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The only problem with the day was Cade was more cautious with her. He had told her today would be better than yesterday, but he didn’t touch her very often, he didn’t call her sweetheart, and he definitely didn’t kiss her.
The next few days were more of the same. They did chores and she talked him into doing other ‘normal’ projects around the ranch, yard, and house with her. He seemed to think she couldn’t get dirt under her fingernails. She tried to convince him differently. She felt at home here and especially with him. He had to kill a wolf and two more coyotes and fix some fence line. Thankfully, no more calves had been ripped apart. She handled it all well. She thought. They talked easily, and she loved teasing and laughing with him, working or playing with him. Besides being with Cade, riding horses was the highlight of her days.
On the evening of the fourth day, Cade was cooking taco meat and fresh tortillas while she mixed guacamole. He kept expressing his admiration that she could cook and she wanted to work. She’d tease she wasn’t a spoiled princess. Then he’d point at her pink hat, Not Your Princess, and they’d laugh. She wished he would trail his fingers through her hair like he had that first day.
A ping on the phone announced a vehicle coming up the canyon. She almost darted to hide in the laundry room, but Cade pulled out the phone and clicked on the app that showed the sensors and cameras. “It’s Clint,” he told her.
“Oh. Okay.” Why the personal visit instead of the telephone? The Colevilles called regularly.
About fifteen minutes later, another ping and then the truck rolled into the yard. The truck stopped. She could see Clint through the evening sun carrying a load of groceries and another full platter of sweet treats. The previous platter was still half full. The chocolate chip and peanut butter cookies, pumpkin spice and banana bread were all delicious but could have kept a family of boys happy for days. The Coleville boys probably adored their mama’s cooking. She was fascinated by the idea of a mother who loved and doted on her children. She wanted to meet Mama Millie but wouldn’t leave Cade’s home for anything.
Cade hurried over and opened the door for Clint.
“Thanks,” Clint grunted.
Cade eased out of his way and shut the door behind him. Then he followed him to the counter.
“How are you both holding up?” Clint asked, setting down the platter first and then unloading all the grocery bags around it.
“Good,” Jacey answered for them. She looked to Cade.
“Really great.” Cade went around the counter, covered the seasoned beef, and turned off the burner. Then he unplugged the griddle and used a spatula to toss the tortillas from the griddle to a plate.
“Good, good.” Clint flexed and unflexed his fingers, as if he didn’t know what to do with his hands. “I know you’ve talked to Quaid and things are slow, but they think they’re making progress. They’ve tracked some of Catherine’s men scouting out Quaid’s location. Hopefully that means she’ll make a move or show her face soon.”
“I hope so,” Jacey managed. She did not want Quaid or his friends in danger and she did not want to leave Cade. She did want her mother locked up.
“Any memories coming back?” Clint asked. “Doc thinks they should be back by now.”
She shrugged. Was it her fault she didn’t want her memories back? She definitely wasn’t trying to search up memories. She talked to Quaid about a lot of things, but after that first day she didn’t ask about their family or their past. He seemed hesitant to bring it up and hurt her. They talked about Anna and her children often. She wanted to meet her sister-in-law. Again. Anna and Quaid were the only memories she wanted back.
“Thank you for all of this.” Jacey motioned to the food to change the subject. “Your mama is an incredible cook. We have treats left from the last platter.” She gestured to the counter behind her and grimaced.
“Don’t feel bad throwing something away.” Clint smiled. “Mama thinks it’s ten full-grown men up here, not a dainty girl and Cade.”
“I am not dainty,” she protested.
Both men raised their hands, looked at each other, and then laughed.
Jacey tried for mock outrage, but there was something about these two laughing together. Long-lost friends reunited. Then their laughter abruptly stopped and the kitchen fell silent.
“Cade.” Clint swallowed and studied the grain in the cabinet’s wood. “There’s something I need to say to you. Do you mind stepping outside with me?”
Jacey’s heart sped up. Wasn’t the whole ‘let’s take it outside’ thing code for let us go pummel each other?
“Is that necessary? Can we not work this out peaceably?” Jacey asked.
Cade laughed and then Clint laughed and then they were both laughing. At her?
“Well,” she snipped, folding her arms across her chest. “I do not know why me avoiding a brawl between you is hilarious.”
“Well,” Clint drawled out, looking at Cade. “I don’t know what Cade’s shared with you about us.”
He paused and Jacey got uncomfortable. “Nothing,” she said.
Clint’s brows went up. They’d been virtually alone for four days and talked a lot, but Cade had avoided sharing anything about Clint or the woman they both apparently loved.
“Oh.” He nodded and rubbed at his jaw. “I was going to step outside so I could talk to Cade and not air any dirty laundry that he didn’t want aired.”
