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Authors: Wendi Zwaduk

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BOOK: You'll Think of Me
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The waves of the self-made orgasm crashed within his body. “Melanie!” After a moment, he opened his eyes. His skin tingled and his nerve endings sizzled. Even thinking about her could make him come. How the hell could he get her back into his arms for good?

While he stared at her risqué picture, he remembered their parting words when he left for the Middle East for the first time. Seven years ago, tears wetted her cheeks, but she stayed strong.
I’ll always think of you.
Promise me you’ll think of me.
And he did. Every day, many times a day until the never-ending nightmare came. Then he could hardly close his eyes without seeing the darkness.
Dammit.

Once he stood, he grabbed the discarded towel to clean himself off. As he tossed it into the clothesbasket, he felt an odd kinship with it. He felt just as unwanted. Why couldn’t he rid the devastation from his mind? He shoved the nude picture under his pillow for later. After he crossed the room, he stopped and caressed the frame of her self-portrait.

The same question played on a continuous loop in his head—
why
?

Then there was their last night together three years prior. He’d remember her parting words for the rest of his life.
I thought you loved me. I thought you wanted only me for the rest of your life. No. You slept with the slut.
I thought I knew you, but I had no idea.
He could still see her chin quivering as she tried to hold her emotions in check.
You want sex? Fine. You want my heart? Not until hell freezes over and your dick falls off!
Point made, she’d slammed the door.

Cade clenched his fist and pounded it on the dull oak surface of the bureau. He shook with anger and unshed tears. Yes, he enjoyed threesomes because he didn’t have to think or feel. He got the release and then went on his merry way, but to cheat? No way in hell. He never slept with Anna. Never wanted to. Though he’d spent time with Ginnifer, she was no more than arm candy for a couple of lousy dates. He refused to sleep with anyone other than the woman he loved. Shit. And he still couldn’t find the words to tell Melanie how he felt. She’d never accept his wounded spirit and broken body, especially if he couldn’t handle his scars.

Twisting the knob to open the door, Rhett appeared in the doorway, clad in nothing more than a low-slung terry-cloth towel. “Are you mooning over her again?”

“Don’t you know how to knock?” Cade unclenched his hand. The anger ebbed and embarrassment took over. He glanced at his friend. Girls went crazy for Rhett’s aloof attitude. He could easily draw any woman, including Melanie, with his good looks. If Cade were her, he’d choose the man without scars, a man whole in body and spirit. She deserved so much more than Cade could give her.

“I heard you shout.” With a shrug, Rhett shifted his feet. Water dripped onto the carpet leaving dark little maroon circles. “What’s up with you?”

Cade narrowed his eyes. ”There’s nothing up with me. I…I’m thinking about Melanie. She’s—”

“What am I?”

Both men turned to see Melanie standing in the hallway, obviously eavesdropping on their conversation. A broad smile kinked her coral lips. “So? What am I?” Her whisky-coloured eyes flashed with mischief as she poked Rhett’s chest. “As long as it’s all good, I can’t wait to find out.”

As Rhett put his hands up, he dipped his head. “This was a testosterone conversation, Miss Nosy.”

Cade pinched the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb. Maybe now would be the time to snag her and have the conversation they needed to get things headed in the right direction. “Melly—”

Laughing, she folded her arms. “When you decide my place here, tell me. But until then, get dressed and meet me downstairs. The pizza’s here.” She slipped under Rhett’s outstretched arm and left them alone.

Cade waited until he heard her footsteps fade down the stairs. His shoulders slumped. Too many raw emotions floated around in his system. He couldn’t think about food when all he wanted was to curl Melanie against him all evening long and bury himself in her sweet heat.

Rhett nodded at Cade. “You’re wearing jogging pants and a T-shirt. Aren’t you going to tell her about your wounds?”

Cade shook his head. Just looking at the damage to his own body made him want to puke. Melanie would probably run away or, worse, laugh. “I thought I’d keep it to myself as long as possible. She doesn’t need to know what happened.”

A frown marred Rhett’s face. “You mean the honourable discharge or the scars? You earned your discharge for bravery, which makes you great in my book. Plus, she’s going to love having you around, once you tell her you’re permanently home. That might salvage the relationship.”

“What I did wasn’t great.” Cade dropped his gaze to the floor. “I should’ve done something more.”

As much as he wanted to forget, the afternoon of the bombing at the base and the harried expressions of his men as they’d gotten into defensive positions. He forced the raw emotions down to the pit of his stomach. He pounded his fist into his thigh.
I don’t deserve to be home alive when they perished.
Real men didn’t cry or talk about immature feelings, did they? But if he didn’t talk to someone soon, he’d have an ulcer.

Rhett sighed. “Look, I don’t know how you feel. I’ll never understand because the bombing didn’t happen to me. I wasn’t there. But I know ignoring the aftershocks won’t make it go away. You’ll have to deal with it eventually. She’ll understand and support you, and I have your back.”

To change the subject, Cade tossed a shirt at Rhett. He didn’t need any more greeting card advice or damned pity. “What do you suppose the surprise is?”

“You mean other than the truck?” Wriggling his brows, Rhett chuckled. “I have no idea. But then I think you should talk to her. Tell her how you feel.”

“I can’t. It’s too soon.”

Rhett shrugged. “Suit yourself, but remember her heart’s in your hands.”

Cade knotted his brows together. How the hell could he control the damned mood swings? Why did Rhett act like he knew Melanie’s true feelings? “How do you know where I stand with Melanie?”

With a chuckle, Rhett tugged the cotton garment over his head. “What can I say? I just do.”

 

Chapter Four

 

 

 

Downstairs, Melanie thanked the deliveryman and used her shoulder to close the front door. The smell of warm cheese and pepperoni filled her nose, making her stomach rumble as she padded across the pine hardwood floor. The cool grey walls and black Formica welcomed her into the kitchen. She sighed. Her gaze vacillated in the open floor plan. She’d miss the nights she and Cade spent eating ice cream in the middle of the room at the island at two in the morning just because neither could sleep. She’d miss the airiness of the house and the way the summer breeze kept the space cool on the hottest days.

A smile crept across her lips. She’d miss their friendship and the sex the most. Damn, he satisfied her like no other. But she needed to move on if she wanted her own life.

She blew out a long breath.

Despite the long odds, she’d managed to score
the
job of the century as the personal photographer for acclaimed science fiction novelist Rusty Fontana and his wife, former movie actress Jojo Morris. Maybe immersing herself in her work would make the sting of leaving more bearable. Cade acted like nothing had changed.

It’s time to move on.

In a whisper, she spoke more to herself than anyone else. “Cade, I’m sorry I can’t be enough for you.”

Why did the man seem to need multiple partners and oodles of sex? He claimed to love her and only her about three years ago. But then she’d caught him with the tramp. He claimed he never cheated, yet she wasn’t convinced.
I can’t love a woman who doesn’t trust me.
She swallowed past the lump in her throat. His words cut deep.

“No more tears. I’ll give you your space.”
No matter how much I still care.

With a rueful sigh, she placed the pizza boxes side by side on the counter. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Cade’s wallet flopped open in its usual place by his keys. When she went to close it, pieces of paper and a photograph fluttered onto the countertop. She picked up the contents, but the image in the picture stopped her in her tracks—her in the nude. “My picture.”

The edges of the photograph were fuzzy and bent. Creases marred the corners. She glanced around the room and strained to listen for Cade and Rhett. She stared at her sultry smile. He carried her picture all this time? On impulse, she flipped the picture over. The words, written in his stiff, linear scrawl read
My Girl
.

Footsteps on the carpet signalled someone’s approach. Melanie slipped the image back into his wallet and shoved it by his keys. When Rhett appeared around the corner, his eyes lit up and a smile twitched on his lips.

“Melanie, were you snooping?”

She crinkled her nose. “Maybe, but not intentionally.”

“That’s not what I saw, but I won’t tell.” He held up one finger and peeked into the stairwell. “Since I have you alone, I need to tell you something.”

“I won’t sleep with you.”


Touché
, and I didn’t ask for sex. But get serious with me for a sec.”

“What?”

“What if I told you Cade carries a picture—your picture with him everywhere?”

With a hand over her mouth, she snorted. “I’d say you were lying or it’s because I’m his friend. Unless it’s the nudie one in his wallet, then I’d say it’s so he can jerk off.”

Rhett drummed his thumbs on the countertop. “You’re probably right on all accounts, but what if I told you he loved you? Would you believe me?”

“As much as I want to, I’m not sure.” Her heart thundered. Maybe she and Cade needed to have a talk, if she could get him alone in a room without her libido getting in the way. “He’s been so evasive. I don’t know what to think.”

When Rhett opened his mouth, his phone rang in his pocket. His brows knotted together. “I just got home and turned this thing back on. Who the hell’s calling me?” He pressed buttons to answer the call. “It’s Anthony. I better take this.” He put his hand over the mouthpiece. “We’ll talk later. I have more to say.”

Before she could reply, Rhett strolled from the room. As she opened the pizza boxes, her mind lingered on Rhett’s words. Cade loved her? It didn’t seem possible. He came on to Ginnifer, for crying out loud. Her gaze slipped to Cade’s wallet. Her picture went wherever he went. Based on the frayed edges, she’d bet he did look at it. But looking and gazing in awe were two totally different actions.

Melanie tapped the side of the nearest pizza box and sighed. When Cade came down to eat, she’d ask him. Redirecting her attention to dinner, she grabbed three plates from the cupboard. “One with mushrooms and green peppers for Cade and one with anchovies and banana peppers for Rhett.” She crinkled her nose at the offensive scent. “Who eats fish on pizza?”

Her mobile phone played a raging metal song, interrupting her gag fest and making her jump. She flicked open her cell without checking the caller ID “Hello?”

“Hello, Melanie, this is Tanya Glanville. We spoke last week about the personal photographer position. There’s a small glitch.”

Melanie clasped her hand over her mouth.
Glitch?
She braced herself for the bad news.

“Hello? Honey, are you still there?”

Fanning herself, she took a deep breath. “Sorry, I’m here. I didn’t expect your call. What’s up?”

“Can you stop by tomorrow morning? I know it’s Friday night, but we need some publicity shots done for Rusty’s upcoming book jacket, as soon as possible. Plus, we’ll need new glossies for the dirt race team’s promotional fliers. Think you can handle it in such a short period of time?”

Melanie gripped the phone with numb fingers. “Hell, yeah… I mean, yes, yes I can.” What a time to forget her professionalism!

On her end of the line, Tanya chuckled. “Perfect. Russ and Jojo have faith in you. As I recall, your work trumps mine. My pictures always turn out blurry or have some beefcake stud in them instead of the intended subject.” Tanya laughed. “You’re officially part of the Rusty Fontana entourage for all formal appearances and gatherings. Do you have an apartment close by?”

Melanie nodded like she was a bobble head. Realising her silliness, she caught herself. Tanya Glanville couldn’t see her! She needed to get her skittish nerves under control. “I have a rental house on the other side of Butler. I believe its five minutes east of their house.”

“That sweet little ranch? I thought about nabbing it myself.”

“Two bedrooms, so I’ll have room for my photography equipment.”

“Perfect! See you tomorrow.”

Melanie clicked the phone shut. Whoopee! The glitch meant she could get to work right away. No twiddling around until they needed her. She dropped the phone onto the table and danced around the kitchen. When she reached the far side, she whirled right into a solid wall—of Cade.

“Hi,” he murmured.

She looked up and fisted his shirt in her hands as his arms enfolded her. His dark eyes sparkled as a crooked grin tugged at his lips. What was running through his mind? The heat radiating from his body kicked her senses into hyper drive. The only thought she had was finding satisfaction with Cade.

Liquid desire pooled between her legs. She shifted her hips. No, no. Restraint. If she practiced a little restraint, maybe the heat of the moment would pass. Not quite. He looked too damn enticing in casual clothes. Oh, hell, who cared about restraint? “Did I ever tell you how dead sexy you are?”

As he raised his thick brows and smirked, he rubbed her back with long, languid strokes. The creases on his forehead melted away, making him look like the Cade she remembered. Could Rhett’s comment be true? A tiny part of her hoped so. She shoved the thought aside to insulate her feelings.

“It’s been a while, Mel. Why?”

His sexy rumble turned her insides out and spurred her on. She let go of his shirt and cupped his cheeks. “You are, and I want you—right now.” She pressed her open lips to his and moaned. Kissing Cade was almost better than sex. He knew how to tease and torment her with nothing more than his tongue. He tasted like sin and smelled divine, like an outdoorsman. A girl could get lost in that much testosterone, and Melanie never wanted to be found. How had she managed to stay friends-with-benefits with him for so long after the break up?

BOOK: You'll Think of Me
12.6Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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