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Ethan squeals when I dig my knuckles into his chest, then screams, “I’m sorry!”
I lean closer to him, meeting his beady eyes and lowering my voice so only he can hear. “If I ever see you again, it’ll be your last day on earth, motherfucker. Get another obsession. This one’s mine.” I push off him and get to my feet, then right the table and chairs.
Cadence clutches her cat to her chest, her big eyes on me.
Ethan gets to his feet, then takes off running.
“He won’t be bothering you again.” I gesture toward her chair. “Here.”
A server walks out with a plate piled high with French toast and strawberries. Her eyebrows rise when she spots me. “I didn’t realize you had company today.” She gives Cadence a conciliatory smile and wink. “What can I get you?” she asks me.
Cadence’s cat wriggles out of her arms and jumps onto the table, then saunters up to me, raises up on her hindlegs and stretches, her claws grazing along the front of my shirt.
“Sassy!” Cadence grabs the cat. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Fontaine.”
“Like I said, call me Vargas. And I don’t mind. She’s a cute cat.”
Cadence stares at me open-mouthed while Sassy tries to extricate herself again, her big green eyes on me.
“I don’t–I don’t know what just happened.” Cadence shakes her head slowly as the server looks back and forth between us. “Do you live nearby or something?”
“Just in the neighborhood. Please.” I gesture to the table. “Enjoy your brunch. I apologize for the intrusion.”
Turning, I head back down the sidewalk in the direction I came. After a few steps, I hear Cadence clear her throat and say exactly what I wanted: “Um, you can stay if you want.”
4
CADENCE
The words are out of my mouth before I can stop them. To be honest, I’m still trying to process what happened in the last few minutes. It all unfolded so quickly.
I’d been afraid when Ethan approached me. I thought I'd spotted him a few times when I left the house, but I wasn’t sure. I blocked his number on my phone and on the dating app. That hadn’t stopped him. He texted me the next day from a new number saying he lost his old phone. I was pretty sure you can replace your phone and keep your number, but maybe I’m wrong.
Before I could get my bearings, Vargas had swept in, reminding me of a knight in shining armor, which is funny. That was not how my father described him at all. I believe the terms he used were ‘ruthless’ and ‘cunning.’
My father would know because he has the same traits. I’m not sure he realized that when he told me about Vargas. Or maybe he thinks I didn’t notice he is both of those things because with me, he’s not. Cunning, sure, but never ruthless. But I know he can be when it comes to business deals.
Vargas turns back around to face me. For a second, I think he’s going to tell me he doesn’t have the time. Would that be a truth or a lie? I’ll get the message either way. I suppose it would tell me all I needed to know. Then maybe I could stop thinking and dreaming about the man. Except when he’s in my dreams, there are no nightmares.
“I would love to.” Truth. He doesn’t take the chair across from me but the one to my right, putting him closer to me.
I can’t help the butterflies that fill my stomach. There is something about this man that makes me feel off-kilter. Not in the bad kinda way either. It’s more of a ‘I want to be closer to him’ sort of way. Which is completely insane considering who he is and the fact that he’s trying to haggle my father. But I can’t help the way I react around him.
“I’ll get you a menu. Would you like something to drink?” Yolande asks him.
“Coffee, and I’ll have whatever she has.”
“I can share,” I offer.
“I would never steal food off your plate.” He winks at me.
“I’ll put that in.” Yolande walks away but turns back to face me behind Vargas mouthingOh my Godto me. I can feel my cheeks warm.
“I’m sorry in advance if Sassy tries to steal anything off your plate. She’s a sucker for whipped cream,” I blurt out, trying to make quick conversation and not be awkward. I glance down to Sassy, who’s sitting in my lap, her attention fixed on Vargas. I can tell I’m not the only one he has an effect on.
“You both can take whatever you like from my plate.” He’s telling the truth, but I’m not sure I understand.
“So we can steal from your plate but you won’t from ours?” I cut off a piece of my French toast and offer it to him. I swear it’s like I’m having some sort of out-of-body experience, saying and doing things that I have no control over.
