Caden wrapped her in his arms again. “There’s something else you should know, Bella, since we’re being so honest on our not-a-date. Even though she didn’t love me, and even though she has been absent for so many years, if she ever wanted to see Evan, or if Evan wanted to track her down himself, I would never stand in their way. I love him too much to do that.”
He lifted her chin and gazed lovingly into her eyes. “But no matter how she might have changed, or what she had to say, I could never love her. I’ve learned over the years what love feels like, and it’s either there or it’s not. It was never there with her. She was an infatuation. It was love at first sight with Evan, and that love was so powerful that I knew if I ever fell in love with a woman, I’d know it the minute I met her.”
He lowered his mouth to hers, quieting the voices in her head and answering her unspoken questions.
“Caden,” she whispered against his lips.
“Hmm?”
Thank you for being honest. Thank you for coming into my life. This is the best date ever. I’m falling for you hook, line, and sinker.
“Thanks for pulling out all the stops.”
CADEN PARKED AT Bella’s cottage and they walked across the quad hand in hand. They’d turned a corner tonight, and he’d been seconds away from admitting that he’d known he loved her the first moment their eyes connected. He’d had to kiss her to keep the words from tumbling out for fear of scaring her off. She didn’t have to tell him that she had the same intense feelings for him as he did for her. Like with his parents, it was as present as the air they breathed. He had a sense that he had to be careful with Bella. That as strong as she liked everyone to believe she was, her heart was fragile.
Bella stopped short of Jamie’s cottage. “I almost forgot to tell you that when I was at Nauset High today, walking outside with the principal, she told me that troublesome kids hung around the back field of the school, by the woods.”
“Troublesome?”
“She seems like a gossipmonger, so I wouldn’t get overly concerned. She said they jaywalked. I mean, that’s hardly troublesome, but I wanted you to know. You know, you’re a cop, so maybe you guys need to know that stuff? I don’t know.”
“You’re too cute.”
“Hardly. Maybe it’s worth mentioning that area by the woods to Evan for when he goes back to school.”
Caden glanced at Jamie’s cottage, thinking about Evan and what he’d said about reading the crime report and loving that Bella was thinking about him, too. “I’ll mention it to him.”
Bella leaned in close and whispered, “I jaywalk all the time.” He heard a cottage door open, and Bella placed her index finger over her lips. “Shh.”
Pepper, Leanna’s fluffy white Labradoodle, bounded toward them from around the corner of her cottage. Bella knelt to love him up. Pepper barked and licked so excitedly that he tumbled onto his back.
“What are we shushing?” Leanna peered over the railing of her deck.
“Leanna! You’re back.” Bella smiled up at her. “I was telling Caden not to tell anyone that I jaywalk.”
“Now you’re corrupting an officer of the law?” Kurt appeared behind Leanna. “How’s it going, Caden? I heard the two of you were out on a date.”
At Kurt’s voice, Pepper ran back onto the deck. Kurt looked down at the pup. “Hey, buddy. Hold on a sec.”
“Nice to see you again, Kurt, but uh…we’re not exactly dating.” It really sucked to say that.
Kurt and Leanna exchange a confused look. “Oh, sorry. I thought Tony said you were out on a date.”
Bella hooked her finger in his pocket. “Some things don’t need labels.”
He couldn’t have said it better himself.
“Hey, we’re thinking about chartering a boat and going deep-sea fishing next Tuesday. Do you guys want to go?” Kurt asked. “I think most of the community is going.”
“That sounds great.” Bella turned hopeful eyes to Caden. “Can you and Evan make it?”
“I start working days soon, so I’ll have to check the schedule. If I’m clear, yeah, we’d love to go. Evan loves fishing.” The way she instantly included him and Evan with her friends made him feel good all over.
“Great. Well, if you have to work, Evan can still come with us. I’ll make sure he doesn’t become shark bait.”
“Sounds great. Speaking of Evan, I need to go relieve Jamie of him.” He kissed Bella on the cheek and went to retrieve his son.
Evan talked about how great it was to work with Jamie from the second they left Jamie’s cottage until they reached Bella’s.
“And Vera played her violin while Jamie walked me through some programming steps. She’s really good, Dad. You should hear her play.”
Caden smiled when he saw Bella sitting on the deck.
“I take it you had a great time?” Bella asked Evan.
“Jamie showed me some really cool stuff. I can’t wait to go home and try to do it on my own.” Evan headed for the truck.
Caden joined Bella on the deck. She looked adorably inviting with her feet propped up on the chair in front of her and her long legs bare to the tops of her thighs, where her sundress had gathered and draped over the sides. Caden placed one hand on each side of her chair and leaned in close.
“I’d really like to see you again.”
“Me too.” She snuck her hands between his arms and his torso and gripped his shoulders. Using him for leverage, she pulled herself up so their lips met.
“Should I call you?” he asked.
“I almost never carry my cell with me, so if I don’t answer, just show up. I’m pretty easy,” she said as she lowered herself back onto the chair.
“You’re anything but easy.” He held her gaze.
“Good. Then I’m doing something right.”
He glanced at her cottage, fully aware of his son waiting for him and not wanting to tear himself away from Bella even for a second, much less for hours on end.
“Can I come by and install those locks for you after work tomorrow?”
She rolled her eyes. “If you must, but wear something sexy.” She raised her brows in quick succession. “I like my handymen in leather tool belts and work boots.”
“You’re impossible.”
“Yeah, we’ve pretty much determined that already.”
He shook his head. “Okay, I’ll be here in full workman garb, but…” He rose to his full height, pointed a finger at her, and tried his best to put on a serious face—though he felt a smile pressing at his cheeks. “It’s not a date.”
She rolled her eyes again. “Obviously. Now get out of here before I drag you inside and do dirty things to you.”
“If that’s what you promise to your not-a-date, then I can’t wait to be your real date.”
Chapter Nine