Chapter 17

Cade

In less than twenty-four hours, everything had changed. Eloise and I kissed in her kitchen for what felt like forever and I almost asked if she wanted to take things upstairs, but every time things got more heated, she took control and I melted and let her. It made sense that she would want to take things slower, since this was the first time she’d done anything with a woman.

I was known for being impulsive, and that extended to going further than I might have in the moment because things felt so damn good and I lost all my rules and common sense.

“Aren’t you sick of me yet?” I asked as we sat on the couch together. I should go home, and she should tell me to go home, but here I was. Still in her house and still wearing her clothes.

We’d eventually gotten out the ice cream and were sharing the pint back and forth. It was the expensive shit, and I really did want to eat the whole thing myself.

“No,” Eloise said, her feet tucked up on the couch as we leaned into each other. “It’s nice having you here without work standing between us.”

That was true. This unstructured time where there were no rules or responsibilities and we could just have time together to talk about anything. So much better than sending silly messages back and forth.

“When did you come out?” she asked as she combed her fingers through my hair. I had quickly gotten the impression that she liked my hair, so I was going to start wearing it down more often for her.

“Junior high. My friends were just starting to get boyfriends and talk about crushes and I realized that I didn’t have any of those kinds of thoughts about boys, but I sure did about girls. I ended up having a huge crush for like two years on one of my straight friends. I only got over it after she moved away. Sometimes I think about looking her up online and seeing what she’s doing now.”

Eloise set the empty ice cream container aside and took my spoon from me, moving closer until she was almost in my lap.

“And your family was good with it?” she asked.

I leaned my head against the couch. “Yeah, they were. It wasn’t very dramatic. And then I had my first girlfriend and took her to prom and we were in a pretty progressive town, even though it was small.”

Eloise frowned. “It was different. When I was growing up. I know you don’t like to think about the years between us, but things were different. I only knew one or two people out at my high school and they were pariahs. Even if I’d been able to figure out my feelings back then, coming out would have been a huge mistake.”

I took her hand and squeezed it. “That sucks. I’m sorry it wasn’t safe for you.”

She shrugged, but I could feel the pain radiating off her.

“You don’t talk about your family,” I said, trying to keep my voice gentle.

“We’re not really in contact. I kind of…let that part of my past go when I became Eloise Roth.”

I sat up. “Wait, is Eloise Roth not your real name?” That was quite the revelation.

“Eloise is my real first name, but my last name was Ross until I changed it to Roth.”

I gaped at her. “For real?”

She nodded. “Yes.”

“Huh. Yeah, Eloise Roth is much better.” I couldn’t believe she had told me that.

“So now I know your birthday and your original last name. You’re giving me all kinds of secrets here, El,” I said.

She leaned close and crowded me, scrambling my thoughts.

“Maybe you could give me some of your secrets in return,” she said.

I snorted. “Honestly, I’m not good at secrets. I’ll tell people anything.” It was true. Sometimes when I got going, words would just fall out of my mouth and I’d end up telling a complete stranger I’d just met about something they definitely didn’t need to know.

“You must have some secrets,” she said, her fingers dipping to stroke the collar of my shirt.

“Mmmmm, maybe. What are you going to do to get me to tell?” I asked. Fuck, I loved being able to talk to her like this. To not hold back on all the dirty and horny things I wanted to say to her.

Eloise groaned and rested her head on my shoulder. “It’s getting late. You should go. Don’t want to keep my assistant up too late.”

She was right, but I hated it.

“I’ll bring your clothes back after I’ve washed them,” I lied. She was never getting these back. I was keeping them.

I had to get my bag from the office and slung it over my shoulder as she followed me to the door.

“I’ll see you tomorrow,” I said, playing with the strap on my bag and my keys.

“Until tomorrow, Cade,” she said, leaning down and giving me the softest kiss that was more like a brush of her lips against mine. A quick flutter before she pulled back. “Drive safe. Let me know when you get home.”

“I will,” I said, licking my lips so I could have one last taste of her. “See you tomorrow.”

* * *

Made it home in one piece, but I’m not happy about it. Your house is nicer I sent when I made it back to my place. Saying that Eloise’s house was nicer was like saying a five-star resort was nicer than a shady motel off the highway that may or may not be a front for something illegal.

But my apartment did have more haunted items than her house did, so that was something.

I’m glad you’re safe, but not glad you’re not here. The house is too quiet without you. I hate it. She sent. The fact that someone missed my noise was almost hilarious, but she’d told me that plenty of times before. That she liked the way I was.

But does your house have this? I asked, sending her a picture of an unsettling pottery vase that I’d bought and was definitely haunted.

I certainly hope not! That’s the ugliest vase I’ve ever seen. No offense. She responded.

I could always bring it with me tomorrow I replied. I wouldn’t, but I liked riling her up. It was too much fun.

Eloise and I continued to argue and flirt back and forth until I had to take a shower and get ready for bed.

Her last message to me was a voice note and I played it over and over so I could hear her voice.

“I know it’s silly to say this, but I miss you and I can’t wait to see you tomorrow, Cade. Sleep well.”

* * *

Gettingready the next morning made me giddy, and going to pick up our breakfast made me giddy, and by the time I pulled into her driveway I was practically vibrating with the need to see her.

Sickening behavior.

The minute her door opened, I almost flung the coffee and bag to the floor so I could grab her, but then I remembered that would make a mess and ruin our breakfast.

“Hi,” I said, smiling so hard that it made my cheeks hurt.

“Hi,” she said, holding the door open. “I was, um, waiting for you.”

Usually I let myself in, but today she’d met me at the door, and it was nice I wasn’t the only one who was a complete disaster about someone.

I just rushed past her to the kitchen, dropping everything and then pulling her into my arms and kissing her before she could say anything else.

Eloise let out a little sound of surprise before wrapping her arms around me and moaning into my mouth. Desire buzzed in my veins and all I wanted was to push her down on the couch and show her how much I’d missed her, but that wasn’t what a good assistant would do. No, I had to show some restraint. I couldn’t be completely hands off, but I could at least not ravish her before she’d had her morning coffee.

“Cade,” she said, but her voice was a groan. “We can’t spend the whole day making out.”

“Why not?” I said and she gave me a look and then I was the one groaning.

“Okay, I know.” She could have made a rule that we weren’t allowed to kiss at all during work hours and she hadn’t, so that was something.

“Your coffee, my dear,” I said, presenting her with the cup.

“Thank you, Cadence,” she said as we both sat together, but I yanked my chair closer.

“Decided to wear your hair down today?” she asked, and I was pleased that she’d noticed.

“I did. Someone seems to have a thing for my hair,” I said, flipping some of it over my shoulder.

“I might. A little bit,” she said, holding her thumb and forefinger a little bit apart.

“I think it’s more than a little bit,” I said.

She exhaled and twisted a few strands between her fingers. “You caught me. Apparently I have a weakness for women with red hair. One in particular.”

“Is it me? I hope it’s me.”

She glared and I laughed as I unwrapped my sandwich.

“Yes, Cade, it’s you.”

* * *

“I can’t workunder these conditions,” Eloise said a few hours later when I’d gotten up to ask her something and instead had started massaging and kissing the back of her neck.

“Sorry not sorry,” I said, placing a kiss on the side of her neck and stopping myself before I took it too far. Hickeys during work hours were definitely not allowed.

“Cadeeeee,” she said, drawing my name out. “I’m not going to get anything done if you keep doing that.”

I stood up and forced myself to take a step back. “Okay, okay. I’ll behave. I’ll be good.”

She let out a sound of disbelief and swiveled her chair around and faced me.

“I don’t believe that for a second, but, I think we need to put up some boundaries.” Shit. That was what I was afraid of.

“No kissing during work hours, I get it,” I said, mad at myself for pushing too far.

Eloise put her hands on the arms of her chair.

“I didn’t say not kissing during work hours. Do you want to not kiss during work hours?”

“No, I definitely want to kiss during work hours. But maybe we can keep the kisses brief? And no neck stuff. Or removing clothing,” I said, hating every word but knowing that having some boundaries was a good thing.

Eloise nodded slowly. “That’s wise.”

“It is.”

I stepped between her legs and looked down at her gorgeous face. “Your eyes are amazing. I’m sure everyone has told you that already.”

She blinked. “People have mentioned it. I’ve been called Elizabeth Taylor once or twice.”

“Who?” I said, pretending not to know.

Eloise glared and I laughed.

“I know who that is, El. I was just messing with you.”

Unable to stop, I stroked my fingers through her dark hair as she leaned into me.

“You’re a menace,” she said.

“You’ve told me that before.”

Eloise sighed. “You’re going to have to stop doing that. I need to get this chapter finished.”

I also had a million things to do. My libido couldn’t get in the way of doing my job.

“You’re right.” I let her go and went back to my chair and put my headphones on.

* * *

For the first time ever,Eloise let me make lunch. It was just a basic chopped salad with some leftover chicken and dressing she’d already made, but I was still pretty proud of myself when I dished it up.

“This is nice,” Eloise said as we ate on the porch. I really did love eating lunch with her every day.

“Hopefully it’s okay,” I said, getting nervous.

Eloise filled her plate and took a bite and I waited as she chewed. She didn’t choke or spit anything out or make a face when she swallowed.

“Very good,” she said, and I thought she was overselling it a bit but I’d take it.

“So,” I said as I added more salad to my plate, “what are your plans this weekend?”

Eloise sipped her iced tea and looked at me over the rim of her glass.

“I was thinking we could go on a date. If that’s something you might be interested in?” Her voice was hesitant, as if she wasn’t sure she should be asking.

“Hell yeah, I want to go on a date,” I said. “I was going to ask you, but you did it first.”

I’d thought about what we could do together, and I didn’t have any good ideas, but that didn’t mean I wasn’t going to ask her.

“Would you like me to plan it?” she asked. “Or you could. Sorry, I’m out of my depth.”

I reached my hand out and stroked her arm. “You’re doing pretty well so far. And you can absolutely plan this one. I’ll do the next one.”

Eloise nodded. “That seems fair. Is there anything you want to do in particular?”

I wanted to say “you,” but it was absolutely too early for that, so I didn’t.

“I’m cool with anything. As long as you’re there and there’s food. And cake. There has to be cake.”

Eloise put up one finger. “Me, food, cake.” She added two more fingers. “I think we can handle that.”