Chapter 35

"Looks great," Caden announced, bringing her from her reverie. "Let's eat."
As they ate, Jocelyn barely tasted the pot roast, even though it was one of her favorite meals.
"What are you thinking about?" Caden asked, studying her face.
"That's a favorite question of yours. Isn't it?"
He shrugged. "I guess it is around you."
Jocelyn thought for a moment. "I was just thinking that this pot roast reminds me of my mother's."
Caden reached across the table and gave her hand a gentle squeeze. "Jocelyn, I'm so sorry about that- that you lost your parents. I had no idea."
She nodded, giving him a slight smile. "It was a long time ago."
"Not for me." Caden turned his attention back to his food.
Throughout the meal, neither Caden nor Jocelyn said much, each lost in their own thoughts. Soon, it came to an end when Caden laid his napkin down beside his plate and sat back. "Wow. That was really good. I haven't had a meal like this in a while."
Jocelyn took a sip of her hot chocolate and swallowed. "What was it like- while you were away?"
Caden sighed, obviously wondering how much to tell her. "War, mainly."
Jocelyn's eyebrows rose in concern. "You were in Iraq?"
He nodded. "For some of the time- and other places, too."
"I'm so sorry-."
"Don't be." Caden looked out the window, watching the skiers on the slopes as the snow began to fall once again. "It wasn't all bad. My friend Brock made it bearable."
"So, you two are close?"
Caden picked at what was left of his meal with his fork, remembering. "We're like brothers. We've both saved each other many times over. No matter where we went, we had each other's backs."
Jocelyn let out a deep breath. "So, when is his enlistment up?"
"Not until next year."
"Do you think he'll leave the Navy?" Jocelyn's eyebrows pulled together in concern. This was the first time that he had actually opened up to her on a more serious level.
A cocky smile pulled at the corner of his lips. "It would take a lot for him to leave."
"A girl, maybe?" She took a sip of her hot chocolate.
Caden shrugged. "Maybe." Then he raised an eyebrow. "But don't get any ideas about him. You're not his type."
Jocelyn laughed, almost spitting out her hot chocolate, surprised at the direction their conversation had taken. "Oh no?" She leaned forward and a mischievous smile lit her lips. "Then who's type am I?"
Caden stood and pulled his wallet from his back pocket, took out a few bills, and laid them on the table. Then he turned to her and lifted an eyebrow. "Do you have to ask?"
Jocelyn drank down the last of her hot chocolate and rose to her feet, trying hard not to spit it out again. "You know, if you keep teasing me like this, one day I may take you seriously."
He placed his hand on the small of her back and guided her through the restaurant. Then he leaned close and whispered just over her head, "And who says I'm not?"
Outside, the snow was still falling, but harder now. Jocelyn knew she should tell Caden to leave her alone for her sister's sake, but she just couldn't bring herself to do it. She tried to convince herself that he was just teasing her, but a part of her hoped he wasn't. He was like her drug. The more time she spent with him the more she craved. And she knew she was setting herself up for a major heartbreak.
"It's snowing too hard to walk back," Caden said, raising a hand to hail a driver.
A white limousine pulled up a second later. "Would you like a ride, sir?"
Caden opened the door before the driver could get out. "Yes, please. To the town square."
"Right away, sir." The driver turned down the familiar roads, headed toward the town square.
While they were at The North Pole Lodge, the temperature must have dropped because Jocelyn started shivering.
"Come here." Caden reached over and pulled her to his side
She nuzzled into him and couldn't help but notice how perfectly she fit against him. In so many ways, it seemed that they were made for each other. She giggled at the thought, knowing how corny it sounded.
Caden placed a finger under her chin and turned her face up toward his. "What?"
She blushed, turning away. "Oh, no! Not this time."
But before she could turn away, his lips crushed down onto hers. Her mind screamed at her to stop, but her heart wouldn't listen. Finally, she melted into his arms as passion enveloped them both.
Finally, she pulled back to catch her breath. "Caden, we can't--"
"Ssshhh-." He pulled her to his side and crushed his lips to hers again, sending heat throughout her body. The only thing she could think of or feel was Caden.
"Excuse me," the limo driver said, clearing his throat. "We're here."
Jocelyn pulled back, breathless. "What am I doing?" she asked herself, and then got out of the car and started walking through the snow, headed toward home. What was she going to tell Mallory?
"Jocelyn, wait!" Caden yelled from behind her, his footsteps echoing in the snow, catching up fast.
"Caden, don't--" Jocelyn didn't turn around, knowing he could hear her as tears came to her eyes.
"Jocelyn-." He caught her arm and pulled her around. "Where are you going?"
"Home." She started to walk away again, but he caught both of her arms. "Let me go!"
"Let's talk about this--"
"Oh? And what do I tell Mallory? Or have you forgotten about her?" When he didn't say anything, she added, "That's what I thought."
"Jocelyn, wait!"
She stopped short and turned around, raising her eyebrows.
"I'll talk to her," he said, looking down at his feet.
Jocelyn shook her head and started walking away. "Caden, I can't do that to her." He caught her arm again, turning her around.
"Jocelyn, I'm sorry," Caden said in a rush. "I had a great time with you today. I don't have fun like this with Mallory."
"Caden, she's my sister--"
"I know." Turning away, he ran his fingers through his dark brown hair, and then turned back to look in her eyes. "Jocelyn, I don't have all the answers. Not yet. Let's just spend time together and see what happens."
"You just don't get it, do you?" Jocelyn let out a deep breath as she rolled her eyes and then turned away, but Caden caught her arm again.
"Jocelyn, please. Don't walk away from me like this." He bit his lower lip for a moment and then his eyes brightened. "At least let me drive you home."
"I don't think so--"
"Jocelyn, you'll never make it home in the snow like this. You'll freeze to death before you get there." He ran his hand down her arm and then grabbed her hand. "Please, let me drive you home, at least."
She looked into his eyes, knowing that she could never tell him no. She just wondered what she was going to tell her sister.