of the car. As I shut the door, I glance again at Caden’s cabin and the shadowed darkness. Is he sleeping? Or out? Is he sitting at Uncle Beau’s crowded bar getting hit on by every single woman in town?
I bite my lip. It doesn’t matter because it’s not my concern.
He’s my farm manager. I’m his boss. I don’t even like him. It’s only my body betraying me—always wanting to be at war instead of peace. It’s like somewhere along the way I took up a fight and don’t know how to put it down.
I climb the stairs and swat away the bugs frantically circling under the porch lights. I open the front door and call out, “I’m home.”
“In here.” Wyatt’s deep voice drifts from the game room as I shut the door and hang my purse on the hall-tree in the corner before kicking off my shoes and heading in to say hello.
I freeze in the doorway, flushing hot and then cold at the sight of Caden sitting at the card table with my brothers and Gwen. Our eyes catch, holding a beat too long before I shift my attention to the group at large. I lean against the thick, white molding framing the doorway, not crossing over the threshold.
I ignore the flood of relief that the man is here instead of out somewhere, carousing and making me wonder.
“Hey.” I keep my tone light and nonchalant.
Gwen swings around and grins at me. “There she is. Have fun with Gabe?”
My instinct is to glance at Caden, to gauge his response, but I manage to resist. Instead I focus on my soon-to-be sister-in-law. “Great. We just chilled at his house.” I turn to Jackson. “He says thanks for the pizza.”
Jackson picks up a stack of chips and lets them fall with a click of his fingers. “What did you think of the flatbread?”
He’d made me a traditional pie and an experimental flatbread with brussels sprouts, marinated figs, and balsamic that was like heaven.
I smile. “It was ridiculously delicious, of course. Gabe hates brussels sprouts, but I made him try it, which turned out to be a huge mistake because he ate way more than his fair share.”
Satisfaction slides across Jackson’s expression. “Good.”
I cross my arms, still resisting the urge to check out Caden, because deep down I know what I want: a reaction that looks like jealousy. “What are you guys playing?”
“Poker. Dealer’s choice.” Wyatt says, shuffling the cards before pointing to an empty chair next to Caden. “Join us.”
I look over my shoulder to the dimly lit staircase. The bedroom that had been calling my name is no competition for the man I’m still avoiding looking at.
Which is exactly why I should go upstairs.
I nibble on my bottom lip. “I should go to bed. Busy day tomorrow.”
Gwen waves her hand. “Please. Every day here is a busy day, which is why we need fun, so come sit your ass down, woman. You work too hard.”
I love her, and I’m so lucky she’s going to be part of my family, but sometimes her almost giddy resolve to live life to its fullest annoys the hell out of me.
My resolve is shaky at best, but I try again. “I’m tired. I had red wine, and it makes me sleepy.”
She raises a rocks glass, filled with one of those big, trendy artisanal ice cubes. Regular ice isn’t Instagram worthy anymore. Now even drinking needs to be staged and beautiful.
She flashes a grin. “Rum and gambling will wipe the tiredness away.”
My gaze drifts to the empty chair, and right versus wrong, smart versus dumb circle in my head.
Did I not just give myself a lecture about my actions being the only thing I can control? Little good it did, because I already know I’m going to stay and slide right into that seat next to Caden. Like a glutton for punishment, I’m already anticipating the warmth of his body next to mine.
I straighten, shrugging one shoulder. “Maybe for a little bit.”
Clearly I’m a lost cause.
Caden
I’m gonna just ignore the kick of satisfaction as Cat settles in next to me. I’ve got my plan to stay away, and when she’s not around, I mean every word of it. But when she is, I waiver.
And she’s around a lot. Glaring at me with those flashing silver eyes, her shoulders set, ready to disagree the first chance she gets, unable to resist the urge to engage. She doesn’t want this any more than I do, but fuck,