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She grinned and squeezed his hand. God, how long had it been since he’d held hands with a woman?
Chapter Four
She watched the door, waiting. He said he needed to move his motorcycle, and he’d meet her there. There was a good chance he’d bail on her. Who could blame him? Maybe she’d come on too strong. She bit her lip, realizing she was feeling again. This time it was anticipation. She had no idea what possessed her to ask him to lunch. It was out of character for her to voluntarily engage with people. There was just something about him.
The bell jingled above the door, and she glanced up to see Cade stop at the door and glance around the small diner. Just watching him saunter over to her table had her heart beat a bit faster. It had been forever, maybe since her high school boyfriend, a man had given her the excitement she was feeling.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” he said, sliding onto the seat.
“Thought maybe you’d changed your mind.”
He jerked his gaze, and he frowned. “Why?”
She shrugged. “I don’t know, stranger danger, maybe?” She winked.
Then he graced her with the smirk and eyed her carefully. “I’ll take my chances.”
He averted his gaze to the menu.
“I’ve had everything on the left side,” she said.
He glanced up, furrowed his brows, and then chuckled. “Me too. Been coming here since I was a kid with Pop and Kase and my own kid.”
She scooted up in her seat. “The little boy in the picture?”
He nodded but didn’t offer any more. Why would he? She was a stranger asking about his child. Any good parent wouldn’t volunteer much information. He’s a good dad. She felt the tightening in her chest and bowed her head, swallowing the knot in her throat.
“Pop used to hit on the waitresses back when we were kids just to get us free shit.”
Marissa smiled before she looked up. Caden was staring at her cautiously.
“I bet he was a charmer back in the day.”
Caden snorted. “He charmed them outta few things back then.”
It was on the tip of her tongue to ask how Jack was doing, but the waitress came over to take their order. She was almost surprised when Caden gestured to her to order first. It was gentlemanly, or maybe all men did that, she wasn’t sure. The silence continued once the waitress left to put in their order. She watched him look everywhere but at her.
“Do I make ya nervous?”
His head jerked in her direction. “No.” He paused briefly, scanning her face. “Do I make you nervous?”
She smiled and shook her head. “Nope, kind of the opposite. I feel very comfortable around you. You’re very likable, and you just got something about ya, I guess.”
He laughed. “That would be a first. Likable, huh? You like me when I was yelling at ya back in the park?”
No, she wasn’t particularly fond of the way he spoke to her, but he’d apologized. It seemed like a defense mechanism, not actually a part of his character.
“You apologized, and I believe you meant it.”
“I did.”
“Then see, you’re likable. I saw how comforting and easy you were with Jack. You knew how he needed to be handled, and you just did it. Unlike your brother, you had patience with him, which I’m sure isn’t easy.”
She bit her bottom lip, expecting him to say something, but instead, he remained silent.
“You came to the hotel, right?” She shrugged. “I’m a stranger, yet you were concerned enough to drive all the way there. Your approach could use some fine tuning, but it was nice.” She folded her arms on the table and tilted her head. “It was a kind act. So, yes, I think you’re likable.” She paused and grinned. “And I like your face.”
