“Um, yeah. I think so,” I said, digging through my bag until I located it. Heather’s name was on the screen. “I’ll take this inside.” I stood, and Cane stood, too. He grabbed some empty beer bottles and joined me in the kitchen.
“Hello?” I grabbed a seat on the couch. Cane tossed the bottles into the trash and threw some silverware into the dishwasher.
“Hey, Jada,” Heather said cheerfully.
“Hey. How are you?”
“Fabulous. I’ve been with Brian at rehearsals today. So fun.” I could imagine her smile through the phone, and it made me grin.
“You really like him, huh?”
“I do. I didn’t think I would when I agreed to dinner, to tell you the truth,” she said. “But he’s really fun and a total hottie. Much smarterthan I thought he would be. Go figure that. Anyway, what’s going on with you?”
“Not much,” I said, watching the muscles in Cane’s back flex as he wiped off the counter. My mouth watered. “Um, can I call you back later, though? I’m at Cane’s having dinner.”
“Cane?” Heather asked curiously. “Who’s Cane?”
“Well, he’s …” I shuffled my eyes to him. He had turned around and was leaning back against the counter watching me. I turned away, blushing. “I don’t know who he is exactly,” I said warily. This was not a question I wanted to answer in front of him.
“Hmm. Sounds like there’s a story there.”
“Kinda. Kari’s here, too, so we’re both hanging out.”
“I see. I’m assuming he’s right there, and you don’t want to talk about it, so I’ll call you later, and you can give me the dirty. I was actually calling for a legit reason. Do I have your most updated résumé?”
“Yeah, I sent you the most current résumé I have. Why? Is something wrong with it?” I scanned through my memory, confident I had sent her my latest version.
“No, it’s fine. Human resources just asked me today. I don’t know if they have an opening or what, but they’ve apparently been looking at it.”
“Okay, well, let me know if you need anything else,” I said, feeling Cane’s eyes on me.
“I will. I’ll let you go spend time with Cane. Don’t forget to call me and tell me all about the good stuff. Love ya, Jada.”
“Love you, lady. Bye.” I disconnected the call. I turned around, and Cane was still leaning there, watching me curiously, a slight look of irritation on his gorgeous face.
“A couple of things …” he said, moving over to the counter. He poured himself a shot. “First, are you looking for a new job?” He slammed the shot and made a face as the liquor burned down his throat.
“No, not really.” I watched him carefully. He totally didn’t believe me. “My friend Heather lives in Chicago. When I got divorced, she wanted me to move there. I probably would have, but I didn’t have ajob or anything, so I came here instead. She has been submitting my résumé around.” I shrugged, feeling annoyed all of a sudden. “Someone asked if it had been updated, I guess.”
“Chicago?” he asked, eyebrows raised, voice cool. “You still thinking about going?”
I tucked a piece of hair behind my ear nervously. “No, not really. I haven’t thought about it in a while.”
“So there’s a chance you aren’t going to stay here?” His voice was tight.
I thought for a minute and then turned, looking him in the eye. “Do you want me to stay?”
He shook his head, amused. “I always want you to stay.”
I couldn’t wipe the silly grin off my face. “All right. Then I’ll stay.”
I expected Cane to react, but he didn’t. He just watched me closely.
“Don’t you think you should tell her that?” he asked finally.
I looked up at him as he strummed his fingertips against the marble, waiting to see what I was going to do. “Yeah, I probably should.”
Neither of us moved for a second, both feeling the other out. He was adorable, and I was having fun watching him sweat.
