“Thanks.”
As I watched her walk away, it felt like someone had taken a meat cleaver to my rib cage. The moment she disappeared, I turned to Grae’s brothers.
“We need these assholes found. And now.”
17
GRAE
Eddie pulledhis truck to a stop in front of my house and glanced over at me. “Want me to come in? We can order pizza and watch rom-coms…”
I chuckled. “Thanks, but I think I’m going to shower and hit the hay. It’s been a long day.”
Eddie nodded slowly. “Need a ride tomorrow?”
“I’ll just walk.”
He opened his mouth as if he might argue but snapped it closed when he saw my face. “You’ve always been there for me when I needed you. I just want to give you the same.”
I wrapped my arms around Eddie in a tight hug. “I know. Thank you.”
The guys had been great today, but the tiptoeing was driving me a little nuts. Jordan had been practically on top of me all morning on our kayak trip, asking if I was okay every five minutes. Noel brought me lunch and then stared at me until I ate every bite. Eddie just watched me as if he expected me to break.
I released him, grabbed my bag, and hopped out of the truck. With a wave, I headed to the steps of my cottage, coming up short when I saw a large figure sitting on them.
Caden looked wrecked. Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and his hair was disheveled.
“Hey,” I said softly.
“Hey.”
“What are you doing here?”
He shrugged. “Didn’t like the idea of you being alone tonight.”
Crud.I didn’t need that. The current acrobatics of my heart in my rib cage was proof enough. “You don’t have to stay.”
“I want to.”
Another chest flip.
“Okay.” I was a dumb girl. I should’ve insisted he leave. That I was fine on my own. The last time he was here had felt like a slow-motion car wreck. Instead, I reached out a hand and pulled Caden to his feet. “How do you feel about breakfast for dinner?”
He grinned, and the action sent a zap straight to my middle. “I feel great about it.”
We headed inside, and I dumped my bag in the entryway. “I need to shower real quick. Make yourself at home.”
Caden nodded a little awkwardly as if unsure what to do with himself now that he was here. Dang, it was adorable.
I hurried down the hall and away from the pull that was Caden. I grabbed sweats from my bedroom and took the fastest shower known to man, with the water set to frigid, hoping it would somehow pull me out of my stupid-girl state. When I made it back to the kitchen, I felt a little more in control.
Caden was perched on one of the stools at the counter. “Can I help?”
I shook my head. The last thing I needed was Caden trapped in my tiny kitchen with me, bumping into me, brushing up against me. “I’m good. How do you feel about veggie and cheese omelets?”
“I feel great about any food I don’t have to make.”
I chuckled and set to work chopping tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions. I sauteed them all in a pan and then set them aside next to some freshly grated cheese. I felt Caden’s eyes on me the entire time. Each brush of his gaze made my skin burn hotter.
