7. Cade

7

CADE

When I finish dragging the last of the shopping bags from the garage into the living room, it looks like I hijacked the entire Christmas stock from Hank's General Store.

"Whoa. Did you buy all of this yesterday?" Maya whistles. "We're going to have enough to decorate the entire house."

"Good." It will help to keep my hands busy because they're itching to touch her.

"The trees are beautiful. And they smell wonderful. But why two?" She steps over a bag of garland.

"Why not?" I get to work opening up the tree stands. "Hank says you have to let the branches fall for a bit before you decorate the tree. How about I get the trees set up, and you start sifting through the bags to see what we have to work with? Because, honestly, I don't remember."

"Alright." She grins. "This is fun." I watch her take out spools of ribbon. I can make bows for the trees and some to put around the candlesticks on the fireplace mantle. Is that okay?"

"Duchess, you have permission to do whatever you want if it makes you smile like that."

She bent her head down so that her long, beautiful hair covers the blush on her cheeks. But I don't miss it.

"So, tell me, why a ski resort?" I drop the base of the tree into the stand.

"I want to build something that's mine." She picks up a pair of scissors to cut the ribbon.

"You should." I open a package of ornament hooks and start connecting them to the bulbs. There's something intimate about doing this with her.

Something nice.

Something that makes me start to feel festive.

"You know what's missing?"

"What?"

"Christmas music." I jump up to turn on the television. "I've got all kinds of streaming apps I've never even used. Look… there's one with a snowman on it." I click on it and turn up the volume.

"That's nice." She smiles.

"It is, isn't it?" I get back to work on the ornaments. "What's kept you from doing something that's yours?"

She hesitates and stares off into space for a few seconds. I can see the wheels turning in that pretty head of hers. "Duchess, remember what I said a little while ago. I'm your friend. And you can trust me."

"It's going to sound so awful when I say it."

"Then you should definitely say it." I wink.

"You're going to think I'm a spoiled brat."

"I'm not going to think any such thing." I put the glittered gold bulb down to give her my full attention. "I'm all ears."

"My entire life has been mapped out for me. From conception to now. And it's not the life that I want to live. Don't get me wrong, I know I've been blessed with a life of privilege. I've never wanted for anything. I have a closet full of designer clothes. I drive a BMW. I have a trust fund from my grandfather that will support me for the rest of my life. I've never gone hungry, and I've never had to worry about having a roof over my head." She lowers her lashes. "But I want something different."

"You didn't mention love."

"What?" She stops cutting the ribbon.

"You never mentioned that you were loved, duchess. You've been cared for. You've been tended to. But have you been loved?"

"I… I don't know."

I study her face; there's pain there. A sadness that I can relate to. "I haven't been loved."

"You haven't?" She looks shocked.

"No. Both my parents were addicts. Hardcore addicts. They always chose the drugs over me and my brother."

"I'm so sorry, Cade."

"Me too," I tell her truthfully. "I'm sorry for me, and I'm sorry for you, too."

"But my parents weren't into drugs."

"Addiction comes in many forms." I sigh. "Drugs, money, perfection… it's all the same thing. When you choose any of it over your children, over your family, it's an addiction no matter how you slice it."

"Wow. I never thought of it that way." She gives me a sad smile. "How are your parents today? They must be so proud of you and your career."

"I don't know. They went to prison sixteen years ago." I shrug. "Along with my brother. He got sucked into their lifestyle. Lucky for me, I didn't. Hockey has been my world."

"Oh, Cade. I had no idea. Is that why you've never decorated a tree?"

"Yup. We never had a tree when we were kids, and quite honestly, I don't remember ever celebrating holidays or birthdays. I guess I just carried the tradition on into my adulthood. What about you? You said you've never decorated a tree either."

"We weren't allowed to. The house staff did everything. Holidays were always over the top. But they weren't for us. They were for show."

"I see." I bent over and pulled a Santa out of a box. "Looks like we're changing things, aren't we?"

"I think we are," she said, holding up a bow. "Is this too big for the tree?"

The use of the word we has a knot forming in my chest. I look at her, startled to see the light in her eyes. She feels it, too. Maybe I should tell her that in less than a month, I will no longer be a hockey player. "I think it's perfect."

"Good. Our first tree is going to be beautiful."

As soon as the words come out of her mouth, she froze. And so did I.

Our first tree…

"I mean… umm…" She stuttered.

"Duchess, I know exactly what you mean." Holy hellfire, I want more holidays with this woman… more days… more nights… more time… and more everything.

"Would you like some eggnog?" She nervously jumps to her feet.

"As long as it's spiced." I grin.

"Spiced it is."

"Great. While you're doing that, I'll go grab some more wood for the fire."

She heads for the kitchen, stops, and glances over her shoulder. "Cade?"

"Yeah."

"Thank you for not judging me."

"Right back at you, duchess."

"But I did judge you." Her voice gets soft. "Three years ago, I unfairly judged you. And I was very wrong. You're the complete opposite of Andre. And for what it's worth, I think you're a good man, Cade Wylie."

Leaving her words dangling in the air, she rushes into the kitchen, and like a lovesick fool, I dance into the garage, whistling another Christmas tune.

She likes me.

Maya Prescott likes me.

And I think she just stole my heart.