Page 157 of The Single Dads Club
He glanced at the clock on his dash. “If we make it quick, it should be fine.”
A few minutes later, I pointed out the green sign of the coffee chain coming up at the next exit.
Peter pulled off the highway and into the parking lot, navigating to the drive-thru lane, which was backed up by a traffic jam of coffee seekers.
I counted the cars ahead of us. Seven. “Shoot.”
Peter slid the gearshift into park and let out a sigh.
I slipped off my seatbelt. “I’ll just run inside. It’ll be faster.”
“Alexa, we’re already in line.” He glanced in the rearview mirror. “And now I’m blocked in.”
“Don’t worry, it’ll be like a race. You wait here and I’ll go inside.”
“A race, huh?” He grinned.
I nodded, and hopped out of the car. “Yes. And I’ll win. Be right back.”
Once inside, I noticed there were only two people ahead of me at the counter. Piece of cake. I contemplated my order, remembering that Peter liked hot chocolate with whipped cream, when the sound of rich, male laughter met my ears from across the room. There was something strikingly familiar about it and panic rose in my stomach. I reluctantly turned and spotted Cade seated at a small round table across from a woman.
I wished I could hide, that the floor would open and swallow me whole, but of course that didn’t happen. He hadn’t yet noticed me. There was still a chance I could get away without being seen, but I couldn’t resist one more glance.
Cade was exactly as I remembered, all hard muscle and masculine features, the shadow of dark stubble dusting his square jaw. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table, listening intently to the woman. I could only see her profile, but she looked familiar and my mind worked hard to try and place her. Was she one of the babysitters he used? Something about the auburn hair hanging down her back had my mind working overtime. It didn’t matter. I needed to get out of here.
I took a step back and knocked right into a tower of reindeer mugs, rattling the displayand sending a few mugs crashing to the floor.
Cade chose that exact moment to look up. His eyes settled on mine and a line creased his brow. “Alexa?” He was on his feet and heading toward me before I could even contemplate escaping. “What are you doing here?”
“Cade,” I mumbled incoherently, meeting his concerned gaze.
He pressed a palm to my cheek. “Are you okay? You look a little flushed.”
My eyes darted back across the room to the redhead at his table. She had turned to watch us, and seeing her full on, I instantly recognized her. My knees trembled and a wave of nausea crashed through me. Cade was on a date with the girl from his first film shoot. Desiree I think. I reminded myself to breathe, but little good it did me. My head was swimming with this discovery. Was she the reason he chose his work over me? How long had they been seeing each other outside of work?
Cade glanced back at the woman, and bit out a clipped apology. “Sorry. Let me introduce you to Sara.” He motioned her over.
Sara?I supposed Desiree was her stage name.
When she rose from the table, her hand moved to cradle her swollen round belly and realization struck. She was several months pregnant. My legs went out from under me.
When I came to, I was lying on the floor. Cade was holding my head in his lap, sweeping his fingers across my forehead. My hazy eyes met his concerned ones.
“Cupcake?” he asked.
I moved to sit up, but his large hands on my shoulders held me in place. “Stay put. You took quite a spill. You hit your head on the floor before I could catch you.” He rubbed the back of my head, massaging the swollen lump beneath my hair.
“Ouch.” I winced at the contact.
“That’s what I thought.”
When I remembered what had sent me crashing to the floor in the first place—seeing Sara’s pregnant belly—a sob broke free from the back of my throat and I struggled to free myself from Cade’s grasp. I didn’t want him holding me, trying to comfort me right now. Not to mention, I could see that I was causing quite the commotion in the coffee shop, sprawled out across the floor the way I was. Cade waved away a barista who was headed in our direction, her expression one of concern. “I’ve got her. Grab some ice, okay?”
“Cade, let me up.”
He opened his mouth to argue, but the determination in my eyes had to have convinced him. He helped me up from the floor and sat me down in a leather chair in front of the fireplace. I wiped fresh tears from both cheeks, but the effort was futile. The tears refused to stop.
Sara was hovering by his side, and I heard Cade ask her to go get some tissues for me. She scurried off for the restrooms.
