Page 20 of Worthy (Adrenalin #1)

Chapter nineteen

Maddox

“Where is he taking you?” Ally’s eyes sparkle as she hands me a shirt to try.

″He didn’t say, he just said to wear something nice.” Technically he asked me to wear the Trent Crimm jeans that “make my ass look edible” although I’m not using those words with Ally. Then he took off to help out at a different job site, leaving me without any other information, and since the only shirts I have with me are t-shirts I find myself at Ally’s mercy.

″So mysterious,” she murmurs, passing me another one.

I look at the charcoal button down she hands me and shake my head. “This feels too fancy.”

″What do you mean?” A lly frowns.

″I mean it’s the kind of shirt you wear with a suit. I don’t even think Cade owns a suit.” I haven’t looked in his closet or anything, but he doesn’t strike me as the suit type.

″Just roll up the sleeves to make it look more casual.”

“I guess.” I put the shirt on and face Ally, who smirks proudly.

“Definitely this one. The gray matches your eyes.”

″So, you don’t have any guesses?” I ask her as she rings up my purchase. “There has to be somewhere in town you need to dress nice to eat at.”

″Not really.” She scrunches her lips together. “I mean, there are nice places and people sometimes dress up to go there, especially up at the resort, but there isn’t a dress code or anything. People go there in their ski gear in the winter.”

″Well, I’m officially stumped, then.” I put my credit card back in my wallet.

″And I’m officially jealous,” Ally says. “I’d love it if Finn surprised me with a dress up night. I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I may have to tell him to get some date night pointers from Cade. No offense.”

″None taken.” I bite back a laugh. “I know it’s not really in his nature to do dates and things.”

″It’s really not. Just goes to show what the right man will do.”

″Right.” I snort.

″Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you’re unaware of how monumental this is for Cade.” She gives me a disappointed look.

″Taking me on a date?” I frown, wondering why she’s repeating what we just established.

″That, sure. And putting so much effort into it. You’ve turned that man upside down and inside out, Maddox. I know you know that.” She passes me the bag .

″I know he’s out of his element, sure,” I agree. “But you make it sound like he’s a changed man.”

″What would you call it then?”

″I don’t know. Living in the moment.” I grasp at the first thing that comes to mind, which makes sense to me since it’s what I’m doing.

″Please,” she scoffs, putting my signed receipt in the register. “Cade wouldn’t go through the trouble of planning a special date for just anyone. That man cares about you. A lot.”

″I know,” I insist. Despite not putting a label on it, it’s clear Cade and I both care about each other in a more than friends way. “But this is the man who’s never really dated before, so that just makes anything he plans seem like a big deal.”

″You’re totally going to ignore the part about you guys caring for each other?” She frowns, hurt.

″I’m not ignoring it.” I shake my head. “Of course, we care about each other. We wouldn’t be spending so much time together if we didn’t. But you’re trying to make it more than that.”

″Are you telling me it isn’t?” she presses. “Are you telling me he’s not in love with you? Or you with him?”

″I’m telling you he hasn’t said that, and I won’t put words in his mouth.” I set my mouth in a firm line to avoid giving anything away.

″Fine. Then tell me how you feel.” She crosses her arms and waits for my response.

I hold my breath, trying to decide how to answer. I like Ally, and I want to be honest. But I don’t want to fuel town gossip that might put Cade in an awkward position, and I don’t feel right telling her things I haven’t told Cade.

″Maddox, I’m not trying to pry.” Ally seems to read my mind. “I’m only trying to point out that you two have something real. Something that makes you both happy. ”

″He does make me happy.”

″And,” she prompts. “Is that all, or do you want more?”

″For now, happy is enough,” I say. “Anything more is up to him.”

Ally sighs and offers me a weak smile. “Okay, I’ll drop it. I didn’t mean to overstep. I just don’t want to see my two friends miss out on something real.”

″I know,” I tell her.

″Ally, I need an interview outfit, stat!” I turn to see a stunning brunette man barreling through the door, cheeks flushed and eyes sparkling with excitement.

″Lennon was only kidding about you interviewing for the waitress job. It’s yours if you want it.” Ally gives me an apologetic smile then turns back to the man. “You don’t need an interview outfit.”

″I do when the interview is for the resort.” The man spreads his arms wide.

″You scored a meeting with the team doctor?” Ally rushes him and is enveloped in a hug.

″No.” The brunette deflates a little. “The spa at the resort. But massage is a foot in the door.”

″People don’t go to the spa for physical therapy.” Ally gives the hands she’s holding a little squeeze before dropping them.

″Tourists might. And at least they’ll have my name on the payroll.” The brunette guy seems determined to stay upbeat.

Ally seems ready to respond when she catches sight of me. “Oh, I’m sorry. Maddox, this is my brother, Sloane. Sloane, Maddox.” She gestures between the two of us. “Sloane just moved here to pursue a job in physical therapy. He’s hoping to work for the ski team.”

I shake hands with Ally’s brother, finding it impossible not to return his smile.

″A job at the resort sounds like a good start,” I encourage h im.

″Right!” Sloane agrees. “It’ll put me closer to the team and give me a chance to perfect my massage techniques. Win, win.”

″The spa doesn’t pay as well as the doctor would.” Ally shoots me a worried look.

″Then I’ll take the serving job too. Lennon said he’d hire me, right?”

″Finn might need that job with Carter Quinn taking over the resort.” Ally crosses her arms in a huff. “I wish that man would make up his mind about what he’s going to do with the existing staff.”

″He can’t get rid of everyone and still run a resort.” Sloane rolls his eyes when he thinks Ally can’t see it. “Besides, Finn has been here forever and knows the mountain inside and out. This Carter guy would be a fool to get rid of him.”

″I hope you’re right.” Ally worries her lip with her teeth until she catches sight of my bags.

“Oh my gosh, what are you doing here listening to us babble. Go have an amazing time with your man.” She gives me a hug.

I’m tempted to stay and offer support, but I catch Sloane’s eye and he gives me a wink, signaling he’s got his sister’s back.

″I will.” I say goodbye and wish Sloane luck with his interview then head home to get ready for my first date with Cade.

***

“Holy shit. Uh, I mean, wow,” Cade says when I open the door. “You look incredible.”

″Really?” I look down with a frown before looking at him. “You look pretty great too.” He’s wearing a pair of gray slacks and a blue button-down that brings out his eyes, and just like mine, the shirt is r olled up to the elbow. I suddenly feel underdressed given I’m in dark jeans rather than slacks.

He looks down at his outfit. “You mean you weren’t sure if I even owned nice clothes?” He tosses me a coy grin.

″Exactly.” I chuckle.

″I might break out in hives if I wear them too long, but you’re worth it.” He bites his lip bashfully before leaning in to brush his lips over mine.

″You didn’t have to do this, you know.” I gesture at our outfits.

″I know, but I want to. You deserve a nice date once in a while.” He takes my hand.

″There you go with that whole deserving thing again.”

″I’m not taking it back this time. Besides, this is just as much for me as it is for you.” He leads me to the truck.

″Really?” My brows draw together.

″Of course. I get to look at you being sexy all night. Totally worth the discomfort of wearing a shirt with a collar.”

″Do I get to find out where we’re going now?” I ask as he pulls onto the street.

″There’s a reservoir about 45 minutes away. A really nice Italian restaurant is on the bank, and I thought we could sit outside and watch the sunset.” He pulls my hand into his, something he’s been doing with increasing frequency, though most of the time I’m not even sure he’s aware of it since he’s always doing something else at the same time, like driving or watching a show.

″That sounds perfect.”

Cade points out different landmarks as we drive, teaching me the names of different peaks or pointing out where he likes to camp and or fish. Seeing this helps me understand why he refers to the area as every guy’s dream backyard. It really is endless, with an infinite amount of things to do.

When we get to the restaurant, we’re shown to a table in a quiet corner, overlooking a vast lake. The water itself is a deep blue, but the bright green peaks that seem to rise out of it are what make it striking.

″It’s beautiful.” I step up to the railing for a better look.

There’s a faint click behind me, and a minute later I feel Cade’s heat against my neck as he breathes, “Not as beautiful as you.”

Cade turns and pulls out two chairs so we can sit, and when we’re both settled and have a glass of wine, he tells me a little more about the area, including how before the reservoir was built a small town existed here, and in the past, severe droughts forced the water level low enough you can see some of the buildings.

″That must be strange, to see the remains of a town.” I try to imagine what it would be like to see roofs poking out of the water.

″It is, especially because lots of the buildings are still pretty intact,” he says. “Like they’re frozen in time.”

″Speaking of building, you mentioned other projects you have going a few weeks ago. What are those?” We don’t spend much time talking about Cade’s work, since up until now, I’ve had a front row seat to it, but I’m curious to know more about the business.

″Mostly just a few renos. One is a new build. It’s just your typical house.” He gives a little half shrug as he twirls the stem of his wine glass.

I roll my eyes. “Define typical. Big, small, custom, something else? I know it can’t be just a house, not after I’ve seen what you’re doing at my uncle’s.”

″It’s nothing special.” He offers a weak smile. “Five bedrooms, chef′s kitchen, vaulted ceilings. The normal stuff people want in a dream house. ”

″Do you enjoy it?”

″Enjoy what?” He looks at me blankly.

″Building.” I nudge his foot under the table. “I know it’s the family business and you’ll inherit it, but do you enjoy it?”

″Mostly. I’m not much of a desk guy, so I like the building part of the business. The operations stuff I’m not too keen on, but Dad sees it as his legacy to pass on, so it’ll be my job eventually.” He rubs his neck.

″I can’t tell if you think carrying on the legacy is a good thing or a bad thing.” I watch his face for a reaction that doesn’t come.

″Probably a little of both.” He sips his wine absently before focusing on me. “I’m fortunate to have something stable, something I can do year-round as opposed to the seasonal jobs most other people have. And I guess it’ll be nice to work for myself instead of someone else, but I’m not in a hurry to be the guy in charge.”

″Does he want you to be? In charge, I mean?” I take a sip of my wine.

″Not yet. He’s not ready to retire, and he’ll want to make sure I’m all set long before he calls it quits. I’m sure he’d prefer I start learning the ropes sooner rather than later, though.” The corner of his lip pulls up just slightly before it settles back into a thin line.

″It means a lot to him to have you take over?”

″Yeah. He took over from my grandpa,” he trails off, looking out at the water.

″The fat happy guy?” I hint.

″That’s the one.” He finally cracks a full smile. “I think it’s a pride thing to be able to pass it on, you know?”

After a second, I nod my head, because I do understand family pride and being able to leave your kids with something. I also understand how that can be both a blessing and a curse. In my case, the pressure for me to go into the family business isn’t as encompassing since I have siblings and cousins who are happy to get involved, leaving me free to pursue what I want. For Cade, I sense it’s a bit of both, he appreciates it, but it might not have been his first choice of careers. I respect him more than ever for his inability to walk away from it, and if anything, it makes him look even more selfless in my eyes... It just means his future is here, and only here.

It’s never been a secret, but having it confirmed still makes my chest ache, because up until now, a part of me wondered if he’d ever consider leaving. Whether those unguarded moments when his gaze lingers a little too long means he does have feelings for me, and whether it’s possible those feelings might outweigh his love for his hometown.

I’d never ask him to leave, of course, though if I thought he’d be willing to maybe I’d be a little more forthcoming with my own feelings. But in addition to not knowing exactly where we stand, I could never ask him to turn down the legacy his family wants to leave him. Which means, when I leave in a few weeks, he’ll stay here.

Permanently.

That makes this whole evening bittersweet. It’s such a thoughtful gesture, to get dressed up and take me out for a special evening, highlighting how much he really does care about me. And like I told Ally, it’s clear we both do truly care about one another. Yet our lives seem to be on separate paths, which is what makes this evening just as sad as it is special. He’ll never leave Katah Vista, and my career path doesn’t encourage me to stay.

That’s not to say I couldn’t work here. Environmental scientists are used everywhere, particularly where people and nature form a delicate balance like in Katah Vista. But I’ve poked around to see what sort of opportunities exist, and right now there aren’t any. Besides, it’d be presumptuous of me to get a job and stay here when he hasn’t indicated he wants me to. He may care about me, but that doesn’t mean he wants me to be a permanent fixture in his life.

I need to be content with the time we have instead of spending it wishing for more.

″If your other clients rave about your work as much as my uncle does, they’re leaving you with a nice legacy.” I try to sound positive.

″They are,” he agrees.

″And I bet in some ways it’s nice not to have to question your future. I envy you that, since I still don’t know where I’ll be working after I finish my thesis.” I play with the stem of my wine glass.

″Wherever it is, I’m sure you’ll make an impact. You’re the most brilliant person I’ve ever met.” He’s giving me a compliment, and while his intense gaze tells me he’s serious, he almost seems sad about it. I’m not sure what I’ve done to make him lose the giddy smile he had earlier, but I don’t want the evening to end on a negative note.

″You know you don’t have to compliment me to get me into bed, right?” I send him a wry smile. “I’m a sure thing.”

My lame joke earns me the chuckle I was going for.

″I didn’t bring you here to get you into bed.” He bumps my leg with his under the table.

″Why did you bring me here?” I ask. “I mean, you mentioned about me deserving a nice date, but why here? Why not somewhere in town?”

″I thought you’d like the view.” His eyes dart to the lake next to us as if to say duh . “Plus, if we went somewhere in town, I’d have to share you. Everyone would stop by to say hello, they’d want to know what the occasion was, and they’d make it impossible to eat in peace. I didn’t want to share you tonight. Is that okay?” He looks slightly panicked, like he made the wrong decision .

″Of course.” I reach out under the table and rest my hand on his thigh. “Don’t get me wrong, I love the town and all your friends, but I like how it’s just the two of us right now. Sometimes, I don’t want to share you, either.”

“Yeah?” There’s a note of hope in his voice I can’t quite decipher, but rather than puzzle it out I try to stay in the moment, leaning over to give him a swift but searing kiss.

“Yeah.”

Cade signals for the check.