Page 42 of No Place Like Home
“For rejecting my goodwill donuts?” He winked. Maybe if he didn’t let her know how much she affected him, he could keep up the professional charade. Of course, it’d be a lot easier if she didn’t look like she needed the world’s biggest hug right now.
Rosalyn reached up and tugged her hair tie free of her hair, letting it tumble over her shoulders like a golden waterfall. “For being emotional.”
He slowed as the car splashed through a puddle, holding back his response and hoping she’d elaborate further.
“Usually I’m so focused.” She sighed. “Disciplined.”
“Rigid?” Oops. Hadn’t meant to say that.
But she didn’t seem offended as she pulled the hair tie onto her wrist. If anything, it brought back that little ghost of a smile. “Probably.” Then it faded. “It’s so different with him. He…”
Seconds ticked by. She wasn’t finishing that sentence.
Cade flexed his hands on the steering wheel. “Look, whoever it is you’re talking about—you know I’d beat him up for you, right?” He stared straight ahead as they cruised the next block, unsure if she’d take the remark as kidding or serious. He’d play it off whichever way she chose to take it.
But if she looked into his eyes, she’d know the truth.
“Or you’d send Simon LeMoine to beat them up, anyway.” She cast him a sidelong look, her small grin visible in his peripheral vision. “Though I seem to remember you held your own at the Lazy Spoon that one night.”
“Ah.” Funny how she brought that up when he’d told the guys the story yesterday. He looked both ways through the rain-streaked windows as they stopped at the next intersection. “So you do accurately remember that I am, in fact, a superhero.”
Her voice softened. “You were that night.”
His eyes darted to meet hers, heat flaring in his chest.
She cleared her throat. “I mean, I totally could have taken him. But it was nice to have backup.”
“Backup, huh?” Cade rubbed his jaw, then pointedly opened his mouth.Click. “Let’s just say I knew it was going to rain before you did.”
“Yikes. Sorry about that.” She reached over and grazed her fingers across his affected cheek.
A shudder rippled down his spine. Thank the Lord they were at a stop sign. He tightened his grip on the wheel. One move of his head, and he could turn his face into her palm.
“It was worth it.” His heartbeat skyrocketed, louder in his head than the low hum of the engine and the faint hint of eighties rock from his playlist. Her hand stilled, fingers gently alight on his stubble that never seemed to realize it wasn’t yet five o’clock.Don’t move, don’t move.
But he’d never been very good at denying himself a treat.
He turned his face into her hand, her fingers cupping his cheek. Their gazes locked. She didn’t move away, and he couldn’t have if the car had burst into flames. Though judging by the heat welling in his chest, it might have already.
So much for his goal to end their flirting.
But this wasn’t flirting, was it? Her eyes held something unspoken yet tangible, a longing mixed with a promise that set his world on fire.
“Rosalyn…” He swallowed. She wasn’t looking away. The slightest movement of her fingers on his jaw sent a stampede of bulls thundering through his stomach that would’ve made Spain proud. “You know I’d do it again, if you needed me to.” Because being needed by Rosalyn Dupree gave him all the superpowers he required.
“I know.” Her chin dipped in a nod. “You were always there for me when it mattered. Even when we were each other’s competition.”
Except now whose competition was he?
Her words drummed a painful beat in his head.It’s so different with him.How long ago was this “him” that she was still worked up about? Enough to cry over after a phone call?
Regardless, he couldn’t stand it anymore. As if by its own accord, Cade’s hand found her cheek, cupped her face in a matching gesture until his fingers slid into her hair. The long strands felt like silk, exactly as he’d imagined. “I almost asked you out that night at the Lazy Spoon. I missed my chance.”
“I thought you were going to.” She traced the line of his jaw with one finger and the hair on the back of his neck tingled. “But then my friends interrupted us.”
“Yeah. And then you left.” He waited a beat. “Ran off and joined the circus.”
She pursed her lips, which had eased dangerously closer to his. “I guess I did.”
