Page 53 of Suddenly Yours

We sat on stools in the kitchen with our knees bumping under the table. We’d had loads of dinners like this, but this one seemed different. More intimate somehow.

“So,” he said, “how was your day?”

I swallowed the bite of sandwich and leaned my elbows on the table. “My dad showed up.”

His eyebrows rose. “Wow.”

“He wants me to talk to my mother,” I said. “To convince her to change the divorce settlement so that he gets more money for his half of the business.”

Cade scoffed. “Of course he does.”

“And then,” I added, because there was no point softening it, “he brought up Levi.”

Cade went very still. Not angry just… controlled. That was somehow worse.

“What did he say?” he asked as he set his drink down.

“That it would be smart of me to get back together with him,” I said flatly. “That Levi comes from money. That the bakery is a phase I’m going through. You know, the standard stuff.” I laughed then, a sharp little sound that didn’t hold any humor. “Apparently I should stop playing baker and start playing wife to a cheater because it’s smart and I could have wealth and power at my fingertips.”

Cade reached for my hand without thinking, his thumb brushing over my knuckles. “Are you okay?”

“I was,” I said honestly. “Until he reminded me that some people only see me as leverage.”

Silence settled between us, thick but not uncomfortable. Then he sighed.

“If it makes you feel any better,” he said, “Levi showed up at one of my job sites.”

My head snapped up. “What?”

“He didn’t punch me, and, miraculously, I didn’t punch him,” Cade added quickly. “He just ran his mouth about your family, about how your parents wouldn’t want you with someone like me. Then he threatened me legally. You know… the standard stuff,” he joked.

My chest tightened. “I’m so sorry.”

He shrugged, but his grip on my hand tightened. “I’m not. He confirmed exactly who he still is.”

I stared down at our joined fingers, at the faint dusting of flour still on my skin and the calluses on his. “Cade… are we making a mistake?”

He didn’t answer right away, and I forced myself to look at him.

“Us?” he asked gently.

I shook my head quickly. “No. I don’t regret us. I mean… not going public. Telling people. Our families.” My voice dropped. “I didn’t want to give anyone ammunition, but…”

He leaned back slightly, studying me, not defensive, not pushing. Just listening.

“If you don’t want to, then we don’t rush it,” he said simply. “This doesn’t have to be a performance for anyone else.”

“They’re going to find out anyway.”

“They probably will,” he agreed with a faint smile. “We do live in a small town, and your brother and sister-in-law are bound to know by now. Not that Max would spill the beans, but it should happen on your timeline. Not anyone else’s.”

“And you’re okay with that?” I asked. “With… whatever this is, staying ours for now?”

He squeezed my hand, his gaze steady. “I’m okay with exploring what we have, quietly or loudly, as long as you are.”

Something in my chest loosened, like a knot finally giving way.

“I am,” I said. “For now, I’m good with just this.”