Page 78 of Love in Overdrive

Chapter 26

As the night progressed, a little of the stiffness in Laney’s shoulders fled. She could pinpoint the exact moment she let the rest of it go. It was when Cade took her in his arms for a dance. The committee volunteers were about to announce the winners of the silent auctions and door prizes. Laney was emotionally drained. She needed to leave, before she did something stupid like let Cade kiss her again.

She made the rounds to say goodnight, and her mother stopped her. “You and Cade look so nice together. I will call you tomorrow, sweetie.”

Great. She’d get ready to be pumped for information. It didn’t take a psychologist to see her mother had been digging all evening with the way she questioned Cade on his future. “Okay, Mom. Tomorrow.”

She grabbed her wrap and was halfway across the room when Cade caught up with her. “I’ll walk you out.”

As his hand rested on her lower back, her emotions whirled. Confusion muffled her thoughts. The evening had been good. The dinner was delicious, and she really liked Cade’s parents, but something nagged at her. Yes, her mom would be in full matchmaking mode now that she knew about Cade’s and her friendship. It was obvious neither set of parents believed they were just friends. Not after the way Cade greeted her.

Why didn’t the idea of their parents knowing about their relationship bother Cade? He acted like it was a real relationship.

Ding. Ding. Ding. That was the problem. She didn’t know if he was only playing the part or if he really wanted this thing between them to be real.

No. It wasn’t him, but her. She didn’t know. They never really talked about the future. She’d told herself this was not a serious commitment. But her heart was getting involved and that scared the ever-living crap out of her.

Sawyer was right. Even if she tried her hardest to convince herself that she was self-reliant and didn’t need a man or the fairytale, she couldn’t lie to herself much longer. She dreamed of that life with Cade every night. And she knew her feelings for him were strong, even stronger than the feelings she’d had for her ex, Pete.

It was all happening so fast.

At her car, Cade turned her into his arms and laid a gentle kiss on her lips. “That went pretty well. I like your parents. Can you believe your dad invited me to go turkey hunting with him?”

“He wants to get you out in the woods and threaten you with a gun. In his eyes, I’m still his little girl. He didn’t miss the way you greeted me or your arm on the back of my chair all evening.”

“He’ll get used to it.” Cade waved off her concern and nuzzled her neck.

Laney pulled back and stared at him. “What do you mean?”

Cade’s forehead wrinkled. “Well, I mean he will get used to seeing us together, being I plan on spending a lot of time with you.”

Laney stepped out of his embrace and turned to unlock her car.

Gently, Cade turned her to face him. “Laney? Talk to me. I thought you liked spending time with me too.”

“I… I do.” She did with everything in her, but the last thing she wanted was to be needy. The tighter she clung to Pete, the more he pulled away. She wouldn’t grill Cade about the future.

He stood watching her, digging for answers without even using words, just his eyes.

A ball of nerves tightened in her belly. She inhaled as much air as her lungs could hold, right to the point of bursting, before it came rushing out.

“It’s just that… I've been trying to be my own woman.” She gnawed on her lip, trying to hold in the rest, but the floodgates were open. “We never talked about what lay ahead for us, and I'm okay with that, really. I don’t want to rely on anyone else for my happiness, and I don’t want to be relied on to make anyone else happy either.”

“But you do make me happy.” He took her arm, and she didn’t move away. “I thought you were happy too.”

“I am, but I didn’t think that we were planning on a long-term relationship.” She studied the ground for a minute, hoping he wouldn’t see the truth in her eyes. On a deep inhale, she looked up into his warm brown gaze. “I was with my ex-husband for half my life. Doing everything for him and being the wife he wanted didn’t work out well the first time, and I’m not sure I want to go through that again.”

Why had she started this conversation? This wasn’t the time or place. All she really wanted to do was go home with Cade, curl up in bed, and block out the outside world. But something in her made the words spill out… probably the months of self-talk, and female empowerment books. Laney worked so hard to build a shell around her heart, but she wasn’t sure if she wanted that anymore. Or if she ever did. It felt like a lie that sat red-hot on her tongue. But she couldn’t take it back.

Cade’s easy-going and happy demeanor was gone, and the rock-solid soldier stood in front of her ready for battle. Hurt flashed in his eyes a second before anger took its place.

“So, what you’re telling me is that you only wanted a fling? Some good old fucking and no commitment, was that it?” His voice dropped to an icy cold tone.

No. It wasn’t, but she couldn’t make herself say the words.

He released her arms and paced away from the car and then back. “So, I’m not good enough to be in your life longer than a few weeks. Well, I guess my time’s up.”

He stalked to his car. A moment later, tires squealed as he sped away.