Page 88 of Second Chance at Sunshine Inn

She shifted out of his arms and leaned back against the sofa with her side pressed against him. He was grateful she hadn’t broken the connection. He stretched his arm out behind her, and she rested her head against his shoulder before looking up at him. “Why didn’t Alana want us to know—my mom and me?”

He moved his fingers through her damp hair, and it was just as soft as he’d imagined. “I asked her more than once if she wanted to call your mom, and she said no. I knew how close they were, but Alana didn’t want to be a burden to anyone.”

“A burden?” Everleigh asked, looking shocked or possibly more hurt. “I wouldn’t have ever considered her a burden. I would’ve broken my contract with the hospital and come right home. I could’ve taken her to her appointments, held her hand during her treatments, held her hair while she was sick, made her meals, and even fed her if she was too tired to pick up her utensils. I could’ve kept her comfortable, Cade. Washed her clothes. I could’ve been her nurse, but she never gave me a chance. After all those years of supporting me, she didn’t give me the opportunity to do the same for her. And I— I—” Her voice cracked, and more sobs broke through her trembling body.

When she covered her face with her hands again, he pulled her against him and massaged her back. He longed to take away her pain, but the only way he knew how was to hold her close. Her body shuddered, and he closed his eyes.

“It’s okay, Everleigh,” he murmured. “I know you would’ve taken good care of her. It’s obvious how much she meant to you.”

She rested her head on his shoulder and seemed to be working to calm herself.

When she pulled away from him, she hugged her arms against her middle. “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I don’t know why I’m such a basket case tonight. Seeing the tree crash through the sunroom just unlocked all of this grief I’ve been carrying around with me since...”

“You don’t need to apologize.” He handed her a box of tissues from the end table beside him.

She mopped up her face with a tissue and then inclined her head against his shoulder once again. “Did she go for treatments?”

He shook his head. “She was diagnosed and had an appointment at UNC–Chapel Hill. She planned to tell your mom everything after the appointment for her treatment plan, but she never made it there.”

“I’m so angry with her for not telling me.” Her chin wobbled. “And I’m angry at myself for being angry with her.”

He pushed her hair back from her face. “I can relate. I was angry when she finally admitted to me that she hadn’t felt well for a while but wouldn’t go to the doctor. If she’d gone sooner, they might’ve been able to help her.”

They were both silent, and he enjoyed the feeling of her head resting against his shoulder. He could get used to sitting with her like this. Snuggling with her. Touching her. Sharing his most private thoughts with her.

Stop it! She’s your friend and only your friend.

“Thank you for taking care of her,” she finally said.

“I didn’t do much.” His voice was rough. “But I did everything I could. She became like family to me. In some ways I felt closer to her than to my mom. She was easier to talk to.”

“I know what you mean. I could tell Alana things that I couldn’ttell my mom too. I guess I knew I could be completely honest with her and not worry about disappointing her.” A tear trailed down her cheek, and he wiped it away with the tip of his finger. “I miss our talks. There’s so much I wish I could tell her, and I’d love to hear her opinion on things, especially about the nonprofit and the inn.”

“She was a wonderful person.”

Everleigh touched his cheek. “You’re such a good man, Cade. Thank you for taking such good care of her when I couldn’t. I know she was in good hands with you.” She ran the tip of her finger along his jawline, her touch leaving a sizzle of desire in its wake.

His eyes locked on her lips, and for a moment he couldn’t stop himself from wondering how soft they were and how they tasted. His blood heated, and when he dipped his chin, he thought he heard her breath hitch.

Then warning bells screamed in his head, and he froze. What was he doing? Everleigh was planning to leave soon. Getting involved with her was the last thing he should—

“Cade?” she asked. “Is that the kettle?”

“What?”

She pointed toward the galley kitchen. “The kettle?”

His brain suddenly engaged. The kettle was whistling—not warning bells wailing in his head.

“Oh!” He popped up from the sofa and rushed to the kitchen, where he brewed the tea and brought the two mugs over to the coffee table.

“It sounds like the storm finally calmed down,” she said, pointing to the ceiling.

The wind gusts weren’t as fierce, and rain tapped softly on the roof above them.

“You’re not setting foot in the inn until we know it’s safe,” he said.

She nodded and sipped from her mug.

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