Fierce-Cade (The Fierce Five Series Book 4) Read online

  He learned his lesson. He didn’t change his ways in terms of relationships, but he was smarter about it. He sure the hell didn’t try to date more than one person at a time and he was damn clear up front what he was looking for when he met someone.

  Many were fine with it and he’d entered the fun mode with them. Those that weren’t, walked away.

  Why did he have this dream tonight when he hadn’t in a while?

  Because he’d stopped to pick up the first order of items from Alex today and spent some time talking with her. She showed him around her operation. She told him his parents had stopped over and she took an hour out of her day to help them decide on what they wanted for the throwback line.

  And because she asked for his help.

  No one ever asked him to help them.

  No one ever thought he was good for much more than a fun time or arm candy at an event.

  He knew it was his own damn fault. He worked hard to get that persona when he was younger. When he was trying to find his identity separate from just being the “fourth boy of the Fierce Five.”

  When everyone was someone but him.

  He’d made himself into someone now and though he knew his family believed in him when it mattered, many others didn’t.

  Now he used his carefree laid-back attitude to surprise people for work. Most didn’t see it coming when he started to negotiate and accomplish what he set out for.

  He liked that. He liked the element of surprise more than he thought he would.

  What he didn’t like was that for once in his life he was looking at a woman he’d like to get to know more and she only wanted his help with work.

  Sometimes offering to help someone really sucked when you’d love nothing more than to yank them in and kiss them hard.

  Not to Push

  The next morning, he was up earlier than he thought he’d be, but showered and ate, then went into his home office and got to work. He had a new band he wanted to check out and needed to do some more research before he went to listen to them in person.

  But that wasn’t all he did. His job wasn’t all about fun; it was about knowing what everyone else did for the family business.

  He had an intern and an assistant that did a lot of the grunt work. That did most of the social media postings and answered back when there were questions on those fronts.

  No pictures were posted without his knowledge first. No documents signed by anyone until he’d read them all and made sure everything was set legally.

  Aside from writing contracts for supplies and vendors, now he had to spend time researching food productions and manufacturing. Aiden wanted to brand and sell some spice mixtures. It was a great idea, but it was going to fall on him to find out the supply, the demand, and the production of it all.

  Ella would help because she needed to analyze all the costs, but everything else landed on his plate and he was more productive at home than in the office any day.

  After spending two hours on the phone with two different manufacturers, he was typing up his notes and waiting on emails with more details to bring to Ella, then the rest of his siblings.

  Things like this took time and all the details had to be looked over and covered completely. Everyone always said Ella was on the ball when it came to details, but no one realized how much work went into his end.

  He heard his phone go off on his desk, reached for it, and was shocked to see a text from Alex.

  He didn’t talk to her much. Nothing more than work-related conversation and they were normally done via email.

  Thanks for passing my name to Marini’s. Just scored another big job.

  Glad I could help, he typed back fast. Marini’s was one of his favorite Italian restaurants. He was there last week and talking with the owner, just keeping relations going. They served Mason’s beer like a lot of other restaurants in the area. Cade was the one who got those contracts...not Mason.

  Mason wasn’t good at negotiations—or good at talking at all—not unless it was about his beer. That was all fine and dandy, but Cade was the one who schmoozed most potential clients first, then brought Mason in for the tastings and ingredient descriptions.

  When he was dropping in to check on sales and answer any questions, the owner commented on overhauling their menus and wanted to know if they could use Fierce as a featured brew served. Not only did Cade think it would be a wonderful marketing pitch for both of them, but he also offered up Alex’s name and said she had the logo and he’d sign off for them to use it on their menu.

  I’m printing up new menus, plus shirts for staff, she typed.

  They’re good about spreading the word when they’re happy with a product. Expect more work your way, he replied back.

  He tossed his phone back, figuring that was the end of the conversation. He’d learned that Alex wasn’t one for small talk and he was surprised she’d said more than thanks if he was honest with himself. It was hard for him to end a conversation that fast when he was used to talking more, but he’d also learned when not to push.

  Ten minutes later his phone went off again, so he grabbed it and read, How about lunch? My treat. You’ve been extremely helpful.

  His fingers hovered over the keys trying to figure out what to type. He wanted to say yes in capital letters but wasn’t sure if he should.

  It was just a work lunch. Nothing more than that. A thank you for being helpful.

  He wasn’t thanked often, so maybe he should. It’d be the nice thing to do. The right thing. He could control his words and his bodily reactions for an hour. He hoped.

  Sure, he typed back before he changed his mind. Just let me know the time and place.

  How about today? There’s a small cafe a few down from my shop. Meet you at one?

  See you there, he typed back.

  Now he had two hours to get himself mentally ready to be the nice guy that was just helping out a friend and not the one that wanted to see her naked.

  ***

  Alex had spent two days working up the nerve to offer Cade lunch for all his help. She was learning that, as her parents had said in her teen years, the business sometimes had to take precedence in order to put food on the table. That meant swallowing her pride now and thanking someone when she was trying so hard to do it on her own.

  She already owed the bank more than she ever wanted to owe anyone and oftentimes didn’t take a paycheck herself, so the last thing she wanted to do was have more shackles around her ankles with someone else holding the key.

  But she was raised to do the right thing and the right thing was to thank someone for their help.

  She was upfront and said it was thanks and nothing more.

  Even though the devil on her shoulder was getting ready to smother the angel on the other shoulder, reminding her that maybe she wouldn’t mind a little bit more. That maybe it was time to step out of the work mode and have some fun.

  Hiding from a social life had gone on long enough. She was burning out and if she didn’t find a release soon, she’d go up in flames, ashes floating everywhere and she’d be no good to anyone.

  She didn’t want to get involved in a relationship, she reminded herself again. She didn’t need that headache, that stress, or the time suck when she barely had time to eat and sleep as it was. There had to be a compromise.

  “Did you do it?” her mother asked her a few minutes later.

  “Yes. I offered to take him to lunch. Are you happy now?”

  “I told you he’d accept. It’s the right thing to do, Alex. Not only has Cade given you a really big order for Fierce, and one that seems to keep growing, but he just got you another job.”

  Alex frowned. “He didn’t get me the job. He recommended me and then I sold Marini’s myself.”

  “Why are you always so defensive?” her mother asked. “Your whole life you’ve been that way when someone was trying to help you.”

  “I can take care of myself. I don’t need to be beholden to anyone.”


  Her mother snorted. “You aren’t beholden to anyone. You’ve got to stop thinking that way. You have to stop worrying that someone wants something from you with ulterior motives involved. And you have to understand that you can’t do it all on your own. If you want to succeed in life, which I know you do, then you’ve got to learn to give and take and not worry that someone is out to get one up on you.”

  “I don’t think that,” she argued. Even though it seemed to always happen that way in her life.

  The eyebrow lift was all her mother needed to do to tell her that she was wrong. “You need to just move past things.”

  “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Alex said, looking away. She didn’t often avert her eyes when talking with someone, not unless she was hoping to end a conversation.

  “Sure you do, Alex. I get it. You didn’t have the easiest of childhoods. I understand that most guys wanted to be with you because of your looks and most girls hated you for that same reason.”

  “Is there a reason you’re bringing this up again?”

  Every few months her mother brought this conversation up and it was getting old. She didn’t have a lot growing up, but that didn’t mean she was easy when it came to guys either. It’s like there was a sign over her head that said her looks were the only things that were going to get her ahead in life. She was determined to prove everyone wrong.

  “I’m going to continue to until you move on from Keith.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’ve moved on. That was almost two years ago.”

  “You don’t ever dress up anymore. You don’t ever try to take care with your appearance like you used to.”

  “I never did much before.” She wasn’t going to try to be someone she wasn’t. Why? So a guy could make assumptions about her when she wouldn’t end up being good enough for them? No, never again.

  This time her mother snorted. “When you started to develop from a girl to a woman you turned into a tomboy and all you wanted to do was play sports. You even stopped dancing. That’s fine. That’s great. You were athletic and had fun and that is all that mattered. Grandma wanted you to get involved in pageants and I’m thinking that might have been a mistake.”

  “Old news, Mom. I got some much-needed scholarship money from that. I can’t regret it.”

  “But you want to because it labeled you. Your whole life you’ve been labeled and you know it.”

  “I’m beyond labels at this point and I’m busy right now.”

  “You aren’t beyond it if you aren’t getting out there and dating. I know you’re sour with how things turned out with Keith.”

  “He wanted a trophy wife. That isn’t me. It will never be me. I dressed up for him a few times in college when we were dating at his insistence. He led me to believe he’d be totally fine with my career and me working. It’s not what he wanted. I don’t need to hang on the arm of anyone. I don’t need to feel like I’ll never be what someone wants or am not worthy or good enough for them.”

  She was devastated to find out that all Keith really wanted was someone with good genetics to bear him some kids. Talk about old-fashioned and a joke.

  He wasn’t looking for a love match. He wasn’t looking for anything other than a hot woman on his arm when he wanted it. One that he could escort to fancy family and social functions. Nothing she was into and wondered why she thought she could want a life with a man that prided himself on public opinion.

  She should have known better than getting involved with a political science major.

  The last thing she wanted was to be thought of as an object. Or be talked about like she was one. She had a brain and she was able and willing to work. She didn’t need a man to take care of her and she wished her mother would accept that. She’d start dating again when she was damn good and ready.

  She wished she’d known all along that Keith wanted someone from a barely middle class background that looked like she did, was educated but would stand by her man. Someone he hoped would reach the voting public. Damn, she’d been so stupid.

  “Of course not, dear. You’d go nuts sitting around all day long. But that doesn’t mean you have to work yourself to death now trying to do just the opposite.”

  “I’m not. I did what you asked. I’m taking Cade to lunch as a thank you. I’ll take an hour off when I really need to get some work done, but then I’ll come right back and finish up some orders. I’ve got a business to run now. I don’t have time to play.”

  “Sometimes I wish you didn’t come back and take over. I wish I had an ounce of your strength and could have done this on my own.”

  She glanced over and saw the tears in her mother’s eyes. The last thing she needed right now was to upset the cart with a flat tire that her mother was riding on lately.

  “I’m sorry. Don’t feel that way. I came back because I wanted to. I came back because we needed each other. If Dad hadn’t died, I would have come back and worked with him at some point. I was thinking about it but hadn’t known how to bring it up.”

  “He would have loved that, Alex. He would love to see what you’ve done with this place. I know he was stubborn, but he would have realized that you had good ideas.”

  “I think so too. Now, are we all good? Can I get some work done before I have to go meet Cade?”

  “Yes. Well, one more thing.”

  “What’s that?” she asked.

  “Maybe put some makeup on and fix your hair first. Or at least change your shirt?”

  “Get out of here,” she told her mother, laughing.

  The sad part was, she did do as her mother asked.

  A Personal Nature

  Cade didn’t know what to make of this lunch meeting. He’d convinced himself it was a thank-you lunch...that is until he saw Alex looking completely different than she had before.

  Every other time she’d been in jeans, a T-shirt too big for her, her hair pulled back, and her face scrubbed clean.

  Today she still had jeans and a T-shirt on, but one that fit her and fit her well. He was right—she had one sweet little body underneath. It was a crime she was hiding those curves.

  But it wasn’t just that. Her honey hair with a touch of red looking as soft as dandelion fuzz in the wind was down and falling around her shoulders in loose waves. She even had a little bit of makeup on. Little being lip gloss and mascara, but it was something and it was enough to turn him on when he was getting so good at trying to tune her looks out.

  It wasn’t just her looks though. It was her personality. She was strong. She was independent. And she was funny.

  Just like his mother.

  Shit. Did he just think that? The last thing he wanted to do was think of any woman and his mother in the same sentence.

  “Hey, Alex,” he said, walking over to where she was standing by the front entrance.

  “Hi,” she said back, her eyes looking him over like they always did. Curiosity mixed with appeal. He tried not to groan. His family always said he was clueless and he was wishing that were the case with Alex, but he always seemed to read what was on her mind or in her eyes.

  “Let’s go in. I’m hungry. I’ll have to return the favor and bring you to lunch at Fierce sometime.”

  “I’ve been there before,” she said. “A few years ago my mother and I stopped in on one of your girl’s weekends.”

  “What did you think of it?” he asked.

  “I like that you do things like that. That you cater to different clientele now and again. You should have glasses that people can buy with the specialty drinks. Something they can take home with them. Maybe for shots. Nothing says party like women doing shots.”

  He laughed. “That’s a good idea. I’ll have to bring it up to Brody since the bar is his area of expertise.”

  “So what is yours then? Don’t you do just about everything for everyone?”

  They found a table in the corner and he pulled the chair out for her. “Most don’t think that, but it’s true. I need to know enough abo
ut everyone’s area in order to make all sides happy.”

  “Lucky you, to get to balance that.”

  He’d never thought of that before. That he had more on his plate than the rest of them at times. That they got to focus on their one area and he had to cover it all.

  “Someone has to be the lucky one of the bunch and I’m guessing it’s me.”

  She tilted her head and gave him a smile. One that made him catch his breath as if he were running away from Brody as a kid after leaving a toy snake in his bed.

  “What’s it like growing up as part of the gang?”

  “The Fierce Five,” he said, laughing. “We get asked that a lot. It’s fine. I guess. They’re all stuck up though. I’m the fun one.”

  “So I’ve heard,” she said smiling, but his smile dropped. “I’m sorry. Was it something I said?”

  “Nothing. Just that I can only imagine what you’ve heard.”

  “Your mother said you were the fun one of the group. Or maybe she said you had more moments than the rest of them and I took that as being the fun one. I’m not sure exactly what she meant by that, but just that it was said with a smile.”

  “Oh,” he said, wishing that he hadn’t jumped the gun. “Well, I’m her favorite.”

  She laughed again, and the sound of it was something he hadn’t heard from a woman in a long time. Honest and carefree. Not forced. “I’m my mother’s favorite too.”

  “We’ve got that in common then.” He liked the way things were going right now. Not so much about work, but more of a personal nature.

  “I’m an only child,” she said, winking.

  He grinned at her. The waitress came over and took their orders and it gave him a minute to think of his next move. Or what to say. Anything to get his mind off the fact that he wished this was a date and not a thank-you lunch.

  “So I was thinking,” he said. “I’m going to listen to a band in a few weeks. One that we want to sign at Fierce. I’ve been talking with their agent and getting some details. If we work it out, I’ll need fliers and such printed. Maybe you wouldn’t mind going with me and getting a feel for the band too. Getting their agent to release some pictures? She mentioned they’re looking for someone to do some printing for them too...”