He's the One (17 page)

"Yes,” she said, not really looking at him.

Damn it. He didn't want to. Couldn't. “Shit.” Used to being chased and not the chaser, Cade felt like some damned puppet with someone else was pulling the strings.

Try harder, Harper. Use your charm.

Cade eyed the reception venue. The Victorian spires, the elegant woodwork. His hands fell to his sides and his shoulders slumped. “Show me what you do, Taylor. Your fantasies."

"Pardon?” That she didn't automatically say no fuelled a tangent of hope in Cade. Taylor wasn't as immune to him as she made out, but then how could a woman who had whispered such teasing fantasies during love making be immune?

And your immunity?

Cade ignored his subconscious. “Show me what is involved in a wedding."

"But you don't like weddings."

"I said I don't want my own; it doesn't mean I can't admire your skill at planning one."

"This one?"

"Why not?"

Taylor swiveled towards the stately building. “It's nearly over."

"Can I see, please?"

My God, he was begging. He didn't want her to say no and was scrambling to do everything to prolong the inevitable. He watched her as indecision warred with her conscience; teased by her glorious hair, remembering the moment he first threaded his fingers through it.

"I'm glad you wore your hair up,” he said, eyeing her sleek chignon.

Taylor's hand went automatically to her hair, smoothing the strands.

"It bares your neck, and I have an indescribable urge, Taylor Sullivan, to trail my fingers along your bare skin."

A soft pink tinge colored her face. “Oh."

"Then, I'd follow that trail, very closely with my lips.” He smiled then, reveling in the fact of being with this woman. No sex. Simply being together.

Cade choked back a groan. Man, he was really losing it.

"Don't.” Her voice was so soft, he barely heard it, a whisper on the breeze.

"Don't stop?” he teased. “Oh baby, I definitely don't want to stop. Then there are your long legs. Do you know how tempting they are, Taylor? Legs that lead to heaven. Legs you wrapped around me, your breasts pushing against me, hearing the soft plea of your voice as you climaxed against me, whispering in my ear."

"No."

He stepped closer still, barely inches separating them, and heard her faltered breathing. Saw the rise and fall of her breasts beneath her suit.

"You said you wanted more, Taylor."

"That was then."

Cade squeezed his eyes closed. Take it easy. Don't frighten her off. Don't screw up. “So who's the lucky couple?” he questioned. “No difficult questions from the bride this time?"

Taylor's eyes darkened, and she stared up at him through impossibly long lashes. The tip of her tongue slid across her bottom lip. Cade watched it every step of the way. He wanted to tangle with it. Taste it.

"You mean sex?” she said.

"Yeah, those questions.” And he couldn't help but smile at her. “They're what got us into this, after all."

Taylor's teeth scraped over her bottom lip. “A few,” she said.

"And you were okay?"

Her spine stiffened. “If you mean did I answer them, then yes."

"That's good. It's what you wanted, isn't it?"

"Yes, I suppose so."

"Only suppose? I thought that was the whole idea. Get some ‘experience’ so you could answer the questions. You know if there's ever one you can't answer, you can always come to me for some ... ah ... technical advice."

"Not likely."

Cade chuckled at her answer. “Shame. Could be fun,” he countered hoping to remind Taylor what she was missing. “So, are you going to show me?” He held out his hand and willed her to take it. For a second, he thought she would as her gaze dropped to his outstretched hand, before traveling up his arm, washing across his face. Her appraisal held him rigid. He imagined he could even hear her thinking it over, sizing him up. Then she stepped back.

Damn.

"The wedding reception is underway, but we can take a peek from the sidelines,” she said, refusing his hand.

Taylor led the way through the side entrance, and the moment they entered, Cade felt her relax, nodding and speaking briefly with guests whose accolades for her work were certainly justified.

Laughter and music met them from every corner. Happy faces, bursting with the joy of a new life about to begin. Decorated in peaches and cream, baskets of flowers hung from the ceiling, all connected with streams of twined green vines. A myriad of twinkling white lights reflected a thousand-fold from the satin swathed ceilings and walls while standard candelabra adorned with creamy rose scented candles burned brightly and proffered an intoxicating sense of romance.

"It looks like heaven has descended,” Cade said impressed.

Finally, Taylor smiled. “Thank you. That's what I wanted."

"You've succeeded.” He picked a bud rose from the nearest cascading arrangement and tucked it behind her hair, unable to resist the temptation of trailing his fingers down of her cheek. A whisper-soft mewling fluttered from her lips, and the dance of her pulse beneath his fingers brought a smile to his lips.

Cade's gaze scanned the room, capturing its beauty and then back to Taylor. “I can see why creating something this beautiful gives you a great deal of satisfaction."

"It does.” She hugged her bag closer. “Life is hard enough these days. Sometimes it's nice to have little bit of fantasy."

As soon as the words slid from her lips, Cade saw reality dawn on Taylor's face and she jerked backwards. She dropped her gaze and hid her wary eyes behind the heavy fall of her lashes.

"Don't hide away. Taylor.” He reached out and took her hand in his, a hand so slender it made only half the size of his. He threaded his fingers through hers. “Look at me. Please?"

Her eyes opened, wide, fearful.

"Don't be afraid."

She bridled. “I'm not."

"Yes, you are."

With heavy lids, she gazed up at him, her lips parted slightly. He could feel the soft fan of her breath against his skin as she leaned toward him. He wanted to kiss her. Had dreamed of this moment for days—and long nights

"Why are you doing this, Cade?"

He went to answer, but there wasn't really any answer. He was reacting on instinct, something he'd never done before. In the past, he'd always thought things through, planned his life. “Since I met you, my head is in a whirl."

"So, take some Panadol."

He ignored her cutting remark. “I'm doing things I see other guys do. Love sick guys."

Shit. Had he said that? He wasn't love sick—he wasn't. Absolutely not. Love wasn't an option. And yet, with a sickening dread, he'd woken up to reality. “You're the first thing I think of when I wake up. I haven't slept for days."

"So, I'm your nightmare?"

"No, not a nightmare. A fantasy."

"Go get a book, Cade. I don't want to be in your dreams. That wasn't part of the deal."

"Look, I'm sorry if I made you miss your ... date with Rob."

Taylor turned from him them, hiding her expression. “I don't want to talk about it."

Damn. He needed to see her face, her eyes and very definitely her mouth. “Why not? It's in the past. We all have memories, Taylor, have to live with them. The word
live
here is the deal.
Live
,” he reiterated.

"We're
not
talking about Rob. You're in lust, that's all, Cade. It's all in your pants."

"That's not like you, Taylor. Don't be coarse."

She rounded on him then, poking one long polished nail deeply into his chest. “That's just it, you don't know what I'm like."

"But I want to."

"No. Forget it. Forget what we did."

"That, sweetheart, is totally unforgettable."

"Shut up, Cade. Just shut up. I'm not going to let you use me to assuage your lust."

"Isn't that exactly what you did? What we did together."

"It was a business arrangement. But you think you can just smile and get that dimple under my skin and I'll fall into your bed."

"Well, you gotta admit it was good,” he chuckled, trying for a smidgen of humor.

But Taylor wasn't about to give an inch. “Good. It was..."

"Hot! We were hot together, sweetheart."

A sudden shout from behind caught them both unawares. “Taylor, there you are. I've been looking everywhere for you. I thought you were going to wait outside for me."

Cade's hand dropped away and Taylor jerked back and hugged her bag across her chest once more. She brushed back an invisible strand of hair and tugged nervously at her skirt and jacket as if to perfect something that was already perfection. She turned to their interloper.

"Edward,” her voice came out a whisper and she coughed several times, stammering.

Why was Taylor suddenly so nervous? Cade looked at Edward. Stocky, forty-ish dressed in khaki's and a button-down plaid shirt. Very staid. Very stoic and reliable.

Nothing like a bar owner.

Cade's gaze twisted back to Taylor, but she refused to meet his stare. His blood heated up a notch. A boyfriend? But she'd said no to his boyfriend question.

"You ready?” Whoever Edward was, the guy had barely acknowledged him.

Cade intended to remedy that. He held out his hand. “Hi, I'm Cade Harper, and you?"

"Not now, Cade. I've got to go.” A flustered Taylor interrupted and grabbed Edward by the elbow as if she intended to hurry away. But she was out of luck, and knew it as she gave Cade a warning frown.

"Edward Sullivan. Taylor's brother."

"Oh.” Cade eyed Taylor and gave her a quirky half smile, and then back at her brother. “Nice to meet you. I'm her ... boyfriend."

Taylor choked off a gurgling fit of words. “He's not. He's in fantasy land."

But already Cade and Edward Sullivan were quietly summing each other up.

"Hmm, Taylor's sure good at fantasy. Very inventive,” Cade offered, knowing he'd sent the conversation instantly to overdrive."

"Cade...” Taylor warned again and squeezed her eyes shut. Her brother's bulged.

Cade was having fun. And besides, the surprise on Edward Sullivan's face was too good to miss.

"The folks are waiting for us,” Edward reminded his sister and glanced down at his watch. “Weekly dinner, you know,” he said as if it explained everything. Edward turned to him. “Hey, why don't you come, too? A friend of Taylor's and all that,” he said covering up the awkward silence.

Taylor's grip on her brother's arm clearly tightened. “No, he can't."

"Sure, I can."

She shifted her narrowed gaze to him, daring him.

Oh, he dared, and he gave her his best, beaming smile. He held out a hand to Edward. “Love to come and meet the family. Taylor's told me so much about you, haven't you, honey."

"Hon—” Her coughing fit revisited, mouth opening and closing several times.

"Fly catching?” He winked at her.

She slammed her lips closed.

"Oops, think I'm in trouble,” he mouthed to her out of her brother's earshot.

"You can count on it.” She linked her arm with her brother's and promptly dragged him almost running, leaving Cade in her wake to watch her cute little butt sashay. “Great view,” he chorused just loud enough so she could hear.

"Oh, you...” Blue-black eyes speared him as she gave him a withering glance over her shoulder.

He gave her a relaxed wave, winked and grinned at the same time. Her lips pursed, and she snapped her head back as a belly roll of laughter rumbled from his throat. “Yep, the day sure has improved—substantially."

Oh, God. What was wrong with her? Everything Cade said was true. She would have fallen into bed with him. All it would have taken was just one of those sexy smiles of his aimed in her direction.

Unadulterated and oh-so-very hot lust jettisoned right through Taylor in one swift strike. Her body craved his touch. But she couldn't.

It all came down to that one moment, a slice of history that hung forever between her and life, kept there by those that cared for her, yet who didn't realize the memory was entwined with guilt and remorse.

A memory that wouldn't release her.

"Blast it.” Edward kicked at one of the rear tires. “It's shot."

Taylor eyed the flat tire. “Change it."

"Can't. The spare's not exactly spare. This is the second flat I've had in a couple of days. The guys at the garage were getting in a specialist tire for me."

"You mean to say we've got to walk?"

"Course not,” Cade chimed in. “There's always the pickup.” He thumbed towards his vehicle parked across the road.

Taylor vision jack-knifed toward the parked vehicle. “No. No way. I'm not getting in your car. Not again."

One dark brow rose, and his mouth quirked to one side. Taylor wanted to slap that smile right off his face. Erase it, because it did far too many things to her, things she didn't want.

Liar!

"You didn't seem to mind it last time, if I remember rightly."

Oh, he remembered all right. Because she did, too.

"First and last time,” she reiterated. She tucked her bag under her arm and twisted back to her brother. “We'll walk."

"I can't. Old Achilles injury,” her brother offered.

"Edward Sullivan, I'll get you for this. I don't need this right now."

"What she means, Edward, is she doesn't want to ride with me."

"I don't want to be ‘with’ you anywhere, Cade."

"Could have fooled me."

"Mother's a stickler for punctuality, Taylor,” her brother added as fuel for the fire, tapping his watch.

"Ooh,” she stamped her foot. “What is it about you men? You always stick together."

"Predisposed survival instinct,” Cade offered.

"More like pigheadedness,” she shot back, adding the worst glare she could manifest to boot. Taylor glanced at her watch. There was no way out of it. She was due at her parents’ for dinner ten minutes ago, and Edwards was right, being late for their mother wasn't a good start to what she knew would be an awkward evening.

Sandwiched between her brother and Cade, Taylor did her best to keep well clear of Mr. Cade Harper. But every time he took a right corner, she was forced ever closer to him, suffering his hard, virile body rubbing against hers.