Page 38 of Beautifully Broken Control

Cain rubbed at the back of his neck. “Better at braids than meddling where I shouldn’t, apparently.”

My lips twitched. “It’s good to recognize where your calling lies.”

Cain’s shoulders eased a fraction, and he pushed to his feet. “I’ll try to remember that.”

Lizzie’s head swung back and forth as if she were watching a tennis match. “What’s meddlin’?”

Cain chuckled. “It’s when you stick your nose in something that’s none of your business.”

Lizzie nodded as if she had a deep understanding of the issue. “My mom says I do that a whole lot. But I just want to know what’s going on.”

“I have the same problem, Lizzie.” Cain turned to me. “Is it okay that I’m here?”

My cheeks heated as guilt flooded me. “Of course. You’re always welcome.” Anyone who could put this kind of look on Lizzie’s face would be.

He gave me a small smile. “I’m not sure Doug agrees.” He inclined his head to where the director stood in the corner with a clipboard and a scowl.

“He’ll get used to you.”

“I’m not so sure about that.”

Anna poked her head out from the kitchen. “Hey, lovebirds, get with the program. This chili isn’t going to cook itself, and I need to see if that meatloaf was a fluke or if Handsome there is the next top chef.”

I couldn’t hold in my laugh, but Lizzie gasped. “Are you guys boyfriend and girlfriend?”

I gave a quick shake of my head. “No, honey. We’re just”—I paused for a second—“friends.” It wasn’t entirely true, but maybe we could be.

Lizzie looked to Cain. “You should ask her to be your girlfriend. Tommy asked me to be his girlfriend, and now we’re getting married.”

Cain’s brows furrowed. “Who’s Tommy?”

I tugged on his arm. “Come on, oh, overprotective one. We’ve got chili to cook.”

Cain looked behind him at a giggling Lizzie as I pulled him towards the kitchen. “But I need Tommy’s last name if I’m going to run a background check.”

* * *

The night had flown by.The shelter was a full house, with one of our residents getting a cake to celebrate his new job, and a youth group serving dinner. Everything was madness and mayhem in the best possible way. Nights like these filled my soul. Gave me hope.

There were good people in the world. Ones who would do anything to help someone struggling. And there was always time for a second chance at life. I saw it every time one of the residents graduated out of temporary housing with a job and a real home. It reminded me that anything was possible for me, too.

Cain pulled the door open for me, and the cool air hit me in a blast. I pulled my sweatshirt out of my bag. “Just when you think summer’s around the corner.”

“It’s that mountain air.” Cain shuffled his feet as he waited for me to unlock my bike. “Can we talk?”

My stomach flipped. “Sure. Want to give me a ride home?”

Cain chuckled, the sound seeming to slide over my skin, a wave of invisible vibrations. “You know I do.”

I grinned into the night. “Bandits are always afoot.”

He took my bike from my hold and steered it towards his SUV. “There could be a herd of rabid deer.”

“Heaven forbid those guys get me.”

In a matter of minutes, we were settled in Cain’s vehicle and heading towards the Kettle. Cain shifted in his seat, the leather creaking in the silence. “I’m sorry I overstepped. I did get a system in your apartment, but I dialed back the setup.”

I let out a breath. “Thank you.”

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