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A soft knock on the door spared her from keeping her foot in her mouth.
Cade frowned and glanced past her. “Looks like your sister’s here.”
Dread and excitement combatted in the pit of her stomach. Complicated didn’t even scratch the surface when describing her relationship with Jude. She’d loved her sister more than life when she’d been younger, but when she’d left town, it had been the beginning of Laura’s belief that she wasn’t good enough to keep the people she loved around.
A brutal lesson drilled into her by her father any chance he got.
“Do you want me to let her in?” Cade hesitated with his hand on the doorknob.
She sighed. After Jude’s brush with death months before, she’d stayed in town and had been working on rebuilding relationships with those she’d left behind. Laura loved having Jude back in her life, but a few walls still remained where her sister was concerned. “Sure.”
Cade unlocked the door, and Jude burst inside. She’d cut her blond locks to sit at her shoulders. Worry and fear tightened the lines of her face. She stopped short of wrapping her arms around Laura, as if instinctively knowing the physical affection would be too much for her.
“I heard what happened. Are you hurt? Is the baby okay?” Clasping her hands in front of her, Jude flicked her gaze to Laura’s belly.
Laura cradled her bump. “We’re both fine. Just a little shaken. How’d you know something happened?”
Jude shrugged. “You know how small towns are. Can’t keep secrets for long. Not to mention Isaac’s already been all over this morning proclaiming his innocence and outrage at being questioned.”
Heat crept up Laura’s cheeks. Pine Valley was a great place to live until she was the center of attention—something that happened more often than she liked.
“Prick,” Cade muttered, gaining both her and Jude’s attention.
Jude quirked a light eyebrow.
“You heard me,” Cade said. “Isaac’s a prick.”
“Couldn’t agree more, but was he the one who broke in here last night?” Jude asked.
Suddenly exhausted, Laura slunk around the desk and slumped down in the leather rolling chair. “Who knows? I couldn’t see the person, but it’s strange to think he’d hide himself if he wanted to hurt me. He never has before.”
Jude winced and Cade tightened his hands to fists at his side.
“But he was pissed this morning,” she said, pressing on despite their reactions. “Claimed he had an alibi, which he gave to the deputy who questioned him.”
Frowning, Jude took a step forward. “What do you mean he was pissed this morning?”
“He showed up at my house.”
“What?” Jude shook her head, rage clear in her every movement.
Laura lifted a hand to calm her. “It was fine. Cade was there and took care of everything.”
Jude’s jaw hung open for a second before she snapped it shut and aimed narrowed eyes at Cade. “Oh really?”
Cade rubbed the back of his neck and scrunched up his nose.
A different kind of heat slammed against Laura’s cheeks. Jude wouldn’t spread gossip about her around town, but best to make it clear there was nothing beyond friendship between her and Cade. “He slept in his truck. It was no big deal.”
Cade worked his jaw back and forth then cleared his throat. “I’ll let you two talk while I search the office and gather what I need before heading to the pantry.”
Jude stared after him, only glancing back at Laura once he’d disappeared down the hall. “Why’d he sleep in his truck?”
“To make sure I was safe. He planned to stay for a few minutes and fell asleep.”
“Awe, that’s sweet.” Jude skirted around the chair situated in front of the desk and sat. “He was always like a second big brother to us.”
Laura nearly choked on the lump forming in her throat. Even if the stupid attraction pulling her to Cade was due to his kindness, it definitely wasn’t something she’d feel for a brother. But that was beside the point.
