Page 62 of Family Affair
The same unobtrusive waiter brought their meal and arranged it with a flourish on the table moving the flowers aside. The food looked and smelled delicious, but Coco lost what little appetite she had. But, resolved to keep their date from deteriorating into an absolute sobfest, Coco fortified herself with a sip of the rich red wine and began to eat.
Cade picked up his fork and made several lazy stabs at his fish. He seemed lost in thought.
“You’re leaving, aren’t you?”
He looked up from his plate. “Yes.”
“And you aren’t coming back?”
He hesitated. “I always come back. My family’s here.”
Coco put her napkin by her plate, unable to take another bite. “I see.”
Cade moved his own plate aside, put his elbows on the table and rested his chin on his entwined fingers, pinning her with his direct stare. His brown eyes appeared liquid in the candlelight, his gaze so intense she almost felt it touch her face.
“Well, maybe you and I will see each other again, then,” she strove for a normal tone. She even smiled, amazed that her face didn’t crack from the effort.
“I doubt it, Coco,” he said in a soft voice.
“Why? You just said you come back to visit your family. If Dan and I sort out our differences, we very well may see… ”
“You won’t.”
That silenced her. “We won’t?”
“You won’t stay with Dan. Not a good match.”
“Forgive me, but since when have you become a relationship expert? Opposites attract. You can never know with people.”
“I ain’t no expert, but I can see it with the two of you. Dan’s an ass.”
“And you aren’t?” she fired back.
“Ouch,” he smiled.
Coco backed off. “I’m sorry. It was uncalled for.”
“It wasexactlycalled for. I’m an ass,” he agreed without any pretense. Then he swore softly. “A shared family trait, I’m afraid. A genetic defect.”
“You’d be surprised how many people have this defect.”
“But you don’t,” he pointed out. “You will find it a nightmare to live with Dan. Or with any Sheffield.”
“A nightmare? Come on, Cade, that’s lame. What do y’all do, turn into werewolves under a full moon and run around without britches?”
Cade’s right eyebrow shot up and his lips twitched. “You nailed it.”
Frustrating man.
“You’re human, just like everybody else. I’ve met your brothers, and they are all not without merits. Different personalities, sure, each one with his own eccentricities, but overall, your entire family is very nice.”
Well, she wasn’t all that sure about Ross. The jury was still out on that one.
Cade scoffed. “Nice? Coco, only you can apply the term to my family. Whatever else you may call them, believe me, they arenotnice. Not a single one.”
“Surely your mother…”
“No.”
