She knew Cade had to be close and hoped it had not been he who had fallen. “Watch out for the water on the floor,” she shouted. “It’s real slippery. I think it knocked him down.”
“Where?”
“Center of the room,” Paige answered.
Cade’s flashlight blinked on. He pointed it at the area she’d indicated. All that was visible was a lot of scattered water and a baseball bat that didn’t belong there. The prowler himself was gone.
Cade knew that keeping Paige with him would hamper his ability to search. However, he decided he’d rather know exactly where she was than try to apprehend a criminal who already had a good head start. He’d leave that man to the patrol cars he could hear arriving, their sirens howling. Besides, Cade reasoned, if he left Paige alone, the culprit might double back and have another chance to harm her.
Taking charge, Cade grasped her upper arm. Together, they followed a trail of damp footprints that led through the house and out the front door.
“Where’s Angie?” Paige asked in a tremulous voice. “Did he get her?”
“No. I did.”
“But…”
“She’s in the truck.” Cade glowered. Right now, right here, he was so angry he was almost afraid to speak.
He didn’t slacken his grip until they had reached the pickup and he’d seen that all his charges were safely locked inside. Then, he turned to greet the approaching police officers.
Cade blew a heavy sigh as he ran his fingers through his wet hair and pushed it back. He was soaked to the skin. He was tired of having to ask for help. He was fed up with trying to keep tabs on a headstrong woman who seemed bent on self-destruction. And he was disgusted with himself for letting said woman get under his skin. She did nothing but drive him crazy and cause him grief.
“So what’s my problem?” he muttered under his breath. “A few more days and I’ll be back home.”
Without Paige Bryant, his conscience added. Although that fact had first seemed inconsequential, then later had begun to make him believe he might be in love, he now realized it was simply the way things had to be. He lived and worked in San Antonio. She had to stay in Austin. They were not only separated by their obviously incompatible personalities, they would soon have many miles of Texas roads between them, too.
“And then I’ll be able to stop thinking about her all the time,” Cade insisted.
He told himself he believed it, too. Well, sort of.
Paige was so exhausted from her ordeal she was sure she’d sleep well that night. Unfortunately, disturbing thoughts concerning Cade kept her awake till almost dawn. She’d never seen anyone as angry as he’d been when he’d found her cornered in the kitchen.
After the sheriff’s deputies had checked her house to make sure no one was hiding inside, she and Cade had delivered Angie to an emergency room for a checkup. There, doctors had insisted on keeping the young woman for observation. Paige had refused to submit herself to the same scrutiny, even though Cade had acted as if he’d wanted her to agree to anything that would keep her out of his hair.
“One more hard day should do it,” she’d told him after they’d seen Angela settled. “I’ll definitely be done with the reconstruction by tomorrow evening, if not sooner. I’m not going to waste time lying in a hospital bed when there’s work to be done.”
That had apparently been a logical enough argument to convince him. He had driven her back to the motel and left her at her door without even saying good-night. She knew she’d upset him, but surely they could have talked it all out if they’d tried. Instead, he’d been acting like a spoiled brat throwing a tantrum.
Hoping he’d have cooled off by morning, she was flabbergasted when she started to leave her room the next day and found him right outside. He was seated on the ground, wrapped in a blanket, with his back propped against her door. His hat was tilted over his eyes.
Paige gave a little gasp of surprise. “Were you there all night?”
“Yup,” he said, righting the hat. “I’ve learned my lesson. Can’t trust you to stay put.”
“Don’t be ridiculous. You must be half-frozen. At least come in and let me make you a cup of hot coffee.”
“No, thanks.” He got to his feet and stretched as he eyed her fresh clothing. “You ready to go?”
“Almost. I was just going to knock on your door and ask you to walk Max while I brushed my hair.”
The hard glance he gave her in response hurt all the way to her toes. She’d told him the absolute truth and he was looking at her as if she were the biggest, boldest liar he’d ever met.
“Okay,” Paige said, taking a step with the dog at heel. “Suit yourself. The longer we hang around here wasting time, the longer it will be before I finish that face for you.”
He shed the blanket and held out a hand. “Give him to me. Just make it quick.” Taking a step away while Max tugged on the other end of the leash, he added, “And don’t try anything. I’ll be watching your door every second.”
Paige was so taken aback she couldn’t come up with a snappy retort. Why bother trying? As things stood, she figured the best thing to do was ignore him, although doing that went against her nature. It didn’t seem right to accept his censure without trying to explain.
Explain what? Obviously, she’d made him livid by doing what she’d thought at the time was the right thing. There was no way to relive last night and change her actions. Besides, she hadn’t done or said anything wrong. Not really. Why couldn’t he see how pure her motives were, how tender her feelings were—how deeply his silence was hurting her?
If she hadn’t been so utterly in love with the man she wouldn’t have cared how put out he was. But because she did care, with all her heart, she knew she couldn’t let him just drive away once her work was finished. There had to be some way to convince him to forgive her first. There had to be.
Those thoughts took her back to her childhood, to the way she’d often felt like an outsider. A useless member of a hopelessly fractured family. Back then, she’d simply accepted it as her lot in life.
Not this time, Paige vowed. She’d experienced a taste of what it meant to belong, to be accepted just as she was, and it was high time she reminded that stubborn Ranger of his own words about forgiveness.
Pausing, she closed her eyes and recalled her kindly grandfather exactly the way Cade had suggested. “If You’re really like Gramps, God, You’re going to have to show me because I don’t understand any of this. You gave me a sister to love, then took her away. Are You going to take Cade, too, or is there something I can do to make things right between us? Tell me? Please?” A catch in her throat stopped her from going any further.
Sniffling, she opened her eyes and went to the bathroom sink to splash cold water on her face. She was not going to lose control. She was not going to cry.
Reflected in the vanity mirror, Paige saw more than the image of the capable, talented career woman she’d expected. She also saw a glimmer of hope. That was enough to make her smile and wonder. It seemed impossible that it could be that easy to connect with her heavenly Father when churches had insisted for thousands of years that they were the only way to reach Him.
Paige straightened and ran the brush through her hair one more time. She grinned at the mirror. “Okay, God,” she said, “I’ll give it another shot. I do want to believe the same way I used to when I was a kid. It just seemed so much easier to do back then. Being an adult is very confusing.”
Turning off the lights, she picked up her purse and headed for the door. “Being in love with Cade Jarvis is even worse,” she whispered to herself. “Figuring out the secrets of the universe has to be easier than understanding that Ranger. Especially since last night.”
Cade’s pulse jumped the instant Paige reappeared. He tugged on Max’s collar and pointed. “There she is, old boy. Let’s go.”
More than eager, the sheepdog bounded toward her as fast as the taut leash would allow. Fortunately for Cade, the tether was l
ong enough that he didn’t have to do more than jog to keep up till the dog reached both the truck and its master.
Cade stood back while Paige greeted her pet as if they’d been parted for years and had desperately missed each other the whole time. He knew what that felt like, if only by imagining his future.
“We’ll swing by the garage and pick up your truck today,” he said flatly as he held the door for her. “I’m sure it’ll feel good to have your own transportation.”
“Yes. It will.”
He figured he might as well go on, explain the necessary details and get it all over with. “I’ve booked your room here for the rest of the week,” he said, “just in case you need it.”
“I see. What about my house? What about Angela? We both have to live somewhere.”
“We expect to get good prints from the bat the guy dropped in your kitchen. Once we know who he is, I’m sure we’ll have him in custody in no time.”
“What if you don’t? What if his fingerprints aren’t in IAFIS because he’s never been caught before?”
“Don’t borrow trouble,” Cade said, giving her a scowl. To his surprise, Paige chuckled low instead of staying serious.
“Borrow it?” she said with arched brows. “I don’t have to borrow a thing. I have plenty of trouble that’s my very own.”
He set his jaw. She was right, of course. She had enough problems for a dozen people. Once she finished her current assignment and they were able to ID the victim, however, he was pretty sure she’d be in the clear. That was even more likely since her attacker had told her he was merely doing a job.
What if that job included murder instead of just slowing her work? Cade asked himself. He’d spent a lot of time last night, while he was leaned against her door, praying that this case would wrap up satisfactorily before he had to leave Austin. It would have pleased him a lot more if he’d been sure the attacks on Paige would stop once her work was completed.
Other Rangers would continue to guard her, of course. He knew that. He also knew that nobody was going to keep an eye on her the way he had—with every ounce of his spirit as well as his heart.
EIGHTEEN
The sun had set over an hour ago. Paige’s shoulder and neck muscles were screaming at her to stop working. She refused to give in. She also refused to keep looking at the area across the room where the Ranger had made himself at home, his boots propped on her desk like a footstool, his hat once again shading his eyes. He’d been sitting like that for so long she wondered if he was asleep.
The ringing of his cell phone and the slow, deliberate way he sat up demonstrated full control and proved he’d been playing possum.
Although she kept her attention focused on the bust of the crime victim, she managed to listen to Cade’s words. He’d wasted so few of them on her during that particular day she was thirsty for the sound of his voice and the way its vibrations made her tingle all the way to the roots of her long, brown hair.
This time, to Paige’s relief, Cade didn’t sound angry.
“Hi, Dad. What’s up?” He got to his feet, cupping the phone and ambling toward the door. “Yeah. I’m still in Austin.”
Her hands trembled enough that she laid down the tool she’d been using to accent the hairs in the clay eyebrows.
“No. I didn’t.” Cade paused and glanced at her. “No. I don’t think so.”
Holding very still, Paige remained seated on the tall stool beside her worktable and refused to flinch under his obvious scrutiny.
“It’s just not going to work out, Dad,” he finally said. “Hold on a sec.”
Cade lowered the instrument, covered it with his other hand and spoke directly to her. “I’m going to step into the hall to finish this call. Don’t try to sneak out. I’ll be right there.”
Her jaw slackened. She wanted to insist she was honest and trustworthy but it was evident he was not ready to hear anything like that, let alone accept it as fact.
Nodding, she pressed her lips into a thin line, swiveled the stool and the bust so she’d have a plausible excuse to break eye contact and went back to work.
It wasn’t until she heard the door close behind Cade that she turned back to stare after him, unseeing.
Her heart was truly breaking. If this was the answer to those fervent prayers she’d recently prayed, she’d sure hate to see what would happen if she hadn’t asked for the Lord’s guidance.
Unshed tears gathered behind her lashes. “I’m sorry if I blew it, Father. Really, I am. I was doing my best, the same way I always have. The same way I did when Amy was kidnapped.”
Since her hands had clay on them, she swiped at her damp cheeks with the back of her wrist. “I am so, so sorry. Please forgive me.”
This time, instead of feeling elation or hope, she was overcome by a sense of peace. It flowed down over her slowly, gently, as if someone were pouring warm oil on her hair and letting it cover her, body and soul.
The tears she’d been holding back followed until she was weeping openly and unashamed, as if they were completing the cleansing her spontaneous prayer had begun.
Cade remained in the hallway, although he did step away from Paige’s studio door so there wouldn’t be any chance of her overhearing the rest of his conversation.
“Look, Dad. It’s just not going to happen.”
“She told you she wouldn’t come for Thanksgiving?”
“I never asked her. She drives me crazy, okay?”
“How? What does she do that’s so bad?”
“She…” Cade searched for the right words. He didn’t want to rehash everything that had happened so he simplified. “She thinks.”
Sam chortled. “What’s wrong with that? At least your kids will be smart.”
“There won’t be any kids, Dad. At this point I doubt I’ll ever get married, so forget it.”
“Have it your own way.”
Cade could tell that his father was still highly amused. “It’s not funny.”
“Fine. Care to tell me what put the burr under your saddle? Maybe if you talk about it you’ll see how silly it is to throw away a good woman just because she’s a little headstrong.”
“A little? Paige is the most stubborn, hardheaded person I’ve ever met, except maybe for you.”
“Then she’s in good company.” Another guffaw sounded smothered, as if Jacob were trying to mute it. “Say, I have an idea. I’ve been a widower for a long time. How about introducing me to that lady? She sounds like my type, even if she’s not yours.”
“Wash your mouth out you dirty old man,” Cade gibed, having to laugh in spite of himself. “Paige is too good for you.” He paused then finally said, “You’re right. I can’t stand thinking of her as any other man’s wife.”
“Good. So, when’re you gonna come to your senses and ask her to dinner? Time’s a-wastin’. Thanksgiving’s next week.”
“I know. And like I said, I’ll be in San Antonio and coming home every night by that time.” Hesitating, he stood with his back to the outer door and stared at the entrance to the studio where Paige was working so hard.
Heaving a deep sigh, Cade followed it with, “Okay. You win. I’ll talk to her about having holiday dinner with us before I leave Austin. Will that satisfy you?”
“Hey, I’m not the one to satisfy. How does it set with you, son?”
“Beats me. She’s impossible. I can’t trust her to do things my way, even when her life may be in danger.”
“Sounds like a normal woman to me,” Jacob said. “Talk to you later. Call me back after you’ve invited her, will you?”
Cade nodded. “Yeah. I promise. Just don’t get your hopes up too high. She still may turn me down. We haven’t exactly been seeing eye-to-eye lately.”
His father was still laughing when they bid each other goodbye. Cade pushed the button on his cell to end the connection and stuffed the phone back into his pocket. What could he possibly say to break the ice with Paige? he wondered. She certainly hadn’t been ta
lkative today. Then again, neither had he.
Glancing down the deserted, semidark hallway he thought about stopping in to see Captain Parker the following morning and feeling him out about a possible transfer to the Austin office.
No, Cade decided immediately. If he left Company D it might remove him from the investigation into Captain Pike’s murder. He wasn’t going to walk away from that. Not now. Not ever.
Deep in thought, he shoved both hands into his jacket pockets and just stood there.
The next thing he knew, his head was exploding with pain and he felt himself losing consciousness.
With his last thought, he threw himself forward and stretched a hand toward the door to Paige’s studio. His fingertips brushed the knob.
Paige had fitted a short, brown, man’s wig on to her finished sculpture and had used her digital camera to photograph the result from all sides while Cade was gone.
She plugged the camera into her computer and downloaded the new images, then emailed them to all the Ranger divisions before leaning back and closing her eyes.
It was over. Finally. She turned her attention in the direction of the door. What was keeping Cade? His father must have had a lot more to say than that grumpy Ranger had lately.
Should she open the door and tell him she was done?
“Uh-uh. Not after the lecture he gave me when he left,” she muttered. “If he wants to see this reconstruction he’s just going to have to force himself to come back in and face me.”
A subtle sound beyond the door caught her attention. Since everyone else in the office had gone home long ago, she assumed Cade had locked the door on his way out and was fiddling with his key.
“Is that you?” she called, closing the distance. “You could have knocked, you know.”
Pressing an ear to the door she tried again. “Cade?”
As she waited, she felt fear begin to nibble at her. Then, the lights went out the same way they had the first night he’d visited her studio and she jumped as if she’d received an electric shock.
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