Patton was staring at her when she looked up. “A lot?”
She grinned her crooked grin and lifted her olive-laden toothpick to her mouth.
His nostrils flared and he stared up at the ceiling.
She couldn’t help it—she giggled.
He stared at her then, breaking into a smile that was startling. And utterly breathtaking. He seemed to relax when she put the toothpick back in her drink.
“How’s work?” he asked. “Still putting out fires?”
She shrugged. “Too many fires. Started by the boss’s son. You? Rounding up the bad guys?” She leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table.
His attention settled on her arms. “Be a hell of a lot easier if they’d wear black hats.”
She heard the frustration in his voice. “I know you’re a cop but...what division? Or is it department?”
His eyes crinkled at the corners as he smiled. “I work narcotics.”
“Drugs?” She sat back, crossing her arms over her waist. She knew the cable crime shows she watched when she couldn’t sleep at night didn’t compare to what the reality was like. But still. “So you must have a hell of a workout regime? Or some over-the-top hobby?” She watched him frown and explained, “To decompress? I’d imagine there’s a lot to decompress from?”
He tapped his fingers on the table, nodding once.
“Play piano?” she asked.
He arched an eyebrow. “Used to.”
“Used to?”
His eyes narrowed slightly before he looked back at the rest of the room.
“You’re just as loquacious as I remember,” she murmured.
He chuckled a little, though his eyes continued their sweep of the room. His fingers kept up their tapping.
Bianca and Zach shifted, adding chairs at their table—which pushed Cady closer to Patton. Cady chatted away, making every effort not to acknowledge the man sitting silently, driving her crazy, two feet away. She’d almost completely forgotten him when she ate her first olive. Patton stood up so quickly, he nearly knocked his chair over backward. He didn’t say a thing as he headed out of the room.
Conversation stopped, all eyes on his retreating figure.
“What did you do to him?” Bianca asked.
Cady stared at her friend. “What are you talking about?”
Bianca shot her a disbelieving look and waited.
Cady shook her head. “What?” She pulled another olive from her toothpick. “I didn’t do anything to Patton.” Today. But...today wasn’t over yet.
PATTON DID HIS best to avoid Cady for the rest of the evening. He’d hoped she wouldn’t get to him. He’d hoped he could sit there and make small talk. But when that olive hit her lips, he knew the best thing for him to do was retreat. He’d done his part, being magnanimous with each and every family member and friend sent his way. Hell, he even danced one dance with Ellie—despite how awkward it had been. Breaking up a minor fight between two of the more intoxicated guests had offered some sort of distraction.
But he knew where she was every second. If she was on the dance floor, he was at the bar. If she was at the bar, he was on the veranda. Each smile or laugh, every damn time she tucked her hair behind her ear, he was sucked back into wanting her—now. And it was driving him crazy.
When the party started winding down, he found a chair in a dim corner of the porch and waited. Once Cady left, his tension would leave with her. Now that he knew he’d be seeing more of her, he’d be more prepared next time. His hands tightened on the arms of the chair. Next time.
Tonight was supposed to be about Zach and Bianca. Assess the situation, find the weaknesses in his brother’s relationship, find the reason for this rush to the altar and determine how feasible ending the engagement—or postponing it—was.
The party had been great, sure, but real life was different. The day in, day out was work. He wanted to say as much to his brother, to remind Zach of their parents’ marriage. To call it one-sided was being generous. Dad had been a taker, opinionated, inflexible and selfish. Not to mention his first devotion had always been to the force. Mom had been second to the job, to his hobbies, to his sons...to everything. Her life had been worry and lonely nights, slim to no praise, and four rambunctious sons to raise. Sure, Bianca wasn’t marrying a cop, but that didn’t mean their marriage would be easy. And going into this as near strangers couldn’t help. Zach needed a wake-up call, to be reminded what marriage was. And since no one else was willing to broach the subject from a realistic point of view, Patton had no choice but to do it himself. That had been the plan anyway.
Somehow Cady had changed that. Instead of watching the interaction between Bianca and his brother, he’d been fascinated by the dip in her lower lip when she spoke. When he should have been familiarizing himself with Bianca’s family and friends, he’d been hypnotized by the curve of Cady’s neck and the slight angle of her chocolate-brown eyes. She got to him. And he didn’t like it.
He closed his eyes and rested his head on the headrest. He didn’t need this—any of it. Not Cady or Zach or this harebrained engagement. He was exhausted. Tense. Worried. Weeks like this made him wonder why he didn’t look into another line of work. The latest tip had led him down a long path to nothing. Tomorrow he’d start again. A new string of shake-and-bake meth had hit the market. The car explosion on the state line had been another headache. Traces of cold tablets and a few everyday household chemicals hinted that they were facing mobile meth labs, but no one knew who or where. Their normal sources had no leads. At least, no one was admitting to it.
“You sure you don’t want to stay tonight?” Bianca’s voice. “There’s a block of rooms reserved.”
“If I leave now I’ll get back before it’s too late.” Cady answered. “Have to go in to work for a few hours tomorrow.”
His eyes opened, watching the two of them hug.
“Bibi,” Cady’s voice was low.
“Please don’t,” Bianca interrupted. “I know you’re not excited about this. But I am. So, for me, because you love me, please get excited with me?”
So Cady wasn’t thrilled over this engagement either? Interesting.
Cady hugged her again, pressing a kiss to her cheek. “I do love you.” She laughed. “Enjoy the rest of your evening... And that energetic fiancé of yours.” He heard the innuendo in Cady’s voice and felt his pants tighten.
“Cady.” Bianca sounded legitimately shocked. “Be careful driving. The roads are so dark and curvy.”
Cady waved, then walked down the steps, her green dress fanning out on the evening wind before she disappeared from his view. He was getting what he wanted. Her—gone.
He gripped the arms of the chair, forcing himself to stay put. He would sit there until she got in her car and drove away. Not get up and follow her.
He sat, waiting, listening for the sound of a closing door or the roar of an engine. His eyes scanning the road for some sign of her departure. The longer he waited, the more frustrated he became. He pushed out of his chair, searching the dark as he crossed the porch. He saw her, illuminated by strands of white lights and several tiki torches, walking across the lawn toward the lake. She wasn’t getting in her car. She wasn’t leaving.
And he was going after her.