Chapter 15 Grae
GRAE
I flipped my phone between my fingers as I leaned against the outside of the cottage office, worry niggling at me.
I’d texted Caden hours ago to see if he could go to family dinner this weekend to keep up our facade, but he hadn’t responded.
It was probably nothing; the man was practically running an empire, but still, something didn’t feel right.
It didn’t matter how much his rejection the other night had stung. I couldn’t turn off my care for him. Flipping my phone right-side up, I unlocked it and pulled up an internet browser. I typed in The Peaks and hit call. Someone answered a second later.
“Good afternoon, you’ve reached The Peaks. How may I help you?”
“Hi. Can you please connect me to Caden Shaw’s office?”
There was a brief pause. “May I say who’s calling?”
“Sure, it’s um, his girlfriend. Grae.” I winced at the word girlfriend, but I was worried they might refuse to connect me otherwise.
“Oh, of course. One moment, please.”
A second later, a male voice came across the line. “So, this is the famous girlfriend I keep hearing whispers about.”
There was a warm, teasing quality to the man’s voice that made me like him immediately. “Famous, huh?”
He chuckled. “You’ve got the staff in quite a tizzy that the un-gettable has finally been gotten.”
If only they knew it was one big lie. “I’m not sure about that, but yes, I’m Grae.”
“Grae, it’s nice to meet you over the phone. I’m Jalen. I keep Caden’s life from going off the rails.”
I laughed. “I hope you’re getting paid well for that.”
His rich laugh boomed over the phone. “That I am. Now, what can I do for you?”
“I was hoping you might know where Caden is.”
Jalen was quiet for a moment. Suddenly, I felt like a girlfriend checking up on the partner she suspected of cheating. “You don’t have to tell me. I just wanted to make sure he was okay.”
“I’m actually not sure where he is. Between you and me, he had a tough meeting this morning, and I think he needed to blow off some steam.”
My chest tightened. “His dad or Gabe?”
“Gabe,” Jalen said with a sigh.
“Thanks for the heads-up. If you see him, will you give me a call?” I asked.
“Sure thing.”
Jalen took down my number, and we said our goodbyes. When I hung up, I stared at my phone, trying to decide where Caden might have gone. The truth was, I didn’t have the first clue where he might try to find solace these days. I only knew where the Caden of years ago escaped to.
A little flicker of something that felt a lot like hope sprang to life in my chest. I opened the screen door and poked my head in. “I’m done for the day, so I’m taking off.”
Noel looked up with a frown. “We were going to grab beers.”
“Later this week? I’ve gotta check on something.”
Eddie’s brows pulled together. “Everything okay?”
I nodded. “It will be.”
I didn’t wait for more questions, just headed for the parking lot, thankful I’d driven this morning. Beeping my locks, I hopped in and started the engine.
My brain knew the route to where I was going so well, I didn’t even have to think about it. Because I’d never stopped going there. Even if Caden had given up on our spot, I never had.
It only took me about fifteen minutes to get to the trailhead, then a ten-minute walk to the log that overlooked the creek. Each step made my heart beat faster. I stilled as I caught sight of the large form sitting with his back to me.
Caden was tall. Six foot three inches with broadly muscled shoulders. Yet, sitting there, he looked small. Almost like a little boy.
An ache took root in my chest. And it spurred my feet into motion.
Caden didn’t look up as I approached, but I didn’t let that stop me. I rounded the log and sat next to him, just like I’d done a million times before. I didn’t say anything, just sat. He’d talk when he was ready.
I didn’t know how much time passed before Caden finally uttered two words and then a sentence that nearly shattered me.
“It’s broken. The kind that won’t ever be fixed. But I just keep trying.”
Grief dug its claws into my heart. “What happened?”
“Gabe scheduled a meeting with an incredibly important guest and didn’t tell me about it. The meeting required hours of prep, but I had less than five minutes.”
I studied the man next to me. “But you pulled it off.”
Caden glanced over at me. “What makes you say that?”
I shrugged. “I know you. I know you thrive under pressure, and you understand people. What makes them tick. I bet you had the person pegged in two minutes and gave them everything they needed.”
His lips twitched, but the hint of humor didn’t reach his eyes. “It’s a high, coming up with something on the spot like that, knowing the stakes, and making a stab in the dark, just hoping your instincts are right.”
“And they were.” There was no doubt in my mind.
Caden nodded, turning his gaze back to the water. “I should be happy. Celebrating.”
“But Gabe ruined it.”
“He hates me.”
There was no emotion in Caden’s voice. It was as if he were totally and completely defeated. I despised everything about it. There was no teasing or spark of life. Not even anger. Just nothingness.
And I couldn’t fix it for him. I would’ve done anything to be able to. But all I could do was sit in it with him.
I leaned into Caden. He didn’t move for a moment but then wrapped an arm around me. I nestled against his side and pressed a hand over his heart. “You’re a good man.”
The muscles tensed beneath my palm. “Don’t.”
“You’re a good man.”
Caden swallowed. “Gigi…”
“You are. The best. Always there for your mom. The best friend to Nash. Always jumping in when someone needs you.”
He glanced down at me, our gazes locking. “I thought you wanted to murder me.”
I shrugged. “Murder’s my love language, remember?”
I headed toward The Brew as the early morning light filtered through the trees. I needed the most massive cup of coffee known to man. I’d tossed and turned all night, worrying about Caden. Hoping he was okay and hating that he didn’t have the kind of familial support I did.
“G.”
My head lifted to find Lawson walking out of the coffee shop and café. I grinned, crossing to him and throwing my arms around his waist.
His arms came around me in answer. “What’s this for?”
“Just remembered how lucky I am to have you.”
Lawson squeezed me a little tighter and dropped a kiss to the top of my head. “Everything okay? Caden isn’t dicking you around, is he? I’ll—”
I pinched his side. “Stop it. Caden’s fine. Can’t a girl just appreciate her overbearing big brother?”
Lawson chuckled. “I guess so.”
“How are the boys?”
A look of fatigue filled Lawson’s face. “Good. Just a lot right now.”
“I can call off early today and pick up Charlie and Drew from camp.”
Lawson shook his head. “No, I’m good. I’m just realizing I might need some full-time help come fall.”
My brows lifted at that. “Seriously?”
He squeezed the back of his neck. “Charlie and Drew have a million and one activities they need to be carted around for, and as much as I’d love to leave Luke in charge, he hasn’t exactly proven to be trustworthy lately.”
I winced. My eldest nephew had taken my brother’s car for a joyride without a license and now only communicated in grunts. It was a far cry from the happy-go-lucky kid of last year. “Is there anything I can do?”
“I wish.” Lawson gave me another hug. “We’ll get through it. It’s just the ornery teenage years.”
I hoped that was it. I was tempted to ask if it could be feelings coming up about their MIA mom, but Melody was a no-go zone for Lawson, so I kept my lips zipped. “Just let me know if you need a night off. And we have family dinner this weekend, so you’ll get a little spell then.”
“I’m good. Promise.”
But Lawson didn’t like to ask for help for any reason. The fact that he was thinking about hiring someone told me that things were not great in his world. I hated to sic our mom on him, but I might have to. She loved spending time with her grandkids, and Lawson needed a break.
“Okay. I need coffee, so I’m heading in.”
Lawson gave me a wave as he moved down the street to the station, and I made a beeline for The Brew. The bell over the door tinkled as I entered, and Aspen looked up from the counter, her red hair gleaming in the morning light.
“Hey, G. You’re in early.”
“I’ve got a kayak trip this morning.”
Aspen smiled. “That sounds heavenly. I need to sign Cady and me up for one of those.”
“You don’t need to sign up. I’ll take you guys whenever you want.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I’d love to. We could bring Charlie, too.” My nephew and Aspen’s daughter were as close as two friends could be.
Aspen chuckled. “You realize they won’t stop chattering the entire day.”
“That just means they’ll keep each other entertained.”
“Then we can have girl talk.”
“Sounds like the perfect day to me.”
Aspen held up her hand for a high five. “All right. What can I get you?”
“The largest black coffee you have and that bran muffin would be great.”
She arched a brow. “Rough night?”
“I haven’t been sleeping the best.”
Worry lines creased Aspen’s creamy complexion. “Everything okay?”
“Just busy.”
A scoff sounded behind me. “Maybe if you stopped wasting time fucking my brother, you’d sleep a little better.”
I whirled around to face Gabe Shaw. I hadn’t even heard the bell. “Charming as always, I see.”
Something about Gabe had always made my skin crawl. His gaze lingered in the wrong places, and he always moved in too close, just like now.
“Just calling it like I see it.” Gabe’s eyes roamed over me. “But I can’t say I blame him. Looking damn good, Grae.”
I fought the shiver that wanted to surface. “Do you want something?”
He grinned. “Just waiting for my coffee.”
“Not here, you’re not,” Aspen said as she rounded the counter. “I’d like you to leave.”
Gabe gaped at her. “You’re kidding me.”
She just met his stare head-on. “I don’t want any of the customers feeling uncomfortable in this establishment. Your behavior is doing just that.”
Gabe scoffed. “I’m joking. We’re old friends. Right, Grae?”
“Just ignore him. He’s not worth it,” I told Aspen.
“It’s not something I can ignore, and you shouldn’t have to either. I’d like you to leave, Mr. Shaw. Or I’d be happy to call Chief Hartley and ask him to escort you off the premises.”
Red crept up Gabe’s throat. “Do you have any idea who you’re messing with?”
“No, but I’m sure you’ll tell me. Men like you always do. But it won’t change anything.”
Rage blazed in Gabe’s eyes. “I was trying to throw the local businesses a few pity dollars, but I should’ve known better than to bother myself with trash.” His gaze flicked to me. “Slumming it is more my brother’s style.”
He pivoted on his heel and stormed out of the coffee shop.
I turned to Aspen, and it was then that I saw she was shaking. I crossed quickly to her. “Are you okay?”
She attempted to give me a smile, but it was wobbly around the edges. “I’m fine. I just hate assholes like that.”
I studied my friend, wondering if there was something deeper going on. I hadn’t known Aspen long and didn’t know her history, but I knew that she was kind, funny, and an amazing mother. Still, there was a deeply rooted fear in her, too. “You sure?”
She nodded. “Come on. Let me get you that coffee.”
I watched her carefully as she poured my drink and got my muffin. I didn’t miss the slight tremble in her hands, but that was the only thing that gave her away.
“Here you go. Shoot me a text so we can figure out our kayak day.”
I handed her a twenty. “Sounds good. Let me know if Gabe gives you any trouble.”
She waved me off. “It was you he was trying to rile. Keep an eye out.”
My stomach twisted. “I will.”
With a wave, I headed out into the sunshine and hopped into my SUV. The drive to the office was only a matter of blocks. Soon, I parked and headed inside.
I lowered myself into my chair and took out my bran muffin.
Eddie pouted. “You didn’t get me anything?”
I grimaced. “Sorry, pal. I got distracted.”
“How easily they forget us when they get fancy new boyfriends,” he grumbled and then winced.
I arched a brow. “Late night?”
His lips twitched. “You missed out.”
“I won’t miss the hangover.”
Noel chuckled. “Especially when he’s on that ten-miler today.”
Eddie took a swig of coffee. “Boot and rally, my friends. Boot and rally.”
I scrunched up my nose. “That’s disgusting.”
“I have to agree,” Jordan said as he strode in from the back. “But do whatever it takes because we’ve got a busy day.”
He launched into our assignments for the day, and we started prepping gear bags. Poor Eddie looked a little green.
I shot him a grin. “Regretting that boot and rally plan?”
“Maybe a little.” He leaned his head on my shoulder. “You’ll nurse me back to health, right?”
I gave him a shove. “Do the crime, do the time.”
He stuck out his tongue at me.
Noel smacked him upside the head. “Let’s get these gear bags in the vans.”
Eddie begrudgingly followed as Jordan headed back down the hall to his office.
I lost myself in a sea of paperwork until the screen door slapped against the frame.
Noel shook his head. “Eddie puked in the bushes.”
I made a face. “I did not need to know that.”
A second later, Eddie appeared. “Today is going to be brutal.”
I pushed to my feet and grabbed a ginger ale from the fridge. “Drink this. It’ll help settle your stomach.”
Eddie lowered himself to the couch and took the offered soda. “Angel on Earth.”
I snorted. “Hardly.”
Shouts sounded from outside that had us all clambering to our feet and Jordan running out from the back office. We hurried outside and stopped dead in the parking lot. There, in the back corner, where I always parked so I could be in the shade, was my SUV. And it was engulfed in flames.