“You hungry?” Cane asked.
“No. Now can you please cut the small talk? And all this time I thought I was the nervous one.”
He flashed a crooked smile. “I’m just…” He inhaled deeply before letting it go. “I don’t know. I just thought you’d be over me by this point of your life. College is a blink away. You’re young and attractive and can have any guy you want, but you still want me. I guess I’m just shocked…and worried.”
My eyebrows drew together. “Worried?”
“Yes, worried. You’re my best friend’s daughter. You can rat on me at any time if I do something wrong.”
“I would never do that, Cane.”
“I know, Kandy.” He ran a hand over the top of mine. “I know. I’m just rambling now. Ignore me.”
“It’s okay,” I assured him. I understood where he was coming from. He was worried something bad would happen between us. He knew I would never tell my parents a thing about us, but he also knew that if anything went haywire, I’d never look at him the same again.
I don’t know when I’d fallen asleep.
I was so excited that I didn’t think I would be able to settle down enough to rest, but after having a burger and a milkshake during the ride, along with the sun beaming down on me, I’d succumbed.
I can’t forget to mention that due to my excitement the night before, I’d hardly slept. All I could think about was how he would take me. Would he be gentle at first and build up to a harder thrust? Would he stall and make me wait, or would he get right to it?
A warm hand touched my shoulder, dragging me out of my sleep.
“Hmm.” I shifted a little, peeling my eyes open, trying hard to adjust them to the sun.
“We’re here, Kandy.” Cane had killed the engine, his gray-green eyes on me. I pulled my gaze from him and focused on the house in front of us. It was nice. Simple.
I don’t know why I was expecting a mansion of some sort, or even a house like his real one in Atlanta, but I wasn’t complaining. It was still beautiful.
This lake house was a basic two-story home. There were wide, square windows built into the front of the home and a long, cement sidewalk surrounded by pedicured grass leading up to the front door.
“Wanna check it out?” Cane asked.
“Sure.” I unclipped my seatbelt as he opened his door and stepped out. He placed a pair of sunglasses over his eyes while I lifted a hand, shielding my eyes from the sun. Walking around the car, he made his way up the sidewalk and to the door.
He unlocked the wide brown door and let me walk in before him.
The house was even more beautiful on the inside. The living room furniture was a light shade of brown, the floors made of dark brown hardwood, the lights letting off a soft, gold glow. The accent wall was made of slightly burnt bricks, and built into it was an electric fireplace. The furniture was gorgeous, the placements perfect, but nothing could beat the view.
As soon as I walked through the doors, it was the first thing to pull me in. The water shimmered with the wind, and I could see a pier leading to a square deck not too far off. Green treetops and sand and boats and water. It was absolutely breathtaking.
“Wow. Do you come here often?” I asked, turning to look at him.
He shrugged. “Not as much as I’d like. Maybe twice a year, if that, and it’s always for work. This makes the first time that I’m actually here for work and pleasure, if you will.” His eyes flashed as he looked me over. Not once, but twice. I guess it was a good thing I’d worn my jean shorts and favorite belly shirt. He couldn’t stop looking at me.
I pressed my lips, feeling the burn in my cheeks.
“We’ll have dinner delivered,” he announced, finally pulling away to place his keys on the glass table around the corner. “You okay with Italian?”
“I love Italian.”
“Good.”
Cane headed back outside to grab our suitcases from the trunk and while he did, I made my way through the house, absorbing every feature of every room. Most of the rooms were painted a pale blue and accented with white curtains and white bedspreads. I wondered which room we would be in when it finally happened.
Dinner arrived less than an hour later, and we ate at a large table made of white marble. From the table, I could see the lake and the setting sun perched on the horizon. There was a wide window that Cane had opened, the curtains drawn apart, and a soothing breeze passed by us every few minutes. The sky was remarkable, as if made of swirls of pink and blue cotton candy. I loved this time of year most—when the sun would set and the temperature was comfortable. Not too hot, not too cool.