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“Thank you, Clint,” she said, reaching for the suitcase handle.
He nodded to her.
Cade grasped the suitcase handle. “I’ll show you which room you’ll be staying in, then come help these boys unload all this food if you want to shower or change or anything.”
“Thank you. It would be blissful to change out of these smelly, torn running clothes.”
“You could never stink,” he said.
She beamed.
He gestured toward the staircase, and she walked that direction. She caught Easton and Clint exchanging a glance but focused forward. They were attempting to help her, but she wanted to be with Cade. She would like to meet her brother, but he had responsibilities to track down their evil ‘witch’ mother. It stung that her mother could be awful, but Quaid seemed incredible enough to make up for what she clearly lacked.
There were four doors off the landing at the top of the stairs, one on the right that was isolated and three grouped closer together on the left.
Cade carried her suitcase to the one on the right, pushed open the door, and gestured her in. She walked into a spacious bedroom. Windows on two walls showcased the lake and mountains beyond from one angle and the dark forest and steep mountainside behind the house on the other. The bed was large, with a log frame around it. The bedspread was a remarkable quilt. It appeared handmade, with patterns in blues, greens, and tans. The dressers were the same light wood as the log bedframe. An overstuffed recliner resided in the corner next to a fireplace and a bookshelf, a navy fleece blanket draped over its back. Open doors on the other wall led into a walk-in closet and a bright white bathroom.
It was all decidedly manly. Decidedly Cade. It even smelled like him. Leather and musk and sunshine.
She loved this space.
“No.” She shook her head and started to back out of the room. “You are not giving up your master suite for me.”
“Jacey.” His mouth turned up in a teasing smile. “Don’t fight me on this.” He captured her around the waist with one arm and hefted the suitcase with the other. Directing her into the bedroom, he kicked the door shut behind them.
The finality of that door thumping closed behind her made her heart race. Cade was a gentleman. She’d trusted him from the moment she’d seen him. He wouldn’t force her into his room. Her brother’s friends downstairs would take her away if Cade had untoward intentions.
Her cowboy was a gentleman. She believed he was.
He carried her suitcase into the walk-in closet, flipping on the overhead light. The closet was large, manly clothes spread throughout shelves and hanging racks. Her heart raced faster seeing T-shirts, jeans, boots, hats, dress slacks, white shirts, ties, and even suits. He didn’t wear Wranglers to church? Did he attend church? Maybe not. Ihe was conning her into sharing his bed.
Cade wouldn’t do that.
Are you certain?
He directed her out of the closet and into the bathroom. There was a large window over the huge tub, a glass shower that almost rivaled the tub, a partitioned off toilet, and a long vanity with two sinks and cabinets above and to the sides of the mirror.
“Apologies,” he said, glancing at the window. “I can tack a blanket over that if it bothers you. Nobody up here but me, so I’ve never bothered getting blinds. With the angle it’d be hard to see up here anyway.” He released her waist and stepped back. “But you enjoy the shower or whatever you want to do. I promise I won’t let Clint or Easton come around the back side of the house, climb the mountain, and try to look in the window.”
He smiled at that.
Jacey wasn’t concerned about Clint or Easton. She felt awful that she was concerned about her cowboy, but she also instinctively knew she’d been forced into uncomfortable situations before. Cade was muscular, huge, and she had claimed she ‘chose him’. He may think that meant something different than she’d intended. She had to be clear and brave now.
“Cade,” she said firmly. “I cannot share your bed.”
His eyes widened. He stepped back and hit the doorframe with his shoulder. “Of course not. Who intoned that?”
“I said I was not taking your bedroom, and you stated I should not fight you.” Had she had to fight for her purity before? She feared she had.
He rubbed at the back of his neck, looking chagrined. “I didn’t mean it like that. You’ll stay in my room,” he said. “I’ll get some of my things later and stay in the guest room.”
That was a relief, but guilt was a second quick and stinging emotion. She had let unknown memories and fears rule her and accused her cowboy. He was sharing his home, his master suite, and caring for an unstable amnesiac woman. “I am terribly sorry. I didn’t mean to … I shouldn’t have believed …”
He smiled and held up his hands. “Honest mistake. You don’t know me, but I promise you, Jacey…” His smile disappeared and his green eyes grew determined. “I will keep you safe in every way possible, and I would never expect or plan to share a bed with any woman.”
She studied him. The sincerity in his gaze was genuine. “Thank you, Cade. I am safe with you. Forgive me for allowing my imagination to run.”
“It’s forgiven and forgotten. Nobody would blame you for making sure there are boundaries, and you’ve got plenty of reasons to feel mixed up right now.” He tipped his head to her. “Take all the time you need. I’ll wait downstairs for you.”
