said I was a damned gentleman. I am a real man who knows what he wants. And I want you. Long term, Princess."
My heart did a little flip-flop. Cade Dupree, playboy extraordinaire was asking me to be in a relationship.
"You want to date me?"
"Date? You're crazy woman. I want you in my bed. Permanently."
My mouth opened and no sound came out. He was serious. He meant it.
He looked abashed as he ran his hand through his hair. I had started noticing he did that when he was struggling with his emotions. There it was. Proof that Cade Dupree had a heart.
"Well, say something already woman! You want me too, remember?"
I tried to pull myself together. I was on the brink of throwing myself into his arms and telling him I loved him. It would be a relief to stop fighting.
But that would be bad. Bad bad bad. Stupid.
And I was not a stupid woman who let herself fall in love with overgrown athletes.
So I gave him a polite smile and stood up straight.
"Let's talk about this later Cade. Please. We have to get back to the party."
"Don't think you are skipping out on me Princess. It won't go over well."
"Alright Cade. We'll talk. I just- not now, okay?"
He nodded gruffly and pressed his lips to mine. I absorbed the kiss, wishing it was longer. It was hard, fast, hot and sweet.
Kind of like the man himself.
I ducked under his arms and out of the supply room before he could kiss me again. Or… anything else. I found a bathroom and splashed cool water on my face. I looked in the mirror, telling myself silently to buck up and stay strong. Now was not the time to think about my messy love- or almost love- life.
I reminded myself what my father always said. It was a family motto that went back generations. A River never folds.
Then I stood up straight and walked out to join the party.
Chapter Seventeen
Cade
I rounded up the kids and got them into the back of the limo. They were all nodding off, even after all the excitement. The rich country club food had been more than they were used to.
Plus they'd played about fifty games of pool while I was glad-handing and making nice. Camille had checked on me, making sure I had my drink and tried all the best food. It had felt right, having her look after me, seeing her nearby. Especially looking like she did in that stunning dress.
Now I just had one last thing to do…
I grinned, telling the driver to wait.
I was going to get my woman.
"Camille? Where you at girl?"
I had looked everywhere but the only people here seemed to be the staff cleaning up. I found one and pulled him aside.
"Can I help you with something sir?"
"Have you seen Miss Rivers?"
"She left."
"Oh, she did, did she? When?"
"About twenty minutes ago sir."
I turned and left without a backwards glance. This would not do. This would not do at all. She'd promised me we would talk. And then she pulls a disappearing act on me?
After everything I said to her?
There was going to be hell to pay on this fine Floridian evening, that much was certain.
"Take us to the hotel and wait for me. We have a second stop."
The driver nodded and I got in, pulling a sleepy child against my shoulder. Cami should be here too. She'd promised.
I hated being lied to.
More than almost anything.
I got the kids into their hotel rooms and into their pajamas. Even made them brush their teeth. Then I waited till the littlest one was out cold before heading back to the car.
I still had my tux on, so I slung the jacket over my shoulder.
"The Rivers Estate please."
I sat back in the seat, contemplating what I was going to do to make Camille see things clearly. I'd wooed her already. I'd asked nicely. Now I was mad.
I didn't even knock. I just walked to the back of the house where I was sure I'd find her. She'd told me it was her favorite spot. There she was on the back terrace, sipping a cup of tea, staring out at the night sky.
She looked surprised as hell to see me.
"Cade? What are you doing here?"
"Your bedroom. Now."
She
My heart did a little flip-flop. Cade Dupree, playboy extraordinaire was asking me to be in a relationship.
"You want to date me?"
"Date? You're crazy woman. I want you in my bed. Permanently."
My mouth opened and no sound came out. He was serious. He meant it.
He looked abashed as he ran his hand through his hair. I had started noticing he did that when he was struggling with his emotions. There it was. Proof that Cade Dupree had a heart.
"Well, say something already woman! You want me too, remember?"
I tried to pull myself together. I was on the brink of throwing myself into his arms and telling him I loved him. It would be a relief to stop fighting.
But that would be bad. Bad bad bad. Stupid.
And I was not a stupid woman who let herself fall in love with overgrown athletes.
So I gave him a polite smile and stood up straight.
"Let's talk about this later Cade. Please. We have to get back to the party."
"Don't think you are skipping out on me Princess. It won't go over well."
"Alright Cade. We'll talk. I just- not now, okay?"
He nodded gruffly and pressed his lips to mine. I absorbed the kiss, wishing it was longer. It was hard, fast, hot and sweet.
Kind of like the man himself.
I ducked under his arms and out of the supply room before he could kiss me again. Or… anything else. I found a bathroom and splashed cool water on my face. I looked in the mirror, telling myself silently to buck up and stay strong. Now was not the time to think about my messy love- or almost love- life.
I reminded myself what my father always said. It was a family motto that went back generations. A River never folds.
Then I stood up straight and walked out to join the party.
Chapter Seventeen
Cade
I rounded up the kids and got them into the back of the limo. They were all nodding off, even after all the excitement. The rich country club food had been more than they were used to.
Plus they'd played about fifty games of pool while I was glad-handing and making nice. Camille had checked on me, making sure I had my drink and tried all the best food. It had felt right, having her look after me, seeing her nearby. Especially looking like she did in that stunning dress.
Now I just had one last thing to do…
I grinned, telling the driver to wait.
I was going to get my woman.
"Camille? Where you at girl?"
I had looked everywhere but the only people here seemed to be the staff cleaning up. I found one and pulled him aside.
"Can I help you with something sir?"
"Have you seen Miss Rivers?"
"She left."
"Oh, she did, did she? When?"
"About twenty minutes ago sir."
I turned and left without a backwards glance. This would not do. This would not do at all. She'd promised me we would talk. And then she pulls a disappearing act on me?
After everything I said to her?
There was going to be hell to pay on this fine Floridian evening, that much was certain.
"Take us to the hotel and wait for me. We have a second stop."
The driver nodded and I got in, pulling a sleepy child against my shoulder. Cami should be here too. She'd promised.
I hated being lied to.
More than almost anything.
I got the kids into their hotel rooms and into their pajamas. Even made them brush their teeth. Then I waited till the littlest one was out cold before heading back to the car.
I still had my tux on, so I slung the jacket over my shoulder.
"The Rivers Estate please."
I sat back in the seat, contemplating what I was going to do to make Camille see things clearly. I'd wooed her already. I'd asked nicely. Now I was mad.
I didn't even knock. I just walked to the back of the house where I was sure I'd find her. She'd told me it was her favorite spot. There she was on the back terrace, sipping a cup of tea, staring out at the night sky.
She looked surprised as hell to see me.
"Cade? What are you doing here?"
"Your bedroom. Now."
She
Similar Books
