First Kiss Last by Sara Miller (read e book .TXT) 📗

did not change her self-doubt. At five foot two, she knew she was too short. Any extra weight she carried showed on her face, her hips, and several other obvious places. No matter how much her grandmother had praised her “hourglass figure,” Leah knew many people interpreted her generous curves as excess weight. She spent most of her adult life trying to slim down and look the way she thought she should. It was a battle she was tired of not winning.

Leah just hoped . . . not sure what exactly. That Cade would like what he saw? It was crazy. She was so nervous! She wondered if the nerves were radiating from her and if anyone else could tell.

Scanning the other tables, Leah was relieved no one seemed to be paying attention to her. She checked her watch for the fourth time. She arrived fifteen minutes early because she wanted to be there first. It was a power move. She did not want to be on display for him as she walked in. This way, she was doing the watching.

Then she saw him. How many years had it been? Cade was slightly taller than she remembered. Even so, he was average male height—not short, but wouldn’t be considered tall. His frame had filled out and he looked strong, a by-product of his construction work. He was a contractor, but obviously still very hands-on. His skin was tan from the recent summer sun. The brim of the ball cap he was wearing curved downward, obstructing the view of his face. She noticed light brown hair sticking out at the back. As he came closer, she saw the square jaw and blue eyes she had never forgotten. The eyes that had first captured her young heart.

She took in his short-sleeve button-down shirt. It was a casual shirt but against his well-worn blue jeans and his heavy work boots, she was sure for him it was dressing up. Where he was cute before, now he was handsome. He looked older. Harder. Like he’d really lived. Yet she was sure he was still the nice guy she remembered. Fundamentals of who you are don’t really change, right?

Leah knew the minute Cade saw her. She watched a smile form on his face. A true, genuine, happy-to-see-you, smile. He strode over to the table with more confidence than she had.

“Hey,” she said. As far as greetings go, it was pathetic. Her brain was blank, so she added a smile. He had told her he missed her sweet smile. Leah wiped her hands on her jeans and hoped he did not notice her nerves.

“Hey, yourself.” His voice had an underlying rough gravel tone it had not had in his youth. The smile had not left his face but had morphed into a sexy little smirk. Cade gestured toward the counter, “Need anything?”

Reminding herself he was asking about coffee, she shook her head no. He gave her a little nod and went off to order his drink. Leah fanned her face, then stopped in case he saw. She was sure she was blushing. Or flushed from the warmth of the coffee and the cozy environment of the shop. The windows were steamed up.

Leah slipped off her jacket, putting one hand to her hair and the other to her necklace to make sure everything was still in place. It was very warm in here. Yeah, that had to be it. Because she could not want him to come back, take her in his arms and kiss her silly. That would be absurd.

She felt ridiculous. Leah did not understand how feelings from her youth could come back this suddenly and be so strong. She swore she had just wanted to see him. Just wanted to catch up. Just wanted to find a way to make sense out of what happened long ago. Had Cade liked her as much as she liked him? Did he regret not kissing her? She was happy with her life but her heart wanted to know. And yet, Leah knew she was lying to herself. Knew she had already crossed the line just being here.

Cade was back faster than she could have imagined. She eyed his mug of dark liquid. Of course he drank his coffee black. Black that would match her soul after today.

They chatted as they drank their coffee. Simple things like work and the weather. Nothing like the in-depth texts they had already exchanged. Leah felt like she had already shared so much of herself. She held a few things back and figured it was safe to assume he had too. Even so, she thought they were on the same pages but what if she had misread? What if there was no between-the-lines to the things he said? The vulnerability of her past momentarily overwhelmed her. He didn’t want her. He couldn’t. She was no one to him.

“You’re quiet,” he stared at her.

She shrugged. Leah knew she could not say out loud the things she was thinking. She avoided his eyes and stared at her hands wrapped around her coffee. In her hurry to beat Cade here, she’d neglected to put on her rings.

“Change your mind?”

She was here, wasn’t she? This was the plan. To meet for coffee. How could she have changed her mind? She shook her head as she finally found words. “Did you?”

“Nope.” He did not give her more to work with.

“I just . . . this doesn’t feel real,” she admitted. What was next? Leah had not thought any farther ahead than seeing him. What had she agreed to? To spending the whole day with him? To more? She drank the last bit of her coffee to cover her heightened anxiety.

“I was an idiot.” Cade reached across the table and touched his hand to hers. Leah let go of her coffee and he took her hand in both of his, slowly moving a calloused thumb over her soft skin. “I can’t believe I’m getting a second chance.” He