When We Run (Mason Brothers Book #4)

Chapter 22

DANICA

I shoot up out of bed so fast that the blanket flies off of me and I have to grab at my chest to make sure that my boobs didn’t pop out of the tank top that I’m wearing. I all of a sudden regret not wearing a bra, but maybe this isn’t the time to be thinking about that. “What the hell are you talking about, Cade?”

Cade sits up as well, “I didn’t mean to freak you out.”

“I just ran away from one wedding and you don’t think throwing words like marriage around right now aren’t going to freak me out?”

He frowns, “Well when you say it like that, I guess you’re right.”

“How did my life get so damn messed up?” I run my hands over my face. “I’m not even sure how this became the solution to my problem. I don’t want to marry Stuart because he’s a cheater and I don’t love him and the only reason I was doing it, truthfully, is because that was what I was expected to do. How is your solution to my problem getting married to you instead? No offense.”

“None taken. Can we just go to sleep and pretend like we didn’t have this conversation?” I recognize instant regret when I see it. Cade is one of those guys that doesn’t think things through. This is just another one of his ridiculous ideas, like taking me to brunch with his family.

“Yeah, I guess that would be a good idea. I think I’m going to go lay on the couch,” I put my feet on the ground and start to stand up.

“No, no...please don’t do that.,” he grabs my arm and gently pulls me back into the bed. “You stay, I’m the one that messed shit up. I’ll go lie on the couch. You were sleeping already and everything.”

“I’m sorry, Cade.”

“You have nothing to be sorry about, Dans. Lay back down, I’ll see you in the morning.”

He pulls the blanket back over me and places a kiss on the top of my head before heading into the living room and closing the door behind him. I had been asleep since about midnight, but now I am wide awake. I can’t believe Cade just told me that I should marry him. He’s very vocal about his desire to just sleep around and be merry, so why would he want to be married to me unless he thinks I wouldn’t care about him sleeping around? 

I grab at my heart at the idea of Cade sleeping with any other woman right now and I shake my head. Stupid girl, he’s not mine. We’re not dating. We aren’t even sleeping together. I have no claim on Cade Mason and I never will. I push those thoughts out of my brain and focus on getting back to sleep.

“Pumpkin?” A soft whisper wakes me up and when I open my eyes I see Cade with the most gorgeous thing I’ve ever seen, a cup of coffee. I do a quick tank top boob check and sit up in bed, reaching out for the coffee.

“I thought you would have slept in since you worked late.”

“It’s nine, kind of slept in. Plus, I need to go over to Damon’s house to meet with him about inventory and shit. He wasn’t always a morning person, but now with the baby and all that he’s all into doing things before noon these days.”

I sit up and take the coffee he brought in for me, “Thanks for the coffee.”

“You’re welcome, Dans. How are you feeling? Did you sleep well?”

I nod, “Yeah, I slept well. Your bed is actually pretty comfortable.”

“You sound surprised.”

“I didn’t expect that I was going to like your bed so much.”

He raises his eyebrow, “Is that a dig at me being poor?”