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“Oh, jeez.” How embarrassing. “We talked it out, and he’s better.”
“Jake’s not only hot, he’s a hothead.” Liv dropped cherry tomatoes on the greens. “Bummer. I guess it’s true. No one’s perfect.”
“He’s not a hothead.” I suddenly felt defensive for Jake. They didn’t know him like I did. He spoiled me and wanted to spend every second with me. But I knew my sister. She wouldn’t trust a man who yelled at a woman. Then again, she’d always been Team Cade. No other guy would be worthy enough for me…
Did Jake actually yell at me?I shook my head, unable to remember. Well, I didn’t have time to think about it now. The Norris’s would arrive shortly and so would the apocalypse. Not really, but I knew Cade. He’d never be okay with meeting my boyfriend.
Almighty Lord, please keep these men civilized.
“Just be nice, okay?” I told them, wholly prepared to drop onto my knees and beg. “We don’t need to talk about the past. I want you to be considerate of Jake. He’s my boyfriend and I care about him.”
“Shelby, Mom, and Dad will be perfect angels. I’ll make sure of it.” Olivia clicked her tongue and winked.
I stared at my sister, turning her statement over in my head. Mom and Dad would be perfect angels? What about Liv? Shewas who I was most worried about. Then suddenly her sarcasm registered, and I started giggling.
“Yikes, big sis. Thought you couldn’t tell I was joking.” Olivia feigned relief and wiped the back of her hand against her forehead. Leave it to my sister to lighten the mood with her comic relief.
My mother laughed and leaned against the island across from me. “We’re just protective, sweetie. We don’t know Jake.”
“That’s why I brought him home, so you can get to know him. I want him to have a nice visit.”
“Do you love him?” Olivia asked.
“Liv, don’t ask such personal questions.” Mom shot her a displeased look.
Right then, I heard Cade’s gruff baritone voice and my heartbeat stalled in my chest and my knees nearly buckled. Memories roared toward me like a stampede of buffalo, determined to hit me from every angle and not let me ignore them.
“Shelby,” my mom gently called my name.
“Oh, God. He’s here and Jake’s alone out there.” I hurried out of the kitchen and tried to regain my composure. It wasn’t easy, as I felt my mom and sister behind me. I didn’t need an audience when I saw Cade for the first time in over ten years.
When I entered the den, Jake was shaking hands with Cade. And I froze. Cade’s intense gaze fell on me, stealing the oxygen from my lungs. Holy shit, he’d change… and for the better. Before I could pretend like I hadn’t noticed his tightly trimmed beard and the ink decorating his arms, I was wrapped in his massive arms. The feel of his pounding heart against my chest and his intoxicating scent paralyzed me.My Cade.
“Hi, Cade.” I slapped myself out of the haze my ex had put me in. “How’ve you been?” I swooped my attention toward Jake,who seemed to size up the competition—competition with a capital C.
Cade had never been a typical farm boy. He was taller than Jake and, by the feel, his shoulders were broader, even more so than I remembered. Cade had been ruggedly handsome back in the day, but now… I hardly recognized him.
He lifted me off my feet in a familiar embrace, and good jolly, I feltallof him. “I’m better now, Honeybee.” He gave me a tight squeeze, then put me down, but he didn’t release me. It was like he couldn’t let go, like he wouldneverlet me go. This was so bad…
I pushed against his hard as steel shoulders, hoping he’d stop this nonsense. It appeared the stubborn jerk hadn’t noticed my attempts or cared who was watching us. He went for it and unabashedly kissed my neck the way he would when we were together. I nearly swooned like an idiot right in front of my boyfriend, who was a mere foot or two away. Not him or anyone else had made a sound.
Fuck, this is so, so bad!
“Cade, you met Jake…my boyfriend?” I suspected my dad hadn’t mentioned that important detail. If he had, I was confident Cade wouldn’t be acting this way.
An icy chill entered the room. Cade stepped back, his lips pressed thin, and his eyes narrowed.
I could read his pissed off thoughts as if they were my own. “Yes. He’s my boyfriend. Didn’t my dad mention that?”
“Sorry. Didn’t get to that part.” He sheepishly smiled.
I couldn’t tear my gaze away from Cade’s. It felt like we were back at the airport saying good-bye for good. Pain and regret rushed through my veins. What was happening?
Cade cleared his throat and turned toward Jake, and extended his hand. “I didn’t know. You’re a lucky man.”
“It’s cool.” Jake replied as they shook. Neither of their annoyed expressions could be missed.
Why would my dad not introduce Jake as my boyfriend? So what if Cade Norris was the moon and stars to everyone in my family? We’d broken up a lifetime ago, and this was how they acted the first time we were in the same room together?
