Cade’s lips thinned in obvious irritation, but he took Mark’s hand.
“Fine, I accept,” he ground out, “but only because Addie wants me to. I don’t trust you and I don’t want you anywhere near her. Understand?”
Mark grimaced and Addie saw that Cade had gripped Mark’s hand so tightly that his fingers had turned dark red. She opened her mouth to tell him to stop, but he released Mark before she could speak.
She gave Cade an annoyed look, but he merely grinned and shrugged.
“I don’t blame you, either,” Mark said, “and don’t worry, I’ll keep my distance. But if either of you need anything, don’t hesitate to call us because of me, especially after something like this tonight. It’s our job to help. It’s why I took this job in the first place.”
“Thank you, Mark,” Addie said, while she gently elbowed Cade to keep him from replying. “We’ll do that.”
Mark nodded.
Another younger deputy approached. “We’re wrapping things up,” he said. “If you two want, you can go now.”
“Can we go inside?” Addie asked.
The young man glanced at Cade and from the corner of her eye, Addie saw his head barely indicate that they shouldn’t be allowed to enter the house.
“It’s a mess in there, ma’am,” the deputy said, his gaze once again focused on her. “I’d find somewhere else to stay tonight and take care of it tomorrow.”
As much as she wanted her house put back in order, she was exhausted from the ordeal. All she wanted right now was to lay down in Cade’s arms and go to sleep. She sighed. That’s probably what he would want, too.
“That sounds like a good idea. Thank you.”
Cade helped her down from the truck bed and walked her to the passenger side, his arm still around her shoulders. As he assisted her into the cab and closed the door to hurry to the driver’s door, Addie wanted to let it go, to forget about everything until morning, but more tears filled her eyes and molten rage bubbled to the surface. Staring at the open door of her house, her blurry vision unable to make out the faces of those going in and out, Addie’s hands balled into fists and a high-pitched squeal spilled from her lips. It increased in intensity until it became a frustrated scream.
How dare someone do this to her? She’d never thought Ted would be so destructive as to destroy her home. How could anyone do something like this?
“Hey, sweetie,” Cade said, sliding across the truck’s bench seat to pull her into his arms. “It’s okay, I got you.”
She’d been holding back the defeat and shock as best she could, but the minute he wrapped her in his strong embrace and she was engulfed by his warmth and manly scent, all her defenses crumbled. She slumped against him and the tears came as he rocked her gently and whispered words of comfort.
Arms wrapped around Cade’s middle, Addie’s fingers gripped his shirt, desperately holding on to him to keep from spiraling into a dark hole of despair. What am I going to do?
“We are going to get everything cleaned up and fixed,” Cade said, pushing her back so he could clutch her tear-streaked face in calloused hands and look into her eyes. “You are not alone, Addie. I’ll help you, and I’m sure your friends will, too.”
She tried to swallow the lump in her throat as she nodded, but it didn’t work. The constriction was too tight to dislodge.
“You’re trembling,” Cade murmured as he brushed her hair away from her face. “Are you okay, sweetheart?”
She gave him a shaky smile, then sat back and wiped the tears from her cheeks. His blue eyes searched her face and she shook her head. “No, I’m not okay, but I will be. You’re right, I’m not alone.” She cupped his cheek in her hand. “I’m glad I have you. You can’t know how glad I am to have you beside me right now.”
Cade pulled her into his arms again. “I’m right here, baby, and we’ll get through this. I promise.”
She didn’t miss the ‘we’ll’ in that statement and his encouragement, not to mention his kindness, burrowed deep inside her and a warm calm emanated outward.
“Thank you,” she said and when he sat back with confusion in his eyes, she elaborated. “Thank you for being here, Cade. For checking the house, for holding my hand, for this,” she waved her hand between them, “for holding me. I feel better—still sad and a little shocked, but better…and that’s all because of you.”
He smiled and rested his forehead against hers. “Good.”
They stayed like that for several seconds before he ducked his head to look into her face. “Let’s get out of here.”
She glanced at the house. Fear, anger, and frustration battled inside her, but she straightened her back and gave him a grin, nodding her assent. “Yeah,” she muttered, “let’s get out of here.”
“I think I know just the place.”
“There’s a motel in town,” she offered.
“Good enough for tonight, but I think we can do better.”
She nodded, though she didn’t know what he meant and didn’t reply as they headed to town. Except for the rumble of the tires and the occasional rattle of Cade’s old truck, silence filled the cab until they turned into the motel parking lot.
“Are you really okay?” Cade asked after he’d parked the truck and shut off the engine.
“Yeah,” she said and sighed. She looked over at his concerned expression. “Will you stay with me tonight? Hold me? Please?”
His lips curled into a slow, indulgent grin. “Of course, I will.”
She nodded as her emotions tumbled over each other inside her.
“Hey,” he said as he scooted over the seat and
