Cade laughed as he noticed Kresley’s blushing face at his flirtatious actions. He and Boomer continued to talk as he waited for his kiss with Grace. Cade noticed the guys who were in line for Gertie’s kiss. He recognized Braxton Harris, Drake’s brother. He and Braxton and Boomer had hung out several times in the past month. Braxton was a good guy and Cade approved for him to try his hand out wooing Gertie, if she wanted it. He had already warned Braxton to proceed with caution with anything to do with Gertie. He told him he couldn’t tell him why since it was her story to tell, but he did tell him that scars run deep and not to give up on her if he really wanted to get to know her. Braxton took his advice seriously it seemed. Cade also noticed Officer Sloan Smith in line to kiss Gertie. Cade was slightly surprised the quiet man would partake in something like this, but to each his own. Cade nudged Boomer and motioned to Officer Smith. Boomer just shrugged and said that Sloan was a loaner most of the time, but Boomer knew that he had noticed the red-haired sisters before.
Cade juggled his viewing time between the sisters and Kresley. She was manning the money bucket, avoiding any would-be kissers. He would catch her eye every few minutes and smile at her, loving how happy it seemed to make her when his attention was on her. Soon, Boomer’s turn came to the front of Grace’s line and Cade observed Grace looking up at Boomer nervously, as if she were holding her breath. Her big blue eyes were wide and she licked her lips. Boomer seemed to hesitate for a sec until Cade nudged him with his foot at the back of his leg. He propelled Boomer forward a little and then his mouth was on Gracie’s. As kisses went, it was gentle and brief, at least it was to Cade. But he could see how effected his friend was when he pulled back from the blonde bombshell. He watched Boomer push a lock of hair behind Grace’s ear, tweak her nose with his finger and give her a heavy, flirtatious smile. Boomer sauntered away from the booth, with Grace looking at him as if he was a piece of steak and she hadn’t eaten yet. Cade laughed at that and just shook his head.
Next up in the kissing line was Braxton, standing in front of Gertie expectantly. Cade saw how shyly Gertie smiled at Braxton, pushing her hair away from her face nervously. Braxton wasted no time and put his hands on either side of Gertie’s cheeks, thumbs resting beside her lips and pulled her across the booth to him. He kissed her heavily, his lips coming down hard on hers, nudging them open. Cade became a little concerned that Gertie would push Braxton away harshly, but she surprised him and Kresley it seemed when she just stood there, seeming to take Braxton in with surprise and obvious acceptance. When he pulled away from her, Gertie looked like lightning had struck her, like she had never seen Braxton before in her life. He said something to her and Cade could see her stutter for a second, then Braxton walked away with a big smile and left Gertie staring after him in a stupor. Good for him, Cade thought. If he had learned anything in his time spent with Kresley, is that if you wanted an Anderson sister, you just had to go for it. He was glad Braxton was taking his advice or he hoped he was.
Cade turned back to the kissing booth line and noticed that Officer Sloan Smith was looking angry. He was a few men behind Braxton in Gertie’s line, but as the firefighter captain had laid a kiss of epic proportions on Gertie, Sloan had almost violently torn himself out of the line and stalked off. What the hell was up with him? Cade would have to look into what that was all about later on.
The rest of the afternoon went by quickly and soon it was time to break down the kissing booth. Cade and Boomer helped the women box up everything and gather the money. Kresley was pleased to count out $1700 in kiss money. That was a lot of kisses, but at least they weren’t done by his Kres. Boomer seemed to hover around Grace, but when Cade overheard him ask Grace if she could go to dinner with him, he winced when she turned him down, saying that she had to go pick up her son from the babysitter and spend some time with him. He silently encouraged Boomer with a nod to not feel defeated. There would be a next time. He heard Boomer tell her he understood and could he have a rain check for later on. Cade was relieved when he saw Grace give him a smile and say yes. Watching those two dance around each other was damn painful to watch.
He and Kresley walked hand in hand towards the parking lot, making a move towards his truck. She had ridden with one of her sisters there that morning and chosen to ride home with him, wherever he wanted to take her. Cade chose for them to go back to his house to spend time with each other. They grabbed takeout on
