He's the One by Jane Beckenham (ready to read books .TXT) 📗

the apron strings to that sanctuary, and it scared the heck out of her.

Taylor finished her beer and put the bottle down. “My turn now."

Cade's eyes narrowed on her “Didn't know this was a turnabout."

"Humor me,” she said. Though, what she really wanted wasn't chitchat but action. Sitting in silence with Cade, talking about emotions and passions had wrapped Taylor in an intimacy so real her body hummed with an aching need. A need that required itching. If she dared.

"You want to know the man, before you have sex with him?"

"Better late than never.” she said, trying for humor. “Or are you aiming to get out of talking? How like a man."

"And you're an expert?"

"Scared?” she shot back at him.

He looked at her directly then, one dark brow arching. “What of?"

What was she thinking—Cade Harper scared? Never in a million years. The man oozed confidence. “Try communicating,” she offered, saying the first thing she could think of. It hit the mark.

For a moment, Cade's gaze shifted away and time stood still, the silence deafening. Shifting uncomfortably on her dusty upturned box, Taylor bent and retrieved her bottle from the scuffed floor. She took a sip, enjoying the tangy froth as it slid down her throat, succoring her dry lips, then replaced the bottle. She rested her hands on her hips. “Waiting,” she prompted Cade.

"You're very determined, aren't you?"

"When it's something I want.” But the moment those words passed Taylor's lips, she witnessed Cade's reaction and cringed.

And you want me, it said.

Taylor snatched up her beer and drank thirstily, draining its contents.

An icy droplet trickled down her chin. She went to brush it off, but Cade reached out to her.

"Let me.” His voice was warm, and his darkened gaze burned into her as he brushed away the drop.

Time seemed to stand still.

Then, he did something that sent her over the edge. He licked the tiny drop from his fingers. Slowly. An act so intimate and blatant it left her in no doubt as to what Cade intimated. Hypnotized, she watched the tip of his tongue slide over each of his fingers, sucking, tasting.

Oh, dear heaven. Taylor squeezed her knees together as slick moistness pooled between her thighs and shivery tingles chased each other up and down her spine.

Talk.

Talk for goodness sake.

Think of something, anything.

Taylor swallowed hard. “How did you end up owning a bar?” she questioned, the words coming out in a breathless rush.

"That's bars, plural,” Cade admitted easily.

"Really? Very impressive."

"Glad you think so."

"You're very sure of yourself, aren't you, Cade?"

"Why not? If I don't blow my own trumpet, no one will do it for me. You're in business, you should know that."

"Do you need to blow it? You're a very successful man."

"It helps.” He shrugged and downed the last of his beer.

Taylor watched as he swallowed, his full lips pursed around the neck of the bottle, the way he wiped a droplet of beer from his mouth with the back of his hand. A simple act, yet one that she found erotic in the extreme.

She wanted to reach out and stop him.

She wanted to taste it. Taste him.

Finally, she found her tongue. “How does it help?"

"What is this—twenty questions?"

"No. Just trying to get to know you, return the interrogation favor,” she laughed.

You're trying to prolong the inevitable. Scaredy cat.

Cade's dark eyes rolled towards the heavens. “Am I so interesting?"

"Don't get a swollen head,” she laughed. “It's simple interest, that's all."

"Why is it women want to get all chatty?"

"You mean instead of getting down and dirty."

"Yeah, well, that's a different angle,” he agreed, grinning.

"Talk about a sheep in wolf's clothing. Wasn't it you who said we should take it easy?"

"That's the sheep's definition,” he said, winking. “Wanna hear mine?"

Taylor shifted nervously. “Not without holy water and a silver bullet,” she shot back, frowning. “Tell me something about yourself I don't know."

Cade's eyes rolled again. “Is this that Venus and Mars stuff; you know, the men versus woman speak? Just so you understand, I don't talk about myself."

"Why not?"

Cade let out a long, slow whistle. “You don't give up, do you?"

Taylor shrugged. The air hung thick between them and once again she chastised herself. Everyone told her to get a life. To live.

But ... she couldn't.

Not properly.

Everyone expected things of her. Her family. Even, somehow—a dead fiancé.

"I left school at sixteen,” Cade said, his voice ringing out in the silence.

She reached over and touched a hand to his forearm. “You don't have to."

He wrapped his fingers over hers. “I know I don't. But somehow, with you, it's easier."

"I'm glad.” And she was. Perhaps if Cade could open up a little, she might be able to subdue her own raging torrent of nerves. She had asked him a big favor. It was the delivery, however, that was setting her on edge.

He still held her hand in his, thumb caressing the back of her hand. She didn't pull it away. It felt right. Actually, it felt more than that. It felt good.

Then he continued. “Mostly, I took on odd jobs, building and laboring. I had a head for figures, loved maths at school."

Taylor screwed her nose up at that. “Lucky you. Maths was my worst subject, and try telling that to parents who were mathematicians."

"Really?"

"Didn't go down very well, that's for sure."

"That, I can believe."

"Go on. What next?” she encouraged.

"I did some work for a developer, had a few dollars put aside and found the property in Devonport."

"So that's your flagship bar, so to speak?"

"Yeah. Then there are a couple here in the city, one in the CBD and the other along the waterfront where they have the Sunday markets."

"Good locations."

"Location is everything."

"So they say,” she agreed. “What about your family?"

But the mention of his family changed Cade. It was as if a shield came down and he'd donned a coat of armor and the bright fire burning in his eyes evaporated, replaced by a gloomy sadness. His fingers stilled their teasing stroke.

"You've met Katie. Then there's Zane. He's two years younger than me."

"And