Page 128 of Family Affair

Chapter 29

She woke up alone in bed.

The sunlight spilled from the half-curtained window, and the bedside clock informed her that the morning had almost gone by.

She sat up in disbelief and rubbed her eyes, but it didn’t change the clock’s digits.

Throwing the covers to the side, Coco got up and… she was naked. She paused, savoring the sensation. Being naked felt good. To think of it, she felt great, energized, alive.

She glanced at the bed that was all mussed, with the pillows bunched up and the comforter twisted funny. The small satisfied smile found its way to her lips. She never abused her bedding by wadding the pillow up in a knot. Cade had slept next to her, at least part of the night; he must be a restless sleeper.

Strange noises coming from the house drew her attention away from the bed. Throwing on her robe, she hurried out of the bedroom and stopped in her tracks.

A bearded guy with a hanging belly cinched by a utility belt was taking her front door off the hinges.

To her mortification, the first words that sprang to mind wereWhat the fuck are you doing?

She’d been around the potty-mouthed Sheffields too long.

She cleared her throat. “Excuse me, are you really taking down my door?”

The guy turned and gave her a surprised look. “Yes, ma’am, I sure am.”

“Just like that, off goes the door.” She tried to make sense.

He paused. “Yes, ma’am.”

She propped her fists on her waist. “And you think it’s perfectly okay.”

A look of cautious confusion crept onto the ruddy guy’s face. “Ah… Yes, ma’am.”

The quiet laugh sounded from behind, and she felt the heat of Cade’s body pressing to her back as he took her in his arms. “Love, let’s not harass this nice man over here. He’s replacing the door per my request.”

“The door? We discussed changing the lock!” She stiffened, fighting the urge to lean into him. He was just a tad overbearing.

“Your door’s crap and needs to be replaced.”

“So you took the initiative while I was sleeping?”

“Pretty much. I was afraid if you woke up, you’d resist.” He didn’t sound remotely remorseful.

She turned around to look at him and… She didn’t know what she had expected. The morning-after glow? The softened features? A tender smile?

He looked the same, face stern, eyes watchful, and the slight twist to his mouth vaguely sarcastic. Nothing changed about his appearance except for a large red hickey that the collar of his shirt couldn’t quite conceal.

Noting the direction of her look, he smiled his powerful smile and his deep eyes gleamed.

“Sleep well?”

She nodded, face hot from remembering how greedily she sucked and licked and kissed his neck.

“I brought you food.” He let go of her, and the cuddling was over. “Shower, eat, and let’s go say hi to Virgil.”

By the time the new front door was in place and outfitted with a top-of-the-art lock, Coco had showered and put her bed to rights. She ate the meal Cade had brought, while he supervised the door installation. Cade had calculated correctly, and full stomach dampened her desire to harangue him about the door. If he wanted her mother to have a good door, well, why would she argue?

They set off for their visit in her little hybrid.

“Cute car.” Cade observed, adjusting the passenger seat as far back as the mechanics allowed. His tone saidmidgets only. His knees stuck up and out at awkward angles but he didn’t complain.