Page 33 of Walking the Bird

“Like storage room robberies?”

“Robberies, fights on the beach, one of the gyms was trashed. Oh, and one of the motors for the pool was taken.” Melinda ticked each event off on her fingers.

“And they’ve never caught this Diablo guy?” Cade found it highly suspicious so many thefts occurred on a property such as this. He’d seen the guards as they pulled into the gates, saw the dozens of cameras attached to palm trees and in the halls of the main resort.

“No, which is why I was worried all day. Well, that and you.”

Melinda’s confession baffled Cade. Why would a resort as large and as popular as Magnolia Cove, not have the ability to stop a habitual intruder? Surely this Derek understood the risk of having bad publicity regarding the security of a luxury resort? Cade made a mental note to speak with Ryan when he came back from the bachelor party, as something about this didn't feel right.

Reaching out, Cade took Melinda’s hands in his, pulling her closer to him. “Let me see if I can clear your mind of any other men running around in your head and help you to understand how much I care about you.”

Melinda waited for the fear to blanket her as Cade placed gentle kisses to her neck, as he lowered her onto the plush cushions of the sofa. When she felt the softness of his breath across her face and no sign of the panic she’d expected, she closed her eyes and found his lips with hers.

Testing the waters, Cade slid his hand down Melinda’s side, moving his thumb slowly across her ample breast. When Melinda moaned instead of pushing him away, he took it as a good sign and continued his exploration. As bad as he wanted to dive between her thighs and feast on her for days, he knew he had to proceed with caution. He’d purposely avoided asking Melinda if she’d been raped by her captors, partly to give her room to tell as much or as little of her experience as she wanted, but mostly so he wouldn't hire his brother and his team to seek out the bastards who’d touched what he considered his.

“Fuck you feel good, baby.”

Feeling turned on by Cade’s swearing, Melinda turned her head to allow him more access to her neck, grinding her pelvis into his thigh. She couldn't remember ever being this turned on by any guy, even the ones she’d kept tucked in the back of her mind for the self-love sessions she used to enjoy.

Cade moved to slide his hand to Melinda’s ass when he heard a mumble come from the twin’s room, halting his exploration and forcing him to pull back.

Melinda held her breath as she listened for any sign the boys were awake. The last thing she needed was to give the smallest of her guests something to tell their parents.

“False alarm,” Cade assured Melinda, holding out a hand to her. “Come on, let's take this to my room.”

Hesitating, Melinda pulled her hand away from Cade’s, shifting her gaze to the wall across the room.

“Hey,” reaching for her hand, Cade sat on the edge of the sofa, intertwining his fingers with hers. “Nothing will happen you’re not ready for.”

Melinda wanted to believe the sweet words Cade spoke. However, the reality was, at least in her mind, men as handsome and charming as the one before her never lacked female attention unless they wanted to.

“I don’t give a shit if I have to walk around with blue balls for the next hundred years. When we come together, it will be because you’re ready.”

“Hundred years?” Melinda scoffed. “You leave next week.”

“True,” Cade nodded his head slowly. “Which gives me a few days to convince you to take a vacation, come spend a week or two with me at the center.”

“You want me to come to Colorado?”

He wanted so much more than for her to come for a visit. “I was going to wait until after the wedding tomorrow, but this is as good a time as any. You mentioned earlier you got your passport, but took this job instead, so I’m assuming you have a day or two of vacation saved up. I’d like to book you a seat on the plane, preferably beside mine, and have you come to Colorado and meet Brutus.” Cade had a list of other things he wanted from her. All of which, considering the confused look on her face, would send her screaming out the front door.

Melinda mentally pictured her last pay stub and the triple digit number of hours she had available for vacation. Having not taken a single day since she’d arrived, maybe it was time.

“I’d love to meet Brutus. Although I'm worried he may bite me.”

In a move which elicited a delightful squeal, Cade bent over, taking playful nips at Melinda’s ribs as he picked her up bridal style and took her back to his room.

Several hours, and one heavy make out session later, Cade lay on his back staring at the ceiling as he combed his fingers through Melinda’s silky hair. The click of the lock on the front door had him stilling his movements and gently pulling himself from under Melinda’s sleeping body.

Entering the living room, Cade crossed his arms and leaned against the doorframe as he watched Ryan walk into the room, a passed-out Elli tossed over his left shoulder.

“I take it the bachelorette party went well?” Cade whispered, his voice laced with humor.

Tossing his keycard to the entry table, Ryan glanced at his half-naked brother, raising his index finger to his lips and nodding toward his bedroom door.

Cade silently snickered, pointing to the balcony and held up two fingers. Nodding once, Ryan turned for the bedroom door, but not before catching sight of the sleeping girl laying in Cade’s bed.

Knowing this conversation was going to take a few, Cade grabbed two beers out of the fridge before heading outside. He’d barely twisted off the top of his beer before Ryan stepped over the threshold, closing the door behind him.

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