He was gorgeous, muscled and strong as an ox. He had cheekbones that could cut glass and abs that could crack walnuts. And he was hers. All hers. And it felt good. Really good. Cade would catch her staring at him with a daydream stare, and he would just catch her around her waist and pull her down onto the couch, under him. During those times, he would take her hard and fast, not even able to get all of their clothes off before entering her. Those times were Kresley’s favorite. She loved to witness Cade un-inhibited and wild. She liked to see him out of control once in a while. It was hot.
Kresley began planning events that would happen in the fall, including helping Francie get details nailed down about the Firefighter Hero Calendar and fundraiser happening before Thanksgiving. They had their work cut out for them with trying to convince firefighters to volunteer to get their chests oiled up, posing for photos and being featured as a month in next year’s calendar. Kresley knew it would be a huge hit and a way to raise lots of money for the Firefighter Survivor Support Fund. Her next plan was to contact the MSPD about doing their own calendar to help support the Law Enforcement Widow Fund. Kresley knew she could convince Cade to pose if she gave him enough incentive.
She and Cade needed to come up with a date for the wedding and where they wanted it to be. They were having a cookout at his house this evening and everyone would be there to help with decisions. With all of the events being planned out for fall, a date really needed to be decided on soon. Kresley didn’t want to wait until next year to tie Cade to her permanently. Maybe they could get everything figured out tonight with family and friends helping.
Cade had been so busy lately, trying to work jointly with Atlanta PD regarding the nut job who was raping and killing women. Fiona’s murder was still an active case and Kresley could tell that the longer it stayed unsolved, the more consumed Cade became. She wished she knew how to help him, but he told her that he wanted to keep her out of it. At first, Kresley was mad that he would say that. She felt that Cade was actively keeping things from her. Cade calmed her fears when he explained that this kind of case could be consuming and that when he left it for the day and came home to her, that he didn’t want to focus on anything but her, loving her, spending time with her, laughing with her. Kresley could see where he was coming from and only requested that if he got new info that he could share, to please include her. He agreed.
She and Cade spent every moment they could together, except when work pulled them away from each other. She and Cade would often eat dinner with his Aunt Mae and Kresley was entertained with stories of Cade’s childhood. He would just roll his eyes at his aunt, smile at the giggles Kresley would try to hold back, and tell his own stories of his parents and growing up in Tennessee.
Kresley looked down at her watch and winced. She was late leaving the office. She was supposed to be at Cade’s workplace five minutes ago. Kresley got out her cell phone and sent a quick text to Cade.
Kresley: Sorry! I’m running late. Got caught in a work conversation. Leaving now and will be there shortly.
Cade: No worries honey. I’ve got you. Be safe. See you in a few. Love you.
Kresley: Love you more.
Kresley called out to Grace that she was leaving for the afternoon and waved to her sisters and Grace, who were congregated around a table full of mini-cupcakes. It was samples from a new caterer who wanted to be added to their rotation of vendors. Kresley barely got a response from the girls besides a groan of delight as they popped another chicken salad lettuce cup into their mouth.
“Hey, don’t fill up on that stuff before coming over to Cade’s house. We’re going to feed y’all good in hopes you’ll help us plan the wedding. Oh, and Birdie, NO hunch punch is allowed. You know what happened last time.”
Birdie snorted at that. “What? I didn’t do anything. All I did was provide refreshment in the form of punch. Punch that maybe had some alcohol in it. I didn’t know that two 75-year-old women were going to drink more than a cup of it and get hammered. It’s not my fault they got arrested for public indecency! No matter what they say, I did NOT say anything to them about dancing naked in the town square’s fountain.”
Kresley just rolled her eyes and waved her hand as she walked out the door. She could hear her sisters and Grace laughing hysterically as she closed the front door. As she moved towards her car, Kres noticed Officer Sloan Smith parked across the street. He was looking over at Whimsy Events. He sat, propped against his car, with his arms crossed over his chest. His brow was furrowed and he looked upset or angry. He looked up and noticed her watching him. He gave a curt nod and wave, then got into his police cruiser and drove off. What a stand-offish man. Kresley would definitely not try to fix one of her sisters’ up on a date with that one.
Kresley arrived at Cade’s office soon after leaving Whimsy Events and walked in, just as he was finishing up a conversation with Officer Smith, who had obviously beat her back to the station. Kresley hung back outside the door, not wanting to interrupt, but she also wanted to stay out the men’s way. They both noticed her at the same time and Kresley was observant to note that Sloan Smith also had a hard, stoic look
