Caleb leaned in and put his arm around my chair, stroking my shoulder lightly.
And I didn't like it one bit. In a lot of cases, I would have loved a sweet move like this, but not tonight.
“Speaking of the devil…” Wyatt pointed toward his brother, who was standing at the hostess stand.
Caleb dropped his hand off my chair when I turned to get a look at Cash.
How did that man have radar for finding me?
Shit.
CASH
When I was driving by Payton’s Steakhouse, I spotted Wyatt’s truck and Emma’s Mercedes. I assumed they were having dinner together and thought I would stop by. No harm in that, right?
But when I walked in I wasn’t prepared to see her sitting beside another man.
My initial emotion was to be mad that Wyatt and Breigh would try to set her up, but then I realized they had always done that. They wanted Emma to be happy and for that I couldn't blame them.
Then I recognized the same guy from Olivia’s party, Caleb, aka douchebag, and that irked me a bit.
Wyatt saw me immediately as I was eyeing Emma, watching the man who had his arm around her. I wanted to go break it off. I had never been a violent man, but someone touching Emma made me feel that way.
“What are you doing here, Cash?” Wyatt asked, irritated as I stood at the table.
“I saw your truck and Emma’s car so I thought I would stop by and say hi.”
“We actually have a guest with us. Right now really isn't a good time,” he said to me, hoping I wasn't going to cause a scene.
“I’ll just say hi and leave,” I said.
“Please don't start something…it isn't as if…”
“Yes, I know… but not for lack of trying on my part.”
Emma immediately appeared nervous and the look in her brown eyes showed fear, uncertainty. She was normally pretty confident so I didn't get to see her unsure often.
“Emma,” I said, and then said hi to Breigh. Emma introduced me to her date and I acted polite. I didn't like it though, and I’d be damned if I wasn't grinding my teeth. Glad I didn't break a tooth I was biting down so hard.
“Well, I was actually meeting someone so I just wanted to say hi. Y'all enjoy your night.”
I took a deep breath and turned away, lying my ass off so I didn't look any more like a fool than I did already.
I walked off toward the restrooms rather than the front door to recompose myself. Plus I wasn't meeting anyone and didn't want to look like a complete ass, which I had made an art of.
EMMA
When I saw Cash every nerve on my body went on high alert. Goosebumps covered my arms and I wondered if they were visible to anyone other than myself. I saw the look of hurt and confusion in his green eyes, just like I had when I had seen Cash with other women in the past.
This time though I could tell it really hurt him, and that hurt me, contrary to how I should be feeling.
I watched as he walked toward the restrooms, and instead of looking the other way I excused myself to follow him. I knew I shouldn't but I wasn't going to listen to any reason that my brain was trying to transmit.
I had hoped that Caleb wouldn't notice, but at this point I really didn't care. He was nice enough but the fact of the matter was when I saw Cash, no matter what he had done to me, I longed for his touch.
That had to mean something, right? Even if I was a complete idiot for wanting it.
Breigh shook her head at me as I stood up and walked toward the same direction, Wyatt began a conversation about work with Caleb. I wasn't sure if he was talking to keep him distracted or really didn't care. Either would have been plausible.
Luckily the restrooms had a separate hall you had to walk a ways down. The ladies’ room was exceptional with a sitting area for women who were waiting on others. It appeared to be a place where women could hide out, probably in situations like this.
Well done, thank you, Payton, whoever you are.
I hadn't exactly thought of what I was going to say to Cash, or how to approach him, but that was put to the wayside at this point. Seeing him was the only thing that mattered right now. I felt I owed him an explanation.
He had continued to text me without a single response from me. I read each and every one, and then saved them to a folder so one day I would be able to look at them and remind myself that just once I had a man who loved me but wasn't ready for commitment, the kind I was ready for.
My thoughts were getting away from me, so I exited the restroom and stood outside of it for a few minutes lost in a trance, thinking. I knew what I was looking for, and didn’t want to admit it to myself.
Not yet anyway.
I felt strong arms wrap around me and then nudged me toward a door that was beside the exit. I knew immediately it was Cash from the smell of his musky clean cologne, and the way he was holding me.
I looked down at his hands that were holding me. They were manicured, just like they had always been.
Inside the large closet, the light was dim, barely bright enough to be considered an overhead light. Linens and supplies were lined up, organized each in its respective spots.
I studied him, waiting for what our next move would be. Was he mad? What were his thoughts of seeing me with Caleb?
He leaned me up against the door before kissing me madly.
Cash always took my face
