Country Kisses (3:AM Kisses Book #8)(37)
“Really?” I don’t mean for it to come out as incredulous as it does. “I mean, don’t you want him to protect you? Eat any unsuspecting burglars that might make their way inside?”
Cade belts out a laugh. “He’ll give a good bark if a stranger is at the door, but this little guy would rather lick any thief to death than bite them. Heck, he might help them haul off the TV.” He leans over and hugs the miniature bear, and something about seeing Cade so loving to this lumbering beast melts me. “I’ll put him away. I just wanted the two of you to finally get a chance to meet.” His eyes glow a peculiar shade of turquoise in the light, and I’m transfixed by this beautiful, big-hearted man. “I think it’s important to introduce the people you care about to those closest around you.” He nods as the air clots up in the room, stuffy and full of expectation, before he walks poor Buddy off to this nightly doom. A dog with a room of his own. I’ve never heard of such a thing. Now that’s a city thing to do if I’ve ever heard it.
Wait—did he just say the people you care about? As in me?
Cade comes back and plucks me off the sofa, wraps his loving arms around my waist, and every last part of me swoons right here in his embrace. Cade James is going to make someone very, very happy one day. Tears come, and I’m quick to blink them away.
“I have an idea of what we can do tonight.” His hot lips sink a kiss over mine, and I groan with delight, because for one, I actually think we’re off to a pretty good start.
“I sort of came up with an idea or two of my own, Mr. New York City.” I lean in and take a bite out of his ear. “You still got that leash handy?”
Cade warms my ear with a laugh. “I do, and, believe me, I plan on taking you up on whatever it is you wish to do with it. But first, I thought we could switch it up a bit. You know, take this show on the road.”
“You have a backyard you’re looking to christen?” I bite down over my lower lip just thinking of the raunchy gymnastics that are about to take place.
“I do”—he winces with the slightest look of regret—“but let’s put that idea on hold for a few hours as well. How about you and I head out and grab a quick bite?” His dark brows flex like a couple of crows swooping into flight. It looks vexingly sexy, and my secret spot quivers just begging to kiss him.
“A quick bite, huh? Sure! Let’s head over to the kitchen. I promise, I can make a gourmet meal out of nothing but a saltine cracker and an anchovy. I’m pretty sure the selection in that fridge of yours is a step up or two from that.”
He reels me back in with that heavy look in his eyes, slight lines of concern brewing on his forehead. “I mean it. I want to take you out. Show you off a bit. You’re too beautiful to keep hidden in this tiny house.”
My mouth opens with protest, but the words refuse to come out. We can’t venture out into the free world, what with Piper and Owen running around out there—not to mention that little bitch Ina just clucking around waiting to record our next liaison and upload it to YouTube. There’s no way I’d ever let that happen.
“How about a drive-thru?” I wince because I’m pretty sure someone as cultured as Cade rarely has a burger that was flipped by a preteen and costs less than ten US dollars. Not that he’s a snob—he simply expects more out of life.
“A drive-thru, huh?” He tips his head back, examining me with hooded eyes, that sultry look on his face budding with sexual anticipation. I’m pretty sure once I clue him in on the fact there will be a flogging or two distributed this evening—punishment for even suggesting the outing, but he doesn’t have to know that—he’ll have a change of heart about those crackers. “Okay.” His dimples dig in as he acquiesces.
“Okay?” I’m stunned to hear that he’ll even consider it. But I suppose a quick jaunt into town couldn’t hurt too much. The odds of us running into Piper and Owen while hitting a drive-thru are slim to none.
“Yup.” He presses out a dimpled grin, and I lean up and stuff a kiss in one. “But only if we see a movie after.”
And there it is. Public venue number two.
“A movie, huh?” My heart thumps out a warning in Morse code. There’s no way this is going to end well. It has Ina Eugene written all over it.
The smile melts from his face as he dots my forehead with kisses. “It’ll be dark. I’ll let you hold my hand.” He interlaces our fingers and presses his lips to each of my knuckles in turn. I’m not sure why he needs this, but I can tell by that pleading look in his eyes that he’s hell-bent on stepping out of that door with me right by his side.
“Will you let me hold something else as soon as that movie lets out?”
“Yes”—he pushes out a tender smile—“but only if you promise me one more thing.”
“Boy aren’t you demanding this evening.” As handsome and kind as Cade James is, he’s still managed to vex me on some level. “Let’s hear it. I’m okay with bringing food into the bedroom, but if you’re looking to impale me with blunt objects, it’s a no-go.”
That warm laugh of his rumbles through both of us. “I want you to stay the night.”
“Stay the night?” A white-hot pang of anxiety flashes through my chest. I swallow hard, contemplating this for the briefest of seconds. “Done.” I shake his hand, and we lose ourselves in one another’s eyes for a moment.