Chapter 6
Caden
I couldn’t help but hope the alcohol would eventually calm my nerves. Cara asked great questions and was easily able to carry the conversation, but I couldn’t help but feel she wasn’t completely with me. It seemed her deep brown eyes had glazed over partially through the last part of our conversation and I immediately became self-conscious.
Was I too boring?
Not her type?
Looking around the restaurant, I noticed the other couples engaged in their dinner conversations, a few holding hands across the table. Couples of all ages surrounded me and I couldn’t help but feel I was out of my prime and definitely out of my element.
Maybe I was too old or she’d been spending the first part of the evening comparing me to the guy who dumped her. What an idiot he was.
As I scanned the crowd and listened to the quiet laughing and casual conversation, I wondered if I had a chance at that again. Could this be the first date of many, or was it a typical first and last date?
Cara turned the corner and made her way back to the table. The moment my eyes caught hers, everything went silent in my head. I heard my heart pounding in my ears and felt the smile stretch across my face. She definitely had my attention, if only I had hers.
“Sorry I took so long,” she said as I jumped up and helped her with her chair. “Thank you.” Her long brown hair gently brushed across my face as she flipped it over her shoulder and took her seat. I closed my eyes and inhaled deeply, taking in the scent of her hair. I couldn’t determine the exact scent but it sent a wave of excitement through my body.
I moved back to my chair, her scent still filling my nose as I smiled. “I decided on the swordfish for you. I hope that was okay.”
I watched for her reaction as she smirked back. “How did you know that’s my favorite?”
“Lucky guess. I also ordered steak and a vegetarian entree, just in case.” I chuckled. “I wanted to make sure you had options.”
“So thoughtful and unnecessary. I’m not very picky.” She reached across the table and patted the top of my hand, almost like she was consoling a little kid. But the effect it had on me was overwhelming.
Her touch sent a shiver through my body and I quickly caught her hand before she pulled it away. “Is everything all right?” I asked.
Cara furrowed her brows and her voice increased an octave as she replied. “It’s perfect. Why do you ask?”
“You just seemed distracted during our conversation earlier. I hope I didn’t say anything wrong.”
Cara took a deep breath, closed her eyes, and exhaled. She opened them and then smiled at me. “I am… I mean I was distracted. I’m fine now. Seriously. I came here to get away from everything and now that I’m here with you, my night couldn’t be going any better. You haven’t done anything wrong.”
The wave of anxiety subsided, but I knew I wasn’t getting the full truth from her. I had a hunch I knew her distraction.
“My ex decided to break up with me in the middle of the hotel lobby where we’re staying,” I blurted. “I guess it wasn’t really a break-up. It was an ultimatum—marry her or else. I chose the else, in front of about forty people checking in for the weekend.”
Cara’s mouth fell open and she quickly covered it with her perfect hand. I instinctively looked at her left finger, searching for a ring that wasn’t there.
“She didn’t, you didn’t…I feel so bad for you…or do I?” Her voice raised up at the end of her question. “Do you have an issue with commitments?”
“Commitments? No. Crazy? Yes. I guess I was lucky it happened in the lobby of the hotel and not someplace else, because she definitely loved drama.” I reached across the table and took Cara’s hand again, this time looking softly and deeply into her eyes. “It’s just dinner tonight. If I don’t screw up and do something stupid, maybe I have a chance at a second date. But for now, let’s just enjoy dinner. Deal? Let’s leave those people that weren’t invited to our dinner out.”
Cara gave me a sweet smile and then squeezed my hand in return. “Deal,” she said.
We picked through the Ahi tuna appetizer and easily drained our initial glasses of wine. With talk of our exes behind us, the night seemed to go much more smoothly for us both
I had been over Allyson for a long time. She was one person I’d quickly let go of the moment she left my world. Thankfully, she was gone for good, moved to the other side of the country. Now the only person that I could think about was the gorgeous woman sitting directly across from me.
Dinner was served and it seemed to be more like a buffet than individual entrees as my overzealousness had gotten the best of me when ordering. We joked as we both shared a little from all three plates and talked about our time living in Richmond, growing up, and our jobs.
“So, what is it you do, exactly?” she asked as she took another bite of her swordfish. I smiled as she took in the bite and playfully rolled her eyes to show how amazing her meal tasted.
“Basically, I handle the marketing and strategy for MaidenTech, but honestly, I pretty much do everything without the fancy title.” I could feel the tension building in my chest as I started to discuss work. It had been a point of contention over the last year.
“Don’t forget that you get to work with that...what did you call him? A tool?” She giggled.
“Yes. Tool.” I laughed back.
“How long have you had to work with him?”
“Since the company started five years ago, but I’ve known him forever.”
“So, you’re friends? I see.” Cara let out an exhale in disgust.
“I wouldn’t call us friends—I didn’t actually pick him as my friend.”
“He just picked you and you went along with it? You know, you can learn a lot about people from the company they keep.” Immediately Cara began to shut down, almost ending the conversation.
“He’s my brother. He’s an arrogant ass and we don’t get along. I work with him, not for him. He chooses to spend a ton of money on worthless things, pick up women, not work hard, party, and everything else a twenty-something thinks they should do when have money at their disposal.” I clenched my jaw tightly and debated whether I wanted to continue. “He’s the CEO of the company because it was his idea to create the phone app that we sell, the one that made the company so much money. But I’m the one who holds it together. Unfortunately, my love for my brother clouded my judgement, and now I’m paying for it.”
Cara leaned forward in her seat as her eyes grew bigger. “That ass is your brother?” She asked.
“Stepbrother actually. Although I've known him since he was barely two. He was always spoiled by my stepmother and pretty much always an ass.”
Cara snorted out a laugh. “I'm sorry. That's really not funny.” She composed herself and then looked into my eyes as she reached for my hand, gently squeezing it. “So why are you paying for it now?”
“It's our company, his idea. I gave in and allowed him to take a majority position of the company. Now after offers have come in to buy it, he's become arrogant and greedy. He sees dollar signs and is making decisions that I don't agree with. This is my future, and he's gambling with it.” I could feel the tension building in my chest and my face begin to redden.
I watched as Cara stared at me, calmly taking in the conversation. Then she smiled. “I don't think you give yourself enough credit. He needs you. You said it yourself, you run the company. You know the business and you built it up.” She grabbed her glass of wine, took a small sip and continued. “Whatever it is he's doing, I'm sure he would be nothing without you.”
Graham had always whined his way into getting what he wanted. Once he learned how to use that to his advantage, he’d become a master at manipulating situations and people. He played on people’s weaknesses, told them what they wanted or needed to hear, and then used them for his own gain.
I’d allowed him to do that to me. He needed this company and business to prove that he was more than some spoiled brat. He wanted to show everyone he could make something of himself and I didn't want to see him fail, so I helped. Probably too much, but I also helped myself. I managed to save money, build important business relationships, fix those he had damaged, and pick up the pieces when he decided to take unnecessary risks without talking to me first. More than half of my time was spent as his babysitter.
Cara was right, but this wasn't the time or place to talk about the tumultuous relationship between him and me. Moments before his name was brought up, I’d been lost in Cara. Every word. Every move. Every breath.
“You're right, but let's not talk about Graham right now, especially since I had to rescue you from the clutches of that villain,” I chuckled as I held up my hands in a weird, contorted talon shape.
“I agree.” She smirked. “After all, I could be having dinner with him tonight if it wasn't for you.” Cara’s mouth dropped open in a sarcastic twist and then smiled. “I'm kidding. There's no chance that would have happened, with or without you being my white knight.”
The waitress came by and began clearing the table as Cara and I finished off our glasses of wine and made small talk. Conversation about anything was effortless with her as we continued to connect.
“Dessert for you two?” the waitress asked as she picked up the bread plates.
“None for me, thank you,” Cara said. She turned to me and added, “But by all means, don’t let me stop you.”
“I learned long ago never to eat dessert alone, especially on a first date, but maybe we can share something another time.” I gave her my best nervous smile, dropping the subtle hint I would love to take her out again, without officially asking. Thankfully the waitress broke the tension and slid the check onto the table.
Without looking, I quickly pulled out my corporate card and placed it between the vinyl covers of the check book and handed it back to her, ready to escape the restaurant and unsure of what the rest of the evening had in store. It had been so long since I’d been on any sort of date, let alone a real date, but I knew one thing, I wanted another and I wanted this one to end perfectly.
The drive back to the Hilton took less than ten minutes. It was great planning if our date had turned out to be terrible, but a disaster if I were looking to stall and spend some extra time with Cara before the awkwardness of bringing her back to the hotel where we were both staying.
As I pulled up into the lane of the hotel, the valet quickly ran to Cara’s side of the car, opening the door. Then he shot me a look of approval, as if I were looking for it. I met him around the back of the car, leaving it still running and slipping him a twenty. “Please put the top up,” I asked as I sped up my pace to meet Cara, already standing near the doors.
We entered the somewhat crowded lobby as people moved from the check-in area towards the elevators and hotel bar.
“I should probably get some sleep,” she said, just as I was about to propose grabbing a quick nightcap.
“I understand. I have some work to catch up on as well.” We walked together toward the elevators and paused for moment as I reached down and grabbed her hand. “Cara Lauren, I had an amazing evening with you. I hope your busy schedule will allow you to see me again, here or in Richmond.”
The moment the words escaped my mouth I realized how lame I sounded. She had me so frazzled I couldn’t even ask for a second date correctly.
“We’ll see.” She smiled.
I wrapped my arm gently around her, placing my hand on the small of her back and leaning in close. Her back was strong and defined, not something a woman would have without lots of exercise and a healthy diet. Strong and sexy. I wondered what other secrets she held underneath her sundress, but I knew it would be worth waiting for. Without hesitation, I kissed her cheek and took in the rich, tantalizing smell of her hair.
“I hope so,” I whispered. I could feel myself getting aroused the moment my lips tasted her skin and I pulled away. “Have a good night, Ms. Lauren.”
As if on cue, the elevator doors opened. She stepped in and disappeared behind them, leaving me wanting more of her.