Page 50 of Love in Overdrive

Nash tossed the split log on the pile and glared. “Really? You didn’t get in her pants? Yeah, that look says it all.”

“You have no idea what it was like. Running for our lives. Not sure if we’d die of hypothermia. Laney hurt her leg. Did we have a moment? Yes. But it wasn’t like we screwed all night in some little love nest. We didn’t.”

Nash’s jaw flexed as he stared at Cade. “We thought you were dead.”

“Yeah right. Like everyone didn’t believe the police and think we robbed the bank.” The moment the words left his mouth, Cade cringed. He sounded like a petulant child. Not to mention they were false. No way anyone who knew Laney could believe she would do anything like that. Him? Maybe, but not her.

“You think we all had a party that you were gone?” Dropping the axe, Nash rounded on him. “Hell no! We knew you couldn’t do that. Sawyer, Addison, and their friend, Marti, and I met last night. We told the police they had it all wrong. Addison was waiting for Laney outside the bank and saw the whole thing.

“Your father was outraged. I’ve never seen him that mad. He stormed into the police station last night when he saw the news report, even before the police came to ask questions. He told them that if anything happened to you, because they were out looking for the wrong guy, he would sue.”

Cade stood, not believing it. His father had faith in him, in his innocence? A tightness in his chest eased. He’d worked so hard to please his dad and he never thought he measured up. Could he have been wrong?

“I’m sorry, man. I didn’t realize anyone even knew what happened, let alone was worried. And for what it’s worth, it was not an all-out sex-o-rama or anything. We were trying to stay safe and find a phone. We spent hours hiking through forests and down dirt roads. I didn’t think there was still that much uninhabited space in Minnesota.”

“Yeah. I get it.” Nash’s voice had thawed. He leaned the axe against the cabin and piled wood in his arms.

Cade picked up a second load of wood.

Nash shook his head. “Seriously though. Only you could get laid during a kidnapping.”

Technically, he and Laney hadn’t had intercourse, but Cade kept his mouth shut. If they hadn’t been interrupted, he would have been balls deep in her sweet pussy with no regrets.

Walking into the cabin, Cade’s gaze met Laney’s. She gave a shy smile before breaking the connection.

Addison, on the other hand, gave him a look that could flash freeze a cow. Nash wasn’t the only one who could read the room. The women definitely had a similar discussion to the one he and Nash were having.

Moving to the hearth, Cade placed the wood in the bin before moving to Laney’s side. Without thinking, he pulled her in close with a hand on her waist.

“Brrr.” She jumped back.

“Sorry.” He rubbed his hands together before gently gripping her hips. Leaning down, he brushed his lips over her ear. “I think we should head back after dinner. We could be at the police station in a few hours.”

Laney whipped her head up to look at him, barely missing his nose. “What? Are you sure?”

“Babe.” He stroked a finger down the line of her jaw. So tense. The worry in her eyes churned like a turbulent sea. Worry for him. “It was always the plan, and the right thing to do.”

She nodded. “I know, but… What if they put you in jail?”

“Our family and friends will have our backs. The police will have to believe us. We didn’t do anything wrong.” He kissed her forehead before backing up a step.

Addison set the stew on the table. Absently, she fiddled with the bag as she watched Laney and Cade’s interaction. “Did you count it?”

“Nope. I’m not touching it. You shouldn’t either.” Cade tugged Laney, pulling her with him to the table.

“Why not?”

“It could be booby-trapped.” Nash pulled out a chair, flipped it around, and sat on it.

“My luck. A bill would drop to the floor and be lost. I’d get busted for stealing it,” Cade said.

“Smart. Knowing your luck, it would happen.” Nash scooped up some stew. “Did I hear you say we’re going to the police after we eat?”

“Yes, but I want to go back to Gray Duck Grove.” No way Cade would chance his life on another backwoods police department. Gray Duck Grove was small, but they had family there… Backup.

Laney squeezed his hand. “It will all work out.”

Holding on tight, Cade placed their joined hands on his thigh. God, he wished he could be so optimistic. He only saw the shit storm ahead of them.