A shiver passed through me at that knowledge.
Noel slowed to a stop at the guard station, and a familiar guy stepped out. He caught sight of me in the back seat and waved. “Welcome back, Ms. Hartley.” He shifted his gaze to my friends. “I’ll just need to see some ID before I can let you in.”
Eddie raised his eyebrows.
“Caden put you both on the list,” I mumbled.
They handed the security guard their drivers’ licenses. A few seconds later, he nodded. “Head on in.”
“Thanks,” I said with a smile.
Noel eased his car through the gates as they opened. “Fancy pants.”
“It’s a resort,” I grumbled.
I gave him directions to Caden’s place, and as we pulled up to it, he and Eddie both let out low whistles.
“No wonder you came around to the douchebag,” Noel mumbled.
I smacked him upside the head. “Don’t be an ass.”
“She’s totally gonna put salt in your coffee,” Eddie warned. “You should know by now that our G can’t be bought.”
“Thank you,” I huffed.
Noel scowled. “I’m just saying a place like this doesn’t hurt.”
I grabbed my backpack. “Thanks for the ride.”
I slid out of the car before either of them could say anything else or before I bit someone’s head off. Everyone just had to have an opinion about Caden and me.
The squad car pulled in just as I made my way up the front steps. Unlocking the door, I stepped inside and disarmed the alarm. “I’m back.”
The wordhomewas on the tip of my tongue, but I bit it back. Caden’s place had been feeling a little less homey lately.
“In the kitchen,” he called, but I heard that same emptiness in his voice—a void that had my insides twisting.
I locked the door and reset the alarm, then walked in the direction of Caden’s voice. I found him sitting at the kitchen island, staring at his computer.
“Hey,” I greeted.
“Hey,” he echoed, not looking up.
I bit the inside of my cheek. “How was your day?”
“Good.”
Annoyance stirred somewhere deep. “Got anything more than a one-word answer?”
Caden turned on his stool, his gaze finally coming to me. “What do you mean?”
I dropped my bag onto the kitchen floor. “You’ve been doing this keeping-me-at-arm’s-length act for the past three days, and it’s starting to both freak me out and piss me off.”
Guilt flashed in those gorgeous hazel eyes. “I wasn’t trying—”
I stepped between his legs and pressed a finger to his lips. “I don’t need excuses. Just tell me what’s going on.”
Caden dropped his head to my shoulder, nuzzling my neck and breathing me in.
