Page 25 of Blindsided By the Enforcer

“Wow, Annie,” he says. “This all looks delicious.”

“It is, my father’s bread is the best thing ever,” I admit.

We take a seat at the table.

“You look very pretty today,” he notes. There he goes being sweet again.

“Cade, there isn’t anyone around,” I bring to his attention.

“I was just complimenting you. I felt like you looked pretty. Should I not voice what I’m thinking?” he asks.

“I’m not sure,” I reply. He’s sexy and nice. A girl could easily fall for a guy like him.

“What does that mean?” he asks, confused.

“I don’t really know you all that well and this thing between us is fake,” I whisper.

Cade scoffs. “I hate to break this to you, but you know a lot more about me than most of my friends. Everyone thinks my family is perfect because they like to put up that front. Unfortunately, they showed their true colors yesterday at breakfast, so you know I was raised in a shitstorm.”

“Mine is just as dysfunctional. I have no clue where my mother is. I know she didn’t go in to work today. She wasn’t around last night either. I would think after not seeing her daughter for a good month she would want to welcome me home.”

“My dad spends a lot of time out of the house,” Cade says.

“Sounds like my mother.”

Cade gives me a curious look.

It feels almost too intimate. I’m not the type of person who talks about her familial problems. My mother taught me not to air our dirty laundry. “We should eat,” I tell Cade. “You’ll need your strength.”

“For what?” he asks.

“For your tour of the farm,” I tell him.

“This smells amazing,” he says and he breaks off some baguette. He fills his plate with eggs and turkey bacon. “You’re spoiling me, Annie.” He gives me a warm smile that makes my stomach flip. Something tells me Cade and I are not very different. I put up with Ford for too long, knowing he was a douchebag. He put up with Scarlett, maybe wishing she would change.

The room falls silent as we enjoy breakfast.

“I like preparing food. It calms me.”

Mom comes sauntering into the kitchen wearing a long, peach silk robe. It has lace down the front and her long red hair runs down her back.

“Morning, kids. When did you get in?” she asks.

“Last night,” I reply. She walks over to the table and rips a piece of baguette for herself. She starts to eat it before making herself coffee.

I had put orange juice on the table. “I’m sorry, I should’ve offered you coffee. I don’t always drink coffee in the morning, which I know is weird, but I forget people need it to function,” I say to Cade.

“That’s my daughter, forgetful like her father,” Mom chimes in and she eats more bread as she leans against the counter.

“I don’t always drink coffee in the morning.” Cade winks. “I don’t like the idea of needing a substance to keep me going.”

I think he’s totally lying to Mom, which is the sweetest thing because he’s come to my defense once again. I remember back to the breakfast with his parents. They all ordered café au laits. I’ll need to thank him later for having my back.

He smiles at me.

I smile at him, noticing an odd feeling in my chest.

“Annie, why is your hair in that awful bun. Go brush it out. It doesn’t suit you,” Mom chides.Here we go, it’s let’s put Annie down hour.The fact I have a friend here doesn’t stop her.

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