Free First Kiss by Bernadette Marie

thought you’d like breakfast in bed,” he continued. “I figured when I ran into your mom at the store that she’d be headed your way. I thought she’d left town years ago.”
    It surprised her that he knew that, but then again, when she’d left it was under the black cloud of scandal. Not that that was a new story in the life of Celeste Baker.
    “She seems to have just shown up for the first time in months.”
    “Hey, listen, I was thinking I owe you a couple meals.” Thank goodness he changed the subject. “Why don’t I burn some steaks on the grill for dinner? You and Gage come over and spend the night here.”
    Olivia bit down on her bottom lip. That sure was a mixed invitation. “We would love to come for dinner, though burning steaks doesn’t sound like a cooking method.”
    He laughed. “You haven’t seen me bar-b-que.”
    “But, about the other part…”
    “Olivia, I want to spend more time with you. With both of you. I’ve missed you, and I didn’t realize just how much.”
    She couldn’t decide if that was reason to pursue the invitation—to find out what he meant—or reason enough to reject it. After all, after the age of twelve, Cade Carter had been nothing to her but a thorn in her side—and an unsatisfied ache in her heart.
    “I can’t set Gage up like this.” The maternal instincts were ramped up now. “He can’t get used to you. You’re going to leave.”
    “I’m in no hurry. In case you didn’t hear, I’m a washed up, injured football player. No one wants one of those.”
    “Cade…”
    “It’s okay. You nearly die on the field holding tight to that damn ball, and moments later, your career is over. They write you a check, tell you maybe they’ll consider you for a coaching position, and the next minute they’re having a press conference telling the world they just signed some new hot shot. It’s how the game is played.”
    Though he was joking, she wondered how much pain there really was behind the words.
    “What time would you like us there?”
    “How about five?”
    “We’ll see you then.”
    “Olivia, plan to stay.”
    The line went dead, but her heart kicked into gear. What was she getting herself into?
     
    Cade watched Olivia and Gage unload from the car. It was a sight that had caught him off guard. A mother and her son. The glances. The touches. The smiles they exchanged. He didn’t remember his mother. He’d missed out on a lot, he saw that now.
    He limped down the front steps to the car, and Gage reached for him. He took him from Olivia’s arms and held him against his chest.
    “That looks like a diaper bag.” He nodded to the bag she pulled from the floor of the car. “When I said plan to stay, I meant pack a bag.”
    “Cade, I can’t start up some affair with you just because you’re here. All of this is awkward. I think dinner is a good place to leave it.”
    “I’m not trying to hurt you,” he found himself whispering as though someone else would hear. “C’mon, what happened between us that we can’t enjoy each other as adults?”
    “Life happened. You haven’t really talked to me since the day you kissed me in the tree house.”
    He smiled and touched her face. “My first kiss. Not one I’ve ever forgotten.”
    She pursed her lips. “Cade, that was a different life. This one is more serious. I have him to think about. You have your life back in Green Bay. I’m not asking you to come home and take over your dad’s place.”
    He knew she meant that figuratively and realistically. “It’s a good house. I could rent it out, or keep it to come back to.”
    “When? When you needed someone? Not when they needed you?”
    Whatever had happened to this woman after that kiss in the tree house, she had no intentions of trusting him or letting him into her life.
    “You’re not even going to try to trust me, are you?”
    “I haven’t had a lot of practice in trusting men. Or you.”
    “Some of us change.”
    “And some don’t.”