Saving Cade: A Romantic Suspense

by Victorine E. Lieske

  Wait, what? He scrolled down to see the title of the video. Goodbye. That was it. Just the one word. Meg was saying goodbye to him. An invisible dagger sliced through his chest.

  Cade closed his eyes, not sure of which emotion to let surface. He was proud of Meg for putting herself out there on YouTube. He was also aching inside because he missed her so much. But he couldn’t call her when he was still in prison. That wasn’t fair to her. He wasn’t sure if they were ever going to exonerate him. He had no way to know what was going to happen to him. And until this week, he was still waiting to hear.

  It wasn’t until a few days ago that he knew he was being set free. And then there was so much to do to get back into the real world, it was easy to put it off. Plus, he wasn’t sure if Meg even cared about him anymore. It had been months since he’d seen her, and they’d only spent a short five days together.

  All these excuses and more had been plaguing him. And now Meg was giving him what he really needed. A final answer. Goodbye.

  He turned off his computer and stood, his throat tight. He didn’t want to think about Meg anymore. He needed to go home and unwind. Maybe work out in his gym. Do something to take Meg off his mind. She didn’t want to have anything to do with him anymore. A hollow feeling spread through his chest.

  He grabbed his jacket and left his office. After he locked the door, he noticed Nicholas leaning against the elevator doors. “So?”

  Cade scowled. “You’ve been waiting for me?”

  “I wanted to know what you thought.”

  “About what?” Yes, he knew he was being a jerk, but he just didn’t want to talk about it with Nicholas right now.

  “She loves you.”

  Cade shook his head. “Did you watch the same video I did?”

  “She’s in love with you, and if you can’t see that, you’re dumber than I thought.”

  “She was saying goodbye. She titled it ‘Goodbye.’ She actually said the word ‘goodbye’ at the end. The song was about getting over me, nitwit.” Cade pressed the button and stood back, suddenly feeling like he wanted to punch someone in the face.

  “Because you haven’t called her, lame brain.”

  Was that true? Was Meg saying goodbye because she thought he didn’t care? Cade stared at Nicholas. He hadn’t even considered that. “You think this is my fault?”

  “Duh.”

  Cade hadn’t even considered that. Had she taken his silence the wrong way? Had she thought he wasn’t interested in her? How could she think that, after what they’d shared? But as the thought that maybe she’d been hurt by him not calling came into his mind, he needed to know. “Does she still want to talk to me?”

  Nicholas threw up his hands and got onto the elevator. “You’re exasperating, you know that? She asked you to call her months ago. Just do it already.”

  Cade didn’t want to call. If Nicholas was right, this was a conversation he needed to have in person.

  Chapter 18

  Meg pulled into the dark parking lot, wondering why she had allowed Val to convince her to go dancing. Celebrating. Over twenty thousand views and climbing. She couldn’t believe it. But it wasn’t like Meg to go out clubbing. She was more the kind to stay out of the crowds. Maybe go to a coffee shop with some live entertainment. She had to admit though, she’d had fun.

  But tomorrow she would pay the price. It was almost one thirty in the morning. At least it was the weekend and she could sleep in. She parked her car and walked up to the apartment entrance door and fished around for the key in her purse.

  “Meg?”

  Meg jumped at the sound of the male voice behind her. Before she could think, she turned around and socked the man in the face.

  He doubled over. “Ouch.” He threw his arms up to protect his face.

  Then she saw the little tattoo of a dagger on his wrist. “Cade?”

  “Yes.” He rubbed his jaw. “It’s me.”

  Her heart leaped into her throat as she took his face into her hands. “Did I hurt you? My gosh, what are you doing here? It’s so late. I thought you were going to rob me or something.”

  His lips twitched. “Well, your reflexes have gotten better, that’s for sure.”

  Meg bit her lip. Why was she standing in the parking lot talking to him? She motioned to the door, her heart suddenly racing. “Want to come in?”

  “Yeah. Thanks.”

  She unlocked the door and led him up the stairs to her second-floor apartment, wishing she’d dusted or something yesterday. She pointed to the couch. “Have a seat.”

  He turned to her. “I won’t be here long. I just wanted to say something, and I felt like it needed to be in person.”

  Meg closed her eyes and allowed the sound of his voice to take her back to when they’d been so close. When he’d comforted her. When he’d protected her. But she knew she couldn’t live in the past forever. She opened her eyes and nodded. “All right. Go ahead.”

  He faltered a bit under her gaze, and she was glad. He was pretty disarming. He’d changed. His hair was a bit longer and styled differently. He wore a button-up shirt and tie, which she had never seen him in. It fit in with his corporate side.

  He shoved his hands into his pockets. “Look. I wanted to apologize for not calling you when you gave your number to my brother.”

  That’s what he wanted to say? He was sorry he didn’t want to talk to her anymore? Why did he have to come to her apartment to say that? She tried to stuff down her annoyance and disappointment. “Apology accepted.” She took a step back and put her hands on her hips in the hopes that it would signal he could leave now.

  He took in a breath and rocked back on his heels like he didn’t know what to do with himself. “You look good, Meg,” he finally said.

  She softened a bit. “You do too.”

  “I, uh...I thought a lot about you when I went back to prison.”

  Her anger rose again. “Did you? Is that why you refused to call me? You were too busy thinking about me?”

  “No.” His gaze penetrated hers and she felt bad for her sarcasm. He looked pained. “I wasn’t sure I was getting out. I didn’t want to...I mean, it would have been selfish for me to want to have a relationship with you if my name was never going to be cleared.”

  That was why he hadn’t called? She took a second to process this. He was once again trying to protect her. But she hadn’t needed protecting. She’d needed him. Why hadn’t he seen that? She couldn’t put her feelings into words, so she stayed silent.

  He swallowed, his Adam’s apple bobbing. “Look, I’m sorry if I hurt you. That was not my intention. I only wanted to save you from associating with a fugitive.”

  “You didn’t mind when you climbed into my car.” The words were out before she could censor them, and she refrained from clamping her hand over her mouth. Maybe he deserved that.

  He got a funny look on his face, and she couldn’t help but ask. “What?”

  “Your sarcasm. I’ve always loved it.”

  “Really?”

  He ran a hand through his hair. “Yeah.”

  Why did he have to be so adorable? He was a jerk for not calling. Not even explaining why. She was over him, finally. She’d said her goodbye. Why was he suddenly back in her life, looking all sexy like that? She tried to calm her thumping heart. “Well, thanks for coming by, but it’s late. I should get to bed.”

  He nodded and pinched the bridge of his nose. “Right. Okay.”

  Meg watched him turn and walk toward the door. She held in her emotions as he stopped and stood before her once again, his gaze penetrating. “Goodbye, Meg.”

  Her heart shattered as she looked at him. “Goodbye.”

  He worked his jaw then turned and left. She quietly closed the door and then pressed her back up against it. What had just happened? Why had he come all the way to her side of town? What was the point? She sucked a breath in and blinked, trying to hold back the tears.

  Then she straightened. Why had she let him wal
k out the door? Hadn’t she obsessed about seeing him for the last six months? Hadn’t she played what she would say to him over and over in her mind? She had to tell him now, or she’d regret it forever. She turned around and threw open the door.

  Cade stood there, his eyes wide. “Sorry. I was just going to knock.”

  “What did you want?”

  He looked her over. “What did you want?”

  Frustration welled in her, and she stepped out into the hallway, shutting the door. She blurted out the first thing that popped into her head. “You’re a jerk.”

  Cade blinked. “What?”

  “You heard me. You’re selfish. You didn’t call me because you thought I wouldn’t want to be with someone in your situation. But did you ever think about how I felt about it? Did you once think about what your silence was doing to me?”

  “My silence?”

  “Yes.” She pushed his shoulder, anger building up in her. “You weren’t there for me. I wanted to talk to you. Wanted to make sure you were okay. I wanted to tell you things.” Her fists pounded on his chest. “But you wouldn’t call.”

  Cade grabbed her wrists and pushed her up against the door. “Meg. Stop.”

  She sucked in a breath and his scent surrounded her. It brought back to her mind the vivid memories she’d buried. Her heart beat hard against her ribcage. His lips were only millimeters from hers. “Meg,” he said, but it sounded more like a sigh.

  And then she couldn’t stand it anymore. She closed the distance and pressed her lips to his. He let go of her wrists and she wrapped her arms around his neck. The kiss was hungry. Passionate. And Meg’s legs turned to rubber.

  Cade pulled her to him, the kiss unable to keep up with her need to fill her life with Cade. She missed the way one side of his mouth quirked up when he smiled. She missed his kind nature and the way he did things for her out of the blue. She missed the conversations they had and the way she felt when he was near her.

  He pulled back and put his forehead on hers. “I’m so sorry, Meg. I should have talked to you. I was being stupid.”

  “Yes, you were.”

  He chuckled and kissed her nose. “What can I do to make it up to you?”

  “Tell me you love me.”

  His expression grew serious, and he stroked her cheek with the back of his knuckles. “I love you, Meg.”

  His words sent a jolt of electricity through her. It warmed her, and she snuggled into his chest. “I love you too, Cade.”

  “Thank you for saving me.”

  She pulled back in surprise. “What do you mean?”

  Cade played with a strand of her hair. “You don’t know? You have a habit of saving me. On the night we met, and when Zane had a gun to my head. And now. You’ve saved me from a life without you.”

  He lifted her chin with the crook of his finger and kissed her. Meg melted into him.

  Epilogue

  Meg tugged on the blindfold, her curiosity overwhelming her. “Can I take it off now?”

  Cade chuckled. “Not yet. But soon.”

  “Holy cow, Cade, you’re driving me insane. First, a private jet. Now a long drive without being able to see anything. Where the heck are you taking me?”

  “Somewhere special. It is our one-year anniversary, after all.”

  Meg warmed at the words. They’d been married one year. It almost was too good to be true. Cade had swept her off her feet with a whirlwind courtship and engagement. And their first year of marriage had been bliss. “You know, I keep telling you, I don’t need anything but you.”

  His low chuckle came again. “I know. But I think you’ll like this present.”

  “You know I have everything I’ve ever wanted. A great husband. A wonderful career.”

  “Because you did what I said.”

  Meg held in a laugh. Cade never tired of reminding her. He was the one who told her to upload her singing videos to YouTube. And now she had her own record deal. “Yes, because I did what you said. You’re the smart one.”

  “And you’re the talented one.”

  The car slowed, and she heard the crunch of gravel. Then he stopped. “Okay, let me get you out, and then you can take off the blindfold.”

  Meg almost peeked but decided it was best to let him guide her out of the car. She heard the door open and felt Cade’s strong hand take hers. “Hang on to me.”

  That wasn’t a problem. She clung to him, the smell of his cologne making her weak in the knees. He still had that effect on her. Cade slid his arm around her and guided her a few steps. “Okay. You can remove the blindfold now.”

  Meg slid the fabric over her head, taking in the sight before her. The mansion in the mountains. She gasped. The once peeling paint was bright and fresh. The detailed woodwork had been restored. The shrubbery was trimmed, and flowers bloomed along the path to the front door. “It’s beautiful. I can’t believe it. You did it. This was your dream. And now it’s finished. It’s going to bring in a ton of business.”

  Cade smiled, his eyes holding a secret. “I don’t think you understand. It’s for you.”

  She stared at him, not comprehending. “What?”

  He motioned to the house. “This is our new home.”

  Meg’s mouth dropped, and tears stung her eyes. “You’re freakin’ kidding me.”

  He chuckled. “Nope. And it has hot running water and everything. Want to go take a look?”

  Meg was too stunned to respond right away. The mansion they’d stayed at. The beautiful, curved staircase and antique chandeliers. The peaceful mountain home. She couldn’t even speak with the emotion running through her.

  Cade’s eyebrows knit together. “The home doesn’t hold bad memories for you, does it?”

  She blinked her tears away. “No. I mean, yes, but it also holds wonderful memories.”

  “And I installed a state-of-the-art security system. No one will ever break in again.”

  Meg threw her arms around Cade’s neck. “Honey, this is too much. Now I look like an idiot.”

  “Idiot?”

  “Yeah. I got you a tie.”

  He laughed and picked her up, swinging her around. “You don’t have to give me anything. I already have my present. You.”

  Meg kissed him, her emotions racing through her. She didn’t know what she did to deserve this life, but all her dreams were coming true. Cade was her dream come true.

  THANK YOU FOR READING my book! If you enjoyed this one, check out Accidentally Married. Madison thinks she’s getting a job at Jameson Technologies. Jared thinks she’s playing the part of his fake girlfriend. A misunderstanding leads to hilarity when Madison meets Jared’s family.

  GET IT HERE NOW!

  HERE’S A SNEAK PEEK:

  Madison pulled her car into the parking spot, relieved she found an empty space so close to the building. Even though it was only mid-morning, the temperature had risen to an uncomfortable level. A long walk would make her look like a melted ice cube by the time she entered Jameson Technologies. And she couldn’t give a bad impression. She needed this job.

  Three weeks of handing out résumés and filling out applications, and she hadn’t gotten anywhere. She’d promised Carrie she would pay her half of the rent this week, but her bank account was empty.

  She shoved the car into park, and it sputtered, choked, and then died. Running the air conditioner always made it feisty. At least the poor thing didn’t die on her while driving...most of the time.

  She picked up her satchel and stepped out onto the pavement. Heat assaulted her, and she ran a self-conscious hand through her hair. The last few days her horoscope had the theme of something new on her horizon. This was it. Her something new was this job, she was sure of it. She squared her shoulders and tried to put more confidence in her step.

  The tallest building in Crimson Ridge stood before her in all its horrific, shiny glory. The impersonal glass reflected the sun into her eyes. The rest of the business district held older buildings with detailed archi
tecture. Jameson Technologies was an eyesore.

  As much as she hated the building, she hated mooching off Carrie even more. Her heels clicked on the sidewalk as she neared the glass doors. Her stomach clenched.

  Even though she’d never been an administrative assistant, it couldn’t be hard. As an actress, she had played several small roles, one of them a secretary. Granted, she had only been on camera for ten seconds before the building blew up, but she had answered the phone and stared at her nails, and she felt like she had embodied the part.

  She pulled the smooth metal handle, and the glass door glided open. The lobby felt cold and impersonal with its sleek lines and modern fixtures. Everything was either silver or beige. Down a short hallway to the right, an elevator caught her eye, and a large reception desk sat on the left, which she approached. The woman behind the desk gave a tight-lipped smile.

  “May I help you?”

  “I’m here to see Mr. Jameson.” She tried to sound confident, like she belonged in a place like this.

  The woman’s eyes traveled the length of her, and she pursed her red lips. “He’s been waiting for you.”

  “He has?” Madison tried to keep her mouth from falling open. When Carrie told her a position at Jameson Technologies was about to open up, she didn’t realize her roommate had set up an interview. What luck.

  The receptionist nodded, the corners of her mouth pulling down in disapproval. “Go straight up to his office. Twenty-third floor.”

  Madison strode across the expensive tile floor to the elevator. She pressed the up button and stepped back. Her heart fluttered in her chest. If she played this right, she could be employed by noon.

  Carrie was a life saver. Last night she overheard a woman at the shopping center talking about how she was quitting her job. Like a true friend, she asked around until she found out the woman was Mr. Jameson’s administrative assistant.

  The elevator dinged, and the doors slid open. Madison stepped inside and pressed the button for the twenty-third floor. According to Carrie, the woman indicated she would waltz into Mr. Jameson’s office this morning and quit. If the stars aligned, Madison would secure the position before they even called a temp agency.