Page 51 of The Broken Note

Cadence makes that helpless cry again. Her bottom lip trembles. “Why would you give such a valuable piece of jewelry to me?”

“Because I wanted you to have it.” My tone is matter-of-fact.

The stare she levels me would have made me wince if I were a smaller guy.

I blink as if none of it freaking matters.

Probably the wrong move.

Curses sputtering past her pretty lips, she thrusts to her feet and storms past me. I stop her by slamming my hand against the door.

She jerks to a stop and tips her chin up, meeting my eyes with a challenging stare.

“I’m not upset, Cadey. If you needed the cash—”

“Iwillpunch you,” she snaps.

My lips quirk up, but I don’t laugh. Instead, I rub her shoulders. “Who took the ring, Cadey? And why does it make you so upset?”

“It’s…” She sighs. “It’s really complicated.”

“Let me un-complicate it. I’m good at that.” I keep touching her and I notice the tension in her shoulders start to fade.

She closes her eyes. “Actually, my mom—”

My phone rings.

Cadence stiffens and steps back.

I check the caller.

Finn.

Damn.

“I need to…” I gesture to the phone.

She turns away from me.

Irritated, I slap the phone to my ear. “This better be good, Finn.”

“You think I would have called you to discuss the freaking weather?”

I cringe. That’s not good. Finn sounds like he’s at the edge of his patience. My stoic brother rarely loses his cool.

“What’s going on?” I ask urgently.

“Zane just called me. Dad’s home. He’s saying he’s moving in.” Finn pauses. “And he invited Miss Jamieson to move in with him and her mother.”

Holy freaking…

Wejustgot Zane to recover from that bomb dad dropped on our heads at the restaurant. It’s one thing to see the woman he loves but can’t have waltzing around at school. It’s another freaking thing entirely to have her in the same house, using our showers, prancing around in a nightgown in the kitchen.

Hell, I don’t even live with Cadence and I already find it hard to keep my hands off her.

“Dad’s going to discuss it tonight over dinner. He’s already there with Marion.”

I pinch the bridge of my nose. “Alright. Alright, dad wants to make this uncomfortable? We play the same game. I’m calling mom.”