"Oh.” I glanced over my shoulder. “He had therapy today. Mom took him this time since she was free. They're probably just running a little late." I fidgeted on my feet. I knew I was going to have to invite him in, but that meant I would be alone with him…again.
"I'll call Mom and see where they are.” I turned, leaving the door open, leaving it up to him to decide whether to come in, go back to his car, take a smoke, or do whatever he needed to do as long as it meant we weren't alone in the same room together again.
Of course, he came in. My heart was delighted, but my brain and body whirled with anxiety. I went to the sofa and picked up my cellphone, sending Mom a quick text. She replied a few seconds later. I sighed while reading the message.
“What’s up?” Cane asked, and I put my focus on him. He was already looking at me, but his eyes dropped to my phone.
“Oh, uh…she said they just left the hospital but have to stop by the pharmacy to pick up a prescription.”
“Oh, okay.” Cane looked around the living room and then focused on the TV. “I guess I’ll wait here and watch some TV with you then…if that’s okay with you.”
“Sure—yeah. Feel free.” I stepped back as he smiled at me and took the single recliner behind him. He took the single recliner, so he wouldn’t have to sit next to me—at least that’s how I saw it.
“Do you want something to drink?” I asked, and he shook his head.
“I’m good, Kandy Cane.”
I sat down, slightly rolling my eyes. He knew how I felt about that name, yet he still used it, even after what’d happened.
I tucked my feet under my butt and pretended to watch the show, but it was impossible to focus. Cane was only a few steps away, but it felt like he was right next to me.
I glanced over at him, unable to stop myself, and he was watching the TV in an almost boyish manner. His face was relaxed, eyes wide, like he was amazed by what was going on—like he hadn’t watched TV in years.
His legs were spread slightly apart, and my eyes landed on the bulge between them. I could see the print of his manhood—thick and long. From this angle, it looked appealing, the way it rested on the inside of his thigh.
I fidgeted then, finding it completely and utterly impossible to remain still and comfortable in the same room as him by myself. I kept thinking about that night. That godawful, beautiful, terrifying, yet euphoric night. I sucked in a breath.
Cane looked up, as if he felt me looking, and his eyes landed on me. I jerked my head up to look away, but was sure he’d caught me.
I caved and looked back. “Do you plan on going to the beach with us next month?” I asked, looking down at my phone.
“I do, actually. Figured I could use the vacation. Haven’t taken one in years.”
I frowned. “Years?”
“Yes, Kandy. Years. I’ve been working so hard to build Tempt that I haven’t actually gotten around to scheduling one. But since Derek and Mindy are putting it together and things are going pretty well for the company, I don’t see why not.”
“Oh. Cool.” I swung my eyes over to the television, pretending Jesse calling someone a bitch was more important. “You bringing Kelly?”
I avoided his eyes but felt him staring a hole into the side of my head. “Do you want me to bring her?”
“No!” I blurted, and then immediately clamped my mouth shut, realizing how pathetic and stupid I sounded. His eyes widened, like he was surprised by my sudden outburst.
“You really don’t like her, huh?” He chuckled, and I pulled my legs from beneath me, placing my feet on the floor, and sitting up straight.
“I never said I don’t like her.” I chewed on my bottom lip, and he watched me do it. “I just…think she’s in the way.”
“In the way of what?” he asked with a slight frown, like he honestly had no clue. How great of him to play dumb when he knew how I felt about him.
“She won’t be there. Don’t worry,” he assured, and I was beyond relieved to hear it.
“I’m glad you’re not being too weird,” I laughed.
Confused, he asked, “Weird about what?”
“About that night…and what happened, you know?”
“Oh.” He looked away with a big shrug. When he did, I couldn’t help but watch him. His chiseled jaw ticked again, his nostrils flaring a little, as if the memories of what we did would haunt him in the best and worst ways.
Deep down, I knew that Cane wanted me too, and the fact that he wasn’t supposed to want me was making things harder for him. I noticed he didn’t show up as much as before, and that could have been due to Dad’s recovery and because of Mom’s promotion. With her promotion, she had to work more, which meant less scheduled dinners…or it could have been because he was afraid to be around me after what had happened.