He's the One, Jane Beckenham [best new books to read TXT] 📗

fit revisited, mouth opening and closing several times.

"Fly catching?” He winked at her.

She slammed her lips closed.

"Oops, think I'm in trouble,” he mouthed to her out of her brother's earshot.

"You can count on it.” She linked her arm with her brother's and promptly dragged him almost running, leaving Cade in her wake to watch her cute little butt sashay. “Great view,” he chorused just loud enough so she could hear.

"Oh, you...” Blue-black eyes speared him as she gave him a withering glance over her shoulder.

He gave her a relaxed wave, winked and grinned at the same time. Her lips pursed, and she snapped her head back as a belly roll of laughter rumbled from his throat. “Yep, the day sure has improved—substantially."

Chapter Twelve

Oh, God. What was wrong with her? Everything Cade said was true. She would have fallen into bed with him. All it would have taken was just one of those sexy smiles of his aimed in her direction.

Unadulterated and oh-so-very hot lust jettisoned right through Taylor in one swift strike. Her body craved his touch. But she couldn't.

It all came down to that one moment, a slice of history that hung forever between her and life, kept there by those that cared for her, yet who didn't realize the memory was entwined with guilt and remorse.

A memory that wouldn't release her.

"Blast it.” Edward kicked at one of the rear tires. “It's shot."

Taylor eyed the flat tire. “Change it."

"Can't. The spare's not exactly spare. This is the second flat I've had in a couple of days. The guys at the garage were getting in a specialist tire for me."

"You mean to say we've got to walk?"

"Course not,” Cade chimed in. “There's always the pickup.” He thumbed towards his vehicle parked across the road.

Taylor vision jack-knifed toward the parked vehicle. “No. No way. I'm not getting in your car. Not again."

One dark brow rose, and his mouth quirked to one side. Taylor wanted to slap that smile right off his face. Erase it, because it did far too many things to her, things she didn't want.

Liar!

"You didn't seem to mind it last time, if I remember rightly."

Oh, he remembered all right. Because she did, too.

"First and last time,” she reiterated. She tucked her bag under her arm and twisted back to her brother. “We'll walk."

"I can't. Old Achilles injury,” her brother offered.

"Edward Sullivan, I'll get you for this. I don't need this right now."

"What she means, Edward, is she doesn't want to ride with me."

"I don't want to be ‘with’ you anywhere, Cade."

"Could have fooled me."

"Mother's a stickler for punctuality, Taylor,” her brother added as fuel for the fire, tapping his watch.

"Ooh,” she stamped her foot. “What is it about you men? You always stick together."

"Predisposed survival instinct,” Cade offered.

"More like pigheadedness,” she shot back, adding the worst glare she could manifest to boot. Taylor glanced at her watch. There was no way out of it. She was due at her parents’ for dinner ten minutes ago, and Edwards was right, being late for their mother wasn't a good start to what she knew would be an awkward evening.

Sandwiched between her brother and Cade, Taylor did her best to keep well clear of Mr. Cade Harper. But every time he took a right corner, she was forced ever closer to him, suffering his hard, virile body rubbing against hers.

While her brother and Cade held a chatty banter over her head, she remained silent, doing her best to ignore the hunk. When she caught his easy smile, she jerked her head away and turned. She wouldn't look.

Damn him. And all men in general. Cade, however, was obviously enjoying every single moment of this.

Of course he would. He got his own way—again.

"Here we are. Home sweet home,” Edward announced as he directed Cade up the drive to the family home.

Cade brought the pickup to a halt, and Taylor uttered a grunt as she shoved passed him, stumbling over his long legs in the process. She had to get out, get some distance between them. She needed to breathe.

"Nice place."

"Yeah, they've lived here since they married,” Edward answered. “Gotta run, the folks are inside.” He nodded toward the house.

"You're not staying?” A fresh wave of panic reared its ugly head. She didn't want to go inside. Not alone. And certainly not with Cade in tow. This was worsening by the second.

But her brother ignored her pleas, wheeled his racing bike from the garage and left without a backward glance. Left her—with Cade—and her mother.

"You don't have to come in, you can go,” she said to Cade. Please go.

"Make an excuse you mean?"

"Yeah, Edward was just being friendly."

"Nice guy."

She shrugged.

Just then, the screen door opened and a tall pokerfaced, gray haired woman came out to the porch.

"Taylor?"

She didn't say it was lovely to see you, how are you, simply Taylor's name. A question, with so many words and demands tied into that one word.

Taylor's mouth down turned, and she blinked away the sudden threat of tears. “Hi, Mum. Edward suggested I bring Cade."

"I see.” Again, not hello. Welcome. Nothing. Instead her mother linked her fingers, turned on her heel and walked back inside.

Embarrassed by her relation's brutal rudeness, Taylor didn't know what to say.

"She doesn't seem pleased to see me."

"She's like that with everyone."

"Even you, it seems?"

Taylor sighed. “Usually."

"And I thought having a drunk for a father and a mother who didn't bother was hard work."

"Don't, Cade. Please, don't. Family is, well, family.” She shrugged battling weary resignation. “You get used to it."

With legs heavy as lead, Taylor took the steps with Cade at her side. She couldn't see any way out of this meeting and was determined to get it over with as quick as possible.

Her parents loved Rob. Remembered Rob. Made sure Rob, even in death, was in her life, always. They made her feel guilty for wanting something else. For being different.

The distinctive villa in one of Auckland's lushest suburbs bespoke money, but inside, was ... well, just plain