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The instant he’d held Hope again, peace flooded through him like a spring swollen creek. He’d been wrong, so wrong. Once he was willing to own up to what he’d done, he realized he didn’t care what it cost, he needed Hope in his life.
“You’re not hurt?” he asked again, needing her to say the words to reassure him.
“I’m fine,” she said, keeping her arms crossed, shutting him out.
“It was reckless of you to run to a burning car.”
“I had to do something,” she said. The distance between them was killing him.
“I know.” Although he wanted to reprimand her, he couldn’t. He would have reacted the same way. In fact, he had, racing toward the burning vehicle for fear she would be burned. Seeing that she wasn’t exactly falling into his arms, he asked, “Can we talk later?”
She hesitated before answering, and it felt like an eternity. His pulse pounded loud enough to echo in his ears.
“I think we should,” she finally said.
Before another minute passed, he needed to tell her of his regret. “I’m so sorry, Hope.”
A simple nod was her only acknowledgment.
Although he didn’t want to leave her, he had no choice. She was needed at the school, and he had a job to finish.
“I’ll stop by the cottage after work,” he said.
“Okay.”
Because he felt the need to say more, he added, “I’ve missed you.”
How foolish he’d been, unwilling to listen, unwilling to accept that she had been innocent. He’d wanted to hurt her the way she’d hurt him, only to discover the only one he’d punished had been himself.
“Me, too,” she said. Hope turned away and headed toward the school. Cade’s heart sunk and he prayed with everything in him that he could repair the damage he’d done to their relationship.
—
As soon as Cade was back, his boss hit him with questions.
“Your girl okay? How’s the school? What happened?” Cliff asked, exiting his office and leaning against the doorframe.
“Looks like a car fire.”
Cliff frowned, and Cade noticed the other two mechanics exchanging glances.
“A car fire,” Cliff commented, shaking his head as if to say nothing shocked him any longer when it came to the happenings around the high school. “It’s a good thing the fire department got there when they did, otherwise the vehicle could have exploded.”
Although his thoughts remained on Hope and their upcoming conversation, Cade worked the rest of the afternoon. As soon as he finished, he rushed to his apartment, showered, changed clothes, and then headed to the cottage by the sea. He was headed to see Hope.
Hope.
She’d been accurately named. He’d been penalizing himself by staying away. His pride made for miserable company. He chose to be alone, telling himself he was an island and needed no one. More fool he. The car fire had sent that theory flying out the window.
When he feared Hope might have been in danger or hurt, his pride had died a sudden death. He didn’t care if Hope had collaborated against him with his mother. Cade needed her for the light she brought into his life. Whatever had passed between her and his mother they would sort out together.
—
Shadow was in the fenced yard when Cade arrived at the cottage. When he climbed out of the truck, he saw Mellie Young in the house across the way. She’d pulled aside the curtain and stared at him from the kitchen window. Even from this distance, Cade could see that Mellie was frowning. It seemed he would need to make amends to her right along with Hope. He’d been warned. He was sure to face the landlord’s ire if he hurt Hope. It encouraged him to know Preston and Mellie had Hope’s back.
When Shadow revealed no excitement at seeing him, Cade hesitated. The mixed-breed shepherd regarded him warily, as if his absence had destroyed Shadow’s trust in him.
“I’ve come in peace,” he told the dog.
