Page 1 of Love in Overdrive

Chapter 1

Home. Cade McBride stepped from the car and shouldered his camo duffle. He took in the middle-class, two-story house on the quiet street. It was nice, but it held none of the memories he cherished. His childhood memories lived in a rambler with a tire swing in the backyard, in a quiet neighborhood in St. Paul.

That house was miles away from here. Miles filled with open fields and tall trees that surrounded this little town.

Cade stared up at his parents’ house. He’d been here a few times over the last fourteen years, but never more than a couple of weeks at a time. He exhaled. This time would definitely be longer. If things worked out, Gray Duck Grove would be his new home.

“We should go in. Mom and Dad are waiting,” Bryan said as he climbed out of the driver’s seat.

He was right. His brother always was. Cade nodded. Adjusting his bag filled with everything he owned, he started up the sidewalk.

He stepped on the welcome mat, and the door flew open.

“You’re home!” His mom flung herself into his arms. Tears glistened in her eyes.

The nervous tremors in his body dissipated. He’d been less anxious about being deployed to the sweatbox of a country with enemy snipers locked on their every move than coming home. Or after… He pushed the thoughts of the last eighteen months from his mind and enjoyed the moment.

He wrapped his arms around her tall, lean frame and lifted her from the ground. Man, he’d missed her.

Now all he needed was a beer and a nap… a nice quiet homecoming.

“Come in. It’s cold out today.” She ushered him through the door. “Are you hungry? I have snacks in the dining room.”

“I could eat.” That was one thing that never changed. His mother always had a buffet of his favorite foods laid out for him when he was home on leave. Not that this was a leave. He was home for good.

“Surprise!”

Cade dropped his bag. His body tightened. Fuck. So much for a quiet homecoming. The dining room was filled with people. Family, friends, and even a couple of people he didn’t know.

His father pulled him into a bear hug that finished with a back slap. “Good to have you home.”

“Thanks, Dad.”

Next was his sister. She snaked are arms around him in a suffocating grip. “You can’t leave again. Ever. You hear me?”

“Where would I go?” It wasn’t like the military would take him back, not after what happened. He always thought the US Army would have his back. Nope.

After a few more hugs, his buddy, Nash, stepped up. He pulled him into a half hug and whispered, “Did you get the soap on a rope I sent you?”

Cade laughed. There was no holding it in. Leave it to Nash not to tiptoe around the subject. “Yup. And no, I wasn’t anyone’s bitch on the inside.”

His lifelong friend stepped back and nodded.

His aunt moved up with open arms and a sad smile.

Cade casually checked the time as he wrapped his arms around her. He’d give this get-together fifteen more minutes, then he would cut out and lock himself in the tiny apartment over the garage for the next twelve hours.

After two dozen more hugs and the longest fifteen minutes of his life, his father circled back to him. “So, what’s your plan now that you’re out?”

“Eric. Give the boy a break. He just got home. I think he can take a few days off and relax.” His mom ran a comforting hand over his shoulder.

“Well, I was hoping you would need some help at the shop?” That was always Cade’s plan. Put in his twenty, then after retirement, work at Busted Knuckle, his father’s automotive restoration and repair shop, and eventually take it over one day. It was just happening a little earlier than he planned—like six years sooner.

Eric stroked his chin, thinking over the idea. “I guess I could use the help. Your toolbox is still in the back stall at work.”

Another chunk of nerves slipped from his back. “Thanks, Dad.”

“At least until you start college.”

“College?” Was he eighteen again? Hadn’t his father given up on that idea when Cade had chosen the military?

“Eric. We can talk about this later,” his mother scolded.

Not if Cade had anything to say about it. At thirty-two-years-old, he could make up his own mind. At the moment, his mind whispered it was time to sneak out of this gathering and get some sleep.

“Honey. You remember your cousins?”

He looked longingly at the exit, but let his mom tug him across the room.

His nap would have to wait, but at least he was home.