Page 30 of Cade

“You may kiss the bride,” she heard as Cade leaned forward.

She didn’t need to be nervous. She was doing him a favor. All the reassuring thoughts went through her mind as Cade’s lips met hers.

Chaste, this kiss was not. As his tongue slipped past her lips, April let him. Just this once, she was going to let herself enjoy it just this once and pretend that Cade wanted her. She felt herself leaning into him as Cade pulled her closer.

Cheering came from the back of the room and Cade broke the kiss, tucking her against him. “What the hell?” His gruff voice was strained.

April twisted in his grasp and turned away from his shirt to see what was going on. There, at the other end of the aisle, was Cade’s entire friend group cheering and celebrating.

“I didn’t know they would come. I don’t know how they knew,” Cade whispered into her hair.

“Friends of the happy couple?” the officiant asked.

“They were,” Cade grunted.

Chapter Fourteen

Cade

Cade buttoned his shirt and cursed his friends. How they found out what he was up to, he didn’t know, but he wanted a little bit of time with April before they needed to pretend to be a happy couple. She was nervous as it was, and this wasn’t helping things.

Granted, she knew most of his friends and was close with Evan’s girlfriend, but this hadn’t been planned, and he hated when shit went sideways.

April showered as he got ready in their room. They had been roped into going out to celebrate with everyone this evening, and he hated it. He hated that they’d interrupted and that while he wanted to take this time to break down some of April’s shield. He was going to be forced to pretend there were none.

“Cade?” April’s quiet voice came through the crack in the bathroom door. “I… umm…”

“What is it?” Cade bit out, a lot more angry than he meant to be with her ever. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Sorry. I’m just frustrated. What’s wrong?”

“I just forgot something in my bag. If you let me know when you’re ready to leave the room, I’ll get it when you’re done.”

“What is it? I’ll get it for you.” Cade moved to her suitcase, sitting on the bed.

“I’ll get it,” April assured him. “I’m just not dressed yet.”

Already annoyed at everything, Cade turned to the door. “What is it, April? We don’t have long until we are meeting everyone, so just tell me what you need.”

“Umm, my panties. They’re on the top. Any pair will do,” she rushed out.

Cade groaned. This was what he got for pressing. He should have walked away like she wanted and he wouldn’t be pulling out a pair of black thongs to hand to April. To be fair, that was the first pair he grabbed.

He pictured her on the other side of the door, likely beet red with embarrassment, as Cade pressed the garment into her waiting hand that was sticking through the cracked door.

“Thanks,” she muttered as the door clicked closed behind her.

Cade dropped onto the bed and sighed. Today wasn’t going as he needed it to. She hadn’t told him if she was willing to create a baby the natural way and he wanted to seduce her, now he’d embarrassed her and he wasn’t going to get to recover from that today.

He’d booked one room for the two of them and made sure to get a king bed so they’d have to share. If she stuck to herself, he wouldn’t push her. He needed her to want to come to him, but he’d make sure she knew what she was missing out on.

“I’m ready,” April said as she opened the door.

Cade stood and walked to the bedroom door, slipping into his shoes. “Let’s go.”

April walked past him, a dress that hugged her curves melded to her body. His punishment for not just leaving the room earlier would be that he knew why he couldn’t see her panty lines and exactly what was on under that dress.

As though feeling his gaze, she turned to look at him. “Are you coming?”

“Just enjoying the view,” he teased.

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