36

Maximilian

Cadence has friends.
Cadence has friends at the wedding.
One friend, she explains as we eat fish and rice, amber eyes sparkling. Her best friend Malcolm knows Callie, Marco’s bride-to-be. They’re in a book club together, of all things. I’ve met Callie a few times, and she doesn’t seem the book club type.
The entire book club is here and they’ve adopted Cadence as one of their own.
Callie and Marco are ecstatic at the ease with which the friend group merges, thanks to Cadence.
Cadence, who is glowing with happiness. I’ve never seen her look so beautiful.
Everyone in the place notices her, especially when she gets up with Callie and others to dance.
“She’s…”
I glance over to see Dexter’s mouth open as he takes in the view. “Yeah.”
I know Cadence used to be an exotic dancer, but she doesn’t move like one. There’s no raunch, no check me out, I’d expect from a former stripper.
But there is a whole bunch of sexy. I especially love how Cadence throws her head back and laughs.
“Your new girlfriend is hot,” Marco says as he downs half a bottle of beer.
“I know.” I don’t feel like explaining that she isn’t technically my girlfriend. Like, not at all my girlfriend. Because I keep thinking that it might not be a bad thing. Having Cadence in my life…
I’m not sure how that would work, though.
But mainly I just want to touch her.

I want to touch her all over.
The party closes down just before midnight as Callie announces bedtime for all. “You need to be ready to do this again tomorrow!”
“This has been such a fun night.” Cadence clasps her hands together.
She looks younger. Happiness pulls the years from her, the tension from her shoulders. She’s no longer the billionaire businesswoman, but a woman having fun with her friends.

It makes me smile. She makes me smile.
“It doesn’t have to end.” I grab her hand and tug her toward the beach. “Let’s go play in the waves again.”
“Not in the dark,” she says, sounding like the old Cadence. “Who knows what will bite me this time?”
I could give her a few suggestions, but I keep those thoughts to myself for now. “No water, just a walk. I’ll keep you safe.”
She looks at me strangely. “Who’s going to keep you safe from me?”
“I’m not frightened. How could I be? It’s you—Cadence, the dancing queen. I saw you on the dance floor. You were having fun.”
She nibbles at her bottom lip and glances sheepishly at me. “I was.”
“And that doesn’t happen too often, so let’s go have more fun.”
As she lets herself be led onto the sand, Dexter and Nick take the hint that company will not be appreciated, and with a wave, head up to the condo. Alone, which is surprising for them.
Nick anyway. For weeks, all he would talk about was hooking up with one of Callie’s friends.
And look at me, so close to doing just that.
Not that I’m expecting anything to happen. This is Cadence’s call to make.
I could take her back to the condo, and sleep beside her in the bed, but I can tell right now, nothing would happen. She might have woken up this morning draped over me, but she’s not going to fall asleep like that.
Not yet. Cadence is close to trusting me, but she’s not there yet. And with her, for us to move forward, there will have to be trust. She’ll have to let herself be vulnerable with me.
I’m not pushing, but I’m also taking every opportunity I can find to get closer to her.
The waves roll over the shore, splashing over our bare feet. We hold our shoes. I hold her hand.
The moon is out, shining down through the wispy clouds.
If this isn’t a damn good time to make my move, I don’t know what is.
But still—I told Cadence I’d let her make the first move. She kissed me first. True, I did kiss her back, but what choice did I have?
“You know all those movie scenes where they’re kissing and the waves roll over them?” Cadence muses.
She instantly has my attention, even though I’ve never seen any movies with folks rolling in the surf. “Sure.”
“Don’t you think that would be uncomfortable? Water in your face and sand everywhere.”
Note to self: do not attempt to kiss her lying in the sand anywhere near the water. “Definitely.” I pause for a moment. “Who are you thinking about kissing?”
“I… you?”
I stop walking because if that’s not an invitation, I don’t know what is. “Where are you thinking of me kissing you?” I ask in a low voice.
“Maybe…here.”