Lei'd With Cupcakes (Cupcakes 3)

I really wanted to make a good impression on Cade’s parents, but all I could do was pray that the car would stop soon and this roller coaster of a ride would be over, before I did something really embarrassing. Like throw up in the back seat of Cade’s dad’s car.

I was trying to focus on breathing, and enjoying the gorgeous scenery around me, when we took a sharp right, then dipped down a steep hill and pulled to a stop. I turned in my seat, looking back at the hill we’d just come down, and wondered how in the heck you’d drive back up that thing.

I was still pondering this when everyone else exited the 4Runner and started grabbing bags out of the back.

Cade’s family home was a modest bungalow surrounded by lush trees, bushes, and flowers. As I did my best to carry my large suitcase over the rocky ground, I noticed a sitting area surrounding a large open pit. There was a hodge podge of places to sit. A couple chairs, a few logs, and a large leather bench seat that must have come out of an old car from the fifties.

“We spend more time outside than in,” Cade said from beside me. “We’ll cook there, sit around with a drink, or just spend hours talking.”

“Oh,” I replied, then turned my head to smile up at him. “Is that the ocean I hear?”

Cade lifted his chin toward the house.

“Yeah, I’ll take you out back once we put our stuff down.”

I followed Cade through the front door, which led right into an open area, where you could see the living room, dining room, and kitchen, where Elin and Elena were currently planted. They were sitting on bar stools, eating cookies, while telling Cade’s parents about the flight.

And, as if they’d known them five years, rather than five minutes, Cade’s mother and father were smiling at my children and listening to their every word.

My heart warmed at the sight, and although I wanted to go join them, I followed Cade down the hall to put my bag down and give myself a minute to get my shit together.

“We’ll be in here,” Cade said, pausing at the threshold of a room before walking inside.

I followed behind him, taking in the large bed, well-worn dresser with trophies scattered across the top, and the row of lockers against the wall.

“This is your room?” I asked, even though it was pretty obvious.

“Yeah.”

“I’m in here with you?” I asked, my eyes darting back out into the hall.

“Yeah.”

I dropped my bag by the bed and walked up to Cade, lowering my voice to say, “I can’t sleep with you in your parents’ house.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” Cade asked as he took out his rubber band and pulled his hair back to secure it again.

“We can’t have sex in your parents’ house.”

Cade turned his face toward me, eyebrows raised.

“Lila, I’m thirty-eight years old. I’m pretty sure they know I fuck.”

My eyes widened and my face went red.

“Don’t talk like that, my God … Just because they assume, doesn’t mean it should happen in their house. It’s rude.”

Cade chuckled and replied, “All right, darlin’, I’ll keep my hands to myself, in the house, and we’ll see if you can do the same.”

I placed my hands on my hips, offended that he thought he could control himself, but I couldn’t.

“Well, where am I going to sleep then?”

“Here, Lila,” Cade said, his smile indulgent. “My sister, Alani is sharing her room with Elena, and El

in is on the couch. You’re in here with me, unless you want to sleep outside, or on the floor somewhere.”

I scowled at him, but he just grinned and stepped up close. Close enough that I could feel his heat, smell his spicy scent, and had to tilt my head up to look at his fully mouth.