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Cade caught her around the waist, lifting her off her feet. “Sweetheart.” His voice was stern as he cradled her against his chest. “Don’t even think about it.”
Jacey wanted nothing more than to cuddle into his appealing chest and let him say sweetheart over and over again, but that was not her life or her future. Not even close.
“Cade.” She struggled to be out of his arms. “You don’t understand. You have to let me go. I can’t have your death on my head.”
Wrapping her up even more tightly, he shushed her like a child having a nightmare. This was worse than any nightmare. He easily carried her out of the office and into the master suite.
“Cade. You have to let me go,” she begged. She should thrash and fight. She should be imperious and mean like she had been taught by her mother. He was a hero and wanted to protect her, but he didn’t love her, which was good. She might long for his love, but she didn’t want him to love her and try to come for her and be destroyed.
The problem was if her mother caught her here … she could just see the calculating, shrewd look in those chilly blue eyes. Jacey shivered and fresh tears streaked down her cheeks. She had to stop crying. She wasn’t weak. Leaning into Cade, she knew the terrible truth. She was weak for him. She may only be a protection detail to him, but she loved him. That could be due to her lack of relationships with men or even friendships. The horrific times slimy older men had kissed her.
Yet she knew. Cade was special. To her.
And that was a very big problem.
“I’m not letting you go,” Cade said sternly.
A thrill rushed through her. His green eyes were determined and full of her. Could it be possible he returned her feelings? It didn’t matter. She refused to endanger this incredible man. Not for her sake. She was worth nothing. Her mother had made certain she knew that.
His phone buzzed in his pocket.
“I need to take this. It’ll be Clint with more information. If I let you down, will you stay put?”
“Do not treat me like a child,” she snipped but immediately felt awful. He hadn’t asked to protect her, endanger himself for her. “I’ll stay put.”
“All right.” He let her feet slide to the ground and shifted so his left arm encircled her waist. She wanted to lean into him. He was her strength and light. But she stayed as straight as she could.
Cade pulled the phone out and pushed speaker. He trusted her to hear this? “Clint?”
“It’s Sheryl.” Clint’s voice was as dull as Jacey had ever heard it. She knew Clint well. The oldest Coleville brother, the tough sheriff, a great guy but more serious than the other brothers.
“Pardon me?” Cade sounded annoyed. His hand slid around her waistline, pulling her in tighter.
Sheryl was … the woman they both loved? Jacey tried to shift her mindset to it not being her mother, but being a long, lost love. Relief filled her and she remembered that Clint had been dating a Sheryl when she’d first come to the ranch. She’d never met the woman, but knew she had broken Clint’s heart.
“Yep. I stopped her just short of your place. I told her if she dared move I’d arrest her for trespassing. With your permission.”
A woman screamed in the background.
Cade flinched but said, “I approve.”
Jacey blinked up at him. It was too dark to see him clearly.
“Give me that …” Clint faded and a woman’s voice came on. “Cade! Cade. I still love you.”
Jacey’s stomach flipped. Did Cade still love Sheryl? She was coming for him. It should be the least of Jacey’s concerns with all her memories back, but it loomed large.
Another scramble and then nothing. For several moments. They could hear a car engine rev. Then finally Clint again, breathing heavily. “Sorry, man. She’s coming your way. She stole my phone, messed with it then hucked it. I’m trying not to abuse my power or physically restrain her, but …” His voice was heavy.
“I’ll turn her around for you,” Cade said.
“I don’t know that I’ll let you have that chance.” Clint hung up.
Jacey’s eyebrows lifted.
Cade released her and blew out a breath. “It’s not your mom.”
“Thank heavens.”
