One thing was for sure, he’d never know if he didn’t ask. But with Cord there, it would have to wait until he could talk to her in private. Maybe he could convince her with kisses. He smiled to himself at that thought as they stepped through the front door. Even if she didn’t want to go with him, they’d have a lot of fun while he tried to change her mind.
But it would break his heart if she said no.
Chapter 27
Pulling her hand-knitted shawl more closely around her, Addie watched as Cade and his brother floundered through the four-plus feet of snow to Addie’s truck. Snow still floated down from the low gray clouds, but only in light, sporadic flakes, leaving small, white dots on their felt cowboy hats. The first storm had passed, but the forecast threatened more. For now, however, Cade’s plan was to drive her truck to the machine shed to hook up the snowplow and then use it to clear the dooryard and driveway.
She could’ve done all that herself, but Cade had insisted and Cord agreed. Though Cord’s reasons had nothing to do with the job and everything to do with annoying his brother.
“You’re paying him to do a job,” Cord had said with a playful wink. “Make him earn it.”
The teasing grin he’d thrown Cade’s way had made her chuckle.
“Right,” Cade had growled in return, “and you’re helping me. Come on.” He’d hooked his hand around Cord’s bicep and hauled him out of his chair at the dining table where they’d just finished breakfast.
“I’m not the hired hand here,” Cord had complained, but Addie could tell the joke was still playing out. “I’m not the one getting paid.”
Cade wrapped his arm around his brother’s broad shoulders as they crossed through the front room, headed for the front door. “You’ll have my unending gratitude,” he said, his voice heavy with sarcasm.
“That’s not much of a consolation prize,” Cord grumbled as Cade tossed his jacket to him.
“What? My eternal gratitude isn’t enough for you anymore?” Cade asked as he pulled on the insulated farm coat he’d bought a few weeks ago. “You’ve gotten selfish in your old age.”
“No, not selfish,” Cord replied as he opened the front door and stepped outside. “I just don’t want to show you up in front of Addie.” The half-grin he couldn’t quite hide had made her chuckle softly once more.
Cade had glanced at her over his shoulder. “We’ll be back in a while.”
She nodded and he turned back to his brother. “I’ll show you who’s going to out-work who.”
“Are you sure about that?” Cord inquired with a doubtfully raised eyebrow. “It’s been a while since you’ve worked a ranch…”
“Right,” Cade’s voice dripped with sarcasm, “I remember a time, Cordell, that—”
The closing door cut off the rest of Cade’s reply, but as she came to stand by the window, she saw them still bickering as they forged a path to her truck.
Sibling squabbling and teasing aside, the obvious affection between them had warmed her heart. The way they often spoke with a look and no words made her a little jealous of their connection. What would it have been like to have a brother or sister? What would it have been like to have a twin? She could only imagine the emptiness and loss they’d felt through the long years of their separation. Thankfully, the rift that had torn them apart hadn’t been too much to overcome.
Addie had been leery when Cord first appeared on her doorstep, a charming smile on his face and hope in his beautiful eyes.
“I’m not sure Cade will be happy to see you,” she had said after they settled onto her couch with their drinks. They’d been chatting politely for a few minutes and their conversation had waned.
Cord had nodded and his shoulders seemed to sag a little more. “I’m sure he won’t be,” he’d replied. “He thinks I betrayed him.”
His honesty surprised her, but she quickly recovered. “Did you?” She’d tried to keep the accusation out of her tone, but she hadn’t succeeded very well.
Cord’s bowed head had snapped up and his eyes turned sharp. “No, I didn’t.”
For Cade’s sake, she’d been skeptical, though she’d read the truth in Cord’s eyes.
“Then why did you tell him you did?” she’d asked, determined to protect Cade if she had to.
“He told you?”
“Yes, he did.”
He canted his head and stared at her as if stunned and confused. “Huh…”
“You think he shouldn’t have?”
“No, it’s not that. I’m glad he did. I would’ve needed someone to talk to, if it’d been me. I’m just surprised. We’re both…private and don’t share our feelings easily.”
“I see.” The honor of Cade’s trust swirled in her chest, making her feel lighter somehow. She had known the importance of it then, but Cord’s comment made it all that much sweeter.
They sat quietly as a minute ticked by, Cord staring at the mug in his hands as it rested on his knee while Addie studied him.
“You didn’t answer my question,” she said.
He frowned and glanced at her. “Why did I tell him I slept with his fiancée?”
She sat a little straighter. “Yes.”
Cord’s gaze dropped and his posture sagged again. He shook his head. “That was a mistake, but not a total lie.” He went on to explain how Jenny had flirted with him whenever Cade wasn’t around, how she’d tried to kiss him more than once, and then finally showed
