Meg tried to ease her breathing as she laid on Cade's thumping chest. Never had she come so easily. She thought of Cade when she was with Ty, but the real thing was so much better.

She hit his chest. "I don't want to think about it." Faking orgasms was awful.

When Cade said lust, her heart wanted him to say love. Obviously, it was silly because they hardly knew one another.

Cade rolled her onto her side. Blue was at her back. Two dogs made the bed small. He put feather kisses on her lips, her neck, shoulder and all the way down her side until he reached her hip.

"Here's the beautiful freckle."

"I can't believe you remembered it."

Cade looked into her eyes. "I remembered everything like a shelter in a storm."

Meg wanted to crawl into him and radiate her love onto him and heal him. She felt everything she hadn't felt for Tyler and more, but it was more than lust. Together face to face, she watched his eyes close.

Meg's eyes fluttered open after her belly rumbled. She heard heavy breathing, but Cade slept peacefully. With his hand on her hip, she tried to slip away without disturbing him. His hand tightened on her hip.

"Sorry. I didn't want to wake you."

He looked at her. "I slept and didn't dream. I never do that."

She kissed his forehead. "I'm hungry."

He smiled. "I'll cook for you."

She laughed. "What do you cook?"

His bright smile filled his face. "Hamburgers."

"Sounds good." As she stood she said, "Hey, this isn't like last time. You're safe. I'll need to go home eventually, but I'll see you tomorrow."

"You and Blue should stay. I thought you said your mother didn't want her."

She laughed. "No, but I just can't. I went out for a run. I have to return home."

Meg didn't want to voice her concerns. Her mother could be critical of others, but Cade had built a successful business. Although he didn't live like a millionaire, he was one. He would look handsome in a tuxedo.

He nodded. "I'll drive you whenever you decide. Let's share a meal first."

The truth hit Meg. They had shared a lot, but never sat together at a table. "Tyler took his girlfriend to the same restaurant he took me on our first date."

Cade turned from his refrigerator where he was grabbing ingredients. "Does it bother you?"

She shrugged. "I don't understand it. I don't want him to love me, but I don't want him to trample on our friendship either."

"I think he's practicing self-preservation. This replacement won't last, but by dating her, he's saving face. Our egos are very fragile." He put meat and some produce on the counter. "I know you like fries, but I hate the frozen kind."

She shook her head smiling. "They aren't very healthy and we didn't run enough today."

"Tomorrow, we can make up for it. Do you run every day during the week?"

Meg shrugged. "No, but I try to if I feel stressed. What's your work schedule?"

"I can usually make my own unless I'm meeting with a client. I keep busy, but not full time."

"What else do you do?"

He shrugged. "I'm training Confetti. We go to dog school on Mondays."

"Really?"

Cade looked at the dog. In a firm voice, he said, "Sit." The dog followed his command. "Paw." He stuck out his paw and Cade shook it. "Good boy." He gave him a bite-sized treat.

"What else can he do?"

Cade smiled. "Heel. When we walk he doesn't pull me. He'll stay, although I don't trust him outside. He'll run after a squirrel or across the street to see the kids."

"It must be nice having neighbors."

"You must have neighbors."

She laughed. "It's not the same. The man across the street is the CEO of a company with large defense contracts. His kids have never written on the sidewalk with chalk."

"Have you?"

She shook her head. "I'm not sure I ever have."

Cade frowned. "I drew all the time."

"I bet you were great at it."

"I knew I liked it. I used to draw a comic about the thug, but it doesn't interest me anymore." He formed the meat into patties. After he washed his hands, he looked at her. "Will it be too cold to follow me outside?"

"I should take Blue out."

"Yeah. It's time. I'll start the grill, then we can take them out, while it heats."

When Meg clipped on Blue's leash, Confetti wanted his too. So she reached for it, as Cade walked in. "I think he thinks we're leaving."

"We're both going to be sad."

She handed him his leash and bumped him with her hip. "You will not."

He grabbed her hip. "Sad and lonely." Then he kissed the tip of her nose. She wanted more, but let him release her and walked out behind him.

Blue followed Confetti who sniffed around. Once he found his spot Blue lowered her behind close by. The kids ran out of their house and the dogs barked.

Cade said, "Stay." The dog stopped barking.

"Wow! I'm impressed."

"Hey, Cade. Is that your mom?"

"She's not my mother."

Sanjay said, "You can be her dad."

Meg laughed. "I think they mean something different, like, um, husband."

Cade's cheeks turned pink. "Oh."

"Are you one of those forever bachelors?"

"No. I want what Joe has, but you don't even want to stay over, so it's not a place we should go."

Meg laughed. "It's okay. I was just teasing."

"I need to cook you some food."

After they let the dogs in. Cade took the meat out into the backyard. Meg watched him from the kitchen window as he opened his grill. Her body hummed while she thought about being on top of him. Studying his broad shoulders and cute ass, she watched his shoulders slump slightly. More than the physical, she was attracted to his vulnerability. A man who came back from the fear he lived with possessed more strength than he realized. She didn't know the old Cade well, but the new one was caring. She loved how gentle he was with his dog.

She washed the produce but kept glancing out the window. A strange realization filled her. She felt trapped at the notion of living in Tyler's apartment, yet she felt at home and comfortable in Cade's house. It had everything to do with the man. Cade took his own space as he stood by the grill. Just his interactions allowed her space. Tyler wanted to hold on to her. Maybe he knew things weren't right.

With the produce washed, she searched for a bowl to toss a salad. Tyler didn't have gadgets in his kitchen beyond one potato peeler which never worked well. When she opened a drawer, she found a garlic press, measuring spoons, and kitchen spears. Smiling, she also found a cutting board and a sharp knife.

Cade walked in, and she looked up. "I could cook in this kitchen."

He chuckled. "Be my guest. I don't go to stores, but you can add ingredients to my orders."

"Did you shop before?"

He nodded. "Not really, only because I didn't have time. We took off the holidays and Leigh and I cooked together."

"Is that why this drawer has things in it?"

"Leigh likes to buy me kitchen things. She said someday a girl will come over and my drawers will impress her."

"Me! You have a zester." She held it up.

"I forget what its for. I came in for a clean plate."

"The salad is ready."

He wink. "We make a good team."

When he stepped inside with cooked meat, the dogs came to investigate. Meg moved them out of the way. "Not for you."

Cade shook his head. "I feel bad I don't have a companion for him."

"I wish she was mine. I mean I picked her out of her litter. Then I took a vacation to help train her. Blue has suffered because of our rift."

"Here." He put the burgers on buns and took out some condiments. "I would hate it if Eden was suddenly not my friend."

"What about her? Did you break her heart?"

He shook his head. "No, she teased me, but she's dated more than me. Now she's engaged. It was quick. Her first date was the night before we met."

"Seriously? Do you like him?"

Cade nodded. "Yeah. He fits in." He took a bite of his burger and she followed.

"This is better than a restaurant."

"I'm better at grilling than cooking, but I want to cook with you."

She smiled. "I want that too."

"Would I freak you out if I told you I enjoy having you here? You can set the pace, but I hope we can see each other."

"It's a lot better than have a good life."

He covered his eyes. "Stop! I'm sorry."

She laughed. "I know, but I like to tease you a little."

He reached over and tickled her. She laughed. "Finish eating. I have enough energy now to carry you into the bedroom."

It was after eight when Cade drove her and Blue home. The dog was hungry because she only ate special gourmet food.

Meg stepped into the house wearing an oversized tee shirt which was longer than her running shorts. Shannon appeared, as she led Blue on her leash to the kitchen.

"Where have you been all day?"

"At a friend's house who has a dog. You didn't want Blue here. She needs to eat."

"What about you?"

She shrugged. "I had a late lunch."

"What are you wearing?"

"A tee shirt over my running clothes."

"You ran early this morning."

"And when we met on the trail and the dogs got along, I never came home to change. You never care where I am."

"Because you were always with Tyler."

"Well, he's away with his girlfriend this weekend." She prepared Blue's dinner and put her bowl on the floor.

Shannon watched her. "It is beautiful."

"She. Blue is a girl."

Brian walked into the kitchen. "Oh, she's eating. I had a dog like her as a boy."

Meg looked up. "You did?"

He nodded. "I've always liked dogs."

Meg wasn't ready to hear that Brian Rice's daughter couldn't associate with Pacheco's stepson. When Blue finished, she took the dog upstairs. Her phone buzzed, and she hoped it was Cade. It was just Tyler checking on Blue. She sent a thumbs up emoji. For once, she didn't miss him as much. Maybe it was Blue or Cade, but either way she had a wonderful day.

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