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Slade sighed. “She didn’t want me growing up without a father. I don’t know. There were so many times that I asked her to just cut and run. She didn’t need to stay in a loveless marriage because of me, but she stayed.”
“I guess that means she loves him even if you don’t see it.”
“My mother is quite the looker. When I saw men flirting with her, it’s crazy, but I hoped she’d step out on my father, just so he could have a taste of what he did to her.” Slade shrugged. “She never did.”
“Is this why you sleep with random women?”
“There’s no sleeping involved.”
This had her chuckling. “Sorry, screw random women.”
“Your experience with Andrew keeps men at arms’ length.”
“I’m not judging you, Slade. Just trying to make sense of who you are. You like sleeping with women, I prefer baking and reading. We all have our ways of coping.”
“Your way must be very lonely,” he said.
“And yours is any better?” she asked.
“I have sex. That’s intimate, close.”
“You screw them. I’m not a virgin, Slade. I know there are many different ways to fuck, and many different positions. There are also some that mean you’re not close at all. It’s just an action, mechanical even. Besides, screwing doesn’t make for a connection. Time spent, and enjoying each other, the foreplay in between sex, that’s the real deal.”
“Now you’re quoting one of your romance books?” Slade wasn’t entirely sure if he was right or not.
“I’m not. I truly believe that sex isn’t just about the whole fucking thing. I think it’s about building up. The foreplay.”
“This coming from a woman who won’t let a guy near her?” he asked.
She laughed. “I’ve let you, Chuck, and Daniel near me. And there’s William of course.”
“I’m talking about men who’d get through that icy exterior you like to keep so much.”
“Don’t worry, Slade, you don’t have to do that with me. I can take care of myself.”
He glanced over at her as she put her cell phone away.
“Who keeps texting you?”
“Chuck. He wants me to take a tour of his ranch. I told him another time and that I was busy with a friend.”
Slade liked that. She had blown off the other guy to spend time with him.
“Did you find any women to give you a good time last night?” she asked.
“Why are we talking about this?”
“You asked about Chuck, and with our newfound friendship, I think it’s only fair that we share.” She rested her head on his shoulder. “Besides, you know how my night was.”
Chuck had offered to drive her home, and she’d accepted. Slade had also arrived at the same time, and he’d made a big show of waving, putting his trash out, and by the time he got into his home, she had already been inside.
“And you know how my night ended. No woman came home with me.” He didn’t want to think about the why either.
There hadn’t been a woman who interested him. When he wasn’t talking with Bethany behind the bar, he’d been watching Cassie. He’d not liked the feeling of watching Chuck dance with her. Many times while they’d been dancing, he’d wanted to snatch her out of the fucker’s arms.
Finally making it to the mall, he parked on the top carpark where the sun was beaming down.
Cassie was wearing a summer dress, and when he’d seen her this morning, he’d been shocked by how beautiful she’d looked. Her long brown hair was down, and her face was free of makeup. To him, she had still looked so utterly beautiful.
