Jill Shalvis - The Detective’s Undoing

Cade’s jaw tightened, but he said nothing until they were on the plane.

When they’d hit full altitude, he turned toward her, put his hands on either armrest so that she was caged in by him and leaned close. “How long are you going to pull this ‘I’m too strong to need you’ act?”

Her stomach fell, and it had nothing to do with the altitude. “I don’t need you.”

His response was a low obscenity. “You’re good to go, right, Delia? Strong enough to take on the world, screw those who care about you.”

“Cade-”

“How long until you break down and admit that this is all too much for one person to handle and that it’s okay to lean on someone?”

“Who would I lean on?” she asked in a polite voice so he wouldn’t know how deeply he’d cut. She was strong enough, damn him. She leveled him with a look that would have withered any other male. Not Cade, who just met her gaze evenly. Steadily. Patiently.

“Your sisters for starters,” he suggested.

With a huge sigh, she broke eye contact. “I can’t,” she mumbled, feeling the shame heat her face.

“Why the hell not?”

She studied the cloud formation.

“Delia.”

“Because.”

“Because why?”

“Because I lied to them about the trouble I might have getting custody, okay? I couldn’t stand the thought of failure or the fact that I’ve made nothing of my life, so much so that I couldn’t even get custody of my own brother.”

“Oh, Delia.” With a gentleness that nearly broke her, he forced her to look at him. “You aren’t looking at yourself very clearly if you honestly believe that.”

“You’re the one with rose-colored glasses here, Cade.”

“You’re the most amazing woman. I wish you could see you the way I do.”

Embarrassed, she scoffed and tried to look away, but he held her, and in his touch she found the oddest thing. Comfort. In his voice she found honesty and an affection that made her swallow hard. “How do you see me?”

“As a woman strong and capable, yet warm and full of passion for life. You’re incredible, Delia.”

She turned away, she had to, for he’d touched her deeply, and embarrassed her, too.

“No, listen to me,” he said urgently. “I know your life hasn’t been easy, you’ve certainly never been given any advantages, and yet look at you. By sheer grit and hard work, you’ve made a life for yourself and your sisters. You run a guest ranch, for God’s sake. You’re still in control, Delia. You can do this.”

“Can I?” she whispered.

“Yeah. Oh, yeah.” His voice was strong and sure. It was full of a pride that made her want to believe him just to prove herself worthy of his trust.

“Delia…what about me?” His gaze held hers, his fingers stroked her cheek. “During those times when you can’t always be strong, when you need someone, why can’t you come to me?”

“I think that’s pretty obvious, considering you’re the one who runs as fast as he can every time we get too close.”

The golden specks in his eyes danced with a sudden heat. “I’m not running now,” he whispered.

“Running now would be detrimental to your health,” she said, glancing outside. But damn him, she was breathless. Just one touch and she was leaning toward him, oblivious to the passengers around them, hoping, craving, nearly begging for his mouth to meet hers.

“Delia,” he said. Just that, just her name on a little sigh as he kissed her lightly. “I think I have a problem.” His mouth touched hers again. “You.”

That had her spine stiffening, even as her mouth tingled from his kiss. “I’m no one’s problem. And I’m not going to fall apart. I don’t ever fall apart.” Turning away, she stared out the window, watching her mountains vanish as she headed back to her city.

The man beside her remained silent as she watched her two worlds mesh.

They drove directly to Scott’s office, but Cade could think of little else other than Delia.

She was an enigma, cool, sophisticated, elegant. And yet much of that was just a front for the woman beneath, the woman he was beginning to know better than he’d ever intended.

She had a heart of gold, though she’d probably freeze him over with one hard gaze if he dared to tell her so. She was the strongest, most compassionate, most vulnerable woman he’d ever met.

And he wanted her with everything he had.

What a mess. He’d told himself he’d never again open up his heart, not after suffering the loss of his precious family for eight long years.

Eight long years.

But didn’t he, maybe just a little, deserve some happiness?

Delia didn’t say a word as they were ushered into Scott’s office.

He was on the phone when they entered, and though Scott didn’t seem pleased to see them, he hung up and smiled politely. “Hello.”

“You haven’t been honest with me,” Delia said calmly before Cade could speak. “You want custody of Jacob and you never told me.”

“Why should I have?” He folded his hands and watched her with unreadable eyes. “You showed up out of the blue wanting Jacob. I couldn’t be expected to trust that you were who you said you were.”

“I showed up out of the blue,” Delia responded, “because I didn’t know Jacob existed until Cade started researching my past for the Triple M. And once I did come into the picture, you knew exactly who I was. You had me checked out before you approved visitation with Jacob.”

“Checking you out is procedure.”

“And yet the question remains,” Cade said. “Why didn’t you mention you wanted custody?”

“It was never a secret,” Scott insisted. “Jacob is-was-completely alone. We didn’t even have Edna in the picture then. We just…” He shrugged. “We bonded in a very strong way right from the beginning. He needed someone and he liked me, even trusted me. I decided to petition for custody, because I saw no problem with my taking him.”

“But then you found Edna,” Cade said. “Did you rescind your request for custody then?”

“Yes, we found Edna, who was blood-related and was willing and able to handle both the boy and his financial situation.”

“So did you rescind the custody request?” Cade pressed, and Scott broke eye contact.

“No,” he said without further explanation.

“Does Edna know?”

“Look, all along we’ve known Edna’s just a temporary situation.”

Cade wasn’t buying that. “Because of her age?”

“Yes. She’d keep him, but it isn’t her first choice.”

“And your keeping Jacob had nothing to do with anything but your fondness for him?”

Scott’s eyes narrowed. “What are you getting at?”

“It’s just a question.”

“I don’t think I like the implication.”

“I haven’t implied anything. Yet. But there is the matter of your considerable debt,” Cade said.

Scott went still.

“Stock-market problems, Scott? Or maybe drugs?”

“I’ve never done drugs. I take care of children, for God’s sake,” Scott said furiously.

“Gambling, then?”

“That’s none of your business. I don’t know how you could have found out.”

“If I did, so will the court. You must realize you’ll be investigated if you’re going for custody.”

“I’m already approved for foster care-I have been for years. Again, this is none of your business.”

“No, but it’s Jacob’s,” Cade said. “He has a sizable inheritance.”

“That money is protected by his trust fund.”

“And accessible to Jacob’s guardian.”

Scott rose. “I’d like both of you to leave now.”

“I’m sure you would,” Cade said, rising, too, and reaching for Delia’s hand. He was shocked to feel it tremble before she turned up her palm to lock their fingers.