Page 23 of Daddy's Treat
“You ready to go?” Kade asks over the din of noise.
“Yes, please.”
Candi and her guy, along with Carsen, move out of the way so I can meet Kade at the door. Lucy burns me to death with her eyes before moving into Carsen’s arms. He doesn’t quit staring at me even when he wraps a possessive arm around Lucy.
It’s not until I’m safely inside Kade’s SUV that I fully relax. I can almost convince myself that I’m making more out of it than there was. I can’t seem to get rid of the niggling doubt, though. I can worry about that later. I have other things to worry about right now. Like meeting Kade’s family.
“What’s wrong?” Kade asks after a few minutes of silence.
Part of me wants to tell him everything, another part doesn’t want him to know how bad things have gotten since we started seeing each other. I’m not sure how I manage, but I keep my tendency to blurt out everything on my mind in check for once.
“Just the normal crap I get from the rest of the sorority and frat guys. It’s no big deal. Tell me more about Walt and Louise.”
It’s another day for firsts because not only did I manage to find my filter, but Kade lets me evade his question.
“Don’t worry, shortcake. Walt thinks you’re awesome, and Louise will love you too.”
That one four-letter word on his lips makes my heart do flip flops. I have a vague memory of him telling meheloves me, but I’ve all but convinced myself that it was a dream. It’s barely been two weeks since we met. Not thatmyheart cares because I’m pretty sure that four-letter word is just waiting to be shouted from my lips. I’m definitely falling hard and fast for Kade.
We’ve spent every minute possible together, including several sleepovers where I stay at his place. Much to my disappointment, we haven’t gone any farther than that first time. He takes special pleasure in pushing me to the very edge, then making me talk dirty to him before letting me orgasm. It’s become his new favorite game; he says it’s better than football.
I’ve basically been ready to hand my v-card over to him since that first night, but he’s not interested in stamping it yet. Heck, he’s not even interested in letting me return the favor. I’ve tried multiple times to tempt him into letting me touch him, please him like he does me, but he just tells me another time. I’m not sure why he’s holding back. I might spontaneously combust before I find out.
I don’t have any more time to ponder the ins and outs of why Kade won’t just make love to me already because he pulls up to a house that is almost as big as his own. Instead of the homey appearance of his, this one is all modern lines. Lots of big windows and white. I don’t find it aesthetically pleasing at all.
Kade doesn’t even make it to my side of the car before Walt is running out of the house toward him. I laugh when he swings the boy up in his arms for a hug. Walt obviously loves his uncle. It’s sweet. Kade puts him down, and instead of going inside, Walt runs to my door and opens it for me.
“Uncle Kade says a lady should never have to open her own doors.”
“Your uncle is a very wise man. If he says it, it’s probably true.” I’m flummoxed when Walt wraps his arms around me. I hug him back, liking his open affection. I’m not used to it. Kade is the only person in my life other than my grandmother, who openly gives physical affection. Seems Walt is learning a lot from his Uncle Kade.
“Have you been chased by any killer clowns lately?” Walt asks as he leads me into the house.
“Thank the tiddlywinks no. I don’t think I could survive another clown attack so soon.” I press my hand to my chest like my heart might give out.
“You’re funny, Penny. I can see why Uncle Kade loves you.”
I totally want to dissect that, but Louise enters the room in all of her supermodel beautiful good looks. I’m not just saying that. Louise has shiny blonde hair that has the perfect amount of curl to it, making my attempt at curls look like store brand knockoffs. She’s tall, probably five nine in her heeled feet. I feel like a child standing in front of her when she sweeps into the room and walks right up to me.
“You must be the Penny we’ve been hearing so much about.” She takes my hands in both of hers, giving them a little squeeze. Everything she’s doing makes her greeting look warm and genuine. She says the right words and the little hand grip thing is a nice touch, but the look in her steely-gray eyes lets me know it’s all just for show.
I instinctively know she doesn’t like me. Not one bit. I have a certain level of intuition when it comes to these things. I’ve been the target of too many bullies in my life to not see the signs of someone who doesn’t like me.
Dinner is awkward, but if Kade notices he doesn’t show it. Walt is talkative and asks me tons of questions about school and how come I graduated high school so young. Kade and Louise talk about football. Louise hangs on his every word, laughing and touching him at every opportunity. I wonder if she’s doing it for my benefit or if this is how they always are together.
It’s evident to me that she wants more than just friendship with Kade. He told me all about his brother, Walter, and the car accident that killed him while Louise was pregnant with his son. He’s done his best to be a father-figure to Walt. In my opinion, he’s done a great job. It’s clear that Walt adores his uncle and wants to be just like him when he grows up.
Kade and Walt clear the table ‘leaving the girls to talk,’ as Kade said. He definitely isn’t reading Louise’s disdain for me correctly. Not surprising since he seems to be oblivious to her flirting.
As soon as they are out of earshot, Louise drops the fake smile. “Don’t think you’re going to keep him. He’s just using you. Kade loves me. He’s going to be with me. So have your fun with him while you can, little girl, because soon enough, he’ll dump you for a real woman.”
I honestly have no idea how to respond to that. Mostly because Louise is right about at least some of it. Kade does love her, maybe not the way she means it, but he loves her as family for sure. Louise definitely touches on a sore spot when she calls me a little girl. Compared to a woman like her, I am a little girl. I’ve asked myself a dozen times what Kade sees in me and how a girl like me would ever manage to keep his interest.
She must see something on my face that she likes because she says, “Glad we’re clear.”
I’m still staring at the chair she just vacated when Kade comes back. He kisses the top of my head and asks if I’m ready to head home.
“Yeah, let’s go.”