Page 25 of Gorgeous

I turn around to see a smiling Hayes licking his lips while his eyes make a slow trail down the length of my legs. “I call dibs,” he taunts at Cade with a playful bounce on his heels.

“Get down from there,” Cade barks at me way too loud for this hour in the morning. Mason appears behind them, wearing a knowing smile.

Embarrassed and feeling like I’m the kid caught sneaking candy before dinner, I push away from the cabinets and carefully inch back to my stool to get down. Now is not the time to argue with Major Pain in the Ass. I’ll just get my two Tylenol from the floor and swallow them down like a lady and make these assholes some breakfast. Cade can kiss my ass with his—fuck! My socks slip on the granite and I nearly take a swan dive off the counter, but I’m a ninja and totally save myself by grabbing the cabinet knobs.

“Dammit!”

I feel him before I see him. Cade swipes me from the countertop and sets me on the floor like I weigh nothing. If it had been in a different setting, I would have felt like a princess being swept off her feet. But alas, it’s just me in a kitchen full of Marines, one who wants me gone, and the only thing that will serve as a memory is the sweat of being in his arms for just a second, lingering on my skin. If I admit that I sniffed him, will you judge me? It’s been a long time. Give me this one moment.

Almost in a trance from the sweet smell of his deodorant, I mutter, “You’re sweaty.”

Cade scoffs and pushes away from me. “Go put some fucking clothes on! It’s not appropriate for you to be in socks and a fucking t-shirt. Men live here!”

I almost laugh in his face and call him on his bullshit. Anniston has never come to the market in a conservative outfit. It may look like I don’t have shorts on under this USMC t-shirt, but I do. So he can take his nun-like attitude and save it for someone who gives a rat’s ass. But I’m a professional, so I take a step forward, cross my legs, and curtsy right in front of him. “Yes, sir,” I say.

The kitchen goes silent until Hayes lets out a snort and doubles over in laughter. A grin tugs at my lips but I keep it contained out of self-preservation. Cade, a face red with fury, is not laughing. Maybe taunting him after a rough night was a bad idea.

“Go. Put. Some. Fucking. Clothes. On.” Each word is gritted out through clenched teeth, and it has the intended effect. Humiliation crawls across my face and I push through Mason and Hayes without letting a single tear fall. I make it all the way to the guest room before the first of many wet splatters hit my shirt.

Fuck him.

How dare he embarrass me like that in front of the guys. I’m dressed. I have on shorts for fuck’s sake!

I ripoff my clothing anddecide to chill out under the spray of the comforting shower. I’m angry, and yes, my feelings are hurt. Part of me wants to go back to the orchard and call Anniston and tell her I’m sorry. I can’t do this. Cade is not who I thought he would be, and I think that’s what bothers me the most. Bennett got to see a different side of him, and it makes me wonder if it’s just me or if this is who he really is now.

Out of the shower, wrapped only in a towel, I flop down onto the bed, my tears finally gone. I’m going home. I’m going to go downstairs and make them breakfast, and then I’m calling Sue. I didn’t sign up for this sort of treatment. I bring up my email, settled in my decision about leaving, and type in Anniston’s email address. Before I talk myself out of it, I type out my resignation.

Anniston,

As much as I hate to do this after only twenty-four hours, I feel like it’s in the best interest of all parties involved for me to resign from giving the guys any further cooking lessons. They seem to do well on their own, and at this point you would waste money by having me here. I appreciate the opportunity and hope you’ll keep us in mind for any future needs you may have.

Sincerely,

Brecklyn

I hit send, and within a couple of minutes, I get a text back from Anniston.What did he do?The fact that she knows it was Cade causing trouble makes me feel better. For some reason, I thought she may think it was me causing a scene here.

I try to type out a professional and objective response.He’s being a dick.A BIG one.So much for being professional.

Anniston sends a string of laughing emojis and then,He can be. Don’t quit yet. Give him another day to come around. If you still feel like leaving after that, I won’t stand in your way.

Ugh. Why does she have to make me feel bad about it?Okay. Any advice to help me deal with him?

Her response is quick and to the point.Push back.

Hmm. I can do that.

I send her a text back thanking her for the advice then pull out my bag and rifle through the clothes Jess packed for me.

Game on, Major Dick.

Vic and Mason are waiting at the breakfast table by the time I make it back to the kitchen. Showered and changed, I breeze past them and toss them a smile that says what happened earlier means nothing. Clumsy or not, I am not letting Cade’s attitude dampen my morning teaching the two men—who are watching me rather curiously—how to make pancakes.

“Gentleman.”

Mason grins first. “Breck,” he drawls, dragging his finger across the bow of his lips, his eyes dancing with playfulness. At the sink, I wash my hands and say over my shoulder, “I thought we could make pancakes this morning.”

Someone chokes but I don’t look back to see who it is because Mason answers, “Sounds good.”

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