He settled in his SUV, waiting for her to finish locking up her home. Vowing to remain optimistic, he focused on the present. Currently, a soft pink sundress-wrapped Cayla was floating towards his vehicle with a brilliant smile on her matte pink lips. Shades hid her eyes, and her hair was in a rah rah rah high ponytail. Damn, now he’s having cheerleader fantasies. She filled his nostrils with the scent of vanilla and honey when she climbed in and closed the door.
To his surprise, she pecked him on the lips with a shy good morning. That was new. She’d never kissed him in greeting. Some of the doubt floated away. They just might make it through the weekend without killing each other.
They drove in a comfortable silence for thirty-five minutes until Cayla gasped.
“Dexter!”
Dex raised an eyebrow. “You do know my name is just plain Dex, right?”
“I know,” she said dismissively. “I’m annoyed. I altered your name to demonstrate my annoyance. Dex Anthony Sinclair.”
“What did I do that fast?” Dex sighed hoping this would not be the actual start to their weekend.
“You cancelled our reservation for tomorrow night!” she complained, waving the email on her phone in his face. “Why are you cancelling stuff?”
“Oh, that,” Dex said relaxing. “You don’t need the hotel for Sunday night. We, or shall I say, my parents own a house on the lake in Spicewood.” He waved the keys in her face. “A hotel would be a waste of money.”
“The whole point was for me to treat you.”
“You are between jobs, and the house just sits there empty the whole time.”
“I know, but you don’t have to watch my bank account for me.”
She wasn’t mad. Yet. And Dex didn’t want a non-argument to turn into a real one, so he played his tested and true trump card. “Darling, I don’t need a hotel to get you naked. Your pussy will taste just as good at the summer house.”
Cayla squirmed in her seat and crossed her legs. She looked out the window for a second. “Fine, you didn’t alter anything else. Did you?”
And end scene.
“Nope. We’re still staying in a damn treehouse tonight.” The mention of that treehouse brought a huge grin to her face. Dex had to know the story. “Why are you so giddy about the treehouse?”
“Well, it’s different. Plus, it promised to be cool and romantic. I got the whole package…”
“But that’s not why you’re giddy,” Dex interjected.
“I always wanted one.” She sighed, her eyes wistful.
She spent the rest of the time talking about her childhood shenanigans with Kalilah and how she used to watch those impossibly untrue children movies. The ones where the kids did what they wanted all day. The ones with the parents who were never around or too stupid to realize their kids were doing crazy shit. The ones that made you think living in a small country town was the shit. Those movies usually had some sick ass treehouses that she could never have because they lived in the suburbs.
Dex listened, not wanting to break the spell. She was opening up to him, and he didn’t have to drill her with questions. Their weekend looked promising. The closer they’d gotten to their destination, the more nervous she became. Dex could feel her energy bouncing off him. He’d decided to have a positive outlook on her nerves; he’d hoped they meant she was starting to care about him enough to want his opinion.
Dex studied the itinerary in his head. “Cayla, did you tailor this weekend around me?”
“I scheduled it with you in mind,” she confirmed, not understanding the questions.
“I mean did you choose the activities based on what you thought I would want to do? We’re ziplining, wine tasting, hiking, and sailing…”
“Well…yes. I don’t know if you remember, but I have no idea what I would want to do.”
“I do remember. That is why I’m bringing it up. I know for sure you like shopping, and it isn’t on the itinerary.”
“You also pointed out this morning that I don’t have a job,” she volleyed with a smile.
“Who said you would pay?”
“Me. I planned the weekend to be with you, not spend your money.”
Her conviction made his heart flutter. Nick was right – not that he doubted him. Kalilah and Cayla weren’t trying to weasel their way into a rich man’s heart just to gain access to his money. They were focused on the person. He smiled to himself when he remembered Kalilah’s insistence for Nick to give her a pre-nuptial agreement with terms that made him comfortable. She maintained that if they didn’t work out for any reason, she didn’t want him trying to get her killed to keep his assets. Nick laughed for thirty minutes before he assured her that no asset was more important than her. In the end, he still gave her one for