There were so many reasons why I shouldn’t be thinking about him like this. Reasons that I didn’t want to explain to him, and honestly, I could tell there were things he wasn’t ready to tell me either.

And why should he? He knew the Cordelia back then, not the uptight version of me now. I wasn’t oblivious to how much I’d changed over the years, but I also wasn’t ready to admit how badly I wanted to throw my proper handbook down this hill to hopefully get washed away in the small river surrounding the villas.

When he leaned toward me, I almost thought I’d imagined it. But no, our faces really were getting closer and oh how I wanted to experience what it would be like to kiss him. Mustering up a boldness I didn’t know I had when this man was concerned, I leaned on the tiptoes of my muddy gym shoes to bring our mouths even closer and meet him halfway. Apparently, that was the wrong move, because instead of feeling those delicious looking lips on mine, I was trying to keep my balance as he released my hand and slowly backed away from me.

“Want to head down and see the villas?” he asked, breaking the moment.

“Uh.”I’m sorry, what?I mean, maybe I imagined it, but I swore it felt like he was going to kiss me. I had even dropped my umbrella to have my free hand ready for whatever he’d had in mind.

“Sure,” I finally said, but it hadn’t mattered. He was already walking down the hill toward the villas and nodding for me to follow.

Seven

CADEN

“Shit.” I dropped the piece of wood in my hand and glanced at the splinter sticking out of my thumb. Lately, it seemed I couldn’t even concentrate on the same things anymore. Like fixing a simple wooden bench that I could construct with my eyes closed.

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