Page 63 of Trouble
Mind-blowing sex. But that’s all we’re really doing.
Amelia steps back and pulls her friend to her side. “This is Charlotte, my sister-in-law. Charlotte, this is Cade Fitzgerald. He was a few years ahead of Jack in school, and this is?—”
“Melina Rodriguez,” Charlotte says, nudging her friend in the side. “This woman does not need an introduction. I’m a huge fan.” Her cheeks go rosy as she smiles at me.
I laugh. “Well, thank you. But here, I’m just Mel.”
She blinks several times. Then, out the side of her mouth, she mumbles, “Did you hear that? Melina Rodriguez said I can call her Mel.”
We all laugh again, the simple action relieving the ball of dread sinking in my stomach.
“You going into Jules’?” Amelia asks.
“Yeah.” Cade thumbs over at me. “This one has become obsessed with their donuts. Then we’re going shopping and who knows what else.”
“Make sure you come by the flower shop. I’ll set a bouquet aside for you to take to your mother,” Amelia says with a wink. “And maybe we’ll see you both at the Christmas festival tonight?”
Cade dips his chin. “Thank you.”
“It was good to see you,” I say to Amelia, then turn to Charlotte. “And so nice to meet you.”
Charlotte gives me an awkward wave and giggles—she’s adorable, with her tiny pregnant belly and her fan-girl moment—and then they’re gone.
Cade pulls the door open, and the smell of sugar and espresso almost bowls me over. “Come on, let’s get you your sugar fix.”
The shop is small, but there is a single empty table available. Cade kisses my temple and points to it. “Go save a seat, and I’ll order. What do you want?”
A kaleidoscope of donut options filters through my head, making my mouth water. “What do I want? What do I want?” I hum, scanning the choices behind the glass. When I discover that the special is cinnamon streusel, the choice is an easy one.
Once I’m seated, I allow myself a moment to watch Cade. The young woman behind the counter blushes as she rings him up. How could she not? He is stupidly good-looking. He’s pretty. Blue eyes, dirty-blond hair peeking out of his backward Bolts hat, broad shoulders, thick thighs, a bubble butt, and god, when he turns and smiles at me, laughing at something the girl must have said, my heart flips over.
I like this man.
A lot.
The sound of a chair scraping against the floor breaks the Cade trance I’m in. The woman at the table beside me has pushed her chair so close it’s almost kissing mine. “Is that Cade Fitzgerald?”
She’s got to be in her eighties, with white hair, round cheeks, and a knowing glint in her eye. Her bright blue muumuu is similar to the kind my Vovo wears around the house, though I don’t think she’d be caught dead wearing it in public like this.
Beside her, a gorgeous woman with long jet-black hair leans over and pulls on the woman’s chair, bringing her back to her table. “Leave them be, Carmella.”
I bite my lip on a smile as the older woman—Carmella—swats at her younger friend. “She’s staying with our broody chief. Just trying to figure out the story.”
“Gossip,” the woman chides. She angles forward and gives me an apologetic smile. “She loves to gossip.”
I chuckle. “I am staying with the broody chief. And that is Cade.”
Carmella wiggles in her seat, brows dancing. “Oh, I can’t wait to see how this plays out.”
And I’ve got to be honest, I can’t either.
CHAPTER 26
Declan
Workingside by side with Colby, the rookie, I run the cloth over the truck until it shines. I never do this. Washing our fire engine is a job reserved for the new guys. My job is to be in my office. To talk to the mayor. To attend functions. To delegate.
But today I need to work off my stress. My usual method, with rope, is out of the question. Just the idea is steeped in thoughts and visions of the two people I’m currently tryingnotto think about.