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She finished and stood at the edge of his desk. “Anything else?”
He smirked, staring at her body. “Loaded question.”
“I meant office work.” She scanned the room. “It’s been a while since I worked.”
“How long?”
“About four months.”
He couldn’t contain his surprise. “You shitting me?”
She shook her head and avoided his gaze. “I have an inheritance from my parents. Once I sold off their house and money from their pension, I was left with a lot of money.”
He sighed, resting back into his chair. The money had come at a cost.
“That’s what ya live off?”
“Uh-huh. But I’ve worked a few odd jobs.” She sighed in thought. “I cleaned offices at night, worked the morning shift as a prep chef at a restaurant, and I did the books for a strip club.” She shrugged. “Nothing exciting, but it was perfect for me. Barely any interaction with people, and it gave me purpose.” She snorted. “Life on my own gets stagnant.”
He smirked, scanning her face. “They pay off the books?”
“Just the office cleaning.”
It seemed like an innocent question, but he had his motives. If she wasn’t off the books, she’d have to pay taxes and provide a social security number.
“You don’t live off the grid, do you?”
“Still thinking I’m hiding something, huh?” She raised her brows with all humor erased from her eyes. “You really think if I had something dangerous following me, I’d stay and put you in danger? Put Trevor in danger?” She glanced down at the floor. “I wouldn’t do that, Cade.”
Of course, she wouldn’t. Marissa was different, and if he wanted to keep her, which he did, he had to stop treating her as if she was a woman from his past.
He sighed, cursing himself for putting the doubt between them. “I got a lot of baggage in my past, and I’m putting my shit on you.”
“Your ex?”
He glanced up from his desk. “Yeah.”
“Trevor mentioned her the night he walked me back to my place.” She shrugged. “Said he didn’t remember her and she left when he was a baby.” She smiled. “He said she wanted to give him up, but you wouldn’t let it happen. Also said you’re a great dad.”
Caden sighed. “She didn’t wanna give him up for adoption.” Caden’s brows knitted together, and his temple pulsed. “She wanted to fucking sell him. Bitch had three couples in line. She was gonna give him to the highest bidder. When I found out, I fucking lost it, told her no fucking way anyone was raising my kid but me.” The memory alone had him seething. “That fucked with her plans, but she stayed around, and I let her ’cause I didn’t want her taking off. Didn’t know until the end she’d been dabbling in meth. Fucking miracle Trevor didn’t come out addicted.” He folded his arms, staring down at the desk. A day that should have been one of his happiest was plagued by the doctors telling him his son may have to go through withdrawals. He’d never felt anger toward another person like he did with Jenna the day Trevor was born.
“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
It wasn’t a good memory, but a part of his past, which he’d share with her if she wanted.
“I got nothing to hide from ya, Riss. You ask, I’ll tell ya. Anything.” It was an honest admission. He didn’t want secrets between them. She had given him her past, and he was set to do the same.
“What happened to her?”
He sighed, resting his elbows against his desk.
“She’s dead.”
Marissa obviously wasn’t expecting the answer or his cold tone. Her eyes widened, and she clamped her lips.
“Trevor said she left but didn’t say she was dead.”
“Not much I keep from him, but I’ll take that to the grave. Don’t need him feeling pity for her after what she put him through. She doesn’t get anything from my kid. Figured if I told him she was dead from an overdose, he’d feel some kind of compassion. People die and all of a sudden, they’re saints. Not happening with her, not with Trevor.”
