“Get your mind out of the gutter,” he teases with a big smile. “I don’t sleep with my gal friends.”
“Right,” I reply, heavy on the sarcasm.
“I don’t.”
My mind spins a little. He doesn’t sleep with his friends? Just random women? From what I hear about him, he never falls short on finding company to warm his bed, not that it matters to me. I’m not looking for that, right?
But then Allison’s suggestion comes back to me.
I’m not looking for serious right now, but maybe a little fun would do my wounded ego and pride some good, you know?
“So…you don’t want to sleep with me?” I find myself asking, even though I should probably keep it to myself.
He turns to face me, leveling me with an intense look. “More than I want my next breath.”
“But you just said you don’t sleep with gal friends.”
“I don’t.”
I rub the side of my head. “You’re a little hard to follow sometimes.”
He flashes an award-winning grin. “Actually, I’m not. If you wanted to have sex right now, I’d take you back to my place and give you more orgasms than you could count. I’m not being cocky, beautiful. That’s a promise, and I always fulfil my promises. But something tells me you’re not ready for that, considering you just got out of a serious relationship, so until then, I’ll be your friend. Your very hot man friend, who wants to strip you naked and do wicked things to you with his tongue.” He winks, and I feel my cheeks heat up and my nipples pebble against my bra. “In fact, I’ve already done it three times in my mind.”
Warmth rushes through my veins and floods my core, causing me to wiggle a little in my seat. I’ve never…throbbed like this. I was with Lance for six years, and it never felt like this. This heavy sexual tension that’s practically a living, breathing entity between us. Just more proof than we weren’t right for each other. I was always second best, my needs lagging behind whatever his were.
The thought of being at the top of Cade’s list is thrilling.
“Any more questions?”
“Umm, I don’t think so.”
“Well, if you come up with more, just ask. I’m an open book, Oaklee. I’ll never beat around the bush or lie. You want to know something, ask me.” He puts the truck in reverse. “Oh, and when you’re ready for those orgasms, all you have to do is ask.”
The air in the truck cab is stifling, even with the air-conditioning on high. Maybe that’s just the Cade effect. He makes me hot and bothered at the most inappropriate times.
As he pulls from the parking spot and drives toward the entrance of the lot, he asks, “What do you say, beautiful? Wanna go see one of my favorite spots?”
“Yes,” I reply instantly, realizing I really do want to see it. Wherever it is will give me a little more insight into the man sitting beside me.
He turns left onto the main artery through town and drives past the businesses I’ve come to know and patronize since I arrived in town. I pay attention to the route he takes, still learning the streets and areas of Cooper Town. We pass through a residential neighborhood and the grade school and eventually reach a wooded area on the edge of town. We turn off the road and follow the winding path that’s big enough for two vehicles to pass safely. There’s also walking trails and pavilion shelters of different sizes.
“This is the Cooper Town Park,” he says.
I take in the large space, everything from the women walking to the kids fishing in the pond. There’s a large pool with a splash pad that’s unoccupied off to the left, as well as a pickleball court, and a variety of playground equipment sprinkled throughout.
We drive down the lane and turn off in to the smaller of the two parking areas. Following his lead, I unfasten my seat belt and climb from the truck. When we meet at the back of his truck, I ask, “This is one of your favorite places?”
He nods, offering a faint grin.
“Because it’s a great place to pick up hot moms on the walking trails?” I tease, loving how his head falls back as he laughs.
“What? No,” he replies, shaking his head. “While I know pretty much everyone who walks the trails, I don’t come here to pick them up. Half the women are married, taught me in school, or work with my family. Not exactly prime pickings for companionship, if you know what I mean.” He takes a deep breath and looks out at the landscape. “This is one of the places I come to decompress at the end of a long day.”
I scan the same view he’s taking in, and feel the tranquility and simplicity wash over me. The trees are starting to turn, golden leaves mixed with an abundance of greenery, and the birds are singing a spirited melody as the sun drops for the evening. There’s no one around, as most people are gathered near the playground equipment or walking trail. Back here, it’s out of the way, almost private, and I like it.
“Come on,” he says, extending his hand toward me.
I take it without thinking and let him lead me toward the trees. “Should I send a text to a friend, telling her where I am?” I joke, noticing we’re veering off the trail.
