to come find me, shoot! I’m done, Cay,” Alana said, calling her friend by the nickname she’d given her years ago.
“You can’t be done. What if your prince is next?”
Alana craned her neck and looked at Cadence incredulously. “What the hell did you do with my best friend? Surely you aren’t Cadence with all this ‘keep hope alive’ talk.”
“I’m serious, Alana. Don’t shut down. I did the same thing and it wasn’t fun. I buried myself in work to keep from being lonely, but the more time I spent alone, the more I thought about all that things that went wrong with Kenny and me. I’d gotten over him but didn’t get over the feeling of failing in my relationship. That’s why I avoided dating. When I listened to you and started dating Blake, it was as if I started living again—laughing again. Trust me. That’s not what you want. As outgoing as you are, you’d go completely crazy.”
Alana put her head down. Both were quiet for several moments. “I don’t know. This hurts so much. I thought he was the one, Cadence. I can’t go through this again anytime soon. I’d love to have what you’ve found in Blake, but I’m starting to believe that’s not for everyone.”
Cadence hugged Alana, pulled back and searched her eyes. “You want the truth?”
Alana looked forlorn. “Sure. Why not?” She sighed.
“You fall for men very hard and fast. You have so much to offer the right man, but you have to learn to ease into relationships. Otherwise you scare men off. Save it for the right one. He’ll deserve it and he’ll appreciate you.”
Alana breathed deeply and blew out an exasperated breath. Cadence was right. She hated to think of the number of men who’d left for the same exact reason. “So I need to be a little more discerning with my heart, huh?” Feeling raw, she chuckled timidly.
Cadence tilted her head sideways and nodded.
“I’ll think about it. I still believe I need to take a break.”
“Fine! Take a short one,” Cadence offered. “And then get back out there and keep on living just like you told me to do.”
“If I do get back out there, I’m going to keep my feelings at bay. If this next frog doesn’t deserve my love, I’m keeping it on lockdown. Also—” Alana held her finger up as if she’d just received an epiphany “—I won’t give him any of the good fruit! Not unless he proves himself worthy. This way, great sex won’t cloud my judgment. James was great in bed...” Alana closed her eyes and moaned.
“Uh...” Cadence interrupted Alana’s apparent moment. “I’m still standing here!”
Alana blushed and laughed hard. Cadence joined her and they could hardly stop themselves.
“See what I mean? Good sex will warp the mind, girl.” She chuckled some more. “And lastly, I need to steer clear of known players. I think I’m intrigued by the idea of snagging a player. James was a player at first, and I’m willing to bet that other women had something to do with the fact that he went missing without an explanation.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“Yep, that’s it! I’ll take some time for me and get back into the game. No falling too hard too fast, no sex and no players. That should save me some heartbreak. No man will ever be able to say that I’ve smothered him again.”
“Good! Now, how do you feel?”
“I still feel horrible.” Alana frowned. “I’ll get over him—eventually. We actually had fun together.” Alana looked at the clock on her desk that was a gift from a client. “We’ve got work to do. These clients can’t represent themselves.”
“You’re right.” Cadence lifted herself from Alana’s desk and headed for the door. Just as she was about to walk through, she turned back toward Alana. “Oh, are you going to be free this Saturday?”
“I guess.” Alana shrugged.
“Great! Then you can come by. Blake told me this morning that Drew will be in town this weekend and he and Hunter are thinking about having a get-together for Drew’s birthday. Shall I count you in?”
Alana forced a smile as Cadence departed but didn’t answer. The last thing she needed after this unofficial breakup with James was to be in the same room as the most flirtatious Barrington ever. Drew was an international player. Alana had witnessed his techniques up close for years. She had even entertained his advances and dated him for a short stint, which didn’t end well. They made better friends. Admittedly, she enjoyed his flirting, but it was time for a change. Alana was done kissing frogs—especially gorgeous ones who were allergic to commitment and so skilled in bed that they could render her deaf and dumb.
Alana was also tired of heartbreak. Right there in her office, she made a personal vow to be more protective of her own heart. She wasn’t breaking her rules for any man—especially not Drew Barrington.
“Hey, Ma!” Drew yelled as he strolled through the first floor of his parents’ spacious home on Long Island’s Gold Coast. “Ma, I’m home! Pop, where are you?”
“Drew, is that you?” Joyce came down the stairs as fast as her middle-aged legs could carry her. “Happy birthday, baby boy!”
“Thanks, Ma!” Drew wrapped his arms around his mother, lifted her off her feet and swung her around. He planted a big kiss on her forehead. “Where’s Pop?”
“I’m right here, boy!” Floyd carefully made his way down the winding staircase, taking one cautious step at a time.
“What happened to you, Pop?”
“Pulled another muscle at the gym trying to keep up with the young boys,” Joyce said.
When Floyd reached the landing, he gave Drew a bright smile and shook his hand and then pulled him in for a hug. “Happy birthday, son! Are you staying for a while this time?”
“A few weeks. I’m heading back to Europe in February to train for the first race of the season in March.”
“Oh, good. I can see more of my baby. I wish I knew you were coming. I would have had something here for you. I sent you a card. Did you get it?”
Drew nodded as Joyce headed toward the kitchen.
“Let’s have a nice breakfast. I just bought some sage sausages. I know how much you love them,” she said.
“Oh yes!” Floyd clapped his hands together and rubbed them greedily.
“Just one for you, Floyd,” she warned, pointing her finger at him. “You need to watch that blood pressure of yours. It’s been running high lately.” She directed her last sentence to Drew.
“How are you feeling, Dad?”
Floyd waved away their concern. “I’m just fine. I could still lay you out if I needed to.” Floyd put up his fists, bobbed and then weaved.
Drew looked at his mother with his brows raised
