Page 35 of Confusing Cade
I hesitated, then shook my head. “Just work.”
“By the way, I’m a little surprised you brought Bella Moretti,” he said as he finished his drink.
I paused, weighing my response carefully. Luke and I were friendly enough, but we weren’t exactly close buddies. “The commission asked me to reach out to her,” I said, keeping my tone neutral.
“Yeah, right,” Luke snorted. “That woman hasn’t shown up to anything in, like, forever.” He placed his empty glass on a tray carried by a passing server, his movements casual but deliberate. “I’m pretty sure the last time I saw her was back in high school.”
I raised an eyebrow, a faint smirk tugging at my lips. “She stood out to you that much, huh?”
“Nah, not her, man. Her father. Gino Moretti. That guy was a legend.” Luke leaned back slightly, like he was picturing the memory.
I nodded, but my jaw tightened just a fraction. “Gino Moretti and his daughter are two very different people.” I set my own glass down on a nearby high-top table with a little more force than necessary, my eyes flicking toward Bella across the room. Something protective stirred in my chest, unbidden but undeniable. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to get back to her.”
Luke grinned, his tone teasing but not unkind. “More like rescue her. She’s almost surrounded over there.” He jerked his chin toward the growing crowd near Bella, amusement glinting in his eyes.
I didn’t bother responding, just gave him a quick nod before heading her way, my steps a little faster than before as I strode across the patio tile to Bella. For the last few minutes, she’d mostly been tied up in conversation with Vernon Douglas, a local politician and perennial candidate for Congress who never hesitated to remind anyone who would listen that Frances Fisher owed her start in Palm Beach government to him. Not wanting to seem too possessive or weird, I’d allowed Vernon to trap Bella in mindless small talk as I wandered over to the bar in search of a refill. But now, the bored expression on her face was obvious even to me.
Clearly, Vernon hadn’t picked up on it.
“We should be starting dinner shortly,” I said when I arrived at Bella’s side. “I overheard the staff talking about how they’ll call us over soon.”
“Great.” She stood a little straighter and seemed to brighten at my presence. I liked that.
“The invitation said we’re having Maine lobster and grass-fed steaks.” Vernon pulled a face that exaggerated the large skin folds on either corner of his mouth and made him look like someone in a medieval painting, a little bit evil and haggard from the daily stress of life. “Seems a little typical, don’t you think?”
“I haven’t had either in a long time,” Bella replied softly, and something tightened in my chest. No, I guessed she hadn’t eaten either of those, not if things had been so hard financially. She’d probably skipped meals, counted pennies at the grocery store, and looked for coupons and two-for-one deals. Even a couple successful months on FanZone probably hadn’t shaken her out of those habits.
“We’re lucky to have such wonderful catering at parties like these,” I said, making sure I caught Vernon’s gaze and hoping he heard the unusual emphasis behind my words.
“We certainly are. And your father was also one of the best supporters of the new restaurants and event companies that always seem to crop up around here each season,” Vernon replied, mainly speaking to Bella.
“He was?”
Vernon grunted his yes and swallowed some beer. His nose and cheeks were already red.How much liquor has he put away already?“Hasn’t really been the same without him.”
Her face brightened, and the skin around her eyes softened. “I miss him a lot.”
Vernon’s eyes flicked between us, sharp and calculating, a sly smile curling his lips. “I’m sure you do.” His attention lingered on Bella for a beat too long before darting back to me. “I’m also sure Gino would bestunnedto see his daughter here tonight... as Cade Weston’s date, no less.”
The word hit like a jolt. Bella and I both stiffened, our reactions mirror images of each other. Her shoulders tensed justas my fingers tightened around the stem of the glass I’d taken from a passing waiter on my way to Bella’s side. I stepped closer to her instinctively, my body angling to shield her from Vernon’s probing stare.
“Date?” My voice came out sharper than I intended.
Vernon raised an eyebrow, clearly enjoying the moment. “Isn’t that what this is?”
Bella recovered first, her composure sliding back into place like a well-practiced mask. “Oh, no,” she said smoothly, her voice cool and unruffled. “This is strictly business. Nothing more.”
Her eyes met mine briefly, and though her expression was steady, I caught the faintest flicker of something.Uncertainty? Defiance? Then she looked away.
But I felt it. The weight of her words. The way they didn’t quite land as convincingly as she’d intended. My chest tightened, and I fought the urge to reach for her hand, to ground us both in something real.
Vernon let out a low, skeptical laugh, clearly unconvinced. “Business, huh?”
I bristled, my protectiveness flaring hotter. I didn’t like the way he looked at her.
“Bella’s consulting on the final stages of the Promenade,” I said, my voice firm, leaving no room for misinterpretation. I shifted closer to her, my shoulder brushing against hers, a silent claim I couldn’t stop myself from making. “Her father loved that site. It meant something to him.”
My words were calculated, each one selected to silence Vernon and make it clear Bella was no mere accessory at my side. As I spoke, her presence beside me burned, her breath hitching faintly at my defense of her. My pulse quickened, a quiet thrill stirring within me.Does she sense it too?Vernon tilted his head, his smile thinning. “I see.”
