The bed moved and Stone pulled the covers over her. He lifted her up and maneuvered her next to him. He was on his back and she was tucked into his side. Her head rested on his chest and her arm draped over his stomach. Her fingers lingered on him, circling the lines of his abs. His heartbeat was slowing and his breaths became deep. He was relaxing into sleep.
Sadie cuddled in deeper to him. “Tired, huh?”
“Yeah.” He yawned while lightly rubbing her back.
“A lot of work back in Houston?”
“Yeah.” He offered nothing more.
“Ethan said you and T run a security company. That must be interesting.” She hoped he opened up a bit. She wanted to know more about him.
“Listen, babe, I’m beat. I don’t want to talk about work shit.” He gruffly shut the conversation down.
“Okay.” Sadie pulled away slightly. She couldn’t help but feel a little hurt and disappointed. She wanted to know more about him.
“Hey, get back here.” He pulled her back into the curve of his body. She moved into him without a struggle. He exhaled an exasperated breath. “Look, even if I wasn’t tired as hell, I can’t talk about my work. Part of being in private investigations is that it’s private. You get me?”
She nodded. “I get it. Sorry.”
“Sadie? Look at me,” he whispered back.
Sadie turned toward him. The room was dark but being this close she could see his eyes. “Nothing for you to be sorry about, I just can’t discuss it.” His face came closer. “But I like you caring enough to ask, I like it a whole lot.” He kissed her sweetly and embraced her deeper into his body.
That was all she remembered before she passed out.
****
Sadie was aware of a knocking sound. She opened her eyes and looked up at Stone. He was asleep. The room was dark, it was still night time. She heard the knocking again and looked to the door. She raised her head up and blinked a few times. The knob turned and the door slightly opened. She saw a head in the doorway. It was T.
“Get him up, Sadie,” he snapped.
Sadie sat up and pulled the sheet to her chest as she shook Stone. He stirred but didn’t wake. She leaned down and shook him again, harder this time.
“Stone, wake up.”
He shifted again, this time coming out of his sleep. He opened his eyes. “What’s wrong, babe?” he said groggily.
“Stone, man, get up!” T barked from the door.
Stone whipped his head toward the door. He looked surprised to see T there. They stared at one another before T spoke again.
“Cavanaugh.” He walked out the door, saying nothing else.
Stone immediately got out of bed and walked to his closet. He ran his hand through his hair. He seemed stressed and agitated. Sadie didn’t know what T meant by “Cavanaugh” but Stone must have known. She was sitting up in bed with the sheet over her chest in the dark. The only light was dim from the closet. He came out fully clothed. He didn’t even glance her way before he walked out the door.
He was leaving? Sadie didn’t know because he never even acknowledged her before he walked out. Sadie searched the room looking for some kind of answer or validation that he was coming back. This was ridiculous, what was she supposed to do now? Did she go back to bed? Did she get dressed and leave?
Sadie sat in silence in the dark for a few minutes.
Feeling extremely awkward, she quickly got out of bed and gathered her clothes. She couldn’t find her panties and got dressed without them. She saw her overnight bag in the corner of the room. He must have brought it in last night before they went to bed. She put her shoes on and grabbed her bag, then walked out and down the hall.
She smelled the coffee and she was about to walk out from the hall when she heard voices coming from the kitchen. She stopped and listened when she heard her name.
****
“What are you going to tell Sadie?’
“Shut the fuck up, T. Let me worry about Sadie, stay out of my shit.” Stone’s tone was sharp. This Cavanaugh job had him on edge. They had to find this guy and end it. The thought of discussing the job with Sadie in his bed angered him. He didn’t want this part of his life to touch her.
“Your shit is my shit so you shut the fuck up, Stone.”
“I’ll handle it,” he rumbled in anger.
“You fucking better! Don’t fuck this up, man.”
“I’ve never fucked up a job and you know it.” Stone stalked to T. They were inches away from each other, neither one standing down.
“I’m not talking about the job. Don’t fuck this thing up that you got with Sadie,” T said in a low tone.
Stone stared at T. He was so frustrated at the situation and he was taking it out on all the wrong people. He just wanted the Cavanaugh job done so he could be with Sadie
The front door opened. Roxanne was dressed in lounge pants and her old Maddison High School sweatshirt. That thing had seen better days but Roxanne refused to part with it for reasons unknown. Her presence had T and Stone separating from each other.
“You guys heading out?” asked Roxanne.
“Yeah. Bogs have everything ready?” T answered.
“Yeah, it’s all set. The truck is packed.” She looked around. “Where’s Sadie?”
“Sleeping,” Stone curtly answered.
Stone lifted his coffee to finish it when he heard a faint cough coming from the hallway. He turned to see Sadie walking into the kitchen. She stopped a few steps in and gave a shy wave. Stone wondered how much of the conversation with T she had heard. She hoisted her bag
