The Exception(87)

“No. And if she had, I would have had nothing to say to her, anyway.” Cane glared at Nicole. “Now, if you’ll excuse us, we are going home.” Cane stood and held out his hand to me.

“Have a great night!” Nicole laughed as she walked back through the restaurant.



The atmosphere in Cane’s SUV on the way back to his house was quiet. Cane was obviously irritated.

That made two of us.

I had to admit that Cane had handled Nicole well. He’d been very clear who I was to him and pretty much put her in her place.

But Ashley? What was that all about?

I watched the lights of the city pass by in a maze of colors as we flew down the freeway to Colbie Caillat’s voice on the radio. I was lost in my own thoughts about Ashley, Cane’s past, Simon, and my own history when Cane reached out and placed his hand on my thigh, giving it a little squeeze.

“Jada, I’m sorry about that back there,” he said quietly. “I’ve known Nicole for years. She’s always been a bitch.”

“You don’t have to apologize. That wasn’t your fault,” I said. “I didn’t even care about her necessarily, but your reaction is making me worry.”

“She only said that shit to get a reaction out of me,” he said, taking an exit well before the one we needed. “I have to run by the office real quick, if you are wondering where we’re going,” he said, glancing at me with a half a smile.

“So, Ashley. She’s the girl you left Arizona for, right?” I asked hesitantly as Cane squeezed my leg again.

He blew out a breath and drew his hand back up to the steering wheel. “Yeah.”

“Why would Nicole think Ashley would call you?” I twirled the ring on my finger.

“Couldn’t fucking tell you.” He caught my eye, “Don’t fuck with that ring. There’s nothing to worry about. Ashley hasn’t been a part of my life for years, Jada. I haven’t seen her since before my dad died. I’ve talked to her a few times off and on after that, but fuck, I don’t even know when the last time was.”

I waited for him to continue, but he didn’t.

“So there’s no story there? Nothing for me to get all crazy jealous about?”

He pulled up to a large stone building with “Alexander Industries” written across the front in large blue letters, the awnings covering the parking spots were a blue metal that matched the letters. It was a very masculine structure—large, sturdy looking—exactly like Cane.

“Nope,” he said, gazing seductively at me as he whipped the Denali into a parking spot next to a side door. A silver and blue sign labeled “Mr. Alexander” was at the front of the spot. “The only thing you need to be crazy about is me. And I believe you promised me dessert and I don’t want to have to wait until I get home to eat it.”





JADA

“I don’t know, Heather. He’s just busy all the time. And when I do get to spend time with him, he’s so preoccupied.” I sighed into the phone, watching the Moscato swirl around in my glass in time with the ceiling fan.

I was supposed to be seeing a movie with Cane, but he had been called away at the last second with little explanation.

Again.

“Well, maybe he is just busy. It doesn’t seem to be anything to really get yourself worked up over.”

I gave the wine a final swoosh before sitting the glass down with a clink. “This is how the end began with Decker. There was a slow pull away then, too.”

“Don’t,” Heather said and I knew she was rolling her eyes. “Don’t even go there. Decker was a complete douchebag and, from what you’ve said about Cane, he’s done nothing douchey. Comparing anyone to Decker is like comparing them to Satan. So let’s keep things in perspective, shall we?”

I laughed, relaxing back into the turquoise throw pillows on Kari’s couch. “I see your point. It’s just that this whole thing with Cane has happened so fast. One day I was saying that I would never be with a guy like him. And, before I know it, he’s staying the night.”

I clicked my tongue against the roof of my mouth, replaying my relationship with Cane back through my mind. Things had happened so quickly just like I knew they would. From the moment I saw him, I knew he was going to be a drug to my bad boy addiction. But like a true addict, I couldn’t help myself and I needed to make sure I had control of the situation before I was in too far to save myself.

“I just want to make sure I’m seeing things for what they are, not what I want them to be. I don’t want to get so lost in this relationship that I end up being a fool like before.”