Wyatt had been working more than he expected with his new job with the state police, and I couldn’t help to think that perhaps he regretted his decision. He was the very definition of a family man and it was taking his time away from them.
I checked my Louboutin lipstick one last time, before taking a deep breath, and grabbing Olivia’s presents covering the passenger seat and the floor in front of it. I spoiled her rotten and loved every single minute of it.
I had prayed since Breigh had announced they were having Olivia’s birthday party at their home, I would get lucky enough that Cash wouldn't show up. I had been able to avoid seeing him or talking to him, with the exception of the call after the concert.
He was my weakness and I was determined to change that.
“Look who’s here!” Breigh said with her Texas accent twanging off her tongue, as Olivia came running straight for me with a squeal.
As I bent down to pick her up, her arms reached around my neck. I bathed her with kisses under her chubby neck. She brought her two little hands to my cheeks, holding me steady while placing a kiss on my lips.
She hung on to my neck like a little monkey as Breigh took the presents from my hands.
“She seems like she is growing every single time I see her,” I commented with sadness.
“You see her all the time, Emma, geezzz we FaceTime at least every other day.” She laughed off my comment. “Think you might have overdone it again with presents?” She rolled her eyes at me with a shake of her head, already aware of my response.
“Never,” I giggled.
As I walked into their home, I was met with the appearance of the man standing in the kitchen. The other children had not showed up quite yet.
I froze, unsure of what I wanted to say or do. That was not entirely true.
The voice in my head said to turn around and walk right out the front door.
My heart said run into him and kiss him until we were both breathless. I managed to resist him one-on-one, I could do it here too.
“I know what you are thinking… and listen to your head not your heart,” Breigh said in a whisper, knowing my every thought. She always had been good at that, and she got better every day at it.
I turned around to Cash standing there in a pair of blue jeans and a black T-shirt, showing how beautiful he was. Not many men could look as sexy in jeans as he could in a tailored suit and tie.
I laughed at the sight of him holding a Coke can with a silly straw sticking out. It was strictly for Olivia’s entertainment.
Why did he make me so weak? I got a whiff of his scent, a musk and clean mixture, and wanted to lean into him. Instead I straightened my posture, looking down at my bodice as if I needed to fix it. I wore a sundress today, a dress that flowed and hung off my shoulders. It screamed spring. New beginnings.
I flashed back to that moment I first had him in my eyesight. I was just as weak then.
“Hi, ladies, would either of you like to dance? Or have a drink?” Cash said, apparently confident he would get a yes out of one or both of us. I was immediately smitten, unlike Breigh. His posture screamed cockiness and I loved it.
He reached out his well-manicured hand out for us to shake. “I’m Cash.”
I introduced both of us, giddy with excitement. I may have been acting as if he was a famous movie star.
His long-sleeved business shirt was pressed and rolled up his forearms, with jeans that looked as if they had only been worn once. A businessman, exactly my forte.
“I’m good. Emma?” Breigh passed the hot potato to me, hoping I’d brush him off and make it noticeable we had no interest. It may have been girls’ night, but when you connected with a gorgeous man like this; I couldn’t just walk away. Although, I did feel a little bad. It was the first night out for Breigh in a long time.
Oh forget it! You only live once. I’d deal with the repercussions from Breigh later.
“I would love a drink… dance… sure both.” My focus had been redirected. I feared I would be in love by the end of the night with this stranger, who might possibly be more in love with himself than me.
I began to follow Cash, seeing Breigh in my rearview shrugging her shoulders in frustration. She finally gave up, throwing her hands up in the air.
We stopped at a small circular wooden table where Breigh met us.
“This is my brother, Wyatt.” He introduced him as if he was dismissing him at the same time, not worth the breath in his lungs. Tension was noticeable indeed.
Cash and I walked off to the bar, leaving Breigh with the brother. I guess I should have felt bad but I didn’t.
I had always been a hopeless romantic, unlike Breigh. I knew there was that “someone” waiting for me, I just had to find him. And so far it wasn’t looking so good.
I glanced over at Breigh and saw she was successfully in a conversation with the brother as Cash led me to the dance floor. As we moved along the dance floor, I could see Breigh looking up making sure I was okay.
After a couple dances on the floor, the band took a break so we went to join the other two. He moved a chair close to me so he could get sidle up to me.
I looked at Breigh feeling a little bad I had abandoned her, but the chemistry this man and I had was flaming. If he asked me to leave with him right now, I would. In a heartbeat.
Breigh was talking to me but I
