Cade looked at himself in the mirror one more time, made sure his hair was perfect as always, spritzed a bit of body spray on and told himself it was his normal routine, not that he was trying to impress Alex.
It was a work meeting again. Only it was a Saturday night...well, not quite night. He was picking Alex up at her apartment at five, and then they were driving to a bar just outside of Charlotte. There’d be food, drink, and music.
Sounded like a date to him.
Only it wasn’t. Even if it felt like one. Even if he wanted it to be one with a desperation of a man wanting to put it all out there and hoping he was accepted when he tried to act like he had his shit together most of his life.
He couldn’t get a read on what she wanted and that was even worse in his eyes.
His family often said he was clueless, but he wasn’t so much as he just didn’t pay attention to things if they didn’t concern him.
Women had always concerned him. More so after college. After he’d gotten burned enough, set up, and then rumors started to fly that he was nothing more than a playboy out to make his way through as many women as he could.
Some guys probably wouldn’t mind a reputation like that. He didn’t even mind himself for a few years.
Not until he got older and couldn’t break away from it. When he realized how hard it was going to be to convince someone that he wasn’t like that anymore. That he hadn’t planned on being like that to begin with.
That it just sort of happened by mistake rather than design.
But after the dust had settled down, he paid more attention. He tried to know what was going on and what he was getting himself into when it came to a woman.
He didn’t know much at all in regards to Alex other than she agreed to listen to some music with him tonight and talk to the band’s agent who they were going to chat with between six and seven after they’d eaten dinner.
He grabbed his keys and left the house, drove across town to where there were more apartment complexes than houses, and found where hers was located.
He wasn’t prepared for the sight when she opened the door.
If he held his breath and passed out, he hoped to hell she gave him mouth to mouth.
“Too much, huh?” she asked, staring at his face. “I’ll go change.”
“No, don’t. You look great.”
She tilted her head at him. “Great as in sleazy, or great as in better than I look at work?”
He looked over the short tan skirt she was wearing. It wasn’t really short, not as short as some women wore going out, but she had long toned legs and well...they were showcased magnificently.
The sleeveless print shirt wasn’t so much as fitted. That was a lie, it fit just fine around her shoulders and chest, but then flowed a little bit as it rested right on her hips. She had some snug green tank top under it peeking out and showing how tiny her waist was as it hugged her tight.
Her shoes were the killer though. Heeled sandals that were a nice neutral color that looked more like an extension of her legs. The heel wasn’t even high, no more than two inches, but enough to show her calves were in excellent shape and she was sporting a cute pedicure. He was a sucker for painted toes.
“I don’t know if you could look sleazy if you wanted to. But since you don’t, it’s a crazy question.”
She smiled. “Sorry. I haven’t been out in a long time. I’m just used to wearing jeans and sneakers more than anything. But it’s warm and I figured it’d be warm inside too. This is comfortable and cool at the same time.”
It sure the hell wasn’t making him comfortable or cool at all. “You look really good. Nice. Pretty.”
Her hair was down again, simple waves telling him she didn’t take a ton of time doing it, but that everything about her was just a natural draw to the eyes.
He’d never thought he’d be a sucker for a natural beauty since he always went for the overly made-up ones.
And speaking of eyes, not a lot of makeup, but just enough. Black liner and some white shimmer that made those green eyes of hers pop like an emerald ring on the Queen of England.
“Thanks. You don’t look half bad yourself.”
“Only half?” he asked, smirking at her. He could perfect the Fierce smirk when he wanted to.
“You normally look good, so this is just a notch up.”
He laughed, taking it in stride. He’d accomplished what he wanted. Not knowing if this was anything more than a working event, he wore nice jeans, good shoes, and a designer T-shirt with a light blazer over it. He’d probably be ditching the blazer at some point, he was sure, thinking how hot he was getting just gazing at Alex. Sitting across from her all night, that was going to be like standing in the Arizona sun at noontime.
“If you’re ready, then let’s go listen to some music.” He held his arm out to see if she’d take it. She hesitated and then slid hers through his and he reminded himself once again...this isn’t a date.
***
Alex had stared at her closet for a good hour before she could decide on what to wear tonight.
She had no clue what the attire was for this place, so she looked it up and saw pictures of people dressed for a night of clubbing as well as shorts and a T-shirt. She wasn’t clubbing and this wasn’t a date, but she sure the hell wasn’t going to look like she just got out of work. Her pride wouldn’t allow that.
Though, she wasn’t going to dress like this was a special night out either.
The compromise was a summer skirt and shirt, the tank top under it dressing it down a touch in her eyes, then her summer sandals. She’d had flip-flops on her feet originally and decided that was almost too casual, then grabbed her heels at the last minute.
Her hair was easy, wash and dry, she was done. Makeup, again, her pride wouldn’t let her go out looking too plain. Not when she was trying to garner a potential client. If they’d come to her shop to meet her, that’d be different, but she was on their turf and she had to play the part.
She didn’t want to embarrass Cade since he was the one introducing them. That was what she kept telling herself the entire time she watched her hand dusting the shadow on her eyelids in the mirror. Not that she wanted to give Cade something to look at other than her dirty work clothes.
Somehow she wasn’t shocked when he stopped at the Mercedes convertible in the parking lot. “This is a nice car. You’re keeping the top up, right? Otherwise my hair will look more like a tornado blew through it than that windswept look you see on TV.”
“I’ll keep it up. I don’t drive with it down too much. Not if I’m going somewhere. Coming home I do more often since I’ll be in for the night.”
She liked the sound of that. “Well then, if the weather permits, we could do that.”
“Really?” he asked, climbing into the driver’s side. She tried not to be stunned when he’d opened the door for her moments ago. “Most women can’t stand the top down.”
“You’ve had a lot of women in your car?” she asked grinning at him. He looked uncomfortable and she had no choice but to laugh, then lay her hand on his arm. “Relax, Cade. I’m just teasing. I’d be more shocked if I was the only woman in this car.”
“You’re not the only one to sit in it. Ella has,” he said, then winked at her.
He had just the best personality. Still charming, but not so sickly sweet that it made you want to throw up from eating twenty pounds of gummy bears because you just couldn’t stop after one.
He was more like that decadent dark chocolate you bought at a specialty store and popped one piece in your mouth and savored it, wondering when you could get another.
What hell was wrong with her? This wasn’t a date and she had no business thinking like it was. Damn her mother for putting ideas in her head again. She should have never said she was going out with Cade tonight when her mother stopped over unannounced this morning.
It wasn’t a long drive, nor was it a quiet one. They talked about her work and his work, but nothing of substance. Keeping it level, keeping it cool, keeping it simple.
The place was pretty packed already, but Cade and she were ushered to a table in the back off to a corner.
“How did you manage to get this spot away from everyone in the back?” she asked.
“The agent we’re meeting told them I was coming early and to put us where we could chat without too much interference. If this isn’t good, I’m sure we can find another table where there’s more action.”
“No, this is good. Are we going to stay here when the band comes out? Or do we have to move?”
“Your choice. I personally like to be in the back so I can watch everything. Plus, it’s less chance of getting a stiff neck looking up at the band on stage, or having my eardrums blown out. Not that I expect that with this band tonight. It should be pretty low-key, I’m thinking.”
“I’m good here too, for all the reasons you listed. I’m just happy to get out and do something. It seems like all I do is work lately. I’m not complaining because it’s needed and what I want.”
“Consider this work. This is the fun part of the job. That is how I justify it. Not that my siblings think what I do is work half the time.”
“How can they say that when you’re a lawyer? Everything they do has to go through you at some point, right?”
He smiled at her, his eyes almost glowing with mischief. “Can you tell them that for me, please?”
“Sure. I’ll put in a good word for you.”