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He tilted his head to the side, searching her face for clues of where her thoughts were. “You think Mrs. Collins wants to use the third floor as part of the food pantry?”
A shy smile lifted her lips, and she glanced away as she stood and led him out of the kitchen. “Who knows what could be done with this place with a little imagination.”
He wondered on her words as they walked from room to room, making sure to skip over Mrs. Collins’ private quarters, which were more like a mini apartment with her small kitchenette, bathroom, and living space. Although he’d already seen it, he marveled again at the woodwork and original mahogany floors. Most of the bedrooms had been closed off, leaving old furniture covered in dusty sheets.
His fingers itched to polish and construct and create something beautiful from a space that had been neglected for toolong. This house had amazing bones. All it would take was a nip here and a tuck there to turn it into something spectacular.
Taking the final step back down to the foyer, Laura sighed and ran her fingertips along the top of the banister. “I wish Mrs. Collins’ vision spanned further than the kitchen. This place has so much potential.”
He crossed his arms over his chest and leaned against the wall. “What do you mean? She runs a food pantry. She wants more space for storing and preparing food. I agree this house is amazing, but there’s no reason for further renovations based on her needs.”
Laura nibbled her bottom lip and averted her gaze like a child with a secret.
“What is it?”
“What if this place could be more?” She finally met his eyes, and a light sparked in hers, bringing something to life inside her he’d never seen before.
He weighed his words carefully, not wanting to dim her excitement. “There’s plenty of empty rooms that could be utilized, but Mrs. Collins never mentioned wanting anything other than some space on the first floor renovated.”
“True, but she also—”
Two sharp knocks interrupted her thought moments before the door swung open. Jude and Brooke stood on the porch, each carrying plastic bags.
“Hope you don’t mind Brooke joining us,” Jude said, stepping inside and pressing a quick kiss to Laura’s cheek.
“Before you answer that, I helped Jude talk Wade into making his famous fried chicken for us. We told him you’d asked for it.” Brooke laughed and wiggled one of the bags in her hand.
Laura smiled. “The more the merrier.”
Cade couldn’t help the sigh of relief at seeing Brooke on the porch. It wasn’t his job to tell Laura to be safe tonight or insistshe let him sit in his car all night outside her house again. She wouldn’t be alone with Jude, though he’d still worry. But Brooke was an ex-police officer who was more than capable of keeping Laura safe, and he had a sneaking suspicion that was the exact reason Jude had invited Brooke to their girls’ night.
“Is there enough chicken for four?” he asked, his stomach growling at the smell of the meat wafting through the door.
Brooke grinned and pulled out a Styrofoam box. “Figured you’d ask.”
He clasped a hand to his chest. “Bless you. I’ll take this and get out of your hair.” He took the offered meal then focused on Laura. “Call if you need anything. Anything at all.”
She nodded.
The intensity of Jude and Brooke’s gazes heated his skin, but he didn’t care. All he cared about was making sure Laura understood he was there for her. No matter what.
Without another word, he walked out to his truck and headed toward home. Miles flew by, putting more and more distance between him and Laura. An ache burrowed into his chest.
Dammit. What was wrong with him? Laura was in good hands. Hell, he hadn’t held a gun or stood guard since he’d left the Army. She was probably safer with Brooke anyway. He’d done nothing but disappoint and put others in danger when his job was to keep his men safe. He’d barely survived that. If something happened to Laura while she depended on him, he’d never get over it.
His tires crunched over loose gravel as he wove through the wooded lane toward his house. His big empty house where he’d eat alone, relax alone, and sleep alone. Parking the truck, he shoved a hand through his hair. He needed to get a grip. Stop obsessing over Laura and her safety and his feelings about her. He’d go crazy if he kept this up.
Decision made, he scooped up the bag from the passenger seat and stalked toward the front porch. He’d focus on his problems once he scarfed down the chicken and put Laura out of his mind for the night. He swung open the door, and fire shot through his veins.
The place was a mess. He took a step inside and dropped the bag. Cushions ripped from the living room sofa, pictures torn from the walls, glass shattered on the floor. He reached for his phone, fury shaking his hands, and unlocked the screen to call Owen. Someone hadn’t simply broken into his home. They’d destroyed it. He flipped through his recent calls and found the deputy’s number.
“Deputy Wells.” Owen’s voice came through the line, strong and steady.
“Hey, it’s Cade. I—”
Thud!
A sudden flash of blinding pain slammed against the back of his head. His eyes fell shut and he crumbled to the ground as his consciousness flickered to oblivion.
