Cupcake Overload (Cupcakes 2)

“Think about it and let me know. And if you want to come, but don’t want me to invite Bran, then that works too. Whatever you want,” I promised.

As we filled Amy May in on our night at The Stagger In and Cade’s badassery, I allowed myself to enjoy the moment with my girls and my happy snack, but in the back of my mind I had that niggling worry that I wouldn’t be able to close out Sledge’s case before the police made an arrest.

There are few things that make me stop, take a breath, and take a minute to thank the heavens above. My kids, a fabulous cupcake, and the sight of Cade in board shorts.

When we got to the river, started unloading and getting everything ready, and I turned just in time to see Cade strip off his shirt … I took that moment.

Lots of tanned skin over large, well-developed muscles, his long hair loose and falling to his shoulders, the tips lightened by the sun. His face, rich with character, smiling at something Jason said, his beard trimmed, but a little longer in the front than usual. Tattoos on display, complementing the tone of his skin beautifully, and all of his jewelry still in place … The man was the picture of virility, strength, and the human male in perfect form.

Cade turned his head to catch me staring and smiled broadly at me, those eyes knowing, as if he had a direct line into my thoughts, and knew I thought he was the most amazing man on the planet.

“Can you stop drooling for five seconds and help me with this?” Amy May asked as she tried to pull a large tube

out of the back of her car.

“Sure,” I replied, turning my attention from the Adonis before me to help my best friend. “I could have swung by and thrown this in the back of the van for you.”

“I know, but I seem to like to make things harder for myself,” Amy May said with a chuckle.

By the time we got ourselves organized, the tubes in the water, with a couple of small coolers tethered to them and the tubes tethered to each other, Elin, Elena, and Cassidy were already in the river, splashing and laughing with each other.

I was watching Cade closely, so I saw his lip curl up as he stepped into the dark water, and had to hold back a laugh.

He was being a good sport by doing this for Elin and Elena, and I didn’t want him to regret it, or think I didn’t appreciate it, so I needed to suppress my instinctual need to poke fun.

Unfortunately, Carmen had decided not to come with us. I hoped it wasn’t my saying I’d invite Bran that scared her off. I could tell she liked him, I just didn’t know what was holding her back.

Once everyone was in their tubes, with Jason in the lead and the rest of us grouping together behind him, we let the current take us down river and lay back in our tubes to relax.

“I needed this,” Amy May said with a soft smile. Her blonde bob was now long enough to be pulled back into a little tail at the base of her head, and she looked great in her navy and white striped one piece.

“Me too,” I agreed, trying to remember the last time I’d taken some time to just relax and enjoy the elements.

I closed my eyes and enjoyed the float. I could hear the kids talking excitedly to each other, the low, deep thrum of male voices as Cade and Jason caught up, and the sounds of the river … Before I knew it, I’d dozed off.

I was dreaming I was Samantha. I was at the hotel, arguing with a man by the pool, and the next thing I knew, I was being held under the water. I could feel myself struggling to breathe, the water all around me, as I fought to get the man’s hand from around my neck. Without thinking, I took a deep breath to scream and my mouth filled with water, making my struggle even more impossible. I started thrashing about as my body began its fight to remain alive…

Cold water surrounded me as I was submerged in it and I came awake in a panic.

I really was underwater, that part wasn’t a dream, but as I flung my limbs around, my feet felt the bottom and I pushed myself up to stand.

“Lila, are you okay?” Amy May was yelling as I shoved my wet hair back from my face and blinked, trying to get my bearings.

They were a few feet down the river from me, and Cade had already gotten off his tube and was wading through the water toward me, his face full of concern.

“I fell asleep; I must have fallen off,” I explained when he was almost upon me.

Cade didn’t say a word, just gathered me in his arms and held on for a minute, then began moving us toward the group.

“You scared me,” he said gruffly in my ear.

I laid my head on his chest and closed my eyes as I listened to the rapid pounding of his heart.

“I scared myself,” I admitted. “I was dreaming that I was drowning, and when I felt the water surround me, I thought it was really happening.”

I felt Cade’s lips on the top of my head and snuggled in, reveling in the safety he provided.

“Do you want to keep going, or head back?”