“You saved him,” I finally croaked—stating the obvious.
I looked up as Cade’s smile pulled wider. “The life jacket helped. Made it easier to spot him in the water.”
I could only nod, too overwhelmed to speak again.
“All right. Party’s over, folks!” Dr. Lovejoy announced, clapping to get everyone’s attention. She removed her slightly bent glasses to wipe tears from her eyes. “We’re all happy Cade and Lord Whiskerson are safe and sound, but it’s late. Clear out and rest up. You’ll need all your energy to win the Love Olympics tomorrow.”
A few groans answered her, but people said their good nights. Cade’s grandfather came over to pull him into a hug—and give Whiskey a relieved pat on the head—before shuffling off.
Cade moved closer to me while scanning the deck. “Where’d Fletch go?”
I scoured the deck for Fletcher’s stupid face, too. Worry had distracted me, but now I wanted that jerk’s head on a stick.
Harrison’s scowl matched my own. “Security took him away.”
“Where?” Cade asked.
“They’re confining him in his room for the night.” Harrison met Cade’s gaze, and some sort of unspoken communication passed between the brothers before Harrison nodded. “I’m coming with you.”
Cade nodded and turned to me with a tight smile.
“We’re going to go have a quick chat with Fletcher.” His gaze flicked to Mac. “Stay with her.”
My heart kicked in my chest. “Cade, wait?—”
He pressed a brief, chilled kiss to my forehead, which shut me right up. “I won’t be long.”
And then he was gone—striding across the deck with Harrison and leaving me gaping after them.
And I hadn’t even thanked him yet.
Mac sighed behind me. “He’s the most infuriating boss I’ve ever had. Who jumps into an ocean in the middle of the damn night?”
I sniffled and clutched Whiskey closer, earning a grumpy meow from the swaddled cat. “Cade does.”
Mac just grunted and got comfortable on one of the deck chairs.
Whiskey knew exactly how to take advantage of his near-death experience. He had me pamper him on one of the couches, cradling my little furball and feeding him his weight in salmon treats while we waited for Cade. Whiskey was on a mission to groom every inch of himself, while Mac had gotten another worn paperback from somewhere and was ignoring me for the spy thriller.
I’d stifled a few yawns by the time Cade returned. He’d dried off, changed into new pajama pants, and strolled across the deck like he’d just taken a dip instead of diving into rough waters to save my cat.
“Sorry that took so long.” He stopped just in front of me, rubbing a hand down his face. “Someone interrupted my mother’s sleeping pills working their magic to update her on what happened.”
I winced. She must’ve given him an earful. I went to apologize, when my eyes caught on the narrow red scratches marring Cade’s chest and arms, and my stomach dropped. “Oh my gosh. Whiskey tore you to ribbons!”
He smiled wryly. “He didn’t seem to get the memo I was helping him.”
That was an understatement.
“I’m so sorry, Cade. I…” I stared at the cuts with my heart in my throat, before leaping at him with the huge hug I’d been holding back. “Thank you for saving him. It means everything to me.”
Cade went instantly rigid at my touch. But I was too emotional to care, and I squeezed him as hard as I could.
It took a moment—a long, slightly awkward one—before Cade wrapped his arms around my waist. “Anything for you, Darling.”
That did nothing to help my fragile emotional state, and I kept clinging to him to hide the welling tears.
Mac cleared his throat behind me. “I’m going back to bed. You mind hitting pause on the heroics until tomorrow, boss? It would make my job a hell of a lot easier.”
