Cade caught my waist before I could wobble, his palm firm and hot through my tank.
“Easy.”
“Do not say easy to me right now.”
His smile brushed the side of my hair as he leaned close enough that his breath touched my ear. “We gotta go, Pip.”
I narrowed my eyes. “I know.”
“Then put your libido away.”
My mouth fell open. “Excuse me?”
His grin cut deep enough for dimples. “You heard me.”
“You started this.”
“And I’ll finish it later if you behave.”
I grabbed my bag from the kitchen, shoved the project notebook inside, and tried to smooth my hair in the microwave reflection while he stood behind me looking entirely too satisfied with himself.
“This changes nothing,” I said.
Cade’s eyes met mine in the reflection.
“Sure, Pip.”
I turned and pointed at him. “I mean it.”
“I know you do.”
“Physical. Benefits. No feelings.”
“Got it.”
“You’re still doing it though.”
His mouth tilted slowly. “It’s natural with us. Can’t be stopped.”
My pulse jumped.
He stepped closer, stealing one last quick kiss from my mouth before I could argue, hard enough to shut me up and short enough to leave me furious when he pulled away.
“Come on,” he said, reaching around me to grab the potatoes from the counter. “Before I make us late on purpose.”
I stood there for one second, staring after him while my heart tried to beat its way out of my chest.
Then I followed him out, telling myself this was fine.
And Cade, carrying potatoes to his Range Rover like he hadn’t just put me into a full identity crisis, looked calm enough to let me believe it.
Almost.
14
Cade
Pip sat relaxed in the passenger seat beside me with one leg folded slightly beneath her while sunlight poured through the windshield across her bare thighs, bare enough that I had to keep reminding myself I was driving a vehicle and not actively trying to ruin both our lives before noon. Every few minutes,she reached over and stole sips from my iced coffee instead of drinking her own like some tiny criminal with absolutely no boundaries.
