“It was fine.”
“It was fine?”, Grace asked with a note incredulity in her voice. “Just fine?”
“Okay, so it was amazing. Absolutely the best date I’ve ever had in my life. Does that work better?”, Kresley asked cheekily, with a huge smile on her face.
Last night had been amazing. Cade was amazing. He had been funny, sexy, and a true gentleman. The date had begun with him unloading the bags he had brought, revealing several different take out containers of Italian food from Dante’s across town. He had also pulled out two flameless candles and a box of Monster M&M cookies from Letty’s Bakery. He made Kresley sit at the bar and went about her kitchen, taking down plates, wine glasses, utensils and retrieving the bottle of red wine he had set aside to breathe. He set up the small dining room table in the corner with the candles and such, then poured them both wine and dished up wonderful smelling pasta dishes. Then Cade and Kresley sat and ate, telling stories and laughing a lot. Kresley still smiled at some of the stories he had told her of his childhood. After dinner, they had sat on the couch eating cookies and talking about his job. Kresley could tell that Cade was passionate about his work, especially working to help victims of domestic violence and hate crimes.
“Tell me something no one else knows about you, well, with the exception of Grace and your sisters”, Cade had stated with a sweet smile. He seemed genuinely interested in what she had to say and gave her his full attention every time she had opened her mouth. Kresley had to stop and think for a few moments and finally thought of something.
“I’ve never slow danced with someone before.” She saw surprise in his eyes before he quickly stood up and found his phone. More curious than alarmed, Kresley waited to see what he was going to do next. He clicked a few times on his phone and then Kresley could hear the sounds of soft music coming from his phone speakers. He then held out his large, masculine hand to her and Kres took it without question. He pulled her up to stand and then looked deep into her green eyes.
“May I have this dance, baby?”, Cade tenderly asked Kres. A thrill went up her spine at the look on Cade’s face and the heat she could hear in his voice. Placing her hand in his, Kres allowed him to pull her into his body. Her head fit into the crook of his neck and shoulder perfectly. Cade wrapped his arms around her waist, crossing them over each other at her back. Kresley placed one hand on the nape of Cade’s neck, fingering the hairs there and placed the other on his chest, over his heart. Cade then began swaying with Kresley, dancing slow and seductively around her living room. Kresley could hear Adele singing To Make You Feel My Love in the background. Closing her eyes and just choosing to feel, Kresley burrowed in deeper to Cade’s body and let go. Soon the sounds of Tennessee Whiskey by Chris Stapleton came on and the couple swaying around the living room had eyes for only each other.
After dancing around her living room for nearly an hour, she and Cade had cuddled on the couch and watched a movie together, though they didn’t pay much attention to what was playing. Kresley had melted into Cade, laying her head on his chest and pulling her legs up on the couch, knees bent and feet tucked beneath her. Cade relaxed with his arm around Kresley, playing with her hair that was now down around her shoulders and back. He leaned over and kissed her forehead every few minutes. It was the perfect date. Kresley had walked him to the front door of the downstairs offices and Cade proceeded to give her the best goodnight kiss ever. His mouth was hot, his big hands wrapped around her ribs with thumbs rubbing the sides of her breasts. Kresley’s arms wrapped tightly around his neck and shoulders. He had softly said goodnight and with one last soft kiss to her nose, he had walked away toward his car parked down the street.
Kresley came back to the present and stared around at her sisters. “What?”
“You know what”, Gertie stated, finger pointed at Kresley’s face, indicating that blush that Kresley just knew was there, bright and heated.
Birdie spoke up for the group and summarized in her dead-pan tone, “So Cade came to your home, bringing Dante’s Italian, monster cookies and all the romantic table decorations and after feeding you, he slow danced with you, bodies touching, for at least an hour. Then you cuddled and watched a movie together. Afterward he was a complete gentleman and kissed you at the door where you said goodnight. Am I missing anything?”
“Nope that’s about it.”
“I ask again, does the man have any siblings? I will take an adopted brother. Seriously”, Birdie states loudly. “What an amazing date it was for you Kres. I’m so happy for you.”
Kresley just smiled softly, put her hand over her heart and rubbed the ache there. Soon work called for all of them and they separated to their individual offices. Later that day, Grace called back to Kresley and stated that Claudia Nolan and her father Pete Nolan were there to see her. Kresley’s heart sped up in anxiety, but stated that they could come back. Claudia and her father walked into her office moments later and sat down without being asked.
“I am guessing that you’re aware of what’s going on, seeing as this is where my fiancé died”, Claudia stated without a greeting. She had always seemed to be so cold to Kresley. She didn’t know why she was, except maybe she knew the history behind she and Drake from long ago.
