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He said it would be easy to fuck her.

He said he wanted to be her hero.

He said he believed she was a woman who could just figure things out.

God, what a surprising, beautiful opinion he had of her.

Jess had been prepared to hate this entire process, but now?

Now, she kind of wished she could learn to see herself the way Kade did.

Chapter Eight

Two days.

Kade swatted at the back of his neck. The fine hairs there had been standing up randomly today. He cast a glance behind him, and Cash was staring at him.

“What?” Kade barked out.

“I’m literally just waiting on you to be done with the door you’re working on.”

Oh. Right. Kade frowned down at the half-done cabinet door he was assembling. He’d probably been working on this damn thing for half an hour.

“Want me to do it for you?” Cash asked from right over Kade’s shoulder.

Kade shoved him away. “Give me space.”

“You are the worst at your job,” Cash grumbled and stomped away.

“It’s been two days.”

“Since your last period, you emotional fuck—ack!” Cash gasped out and swung on Kade. Why? Because Kade’s hand was around his throat. Fuck. He hadn’t even meant to charge Cash. Kade released his throat, ducked neatly out of the way, and held up his hands. “Sorry.”

Cash rubbed his neck. His eyes were blazing gold, and he looked pissed.

“What’s going on over there?” Tommy, their boss, asked.

“Nothing, just playing around,” Kade said quick. He did not need another write-up.

“Well stop fiddle-fuckin’ around and get back to work!”

“Who wants to fuck a fiddle?” Cash asked. “I never understood that saying.”

“I’m sorry, man,” Kade apologized. “I’m just on edge.”

“You think?” he muttered, walking away.

Kade checked that Tommy was looking away and then jogged after Cash. “Hey—”

“I will fight you,” Cash said, rounding on him.

“I know, I know,” Kade said, throwing up his hands in surrender again. “I lost it, but I didn’t mean to. I’m just freaking out a little.”

“Why? You are living a charmed life.”

Kade thought about it, and as much as he hated admitting it, Cash was right. He had it pretty good these days. He followed Cash to his station and hid behind a machine so Tommy couldn’t see him. “Can I ask you a question?”

“No, not all STDs are fatal.”