Laura smiled and nodded. “That would be nice.”
My car was with the valet, so it wasn’t a problem for me to walk with her down to the water. It was peaceful at this time of the night with nobody else around. There were a few other people, but they were far away, far enough that I couldn’t see them, and I knew that they wouldn’t be able to overhear us. We were basically alone and would be able to discuss or do whatever we wanted without feeling like we might have an audience.
I kept my arm hooked with Laura’s, and she let me, curling into my side as we walked along the lake. It was beautiful at night, with the moon making a silvery path across the water, and I remembered all the times we’d sneak out at night to spend time here when we were teenagers.
“Remember sitting on the hood of my car?” I asked. “Stargazing? You made hot chocolate and we spread out blankets.”
Laura smiled, staring out over the water. “I remember. It was lovely.”
“Don’t get me wrong,” I added. “I love remembering the naughtier times, too. But I think these moments were my favorite. Just curling up with you and spending time with you.”
I wanted her to know that she hadn’t been a fling to me, the way she thought because of the lie I’d told her. I had never liked her only for the sex, as amazing as the sex had been. I’d been in love with her. I still was.
Not that I could tell her that right now. I had to choose my words carefully.
Laura turned to smile at me. She looked a little surprised, like she hadn’t expected me to say that. I wanted to tell her so many more things, until the surprised expression would leave her face and she had no doubt about my feelings—and then she shivered.
“Are you cold? Here,” I took off my jacket and held it out for her.
“Oh, you really don’t have to….”
“I’m gonna be fine. Seriously, I insist.” I helped her into the jacket and then wrapped my arm around her shoulders.
Laura blushed. It was hard to tell in the moonlight, but I was pretty sure that I could see her cheeks reddening. She smiled at the ground, biting her lip. “Thank you.”
“Of course.” I’ll always take care of you, if you let me.
We walked for a little further, then paused to watch the waves roll in along one of the beaches on the lake. During the day, kids would come down and swim here, but for now, it was silent and empty, nothing but the soft crashing of the waves upon the sand.
Laura settled against me, her head on my shoulder, and I had never felt more content. I didn’t want this night to ever end. I wanted to stay with her and have her stay with me.
I turned to look at her. “Come back to the lake house with me.”
Laura froze. She stared out across the lake for a moment, then turned slowly to look up at my face. I could see the indecisiveness there, the question in her eyes.
Would she say yes? My breath caught in my chest as I waited for her answer.
Please. Please, say “yes”.
20
Laura
I was genuinely surprised by Cade’s request. Partly because he had done an admirable job of backing off after I’d told him that I wasn’t sold on jumping into a relationship with him. And secondly, because I hadn’t thought that he would still want to be with me even though I didn’t want to commit to him.
My head swam with the possibilities and confusion. I wanted to trust him when he’d said that he wanted to make up for last time and give us a second chance. But I didn’t know if I could trust him—and even if I could, all of my concerns were still valid. I didn’t want to do a long-distance relationship, nor did I want to uproot my whole life. Even without Drew, and especially with him in the picture. I couldn’t change his life all of a sudden. And what if Cade and I didn’t work out?
But going back to the lake house with him this night wasn’t committing to a relationship. It was only committing to a continuation of our night together. And we’d had a fairly early dinner even if we had lingered over our food. It wasn’t terribly late. I could have some fun with Cade at his house and still get back to my home before Caitlyn would start to get worried or fall asleep.
“Won’t your parents be at the lake house?” I wasn’t going to sneak around them, nor did I want to meet them. Not so soon after Cade had broken up his engagement. I doubt they’d take it well if they saw him with another woman.
Cade shook his head. “They’ve gone to Florida for some fundraising event. Dad wanted me to accompany them, but I turned them down. They’re still taking the whole engagement cancelation hard, and I knew that if I went, it would just lead to us arguing the entire time. I think they could use some space from me.”
That sounded entirely reasonable.
“It means…” Cade cleared his throat, “that I have the lake house to myself. Just like that summer after high school.”
His voice was smooth and deep, full of promise. I swallowed. I was sorely tempted to go with him. Caitlyn would probably tell me to go, to have fun, to get some good sex for once in my life.
But was it really a good idea to go back to the lake house? To the place where we’d last been happy in our relationship, the same place where Cade had broken my heart?
“I know you have reservations about being in a relationship again,” Cade said softly. “I understand. I’m not asking for that. I’m asking for
