KEEPING UP WITH CADE

They hooked up a lot. It was nothing else even if she wanted it to be - which she didn't. It was convenient because he lived with her best friend - and it was good. What more could she want?

...

Chapter One - Distractions in the kitchen

'Blair? Can you get me a drink too please?'

She heard Hailey call out but barely registered the words as Cade had her pinned against the kitchen counter. She turned her head to follow his muscular arm from behind her shoulder, up to his stony face. He wasn't smiling at her - nothing new, but he didn't have to because he had a sexy serious face on that made Blair's knees go weak.

All he had to do was catch her eye briefly across the room for her to blush, or raise an eyebrow at her for her heart to start that thumping thing it did whenever he was around.

'You knew I had a huge assignment to do tonight, why are you here?' He demanded, his tone was serious and he was clearly annoyed with her.

Blair opened her mouth to speak but nothing came out. She tried again but he was so close she felt his minty breath on her face she found it hard to concentrate on anything.

'I... uh, I'm watching a movie with Hailey. I was going to stay out of your way...' She protested weakly as his face moved closer to hers, stopping a millimetre away.

'Not good enough,' he replied simply, crashing his mouth onto hers. The kiss was rough and desperate, he'd been wanting to do it ever since he heard her silky laughter downstairs from his room. Now he had her in front of him, doing that trembling thing she did so well making him want to carry her upstairs immediately.

'Blair? Hurry up, what the hell is taking so long?' Hailey called out again from the living room merely a few meters away.

He felt her push him away. He rolled his eyes at her attempt as she was so damn weak it was ridiculous, but he stepped back anyway not wanting Hailey to find them.

'Are you staying over?' He asked bluntly watching her get two glasses of juice from the fridge.

She looked over her shoulder at him leaning against the counter, his arms folded over his bare chest practically drawing attention to his muscular arms and toned body. 'Of course,' she shrugged trying to play it cool even though she knew she was bright red at the thought of them together again that night.

'I'll see you later then.'

'You have an assignment to do,' she pointed out.

'By the time Hailey goes to sleep I'll have it done... besides,' he paused raking over her body with his eyes. 'You've got me all worked up now.'

Blair blushed madly and made a beeline out of the kitchen and into the living room where her best friend was shaking her head at her.

'What the hell? That's the last time I ask you to get me a drink. My grandma would have done that faster, and she's dead!' Hailey was incredulous.

Blair burst out laughing, breaking free from the zombie-like hold Cade had over her when they were alone.

...

Blair Anstey had been best friends' with Hailey for longer than she could remember. Hailey's parents were like her own, feeding her, housing her, they bought two of everything without even thinking. When Hailey's Dad came home from business trips with a snow globe of the latest city he'd been in, he always has an extra one for Blair. When Hailey's Mum cooked dinner each night she never asked Blair to stay, she just assumed she was. It wasn't like Blair's parents were bad or anything. They just worked a lot, leaving money for Blair to buy dinner and lunch each day.

Blair was part of the family essentially. The day Hailey's parents told them about Cade coming to live there, Hailey's Mum, Jane was beyond excited to see her nephew again. She had a silly smile on her face as Blair watched her clearing the last of the books from the spare room for Cade to stay in.

'Oh girls, if he's anything like his mother, you'll love him! She is so sweet and caring, always putting others before herself. The two of us were the talk of the town when we were younger,' Jane rambled on and on while Blair shot Hailey a look.

One of those secret best friend looks they had perfected, this one silently laughing at Jane and her wistful reminiscing of her youth.

'Have I met Cade before Mum?' Hailey asked trying to remember all her cousins. On her fathers side she had over twenty, and found it difficult to remember them all.

'No sweetie, he's lived in Switzerland his whole life,' Jane explained patiently smiling at her daughter and Blair.

'And why is he coming to live with you?' Blair piped up not sure how she felt about sharing Hailey's family. It might be kind of weird to have a boy around the house, Hailey's dad didn't count because he was more girly then any of them!

'His mother just wanted him to finish high school here, to get the right university offers. It'll be great girls, we'll have a ball with him!'

The two girls shrugged off Jane's enthusiasm preferring to wait and see whether having Cade living there would be 'a ball' or not.

...

'Your cousin is hot.'

Hailey's eyes bugged out at her best friend. 'Gross Blair he's my cousin!'

The two girls were peering out Hailey's bedroom window when Cade climbed out of the yellow taxi, taking a suitcase from the boot and staring up at the house. They watched as Jane excitedly greeted him with a huge hug and help him carry his luggage inside.

'So you have good genes then!' Blair laughed as Hailey threw a pillow in her direction.

They heard Jane calling them downstairs to meet Cade, and if Blair thought he was good looking from a distance - up close he was just ridiculous. She stood back as Hailey introduced herself to her cousin watching him take her in carefully. He was so tall, towering over both Hailey and Jane, his broad shoulders and light stubble made him look very sexy and definitely older than eighteen. Blair could definitely see the family resemblance too, he had a striking face with features similar to Hailey, they both would be considered beautiful.

'This is Blair, Hailey's friend,' Jane added with a smile in Blair's direction. 'She's part of the furniture now!'

Cade smiled at her lazily from across the kitchen and Blair could feel her face heat up under his gaze.

'Hi.' It came out sounding a bit like a squeak and Hailey raised her eyebrows at her friend amused.

'Hi,' he mirrored her, his smile widening ever so slightly.

'Right well, we can catch up later, I'm sure you're tired from the traveling Cade,' Jane said clasping her hands together in excitement. 'I'll show you to your room where you can rest up before dinner.'

The girls watched him climb the stairs and disappear into the hallways of Hailey's house, the soft chatter of Jane's excitable nature still drifting through the house as she showed him the room. They settled in on the kitchen counter chairs careful to talk quietly, as the house was so open the sound travelled ridiculously well.

'You should have been a little more obvious when you were checking my cousin out Blair. I don't think he noticed you were a bit keen,' Hailey said her eyes sparkling with silent laughter.

'I wasn't obvious was I?' Blair was panicked, 'I mean you don't think he thinks I think he's good looking or anything?'

'I... think...you what?' Hailey was definitely laughing at her now. 'You're not even making sense, it must be love!'

'Ssssh!' Blair whispered clamping her hand over her best friends mouth. It was so easy for Hailey, with her willowy tall figure, beautiful blonde hair and striking features she literally had a date every Saturday night ... if she wanted one. She was so outgoing and friendly to everyone guys just flocked to her to ask her out. She generally said no though, preferring to hang out with Blair on weekends. Blair was a little different, she definitely had a little trouble when it came to the opposite sex.

'Relax, I'm pretty sure he's in the shower,' Hailey smiled. 'Anyway you need to get over this B, it'd be like you having a crush on my brother!'

Blair wrinkled her nose at the thought, gross!

...