I come back inside and finish my tea, as I read the paper. My thoughts keep lingering back to Cade and how it felt to be held in his arms.
Does he do this for all the ladies, was it a one-off thing, or did he do it because he wanted to see me home safely? All of these question rattle in my brain, and I guess I’ll never know the answer, unless I get to know him.
I finish drinking my tea and reading the paper. It’s getting late in the day and the shower is calling my name, not to mention the grocery store if I want to eat this week.
Being single and cooking for one is annoying, but I’d rather have home cooked food than eating out every day of the week.
When I walk back into my room, the glass of water catches my eyes and I can’t help but smile. He was looking after me, even when I didn’t know I needed looking after.
Chapter 7
Cade
I didn’t fucking sleep a wink. My mind kept replaying Aubrey over and over again. Was she okay, would she even remember me, was she safe enough in her apartment?
I’m up chopping wood out front this morning at the ass crack of dawn. Hoping she’ll call me sometime soon. Winters in Washington can get downright cold, and I know I won’t want to be chopping wood in the midst of a snowstorm this winter.
Once I finish doing this batch, I sit down on the back-porch steps, and take a few gulps of water from the bottle I brought out here.
Axe trots his way over by me with a stick in his mouth. It seems he always has one with him more often than not.
“Whatcha up to ole boy?” I ask him. He doesn’t respond, but he lies down and goes to town on his stick. I lift my head to the sky and soak in the sunshine.
My phone vibrating in my pocket knocks me out of my reverie. Pulling it out, I look down on the display, and it’s a number I don’t know.
I answer the phone, “This is Cade Martin.”
“Um. Hi, this is Aubrey. I was uh… calling to thank you for last night,” she stumbles over her sentence, and if this isn’t my lucky day, I don’t know what is.
“Hey, Aubrey. How are you feeling?” I ask her with a grin on my face.
“I’m okay, a little tired, but a lot embarrassed,” she replies.
“You have nothing to be embarrassed about, Aubs. The people who should be embarrassed are Trisha and Brittany. Those two know better, yet they don’t give a damn either way,” I say in a harsh tone.
“Just the same, I knew better. I just thought a taxi could take me home. I’m really sorry if I inconvenienced you and I’m so thankful you brought me home,” she says in a rushed voice.
“The pleasure was all mine,” I say into the phone. Thinking of how I can see her again. Busy schedule be fucking damned. I want to see Aubrey. No, it’s more of a need I feel deep in my soul.
“Thank you. Can I um…take you out to dinner or make you dinner at my place to say thank you?” she asks.
“Sure, but why don’t I pick you up and we can grocery shop and bring it back to my place to cook. Axe gets lonely out here by himself,” I pour out. Sure, we could stay at her place, but it’s minuscule and barely enough to be considered a one bedroom. I saw her kitchen, and everything is almost dorm room size. I’m not sure how we’d manage to work around each other.
“Axe? Who’s Axe?” I hear the uncertainty in her voice.
“He’s my dog, a golden retriever. I’m gone a lot, so I try to be home when I can.”
“Oh. Okay, that works. What day works best for you?” she questions.
“Can you do this afternoon? My schedule during the week is more chaotic than not,” I ask her.
“Sure, let me know what time and I’ll be ready,” she says and I can hear the happiness in her voice.
“Will one o’clock work?”
“Yep! I have nothing going on, so whenever. You know where I live. I guess I’ll see you then,” she rambles.
“Aubs?”
“Yes?”
“Can’t wait to see you again,” I click the phone off when I’m done. I have some cleaning up to do around here and then I need to hop in the shower as well.
Chapter 8
Aubrey
That was not at all how I expected things to go. I figured I’d thank him. Maybe take him out to dinner or lunch, and then we’d go our separate ways. Though, I have to say. I’m really freaking excited.
He was the most handsome man I have ever met, and that was in my tipsy state of mind. Yet, I remember the way I felt as he held me, the way he smelled, the way he took care of me. He never took advantage of me. He was the perfect gentleman.