Page 34 of Gorgeous

His lip twitches.

“I promise, I’ll mind my tongue when I’m in front of the guys.” If I wasn’t staring at him so hard I would have missed the almost smile he nearly lets get away from him. “Major Jameson.”

That gets his attention. He leans back in his chair, his eyes dilated with something I can’t place. “Since you insist on talking and distracting me, why don’t you pull your chair over here and help me so I can take you to the store faster?”

“Help you with what? I know nothing about the military.” A lie. The six-foot-something gorgeous specimen of a man gets up and pulls my chair—with me in it—next to his, leaving tracks in the rug.

“You went to college, right?” I nod cautiously as he turns the laptop to face me. “Help me understand the concept of Macroeconomics.” He tugs at his dark locks and literally collapses on the desk. “I’m trying to obtain my Master’s Degree and I can’t seem to grasp the subtleties of economics,” he mutters, not looking at me at all.

I pick up the computer and place it in my lap. “I don’t know how much I’ll know. I only have a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts, but I can try and help you,” I offer.

Relieved is not the word I would use to describe what Cade looks like as he scoots his chair closer to mine. Fucking ecstatic is how I interpret the smile when he breathes out, “Thank you.”

We take over an hour to figure out the gibberish that is economics, but we get his work completed for the day and now we’re driving into town for the groceries I need. The list I wrote out is clutched in my hand, and I pray the sweat doesn’t make the ink bleed. That’s all I need is to not know what the hell I came to the store for after making such a stink about it.

Cade has yet to speak again other than telling me to put my seatbelt on. The country music he has turned up loud is a clear indicator he doesn’t want me to talk. Whatever. He can sit over there and brood. I’m going to act like his attitude doesn’t bother me even if it’s killing me inside.

Why doesn’t he like me?

Why doesn’t he want to talk or get to know me?

The other guys have no problem cutting up with me, but not Cade. He’s been standoffish since I arrived. I guess it doesn’t matter anyway. Helping him is a moot point since Anniston already has. I don’t even know why I’m still here and not back in New York with Jess.

I’m still broke.

I work for a room in Sue’s house.

I’m not a chef at a five-star restaurant like I had planned.

I’m nothing.

I’m just a girl who thought she was doing the right thing for someone and now her pride won’t allow her to go back home and admit defeat. Or maybe, I kind of like it here. The scenery is hot at least.

“We’re here,” Cade says in a low voice, pulling me from my minor meltdown in the passenger seat of his truck. Unclipping my seatbelt, I thank him for driving and reach for the handle. “Wait,” he says, opening his door first. I look around at the full parking lot and notice nothing out of the ordinary that would require me to wait in the truck. But then Cade comes around to the passenger side and opens my door for me.

Why God?

Why must I be attracted to this man that wants nothing to do with me?

Cade waits patiently as I slide off the seat. I stand in front of him, awaiting further instructions. He doesn’t disappoint. “Walk to the inside of me.” He pulls me to his right side and then lets go of me just as quickly as he grabbed me.

We walk through the parking lot before curiosity gets the better of me. “Why do I have to walk on the inside?”

I look up just in time to see him roll his eyes. He remains mute on the subject and I finally just can’t take it anymore. I draw to a stop and go around him to his left side. Cade looks shocked for a moment but he yanks me across his front, placing me back at his right side. This time, securing me with his hand around my wrist.

Sighing, I let him pull me towards the front of the store, but then he shocks the hell out of me by answering my question. “I don’t want you getting run over by the idiots charging through the parking lot.”

I make a show of looking around for the said speed racers before I ask another question and get another eyeroll. “What if they back over me?”

“They won’t back over you.”

“How do you know?”

Cade pulls to a stop and rakes a frustrated hand through his hair. “I won’t let them back over you. Now, please stop asking me so many questions.”

My heart tripled its beats.

Did Cade Jameson just admit that he would protect me and not let a car back over me?

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