The XOXO New Adult Collection: 16 Full Length New Adult Stories (133 page)

I shook my head, frantically scanning the area for any authoritative figures. I heard him laughing and glared. “Don’t. This was your idea. Now lead the way to your car so I can breathe again,” I hissed.

He laughed again, holding his hand out to mine. I placed mine in it, staring as he locked our fingers together. The storm it created in my stomach was like a hurricane, and I prayed I wouldn’t barf on him. He hurried me down the parking lot, ushering me in his vehicle. It smelled like Big Red cinnamon gum. I buckled, nervously fidgeting as he took me to a waffle diner in the next town. The car ride was almost too much for my fast beating heart. I wondered if he could hear it. Being so close to him...smelling his gum...his woodsy, male scent that turned me on more than I wanted to admit...it drove me crazy. I kept stealing glances at him as he drove. His face was pure perfection, looking like that of a model that graced a billboard. His dark hair swooped in all the right places, looking like he didn’t really fix it, but it was obvious he did. His chin was hard and chiseled his nose long and defined. His lips...his lips were my favorite. He was forever in a pouty position, his bottom lip puffy and looking oh-so-delectable. When he smiled, they showed off his brilliant set of white teeth.

“Francesca?” he said, humor evident in his gaze.

“Yeah?” I said, almost breathlessly.

He raised his brows, his lips turning in a smirk, “We’re here...” he said, gesturing widely with his hands.

“Oh,” I chuckled, “right...sorry. I was just thinking...about how much trouble I’ll be in if my parents find out,” I lied.

One brow raised higher, and he laughed loudly. “Alright, don’t worry about it. Just tell them the bad boy you are friends with made you do it.”

“You aren’t a bad boy,” I stated.

“Yes I am,” he said softly, his fingers reaching to caress my cheek, “You really shouldn’t even talk to me. I’m gonna end up corrupting you.”

Shocked, I stared at him. “Don’t talk about yourself that way, Cade.”

His fingers lingered a few more seconds, then he rushed out to open my door. We walked inside, sitting at a booth in the corner nearest the windows. My fingers slipped as I picked up the menu, and his arm shot out to catch it. He smiled at me knowingly, his fingers lingering against mine.

“Do I make you nervous?” he questioned.

“Of course not. Why would you make me nervous, Cade?”

“That’s what I’m wondering,” he said, his lips giving me a wicked grin.

My stomach turned over, and I breathed deeply. I managed to order and get through the meal without making a complete fool of myself, though I was quite sure he knew I had a crush on him. I couldn’t help but watch as he ate, the careful way he cut his food...the odd way he folded his napkin in squares. I wanted to know everything about him, everything that made him tick. And I wanted to know if he felt the same way about me.

He drove to my house, though I didn’t tell him where I lived. I looked at him questioningly. “Cade? How do you know where I live?”

He blushed. Cade Kelling actually blushed. “I looked it up.”

“Why?”

“Oh, dammit, Francesca, no. I’m not a stalker or anything. Please don’t think that...I just...want to know you is all,” he admitted, running his long fingers through his silky hair. I longed to run my own through it.

“You do?” I asked, not stopping the ridiculous grin from taking over my face.

He nodded, reaching for my leg like he had the first time we talked. He squeezed my knee, winking at me. My heart may have stopped. He hopped out, once again opening my door, and pulled me in for a tight hug. My body molded into his perfectly, and I leaned in, placing my head on his shoulder. I sighed when he released me, missing his touch the moment it was gone.

“Thanks, Cade.”

“Anytime, Francesca. Anything for you.”

Present Day

I sipped the water in front of me, desperate for something to make it easier to speak. His eyes bore into mine, making my mind swivel in confusion. I blinked several times, willing my mouth to work. “Thank you, Cade. I’ll be in touch,” I stated, standing and gathering my things.

He jumped up, his chair falling behind him. He didn’t even look back as he moved toward me. Desperation poured off of him as he stumbled over his words. “Francesca, please...I’ve missed you. You are the best person to ever come in my life and I’m so sorry for everything I ever did to you. Can we talk again...not so...formally?”

A tear slid down my cheek. Sniffling, I slung my bag the rest of the way over my shoulder. “Cade...I’ll have to think about it. I’ll call you tomorrow when I have a court date.” My eyes looked him over, devouring the sexiness he exuded. They stopped on his face, taking in every inch of him. I could see the sorrow...the regret...and the longing. I wiped the salty wetness from my face and gave him one last look.

“Tomorrow,” he said, caressing my cheek in the ever familiar way.

I turned and left before I lost myself in him again. I couldn’t allow it. Not this time.

I
picked the chair up, trying to gain control of my emotions. I heard heels clinging on the tile and looked up to see Francesca back in the room. “Is everything ok?” I questioned, worried after our recent exchange of words.

“Daphne dropped me off. I don’t have a vehicle.”

“My mom dropped me off, I don’t either,” I said, chuckling at our situation.

“It’s not funny. I’m gonna have to call her to come get me...” she looked at me a long moment, “us.”

She stepped aside, talking softly on her phone. I studied her, noticing she’d lost some weight since I last saw her. She was always beautiful to me, but I knew some of the kids in high school had made fun of her. I wanted to strangle them all the day I found her crying in the library.

9 years prior-December

I walked in the library cause I saw Francesca make a mad dash for the room not five minutes before. I could sense something was off with her. I didn’t know what was wrong...but something definitely was. I trailed along the edges of the aisles, searching for her. Sniffling caught my attention and I hurried back to the sound. She was leaned against the bookcase, knees drawn up, head buried in her arms.

“Francesca,” I said, laying a hand on her back.

Her head snapped up as she wiped snot and tears from her face. Even when she was bawling her eyes out, she was the most gorgeous girl I’d ever laid eyes on.

“Cade.”

“Are you ok?” I inquired, rubbing small circles on her shoulder.

She shook her head, a small sob escaping her throat. “Some of the girls...in the bathroom...I’m so ugly, Cade. Why do you even bother?”

I stopped moving. I couldn’t believe what she was saying. “Francesca, look at me,” I demanded, pulling her chin so her face was closer to mine. “You are beautiful...no, gorgeous. Girls are bitches and they get jealous. Now, I don’t know what all they said, and I don’t care. Don’t let them do this to you. I ‘bother’ because you are amazing, smart, and funny. You brighten my day. It’s killing me seeing you so torn up.” I pulled her into me, running my fingers over her hair, and grasping her close.

Her sobs finally lessened. She leaned her head back, peering up at me with her doe eyes. “Cade...thank you.” Her hand reached up, ever so lightly touching my cheek.

The lightning that shot through my body changed my life forever. That was the day I fell in love with Francesca Taymon.

Present Day

“Well, looks like Daphne is one step ahead of me. She left her car and had a coworker meet her here. Let’s go,” she said, granting me a genuine smile.

My heart sped up. I followed her out, giving her directions to my apartment as we walked. She punched them into her mobile gps, not paying attention to what she was doing, and almost fell off the edge of the sidewalk. I reached out to steady her, her face inches from mine. I could smell the lavender perfume on her. I was actually a little surprised she still used the same scent after all these years.

“You ok?”

She nodded, her gaze not leaving mine. I removed my hand, afraid of what my lips would do to hers if I didn’t remove myself from her vicinity.

We walked across the parking lot. I drifted behind, watching her hips move against the forming material of her skirt. The things that woman did to me...it was scary at times. We reached what I was assuming was Daphne’s vehicle and she reached above the tire for the key. We got in and she drove off after demanding I wear my seat belt. Leave it to Francesca to still be bossy and worry about my safety.

The ride was silent. I didn’t know what to say. I could tell she was torn about something, but I wasn’t entirely sure what. We pulled into my apartment complex when I heard her gasp. I looked over, frantically trying to see what was wrong.

“Oh, my, gosh,” she mumbled, slamming the car in park and dashing out the door.

I quickly followed, hot on her heels. She bent beside the bush by my building, tipping to the side in her heels. In a swift movement, the shoes were off and she was on her hands and knees, searching for something.

“Francesca, what are you doing?” I asked, curiosity getting the best of me.

She said a reply, but her voice was muffled from her head sticking in the small foliage. Sighing, I dropped down to join her. My eyes surveyed the ground, stopping on a set of glowing eyes. A medium size kitten was crouched, looking at us with wide eyes. Francesca continued to talk to it in a baby voice, coaxing it out into the open. To my surprise, it actually came after a good five minutes, gingerly stepping out. It sniffed in my direction, then ignored me and headed straight to her open arms. She picked it up, cuddling and snuggling it.

Gasping, she looked down in horror, “Cade...it’s hurt,” she cried out.

I moved closer, seeing a small puncture on its side. Francesca looked like she was about to burst into tears, so I decided to act fast. “Here, let me have him,” I said, reaching for the ball of fur.

“How do you know it’s a him?” she asked, caressing its back.

“I don’t,” I admitted. “But you need to go to work, and the kitty needs to go to the vet, so let me take it. You can come get it after work...assuming you want to keep it?” I questioned, a small grin playing at my lips.

Her mouth fell open in shock, “
Of course
I want to keep it, Cade. Look at the poor little orphan! It’ll die if I take it to a shelter.”

“What if it has an owner?” I said, suddenly wondering if a neighbor of mine had lost it.

“Then it needs a better one. It’s hurt, so obviously they didn’t love it like I will,” she stated. Looking down at it lovingly, she whispered, “Like I do.”

I looked at her, remembering just how much I’d always adored her huge heart and loving ways. She continued to pet and whisper to the kitten as I watched. I stood, reaching down to take it from her. She reluctantly released it, but not before giving me stern instructions to not hurt, drop, or mentally damage the creature in any way.

Chuckling, I reached my free hand down to assist her in standing. “Let me help, Francesca.”

More bouts of electrical currents moved through my body when our skin came in contact. She stood, her eyes in a deep connection with mine. The kitten meowed, breaking our trance.

“Let me get you some money,” she said, rushing back to the car before I could tell her it wasn’t necessary. She bent over in the car, distracting my thoughts from the vet to her body in an instant. I missed her touch, her kiss, her laugh. Everything.

She bound up to me, bending down to rescue her shoes and thrust $200 in my face. “Take this. Get kitty all the help it needs. And find out if it’s a boy or girl, it needs a name,” she said, a huge smile crossing her face. She bent her face, snuggling its head and kissing it gently. Looking into my eyes, she said, “Thank you, Cade. I’ll be back later.”

“How? You don’t have your car. Let me pick you up from work,” I suggested, desperate for more time with her.

She bit her lip as she contemplated my offer. “Ok...don’t forget kitty.” She walked off, turning one last time and giving me a small wave.

My heart almost flew out of my chest. I’d managed to get her back in my life. Now I had to figure out a way to make sure I didn’t lose her again.

I
stumbled in my office building, barely hearing Zander shout his greeting as I passed. I collapsed in my swirly chair, kicking my shoes off, and spreading my papers in front of me. I glanced through the “while you were out” notes Zander had piled on my desk, groaning at all the people that demanded my attention today. I switched on my computer, checking my emails to see if Cade had a court date yet. He’d been in trouble before, I remembered it, but I wasn’t sure if he was legal when it happened. He may be able to get out of this with minimal punishment.

I logged my notes, adding them to folder I’d created for his case. After catching up on all I could for Cade, I began on the Archuleta case. Mr. Phillips had left me a message, saying the court date began tomorrow and he needed a few more bits of information for the arguing lawyer to take with him. I buried myself in the research, skipping lunch since I’d gotten in the office so late. I somehow had managed to keep my mind on minimal thoughts of Cade, which wasn’t an easy task for me. When his face had been mere inches from mine, I couldn’t help but remember the first time he’d kissed me. My first kiss ever.

9 years prior-March

I’d finally gotten my license and was allowed to drive my mom’s old car to school. It wasn’t much to look at, but it beat taking two busses every day. Since I got bored a lot (I somehow managed to finish all my school work and ended up with no homework. Every single day.) I would drive around town and see if there was anything to get into, or anyone to talk to. That’s what teenagers did, right?

It was a beautiful spring day with the sun shining brightly and the just a few clouds decorating the sky. The trees and flowers were in full bloom, giving everything a fresh feel and smell. I rolled down the windows, breathing the fresh air deep in my lungs. I’d made it through half the town when I saw him. He leaned against his vehicle, hands deep in pockets, and his mind lost in thought. His boot trailed a circle in the dirt. When the light turned green, I pulled the car to a stop behind him, smiling and cocking my head in question. He strutted forward, a delighted smile on his face and gleam in his eyes.