ChapterThirty-eight
He decided to leave offhis brace after his shower. Cade picked out his clothes for the night with care.Since Kate had invited him for dinner, he was intent on making the bestimpression he could. Nerves fluttered in his stomach, something he hadn't hadsince he was thirteen and keen on a girl. He had always been able to take whathe wanted. Tonight he would be at her mercy.
Cade pulled a whiteshort-sleeved shirt from a hanger, slipping it over his arms before turning tolook at his reflection in the mirror.
I should have boughther some flowers. Hell’s teeth, idiot. Girls expected something when they offerto cook you a meal. Or chocolates, that always works.He pulled on a clean pair of jeans and slipped on his casual shoes beforerunning down the stairs to the kitchen. "Essie, help. Do you have a box ofchocolates in the pantry?"
She glanced at him, hereyebrow raised in question.
"For Kate.She's…um…cooking me dinner and I…uh…thought," he coughed, "I shouldtake her something."
"Go and pick abunch of flowers from the garden. Your mother’s roses are looking prettyspecial at the moment." She nodded her head toward the secateurs hangingon a bright ribbon by the back door with her straw gardening hat. "Makesure you bring them back too."
Cade walked over,grabbed them and headed to the garden. He pushed open the wrought iron gatewith Molly by his heels, and walked into his mother’s favourite outdoor space. Roses,right, but which one was the favourite? This should be easier than it is.He looked around the wild collection of vegetables, herbs and flowers hismother planted in a fashion only she could understand.
"You look a littlebit lost, brother." Rooney walked up the driveway flanked by Stevie andTam.
"Yeah, you couldsay that. Hey, which are Mum’s favourite roses?"
She walked to the gateand wandered in, a serene smile on her face. "You don't know? I'm ashamedof you. Those," she pointed to the same pink flower planted by theirparents graves. "What's going on, Cade."
"I need some forKate." He looked up at the knowing smile on her face. "Don't evenstart, Rooney. It's dinner."
"Sure, you saythat now but I happen to know it's more than that for both of you." Shewatched him hack at the rose bush a couple of times before taking the cuttersfrom him. "Let me." Rooney cut a bunch of roses and pruned the stemsleaving them clear from thorns and leaves. "Now let's add some light greenfoliage to really make them stand out."
Cade watched her stepover, cut a few fern fronds and place them around the roses. He glanced over atStevie who was staring at her with a besotted look on his face.
She came back and heldthem out for him. "Here you go. Just so you know, if you hurt her, you'llhave me to deal with." Rooney gave him her death stare and Cade sighed.
"I have no plan tohurt her. If anything, I’ll be the one coming home wounded."
Her eyes opened in surprise."Oh, wow, so little Kate has got to you at last. I'm pleased, Cade. She isa lovely girl." She held her hand over her eyes, shading her face from thesetting sun.
Cade reached out andgrabbed her hand. "What is this?" He glanced over at Stevie, standingwith a satisfied smile on his face.
"This beautifulthing? It's an engagement ring. Stevie popped the question again and I saidyes." She threw her arms around Cade's neck, a squeal piercing the air andhe managed to hold the flowers out of her way.
With one hand, hegrasped her tight. "I'm really pleased for you guys. Congratulations,Stevie. Hoped you would become one of us sooner or later."
Tam ran through thegate and held out her hand, proudly showing off her ring. "Look what Daddygave me, Uncle Cade."
He crouched down andtook her hand inspecting it seriously. "You are one lucky girl, Squirt.Congratulations, all of you."
"Now we just haveto work on you and Russ." Rooney tilted her head and smiled.
"Whoa, not so fastgirl. It's dinner, okay. Nobody mention the 'm' word for a bit." He gave afake shudder and grinned at his sister. The thought of being tied to Katewasn't as scary as he would have her believe. It had a nice gentle feel to itand the more he thought about it, the cosier it became. Almost like cominghome.
"Somehow I don'tthink you will have much luck with Russ. He’s too damned conservative for hisown good." Cade shook his head, sad for his brother. He couldn’tunderstand someone so set in their ways they’d refuse to fight for what theywanted.
"Don't worry aboutRuss." Stevie crossed his arms and nodded his head. "He’s on theright track."
Cade and Rooney lookedat him waiting for more, but he wasn't forthcoming.
"Well, well. Thatwill be interesting—getting information from Big Brother." Rooney winkedand laughed, taking her daughter’s hand. "Let's go and get you bathedready for dinner, young lady. Daddy and I need an early night. I'm feeling justa little bit shattered with all this excitement."
Cade watched the blushrush up his sister’s cheeks and smiled at Stevie. It looked like they had a fewthings to catch up on. He hoped against hope that he would get lucky tonighttoo and thought about slipping a couple of condoms into his pocket. Worth a go,but he wasn't going to push her and risk blowing the whole relationship thingif she thought he was treating her like a groupie.
"Thanks for thehelp." They all walked inside and Cade hung up the secateurs and placed theroses in the sink while he ran upstairs. Slipping a couple of condoms in hisback pocket, he wiped his
