This is fine. I can hold it until they get back.
But my resolve shatters when I walk into my bedroom and see the black envelope on my bed. My name is scrawled across it in looped silver handwriting.
I collapse onto the bed in a heap, staring at it in horror.
Maybe they’ve given up on me. Maybethey’veleft.
No. Don’t be stupid. They wouldn’t leave their home.
My shaking fingers slide under the seal with trepidation. My shoulders hunch up as I pull out a note.
Meet me at Wrens.
Nate’s name is swirled underneath, clearly his elaborate writing.
I flip it over, and something settles inside my chest.
Stop worrying, and hurry up.
Okay. So, they’re not leaving me. But I’m intrigued enough to dig out the phone Cade handed me, filled with their numbers, that I hid in the bottom of my dressing table drawer in protest at them buying me such an expensive gift.
After a few minutes, I manage to work out where the messaging system is, and my fingers awkwardly jab out a message.
What are we doing?
Nate’s reply comes a second later.
Get that beautiful ass over to the bakery, kitten.
I stifle a laugh. So he’s clearly not going to give me any more information.
When I head back downstairs to call a cab, I stop short when I push the doors open. Cade is leaning against a long black car, his hair immaculate and dressed in a smart and sexy as hell dark blue suit. His eyes move to mine, an approving look in them.
“So you received our message?” he asks, opening the car door and gesturing me in.
“I… did.” Climbing in, I smooth down the ends of my dress as he slides into the seat next to me. “This is all very mysterious, Cade. Do I need to be worried?”
I’m going for teasing, but the high-pitched tone at the end of my words gives me away. Cade picks up my hand and kisses my palm, folding my fingers over it.
“Nothing to worry about, Gabrielle. I swear it.”
I chew my lip, but I let it go as we merge into the traffic. “So, you’re taking me to the bakery?”
“I am.”
“What are we doing there?”
“You don’t like surprises, do you?” He grins, taking his face from devastating to boyishly adorable. “We won’t keep you in suspense for much longer.”
My feet tap out a nervous rhythm against the floor, and Cade squeezes my hand, holding it tightly against his leg as he drives. The contact settles me until he pulls into a space outside the bakery where Nate bought me my first cupcake.
“Go on.” Cade nods towards the doors. “I’ll see you later.”
“Wait – you’re not coming inside?” He shakes his head. “I have something to do. But you’ll see me soon.”
Well, that wasn’t all mysterious at all. And also just a little bit sexy, the edge of a purr in his words.
I scramble out of the car, and Cade points to the bakery door, his eyes watching me until I actually pull it open before he pulls off.
