Hard Edge - Tess Oliver Page 0,37

that too, Trinket.”

I laughed. “Thanks. I forgot about my horse buying scheme. Grady used to shake his head at my plan, but he never discouraged me. He used to just say ‘I’ll believe it when I see it’. I really had all the bases covered as far as I was concerned. I was going to clean out the garage and buy some straw so that the horse would have a place to sleep. And then I’d used the back lawn for grazing, because I was sure our little postage stamp yard was going to be plenty of room for the horse to play. And then, of course, I was going to ride my perfectly trained horse around town, showing off to all my envious friends.” I leaned back on my hands and let the sun warm my face. “I still dream of having a horse and a swimming pool filled with seals and otters.”

“When you’re a high-caliber lawyer, you’ll be able to buy those things. Of course, most big shot lawyers opt for the penthouse and the Mercedes Benz, but you always had your own ideas, Trinket. It’s one of the many things I’ve always admired most about you.”

I lifted my head and looked over at him. We’d been kidding around, but his expression was sincere.

“I’m glad I came with you to the beach, Cade.”

“I’m glad too, Trinket.” He motioned to the rash on my stomach. “I’ve got some lotion to put on that. Maybe we should get you out of the sun.” He stood up and lowered his hand for me.

He pulled me to my feet. With my legs still feeling shaky from the surf lesson, I fell forward. He caught me in his arms and took advantage of my clumsy step by kissing me.

I peered up at him. “Still can’t believe I’m kissing Caden Stratton. And, I might just add, all the high school rumors about your kisses are true. You leave a girl senseless and wanting more.”

“Yeah?” He picked up the ice chest and the surfboard, and I picked up the towels. “Senseless and wanting more? That’s what they were saying, huh? Shit, guess I underestimated myself.”

Chapter 15

Kenna

My afternoon on the water had drained me of energy. I took a cool shower, pulled on my panties and bra, rubbed lotion on my stomach and fell fast asleep on the bed.

The cool ocean breeze made the window curtains dance, and the noise woke me from my nap. I lay there staring at the fluttering shadows on the ceiling and thought about the last few days. Caden and I had found each other again, after all this time, brought together under the worst of circumstances. I felt as close to him as ever, as if we’d never parted.

Caden knocked on the bedroom door.

“Come in. I’m awake.” I sat up and leaned my back against the headboard. I drew the sheet up over me, but after what’d happened earlier in the kitchen, it seemed rather silly.

Caden walked in with a glass of wine. “Not sure if I bought the right kind. I know wine about as much as I know cheese, but I thought you might want a drink to ease the soreness in your muscles.”

I took hold of the glass and sipped the wine. “Good choice. This should help.”

I scooted over, and he sat down next to me. Warmth flowed from his body and the scent of soap lingered on his skin. I offered him a sip from my glass.

“No, thanks. I downed two beers while you were sleeping.”

“Sorry I pooped out. That surf lesson and everything else zapped me of energy.” I took one more drink and reached over to put the glass on the nightstand.

I leaned back against the headboard again and took hold of his hand. I brought it to my mouth and kissed his knuckles. “I always figured you just tolerated me because I was with Grady all of the time.” I looked over at him. “How come you never told me how you felt?”

His profile looked even more handsome in the shadows of the room. “There were a lot of reasons, but mostly because of Grady.”

I nodded as if I understood, but there were a lot of ways to interpret his answer. “If Grady did like me, in that way, he sure never let on.” My voice trembled as it always did when I started thinking too hard about Grady. “I think you might have been confusing our closeness for love.”

“I don’t