A few weeks ago, Cash had tried to tell Jade that there had been less-than-complimentary locker-room talk at the gym regarding Brad. Jade had simply rolled her eyes and told him to mind his own business.
She may have used more colorful lingo, but that was the gist. And he had been minding his own business, he just happened to see the disturbing scene two nights ago.
“Didn’t figure you wanted to discuss it,” he replied.
“I don’t, but we should just get it out of the way.”
Cash glanced her way. “Get what out of the way?”
Her vibrant eyes landed on him. “You saying ‘I told you so.’”
She stared at him, had the nerve to raise one perfectly arched brow, as if challenging him to say just that. Her low opinion of him really grated on his nerves. Of course, from what he’d heard about her life in Atlanta, Jade hadn’t had the best run of luck with men in her life, then add in Brad, and, well . . . her bitterness was justified.
Cash shifted his focus back to the horizon and replayed the night at Taps. The shock on Jade’s face, the hurt that quickly followed, the way she had confronted him like her nerves were made of steel, and the way she proudly walked out with her shoulders back and head high.
But he’d caught the flash of humiliation, the slight vulnerability that maybe nobody else saw, but he didn’t miss anything. Not when it came to Jade McKenzie. He’d been intrigued by her for far too long.
“I didn’t say I told you so,” he replied.
“No,” she agreed. “But you want to.”
“Actually, it didn’t cross my mind.” Which was the complete truth, not that he expected her to believe him.
Jade laughed. “Oh, please. Of course it did. You tried to warn me about Brad, and then you were there to see the whole thing unravel.”
The annoyance in her voice confused him. Was she upset that he’d been there, or was she upset that he had indeed tried to protect her?
Regardless, she had already formed her opinion of him and there wasn’t much he could do about it. He’d spent most of his adult life wanting people to see who he really was, but they rarely did. The persona he put out led people to believe he was shallow, a ladies’ man, just some buff guy who didn’t get feelings.
He got them . . . all too well.
“You’re better off without him,” Cash stated. More truth.
“Yes, I am.”
Jade shifted again and stared out the side window. She was nothing if not resilient. She may be hurting and wounded, but she would put up that concrete wall of protection if she had to. The woman never wanted to be seen as weak or vulnerable—a trait he not only appreciated but found downright sexy as hell.
Finding Jade sexy and acting on it were two different things, though. He’d gone that route before, of letting his hormones guide him. They’d guided him right down the aisle and a few years later right into divorce court.
Perhaps he was shallow. He did simple relationships, he did one-night stands and short-term flings. There was no way he’d ever permanently get tangled up in a woman ever again. Why take the risk of brutally damaging his heart even further?
And getting involved with someone like Jade? That was ridiculous to even begin to comprehend.
Sure, she may be stunning and successful, but she had her own issues, same as everyone else. Not to mention they were too opposite. They barely got along on a good day, and she didn’t have the highest opinion of him. Just another person who didn’t know the truth and didn’t want to take the time to find out.
Cash was quite happy with his life, though. He ran the most successful gym in the entire area, he had clients from all over the state, and online, he hosted a boot camp once a month that reached across the country. He didn’t have time to feed a relationship.
“So why all the animosity with the family?” he asked, more to pass the time and to take the topic away from Taps. “I mean, I understand you making an appearance at the wedding, but a bridesmaid?”
“You don’t know my family,” she stated, shaking her head. “Appearances are everything. Even the black sheep has to remain loyal.”
Black sheep? He couldn’t imagine Jade being the black sheep of anything, ever. What were the other family members like if this polished, controlled, successful woman beside him was considered the outcast?
“You’re an adult.” Way to state the obvious. “You’re not obligated to anyone.”
“I owe them,” she replied simply.
Her voice slid through the headset, her tone so soft he wondered if he’d heard correctly.