Oh, who am I kidding? She’d already fallen for him—hard, fast, and irrevocably. She wanted him to stay, be more than just a hired hand, and far more than just a friend with benefits. What she didn’t know was if he wanted that, too.
“I’ll go find him for ya, if you’d like.”
Addie spun her head toward Zack. “Oh, I…”
“You like him, don’t you?”
She hesitated, but there was no reason to deny it. “I do.”
Zack grinned. “Cade’s a good guy. He deserves to be happy.”
“I feel the same way.”
“I’m glad to hear that.” His eyes drifted off to stare into the distance. “I wish I knew what happened between him and Cord. It’s not right, the two of them being at odds like they are.”
“You’re close to both of them, aren’t you,” Addie said.
He nodded. “I have two older sisters, but those boys are the only brothers I’ve ever had. I’ve missed Cade and I know Cord has too, but he won’t talk about it. Says it’s between him and his brother. I’m getting the same vibe from Cade.”
Addie nodded but didn’t offer any insight.
“Do you know why Cade left?”
She shook her head. “I’m sorry, Zack, even if I do, it’s not for me to tell.”
“Yeah, I thought you might say that.”
“He seemed genuinely pleased to see you, though.”
“Of course,” Zack said, sitting up a little taller and raising his eyebrows smugly. “Who wouldn’t miss me?”
She laughed at his outrageousness.
“Seriously, though, he’s been gone awhile. I’m going to go check on him,” Zack said. “Do you want me to tell him he needs to get his butt back here?”
Addie shook her head and chuckled. “No, just tell him…” She wasn’t sure what she should say. They’d been on their way out the door when Zack showed up, and not because they were tired, either. She sighed. “Just tell him we can go whenever he’s ready.”
“Ah,” Zack said with a speculative lift of one eyebrow. “That’s how it is, is it?”
Heat crept up her neck and into her cheeks. “I don’t know what you mean.”
Zack’s grin didn’t falter. “Sure, sure. I’ll let him know.” With that, he unfolded his tall frame and headed toward the exit.
Addie only hoped Cade was still somewhere to be found.
Chapter 20
It only took Cade a few minutes to locate the portable toilets and do his business, but his mind had been running a thousand miles a minute and in nearly as many directions the whole time.
Zack was one complication he hadn’t expected. Seeing him again brought up memories of home and his brother that Cade would’ve rather left forgotten. The last thing he wanted was to hear from Cordell. What if Zack tells Cord where to find me? Cade shook his head. If Cord wanted to find me, he’d have done it long before now.
He had considered telling his friend to keep his mouth shut, but now he wondered, why bother?
Then there was Addie. He didn’t know what to do with all his feelings for her or all the fear they dredged up. Yet, his normal need to run when things got too personal hadn’t been an issue with her. In fact, he found himself wanting more—more of her smile, more laughter, more kisses—but he couldn’t do that to her. She had so much going for her and he was just a homeless drifter with trust issues.
Maybe I should tell her to hook up with Zack.
He frowned. That idea did not sit well with him. Not only was it disrespectful and dismissive of her feelings—not to mention hurtful and crude—but he hated the thought of any other man touching her.
He shook his head at his stupid thoughts. It wasn’t like him to be this indecisive. He should just thank her for her kindness, get in his truck, and go. He had everything he needed to move on. His truck was better than it had been when he arrived in town, and he still had plenty saved from the months he’d worked for her. But every time he thought about leaving, everything in him seized up and he felt sick to his stomach.
He knew Addie wanted him to stay and a big part of him wanted that, too. But taking that last step—agreeing that what was between them was real, saying it all out loud—didn’t seem possible. He still had nothing to offer her, but damn it, if he did, he’d give her everything. She deserved that and more.
Staring at the ground, his brain still whirling, he headed back toward the tents, something inside tugging at him to hurry back to Addie.
“Well, look-ee who we have here,” an unfriendly voice said from in front of him.
Cade’s eyes snapped up and met Ted Ballinger’s dark, cocky gaze. Movement off to the side caught his eye. Ted was not alone. His friends quickly spread out, encircling Cade. He eyed them all and gauged his chances—of either escaping their trap or winning the approaching fistfight alone—as slim to none. His jaw clenched and he turned back to Ted.
“What the hell do you want?” he growled between his teeth.
“Oh, I thought I’d pay you back for those lies you were spouting about me at the coffee shop the other day,” Ted said as he slowly strolled forward.
“So you needed to bring all your friends to talk about what I said?”
“I didn’t say anything about talking,” Ted said as he continued forward, as did his friends.
Cade’s shoulders tensed and he readied himself for attack. “Fine. Let’s get this over with.”
Ted stopped and grinned.
A shiver of apprehension danced along Cade’s spine. His hands curled into fists at his side and the irritation inside him grew. “What?”
Ted chuckled. “It’s just funny that you think I’m going to fight you.”
Cade frowned. “Aren’t you?”
“I wasn’t the only one you offended,” Ted said, but before Cade could reply, something
