Hands stuffed in his pockets, Cade continued giving me an impish smile.
“What?” I asked through a laugh.
His eyes dipped to my mouth, then back up. He didn’t kiss me, but I sensed he wanted to. Instead we stood there grinning like idiots at each other.
“I’ll f-follow you,” he said and then climbed back into his Camaro.
Chapter Fourteen
Cade
Sunshine warmed my skin as the wind blew through my hair and over my arms. I was in an incredibly good mood today and Tasha was only part of the reason. I cranked the radio, my new top-of-the-line Bose speakers of my yet-to-be-named ride rattling my seat.
The Camaro wasn’t ready for prime time, but she was drivable, so I couldn’t resist taking her out. Especially on a day where I could take her out topless. The thought reminded me of Tasha on my lap yesterday and I grinned.
I tried not to stare when she was standing in front of me on campus, but in that short floral skirt and tall shoes, her eyes gleaming like she was remembering how I’d rocked her world, how could I keep from it?
This morning I woke with a single, penetrating thought. I was tired of quietly skulking around. Before the accident I’d been an incurable extrovert. I could feel the old me returning. Whenever Tasha was around I wanted to talk.
With the day off from Oak & Sage, I’d been at loose ends. Since Tasha had a long day of classes, I’d been watching the clock closely, planning on surprising her.
It felt good to look forward to something.
My car rattled and I mentally noted to tighten her axle. By winter I’d need a new soft top that wasn’t held together with duct tape, and the heater was busted, so that would require a repair as well. I’d worry about that later. Right now I was focused on the gorgeous spring day and tailing my girl to her father’s house.
When we arrived, my mouth dropped. Two stone pillars guarded the entrance, a black iron gate protected by a touch pad. She reached out of her window, keyed in a code, and spared me a wink. My heart kicked my ribs.
The second I was close to her again I was going to kiss her senseless.
The house was at least three times the size of my dad’s house. And my dad’s house wasn’t small. I parked behind her gleaming BMW and considered how out of place both my car and I were in this setting. Money virtually emanated from every inch of this place. From the pale brick driveway to a very shiny, black Lexus 350.
Nice ride, Mister Montgomery.
I stepped out and shut my car door, but Tasha was transfixed on the Lexus, her mouth pulled into a frown.
“Damn,” I muttered appreciatively. The price for this model started at forty grand.
“You know what? Let’s go. I’ll come back later.” Her smile was disingenuous. I folded my arms over my chest and waited for her to tell me the truth. She did, her shoulders deflating when she spoke.
“That’s Tony’s car.”
My fist curled. Decking Tony Fry would be my pleasure. I started for the door but her hand caught mine.
“Don’t go in there. If he’s in there, then my father’s in there, and if my father’s in there… I’m not supposed to be seeing you. I sort of…disobeyed him.”
Because she wanted to keep seeing me? I felt my lips lift on one side.
“I wasn’t done,” she admitted. “With you.”
Ah, hell. That slayed me. I brushed my lips along hers for an over-way-too-soon kiss.
“Like that,” I told her.
She smiled prettily. I wove her fingers with mine and tilted my head toward the door in a silent “let’s go.”
“We really don’t have to go in there. He won’t like that you’re with me, you know.”
“Tony?” I couldn’t help laughing. “G-good.”
Subtly, she shook her head. “My father. He thought we were fooling around.” At my skeptically raised eyebrow, she added, “We weren’t at the time. Now I’ll look like I was lying.”
I shrugged. So?
“You’re right.” She squeezed my hand. “It doesn’t matter.”
A curtain twitched in a window, her father’s scowl visible through the glass. He wanted a show? I’d give him a show. Feeling rebellious, I pulled Tasha close and wrapped my arms around her waist. She felt good there. She looked good there, despite what her father or Tony thought. The innocent smile she shot me hinted she was a girl who wouldn’t dream of letting a tatted street racer in her pants.
I knew better.
“What are you smiling about?” she asked, her own expression losing some of its innocence.
No way was I telling her. I kissed her. Slow, but not too long. I didn’t want to completely defile her with her father looking on.
“I missed you,” she said on an airy sigh.
“Me too.” I rubbed the tip of her nose with mine.
“We shouldn’t do this here,” she said, breathless. I liked that I’d taken her breath. She’d taken mine.
“Later, then.” I moved my hands away from her body reluctantly. I wanted her with an intensity I hadn’t felt in…hell, maybe ever. Hand in hand, we walked inside. Tasha tensed at my side.
“I saw Tony earlier today,” she whispered. “I wasn’t very nice.”
I chuffed, amused by her concern that she “wasn’t very nice” to a guy who was the epitome of “not very nice.”
After a false start on the word “good,” I gave up and nodded. It’d probably be best to keep my mouth shut and try to look intimidating instead. The real reason I wanted to confront Tony wasn’t to punch him but to show him that Tasha had moved on. She was with me, and a guy like me didn’t adhere to frat-boy rules. We weren’t going to duel or beer pong for Tasha. She was mine, plain and simple.
We crossed the foyer as Morton Montgomery stepped from his office. I returned his frown with a grin. He didn’t like that I was with Tasha—that she’d chosen me over him. Satisfaction spread through my chest. I hadn’t been chosen in a long, long time.
Her hand squeezed mine, and I took a deep breath. As sappy as it was, I thought Tasha and I could do anything as long as we were together.
Tony exited the office next. I returned Tony’s glare with one of my own, refusing to be intimidated. But he was a rich, privileged kid. I should’ve known he didn’t have the sense to back down. He hid partially behind Morton and crossed his arms over his dorky shirt.
“What the hell are you doing here?” her father asked, his coal-black eyes on me.
Here we go.
“I told you I was coming over to pick up my mail,” Tasha answered, being purposefully obtuse.
“Not you,” her father grumbled before jerking his chin at me. “Him.”
“Oh.” She smiled. “We’re on our way to a date.”
“How’s that work? A lowlife like Caden Wilson can’t afford the sushi place you like,” Tony said. “Or have you settled for fast food in the backseat of his shitty car?”
Both Tasha and I looked to her dad, who should be yanking Tony by his stupid collar and throwing him out on his ass. Instead, he focused on Tasha.
“Get out of my house.” Morton’s stony glare swept over to include me. Then he held out a hand. “But first, car key. Now.”