“What ‘cha thinking about, sweetheart?”
A small smile touches her lips before she turns to look at me. “Nothing much.”
“You seemed to be thinking about something.”
“No, not really. Just wondering if Jada and Cane made it to Rome yet.”
I know she’s lying, but I let it slide. “Yeah, I don’t know. I haven’t heard from Cane.”
“They might not call. They are on their honeymoon.” She swings off the windowsill and walks towards me. “You know what happens on honeymoons, right?”
“I’ve heard stories,” I grin. “But I’ve never been on one.”
“Me either.”
“Want to go?”
Her lips fall for just a split second before recovering. “Not exactly. But I tell ya what: I’m all up for playing pretend.”
“You want to play pretend honeymoon?” I laugh, wrapping my arms around her waist.
She pulls my head into her stomach and sighs. “I can’t believe we pulled the wedding off. I mean, we planned a wedding in a few days and it went off without a hitch. That’s pretty cool.”
“We’re a good team.”
I wait for her to respond, to see if she reads between the lines.
“Yeah, we do. We’re like peas and carrots,” she grins.
I nip at her stomach, cupping her between the legs. “I’d liken it more to sex and candy.”
She grinds against my hand and I feel her heartbeat pick up pace under my cheek.
“Well, I’m happy to be candy if you’d like a taste.”
The walls come down over her eyes and I know she’s done talking about us. I’m going to have to say the things I want to say to her in the only way I know she’ll listen. Physically.
“I have no intentions on passing up an invitation like that.”
Relief washes over her. She grabs the hem of her shirt and starts to draw it over her head, but I stop her.
“I just want you to know that I love ya and not just for your candy, sweetheart.”
She blushes and presses a kiss against my lips. She doesn’t say it back, but half the time she doesn’t. And that’s okay because sooner or later, when she’s ready, she’ll come around.
I won’t have it any other way.
THE END
New Years Eve
CANE
The smell of burning pine and the sound of the fireplace crackling take over the entire cabin. Jada is curled up next to me, her head on my lap, sleeping. I couldn’t have created a more perfect New Year’s Eve.
I brush back her hair and watch her sleep. Ryan Seacrest is yapping away on the muted TV. The world waits for the ball to drop; I wait on my world to wake up.
She is so peaceful, so damn beautiful that I just stare at her. I committed every angle of her face to memory a long time ago, but I still can’t take my eyes off of her.
Her eyes lazily open and the corners of her mouth turn up. “Watching me sleep again?”
I nod, my grin growing wider with hers.
“I’m sorry,” she yawns and sits up beside me. “This place just makes me relax. It's like the world doesn't exist when we're here.” She stands and walks through the archway into the kitchen.
My father built the cabin in my late teens. Alexander Industries had really taken off and he needed a spot to get away from everything. I didn’t get it then, but I do now.
It’s pretty simple in design but the layout and features he did implement, such as the fireplace and a master loft, make it a perfect getaway. There is a wrap-around porch and a pond in the back. I always laughed when Dad would say he was going fishing because he just cast his line in and fell asleep. I think Max has fished here more than either of us.
After he passed away and Simon’s dad was arrested, I took Max on as a partner in the company. I gave him the keys to the building and came here for God knows how long. It’s all sort of a blur to me; I don’t even know what I really did for days on end. Maybe it was weeks, hell if I know. All I really remember is Max showing up and giving me one of his speeches, telling me it was time to grow up.
Thank fuck for that or I might still be sitting here.
Without her.
Jada comes back in carrying a glass of water and a beer. She hands me a Corona and sits beside me again, snuggling into my side. Damn it if she didn't fit against me like a puzzle piece.
“I brought some of the Moscato you had at the house. Did you see it?” I ask, kissing the top of her head.
“I did. I just needed some water. The fire makes me feel dried out.”
“Want me to put it out?”
“No. Please don’t.”
I wrap my arm around her shoulders and pull her even closer to me. The television cuts to the big apple. The crowds of people are jumping up and down and making a fool out of themselves.
“I’ve never understood why people stand out in the cold and act like idiots like that.”