Page 13 of Confusing Cade
“We’re a few weeks away from completion,” Cade added.
“Congratulations.” I didn’t mean it, but I said it anyway.
And if Cade heard the flatness in my voice, he didn’t acknowledge it. “The commission would like you to attend the ribbon cutting,” he said instead.
My breath caught in my throat, a sharp hitch that felt too loud in the quiet room. “What?”
“That was the main point of their meeting.”
Cade’s voice was low, steady, but there was a weight to it, like he was measuring every word. He scribbled something in his notebook, his hand moving with deliberate ease. I caught a glimpse of his broad, slanting script. Bold. Unapologetic. The kind that belonged to a man who took what he wanted without asking twice. My gaze lingered on his fingers, strong and sure, gripping the pen. I closed my eyes for a fleeting moment, and my mind betrayed me. Before I could stop myself, I imagined those same fingers tangling in my hair, tugging gently to tilt myhead back. The thought sent a shiver racing down my spine, his touch trailing lower, ghosting over the curve of my back, warm and teasing, until my skin prickled with heat. My eyes snapped open, heart pounding, and I hoped he hadn’t noticed the flush creeping up my neck.Where did that come from?Was I just feeling...overstimulated because of the content I put on FanZone?Or am I just horny because I haven’t had real sex in years?
“They think it would be a nice gesture,” he continued, his gaze lifting to meet mine, sharp and searching, like he could see straight through to the thoughts I was trying to bury. “Considering all your father did for this community.”
I braced my elbows on the peeling table, the rough wood grounding me as I forced my voice to stay steady.Get a grip, Bella.“That so?”
“Gino meant a lot to the county. You know that.”
“But he died a long time ago.”
Cade shook his head. “Not that long. I think half the commission is indebted to him.”
I broke his gaze and focused on the wall behind him. Looking at it was easier than looking at Cade. The wall didn’t turn me on. Cade, however,... “I think I’ll pass,” I said around the lump in my throat.
“Not exactly surprised,” Cade muttered.
The edge in his voice forced me to give him my attention again. “What does that mean?”
“Just that doing so would risk people finding out how you’ve been making money for the last few months.”
My fingers tightened around the table edge as a knot grew in my stomach. “FanZone? Who cares?” I rolled my eyes, hoping I seemed ambivalent. “You don’t know anything about me, Cade.”
“I know how bothered you were when I mentioned it at the fundraiser. You stormed out.”
“Because it was rude,” I replied, sputtering through my frustration. How dare he bring this up right now? How dare he think he knew what was going on with me?Cade Weston doesn’t know me at all.“And you were being an asshole.”
He laughed. “Wasn’t the first time.”
“FanZone isn’t why I’m saying no. Frankly, I don’t care if people find out that I have that account. I’m not ashamed of it.”What the hell does he care about what I do with my life?“In fact, I’m making a shit ton of money there every month.”
“I know you are,” he replied. “I’m one of your VIP subscribers. My username isDoubleCWest—Cade Christopher Weston.”
My mouth dropped open, shock slamming into me like a tidal wave. “What? You’re... you’reDoubleCWest?”
I gaped at him, my stomach twisting in horror.That means he’s seen me naked. He’s watched my live streams and seen every vulnerable part of me that I put out there.Heat flooded my face, a mix of embarrassment and fury boiling up inside. “How could you? You’ve been lurking there this whole time, watching me like some creep?”
He laughed once. “Creep? Is that what you think of your subs?”
“But you never log on to the private chats,” I said, ignoring his comment. “You don’t browse any of the special features. Why would you pay for something that you’re not using?”
Cade didn’t answer. He just stared back at me.
“Oh, now I get it,” I said, the reality hitting me in the face.Nobody makes all those payments without expecting anything in return.“This is charity to you, isn’t it?”
He gave me a slight shrug as a reply.
“Well, I don’t want it. More than that, I don’t need it.”
“Because FanZone is so lucrative.” He drew out the wordso. It dripped with sarcasm.
