Page 58 of Walking the Bird

“I-I don't have a job.” She mumbled as she watched the two men walk down the path to a waiting SUV.

Spearing her fingers into the hair at the crown of her head, Melinda felt her knees growing weak as reality began to sink in. Spinning on her heels, “What in the hell am I going to, Cade? I have nowhere to live.”

Pulling Melinda to his chest. Cade gave a nod to his brother’s friend Jace before he pulled away. Slate had pulled Cade to the side letting him know when the smoke cleared, the people who’d hired his company would be all over this resort destroying every trace of their involvement and making it look like an accident. Zach called in a favor with Jace and, Ian, who happened to be vacationing in the area.

“Well, you’re going to take me back to your room, where you and I will enjoy the hottest shower on the planet. After I make you scream my name a few dozen times, we are going to catch a few hours of sleep before we pack your belongings, and you join me on a plane to Colorado.”

Her vision clouded with tears, “Be serious, Cade. I can’t possibly spend money on a ticket to Colorado when I have to find a place to live.”

Pulling back, “Who said anything about you spending a dime?”

Wiping the tears from under her eyes, “Cade, I have taken care of myse—”

“And it’s high-time you let someone take care of you.” He interrupted, having mentally practiced this conversation at least a dozen times. “Now, give me one good reason why you can't move in with me?”

Tipping her head back, “You live on a ranch, presumably in the middle of nowhere, I don't have a car to look for a job.”

“My ranch isn't in the middle of nowhere, and I have several vehicles doing nothing but collecting dust. You can drive anywhere you want. Next?”

“We barely know each other. What if—”

“Nope, not gonna fly. Ryan knew Elli ten minutes before he fell in love with her.”

Leaning her forehead onto Cade's chest, Melinda recalled the night a week or so before the Sawyer party arrived. How she wished she had someone to hold and love her like the couples she watched get married. Cade wasn't like any other man in her past, he accepted all of her, even the ugly parts she’d tried to hide. She felt safe with him, something she hadn't in as long as she couldn't remember. Most of all, she loved him with every beat of her heart and knew, without a doubt, he loved her just as much.

Tipping her head to look at him, “Was that shower or sex first? I forget.”

“Is that a yes?”

Nodding her head, “Yes, Cade. I’ll come home with you.”

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