Barrett knew that investigating the death of a loved one had to be traumatic.He was used to investigations and the weight they carried, but Cadie wasn't.She was handling it with grace, but he could see the toll it was taking.He slowed the pace for her, giving her room to breathe.
The meals arrived, beautifully prepared and aromatic."This is delicious," Cadie said, cutting a piece of fish."I forgot how good the food is here."
Barrett didn't rush the process but enjoyed dinner with her at leisure.After eating, they moved to the lounge, where a small stage was set up in the corner.The space was intimate, with leather sofas and low tables arranged in a semicircle facing the stage.The lighting was dim and warm, and the atmosphere felt separate from the busier dining area.
Barrett guided Cadie to a sofa near the side wall.He settled beside her as a woman took the stage with an acoustic guitar.She was pretty, with long, dark hair.On stage, she had a commanding presence despite her slight frame.
"Good evening," she said, leaning closer to the microphone."I'm Evelyn Ivory.Thanks for being here tonight."
She began to play, and Barrett understood immediately why the venue had booked her.Her voice was rich and textured, somewhere between folk and blues, with a rawness that felt honest.She played guitar with confidence, and her songs had the kind of emotional weight that made the room quiet.
Barrett glanced at Cadie.She was leaning forward with her eyes fixed on the performer.Her lips were parted, and he could see the musician in her responding to the music.She was listening with her whole body, absorbing the melody and the lyrics and the way the guitar filled the room.
He put his arm around her, resting his hand on her shoulder.Cadie didn't stiffen or pull away.Instead, she leaned against him.
After a moment, she placed her hand on his thigh.The touch was light but deliberate.Barrett felt the contact like a current, awareness spreading through him.He tightened his arm around her slightly, drawing her closer.
They stayed like that through the set, in a world of their own.Barrett listened to the songs, but his attention kept returning to Cadie beside him.He was engulfed by the scent of her perfume, the warmth of her body against his side, the weight of her hand on his leg.
He had spent years keeping people at a distance, convincing himself that he was better off alone.It had worked, after a fashion.He had built a successful business, maintained friendships with his SEAL teammates, and created a life that functioned reasonably well.
But sitting next to Cadie, he experienced a strong attraction.It wasn't just physical attraction—though that was certainly present—but a deeper sense of connection.She had seen him before he became a SEAL, before the losses and personal challenges.She seemed to like who he had become.
When Evelyn Ivory played her final song, it was a slower piece that lingered in the air after the last note faded.The audience applauded, and Cadie joined them with genuine enthusiasm.
"She was wonderful," she said, her eyes bright.
Barrett thought so, but couldn't take his eyes off Cadie.
*****
The drive back to the hotel was short.Barrett parked and came around to open Cadie's door.She took his hand as she stepped out and didn't let go.
The hotel was quiet.Most guests were probably out or settled in for the night.After taking the elevator up, Barrett turned toward his room instead of hers.Cadie walked beside him without question.Their hands were still clasped, and he felt the heat between them.
At his door, Barrett unlocked it and held it open.Cadie looked up at him, then stepped inside.
Barrett followed and closed the door behind them.
The room was dim, lit only by the glow of the streetlamp filtering through the curtains.Cadie set her bag on the desk chair, and Barrett moved to stand beside her.The space between them was charged with emotion that had become impossible to hold back.
He cupped her face with both hands, his thumbs tracing the line of her cheekbones.Her skin was warm and soft beneath his fingers.She looked up at him with an expression that broke through every wall he had built.
He kissed her, and she responded immediately."I've been wanting to kiss you all evening," he said.
"I don't want to stop."Cadie fingered the hem of his shirt, making him draw a sharp breath.
Her touch was tentative at first, then bolder.Barrett pulled back just enough to look at her.What he saw in her eyes was desire—and trust.
Barrett guided her to bed, unhurried.He'd waited so long to be with her and intended to savor every moment.Clothes fell away gradually, each discovery accompanied by soft words and softer touches.
He was attentive to every response.She was generous in return, meeting him with a tenderness that touched him deeply.The special interlude ended all the years they had spent apart.He could hardly believe the impossible luck of finding each other again.
Slowly, the intimate passion spiraled Barrett into release with Cadie.Feeling her joy meant more than his own.After the peak came the calm following ecstasy, and Cadie relaxed against him.Unwilling to part from her, he pulled her closer in the quiet darkness.
Cadie rested her head on his chest, her dark hair spread across his skin.His arm was wrapped around her, holding her.Her breathing slowed to a deep and steady rhythm.
Barrett stared at the ceiling, listening to her breathing.In the early years, he'd convinced himself that he'd moved on.He had told himself that the kiss in a parking lot after a school dance was just a memory from his youth, nothing more than nostalgia.But holding Cadie now, he knew the truth.He hadn't stopped caring about her.He hadn't stopped wanting to be with her.
