Body Checking (Men of Havoc #3)

13

“I COULD use a beer to nurse my wounds,” Cade tells me once we are in his truck. “Mind if we stop and grab some before we head to my place? I don’t usually keep beer stocked in my fridge.”

He reaches for my hand the moment the engine is roaring and holds tight as he steers with one hand.

“Why don’t we go to a quiet bar. I wouldn’t mind something strong made by a bartender and not a drink that comes in a mason jar made by Sasha’s cousin Beryl.”

His face contorts and he looks at me. “The fuck?”

I laugh and tell him, “That’s a story for another time, but not now. I’m still dealing with the trauma.” I shiver just thinking about the fire climbing its way back up my throat.

“I’m holding you to that. But until then, I know a great place we can go to.” His fingers tighten around mine as he takes us to destination unknown .

When we finally drive up, I see he’s taken us not to just a bar but to a Honky Tonk bar.

“Big Joe’s?” I ask him. “I didn’t take you for a line dancing fan.”

He puts his truck into park, tucked away in a dark corner of the lot, and turns to me. “I am neither a line dancing or country music man. But my friend owns this place and she’ll seat us in a private spot.”

His voice is deep and low when he says private and I think of all the things we can do in a dark, private spot. “Okay, Cowboy Cade. Let’s get that drink.” He growls and reaches out to tickle my side.

I yelp and try to scoot away, but I’m stopped by a little thing called a locked door. So all I succeed in is knocking my elbow against the handle and my head on the window. I rub my head and say ouch , and Cade practically climbs over the center console.

“Maren. Are you okay? Did you hurt yourself?” His hand reaches behind my head and smooths over my hair.

“I’m fine, Cade. Just bumped my head. It’s pretty hard so you should check on your truck. I don’t think I cracked a window but you better take another look.”

“Stay right there. Don’t move so I can come around to open your door. ”

“Cade. I ca–”

“I said stay there, Maren. Open that door and I’ll tan your hide.”

I laugh a little, but the serious and fierce look on his face tells me he is not joking. So I sit quietly in my seat until he opens the door and grips my waist, lifting me up and out. My hands rest on his shoulders and I inhale the musky scent of his cologne.

Like at the arena, he twines our fingers as we walk to the entrance. The bouncer makes eye contact with Cade and smiles. When Cade smiles back it’s like two mountains waving at one another.

“Hey Hammer. Tough loss tonight.” They shake hands and pat each other on the shoulder.

“Yeah. Not a great night. That’s why I’m here. To drown my woes a little bit.”

His big friend looks at me and says, “Is this your lady?”

“Sure is. Maren this is D. D, meet my girl, Maren.”

“Nice to meet you D,” I tell him.

“Nice to meet you, Maren. And if you get tired of this grumpy old man, give me a call.” He winks and I giggle.

Giggle . I don’t giggle. But these two handsome men are smiling at me like I hold the moon in my hand and they’re mesmerized. How can I not giggle?

“Hands off, D. I like you and would hate to have to chop your knees.”

D gives us a crooked grin and a wink. “Might be worth it. Y’all have a good night.”

He pulls the door open for us, and Cade guides me ahead of him. By the time we reach the bar, a drop dead gorgeous woman is headed right towards us. She’s tall with short blonde hair that falls behind her ears, and with her faded black sleeveless shirt, I can see her lean muscles and intricate tattoos.

“Cade. Hey.” Her face lights up and she opens her arms wide, welcoming Cade in.

He wraps his giant arms around her in a friendly hug, and a sharp pain stabs at my belly.

“Hi Bryn. How’s it going?” They separate and she continues to stare at him with stars in her eyes.

I start to feel more and more like an outsider looking into a cozy couple’s reunion. I shrink into myself like I do when I want to just disappear.

“Going good. Surprised to see you here. It’s been a while,” she tells him.

“Sorry about that. This season has been hell. Between cocky rooks and the constant back and forth from win to lose, I’m beat.”

“Understandable. And forgivable.” She squeezes his hand then looks at me. “Excuse me. How rude of me. I just stole him away. Hi. I’m Bryn Baca. ”

“Hello. Maren Thompson. Nice to meet you.”

Cade’s arm wraps around my shoulders and he tugs me close. “This is my girlfriend.”

“Oh really?” Bryn asks as I say, “Huh?”

He must only hear Bryn’s question because he says, “Really. She’s pretty darn special.”

Bryn’s smile returns and she lets her gaze run up and down my body. If I was uncomfortable before, I’m mortified now. She’s judging me, wondering what a man like Cade –handsome, sexy, rich– is doing with someone like me –young, not rich, and not a supermodel.

“Oh she looks more than just special,” she says with a wink and I clench. “Come on you two. Let me get you a quiet spot.”

Cade brings my hand up and lays a kiss on the back of it, then pulls me along as we follow Bryn. We’re escorted to a dark booth in a dark corner, away from the dance floor and the loud boom of twangy guitars.

“What can I get ya?” She asks.

“I could really use a cold Crawford Bock. Sweetheart. What would you like?” If there was a spotlight shining down on me, they would both see my cheeks blush fire red.

I’m not used to someone showing me affection in public, in front of others. My parents and Sasha don’t count. Especially not Sasha since her form of love is tough love .

“Oh. Um, can I have a Deep Eddy Ruby Red?”

Bryn’s crooked grin hits me in my stomach and she says, “Nice choice, gorgeous. Be right back.”

We watch her walk away. Well, I say we but when I divert my eyes, I find Cade watching me.

“Your friend is very beautiful,” I whisper.

“So are you, Sweetheart.” I gulp and bite my lip to stop it from trembling. “She’s just my friend, Maren.”

“But if she wasn’t at one time, it’s okay. I mean, you don’t owe me anything. I’m nothing and she seems like…like everything.”

“Maren, look at me please.” I slowly raise my head and lock my eyes with his. “ Never , ever , say you are nothing. You are everything to me. And I swear to you, Bryn is just a friend. In fact, she’d be more likely to hit on you than me.”

He arches a brow, insinuating what I obviously didn’t pick up.

“Oh… oooh.” I draw out when I finally understand. “She’s a,” I drop my voice, “a lesbian?”

Cade laughs, his deep baritone rolling through my body. “She’s a people lover. Man, woman, she loves them all. But with that said, she and I have never been anything more than friends. We have been each other' s wingmen which usually ends with her taking home both the man and woman.”

I let myself breathe a sigh of relief and finally relax. I don’t see any reason why Cade would lie to me. He’s been more than upfront with everything he’s told me. And maybe it was Bryn looking at me in a different light. Maybe she wasn’t judging me, but… admiring me?

Close my eyes and shake that ridiculous thought out of my head.

“What’s that for, Sweetheart?” Cade asks me.

“Just a silly thought.”

Cade leans in closer and says, “Tell me and I’ll let you know if it’s ridiculous.”

“Seriously, Cade. It’s stupid.” His eyes grow intense and his jaw hardens.

“Tell me, Maren.”

My stomach turns but not in fear. It flips end over end, a feeling of want swirling.

“Um. I thought Bryn was judging me at first, but then I foolishly thought she was, you know, checking me out. But that’s ridiculous. Why would anyone look at me like that?”

“Because you’re a goddamn knockout, Maren. And I’m going to be honest with you. I’m getting pretty fucking tired of you questioning your beauty and your worth. If you could only see what I see, you’d understand why I am totally and completely infatuated with you.”

“Cade. Please don’t–”

“I am. More than I should be. But you’re all I think about. You’re on my mind twenty four hours of the day, and if there were more those would be filled with thoughts of you, too. It’s kind of frightening how intense these feelings are. You should probably run instead of sitting here with me.”

He makes me laugh and my heart flutter.

“Okay,” I say in a soft, quiet voice.

“Okay what, Maren?”

“Okay. I’ll stop thinking that way.”

“Good. I want my beautiful girlfriend to bask in her own beauty. Try doing that for me.”

“I’ll try,” I tell him honestly.

It’s going to be a tough task, but I will most certainly work on it. Especially if it makes Cade happy.

“I still can’t understand sometimes why you chose me out of all the women you could have?”

“Woah. What did I walk into?” Bryn pulls up to our table holding Cade’s beer in one hand and my drink in the other. “Sister. I don’t even know what this entire conversation is about, but the fact that I heard you ask why Cade would choose you tells me all I need to know. Let me start with this,” she tells me and taps my hip, urging me to scoot over.

She slides in beside me and casually lays her arm across my shoulders.

“Honey I noticed what a sexy little thing you were the moment you walked in. I drank you in and I would love to drink from your cup. But knowing my friend the way I do, I know that if I even tried anything with you, he’d gouge out my eyes without a second thought. Unless he’d like to share?” She looks over at him and Cade shakes his head slowly as I witness the black in his eyes grow. “Didn’t think so. When you get home, I want you to look at yourself in the mirror and appreciate all of the wonderful things that we do. Got it?”

I give her a small nod with tears building in my eyes. “Got it.”

“Good. Now, you two enjoy yourselves and I’ll bring some greasy goodness from the kitchen.” She taps me under my chin and says, “Be kind to yourself, gorgeous.”

Bryn slides out of the booth and smacks Cade on the shoulder as she struts away.

“Let’s get these drinks drunk so we can both appreciate you in the mirror. Over and over again.” Cade licks his lips, sending a shiver from toes to my aching core.

“Do you think we should invite Bryn home with us? ”

“Like hell,” he growls and practically jumps over the table to get right in my face. “You’re mine, baby. There will never be any sharing.”

This man is so good for my confidence. And my libido.