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Bullies always back down when in the face of someone stronger. Someone bigger. Someone better.
Cade was all of those things and more.
“I want to know why you’re harassing Laura.” Cade didn’t slow his pace until he took the three steps, crossed the porch, and stopped at her side.
He had a good four inches on Isaac. His broad chest and muscled arms made him far more intimidating, especially once her slimy ex fixed his fake as shit smile on his face.
The smile he used to charm anyone and everyone.
The smile she’d fallen hard for, before she’d learned it was a mask to trick and manipulate.
“I’m just talking to the mother of my child and wondering why she’d ever think I’d break into a local business to harm her. I don’t see how that’s any of your concern.” His anger at theinterruption caused a little of his annoyance to slip through the cracks of his façade.
Cade stood tall beside her, making her straighten her spine and lift her chin. She met Isaac dead in the eyes. “He’s my friend and has way more reason to be here than you. We have nothing to discuss, so I suggest you leave my property. Now.”
Isaac laughed, the sound like broken glass. “Big brave girl now, huh? You won’t be so brave when yourfriendisn’t around.”
The truth behind the taunt stung, but she wouldn’t let him see how much his words affected her.
“Is that a threat?” Cade crossed his arms over his chest, making him appear even bigger.
Isaac glared then stalked back to his car.
Watching him drive away, Laura melted against Cade. The feel of his strong body kept her steady and slowed her frantic heart rate. This was a man who wanted to keep her safe, protect her.
Never hurt her.
Coming to her senses, she straightened and put some space between them. No, this was Cade. Her brother’s best friend, who was stepping in to help her. Same thing he’d do for anyone.
She smoothed a hand over her messy hair and cringed. “Thanks for that, but what are you doing here?”
Pink tinged his cheeks. Rubbing the back of his neck, his gaze dropped to the floor. “I slept in my truck.”
“What?”
“Didn’t feel right leaving you. I planned to stay for a few minutes and kind of fell asleep.”
The bashful expression pinching his face warmed her core. He’d spent the entire night crammed in his truck to make sure she was safe.
Besides Matthew—who’d always had his own issues—no one had looked out for her. Never put her needs above their own. Shestudied the slight crook in his nose and the intensity of his green eyes. The boy she’d once held a childhood crush on was now the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Her breath stalled in her chest.
Oh boy. Cade brought with him a different kind of trouble.
A kind of trouble that could hurt her worse than anything ever had before.
5
The crick in Cade’s neck screamed as he pulled into his driveway and parked. He didn’t have much time, but no way he could show up for work in yesterday’s rumpled clothes and unbrushed teeth.
Not to mention that anger still shook his veins from his encounter with Isaac. It’d taken all his self-control not to slam his fist in the asshole’s face. But that wouldn’t have made the situation better for Laura. If anything, it would have made it worse.
So instead he’d watched the other man slink away then waited for Laura to get ready for the day before bringing them both back to his place.
“I’ve never seen your house before.” Laura peered out the passenger side window. “It’s lovely.”
Pride puffed his chest as he climbed down from his truck and waited for her to step outside. “Thanks,” he said, leading the way to the wide porch that wrapped around his cabin. The morning sun leaked through the trees covering his property. He took a second to pause on the carefully laid brick pathway and breathein the mountain air, grateful for the sanctuary he’d built with his own two hands. “This place saved me.”
Laura stopped beside him and stared up with raised brows. Nothing but pure curiosity on her face. “How so?”
