Cade pulled her against his chest. “Shh, it’s all right now, I got you. He won’t hurt you again.”
“It’s my own fault,” she muttered into his chest.
“No,” he said, pushing her back to cup her face again. He needed her to understand that he meant what he said next. “None of this is your fault.”
“But I…”
He shook his head. “No, Addie, you are not to blame for any of it. Your only fault is you’re too tenderhearted, but that isn’t something I’d want to see change. I admire your kindness and strength.”
Big, dark chocolate eyes stared back at him.
He could get lost in those eyes…
Whoa, cowboy…
He inhaled, her lavender scent infusing his brain, and dropped his hand from her cheek. “How about I get you inside and warmed up? Then, if you want, we can talk some more.”
Her eyes shifted, seeming to search his face like she always did when unsure about him. His heart lurched and that tugging sensation was back, only this time he knew what it was. Not just attraction—he’d admitted that weeks ago. No, this was more, on a deeper, more emotional level. Addie was warm and kind, and he liked her. A lot. Part of him had known that for a long while. It explained why his protective instincts had risen to her defense so quickly, and why his body and all his senses were drawn to her like a bee to honey. She was the sweetest woman he’d ever known and, if he’d been on his feet, the desire to taste every soft and sexy piece of her would’ve dropped him to his knees.
Then she blinked and reality struck. He wasn’t the one for her, wasn’t good enough. Besides, she wasn’t in any condition to even discuss the topic of them as a couple—not that they should discuss it at all. No, his only job right now was to make her feel safe and comfortable.
“You want to head inside?” he asked.
Her shoulders dropped and she nodded.
“Okay,” he said, shifting her back to the seat. “You stay right here.” Scooting over the bench seat to the driver’s side, he exited the cab and rounded the front of the truck to open her door. Then he reached in, scooped her into his arms, and kicked the door closed.
Her nervous little laugh was music to his ears.
“You don’t have to carry me,” she said as he headed up the front porch steps, ignoring her protests as if she hadn’t spoken at all.
“You mind?” he said with a grin, lifting an eyebrow and glancing at the doorknob.
She chuckled again and warmth filled his chest, puffing him up just a little.
“I can walk, ya know.” Despite the slight irritation in her words she was smiling.
“Yes, I know,” he replied as he once again used his boot heel to close the front door, “and I know you can take care of yourself. But sometimes we all need someone to take care of us for a little while. Right now is one of those times, and I really want to take care of you.” He set her down on the cushy tan couch, but hovered near her, unable to look away from her eyes. “Will you let me care for you, Addie?”
Chapter 11
Staring up into Cade’s stunning blue gaze, Addie’s heart beat triple-time. Every nerve tingled where he had touched her, and every atom in her body was sharply attuned to him, his warmth, his size, his scent. After the scare she’d had less than an hour ago, she shouldn’t be interested in any man. But Cade Brody wasn’t just any man. He had risked himself to save her, had helped rid her of the man who’d assaulted her, and made her feel safe when all of her confidence and security had been ripped away.
A shudder rumbled through her and a frown darkened his brow.
“Addie?”
Oh, right, he’s waiting for an answer.
Heat filled her veins, thawing the ice that had formed from the shock of being attacked in her own home. Thank God, Cade had been here. If Mark hadn’t yanked her robe open and down over her arms the minute he forced his way inside, she could’ve fought him off. At least, she’d done it before. But she’d been defenseless this time. With her arms pinned, all that she’d learned had been useless. If Cade hadn’t acted, her situation could’ve been so much worse.
“Yes,” she whispered, but for a second she didn’t know what she was agreeing to.
When he smiled, she remembered. He wanted to take care of her. Maybe that was a good idea. Her thoughts seemed to be muddled and sluggish at the moment, but there was no confusing the zing of awareness zapping through her body.
He hadn’t moved. He still hovered over her, his face a few inches above hers. Those sexy lips curled into the sweetest crooked smile she’d ever seen.
He wants to take care of me.
Did that mean…?
I don’t care.
Her hand reached out of its own accord, fingers brushing over his mouth. His lips parted and the smile slid off his face. His eyes flared with desire and her body responded. Heat spiraled downward from her chest, into her belly, settling between her thighs. Was she really thinking about kissing him again?
Then his eyes cooled and his fingers wrapped gently around her wrist, pulling her hand from his face.
“You don’t want to do this now,” he said, his voice rough as if he could barely speak. “Neither do I.”
Breathless with anticipation and uncertainty, she whispered, “Why?”
He sighed, appearing hard and formidable, but his tone was gentle. “You were just attacked, Addie. I won’t take advantage of you.”
“It’s not taking advantage if I want you, too.” Her thoughts buzzed slowly through her brain, some agreeing with him, others demanding that she press her mouth to his. Mixed in with need and want was the shock and fear of Mark’s attack, clouding everything and making the world feel fuzzy and far away.
