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He chuckled at the memory of their first meeting. Parker had been convinced that Cadence was a spoiled brat raised with a silver spoon in her mouth. Parker had been out to dinner with friends at a local restaurant situated by the marina. When Cadence walked in to the outside dining area with a group of women, she’d caused heads to turn due to her stunning good looks. With
her designer clothes and the way she’d strutted in like a model on a catwalk, a buzz accompanied her entrance. Parker had watched from across the terrace as several men approached her at her table. Each one was rejected. He couldn’t help but think she was one of those women who liked to give men the brush off.
As they left that evening, Parker had received a wake-up call when he’d spotted Cadence picking up a to-go meal and then handing it over to a homeless man on the corner. He had watched her from the street as she engaged the man in a conversation, then handed the food over. He’d felt ashamed of himself for making such a snap judgement about the woman. It hadn’t been fair or righteous of him. Because of her beauty, the attention she’d received and her attire, he’d summed her up unfairly. On impulse, he’d walked over and introduced himself. He’d invited her to go for coffee with him at his family’s diner—the Silver Spoon—and she’d surprisingly agreed. The rest was history.
Although Cadence was the daughter of a wealthy businessman, Garrett Johnson, her father had fallen on hard times, which led Cadence to strike out on her own to support herself. She had been working full-time as a receptionist in a realty office and working hard to make ends meet.
When the doorbell rang some twenty minutes later, heralding Cadence’s arrival, Parker felt a loud thumping in the region of his heart. He took a deep breath as he walked toward the front door and pulled it open. He exhaled as soon as he laid eyes on his lady. She was dressed in a royal blue dress that fit her like a dream. Her hair hung invitingly around her shoulders. Parker had to stop himself from staring. Cadence always pulled him in like a magnet. He imagined she always would.
“Come on in, Cadence.” Parker invited her in, pulling her in for a kiss as she walked inside. The smell of her rose to his nostrils—a light sandalwood scent. It was her signature perfume—heady and intoxicating. For a second she felt stiff in his arms. He stared down at her, trying to figure out if she’d had a bad day at work. Her face looked tense. There were slight shadows resting under her eyes.
“Everything all right?” he asked, closing the door behind her.
“Fine. Just a little tired. It’s been a long week,” Cadence explained, resting her purse on his hall table.
“Well, it’s time to relax. I hope you’re hungry. I’ve got quite a meal set up for us,” Parker said, taking her by the hand and leading her toward the dining room.
The corners of Cadence’s mouth twitched. She whipped her head around as if looking for something. “Where is he hiding? Caleb. You can come out now,” she said in a teasing voice.
“Okay. I had a little help from Caleb,” he admitted in sheepish voice.
“I thought so,” Cadence said, looking at the flowers sitting on the table. “Parker, everything is so beautiful. You shouldn’t have gone to all this trouble.” Her expression turned somber. “I’m not sure I deserve it,” she murmured.
He moved closer toward her, reaching out and grazing his fingers across her cheek. “Of course you do. Why would you say something like that?”
For a moment Parker saw a look on her face that worried him. She looked petrified.
She shrugged. “I don’t know, Parker. You’re so good to me.”
“Because I love you,” he said, looking deeply into her eyes.
Cadence looked at him with a shuttered expression. Once again, he had the feeling of something being off. Normally she would tell him she loved him too. Parker shook off the unsettled feeling. He was merely experience jitters about proposing to the woman who owned his heart. The diamond ring was burning a hole in his jacket pocket.
“Why don’t we sit down to eat before the meal gets cold,” he said. He let out a chuckle. “I would hate to waste Caleb’s culinary skills.”
Cadence nodded. Parker pulled her chair out for her, and after she sat down, pushed her closer to the table. They ate in virtual silence. Every time Parker tried to open up a conversation, Cadence failed to engage.
“Did you enjoy dinner?” Parker asked, once they were finished eating.
“It was fantastic,” she said, looking away from him and down at her plate. For some reason she seemed to be avoiding eye contact with him. Parker frowned. He was so nervous about the proposal, so perhaps he was imagining things. Everything seemed so off between them. Had he done something wrong?
He reached his hand across the table. “Cadence, what’s going on? You’ve been quiet all through dinner. Is it your father? Did something happen?”
She shook her head. Her blonde hair tumbled around her shoulders. “N-no, Parker. It’s not daddy.”
“Then what is it? Talk to me, baby. You know you can tell me anything.”
Cadence began to fiddle with her fingers. She bowed her head. “I think we should stop seeing each other.”
Parker froze. “W-what are you talking about?”
“I’m sorry. It’s just not working out for me.”
“Since when?” he asked, floored by the words coming out of her mouth.
“For a while now. I haven’t been happy. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
He leaned toward her. “Cadence, we love each other. This doesn’t make any sense.”
