Page 14 of Taking A Chance

“Too far, Cade. You took it too fucking far. Don’t you ever disrespect Amy like that.”

“Amy.” I pull her away from Isaac and into a hug. “I’m so sorry. You are beautiful, kind, and incredibly sexy. I couldn’t ask for a better person to take on my dick of a brother. We’ve been trying to get rid of him since Dad took pity on him and brought him into the family.”

“Cade,” Isaac grumbles out a warning.

“But I’m not sure if we should inflict his assholery on you,” I know, I’m an ass, but this is what I do when it comes to Isaac. “It’s not too late to back out, you know. I’m more than willing to take care of you,” I give Amy an exaggerated wink, at which she tries her best to stifle her giggle.

“Fuck you,” Isaac laughs, pulling Amy back into the confinements of his own arms. His temper now obviously quashed from Amy’s affection, and the realisation that as far as an apology from me goes, this is as good as it gets.

“Come on, you two lovebirds. Let’s go get some breakfast, I’m starving.”

Kat is still interrogating me when Cade walks back in, closely followed by Isaac and Amy. The heat of the previous confrontation seems to have diminished and the happy wedding aura slowly seeps back into the group.

Kat, being the type to rub it in, takes great pleasure in informing me that most of the other guests, that were staying overnight, have already had breakfast and gone. Some making their way home, others going out for the day and taking advantage of the Florida sun.

“I can understand Isaac and Amy wanting to hole up until late. They get to play the just married card, but what’s your excuse?” Kat asks, still convinced that I was holding back vital information. I hate liars, but this isn’t lying, is it? I’m just refusing to divulge my recent inappropriate and embarrassing behaviour. Although, I secretly wish that things had gone further, a lot further, whilst my backbone had been under the influence of a bottle and a half of champagne. Don’t let those sparkles fool you, it’s really the devil in a glass. With the way my head feels, Beelzebub is certainly taking the piss out of me this morning.

“The hangover from hell,” I groan as I pop another pain killer, aware that having already taken two less than an hour ago, I shouldn’t, really. Hell, if I’m going to get through today, I need a top up. I could go down the hair of the dog route, but I doubt my stomach could take it. Coffee and a round of toast are about as much as I’m willing to risk.

“So, ladies, what are your plans for the day?” Cade asks, taking the vacant seat next to me.

“We were going to drive over to Orlando and spend the day at one of the parks,” Kat replies, before the question has even registered with me. The closeness of him is very distracting. “But looking at Petra, rollercoasters and screaming kids are off today’s agenda.”

“Huh?” I jump at the sound of my name.

“Ben and I are going out to Pierce Street Market if you would like to join us?”

“Are we?” Ben mutters. Cade gives him a ‘shut up and go with it’ look. “Yeah! They have some outstanding food stalls, and we could show you the beach, too. Best beach in Florida.” He adds, immediately backing up his brother’s impromptu plan.

“I don’t know,” I say, rubbing my stomach when it rolls, and not in a good way, at the mention of food. Cade’s hand drops onto my knee and squeezes. Undoubtedly, to remind me of my previous promise.

“I think that’s a great idea,” Kat intervenes. “And some fresh air will do you good,” she directs at me.

“Excellent,” Cade expels over zealously, patting my leg before removing his hand. “Let’s meet in the lobby, say, an hour?” I agree, even if a little less enthusiastically than the others. “It will be warm, so dress light. Oh, and flip-flops or sneakers as there will be a good amount of walking.”

“Fuck me,” I mumble under my breath, already marking up the day as a nightmare. Hot, sticky, walking? All I really want to do is go veg out at the side of the hotel pool, with a bucket of full sugar coke and my Kindle. I’m so not looking forward to this.

“Did you say something, Petra?” Cade raises his eyebrows at me. Not one, but two.

“Lucky me,” I speak louder. “Can’t wait.” I try to make the words sound less sarcastic than I actually want it to, but it’s like I’m on autopilot. It’s just me.

“Good,” he gives me a half smile. You know the kind that says, I know your game.

We all finish our breakfast around the same time and make our way back into the lobby.

Isaac and Amy have already done a disappearing act. It was probably for the best, because at one point, I’m sure that one of Isaac’s hands had certainly not been sticking to table etiquette. By the expression on Amy’s face, the way she was biting her lip and the flush to her cheeks, the addition to her conventional breakfast serving, had hit the spot.

Ben and Kat walked ahead towards the lifts, chatting away. I can sense Cade’s presence, even before he’s moved up close beside me. It’s as if his masculine pheromones radiate off him like a… well heat from a radiator… at maximum temperature. Did someone switch off the air-con?

“For a minute, I thought you were going to bail on me,” he accuses. His hand comes to rest at the hollow of my back.

“Steady on, Cowboy. I never break a promise, I just didn’t expect it to be today.”

“I’m not a patient guy. I believe that once an agreement is made, it should be dealt with quickly and efficiently.”

“Is that so? Well, I’m hardly going to argue with you, am I now? Mister Lawyer Man.”

“Glad you see things my way,” he chuckles. I huff at him and his arrogance. “Oh, and while we are on the subject of promises,” his hand slips to my hip, pulling me closer to his side as his mouth hovers over my ear. “Be careful,” he warns. “You should make sure I’m not around when you mumble ‘fuck me’ because, like I said before, I don’t need asking twice.” I swear he nips my ear with his teeth before finishing with, “And that is a promise.”