Page 60 of Sweet Girl
Cade’s voice interrupts us as he rounds the corner of the kitchen. We both gasp, as I feel the immediate absence of his hand and his body when he jumps back about five feet, making the distance between us appear more appropriate.
Thankfully, Cade seems somewhat oblivious, as he swings his head over his shoulder to ask Ainsley a question.
“Babe, what can I get you and Mica? Whatcha drinking tonight?”
He takes a step into the kitchen, turns his head to both of us, and welcomes Van with a huge-ass smile that only Cade can give.
“Bro, you made it!” He slaps one hand on Van’s bicep and the other he uses to do some complicated bro-handshake. Silly boys.
“Yo, Cade. What’s up? Thanks for the invite.”
Cade leans down into the fridge and rummages through the many bottles lining the shelves. “No problem, man. Good to have you here. I wasn’t sure if you’d be able to make it tonight or if you’d be back home in Tucson with your family.”
He grabs two Mike’s Hard Lemonades from the fridge and closes it behind him, turning his attention back to us. I’ve begun nervously rearranging the cheese platters, hoping to remain inconspicuous and avoid Cade’s scrutiny. My breathing is still erratic, sounding choppy and practically asthmatic. I’m not sure I could even form a sentence right now from the adrenaline rushing through my veins over the fear of getting caught.
“Van, will you tell my little sis not to stress out about the food and just come have a good time with us?” He bumps my butt with his hip as he passes by. “Kylah needs to loosen up a bit and learn to have some fun. Hey, speaking of fun, did you invite that guy you like?”
Van sounds like he’s just choked on the beer he’d just taken a sip of and I have to white knuckle the edge of the counter to keep myself from collapsing to the floor.
If only my brother knew that he was the one who invited that “guy I like”. And lookie, lookie! Said guy is standing right here, waiting for you to leave so he can maul me with wet, hot kisses.
My hands shake as I wipe them with a dishtowel, trying to dry the perspiration that’s gathered on my palms. I keep my eyes plastered to the counter so I don’t have to look my brother in the eyes.
“Oh, uh no. He had something else going on tonight. Maybe some other time.”
Cade seems to accept that answer but then adds. “Well good. Van here can keep you company tonight. Maybe he can be your partner in a game of shuffleboard or something.”
He then laughs, waving the hand that’s holding a bottle at me. “Never mind that. She sucks at it. But if you partner up with her in a game of Trivia Pursuit, you’re bound to emerge the champions.”
Oh, brother. Literally. As if this isn’t embarrassing enough, he has to make wise cracks at my expense. Cade gives us both a casual wink as he heads out toward his girlfriend, drinks in hand. Just as he hits the carpeted room, he glances over his shoulder and says to Van, “Keep a watch on her, though, bro. Don’t let her have too many of those Jell-O shots she made. She’s not much of a drinker and doesn’t realize that they go down easy, but come back the hard way.”
Van tips his head as my brother rejoins his girlfriend, as we simultaneously release a sigh of release.
I wipe away the remaining sweat and tip my head up to Van. “Okey dokey, then. That was a close call.”
Van chuckles, stepping into me once more, presumably to set down his beer on the counter in front of me. Anyone else looking from the other side would see that he appears to be browsing the selection of meats and cheeses over my shoulder, but I know the truth. His hand is once again making a beeline to the hem of my dress, inching it up so he can touch my bare skin on my leg. I shiver in response.
“Cade or not, I don’t think I can make it to midnight to get my mouth on you tonight, Ky. Can we go somewhere? I need to kiss you so bad right now. I don’t think I can wait.”
I maneuver my body around so my lower back hits the edge of the counter. We’re so close I can feel the hairs on his legs brush softly against mine. My body lights up at the contact.
“Third door on the left at the top of the stairs. Give me five minutes.”
I feel like a sexy Nancy Drew with my covert Ops suggestion. The excitement rips through me in waves.
It appears that I’m going to be ringing in the New Year with a whole different kind of fireworks.
