Fat Louise(30)

“What’s your nickname?”

“Fat Louise.”

He stopped looking around, turning to study her, instead. “Fat Louise?”

“I was a little chunky when I was younger,” Jane admitted.

Cade stared at her doubtfully.

“It’s true.” She nodded. “I have to work hard to keep the weight off. I like to eat a lot.”

“You look like you need to gain ten pounds.”

Jane shook her head. “No, I’m exactly the weight I’m supposed to be, according to my height and age.”

“How do you know that?”

“Because I work to stay in that range.”

“Does it really matter if you’re a few pounds above?”

“Yes,” Jane said grimly. She had worked hard to lose the weight.

“Bailey doesn’t seem to be having any trouble with her weight,” Cade remarked.

“No, she doesn’t.” She lowered her lashes to hide her hurt reaction at him comparing the two of them.

“What I meant was that maybe, if you weren’t as active when you were younger, you might not need to watch your diet as closely now that you’re older.”

“Did you miss the part where I said I like to eat a lot?”

Cade’s mouth curled in a smile, the first genuine one she had seen since she met him. She felt her nipples tighten. Embarrassed by her reaction, she glanced shyly away. If one of her friends was nearby, she would have felt more comfortable, maybe even casually flirted with him, but she didn’t have any confidence without them.

“Was my father very upset?” Jane asked, changing the subject.

“Your father seems the type to think no problem can’t be solved with his money.”

“Unfortunately, that’s true. He thought getting Raul to sign that pre-nup he had drawn up would protect Bailey. I tried to tell him not to keep giving Bailey such a high allowance after they married, but he wouldn’t listen. I think, without the money, he wouldn’t have brought Bailey with him.”

“I don’t, either. He seems like a dick. I can see why no one in the family likes him.” He rubbed the badly bruised side of his face.

“Would you like me to clean up your face for you? It’s in pretty bad shape.”

Cade stared at her in amusement. “Have at it.”

Jane dug into her backpack, pulling out a shirt. Ripping off a section that seemed fairly clean, she used the water in the canteen to wet it. Then she dug in her pack again for some salve she had put in before coming into Mexico.

“You got a first aid kit in there, as well?”

“No.” Jane laughed. “Just Neosporin. I’m kind of a pack rat.”

She motioned for him to sit down and then carefully scrubbed his face of the dried blood, trying not to hurt him. She felt a blush rise in her cheeks as he stared up at her.

After she finished cleaning him off, she dabbed the salve onto the cuts. Putting the cap back on, she took a step backward, forgetting her backpack was behind her. She started to fall, but Cade’s hands reached out to steady her. She balanced herself by placing her hands on his shoulders.

“I’m a little clumsy,” she said, beginning to straighten.

His hand left her waist to slide to the nape of her neck, holding her in place. Surprised, she froze as he brought his mouth closer to hers. Jane lowered her eyes to his mouth, waiting for his kiss.

“What’s going on?” Bailey asked, stepping out of the trailer while running a brush through her hair.

“Nothing. I was just patching up Cade’s face.”

Bailey didn’t look happy. “I should have offered. Are you okay?” she crooned, coming up behind him to place a comforting hand on his back.

Jane turned and picked her backpack up before going back into the trailer. I wanted that freaking kiss, Jane thought, mourning the loss of a second kiss from him, one where he wouldn’t be pretending. She didn’t stand a chance against her sister’s more obvious flirtation, though.

She sat down on the mattress, wishing Killyama was there to kick Bailey’s ass for her. The longer she sat there fuming, the angrier she got. Why should she let her sister keep her from trying to get to know Cade better? She might not be as pretty as Bailey, but she sure as shit had a better personality.

Standing up, she decided to make her own play for Cade instead of running like a wimp and leaving the field wide open for Bailey.

She came to an abrupt stop in the doorway.

Cade and Bailey were plastered together, with him giving her the same passionate kiss he had once given to Jane, except the one he was giving Bailey looked real.

Chapter 12





They began walking again as the sun set, with Jane behind Bailey, whose energy seemed restored. She kept a constant stream of chatter going until Cade was forced to quiet her, telling her the sound of voices would travel in the night. Thankfully, his reprimand managed to quiet her, and Jane was given a respite. She made sure to keep space between her and Cade as they traveled through the night. Cade shot her several curious looks yet didn’t question the distance she had placed between them.