“Understood. There’s a lot of wild land out there to cover. I’d suggest you try a helicopter, or one of those drones everyone is arguing about on the news. You might have better luck that way than trying to cover all that territory on the ground.”
“Are you willing to go for a ride to take a look? You know your land better than anyone, I presume.”
“Sure. Set it up. I wouldn’t mind getting some aerial shots for my own use.”
“I’ll be in contact.” Caden held out his hand.
Rory took it and held tight. “You do anything that puts her in danger, and I’ll take off your head.”
“Understood. But she finds out anything, I want to know.”
“Understood.” Rory shook, then released Caden’s hand. He waited for the guy to climb in his truck and drive away. When he turned around, he spotted Sadie standing in the open doorway staring back at him. If anything happened to her, he’d never forgive himself. He couldn’t live without her. He didn’t want to. But how to make her a permanent part of his life with all this turmoil mucking up their lives? He didn’t know, but he’d find a way, because her happiness meant everything to him, and she meant everything to his future happiness.
CHAPTER 22
Sadie turned from the front door and walked down the hall toward her room. She stopped outside her father’s bedroom door and stared at the stripped bare mattress. The cleaning crew had done a great job. Not a single drop or splatter of blood remained, but she still saw it clear as day in her mind. She closed her eyes and breathed in and out, trying to erase the image and the echo of fear running through her system.
Strong hands clamped on to her shoulders and rubbed her tight muscles. She exhaled and relaxed into Rory’s touch. She’d become so used to him touching her in such a short time. “Used to” didn’t quite cover it; she craved his touch. It always calmed and excited her all at once.
“What does he want from me? I can’t tell him anything the cops don’t already know. My brother is pissed at me, you, the world. What am I supposed to do?”
“Breathe, sweetheart.”
She sucked in a ragged breath, turned, and pressed her forehead to his chest. His hands slid around her waist, and he held her gently. That was Rory, a steady presence. One who never pushed her, never asked for more than she was willing to give, and always stood with her.
She gripped his sides, pushed back, and stared up at him. Before she said a word, he leaned down and kissed her softly.
“What was that for?”
“You looked like you needed it.”
She squished up one side of her mouth and nodded. “I always seem to need a kiss from you.”
“Happy to supply as many as you need.”
“One more, then it’s time to get down to business.”
Rory’s smile just might do her in. He leaned down and pressed his mouth to hers, then brushed his lips over hers and sank in. She opened to him, savoring the glide of his tongue over hers. His hands slid up her sides a second before his thumbs swept along the outside of her breasts. She pressed close to him and his hands rubbed down her back and over her bottom. His fingers sank into her ass and pulled her up and closer, her belly rubbing against his hard length. She wanted to get her hands on him, but not here. Not now. He must have felt the same way, because the minute her hands touched his bare back under his shirt, he pulled away, breathing hard. His intense gaze met hers as he licked his bottom lip in a move so sexy she wanted to bite his lip and taste him again.
“Honey, you keep kissing and touching me that way, we’re not going to get anything done.”
She cocked up one eyebrow and gave him a half smile. “We’ll get one thing done.”
He planted one hand on her bottom and pushed her down the hall toward her room. “Pack.”
“Spoilsport.”
“You’re asking for trouble, woman.”
“I’ve got my hands full of it, I might as well have some fun.”
“You like living dangerously.”
“Nothing seems dangerous when I’m with you.” She walked past her brother’s room and stopped short. She went through the door and stared at the broken dresser drawer and the hole it made in the wall when her brother must have thrown it. “Connor’s been here.”
Rory bent and picked up an empty bottle of whiskey. The brown dregs settled in the corner of the bottle. “Looks like he might have slept here last night and drank away his sorrows.”
“Probably waiting for me to come home. Even though we spoke last night, I didn’t tell him where I stayed. Damn. He must be really hurting. I can’t imagine how he feels. He missed being there in my father’s final hours. He never got the chance to make things right.”