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Cade was stunned, though he shouldn’t have been. All the words he’d fired at Clint and punches thrown over a year ago … Cade had come home with a shiny medal, an abruptly ended military career, and a non-functioning knee, hoping his love would be there for him. When he realized Sheryl was dating them both, he had been furious and even more broken. In his mind, his sweet, devoted girlfriend could never have done that to him. He’d been convinced Clint had swooped in and tried to steal his girl while he was fighting for their country. She’d been crafty, and with Cade originally meeting her on a weekend home when Clint was out of town supporting Easton and Walker at the NFR finals in Vegas, and then being deployed and trying to develop a long-distance relationship, it had been easy for her to play them. It had been, and was still, a mess.
He should’ve realized a simple apology wouldn’t fix the friendship they’d shattered. He couldn’t take all the blame, but he could take a lot of it.
Easton grimaced. “Sorry, bro.” Then his gaze traveled up the stairs and his face softened into a welcoming smile. “Afternoon, beautiful.”
Cade followed his gaze. He’d thought Jacey was gorgeous with dirt smudges on her face, a knot on her head, torn clothing, and no makeup.
In a white fitted T-shirt and jeans that outlined her trim legs with her hair curled and her lips shiny and her eyes even bigger and bluer with those long lashes … she was breathtaking.
He should’ve been jealous and annoyed at Easton complimenting her and the sweet, hesitant smile she gave his friend. Instead, he was sick to his stomach. He’d ruined one Coleville friendship fighting over a beautiful woman who only ended up leaving them both in the dust.
What did he think was going to happen this time? Jacey wasn’t meant to be in the backwoods of Montana, and Easton stared at her like she was the prize bull-riding belt buckle—shiny and irresistible and something he had to win.
She was much more valuable than any prize on earth.
But Cade was remembering exactly why he’d determined not to date this past year. No matter how incredible and alluring the woman seemed, all he had in store for him was fractured relationships, a shattered heart, and loneliness when Jacey walked away.
Chapter
Nine
Jacey came out of the shower revived. A new woman. A new woman without her brain at full capacity, but still, it was luscious to be clean and smell good. Bless Mama Millie, whoever she was, for sending clothing and toiletries.
She wondered if the gardenia scented body wash and lotion would create a longing look in Cade’s mesmerizing green eyes. Maybe he would ease in until they were a breath apart. He could bend down and inhale her scent, his breath heating the flesh of her neck. He would look up at her with those green eyes and slowly lift his head until their lips met.
Her stomach danced at the image forming in her mind.
She hurried to brush out her hair and put a few curls in it, put on minimal makeup, and get dressed in a simple T-shirt and jeans. Cowgirl clothing. How intriguing. Could she ever be a cowgirl? Even without her memories, she knew she hadn’t been raised in a wholesome, gorgeous outdoor location. Everything about her past felt stiff, uncomfortable, dark, and painful. It was no wonder she couldn’t remember. Her brain didn’t want to make those connections. Somehow, she had to face her past. Quaid could help her and Cade could hold her hand.
Slipping out of the master suite, she left the door ajar. She was surprised to hear raised voices. Fear instantly pricked at her skin.
Carefully creeping toward the banister, she checked and could see it was Cade, Clint, and Easton in the living area. She breathed easier. These good men were safe. No evil had penetrated Cade’s sanctuary.
But someone was yelling at Cade. Clint.
“She broke me harder than she broke you,” Clint hurled at Cade, his fists clenched and his arm muscles popping. “At least you only had six months of being duped. I was a year, a ten-thousand-dollar diamond ring, house plans, a foundation dug, my mama’s heart invested, and weeks from marching down the aisle. You wanted me to hurt and pay for her playing both of us. I have. Humiliation, agony. I’ve been brought to the dust. Don’t go apologizing now that we’re temporarily fighting for a common goal.”
Clint flung open the front door and marched out, not closing it behind him. Jacey eased closer to the railing to focus on Cade’s handsome face. It twisted in agony as he watched Clint leave.
Who was this woman who had broken Cade and Clint’s hearts? Cade had attempted to apologize for some vixen’s actions and Clint bellowed at him? Why couldn’t Clint forgive? That was horrible of him.
Cade. Her heart went out to him. She wanted to hold him, comfort him, have him tell her the sad story and she would promise she could love him and wouldn’t leave him or break his heart.
Was that possible? Her life, mother, and her past had the makings of a living nightmare. Her fears of her mom injuring someone close to her were founded. Even if no one had told her details of what her mother had done to Quaid, she could fill in the blanks. Her mother was dangerous and wouldn’t hesitate to maim or kill.
Jacey might hurt Cade even worse than this woman who’d broken him and Clint. Not intentionally, but she’d have to leave this sanctuary eventually to deal with her nightmare of a mother, or her mother might arrive and kill Cade. Jacey may be more dangerous for him than this other lady.
She didn’t want to be.
“Sorry, bro,” Easton muttered. He glanced away and must have caught a glimpse of her. His eyes lifted and lit up. “Afternoon, beautiful.”
She smiled back, trying to hide the churning in her stomach. She’d known a lot of men like Easton who’d vied for her attention. She couldn’t remember instances, but the emotional shield she erected was familiar. Easton was a charmer. A flirt. He yearned to capture every girl. She appreciated teasing banter, but she craved a loyal man. Like Cade.
Sadly, Cade was broken over a lady who’d chosen Clint and then wronged both of them. The man Jacey was interested in may not be available emotionally, and her own emotions were not of the stable variety.
“Afternoon,” she said to Easton, then looked to Cade. His expression revealed pain before he closed off. He was erecting a wall to protect himself. She could relate to that.
She descended the stairs. Could she approach Cade? Hold and comfort him? He looked like a brick wall. Her gaze darted to the more approachable Easton. He was handsome and charismatic, but he wasn’t who she was interested in.
