“Yeah,” I agree with a nod.
“And…” Mom says slowly, then she, Dad and Darren all share a glance.
I look between them and already know none of them wants to ask the question I’m sure they’ve all had since last weekend.
“Alder?” I ask.
Mom nods with wide eyes.
I let out a breath and shake my head. “I don’t need help with him. He’s the reason I’m here.” Then I shift my gaze to Darren. “He likes you.”
Darren cocks an eyebrow, and the corner of my lips tilts up in a small smile.
“And I think you’ll like him too,” I add.
Darren holds my gaze for a moment, and I can see the questions swirling behind his eyes. He’s wondering how this happened, how deep it runs, and what it means that the man I’m with wears a Basin Kings patch.
But he doesn’t ask any of them. He just lets a small smile form on his lips and nods.
“Then we need a proper introduction.”
FORTY-SEVEN
The sun iswarm on my face as I lean back on my elbows on the step and stretch my legs out in front of me. After just over two weeks of being away, I’ve never been happier to roll back onto New Brunswick soil this morning. But the few extra days in Newfoundland were needed, because our plan is in motion, and we’re locked the fuck down.
Which means I can finally turn my attention to more important matters.
I close my eyes and tip my head back, listening to the breeze and the birds in the trees, until I hear tires on pavement.
As Cade pulls into his driveway, I lower my head and open my eyes, watching as the door opens and he steps out. He pauses as his eyes land on me, looking at me like he’s trying to figure out if I’m really here, before he closes his car door and starts up the walkway.
“You weren’t at work,” I say as I watch him.
He just shakes his head, and I cock an eyebrow at him.
The corner of his lips tilts up as he gets closer. “What, you didn’t know where I was?”
I tilt my head. “Baby, I’ve been busy.”
Cade stops in front of me, and I look up at him, taking in the absolute perfection of this man.
He looks fucking incredible.
He’s in jeans, with a black T-shirt that’s perfectly fitted across his chest and shoulders, and his hair is its usual mess that’s just begging me to tangle my fingers in it. And the stubble lining his jawneedsto be dragged over every inch of my skin.
But my gaze locks on his eyes. Those deep blue eyes I pictured every day when I was away are staring back at me… and that spark I’ve been trying so hard to ignite is now lit. It may still be dim, but it’s there. And that’s all that matters.
“So?” I ask.
He huffs. “I’ve been talking about my feelings and learning healthy coping strategies,” he says dryly.
I smile. “Sounds awful.”
“It is,” he says with a small nod. But then he releases a breath, and I see his shoulders relax… just a little. “But it helps.”
I push to my feet to stand before him and stare into those beautiful eyes.
He just looks back at me, and I think this might be the clearest I’ve ever seen them.
