Perfect Sense (Perfect Series Book 1) (25 page)

“Ready for some fun?” he asks, there's a determination in the set of his jaw that says he's thinking, plotting.

My stomach twists with excited nerves. “Can’t wait.”

He wouldn’t tell me what he planned even though begged him. I hate surprises, but I love how he refused to give in. I watch him from the opposite side of the limo as he pours himself a glass of water, his mouth turns into a smile as he watches me nervously fidget with my white pyramid brass necklace.

"Did you make that one too?" he asks.

"I did."

“You’ve got real talent. Ever think of making it as a career?”

Crafting jewelry all day while drinking herbal tea? That would be my dream. Except the problem with dreams is that’s all they are. Dreams. Not reality. Sure, I love my creative outlet, but my father would never approve. It would be the ultimate slap in the face to him. He’d think of me as free-spirited hippie like my mother. Not a chance in hell I’d ever want him to see me that way. And after our telephone conversation this morning, I’m already treading on thin ice.

“I love making jewelry, but my dad would never approve of it as anything more than a hobby. It’s a nice thought though.”

He slides along the leather seat until he’s beside me. I crowd a bit closer, tucking myself neatly into his side. Exhaling, I mold my shape against his.

"So, sports marketing?” he asks, “That’s what you want to do then?"

My heart slowly melts into my gut. We’ve never talked about future plans. Cash and I seem to have what I would say is an elusive relationship — lots of unanswered questions, no promises and great sex— but talking future plans? Definitely new.

"No I’m waiting for Harvard to remove me from their waitlist. I’m waiting for an offer of admission to their MBA program. I’m not sure what I want to specialize in." I say, lifting my chin to look up at him.

He raises a brow, “Harvard, huh.”

I shrug, “Yeah.”

“That’s halfway across the country,” he frowns. “What about studying at USC?”

“I’ve already received an offer of admission from USC,” I say. “But I don’t want to go there. I want to go to Harvard.”

I think I hear him exhale in one long, tense breath.

"What about you?” I ask, “Is your goal to end up back on the Tornados?"

He nods, taking a sip of water and stretching his legs out in front of him. “Yeah, but before I can get back to the majors I’ve got to shake my bad rap. It’s not easy to convince people you’re something else other than what they want you to be.”

I chew my lip and contemplate my response, “You go along with your bad rap because it’s easier that way?”

“I’ve never had anything to make me want to change,” he says.

“And now?” I ask.

“I’m working on it.”

I can feel the way his eyes linger on me, and can't resist looking back at his face. He takes a deep breath, relaxing his shoulders, and his lips push out in an edible pout. My cheeks grow warm and pink from the soft sincerity in his voice. I’m not some conquest to him. He truly cares about me. I've never been more aware of it than I am right this very moment.

The limo comes to a stop and Cash smiles one of his most charming grins. He picks up my hand, brings it to his mouth and kisses my knuckles. “Ready?”

I nod following the path his eyes have taken. We’ve arrived downtown Thompson. It’s perched on a hill overlooking the ocean. A fishing trawler is far out on the calm waters. The sun is shining down on the pastel colored buildings and blue harbor. At the mouth of the harbor is a lighthouse in the distance. The main street is closed off to traffic, and white vendor’s tents line the sidewalk. People are walking around, and every vendor has different types of antiques, crafts, and produce for sale.

Turning to face him, I squeal and kiss him on the cheek. “A farmer’s market?”

Cash laughs, looking down at me. “You like making jewelry. So I thought you might like the farmer’s market. It’s crafty. There’s some great second hand stuff you might be able to reuse for jewelry making.”

“Cash, I’m so excited.” I say, and step out of the limo.

His hand slips into mine and tugs me forward. Time flies by as we enjoy the morning walking around and browsing vendors’ tents for cool finds. After an hour of market shopping, we approach a tent full of antique odds and ends. Cash wanders off and browses through a case of vintage records as I walk in the opposite direction toward something that catches my eye. I let my fingers run across a heavy gold plated chain hanging on a peg board. I twirl it in my fingers and find the etching on the clasp – 24k gold. My eyes widen at the price on the tag. It’s a steal of a deal.

Cash slides in behind me, wraps his arms around my waist and whispers into my hair, “See something you like?”

I spin in his arms and face him. "I do now."

There's a hint of a smirk on his lips. “Come with me. There’s something I’d like to show you.”

I follow him to the other side and over to a cluttered shelf I bypass on my first trip around the tent. My skin hums with warmth. I like that he’s enjoying this as much as I am.

He picks up an old box of odds and ends and says, “Check out this mishmash of jewelry I found.”

I peer inside the wooden box, speechless at the amount and quality of vintage jewelry staring back at me. I pick up a yellow beaded necklace with a gold patterned pendant. It’s beautiful. It reminds me of a necklace my mother wore. It’s has an element of sophistication and class, yet there is a bohemian feel to it.

“Think you could re-use some of these pieces?” Cash asks.

I nod and pick up a silver chain with a turquoise rock pendant. “Yes, everything in this box is amazing. What’s the price on it?”

Cash looks at the tag, “Seventy-five dollars for the whole box.”

“Wow. That’s a lot.” I frown and put the jewelry back inside.

He takes the box from my hands and shoves it under his arm. “Keep looking. I’ll be right back.”

He walks away from me and over to a tall thin man in a pair of jean overalls. I turn away and continue to dig through the shelves. I’m disappointed when I don’t find anything remotely impressive as the box Cash showed me. Moments later I feel a finger tap my shoulder. I turn around to face Cash. He’s holding out the box of vintage jewelry with a sold sticker on it.

“Make me something pretty,” he winks.

“You bought it for me?” I pause for a moment, but it’s long enough for him to place it in my arms. “I can’t accept this from you.”

"Yes you can," he says with a small laugh and ruffles my hair.

"You're so sneaky. I can’t believe —" I swallow — "Thank you Cash."

He smiles at me. “I would do anything to make you happy.” When he says it, I hear the sincerity in his voice. Cash takes my hand in his and guides me over to a grassy area overlooking the ocean. He stares out at the harbor and inhales the crisp ocean air.

“I can’t believe you’re here with me,” he says, smiling down at me.

“I can’t believe it either.” I tell him with a bit more mocking tone in my voice. “And yet, here I am, risking everything to spend a weekend with you.”

“It must be my good looks,” he teases.

I shake my head, laughing. “Your modesty never ceases to amaze me.”

He winks. “Of course that’s not all that makes you swoon for me. Don’t forget my kick ass hockey playing, great sense of humor, and the way I make you scream my name.”

I laugh and lean in a bit closer. “You’re right. The last reason especially.”

A beat of silence passes between us. He tilts his head, thinking. His gaze is tangible, a brush of heat across my skin. I bite my lower lip and run my hand up his chest, suggestively.

“Let’s get out of here,” I whisper, looking up at him.

His eyes meet mine and they're smiling, “And where do you propose we go?”

Nodding at him with a sexy little wink, I say, “Back to your place.” I lean in, for dramatic effect, whispering, “I’d like to properly thank you.”

Holding out his hand, Cash gives me his best smile. “Well then…let’s go.”

By the time eight o’clock rolls around, Anna and Jake are knocking on the front door. I hear Cash greet them while I finish getting ready upstairs. Staring at myself in the mirror, I am worried I am not dressed appropriately. I am torn between dressing like I am attending a swanky party California-style or dressing casual to fit in with the Canadian country lifestyle. I eventually decide to lose the turquoise statement necklace and add a long plain silver chain making adjustments to my outfit to bring it somewhere in between. My black skinny jeans, a pair of heels, and flowing coral top should work.

I fix a few of my curls and smear a layer of gloss on my lips before heading down the stairs. When my foot hits the bottom step, I hear Anna’s voice say, “What do you mean you haven’t told her?”

“That’s enough, Anna.” I shiver from the steeliness of his voice. “Stay out of it.”

Rounding the corner, my feet cause the floorboards to creak and six eyes dart in my direction. Anna gives me a forced grin and clears her throat. Jake’s arms are crossed in front of his chest. He looks nervous. I glance up at Cash and he refuses to make eye contact with me. The lines on his forehead deepen with every awkward beat of silence.

“Tell me what?” I ask, stepping into the foyer. “Is everything okay?”

“Nothing. It’s not about you.” Cash shoots a look at Anna. “Everything is fine.”

When his eyes find mine, he freezes and slowly takes in my appearance.

“Christ,” he mutters and trails his eyes down my body once again. “You’re wearing that to the party?”

“Why don’t you like it? Is it too casual?” I ask.

Cash runs his hand through his hair and lets out a sigh that sounds both frustrated and amused.

“I think what Cash is trying to say is that you look smoking hot,” Anna gets up from the sofa, glaring at Cash as she walks toward me in a pair of tiny white shorts, a black halter top, and brown leather cowboy boots. “But you know guys, it’s hard to tell your female
friend
that she looks stunning.”

Her emphasis on the word friend confuses me. Did Cash not tell her what is going on between us? Is she jealous?

“Uh, thank you,” I reply, warily.

Jake stands up and twirls his keys in his fingers. “You ready, Quinn?”

I nod, shifting my eyes between Anna and Cash. The grumpy look on his face is hard to ignore. What is going on?

“We better get going,” Anna says, all smiles. “I promise tonight is going to be so much fun, Quinn.” She gives me a wink and then she glares at Cash again.

He scowls back at her and opens the door. I let Anna and Jake ahead of me because Cash is acting strange and it worries me. He seems anxious and agitated, and I can’t help but wonder if it’s something I did.

“Everything okay?” I ask. “Anna looks like she wants to kill you, and you’re not much better. Did you have a fight I missed?”

“Don’t worry about it. It’s nothing.” He turns his back to me, his shoulders hunched and body strung tight.

“What’s nothing?” I shout behind him, unsatisfied with his dismissal. There are too many things he refuses to talk about. “What are you hiding?”

He stops dead in his tracks and turns around, slowly. “Quinn, I said its nothing. Anna doesn’t know how to mind her own business. She never has. Don’t worry about it.”

My heart sinks. There it is again. He is hiding something from me, and whatever he is hiding will keep me from ever getting too close to him. Obviously it’s more important to him to keep me out than it is to be with me. My dad was right—boys don’t get you anywhere.

Expect heartache.

Defeated in my own internal battle, I let out a deep sigh. “Fine. Whatever. Consider it dropped.” I brush past him, moving down the porch, across the lawn and over to the truck with tears stinging my eyes. I blink them back and tell myself that he will not ruin my night.

Ten minutes later, we pull up to a ranch-style home situated along a large lake. Trucks are parked all over the grass, loud country music blares and the smell of barbeque and bonfire fills my nose. Anna grabs my hand and pulls me to her side. “Have you ever done a keg-stand before?”

“No. I’m not much of a drinker.” I yell over the noise.

“Well, I suggest you get ready to try one tonight,” Anna shouts back with a smile.

We walk up the pebbly driveway and step onto porch. Jake pushes open the front door and leads us into the entranceway. The home is packed wall to wall with partygoers. Beer kegs are lined up on the kitchen floor and guys are tipping girls upside down to chug.

At first no one notices our arrival, until a few guys from the party welcome Anna and Jake. Once those guys recognize Cash, they embrace him in a hug and tell him how good it is to see him. He neglects to introduce me to his old buddies and barely glances in my direction. Suddenly, people start noticing his presence and everyone turns their attention to him.

“Let’s get you some shots. We have plenty of time to introduce you to everyone at the party. I’m thinking Sambuca,” Anna says, peeling me away from Cash’s side.

I look back at him, but he is talking with some tall and lanky guy with curly blonde hair, ignoring me completely. His sudden shift in demeanor is confusing. Today he couldn’t keep his hands off me and now he is acting like I don’t even exist.