Good.
“There’s a lot to figure out legally. Sheriff is going to make some calls, try to get ahead of this Mafia threat.” She jerked her head toward the curtained area to their right, where Blaine still groaned. “Thanks to your right hook, Blaine isn’t currently able to get us the information he needs.”
“I’d say I’m sorry, but I’m not.”
“How did you know I was in trouble?” Rosalyn moved to sit beside him, and he scooted over to give her room. “You showed up out of nowhere.”
Cade relayed what he’d realized at his parents’ house, with the emails, the new log-in. “I knew there had to be another motivation driving him. It finally clicked. I prayed and felt the urge to go back to the last place you were. I didn’t know you’d be there, but God did.”
Rosalyn picked at the corner of the thin sheet beneath them. “I prayed a lot tonight too.”
“I’m glad to hear it.” He pulled in a breath, needing to know for sure. “Listen, I’m sorry about the other night. I assumed the worst, was a complete jerk.”
“I said awful things too.” She met his gaze, eyes watery with unshed tears. “I should’ve listened to you about Blaine—you tried to warn me.”
Cade shook his head. “You were conned—by someone you should have been able to trust. It’s not your fault.”
“Some of it is though. My quest for perfection has made me—ironically—take shortcuts. Seek approval and fame in lieu of wisdom.” She winced. “I’ve been prideful. I think that’s why I couldn’t admit you might be right about Blaine. I was afraid of what that meant about me…” She swallowed. “That I wasn’t perfect.”
“Being perfect—like being beautiful—is subjective anyway.” Cade met her gaze, held it. Took a chance. “I personally kind of think you’re both.”
Her cheeks flushed. “There’sthat Landry charm.” She bumped his shoulder this time. “What a night, huh?”
“Yeah, of the two of us, I didn’t thinkI’dbe the one needing the hospital this evening.”
She shook her head. “We’re quite the team.”
“Hey, I’ll gladly take a broken nose if it means we’re on thesameteam this time.”
Rosalyn picked up the abandoned ice pack from the bed, held it gingerly against his face. The cold seeped into his aches, the warmth in her eyes filling the rest of the cracks. “This seems familiar.” She smiled. “Though I have to say an ice pack seems more effective than a cold beer mug.”
“Agreed.” He met her gaze, eyes dropping to her lips and then back to her eyes. “So you forgive me?”
“Yes. I would have, even if you hadn’t taken down a would-be kidnapper.” She adjusted the cold pack against his cheek. “Though that certainly helps when it comes to grand gestures.” She hesitated. “You know I still have to go back though, right?”
There it was. The pin in the balloon. He swallowed. “I wondered.”
“All this legal mess, upcoming scheduled shows…there’s a lot I need to wrap up before I can start over.” Rosalyn’s gaze softened. “Before I can think about coming home.”
He reached up, covered her hand that was holding the pack with his own. “Areyou going to come back to Magnolia Bay?”
Her eyes turned flirty. “Would it matter?”
He searched her gaze, feeling like he could take down a dozen monsters for her. Feeling like he could live in their banter and memories andteamworkfor the rest of his life. “It might.”
“Then I might.”
Her lips curved into a smile before she pressed them back against his.
twenty-nine
He might be the first mayoral candidate in history to quit a race at his own campaign party.
Cade stood in front of the Magnolia Blossom’s yellow door two weeks later and took a deep breath. As soon as he opened it, he had to be professional. Had to pretend like he hadn’t gotten only three hours of sleep last night, tossing and turning over Rosalyn not being back. They’d texted over the past few weeks, but the last few days, communication had dwindled. Had she changed her mind about them? Gotten swept back up in the spotlight of her career? Or busy trying to get home? He hadn’t wanted to push, but surrendering had been hard—harder even than the task still before him.
But he was a Landry. He would resign with dignity.
Then go home and kill a bag of spicy Cheetos.
