Page 57 of Love in Overdrive

Chapter 19

Cade woke to the bright sun streaming through the window. He reached for his phone to check the time. Oh right, he didn’t have one. Twice in one week. The phone store guy was going to think Cade had a crush on him.

He rubbed his hands over his face, then climbed out of bed. He bumped the heat up on the way to the bathroom. Cade melted under the hot sting of the water. It was the best shower he’d ever had. At least that’s how it felt this morning… or was it afternoon?

He shrugged as he toweled off. Today was a new day, and Cade wasn’t going to take it for granted.

Once dressed, he retrieved the keys to the spare truck from the hook by the door. A breakfast burrito called his name. He patted his pocket and touched the rectangular bump. He exhaled. Luckily, the carjacker hadn’t taken his wallet.

Forty minutes later, Cade opened the door to the shop, his new phone in one hand and the last bite of his breakfast in the other. He wasn’t too late, and from the looks of it, nothing had changed in his stall. The Ford truck still sat on his hoist. Exactly as he’d left it on Tuesday afternoon. If he didn’t know better, he would have sworn the last few days were a dream. Part nightmare and part erotic fantasy, but a dream nonetheless.

Over the next hour, he moved on reflex… habit. Picking up tools and removing parts, it was all muscle memory at this point. Cade’s mind was anywhere but here.

While unbolting the exhaust manifold on the truck, he heard Leon called to him from the next bay.

“Sounds like you had quite an adventure.”

“You could say that.” Cade kept wrenching.

Leon leaned on the hoist post. “What was it like to carry all that money around the whole time? Hell, I’m a married man. I never have cash.”

“I tried not to think about what was in the bag.” He had too many other concerns at the time.

“Weren’t you tempted to spend it? Maybe take a little trip to the casino to try and double your money?”

Looked like the gossip in the shop was alive and well. Then again, something as big as a robbery and carjacking was huge news in a town like Gray Duck Grove. Not to mention Leon was his dad’s best friend. He would be in the loop.

“No, I was more worried about the slime-bag who dropped us off in the middle of nowhere coming back to get it.” Cade continued working. He liked Leon, but didn’t want to talk about it. Not yet. Maybe never.

But Leon didn’t get the hint. “I heard you had a gal with you out in the wilderness.” His grin was so big, Cade could see Leon’s fillings in the back of his mouth.

“Uh-huh.” Cade grit his teeth.

Before Leon could say more, Eric stepped out of his office. “Cade.”

“Saved by the yell,” he muttered under his breath. He set down his ratchet, wiped his hands on a shop rag, and crossed to the office.

His father closed the door behind him and offered him a seat. Cade knew something was up when Eric treated Cade like a customer. A whole bunch of scenarios played in Cade’s mind while he waited for his dad to cross the room and take his seat behind the desk. Not a one of them were good.

Maybe it really was time to move out.

His father fiddled with the papers on his desk, something he did when he was preparing for a conversation he didn’t want to have.

One week, and he’d overstayed his welcome. He could find a small place. Man, he’d miss Mom’s home-cooked meals. He’d have to learn to cook. Maybe he’d start watching the Food Channel. His head was spinning in the short time it took Eric to get comfortable.

“Cade, I want to apologize for my behavior last night.” His father cleared his throat. “Your mother and I discussed it, and we feel I might have been a little hard on you.”

That was dad-speak for Mom chewed him out and told him he had to make things right.

“I know you didn’t have anything to do with the robbery, and you didn’t know the robber. I didn’t mean to accuse you. I’m sorry.”

It’s okay was on the tip of his tongue. No. Not this time. No caving or changing the subject. Time to look his father in the eye and have a man-to-man. “Why is it so hard for you to see me as I am… a guy who likes to work on cars?”

“I see you. It’s just that I don’t want you to throw your life away.”

“Over a decade of military service. In special ops for over eight of those years. I wouldn’t say that was throwing my life away.”

“I never thought you were. Your mother and I have always been proud of you.”