Page 83 of Love in Overdrive

Cade pulled out his cellphone and pressed nine-one-one.

Five minutes later, police and medical people swarmed the house. Jackson came to when the officer arrived, just in time for them to cuff him and lead him out to the patrol car.

Cade didn’t leave Laney’s side, not even when the EMT wanted to check her over. If she wanted him to go, he would have, but her fingers stayed locked with his.

Detective Simon walked into the living room with Lieutenant Jordan right behind him. Their keen cop gazes scanned the surroundings as they made their way over to Cade and Laney.

“Looks like you had an eventful night.” Simon continued surveying the room as he spoke.

Cade got right in his face. “He broke in and was going to rape and kill her! She fought for her life. What do you think? Eventful enough for you?”

This guy was a prick, and Cade didn’t care if he was a cop.

“Simmer down, Mr. McBride. Detective Simon didn’t mean anything by it,” Jordan said.

“Sorry, that didn’t come out well. Are you feeling up to telling us what happened, Ms. Hunt, or would you rather wait until morning and come down to the station?”

“Now is fine.” They sat in her small dining room. Cade scooted closer to Laney. She relayed the horror of the night once already with the initial officer on the scene. Now, she ran through it again.

“He mentioned following you, and that he knew you and Mr. McBride had a fight? What was it about? And why did you show up at Ms. Hunt’s home tonight?” Detective Simon directed his last question to Cade. The bastard dug for every stinkin’ detail.

“We had a disagreement. I went to the shop to work on a vehicle to clear my mind. I saw I missed a call from Laney and decided to come over to see what she wanted.”

“She didn’t leave a message?”

“I wanted to talk to her face to face,” Cade said through gritted teeth.

“Detective Simon, I don’t see what this has to do with what happened here tonight,” Laney said. “We had a fight. I was an idiot and called Cade to apologize.”

“You did?” Cade searched her expression, finding only regret. He cupped her cheek. “I should apologize to you.”

She covered his hand with hers. “I’m just so glad you’re here.”

Lieutenant Jordan cleared her throat.

“Forgive me. I like to know all the facts, but your argument with Mr. McBride is not relevant. Please continue.” Simon scribbled a note on his pad.

As they finished the account of the night, the detective put his notes away, stood, and addressed Cade. “If you and Ms. Hunt would come by the station tomorrow to sign some paperwork, we can wrap up this business tonight and be out of here a little sooner.”

“We’ll be there.” Cade walked them to the door.

By midnight, everyone was gone. Cade and Laney stood in the living room entrance in silence. Cade slipped an arm around her shoulder as he took in the chaos. The broken coffee table and lamp. The couch that he wanted to burn now that he knew what Ray Jackson attempted to do there. Anger boiled in his gut. He should have been here for her sooner. But instead, he got butthurt over her comments at the church. Never again.

“You really called to apologize?”

“Yes.” Laney’s face turned beet red.

Cade lifted her chin. Locked in her soft gaze, he stroked her lower lip. “I was the idiot. I should have told you that you can be anything you want, do anything you want, just let me be in your life. That’s all I care about… being with you.”

“Cade—”

“No,” he interrupted. “I shouldn’t have left like that. I was mad and hurt, but I never should have left.” He pulled her into his arms and kissed her cheeks to stop the tears that fell. “Laney, I love you. And I can’t imagine not having you in my life.”

She cried harder.

Please let them be tears of joy. “Hey, why don’t we stay in a hotel tonight?”

“No.” A blonde strand fell in her face.