He's the One by Jane Beckenham Read Free Book Online

and our suburb bordered on his, so we ended up at the same junior school, then high school. Hugh was the nerd. Everyone took the mickey out of him. It wasn't nice."
    "Bullies are never nice."
    "No.” Cade's tone hardened. “I sort of took him under my wing, and we discovered a love of making things."
    "What sort of things?"
    "Small inventions, electronic gadgets.” He twirled his wineglass and took a sip. Taylor watched as his tongue wiped across his top lip and found herself doing the same. She couldn't breathe and tried to swallow. Nothing worked. Was it hot in here—or what?
    "That'd explain how Hugh became one of the big players in electronics,” she reasoned. The waiter arrived at that moment, ready to take their order, and Taylor sensed Cade's relief at the interruption. She eyed the vast menu, unsure she had the mental dexterity to choose anything.
    Except another kiss!
    "How about the seared game fish,” Cade suggested. “It's delicious."
    She lowered the menu. “You've been here before?"
    Cade gave their orders to the waiter before answering. “Several times.” The twinkle in his bedroom eyes offered a silent challenge.
    Taylor's throat thickened. “With other women?"
    "Of course."
    "You go out with a lot of women.” It wasn't a question, but a statement, one she already knew the answer to.
    "And that makes you feel comfortable or uncomfortable?"
    Taylor reached for her napkin, playing for time. Foreplay, he'd said. Fun! She slid it from the silver holder and unfurled the crisp white linen, laid it on her lap and then looked directly at him.
    "Oh, definitely comfortable,” she smiled, knowing he'd turned her statement back on her.
    His grin widened and he folded his arms across his chest, pulling the fabric of his jacket taut across his wide shoulders. Taylor's mouth dried up. She reached for her glass and took a steadying sip of her wine. Her gaze never left his
    "How so?"
    Oh, boy. Things were heating up. She'd been hooked, and now Cade Harper reeled her in. “It means you're ... um, experienced,” she finally admitted.
    "And you get a good teacher."
    Her jaw dropped, and Cade gave her a cheesy grin, as if very pleased with himself.
    "Never believe what the gossips tell you, Taylor. I know I have a profile in the papers. Owning a string of successful businesses ensures that."
    "You don't mind?"
    "Why would I? It doesn't do any harm to my business."
    "And that's important?"
    "Of course it is. Isn't it to you?"
    "Well, yes,” she agreed.
    Cade eyed her above the rim of his crystal glass. “I'm not a monk, Taylor. I know a lot of women and go out with some, and to bed sometimes, too."
    Blood boiled in Taylor's veins, along with something else ... something indefinable. It wasn't a nice feeling. She leveled her gaze with his.
    "So that makes you perfect."
    "You think I'm perfect?"
    "Oh, Mr. Harper, now you're putting words in my mouth."
    * * * *
    Cade suggested they wait before ordering dessert. “How about we take a stroll outside?"
    Taylor eyed the deck attached to the restaurant. Empty except for the stars and the caw of the occasional gull; she bit back a stab of nerves. Dare she? With the other diners around, she felt safe—safe from her own actions. But outside—alone with Cade?
    "You too scared to be alone with me, Taylor?” he challenged, surprising her as if he could read her mind.
    "Of course not."
    "Liar.” And he held out his hand.
    Taylor dropped her napkin to the table and pushed her chair back. If she wasn't scared, then why were her legs already jelly-like? She took Cade's hand, but once outside a shiver slid up and down her spine.
    "Cold?” Cade queried.
    She shook her head, but he pulled her into his embrace and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. The shivers continued, though Taylor knew it had nothing to do with the climate. She inhaled his scent. Masculine. Sexy. And very tempting.
    The moon hung high in the night sky, surrounded by an array of stars and merged with inky