Bride & Seek (Enchanted Bridal #5) - Samantha Chase Page 0,14

out the door when he stopped her.

“Cammie, wait!” When she stopped and looked at him, his expression had gone serious. “We’re okay, right? This wasn’t…I mean…I don’t want you to feel like I’m pressuring you or…”

“Oh, good heavens,” she said with a small laugh, “no! I don’t think that at all! But…I really have to go. I’m sorry. Have a good weekend!”

And then she quickly dashed back to her office and prayed she wouldn’t have to explain how she managed to get dirty handprints all over the back of her dress.

Usually, weekends were like a welcome retreat for Cade. He enjoyed having the time to relax at home and have some time to himself. His social life typically consisted of either going up to Asheville to visit his now-retired parents and hang out with his siblings while he was there or doing a little hiking or fishing for himself. His brothers and sister all left Emerald Grove for bigger cities. For the life of him, Cade couldn’t understand it. This was home. He couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.

Landscape design had started out as a hobby back in high school and he was fortunate he was able to make a career out of it without going to college. Some people might look down on him for what he did because it was a lot of manual labor, but he loved it. Nothing made him happier than working outdoors and watching the transformation of the grounds.

Working at the resort was a damn dream. And even though they’d pretty much landscaped every inch of the place, it was always going to need maintaining, and every couple of years, they’d change things up. It wasn’t rocket science, but it challenged him in its own way.

It was Saturday night and he was sitting alone on his back deck enjoying a beer. It was peaceful–just as he liked it. There was a standing invitation to hang out with his friends at the local sports bar–it’s where everyone seemed to hang out on Saturday nights–but he rarely went. And tonight, more than any weekend in the past, it held even less appeal.

He wanted to see Cammie.

Be with Cammie.

Just…get to know Cammie.

Twice the woman had knocked him on his ass with a simple kiss. Then he snorted with disbelief. There had been nothing simple about either of those kisses. He took a long pull of his beer and put his feet up on the wooden table that matched the sofa he was sitting on. Both of which he built himself. Looking up at the sky, he could see a blanket of stars and wondered if Cammie was looking up at them too. Was their event tonight an indoor or outdoor event? Or did she slip outside to get a break from the hustle and bustle of it all?

He shook his head. He was losing it. Seriously losing it. When was the last time he’d gotten so twisted up over a woman that he was fantasizing about them looking at the same stars? Maybe he should have gone out. It would have been a welcome distraction.

But in the next instant, Cade realized he didn’t want a distraction.

He liked Cammie. And from what he could tell, she seemed to like him too. So…there really wasn’t any obstacle here. Come Monday, there was no reason he couldn’t seek her out and ask her to dinner. And then they could see where this could go.

Feeling like he’d lifted a massive weight off his shoulders, Cade relaxed in his seat and looked up at the sky again, feeling nothing but peace.

It was–of course–short-lived peace.

Apparently, Cammie had Monday and Tuesday off because she’d worked the entire weekend. On Wednesday, Cade ended up having to spend the day away from the resort–first going to Asheville and then Charlotte in an attempt to get a new motor for one of their mowers. It had been a painfully long day, and by the time he got back to Emerald Grove, Cammie was gone for the day.

Luck was finally on his side on Thursday. He spotted her walking along one of the paths in that determined way she had, and he jogged to catch up to her. Today she was wearing a deep coral colored sheath that hit mid-thigh with mile-high matching stilettos.

Damn.

Her hair was pulled back in the sleek ponytail she seemed to favor, and all Cade could think about was how she’d look with her hair loose around her shoulders. His fingers almost twitched with the