Page 144 of Traces Of You

She had to be handled differently.

She always made him feel so powerful around her.

But he’d seen that she’d come into her own power and it was a wonderful event to witness.

“She does good work,” Clay said. “I could use her eye in design. The whole wedding thing is going to be over my head. I thought revenue for the space would be great, but the time and headache aren’t my thing dealing with people who want it.”

Ford laughed. “I knew that. You’ve got Mom doing it, don’t you?”

“Yeah and Dad gave me shit over putting more work on Mom.”

Which saved Ford from having to do that.

Seemed it was working out for Reenie though.

“I’m positive Reenie will gladly do it.”

“Why isn’t she moving in with you?”

“Because she’s had too many men in her life tell her what to do,” he said.

“But you want her with you. We can all see it.”

“Which means she can too,” he said. Maybe that was part of the reason he was so ornery the past few days as well.

It wasn’t just being stuck in the house, feeling drained and helpless, it was knowing that Reenie saw what everyone elsedid. And still, she kept talking about going back to the cabin on Monday.

He had to give her freedom to choose. It’d be his greatest gift to her, even if it was the furthest thing from his nature to do.

His leading fear was losing her, but pushing her away with his insecurities wasn’t an option.

She found her inner courage and he’d help her hone it.

If it meant that strength she gained resulted in her leaving, he’d find a way to survive again.

“I’m the last person to give dating advice,” Clay said.

“That’s right, so don’t do it.” His phone vibrated in his pocket, he pulled it out and saw Reenie calling him. “Hey,” he said. “Ready to come get me?”

She was crying. He heard the sobs, but then the anger behind her words. “Ford. Someone broke in to my home and destroyed everything!”

“Get out now. Drive back. We are on the way.”

“What’s going on?” Clay asked, already moving toward the door ahead of Ford. Damn leg wouldn’t let him run.

“The cabin has been trashed. I thought you were watching it.”

“I am,” Clay shouted. His brother ran to his truck and drove it back to get Ford.

“If you were, you’d know someone was in it. Mom got Reenie clothes after everything happened. No way it was Randy or his men.”

Clay was speeding across the property and to the cabin.

To Reenie.

“They weren’t there,” Clay said. “I’d know.”

“You didn’t know they were in the cafe,” he argued.