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“He’s a child,” Deacon grits, though Cade’s too busy watching me to notice the seething look that accompanies his objection.
“He’s the same age she is,” Cade jerks his head in my direction.
“Age doesn’t mean shit.” Deacon’s hand is balled into a fist on top of the counter, the knuckles practically white. “And you shouldn’t be meddling behind her back.”
“It’s not meddling, it's looking out for her. Like family does for each other. So, what do you say, Tiff? Any interest in Andrew?”
I’ve been waiting for this moment forever, dreaming of the day Cade would loosen up and treat me like the adult I am instead of the kid sister he believes me to be. But it’s bittersweet. Anticlimactic. A half-measure in that he’s giving me the freedom I want yet only on his terms.
My palms are suddenly sweaty, my heartbeat racing in my chest. This is a big step for Cade—I know that—and part of me thinks I should agree to it just to get him moving in the right direction. The other part of me doesn’t want to settle for Andrew when he’s not what I want. Then again, Deacon’s made it pretty clear I can never have what I want, so maybe settling is my best option. In this town, anyway.
I can feel Deacon’s eyes on me, waiting for my answer. Cade’s too, although his are patient while Deacon’s make my skin feel like it’s on fire. It’s not pleasant, but it is a rush. One I’ve not experienced when I look at Andrew or when he looks at me. For that reason alone I should reject the idea of being set up with him. Only, if I do, I’ll still be seen as a child in the eyes of the town. I’ll still be alone.
Fuck it.
“I can’t answer that until I go out with him, so I might as well. You guys want your usual?” I grab two pint glasses and set them on the counter, waiting for confirmation before I fill them up.
“Hell yeah.” Cade grins at me. I take that as a yes for both of them, since Deacon doesn’t answer. Or look at me for the rest of the night.
Chapter 19
Deacon
Iknewmydaywas going to go to shit as soon as I woke up this morning, which is part of the reason I gave in to the temptation to start it buried inside Tiff. I didn’t expect it to go so bad so quickly though.
First Cade ambushed me at home, dragging me out for a pre-dinner drink so we could hang out when all I wanted to do was drown my sorrows alone. Then Tiff turned up behind the bar, damn near giving me a heart attack when I heard her talking about some guy she met while stuck in Jefferson.
My first thought was that we were about to get busted, but that fear was quickly replaced by rage when it occurred to me she might have actually met some other guy before getting stuck in the cabin with me. I barely managed to calm down by reminding myself there is no Sara for her to go out with when she agreed to let Cade—the guy who’s cockblocked her for years—help set her up with her co-worker.
It took all my willpower to stay seated at the bar instead of storming out, and even then I struggled to carry on normal conversation with my cousin. He noticed I was acting surly, but I’m pretty sure he bought my line about being stressed over losing two days of work while stuck out of town.
The shitty thing is, my attitude has nothing to do with the fact that I betrayed Cade’s trust, and everything to do with the fact that Tiff is going to go out with another guy.A boy.
It was never going to be easy to watch her move on, but I thought I’d have more time to prepare myself for that. I thought I’d find a warm bed, or two or three, to help put her out of my mind before I had to stomach the idea of seeing her with someone else. Instead, I had to listen to Cade give his blessing for this Andrew guy while Tiff’s scent still clung to my fingers.
I managed to get through drinks without losing my mind, but I’m far from sane right now considering I’m hiding in the bushes by her front door.
Around ten thirty I hear footsteps on the front walk, and moments later a key turning in the lock. I lurch from behind the hedge, clamping one arm around her waist to hold her still and my hand over her mouth to keep her from alerting the neighbors to my presence. Then I rush us inside and close the door with my foot, holding her back to my front as I talk her down.
“It’s me, Tiff. Stop panicking.”
Her body goes stiff, and I drop my hands only to have her turn around and slug me in the chest. I’d laugh at how futile that is if I weren’t so pissed.
“What the hell? You scared the shit out of me.” She shakes her wrist to alleviate the sting of hitting me, chest heaving erratically as she tries to catch her breath, and I have to fight to keep my eyes on hers instead of her perfect tits.
“You can’t go out with Andrew.”
“What?” She squints her eyes at me as her arm pauses mid-shake.
“You heard me. Tell Cade and Lennon you changed your mind.”
“No.” Her tongue swipes over her bottom lip. “I’m actually looking forward to doing something other than sitting alone all night when I’m not working.”
Shit. I forgot barking orders only turns her on.
“You think going out with that kid is the solution to avoid being alone?”
“Anything’s possible.” She lifts her shoulder. “Besides, what can it hurt?”
