Book 2: What Happens Here - Chicago (What Happens Here Series)

Chapter 63 - Cantrell

When Cantrell and her cousins had arrived at the nightclub, she laughed when her cousin Bridgette walked right up to the very attractive and very muscular bouncer that stood stoically at the entrance of the club. Huge arms crossed over his large chest, he'd stared down at her as she smiled up at him, before she did a slow turn in front of him as if she were posing for him. For a moment, he'd merely stared down at her, and just when she'd thought that he was going to ignore her cousin, she saw a quick lilt that played at the corners of his lips, before he'd straightened to his full height as he'd plastered the same stoic look to his face that he'd had before. A moment later, he'd jerked his head towards another man that stood by the door, and with one last glance down at her, he'd glanced over her head and ignored her. Cantrell shook her head and laughed when Bridgette blew him a kiss and strutted past him through the opened club doors.

Sometime later, Cantrell told her cousins that she was going to the bar to grab a drink. Standing by the bar and waiting for the sexy bartender that Keysha had mentioned earlier, and who had been serving them free drinks all night; to fill her drink request, she'd felt eyes on her. Turning her head, she'd locked eyes with a very attractive man wearing a white collared shirt and dark slacks. He was gorgeous and as she returned the smile that he'd given her, it was in that instance that she'd noticed the blonde that was attached to his side. Well damn. Clearly, he already had someone, and the thought of him standing with his girlfriend as he'd tried to flirt with her had pissed her off. Wasn't that just like a damn man? Some men were just never satisfied with one woman, and they seemed to need a damn harem of women to choose from, but Cantrell wasn't about to be added to his damn stable.

With a slight annoyance, Cantrell had thanked Anthony for her drink and had turned and walked away, without a backwards glance.

An hour later, Cantrell found herself heading back to the bar for another drink. Apparently, the club was so busy that it was easier for her to get her own drink, rather than to wait for a server. So, she'd found herself making her way through the crowd but stopped in her tracks when she'd seen the same attractive man, sans his blonde attachment, standing at the bar. Walking up to stand beside of him, Cantrell leaned against the bar. Noticing her standing next to him, he'd smiled as he'd said, "Hi."

After their brief encounter he'd shared that his name was "Caden", and the blonde that she'd assumed was his girlfriend, was in fact someone that he had met that night. He'd even shared that he didn't even know the woman's name, which had bothered her a bit, because he was either the type of man that had so many women that he couldn't keep track of their names, or he was a playboy type that "kissed & dismissed", as her brother Arden would always say, the women that he had in his life, while callously using them to satisfy his own needs, without taking the time to get to know them.

Once Cantrell had walked away from Caden, she'd thought about him for the rest of the night, and when she and her cousins were about to leave, she'd said, "I'm going to stop by the restroom, give me a second you guys." Heading towards the ladies' room, Cantrell glanced over and noticed that Caden was sitting with three other men, and a few women as they appeared to be enjoying themselves. As she'd walked past, Caden had glanced up and locking eyes with her, his stare was intense for a moment before he'd leaned over and said something to one of the men. She made her way to the restroom, and after relieving herself and washing her hands, she'd left the bathroom, only to find Caden leaning against the wall.

Glancing up, he smiled as he'd said, "Hi Pixie." A slow smile crossed her lips as she said, "Pixie?" Nodding, he'd sucked his bottom lip into his mouth before he'd said, "Yep...it's Pixie, until you tell me what your actual name is." One arched brow raised, Cantrell said, "And why would I do that...Caden?" Smiling, he said, "Because it's the right thing to do. And because I really need to know your name before I leave New York." Smiling, Cantrell shook her head as she said, "Oh really? So, you need to know my name.... huh?" When Caden had smiled, she'd felt the effects of it down to her core, and shaking off the effects that he was causing to her body, Cantrell said, "I'll tell you what Caden...if you can guess it, I will grant you one request." A look of intrigue crossed his handsome features a moment before he said, "You'll grant me one request? Any request?" Her eyes narrowed on him before she said, "Within reason, but yes. One request."