Free He's the One by Jane Beckenham Page B

agreed, but Taylor wasn't so sure “anytime” was a good idea. Anytime , changed business to pleasure , somehow.
    She peered through the dust-coated window at a day divested of sunshine. The streetlights had switched on, and the ever-present sound of city traffic had reduced considerably.
    "You hungry?” Cade asked as they wound back towards the head of the stairs.
    "An ox wouldn't go amiss,” she said, realizing the gnawing in her stomach wasn't nerves but hunger.
    "Not sure I can rustle up an ox, but the take-out joint next door does the best fish and chips I've ever had."
    "Better than Hammerheads?"
    Cade pretended to think a bit on that. “Let's just say different, a casual ambiance.” Pulling his mobile phone from his pocket he punched in a couple of numbers and began listing off an order.
    "You ordering for a football team?"
    "I'm a hungry boy. Need feeding if I'm going to perform."
    Perform?
    Taylor's head jerked up, and she stared, wide-eyed at Cade. His eyes twinkled. He looked so good, so relaxed and happy.
    Just so darn sexy, don't you mean?
    Her belly did another round of flip-flops. Oh, Lordy.
    * * * *
    "Dinner is superb,” Taylor said as she grabbed another piece of mouth watering battered fish. She licked a drop of sauce off her fingers.
    "Best linens and best dinnerware, too.” Cade sounded fractured. Using the edge of his key ring, he flicked the lid off a couple of bottles of ice-cold beer and passed one to her.
    "Fish and chips in paper is the best,” she agreed.
    "Don't forget the ketchup and a beer.” Cade saluted her with his beer.
    "Cheers. To ... us."
    "Yeah, to us, to wedding planners."
    "And bars, too,” Taylor added laughing.
    Cade lifted the bottle to his lips and took a swig of beer. Taylor watched him swallow, the way his Adam's apple bulged, how he wiped the tip of his tongue over his lips.
    As he lowered his drink, his gaze leveled with hers. “To good old sex,” he said.
    Heat coursed through Taylor's veins. She never knew drinking beer and eating a takeaway could be so sexy. Grabbing a handful of chips, she dipped them in the sauce sachet. “Childhood memories are made of this. And new memories,” she said, munching on the fries. This was one of those moments, one of the unforgettable ones that would stay with her—all night long she reasoned silently.
    "You reckon?"
    "Uh huh. Well not the ‘good old sex', part,” she said, blushing, “but you know, memorable meals and all that.” She forced herself to continue, knowing Cade's gaze rested on her. “I remember when we were kids, my siblings and I would have fish and chips on a Friday night. Mum said it was her night off."
    "She cooked every night?"
    "Of course."
    "Lucky you."
    Taylor caught the change in Cade's tone, giving her reason to wonder about his childhood and family.
    For a few minutes they ate in silence. They had set themselves a “picnic” spot against one wall. Cade leant back, long, jean clad legs stretched out; his T-shirt with the Ford logo and a revved up hot rod emblazoned across his chest delineated his muscled body beneath.
    "Real boy's toy stuff,” Taylor said, pointing to his chest.
    "Yeah. Man's gotta have his passions."
    "Um ... I suppose so."
    "What about yours?"
    "Mine?” Oh, please don't ask. Please. Taylor stared at the beer in her hands and twirled the bottle.
    "You trying to play spin the bottle? There's just the two of us, so it could be interesting."
    Taylor's breathing slowed, and her lips parted. They were suddenly very dry.
    Her nerves started up that tango low down in her belly once more as she weighed up her odds.
    Let's play?
    Expectation fired in every part of her. She'd played that teen game before—with disastrous consequences.
    "Once was enough, thank you very much,” she forced out
    "Was it? This is getting interesting. When did you play spin the bottle, Ms. Sullivan?"
    Taylor wiped the tip of her tongue over her parched lips, wishing the memories that ripped through brain