“You’re so mature,” I quip. Because really, he is.
He groans and stares up at the sky now. “Talia is oddly competitive. I was a trophy to her. But once she won me, she realized maybe it wasn’t the trophy she wanted. I can keep you and me under wraps because that will help keep her claws from coming out. But I can’t keep the way Luke loves you under wraps. And that’s going to bother her.”
I sigh. Feeling way out of my depth with this sort of family dynamic.
“Harvey is hyper-aware of it too. He’s not the biggest Talia fan. But he is a huge fan of you.”
“Yeah, you did a great job of keeping us under wraps earlier,” I joke, thinking back on the way he carried me away like a caveman who just won the hunt.
“Wasn’t trying to, Red. Don’t want to if I’m being honest.”
I snort. “This is weird.”
I see his lips tip up when he glances over at me. “Totally weird.”
“But I’m not mad at it.”
Cade tags on, “I might even be happy about it.”
I squint my eyes at him—fuck, but he’s hot. It’s really just stupid. “Is that your happy scowl?”
He shakes his head and snickers. “Can I tell Harvey that I’ve adequately prepared you for the party?”
“Yeah, yeah. You don’t deal with a bunch of drunken idiots and catfights for years without learning a thing or two about handling shit like that. I’ll be fine. Let’s just keep it about Luke. Okay?”
He nods, eyeing me like he’s checking me for any signs I’m stressed. And truthfully, I’m not. I’m not a drama seeker. In fact, I avoid it like the plague. If I have to smile and nod and fade into the background, then that’s what I’ll do.
“Okay,” he agrees with a firm nod.
“Okay. Good.” We stare at each other for a beat until a smile tugs up my cheeks as an idea to kill the tension pops into my head. “Last one to the mountains is a rotten egg!” bursts from my lips before I can stop it, and then I’m urging Rocket up into a canter, glancing over my shoulder at Cade, who’s grinning at me like I’m a psycho.
“Git up!” he calls to Blueberry, and her hooves pound behind me.
I lean forward in the tack, coming off Rocket’s back to give him some space to gallop, pushing my hands up his neck and giving him slack in the reins. He stretches out, and when I glance back again, Cade isn’t gaining on me like I thought he would.
“You scared, Eaton?” I shout.
“No, baby. Just enjoying the view. Your ass looks mighty fine from back here.”
We both laugh and joy bubbles in my chest. I don’t let up though. He can stare at my ass, but I’m still going to kick his.
“Thank you!” I shout back as a joke. But deep down, it doesn’t feel like a joke.
It feels like he’s wiggling his way into my heart.
26
Willa
Summer: I feel like we live on the same piece of land and yet, I haven’t seen you at all.
Willa: Been busy.
Summer: With what?
Willa: Saving horses.
Summer: Oh, yeah?
Willa: Sum, I’ve saved so many I might as well open a rescue.
Summer: Good lord.
Willa: Would it be legal for me to have Cade write me a charitable donation receipt to offset my taxes?
Summer: I think he’s fucked you stupid, bestie.
Cade’s head pops out the back door, and butterflies erupt in my chest. I can tell by the way he scans the backyard that he’s been looking for me.
“Hi,” is all I say from the far side of the hot tub, steam wafting around me. We’re well into the dog days of summer now. It’s August and the nights have cooled. The air is fresh against my chest and shoulders, but the hot bubbling water caresses my body, chasing away the chill.
I’m not cold at all. Especially watching Cade step onto the patio, barefoot with thin lounge pants slung low, signature black T-shirt hugging his biceps, and hair all mussed from a shower and lying down with Luke.
“Luke asleep?”
“Yeah.” His eyes rake over me hungrily. “I meant to come find you sooner, but I think I fell asleep in there.”
“That’s okay. I’ve been keeping busy,” I reply, not missing the way his head quirks and his eyes narrow.
“Yeah? Busy with what?”
“Thinking about last night,” I reply boldly, stretching my arms above my head and showing him the way my nipples have pebbled beneath my thin, purple bathing suit.
The same one he couldn’t take his eyes off of the last time we found ourselves in here together.