When the dessert came, Harley was thrilled. A classic baked Alaska was presented to her, complete with flames licking the outside of the cold dessert. Jax opted for a lava cake. Warm, soft and sweet on the outside, smooth and decadent on the inside. He lifted a piece of it to his mouth and licked at the ganache centre off the spoon. All the while, he stared at Cade. What would it be like to lick that bittersweet dark chocolate filling off of her skin?
He felt a twitch in his pants. Like the sweet dessert, Cade was dangerous to his health unless she let him in. He had to break down those walls. He kept his sights on his target as he finished his dessert. When he took the very last bite, he thought he could see a sign of hope. Cade's lips parted slightly and her tongue darted out a bit. Whether the action was meant for the dessert or him, he didn't know. All he could do was hope for the latter. He would be willing to give her the dessert she craved any time she wanted.
Chapter Seven
When they arrived at the rehearsal studio, a good twenty-minute drive from the restaurant, three men waited by the doors, each one had a stick of cigarette hanging out of their mouths. Cade sucked in a deep breath, telling herself they were ordinary people with jobs … as musicians. Musicians who pocketed millions. There was no reason for her to feel nervous or inadequate. She should have been used to that by now, what with her being around the band's frontman. Being around one rock star had been difficult, but around four? Cade was ready to throw up. Bile churned in her gut.
She walked around the car and opened the door for Harley. "Let's go, kiddo."
Harley had bounced for ten minutes straight after lunch. Once the high from her sugar-filled dessert wore off, she sat like a bag of potatoes beside her father. Cade bent to check on her. "Har, you asleep?"
"No," the child said weakly. "I'm tired, Cade."
"Okay, I'll carry you then." She stretched out her arms to pick up the child when a hand stopped her.
Jax gripped her arm, and his touch caused goose bumps to appear on her skin. "I have her. It was my fault." He had his sunglasses on, and thank goodness for that! He sent her that crooked smile that made her stomach flip. If his eyes had been part of that assault, Cade would have tipped over and fainted like one of his crazed fans.
It took a moment for her synapses to fire. Carefully, she retracted her arms, straightened up, and closed the door. She walked around the back of the car to wait for Jax to step out with Harley in his arms. As soon as he did, an eruption of screams filled the air. Several feet away from the studio, a slew of women of all shapes, sizes, age, and hair color waved and stretched out their hands, taking photos and videos with their cameras and cellphones. Some carried signs and blown-up photos of their idol.
Jax tried to wave back, but carrying Harley made it difficult. Instead, the rock star spread his lips into that panty-melting smile. He proceeded to the doors, and to the men waiting while the screams continued. It was such a contrast to how quiet his life was in Vancouver. Did his fans know he had moved? Cade wondered. It wouldn't have surprised her if they stalked him and figured out his whereabouts. Only then did she really understand why she had been hired.
The three guys, Luke, Marco, and JP-according to her research-took turns to pat Jax on the back and pinched Harley's cheeks. They all followed him through the main entrance then past a couple more doors. It was like Fort Knox, except rather than millions of gold bricks vaulted, the studio protected the voices and sounds of the artists practising inside.
A man in his late forties approached the group with Tina rushing behind. "There she is! Harley, baby!"
Harley turned and twisted her neck to see who had called her name. "Hi, Uncle Bruno."
Bruno Faigon, the band's agent, dressed in a white shirt which strained over his round beer belly, and a pair of ill-fitting white jeans, squeezed Harley's cheeks and gave the girl a kiss on the forehead. Then Bruno did the same to Jax, which Harley found hilarious.
"Ready to party?" Bruno asked the rock star.
"Have I ever stopped being ready?"
Aware that Jax had immediate work to attend to, Cade walked up to him and raised her hands. "I'll take Harley."
Jax nodded then transferred his daughter's weight onto Cade. He patted Harley's cheek and leaned in, his musky scent filling Cade's senses. She sucked in a shaky hiss. This man would be the death of her.