Page 29 of Trapped With You

“Then I’d say you’re flirting with me.” My smile grew. “Are you?”

“I’m obviously doing a bad job if you have to ask me.”

I chuckled softly. Tenderness feathered over his face. I didn’t want to get ahead of myself, but it felt like there was a strong possibility that Cade might have a crush on me, too.

At our joint family dinner a couple of weeks ago, I noticed him shooting me curious glances while everyone at the table conversed, completely oblivious to the tension between us. I figured he was a man of few words. Or perhaps he was shy and didn’t know how to talk to me in front of so many people.

“For your information, I don’t hang around in my cheerleading uniform. I had practice after school. It’s my second year on the team and Miss Nova—our cheer coach—wants us to start preparing for the upcoming hockey season.” I inched him a sly look and curled a strand of my black hair around my pointer finger. “Speaking of hockey, I heard through the grapevine that you’re officially a Ranger.”

At St. Victoria, I made it a point to know anything and everything about Cade. Did that mean I was on my way to becoming obsessed with him? Most likely.

Cade combed his fingers through his dark brown hair. My own fingers itched to run through it. “You keeping tabs on me, Ella?”

I couldn’t make my interest in him more obvious. “What if I said yes?”

Cade’s voice dropped low with a hint of mischievousness. “Then I’d say you’re flirting with me.”

Okay, I was obsessed. It happened. Right there and then. The way he perused my body once more with a scorching look and playfully bantered with me? I was done for. I never stood a chance.

“Caught me,” I teased, propping my elbow against the back of the bench and turning my face into my palm. “So what position are you playing?”

“Defenceman. I’ve played hockey my whole life, but I had to stop a year ago,” he said, his tone a hint…dejected. “Uncle Vance insisted I continue playing once I moved in with them. Since St. Victoria is known for its reputable hockey team, he enrolled me here.”

I was going to give Vance Remington the biggest hug the next time I saw him. “Well, I’m really glad you’re here. I can’t wait to see you play. I’ll be cheering for you from the bleachers.”

“Yeah?”

“Yeah. Isn’t that what friends do? Cheer each other on?”

“So you want to be friends, pretty girl?”

Pretty girl.

Oh my God. Don’t let him see how much you love that, Ella. Be cool.

Although, the blush on my face probably told him just how affected I was by those two words.

“I do.” For now, I’d settle for being friends.

I didn’t think there was a possibility in the universe where Cade and I existed in the same realm and didn’t end up together. And once I set my mind on something, there was no stopping me.

I was going to make this boy mine.

“Then friends it is.”

He reached inside his black leather jacket’s pocket for a cigarette and lighter, and I had the strong urge to bedazzle his personal belongings with my touch. Maybe paint an orange lollipop—my favourite candy—on the surface of his Zippo. Or go full-on crazy and print my name on the back of his jacket.

“Do you mind if I smoke?” he asked, pulling me out of my reverie.

I wasn’t a big smoker—the occasional weed, yes—and I knew it wasn’t good for your health, but I didn’t want to come off as rude and tell him that. Everyone had their vices. Cade was allowed to have his.

“No, it’s okay.”

Then I watched in fascination as he rolled the cig across his lips before tucking it in the seam of his mouth. He tilted his head and flicked the Zippo with a deft thumb. Once a small flame ignited, he lit his cigarette while his gaze, burning with intensity, clashed with mine.

Why did I find that so hot?

He was the personification of a timeless, quintessential bad boy.