She picked up the phone and turned it on. “I don’t know how yousurvive being so technologically challenged.” Kari’s fingers flew across the screen before she set it back down. “Done. He’s blocked, from that number, anyway.”
My eyes fell back to the box. “Do we have a lighter or matches or something?”
A slow smile slid across Kari’s face. “We do, indeed.” Kari pulled open a drawer and rustled around until she pulled out a box of matches.
“I’m thinking it would be a great night for a fire on the patio.” I picked up the box and faced Kari, returning the smug grin she was flashing at me. “Would you care to join me? I have the kindling if you would so kindly bring the matches.”
THIRTY-ONE
Jada
“Rise and shine.”
I tugged the blankets over my head, trying to pretend Cane wasn’t standing at the foot of the bed. If there was one thing I disliked about him, it was his chipper attitude in the mornings.
“Jada,” he said sweetly, “it’s almost noon and I told Max we’d meet him and your sister for lunch.”
“Why did you do that?” I mumbled, snuggling farther into my bed. Suddenly, the covers were ripped over my body. “Cane!”
“Don’t hoot with the hoot owls at night if you can’t soar with the eagles in the morning.”
I huffed. “That is so not funny. It’s Saturday.”
Cane smirked. “You’re so fucking cute. But you need to get up.”
“You’re such a pain.” I rolled onto my side and looked up at him. He was dressed in a pair of jeans and a gray polo shirt, the collar popped up and looking downright edible. It was as if he had been awake for hours as he stood over me.
“That’s been said before. You’re so unoriginal.” He smiled cockily and smacked me on the butt.
I rolled over onto my back again and looked at the ceiling. “How long have you even been awake?”
“I had to work this morning, so I rolled out of here around five.” He sat on the edge of the bed and turned toward me. “And as much as I would like to lie back down with you, I told Max we would be at lunch.” He bent down and kissed me on the forehead. “You still smell like smoke.”
“I can still smell it on me.” I dragged myself off the bed. “I guess I need to get another shower before we go.”
“What was the impromptu fire about last night?”
I could see the suspicion in his eyes. I shrugged as I walked my way toward the door. “We just wanted a fire. I had some things from my life before that I didn’t want around, so I burned them.”
“Okay,” he said, lying back on my bed.
I heard the bed squeak, and I flew around, hands on my hips. “Hey. You can’t lie down if I can’t.”
He put his hands behind his head and smiled, looking ridiculously gorgeous. “I typically do what I want, you know?”
I shook my head. “Can you make me some coffee while I get ready?” I said, jutting out my bottom lip.
“If it will make you a little happier today, sure,” he said, sitting up. “But get your ass moving, woman.”
I trudged to the bathroom and showered quickly, using the body wash with the strongest scent to mask the smoke smell that wouldn’t leave. I hated that Cane was suspicious about the fire, but I knew he would overreact. Decker was a loudmouth and an asshole, but he wasn’t a threat to Cane in any way, shape, or form. So the less he knew, the better. I had endured enough drama to last me a lifetime.
I toweled off quickly and threw on a coral sundress and a turquoise bracelet that had been my mother’s. I twisted my hair into a knot and slipped on a pair of flip-flops before joining Cane in the kitchen.
“I smell coffee,” I said, perking up at the aroma of beans. He was sitting at the table with two mugs of energy, reading the Saturdaymorning paper. Seeing him so relaxed while doing something so normal made my entire body flood with warmth.
“That you do,” he said, nodding at my cup. “I sent Max a text and told him we’d be leaving in a few minutes, so drink up, and then we’ll go.”
I sat down and lifted the cup to my lips, and breathed in the heavenly aroma. “Thank you,” I said, smiling at him as he got up and put his cup in the sink. He turned to say something when the doorbell rang. He looked at me curiously, and I shrugged. “I have no idea.”
