“You don’t need to do that…” Hope didn’t know why she was arguing with him, and yet she couldn’t help herself.

  “Gift horse,” he said, reminding her of what he’d said earlier.

  “Right.” If he was willing to do all that, she shouldn’t be looking for reasons to object. She certainly didn’t want to stand around in a parking lot for sixty minutes waiting for someone to come rescue her. Not when Cade seemed perfectly willing to help.

  It took only a few minutes to load everything and less than five to deliver Hope to the cottage. He helped her cart in the bags of groceries, taking the porch steps two at a time as he made quick work of the task. Hope had called AAA to cancel the tow truck, grateful for Cade coming to the rescue.

  As Cade drove off, Hope went to close the front door and noticed her landlady watching from the kitchen window on the other side of the yard. Just as she expected, her phone rang less than a minute later.

  “Was that Cade Lincoln?” Mellie asked, and then added, “Again?”

  Hope explained the situation.

  “Someone purposely knifed your tire?”

  “I don’t know if it was a knife or not, but it’s definitely flat, and clearly it wasn’t an accident.”

  “Someone is apparently unhappy with you,” Mellie said, stating the obvious. “Or it could be a simple case of vandalism. Rare, though, in broad daylight.” Cade had basically said the same thing, dismissing any thought that it was a random act. He’d convinced her she’d been targeted, and Hope couldn’t help thinking otherwise, however uncomfortable.

  “Cade stopped to help me,” Hope explained.

  “So I see,” Mellie said, with meaning.

  “He’s not so bad,” Hope felt compelled to tell her. She didn’t know many people who would go out of their way to lend this kind of assistance.

  “Preston says the same thing, and my husband is a good judge of character. But if Cade gives you any trouble…”

  “He won’t.” Hope was convinced Cade meant her no harm and felt the need to defend him. Knowing next to nothing about his background, she had little to go on other than the way he cared for the shelter animals. Yes, he’d been standoffish and uncommunicative, but Hope didn’t hold that against him. Learning that he was fulfilling his community service hours didn’t discourage her from being his friend. Everyone made mistakes; the key was learning and moving forward, which Cade appeared to be doing.

  “I’ve got to get these groceries put away,” Hope said, using that as an excuse to end the call.

  “Sure thing. Just know I’m keeping an eye on you.”

  “No need, Mellie.”

  “So you say. Fact is, I’m not willing to have you take any chances. If someone has a vendetta against you, then you need to be more aware of your surroundings and keep your eyes open.”

  “I will, for sure,” Hope promised.

  * * *

  —

  Nearly two hours passed before Cade returned. During that time, he’d removed the damaged tire, taken it to the tire shop, and had it examined and replaced. The shop called for her credit card number, which told her there was no saving the tire. Because it was a deliberate act of vandalism and not any flaw having to do with the tire or manufacturer, she was required to pay for the full cost of the replacement.

  Cade must have bargained with the salesperson because she was given a discounted price for the tire. When she asked to speak to Cade, the shop owner gave him the phone. When he mentioned the name of the shop, Hope recognized it as the one close to the high school.

  “It should have cost more,” she said, although she was grateful.

  He grunted as if it was no biggie. “I got an employee discount. Remember what I said about a gift horse?” The abrupt way he spoke told her he didn’t appreciate her questioning him.

  So Cade worked at the tire shop. “Okay, okay, got it. Thank you.”

  “I won’t be long. I’ll be by to pick you up in a few minutes.”

  “Okay.”

  Sure enough, Cade arrived back at the cottage in short order.

  “I can’t thank you enough for this,” she said, after she climbed into the truck, sitting next to him.

  “No problem.”

  “But it was,” she countered. “I mean, this took more than two hours out of your afternoon.”

  “Didn’t have anything going on, so no sweat.”

  How quick he was to dismiss her appreciation. She wanted to thank him and could think of only one way. While he’d been dealing with her vehicle, she’d cooked dinner. A real dinner, pork chops in mustard sauce, and not something quick that she so often threw together.

  Cade pulled into the grocery parking lot and eased his truck next to her car. Even before she could ask him to join her for dinner, he said, “I’ll follow you home to be sure there aren’t any problems.”

  Hope decided to wait until they were back at the cottage before she mentioned the meal she’d prepared. “I’d appreciate that.”

  Her car ran as if there had never been a problem, and Hope was grateful.

  And nervous.

  She wanted to invite Cade to dinner. Past experience told her he would likely refuse. It came to her how much she hoped he’d agree to join her. She wanted to get to know him better. He’d built a barricade around himself, one as thick as the Great Wall of China, and she was eager to see the man behind that thick barrier.

  After she’d claimed the parking spot next to the cottage, she got out of her car. Cade was already backing out when she stopped him by waving her arm over her head.

  Rolling down his driver’s-side window, he looked impatient to leave.

  “Thanks again,” she said, walking over to his truck. As awkward as this felt, she wasn’t about to let him go this easily.

  Cade kept his hands on the steering wheel. “Like I said, it wasn’t a big deal.”

  “It was to me.”

  He acknowledged by dipping his head.

  “While you were busy dealing with the tire, I cooked dinner…I was hoping you’d join me.”

  “Not necessary.”

  “It’s the least I can do.”

  “Another time.” He started to close the window.

  “It’s my grandmother’s recipe for pork chops in mustard sauce, with fried potatoes and salad.”

  He hesitated. “Pork chops?”

  She nodded, seeing a small crack in his defense. Her grandmother was right when she’d claimed the way to garner a man’s interest was to wow him with her cooking. Unfortunately, the handful of recipes she’d gotten from her grandmother was limited. She did make a tasty meatloaf, though.

  That crack closed almost as fast as it appeared. “Another time.”

  It was hard to disguise her disappointment before she accepted his decision. “Okay, I understand you’re probably busy. How about I put together a plate for you to take with you?”

  He looked away from her and then back. “Thanks anyway, I’ve got other plans.”

  Earlier, he’d assured her he had nothing on his agenda. He’d lied in order to get out of spending time with her. Enough said. She got the picture.

  “Sure,” she said, finding it hard to swallow his rejection. “Another time.”

  He agreed with a quick nod. Hope knew without him ever saying it that he had no intention of following through.

  She stood on her porch steps and watched as Cade drove away. As he pulled out of view, she couldn’t help but wonder if she would ever be able to understand what made him tick.

  Her phone chirped with a special ring that told her it was her dear friend Tonya.

  “Hey,” Hope said, happy to hear from her college roommate. “It’s been a while.”

  “You were on my mind. How do you like living in Washington?”

  “Love it.”

  “Meet any interesting men?”

  Sometimes Hope wondered if Tonya had psychic powers. “Now that you mention it, I have.” For the next ten minutes she relayed her brief history with Cade. “Do you have any words of wisdom?” she asked her friend.

  “Patience,” Tonya said, without hesitation. “You took the first step. Let him be the next one to reach out.”

  “And if he doesn’t?”

  “Then you have your answer. Some men are worth the effort and others aren’t. Let Cade tell you into which category he falls.”

  After briefly catching up, Hope ended the call and mulled over the advice her friend had given her.

  * * *

  —

  The next morning, before her first class, Hope stopped by Dean Wilcox’s office. She had to wait a few minutes before he was able to see her.

  “More trouble with Pender?” he asked, as soon as she took a seat in his office.

  “Unsure. I have a question, though.”

  “Fire away.” He leaned back in his chair and placed his hands behind his head, ready to listen.

  “Did you happen to speak to anyone about our conversation after I left the school yesterday?”

  Dean Wilcox frowned slightly. “What makes you ask?”

  “My car was vandalized yesterday afternoon.”

  He dropped his hands and straightened. “How so?”

  She told him. “Did you mention what I told you about Scott to Coach Simmons?”

  “I did, but it wasn’t until after practice. Coach said he’d make sure Scott understood if disciplinary action was taken because of his behavior, he’d have to pull him from the team.”

  If Scott prized anything, it was his standing as the team’s quarterback. The reprimand would certainly be taken seriously. That didn’t mean that Scott’s friends or teammates wouldn’t act on his behalf, though. They were just as likely to make Spencer’s life miserable as Scott was. Dean Wilcox knew it and so did Hope.

  “I’ll check into this, and if I find out anything I’ll let you know.”

  “I’d appreciate it,” Hope told him.

  At this point she would give anything to have not encouraged Spencer to pursue Callie. The price was too high for them both.

  Chapter 8

  Cade sat directly across from Harry in the group session on Wednesday afternoon. Of the four men and one woman in the group, he probably had the least of the physical injuries. Ricardo, who was close to Cade’s age, had lost his left leg and arm. Shelley, a nurse, was without her right hand, Dean was blind, and Silas was badly scarred from burns over a third of his body, including up his neck and over part of one cheek. The extent of their injuries helped Cade appreciate that he’d walked away with a barely noticeable limp. Yes, there was pain. Plenty of that, and not all of it physical.

  Dean was speaking. “I’m adjusting to life in the dark. I fought it as long as I could, believing, you know, in some miracle, some new medical discovery that would give me back my sight. With the help of my wife, I’m ready to accept the truth and move forward with my new reality.”

  Cade could well imagine how difficult it had been for the vibrant young man to be cast into the unfamiliar world of complete darkness. From previous sessions, Cade knew Dean had the encouragement and love of his wife. Still, he knew this hadn’t been an easy journey. Dean had struggled hard against the bitterness he felt over his circumstances. This was the turning point for him, and Cade was pleased. He knew the group had been instrumental in helping Dean reach this point.

  As was all too often the case, the men and women who were entrusted to love and support those serving in the military couldn’t deal with the new normal. When faced with their loved one’s life changing injuries, unable to adjust to the pressures, they frequently walked away. Dean was one of the fortunate ones. Silas, not so much. He didn’t know about Ricardo or Shelley, as they were relatively new to the group.

  Cade had had no one to care if he made the adjustment or not, and that was fine by him. It was his choice. Luke and Jeremy, the two men he’d considered his family, had been killed in battle. Cade had been helpless to stop it. He could do nothing more than watch them die before aid could arrive. He suffered with the guilt of that every single day.

  The discussion continued around him. Cade listened but contributed nothing. His mind wasn’t with the group as much as it should have been. He couldn’t stop thinking about Hope. As much as he’d wanted to accept her dinner invitation, he’d turned her down. He had yet to understand what made him refuse the very thing he wanted most. He was messed up in the head. Troubled. Probably best he stayed away from her. If she knew him, really knew him, she’d be smart to run in the opposite direction.

  As though sensing Cade was lost in his own thoughts, Harry asked him a direct question. “Cade, how’s Shadow?”

  He straightened in his folding metal chair as if he’d been caught speeding and the traffic cop’s lights were flashing in his rearview mirror. “Doing well,” he answered dismissively.

  “Shadow?” Ricardo asked.

  “A dog from the shelter where I’ve been volunteering,” Cade answered, and then for reasons he wasn’t sure needed to be explained, he added, “Hope is taking him home with her this afternoon.”

  Preston had made a point of letting Cade know on his way out of the shelter the day before. Hope’s good news had been on his mind when he’d happened to catch a glimpse of her with her flat tire.

  “Who’s Hope?” Ricardo asked.

  Harry motioned for Cade to respond. “Shadow’s a dog, and Hope’s another volunteer at the animal shelter.” The words hung in the air as if the others were waiting for more details. Details he wasn’t about to supply. The less said the better.

  “A woman?” Silas asked. “Hey, man, have you been holding out on us?”

  “No,” Cade said quickly, probably too quickly, and too adamantly. “The thing is, I’m worried about her.”

  “Why’s that?” Harry asked.

  “I’m afraid she’s in over her head.” Cade briefly explained the circumstances of finding her with the flat tire.

  Ricardo shrugged at Cade. “Not your monkey, not your circus, man. We got our own problems. You don’t need to make her troubles your concern. You want my advice, stay away from this chick.”

  “He’s right,” Silas said. “Look where playing hero got us. I learned my lesson the hard way. As far as I can see, this teacher friend of yours got herself into this mess, then she can get herself out, without any help from you.”

  In theory, Cade agreed, not that it seemed to do any good. “The thing is, I can’t stop thinking about her.” Although he spoke to the group, the comment was directed to Harry, seeking his advice, wanting the counselor he’d come to trust to explain this fascination with Hope.

  “Let her go before she drags you down,” Shelley tossed at him. As the only woman in the group, she usually was the quiet one. The one least likely to speak her mind or offer an opinion.

  “I wish it was that easy,” Cade admitted. “After I got her a new tire, Hope asked me to dinner. Without even thinking about it, I refused, and then all night I was kicking myself. More than anything, I would have liked to spend that time with her. She’d even cooked my favorite dinner. Pork chops and fried potatoes.”

  “That was smart, man,” Ricardo told him. “You did the right thing.”

  Cade didn’t agree. “Then why did she look at me like I’d kicked a puppy.” He glanced up and made eye contact with each member of the group, looking for them to explain what had prompted him to reject the very thing he wanted most. It was an impossible request, seeing he couldn’t answer the question himself.

  Harry leaned forward. “What frightens you about Hope?” he asked.

  The question irritated Cade. “I’m not frightened.”

  “Oh sorry, I must have misunderstood. She invited you to dinner, and even though she’d cooked your favorite meal and you wanted to spend time with her, you turned her down.”

  Hearing it put like that, Cade knew he’d been called up short. “I like her,” he reluctantly admitted. “Just the way she worked with Shadow. That dog was a mess: feral, mean, and destined to be put down. Hope refused to let that happen. Her patience with him was above and beyond what anyone else was willing to invest.”

  “That’s cool,” Silas murmured.

  Cade was impressed with her, too, with her patience and determination.

  “I think everyone has this wrong,” Dean said, addressing the subject for the first time. “Maybe Cade needs Hope in his life.”

  “Not if she’s bringing trouble with her,” Ricardo insisted. “We got all we can handle as it is. Taking on anyone else’s is a no-win situation.”

  “Doesn’t anyone else see the connection?” Dean gave a small smile. Cade had noticed that his fellow veteran often had insight that escaped the others.

  “Tell us what you mean,” Harry encouraged.

  “It should be obvious,” Dean said. “Cade sees himself in this dog. If I’ve learned anything in these sessions, it’s that the psychological injuries require just as much healing, if not more, than whatever else upended our lives.”

  What Dean said was something Cade should have understood himself, and yet somehow it had escaped him. He had unconsciously seen himself in Shadow. He, too, was angry. And like the feral dog, Cade didn’t want anyone befriending him, either. As he watched Hope patiently and gently work with Shadow, he felt inexplicably drawn to her.

  “You might be right,” Cade was willing to admit. “But that doesn’t explain why I would reject the very thing I wanted most.”

  “The pork chops or Hope?” Shelley asked, and they all laughed.

  “Hope,” Cade admitted.

  “I think it does explain it,” Silas said, looking thoughtful, staring down at the floor. “What Cade’s shared is something we’re all facing in one way or another.”

  “Say more about that,” Harry urged.