Ginny crossed her legs, drawing Cayden’s attention there. “Even you?” she asked.
“Yes,” he admitted. “Spur’s managed it. Blaine’s always been a momma’s boy. Even Trey’s been over there to have hard conversations.”
“He certainly looked very happy tonight,” she said.
“That he did,” Cayden said, flashing a smile in her direction. His thoughts lingered on his mother, as he really did need to reach out and find a way to move past the barriers between them. “When you’re…annoyed with your parents, what brings you back together again?”
Ginny took her time answering, and Cayden didn’t hate the silence in his truck. The radio played softly in the background, and he just liked being with her. Very much.
“Time,” she said. “I suppose. Forgiveness. Realizing that they’re my parents, and I do love them. Getting outside of my head and remembering that they want what is best for me.” She leaned her head back against the headrest and looked at him. Her eyes were soft and vulnerable. “Will you think on accompanying me to my parties?”
“I don’t need to think on it,” Cayden said, feeling so proper. “I’ll come to whatever you want me to.”
“You’ll have to practice your plastic smile,” she said. “I know you Chappells. You say what’s on your mind and it shows on your faces.”
“Does it?” he asked. “What am I thinking right now?”
“Why don’t you just tell me?”
“Because then you wouldn’t have read it on my face.” He grinned at her, liking this game.
“You’re thinking you wished you would’ve let Spur come rescue me from the side of the road.” She grinned at him, and Cayden’s whole being lit up with the flirtatious tone of her voice.
“Wrong,” he said just before he laughed. She joined in, and Cayden would never feel tired when he was with her.
He approached the address she’d put in his phone, but she said, “You turn right here.”
“This says it’s straight ahead.”
“It’s a huge piece of property,” she said. “We all live on it. My place is to the right.”
He peered through the windshield at the street sign, which certainly didn’t look like a public sign. “Virginia Avenue,” he said, reading the white letters on the blue sign. “Fascinating.”
She cleared her throat. “You do know I’m quite wealthy, don’t you?”
“I’ve heard,” he said.
“I’ve heard the same about you.”
“Then you know I’m not interested in you because of your money.”
“Why are you interested in me?” she asked. “I’m the house right there on the left.” She pointed as if he couldn’t see the enormous building that had lights glowing over every window and beneath every eave.
It looked made of the finest wood, brick, and glass, and Cayden knew she had a great deal more money than he did. Cayden pulled into the driveway and eased to a stop right next to the sidewalk that led to the front porch.
He put the truck in park and looked at her. “I’m interested in you, because the first time we met, your very presence sparked something hot inside me. You’re gorgeous, and you’re smart, and I would be honored to be at your side for whateversoiréesyou need a date for.”
Ginny gave a light laugh that sounded like she’d practiced it many times, and Cayden didn’t like this fake version of Ginny Winters.
“I can’t be very sophisticated,” he said. “Spur says I’m over the public relations, because I’m the most charming and I can hold my temper the best. But Ginny, I’m not like you.”
“That’s okay,” she said. “All the more reason to bring you along.” She grinned at him, uncrossed her legs, and slid from the truck before Cayden could remember his Southern manners and go around to help her out.
By the time he did, she was halfway down the sidewalk toward her front door, and he called, “Good-night, Ginny.”
“Good-night, Cayden,” she called over her shoulder without breaking her stride.
He watched until she went all the way inside, whispering, “I’ll call you.”