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

"Taylor?"

She brushed him off with a dismissive wave. “No, Cade. Forget it. I can't do this."

She should have listened to her inner warnings, but no, she thought she knew best, knew everything. Wrong! Dumb broad. She was so wrong.

Chapter Ten

The pungent aroma of percolating coffee permeated the entire apartment as Taylor showered. Cade had promised her a meal fit for a princess, but right now, she wasn't sure she could eat a thing as her stomach heaved with nerves.

Trouble was, she couldn't stay hidden in the bathroom any longer. And the reality was the fantasy was over.

Switching off the pulsing jet of hot spray, she exited the shower and toweled herself dry. As the fine damp mist evaporated and the mirror cleared, Taylor caught sight of herself.

Hints of purple shadowed beneath her eyes, and there was a flush to her cheeks, a twinkling sparkle in her eyes she'd never noticed before.

That's because you've never had sex before, Sullivan.

She traced the path of her lips. They seemed fuller, sensual.

Well kissed!

She leaned forward taking a closer inventory of her reflection, hands trailing down her body at the same time. That too seemed different, or was it her imagination?

No. She didn't think so. It must be true then, she realized with a satisfied smile. She did feel different. Womanly!

Well loved.

Her breasts felt heavy and full, and as her hand lowered across her flat abdomen, her insides clenched, muscles teasing. She remembered with vivid clarity the feel of Cade inside her. Pulsating. Pleasuring.

Gathering up her clothes, Taylor eyed her dress and grimaced. She hadn't been home since Friday and the dress looked the worse for wear. But then, she'd barely worn anything all weekend. Simply skin. And it had been wonderful.

Smoothing down the wrinkles of her dress with a flat palm, she made quick work of her hair, tying it up in a ponytail. She reached for her lip-gloss from her handbag and uncapped it. About to glide the pinky stick across her lips, her hand stilled.

She didn't need it. Her lips looked sensational.

Cade had done this.

Capping the lipstick, she tossed it into her bag and dragged in a steadying breath. She exited the bathroom and followed the coffee aroma to the kitchen.

With a tea towel tucked into the waistband of his jeans, Cade busied himself preparing the gourmet delight he'd promised.

"Be ready in a moment."

"Take all the time you need,” Taylor enthused, enjoying the show, even finding herself licking her lips. Cade was one delicious man. Everything about him set her senses in a spin. Yet, there was a part of her that held back.

The guilty part.

The part that said, watch out, don't trust. You've made this mistake before, and look what happened.

Pride mirrored in Cade's eyes as he placed a pile of pancakes and bacon on the counter. “There you are. Coffee?"

Taylor eyed the food, and her stomach gurgled.

"Anyone would think I've been starving you,” he chuckled. “Tuck in."

Finally, she had to ask, “Is it always so awkward the morning after?"

With precise movements, Cade placed his cup on the bench. He gave her an impish shrug. “I wouldn't know."

"But you..."

"The fact is, Taylor, I don't stay. Nor do the women I've been with."

Taylor frowned, her brain wading through Cade's disclosure.

"Besides,” he continued, “this isn't quite the morning after is it? It's Sunday, remember; you arrived Friday night."

Hearing the truth, Taylor colored. And what a two days it had been. She'd learnt more about her body and its pleasure capacity in this short time than in her whole life.

You've had a good teacher.

Realizing Cade watched her intently, she lowered her gaze and began to eat.

But there was trouble in paradise, and Cade's gourmet endeavors may have been delicious, but she knew she'd no more be able to eat than chew a piece of cardboard. Finally, she put down her knife and fork. She looked at Cade, wishing she didn't have to say what she did. “I really have to go."

"I know."

Disappointment instant, Taylor mentally kicked herself. What had she expected—that he would plead and beg her to stay?

But Cade said no more, instead he carried on eating. Taylor watched him as he chewed a piece of bacon, the way his jaw moved, the play of his muscles in his throat, the slide of his tongue over his lips, slaking the taste of the bacon.

Fantasy versus reality. And sadly reality tasted sour.

"Sunday's come too quick,” he finally said.

Taylor gulped at her coffee, ignoring the burn of the scalding liquid as it slid down her throat. She placed the cup down on the table with precision, aware her hand was shaking. “Our high noon.” she said and linked her fingers together, hiding them beneath the table.

"Something like that,” Cade agreed. “So, what now?"

Taylor lifted her chin and looked stared at Cade, stiffening her spine. “Now, we go back to our normal lives."

Huh! Who was she kidding? Nothing would ever be normal after this. How could it? Cade had changed her forever.

But she had to pretend it would and so ate the remainder of her meal in silence, all the while battling the urge to plead with Cade to let her stay. Yet, she couldn't. That wasn't part of the bargain. And she always kept her side of a bargain.

* * * *

The meal over, Taylor was grateful Cade had given her some space. In the bedroom she retrieved her bag and stood at the edge of the room.

How could one small room have so many memories?

Cade loving her. Teaching her. Tempting her.

Oh, God. This was hard.

"Life is hard,” Taylor heard her grandmother say. “We live, we love, and we die."

Die. Rob had died. And had died believing a lie. She'd lied to him, and to herself. The sudden salty sting of tears burned Taylor's eyes. She squeezed them closed.

Time to go.

Bag in hand, she returned to the lounge, hearing the phone ring in the background and Cade's laughing voice as he took the call. “Yeah, nearly