The Troublemaker - Cathryn Fox Page 0,32
that.”
I glance at my feet. “I know. I’m a huge disappointment to them.”
He touches my chin and lifts it an inch. “Are you disappointed in yourself?”
“No.”
“Remember this. A lot of people won’t see your worth. Just make sure you’re not one of them.”
My heart beats a little faster. “Thanks, Cason. The truth is, I love what I do, but…” I put my hand on my stomach, to soothe the ache that always flares after spending time with my parents. “It hurts that they care more about my image and how it affects the family, than my well-being.” A car door closes, and I briefly look away. “You don’t have to go through with the reception. I’ll figure out a way for us to get out of it.”
“Like hell. I’m going. I’m not going to let them get the better of us by not showing and giving them something else to throw back in your face.”
My gaze flies back to his. “Cason—”
“Are we about to have our second argument, Mrs. Kinsley Elizabeth Palmer-Callaghan?” he asks playfully.
I laugh. “No. I’m tapping out. You always seem to get your way somehow.”
“I plan to have my way with you later. But I just want to say, let’s go through with it, let’s charm the pants off your parents and their friends. We’ll show them how happy you are with your decisions and the direction of your life.”
The thing is, I actually am happy. Happy with my food truck, my plans for a restaurant. Happy when I’m with Cason. But I’d be wise to remember what this is and what this isn’t.
“Want to see something?” I ask and his gaze drops to my chest. The heat in his eyes trickles through me, and awakens all my girly parts.
“Ah, yeah. Did you not hear me when I said I plan to have my way with you?”
I whack him. “I’m not talking about my boobs, Cason.”
“Jeez, is that all you think about, Kinsley?” He feigns exasperation. “I wouldn’t have married you if I’d known you were a sex addict.”
“Puh-lease, that would have gotten you to the altar faster,” I shoot back.
He laughs. “Okay, what do you want to show me? Although nothing will live up to my expectations now.”
“How about the space I want for my restaurant? Will that be a good second?”
“Actually, yeah. I’d love to see it.”
“Let’s head to Pike’s Place.”
We hurry to his car, and the sun is low on the horizon as we drive downtown and find parking. The market is closing up, vendors putting their fares away for another day by the time we arrive.
“How about we hop on the Seattle Wheel. Take a look at the city from the sky.”
I laugh. He knows full well I’m afraid of heights, but I always do end up enjoying myself. “It’s like you don’t know me at all.”
“I’m actually enjoying getting to know you better.”
“I’m enjoying getting to know you better too, although your life is an open book, Cason. They write about you in the papers enough.”
“Don’t believe everything you read,” he says as we walk the downtown streets.
“Right here,” I say and slide my hand into his to drag him around the corner. We come across a newly renovated building, merely a few blocks from the waterfront. I smile up at Cason, then peer into the window. He stands next to me, the scent of his freshly showered skin teasing my senses.
“This is it, huh?” he asks.
I nod. “I think it’s perfect. I honestly can’t even believe it hasn’t been rented yet. It’s such an amazing location.” I step back. “I can almost see my sign hanging right over the door.”
“Have you been inside?” he asks.
“No.” I crinkle my nose. “I don’t want to get myself too excited, you know.”
He shrugs. “It wouldn’t hurt to just look.”
“Yeah, maybe.”
He looks into the window. “I guess I owe you an apology.”
My head snaps up. “For what?”
“I opened my big mouth and mentioned the restaurant to your parents. I told you, I have a knack for saying the wrong things.”
“It’s okay.” I nudge him playfully. “You can make it up to me later.”
A wide smile lights up his handsome face. “My pleasure.”
“Mine, too,” I say and chuckle.
He shoves his hands into his pockets, his eyes narrowing in on me. “How come you didn’t want them to know?”
“I think they still hold out hope that I’ll fail at this and realize I need to go back to law school. I can’t even believe they brought up