hand, a silent message to stay calm, and

shifting to Cade's confident stance and the tight, high-quality t-shirt stretching across his broad chest. "Well, we

n front of Cade. "Jeb, I don't

our man here." He turned to Cade. "Hey, buddy. You wanna be with my l

ined flat, unimpressed

old that last guy, Julian, about all the other men she was sleeping around with, and he paid me well to keep quiet. I can do

her body trembling at the malicious lies he

wrapped a strong arm around Kaleigh's waist, pulling her flush against his solid side in a

ea

ith such chilling authori

vado returning. "You think you can talk to me l

choed in the quiet street. In the next second, Jeb was on his knees in the dirt, screaming

death. "Leave. If I ever hear you spread another lie about her, or if I se

wrist, scrambled to his feet and fled i

ew kind of fear. This man, Cade, was capable of a s

rked down the street. The car looked like

small of her back, the heat of his touch searing through the jacket. She shivered, comple

He started the engine, and it rumbl

ade asked, his voice calm

's my step-mother's son," she said

s. He just said, "He won't a

ot of a 24-hour diner. "We n

ed the question that had been burning in her mind. "Who ar

se. He took out his wallet, pulled out

younger, harder-looking Cade in uniform.

en about responsibility. That night... I wasn't careful.

She thought he meant feelings, emotions.

ixture of embarrassment and

ked. But my responsibility doesn't end there. Your life is

a beat. "You had

ible for," he stated, as if it were

rogant, domineering, and operated by a code she c

ible for me," she said, standin

enses, sharp and precise. He stood up as well, his tall frame trapping her against the booth. He reached out, his long fingers wrap