Hold On to Me, page 5
He’d called Tanner, too, considering they shared the Cessna, but he didn’t answer. Cash ended up shooting him a brief text.
And now he was waiting for Jade. He didn’t know why he was waiting on her. She’d likely get out of the tub and crawl into bed and ignore him. But he wanted to see if she was okay. Jade had a tendency to use sarcasm or the cold shoulder to deal with things . . . or maybe that was just the special treatment he got.
Regardless, as much of a tough front as she’d tried to put up earlier when running into her cousins, Cash had seen beyond the forced smiles. She truly didn’t want to be here.
He wanted to know why or who kept her loyalty. He’d always thought Jade was upper class, and she was, but after seeing a brief sampling of her family, Cash realized she was nothing like them.
There was no need for him to barge into the bathroom to see if she was breathing or submerged underwater. Surely to goodness she was just relaxing, like she’d been wanting to do.
Cash turned from the closed doors and stared at the couch. This day sure as hell hadn’t gone as planned, but he could think of worse ways to spend the night. He still needed to text his clients to reschedule them because he wasn’t going to be back in Haven for a couple of days.
Tomorrow he’d have to find somewhere to get something to wear for the wedding. No doubt it was a black-tie affair, but because he technically wasn’t invited, he didn’t feel he needed to follow those rules.
He crossed to the sectional, which would prove to be his bedroom, office, and living room. Pulling his cell from his pocket, he sank into the corner seat and stretched his legs out before him on the cushions.
After several minutes of scrolling through his schedule and contacting clients, he set his phone aside and glanced over his shoulder toward the closed bedroom doors. Still nothing.
Was she done talking for the night?
Considering he was only here by default, Cash wasn’t going to bother her. She’d booked this room thinking she’d have some romantic getaway with her jerk of an ex. A stirring of jealousy slithered through him, which was absolutely absurd because he never got jealous. He wasn’t even jealous when his wife cheated on him . . . twice. He was mad as hell, but not jealous. That had been a glaring sign that he wasn’t in love with her.
Cash came to his feet and went to the closet in the entryway. He found spare blankets and pillows and took them back to the couch to make his bed. He had no spare clothes, so he’d just have to sleep in his boxer briefs. No way in hell was he going to be modest and try to sleep in jeans. He wasn’t that much of a gentleman.
Stripping down to his underwear, he already felt more comfortable. He grabbed the folded blanket and gave it a hard shake before sending it fluttering down onto the sofa cushions.
“Hey, Flex—”
Cash shifted his attention across the suite to the open door of the bedroom, where Jade stood wearing a fluffy white hotel robe, her hair up in a towel and those eyes wide with wonder. Even at this distance, he didn’t miss the way her mouth dropped open as her gaze darted down, then struggled to make the return trip back up.
“Need something?” he asked, not bothering to shield his body or hide his smile.
Jade blinked and clutched the vee in her robe. “Um . . . yeah. I was going to see if you wanted to order room service and—damn it. Would you put clothes on?”
“I’m wearing clothes.”
She stepped from the room and glared at him. “Your underwear is hugging parts I shouldn’t be looking at.”
Cash couldn’t help himself; he stepped around the couch to give her a better look. “Can’t control yourself, Red?”
She crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head to the side. “You wish. I think you adore yourself enough for both of us.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being proud of your body,” he told her. “I work damn hard to stay in shape and I know you do, too, with as much as you run.”
Her eyes traveled over him once again. “I love running. It’s therapeutic. So is yoga. I’d say you’re one of those guys who is constantly taking gym pics in the mirror and splashing them all over social media.”
Cash couldn’t help but laugh as he raked a hand over his abs. “I don’t take pictures of myself. I do take pictures of the gym, of people working out, of partners spotting each other. It’s all part of my marketing. I mean, there are photos of me because I’m the business, but I’m not that shallow, Red.”
He took another step closer, and she darted her eyes up to the ceiling. “All right. Put clothes on or I’m giving you this robe.”
“What are you wearing under it?”
Jade groaned and rolled her eyes. “You’re ridiculous.”
“I’m not the one staring at the ceiling because the sight of a man wearing the equivalent of swim trunks is making her uncomfortable.”
Her eyes darted back to his and held them. “Fine. Put some damn pants on and let’s order food. We’re not paying for it anyway.”
Cash laughed. “You really don’t like your family, do you?”
Her lips thinned and one corner of her mouth quirked. “Well, they saved me, but they have regrets, so . . .”
Saved her? What the hell did that mean?
Cash was about to ask just that when she turned back to her room and called out, “I’m ordering room service. When I’m done, I expect your junk to be covered by more than spandex.”
Damn, that woman could make him laugh and drive him crazy at the same time. Who knew this little impromptu trip would turn into him wanting to learn more?
She had so many layers, more than he’d ever given her credit for. Jade might be wealthy, she might have high standards, and she was most certainly out of his league, but maybe they could actually get along.
Of course, there was this sexual tension they had to contend with. There was no way she could deny her attraction, not when her mouth practically had fallen to the floor when she’d come out of her room. The attraction and physical admiration definitely went both ways. Jade was sexy as hell. Just because he was a gym owner and personal trainer didn’t mean he expected a woman to be perfect by society’s standards. He appreciated a woman who took pride in her health, but size had never mattered to him.
He didn’t want this pull toward Jade McKenzie. Sex was one thing, but sex with Jade would seriously make things messy for their tight group. They were all working on this airport renovation. While the other two couples were in committed relationships, Cash had no aspirations of committing himself to anyone, let alone Jade.
But that wouldn’t stop him from agitating her or getting in all the visual licks he wanted.
Her low, sultry voice filtered out into the living area. He chuckled as he thought of all she must be ordering on her family’s dime. While he could pay his own way, he’d let her have this.
As he went to retrieve his jeans, because he had no other pants, Cash kept rolling her comment through his head. What had her family done to save her? Was that why she felt obligated to attend this wedding? Had her life been in danger before?
Sometimes he thought he had her pegged, then other times he realized he didn’t know her at all. Despite the fact they’d grown up in the same town, despite the fact he’d been around her for the past year, Jade McKenzie was one hell of a complex puzzle. And he always did enjoy a challenge.
Cash had just tugged his pants over his hips when Jade stepped from her bedroom wearing a pair of black, snug shorts that showcased her long, toned legs and a gray tank top.
Was she doing this as payback? If she wanted to fight dirty, she’d found the right guy to play with. He invented the damn game.
“How is that any better than what I was wearing?” he asked.
Jade shrugged and came over to the sofa. “I didn’t plan on having a guest, so this is what I packed,” she explained as she took a seat in the corner of the sectional.
“Don’t mess up my bed,” he growled.
Jade kept her eyes on his as she reached out and grabbed the blanket he’d just gotten out. She gave it a tug and had it on her lap, covering the legs he’d been imagining around his waist.
No. Absolutely not. No sex fantasies concerning Jade. He had to set some boundaries, damn it.
“I’ll remake the bed,” she said sweetly, with that smile that used to drive him crazy, but now it drove him crazy in a whole new way.
“Why don’t you find a movie?” she suggested.
Cash stared down at her, his eyes darting to the sliver of hot pink bra strap poking out from her gray tank. Mercy, he could not be thinking of her lingerie . . . and he’d bet his last dollar she had some amazing pieces.
“Cash?”
Right, the movie.
“So, are we going to do each other’s nails at this slumber party?” he asked, reaching for the remote on the coffee table.
Jade stuck her hands out in front of her, then flipped them around for him to see. “I actually already did them for the ceremony, but thanks.”
He took a seat on the couch, just below where she had her feet curled up.
“There’s a whole other section to this couch,” she stated.
Cash pointed the remote toward the television and started flipping through their options. “You have the blanket and I may want to snuggle.”
“Oh, please. I doubt you’ve ever snuggled with a woman in your life. You’re not the type.”
“And what type am I?” he asked, dropping the remote to his lap as he shifted to face her. He stretched his arm along the back of the sofa and waited for her answer.
She lifted one delicate shoulder. “I don’t know.”
“Well, you’ve given it some thought.”
She shifted, and her bare feet brushed against his thigh, definitely not helping the situation. The situation, being his attraction for her, was exploding by the minute.
Why this woman? Maybe there would be another woman at the wedding tomorrow that would take his mind off his current roommate.
Well, hell. That wouldn’t work, because Cash was pretending to be her plus-one. Damn it. He was stuck with her until they returned to Haven. Which meant the only person he’d be flirting and dancing with was Jade.
“I just never took you for being compassionate, that’s all,” she finally stated.
She didn’t make an attempt to shift back her feet.
“Is this because I didn’t let you kiss me when we landed?” he joked, mostly because he couldn’t get wrapped up in this woman or this moment, which was teetering way too close to the line of intimacy.
“I wasn’t going to kiss you,” she insisted.
“Is that right?” Cash leaned toward her just a bit more. “Then why were your eyes on my mouth, just like they are now?”
Those vibrant green eyes snapped back up. “You are delusional. Now put on a movie.”
She was the delusional one for denying what she wanted, because her heavy-lidded stare told him more than her lips ever would.
Cash picked the remote back up. “Would you rather action or comedy?”
“Are you taking my game and using it for your own purposes?” she teased.
“Maybe I am.” He flashed her a smile and patted her feet, where they still rested against his side, poking out from the blanket. “Or would you rather nix the movie and play strip poker?”
Her mouth hinted at a grin, but she replied, “You’re a jerk.”
She kicked her foot at him, but he caught it. The second his hand clamped around her arch, her eyes flared wide, her chest expanding as she sucked in a deep breath.
“That’s not how you felt when I saved your life,” he murmured, inching just a bit closer.
“I got caught in the moment,” she defended herself. “So what if I wanted to kiss you? Believe me, the feeling has passed.”
Cash barely contained his smile. “Is that right?”
He slid his hand from the bottom of her foot up to her ankle, her calf... all the while keeping his eyes locked on hers. She made no attempt to move or to stop him.
Why was that? More importantly, what the hell was he thinking? This was a standard case of playing with fire. Sure, he’d been burned before, but hadn’t he learned his lesson?
Apparently not.
“Stop playing games, Cash.”
Yes, Cash. Stop playing games.
“I’m just making sure you’re relaxed,” he explained. “You had a pretty rough day.”
He massaged her calf and took great pleasure in watching her lids flutter. But then she recovered and shot him that glare once again.
“You think this is making my day better?” she scolded.
“I think if you’d lay back, you might enjoy this.”
“Maybe I would, but I’m not sure where you’d stop.”
With the haze his mind was in right now, he wasn’t sure either. But she wasn’t putting up any resistance other than feeble words. He figured she was about two strokes away from moaning.
“You know this isn’t smart, right?” she asked, her voice huskier than it had been moments ago.
“I’m just trying to relax you and figure out a movie to watch. You said I wasn’t compassionate, so I’m proving you wrong.”
She let out a slight laugh before stretching out her legs until they landed in his lap. Well, maybe they were making progress. He slid his hand to her other foot and started the slow process all over. He’d never rubbed a woman’s feet before, but he didn’t mind one bit getting his hands on Jade.
“Stay below the knee,” she ordered as her head dropped against the back of the sofa and she flung an arm over her eyes. “And stop staring at me. You’re supposed to be picking a movie.”
Ah, there she was. The mouthy, snarky friend he’d come to know. Wait. Friend? He wasn’t sure what their label was exactly. Was there even a term for people who drove each other insane, had mutual friends, and somewhat worked together?
The shrill bell echoed through the room. Cash patted her legs and eased out from under her.
“That’s the food,” he told her. “Sit still, Red. Let me get that for you.”
For a man who’d always thought of her as pampered and spoiled, he sure was treating her like a princess . . . and damn if he didn’t like it.
Chapter Four
“Maybe I shouldn’t have ordered so much food.”
Jade surveyed the spread on the coffee table, then glanced up to the food cart, where even more silver-domed lids sat untouched.
“I can’t eat anymore,” Cash stated as he leaned back against the couch.
They’d both sat on the floor and used the table as one giant tray. The fruit, the pasta, the steak, the brownies, and so much wine . . . she may have gone just a tad overboard.
In her defense, her mind hadn’t been in the right place when she’d placed the order. She’d spent all day with Cash, she’d seen him in those marvelous boxer briefs, which showcased every ounce of muscle tone and perfection. So her call to the room-service operator may be a bit hazy—and that was before he’d put his hands on her.
If she’d had to communicate after that, she probably wouldn’t have been able to make a complete sentence. Had she ever had a foot massage from a man before? Cash’s hands had been damn near magical and so, so strong. She’d put in that below-the-knee stipulation mainly for herself because the way he kept working his fingers all over her skin, she was afraid if he traveled up too high, she’d offer up the rest of her body.
Since the food arrived and they’d started a movie, he’d reverted back to the regular Cash she knew. No touching, but a wealth of sarcasm and ego. At least that side of Cash she could handle and had actually grown accustomed to. The touchy-feely side . . . she wasn’t sure she’d ever be ready for that.
The man was too potent for words, and if she ever mentioned as much, she’d never hear the end of it. Cash would use her jumbled feelings as fodder to stoke that inflated ego.
At least they’d finally agreed on something to watch. That may be the only thing they had in common. They’d stumbled upon a documentary about some drug lord and the federal agents who went undercover to take him down. True crime and biographies were her go-tos when she wanted something to watch. She’d been quite pleased when that nugget of information surprised him. Jade hated being predictable.
“It’s getting late,” she told him as she came to her feet. “I should put this food in the fridge and get to bed. I’ll need my energy for tomorrow.”
“Actually today,” he corrected, pointing to the screen of his phone. “It’s one in the morning.”
Jade raked her hands through her hair and realized she’d forgotten to brush the knotted mess before it dried. That would be a bitch to get through tomorrow.
“Let me get this food out of your way so you can get some sleep, too.”
She started to grab the bowl of Alfredo when his hand clamped around her. That strong hand circled her wrist with ease and made her feel petite and feminine. She’d never had a man make her feel like that before, so why Cash? Why did those large, rough hands make her wonder just how they’d feel on other places of her body?
“Go to bed,” he told her. “I’ve got this.”
“Don’t be silly.”
Her heart kicked up and she really hoped he couldn’t feel her pulse. Why did she have to have such a strong reaction to his touch? Just because he continued to hold her in that firm, arousing grip and those forearms flexed so gloriously . . .
“Red, listen to me for once.” He released her as he came to his feet and closed the narrow distance between them. “Go to bed. Your mother won’t like it if you don’t look rested.”
Jade laughed. “It’s like you already know her.”
He didn’t even attempt to crack a smile, he just continued to stare in that intense, maddening manner. He’d never acted like he found her attractive before; perhaps this was all still leftover adrenaline, or the fact that they were alone in this hotel room in the middle of the night.
