Famous (Famous #1) Read Online Free PDF Page B

felt. I nodded.
    “I’m sorry David is acting like a jealous ass in there.”
    “I understand. I’d be doing the same thing if I were in his place. If you were mine, I couldn’t keep from touching you either. I mean… uh—”
    My heart thudded in my chest, and I was sure he must hear it pounding. “Cade. You shouldn’t say things like that to me. I’m…” I struggled for words. “Well, I’m—I’m just—really confused about stuff right now.”
    He reached out and took my hand, bringing it up to brush his lips on the inside of my wrist. “I know. I’m sorry.” His expression was serious as he searched my face. I couldn’t hold his gaze because I knew I’d get lost in his eyes. “I don’t mean to confuse you.”
    “I know, but you do,” I said softly. So softly, that even I almost didn’t hear my own voice. I felt my throat constrict painfully. The emotions I felt with Cade, around Cade, and for Cade; were all over the fucking place. He could infuriate me like no one else could, make me burst out in hysterical spasms of laughter, make me want him so bad my skin vibrated. I felt his pain as deeply as if it were my own. Hell, maybe it was my pain. There were times when I couldn’t tell where he ended, and I began. It terrified the shit out of me.
    Cade turned to contemplate my expression, and his eyes softened; his lips quirking slightly at the corners, as he let out his breath in an amused huff.
    “So… I told Martin we were meeting at a different restaurant.” His shoulder nudged against mine gently; his voice full of laughter. “I didn’t think you’d want him here tonight.” His attempt to change the subject worked.
    “Uh uh! No you didn’t!” I said incredulously, and laughed. “Cade!”
    “What?” A beautiful smile split across his face. “I didn’t think you’d want him bloody crashing your party, right? Isn’t fifteen hours of listening to his incessant, mindless rabble enough for you?” he chuckled, and I started giggling. This was the best I’d felt all night.
    “Oh, my God, yes! You’re right. So what? You sent him somewhere else? He’s gonna be soooo pissed!” I was still laughing. “You’re amazing.”
    His face sobered as he touched my chin with his fingers. “There’s the smile I needed to see on that beautiful face. You should be happy today. Let’s go eat cake, shall we? It’s my favorite part of birthdays.”
    I longed to take his hand and press it tighter into my cheek, to lean into him and close my eyes. Instead, I nodded. “Okay.” I nudged his shoulder with mine lightly; repeating the gesture written for our characters, that had now become part of us. “This, right now , is my favorite part so far,” I said quietly. His eyes lit up, and he leaned into me in return. “Thank you for the party.”
    “Anything for you. You know, I have a gift for you, too, but I want to give it to you when we’re alone. How long is David staying?”
    My heart fell at the mention of David’s name and my little illusion fell around me in shards. I swallowed and licked my lips, dropping my gaze to the ground.
    “Uh, I think a day or two. Truthfully, I didn’t ask him.”
    Cade nodded as he stood up and held out a hand to me before leading me back into the restaurant. “Well, then, in the next few days, yeah?”
    The lump in my throat threatened to choke me. “Um… sure.”
     
    *****
     
    I sat on the bed as David moved around me, taking off his clothes as he went. He was talking, but I wasn’t registering one word he was saying. I stared off into space, not seeing or hearing anything, as my mind replayed the look in Cade’s eyes as we said goodbye before David led me out of the restaurant. The way his fingers fisted in the back of my shirt, as he hugged me and kissed the side of my face, told me everything I needed to know.
    Of course, Cade and I weren’t lovers, but there was a high degree of desperation in that embrace.
    “Hey, Brook.” David was waving a