Blaze (Heat #3)(9)

"I'm never giving that gift back to you," he says hoarsely. "You'd have to pry it out of my hands and even then, I'd fight to keep it."

His insistence makes me happy. I don't show it though. I stare at him, wishing he would just tell me what he wants. "I'm not following."

"I love the gift you gave to me." He steps closer, his hand jumping to cup my chin. "I want something more than that though. I want your forgiveness, Cadence. I need it."

***

"I need you up front, Chef." Maribel effectively breaks the moment when she steps into view in the corridor outside the office. "I'm not interrupting anything, am I?"

Tyler leans forward to rest his forehead against mine. He sighs heavily before he turns toward Maribel. "I said that I didn't want to be disturbed."

"This is urgent." She shoots me a sympathetic look when I glance at her. "There's a supplier at the front door. He'll only talk to you."

"Tell him I'll be right there." He inhales deeply before he grazes his lips over my cheek. "I've missed you, Cadence. I want to make things right but I have to deal with this. I'm sorry."

I tap my right index finger on his chest once Maribel is out of sight. "I came to give you something. I want you to take back the tablet."

His gaze flits over my face. "No, not now. Hold onto it for me. I like that you have it."

"It belongs to you." I step back. "I think you should have it."

"Keep it." His jaw tenses. "If you have it, I know that I'll see you again."

"What's that supposed to mean?" I try to keep my composure.

"I'm scared shitless that I've f*cked this up so badly that you're going to vanish. If you have the tablet, I know I can come looking for it and find you."

"We can't talk about this now," I say, my voice tinged with pain. "You hurt me but I'm not running. I don't vanish like that. I wouldn’t do that to you."

"I can breathe now." He brushes the back of his fingers over my cheek. "I'm going to call you tonight and I'll keep calling until you answer."

I arch a brow. "You're persistent, aren't you?"

"Only when it comes to you." He raises his eyes to mine. "Only with you."





CHAPTER 10


When I left Nova I was determined to go home. I mapped the route out in my mind when I first found out where new Nova was located. I did that so I could calculate the time it would take me to get to work.

I'm not like Maribel. I've never gone out of my way to show up for work early. It happened at Axel twice, and both times were accidental. I'd misread the schedule once and when I walked in three hours early, Brendon put me to work and signed off on the overtime. It was a favor in his mind, one that he wanted me to repay over and over again.

The second time I was so excited that Brendon was putting one of my dishes on the lunch menu that I went to work in the morning even though my shift didn't start until noon. I left early that day, not caring that my time would be docked.

I'd argued with Brendon the night before about something so insignificant that I can't even remember it. My punishment for disagreeing with him was swift and meant to hurt. He cut my dish from the menu. I never forgave him for that.

Working in a professional kitchen with someone you care for is sweet torture. They're there to help you celebrate the flawless services, but they're also by your side when you trip and fall. Whether they're willing to lend you a hand and help you brush off after you get back up is the way to determine whether they're worth your heart's energy or not.

That's why I'm here now. I want to know if I should invest my heart again.

The city buzzes around me. People rush past in pursuit of their air conditioned apartments or maybe they're heading to a bar for a late afternoon drink. They're all looking for the same thing, a reprieve from the stifling heat that has enveloped Manhattan.

I should be doing the same thing. The dress that I've been wearing since this morning is wrinkled and damp. Some of my hair has escaped the confines of the elastic. My ponytail hasn't survived the heat or my determination to walk around the city.

I don't care if I look like shit. I'm not here to impress anyone. That's not why I'm standing on the corner waiting for the light to turn so I can cross the street.

Magari is less than two blocks away and even if I can't step foot inside, I can sure as hell lure Sergio out. He's called three times today, each voicemail more painful to listen to than the one before. He wants a relationship. He wants to mend our broken fences. The man finally wants to be the dad I've always wanted him to be.

The only problem is the ridiculous restraining order that keeps me at least three hundred feet away from his wife.

***

"I can't believe that Falon Shaw is going to take your picture." Sophia bumps her shoulder against me. "She's a big deal, Cadence."

"What am I?" I tease. "The only time I had my picture taken by a professional was when I was a kid at school, but that doesn’t count."

"You're right." She shrugs off the lightweight cardigan she's wearing. "Falon Shaw is the real deal. You're in the big leagues now, Den. Maybe you can autograph something for me so I can sell it one day."