Page 81 of Easy Reunion
Chapter 32
Kelsey
“I’m nervous,” I admit.
“Why?” Ry squeezes my hand as he eases me from the passenger seat of his car.
“Gee, I don’t know. Maybe because I’m about to meet your best friend?” I reply sarcastically.
Lisa breezes by me as she walks around the back of the car. “Nothing to worry about. Cade’s just like any other guy.” But I can tell she’s lying as a blush begins to crawl up her cheeks and she checks out her outfit in the reflection of the car windows.
“And that means?” I wonder aloud as the three of us cross the street to a slick restaurant down on the waterfront.
“Just like every other man, he’s got something between his legs he likes to have played with, but sometimes the mass between his ears isn’t all that bright,” Lisa declares resolutely.
I choke on my laughter as Ry shoots a withering glare at his sister. “Considering he’s a damn doctor, I’d say he’s got quite a brain on him.” To me, he adds, “Cade’s a resident at Tulane Medical Center.” To his sister, he says, “Lisa, I’d say he’s a little smarter than the average guy.”
Lisa gives a nonchalant shrug in response.
“Why do I get the impression there’s more here than a simple dinner?” I say softly to Ry as we follow Lisa, who’s still fidgeting anxiously with her hemline, her hair, her clutch.
“Because there is. Cade and I were roommates in college. He’s the brother I never had. And—” He sucks in a breath between his teeth. “—I’m getting accustomed to the fact he’s had feelings for Lisa for a long while.”
Ry holds the door open for me. Oh, boy. Deciding to navigate us back to safer water, I ask, “You didn’t room with Eli?”
Ry shakes his head back and forth. “No. He was a few years older than I was and lived with Beau and an adopted family member.” He extends his hand to me, and we catch up with an impatient Lisa, who’s tapping her foot in agitation.
Ry’s right. This isn’t just my meeting his best friend; it’s a coming-out dinner for the baby sister he’d do anything for and the best friend whose antics he’d heard about for years as well. Pulling him close, I smile at the younger girl. “Are we all checked in?”
“Ry will check in. I’m sure they’ll seat us as soon as…” Her voice trails off as the door to the restaurant opens behind me.
“Cade,” Ry calls out. “Over here, man.” In front of me, Lisa’s body locks. Then I take a deep breath and turn around before every cell in my body freezes.
Holy hotness.
“What the hell did they inject into the water at that school?” I hiss at Lisa, immediately understanding her surface attraction to her brother’s best friend.
Forcing her gaze away from the black-haired man, she says, “I’m so glad I don’t have to suffer through another meal with them alone.”
I snort. “Let me guess, random women approaching, snide comments in the washroom, your order coming out wrong…”
“Every damn time!” Before I can stop her, Lisa leans over and grabs my cheeks. She presses her lips against mine firmly. “Finally, finally, someone understands!” she proclaims.
A dark shadow blocks out the light. “I think I just got a little turned on by that.” Cade’s deep voice wraps around us. “Want to go for it again?”
Ry’s sharp “No!” causes Cade to give me a head-to-toe perusal. Which, in turn, sets Lisa and me off laughing again.
“Well, Ry, I’ve been interested in meeting your girlfriend for a while. After this little display”—Cade Miller’s eyes scorch over Lisa—“by my own woman, I’m more than a little intrigued.”
I’m about to hold out my hand to introduce myself when Lisa—the imp—whispers, “I’ll give you the details later. I’ve been dying to share, and Ry definitely does not want to know.” Ry groans as he slips away to check us in.
So instead of being calm and composed, I’m fighting back the need to snicker in Cade’s face when I hold out my hand. “Kel…” I stammer before regaining my composure. “Kelsey Kennedy.”
Cade lifts my hand to his mouth. “It’s a pleasure to meet you after all these years, Kelsey.” Jesus, this man is potent. His dark eyes burn like coals even as his breath whispers over my fingers. I’m like a lovesick puppy worshipping him before I shake my head to unscramble my thoughts.
Years?
“I’m afraid you have me at a complete disadvantage. I only started getting the scoop on your antics a short time ago. But truly, Ry’s done nothing but sing your praises.”
