Her Chance At Love

“Really?” Cadence’s brows scrunched. She knew she was picking up signs, but she really didn’t believe he’d be interested in her for any reasonable length of time. She remembered the sexy women that poured all over him at the mixer. She wasn’t interested in casual sex or other meaningless relationships, so why bother wasting either of their time?

“Why do you seem surprised?”

“I...well...” She paused for a moment, getting her thoughts together. She didn’t want to come across as harsh. “I’ve got a lot on my plate right now and...”

“Do you eat?”

“What?”

“You’re about to tell me about how you don’t have time to go out, but you have to eat, right?”

“Yes.” She let the word out slowly, narrowing her eyes at him. She knew where this was going. Blake wasn’t taking no for an answer. It was obvious that he was probably used to getting his way with women.

“So don’t worry about making time. Just let me treat you to a nice meal.”

Cadence released a sound that started like a grunt but ended like a chuckle.

Blake pulled out his phone tapped the screen a few times before speaking again. “You eat on Fridays, right?”

Cadence nodded her head. “Yes. Blake.”

“Okay. So wait until about eight o’clock next Friday night to have your dinner. I’ll pick you up and bring you right back so you can continue tackling all that stuff you have piled up on this plate you’re talking about. Now, what’s your number?” he said, holding his phone up, waiting to tap in the information.

Cadence obliged, giving him her number.

“See, that wasn’t so hard, was it?” Blake teased. “I’m dialing you so my number will be in your phone. Store it now.”

Cadence shook her head again. “You’re pushy!” she teased back.

“Come on. Let’s get these pizzas inside,” Blake said as if he was giving her an order, before trotting to the passenger side to help her out of the truck.

The same tingling sensation that crept across her skin the first time he touched her returned when he took her hand. Cadence slid down, landing in the small space left for her between the car door and Blake’s body. At first, Blake didn’t move. He kept her there, sandwiched between him and the vehicle. Cadence narrowed her eyes at him and with a sly grin he stepped aside, grabbed the boxes of pizzas from the back and led the way inside.

Cadence knew then that there was no way she’d be able to go to dinner with him next Friday night. There were far too many reasons why she simply shouldn’t. Blake was a playboy and an attorney—two things that she tried her best to avoid at all costs. Most important, she wasn’t about to be caught up with the type of man who casually ran through women. She’d just have to ignore all of the sensations that managed to belie the best of her virtuous intentions when he was around and save herself the heartache.

Chapter 7 (#ulink_ee63ceeb-1010-5ce4-80bc-c40aa8fb170b)

Blake stood and stretched his long lean body toward the ceiling and then twisted his torso from one side to the other. The day was finally coming to a close. He and the other volunteers had just helped the last of the remaining students. His mouth was dry and his wrists were sore from typing for the past nine hours. As he looked around, other volunteers were also stretching, twisting and shaking their limbs after hours of sitting. Vendors were packing up their booths, getting ready to hit the road.

The two slices of pizza he had for lunch had long since worked their way through his system and now his stomach rumbled as if there were a wrestling matching going on inside him. He looked over toward where Alana stood chatting with Cadence and smiled. He found himself wondering what they were talking about. Remembering the time he’d had alone with Cadence earlier made him smile. As tired as he was after such a long day, he didn’t want it to end. Actually, he didn’t want to see Cadence go. He now had her number and plans for dinner, but with her scent lingering in his nostrils, he decided he hadn’t had enough of her for today.

Blake shook his head, not believing his own thoughts. Did he want more of Cadence? That truth intrigued him because he couldn’t understand what it was about her that drew him in like a magnet. He was a Barrington brother. They had their pick of women. Many threw themselves at the brothers all the time, so why was it that he couldn’t seem to get this one out of his mind?

Since the first day he laid eyes on her, he’d been absorbed by thoughts about her. Cadence seemed like a challenge, but he’d had women who played hard to get before. Unlike the others, he wasn’t interested in conquering this one as a challenge just to prove that he could before moving on.

Blake heard his name and turned in time to see the organizer heading his way. He wanted to see what the gentleman had to say, but he didn’t want to lose sight of Alana and Cadence.

Jeff shook Blake’s hand. “I can’t thank you enough for all of your help, man.”

Blake nodded. “You’re welcome.”

“Hey, listen, you and your team were great. I’d like to talk with you more about some of our other programs, maybe pull you in to speak to our students sometime.”

“Sounds like a plan.” Blake was sincerely interested in hearing more, but as he looked around, he saw that Cadence had packed up her laptop and slipped her purse onto her shoulder. He didn’t want her to leave before getting another chance to talk to her. Blake turned his attention back to Jeff. “Send me some information. I’d be happy to work something out.”

“Great!” Jeff shook Blake’s hand harder, smiling and nodding his head appreciatively.

Blake looked past him and saw Alana and Cadence heading for the door.

“Jeff, I need to run. Shoot me an email and we’ll set something up.”

Taking off in Cadence’s direction, Blake called out her name. He had to repeat it several times over the noise of chatter, packing tape and tables and chairs being dragged across the floor. Catching up with them right at the door, Blake opened his arms and pulled Alana into a bear hug.

“Thanks for always pulling up the rear.”

“Oh, Blake, please. You know I always come through.”

After squeezing Alana in that friendly embrace, he turned his attention to Cadence. “Thanks for coming with me for the food run earlier.”

“Sure.” Cadence just smiled and nodded.

“I can’t get a hug?” Blake asked, drawing his cheeks down into a pout.

Cadence cast her eyes heavenly, shook her head and stepped into Blake’s waiting arms. When Blake fastened his arms around her, he sucked in a delicate whiff of her natural scent mixed with her floral perfume. Instinctively, his eyes closed and his gut tightened. The soft feel of her cool supple skin was almost intoxicating. After letting his embrace linger, he reluctantly pulled himself away. His earlier thought returned. He wanted more of Cadence.

“Let me take you ladies to dinner. It will be a token of my appreciation for all your hard work today. You have to be hungry. I know I’m starving.”

“Of course you can take me to dinner! I say no to drugs, not food!” Alana said. They all chuckled before turning their attention toward Cadence, who had yet to respond to Blake’s invitation.

Cadence’s response was already etched into her face. Blake could see it. His knotted stomach also felt it. “Not to—”

“Come on, Cadence!” Alana cut into her objection before she could get it all out. “You just said you were hungry,” Alana blurted. Cadence stretched her eyes at Alana and cut her a sharp glare. Alana dismissed Cadence with a wave and turned her attention to Blake. “Where are we going to eat? She didn’t drive, so she’s riding with me.”

Cadence tossed her hands up in defeat. “I guess I’m going to have dinner with you two.” She cut her eyes back toward Alana. “Next time, I’ll bring my own car.”

Alana smiled and winked at Cadence before turning her attention back to Blake. “Don’t mind her. She’s just a homebody. Sometimes I have to practically drag her out of the house.”

“You like Asian fusion?” Blake directed his question toward Cadence.

“Sure,” she said, with mock enthusiasm.

“Let’s go to Asia Moon on Franklin,” Blake suggested. “It’s not too far from here.”

“Oh yes!” Alana said. “I could use one of their martinis.”

“Okay. Let me grab my stuff and close things out over here. I can meet you there in about—” Blake looked down at his watch and mumbled as he calculated “—twenty minutes?” Blake waited for the two of them to nod their approval before turning and jogging back to the table where his laptop still rested. Thankful for Alana’s insistence, he felt like jumping in the air and clicking his heels. Because of her, he’d have another few hours to work his charms on Cadence.

One way or another, he was determined to break through that shell that Cadence had erected around herself. He snickered when he thought scandalously about what he’d find on the inside—all puns intended.