“Lana’s just a little jealous of you. She’ll get over it.”
“Of me?” Addie’s voice rose in question.
Veta glanced at Cade and guilt tugged at his gut, though he didn’t know why.
“I never encouraged her,” he blurted out.
Veta shook her head. “I know that, Cade. Lana’s just looking for someone to appreciate her, someone to love. The problem is, she keeps looking in the wrong places. That worries me. You do not.” She smiled.
He nodded, not knowing what else to say.
“He’s a good one, Addie,” she said in a conspiratorial whisper that wasn’t quiet at all. “You should hang on to him. You two are good together and it’s obvious you like each other…”
“Yeah, I’ve gotten kind of used to him being around,” Addie said, her gaze full of heat as she looked at him.
Cade’s heart slammed into his breastbone and he tried to swallow. He recognized that look; the one that said he could have her all to himself forever if he wanted. All he had to do was say yes, but he didn’t know if he could take that first step. He could stand up to guys like Ted every day, but letting another woman into his heart, allowing her to have the power to drive him to his knees and destroy him all over again…? He didn’t know if he was ready for that. Didn’t know if he ever would be. And Addie deserved to be happy. He needed to figure his shit out before he broke her heart, as well as his own.
Chapter 17
The drive back home was quiet, but not uncomfortably so. The only sounds were the rumble of the engine and hum of the tires on pavement as the headlights cut a swath through the dark evening. Cade seemed to be lost in thought. He’d hardly said a word since they’d gotten into the cab. Not that Addie minded; she’d been distracted too, thinking over everything that had happened and dwelling on the anxiety that had taken root inside her.
They’d eaten at the café, which, apparently, had given a couple of other local ranchers the incentive to stop by their table to apologize and caution them about Ted and his friends. Not that Addie needed the warning; she’d been worried about Ted since she’d fired him. He was mostly all talk, but what Frank had said about retaliation was probably true, which was why it stuck with her. Though, she wasn’t concerned for her sake—no, she feared for Cade.
“You need to be careful,” she blurted into the quiet cab.
Cade glanced at her. “Why?”
“Ted,” she said, staring at Cade’s profile. “I don’t want you to get hurt.”
“I won’t,” he said, flashing her a cocky grin. “I’m not worried about him, and you shouldn’t be, either. I can take care of myself if I need to.”
Addie didn’t argue as he turned onto her driveway, dust spinning up in a whirlwind behind them. Still, she did have a bad feeling about the whole thing. She knew Cade was a strong man, a smart man, but she didn’t trust Ted to be an honorable one. He wouldn’t forget the embarrassment Cade caused him today. She couldn’t see Ted facing Cade head-on if he wasn’t sure he’d win nor, she suspected, was Ted above underhanded tactics.
“What the hell?” Cade said in a hard tone that sent a shiver down her spine as the truck skidded to a halt.
Addie had been lost in thought again, trusting Cade to get them home. At the sudden stop, she glanced at his fierce profile before she turned her head to see what had upset him.
The first thing she saw made her gut clench with fear.
The aluminum garage door was bent on one side as if it had been forced open, and the words “Go Home, Bitch!” were spray-painted in red on the white panel.
Her breath caught in her throat and a tremor of fear fluttered in her stomach.
“Stay here,” Cade said as he pushed open his door.
“No way,” Addie replied. “I’m coming with you.”
Cade stepped out of the truck then turned to face her, one arm resting on the roof of the cab. “Addie,” he said softly, “someone may still be inside.”
She glanced at her home and noticed that the front door was wide open—something she hadn’t noticed at first. Turning back to Cade’s serious expression, she tried to keep her voice level and to quiet her riotous nerves. “I don’t want to sit out here. Besides, it’s my house; you shouldn’t have to face a possible intruder alone. What if they have a gun or something?”
“I could deal with it more easily if you’re not there distracting me.”
A frown pulled her eyebrows down. “I’m not going to distract you.”
“If you go in there, I’ll be worried about you the whole time. I won’t be focused on what I need to be. Please, Addie, just wait here. I’ll come back for you if it’s empty.”
She stared into his concerned blue gaze and, though she didn’t like it, she knew he was right. “Okay, but please, be careful.”
“I will. If anything happens out here, if you need me, honk the horn.”
She nodded and swallowed the lump in her throat as Cade quietly closed the door and slowly crossed her front yard. Her heart pounded when he disappeared inside and she sent up a silent prayer that whoever did this had left long ago.
With Cade no longer in sight, cold suddenly settled into her bones and she shivered. Rubbing at her arms and darting glances all around, she did her best to remain calm, but she felt like someone was watching her.
Minutes ticked by, three, five, but still no Cade.
What if he can’t come back? she thought. What if someone hit him or stabbed him, and he’s lying in there bleeding to death? Her mind conjured all kinds of horrible scenarios that might have
