Chapter 31

Her voice cut off when he walked purposefully behind the counter, picked her up, and threw her over his shoulder. He started toward the door, but she called out, "Wait! My purse!" He stopped and waited for a minute.
Kiki dug her purse out from under the counter and shoved it into her hand, laughing. "Have fun," she said in a singsong voice, wiggling her fingers goodbye.
"Caden, put me down!" Jocelyn yelled as she held on, watching Roxanne and Kiki share a laugh behind them. It was one of the first times she had actually seen Roxanne smile.
"Not yet." Caden pushed the door open and cold air rushed toward her, along with a few flurries. People on the sidewalk gave them a wide berth, laughing and pointing. He bent down and opened the passenger side of his car and then set her on her feet. "Where would you like to go?"
Jocelyn let out a deep breath as she straightened her suit coat. "I can't believe you did that!"
"Well, what would you like to do?" He looked at her expectantly.
"Since I don't have my winter coat and I'm dressed like this, it's limited."
"Okay," he said, walking around the car to the driver's side. "I'll take you home so you can change."
"No, I'm going back to work." She slid her purse over her arm, trying to salvage what was left of her dignity.
He looked at her over the roof of his car. "Do you want me to come after you again?"
"You wouldn't--"
"Or would I?"
"Okay." She sighed, relenting as she climbed into his car and closed the door.
He slid into the driver's seat, wearing a triumphant grin. "So, where would you like to go?"
She leaned back against the seat. "What are you doing, Caden?"
"What do you mean?" he asked her, his eyes innocent, as if having carried her from her work had been the most natural thing in the world.
She slid on her seatbelt as he pulled the car away from the curb. "I saw you kiss Mallory last night."
He didn't take his eyes off the road. "I didn't kiss her. She kissed me."
"But you didn't stop her."
"I turned my head and she kissed my cheek."
"You mean to tell me that you didn't kiss her- like you kissed me?"
He let out a deep breath and looked over at her, raising an eyebrow. "No."
"Why not?" She internally kicked herself for asking.
"Why do you want to know?"
She threw up her hands. "You are so infuriating! What are we doing here?"
He shrugged. "Having fun."
"Having fun," she repeated. "Well, at least now I know."
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"This!" She motioned around her as the car sped toward her house. "You kidnapping me! Us going out. All of it."
He shrugged. "I missed you."
"So, your solution was to kidnap me?"
One corner of his lips curled into a cocky grin. "Well, you didn't fight me too hard."
She folded her arms across her chest, pretending to be mad.
"Look." Caden turned his eyes back toward the road. "I don't know, but is that so bad?"
She shook her head as she let out a deep breath. "No, it's not."
He shrugged. "Let's just spend the day together and see what happens."
"And what are you going to tell Mallory?"
He turned the car down the street, leading to her house. "The truth, once I know what it is." He pulled the car to a stop and left the engine running. Then he placed his arm over the back of her seat, looking at her with his dreamy eyes. "I'll wait here while you change your clothes."
A part of her wanted to stay with him forever, but a part of her wanted to go back to work, not wanting to get her hopes built up. And what about Mallory? What was she going to tell her? But Jocelyn knew she was already in too deep to turn back now. "I'll be right back."
"I'll be here." Caden gave her a cocky grin as she climbed out of the car.
She had no idea how to dress as she ran into the house. He was wearing jeans and they would probably spend time outdoors, so jeans were a safe choice. What are you doing? In her room, she flung the door open and pulled out a pair of jeans and a white sweater set. Then she grabbed her heavy white coat, just in case. After all, it was Christmas Cove and snow and cold weather were in the forecast more than not.
Jocelyn slipped on her fur-lined boots, slung her heavy coat over her arm, and then hurried down the stairs and out the front door, locking it behind her. Then she hurried to the car and Caden was waiting on the passenger side, holding the door open.
"Wow! You look nice," Caden exclaimed. "Who knew you could clean up so well?"
"Ha, ha. Thanks a lot," she replied as she slid into the passenger's seat. He closed the door for her and then climbed into the driver's seat. She knew she shouldn't ask, but she just couldn't help herself. "Do you think there will ever be a time that you'll think of me as a woman and not a child?"
His eyebrows pulled together in concern. "Why do you ask?"
She shrugged. "Well, you still tease me like you did when I was a kid. I was just wondering."
He turned toward her and laid his arm over the back of the seat. "You're right. Sorry. I guess old habits die hard. It's that I've always been so used to teasing you." He shrugged, thinking. "I'll still tease you, but I'll have to find another way." One corner of his lips curled into a smile. "You look beautiful, by the way." Then he gave her a wink. "But you still clean up good."
She laughed. "You'll never change." And secretly, she hoped he never did.
"Nope! So, you'd better get used to it."