Part 14 (2/2)

Annie laughed as they walked up the steps toward the party. They entered through the open doors into a huge foyer. Marble floors, antiques, crystal chandeliers, and priceless artwork hung on the walls. When she looked closer, she saw family snapshots on table tops and other little homey touches throughout the area.

”Oh, there you are! We were hoping you'd come.” The Rose sisters bustled over to them, dressed in their finest floral dresses and matching hats.

”Why, I have never seen such beautiful women. How are you ladies doing tonight?” Cade kissed their cheeks and grinned down at them before Miss Daisy smacked him on the arm.

”Don't you be sweet talkin' me in front of your girlfriend. She might decide you're a rascal and not marry you.”

”Howdy, ma'am, Cade,” a tall, wiry man with slicked back light brown hair said. He was handsome in his black suit and tanned skin.

”Happy Thanksgiving, Noodle. How are your parents?” Cade asked. Holy cow! She didn't even recognize him!

”They're doing well. They are walking around here somewhere. Have you had any more problems, Miss Hill?”

”No, thank you, deputy.” She smiled at him before Cade started talking fis.h.i.+ng with him. She decided to go walk around some and see more of the house while they were discussing baits and lures.

The sitting room was packed with people. She recognized most of them, even if she couldn't remember their names. They all waved or stopped her to say a couple of words to her as she made her way to the bar set up on the far side of the room.

”Annie,” a smooth voice encompa.s.sed her.

”Your highness?”

His eyes gleamed as he silently laughed at her. His manners were way too good for him to actually laugh out loud. ”Just call me Mo. Everyone else does.”

”Oh, well, thank you, Mo, for inviting me.”

”You're part of the town too. Danielle talks very highly of you. I hoped you and Cade would join us for dinner soon.”

”I'd like that. Thank you.” He was so different from Cade, but they both had the same kindness. Cade exuded power through his quiet strength. Mo exuded power through his bearing.

Annie talked with Mo until he was cornered by Pam Gilbert to discuss fundraising for new school computers. Annie quietly excused herself and continued through the room. She was enjoying her time on the outskirts of the room as she watched the people of this small community talking and laughing.

Just the sight of the whole town dressed up and happily chatting away made her want to belong. She had a man she loved, in a town that welcomed her. She even kind of had Justin and the Davies family.

An older, portly fellow with black pants, dark orange dress s.h.i.+rt and suspenders came towards her, sporting a big, bushy gray beard. He smiled, and his large belly jiggled as he waved to some people across the room.

”I just wanted to tell you that I'm so glad you have come to join us.” He shook her hand and smiled jovially.

”Thank you, Mr...?”

”Wolfe, John Wolfe. It's about time the law did something about those drugs. Keeneston is such a perfect town, but we just aren't prepared for such things. And, that Devon Ross is as sleazy as they come. I really hope you can bust him soon.” Only through years of training did she hide her shock. She put on a gentle smile and gave a little laugh.

”I'm sorry, Mr. Wolfe, but I'm just a guidance counselor, not a cop.”

”A cop? Of course you're not a cop, missy, you're DEA,” he said matter-of-factly. ”Now, you just let me know if you need any information, and if I don't already know the answer, I can find out for you. It was a real pleasure meeting you. All the kids at the high school just love you. I hope you decide to stay around after this case.” He gave her a wink as he waded back into the crowd.

Annie stood still, feeling a bit silly as she stared after him. How was that possible? Had she just been punked? She smiled again and started to mingle. Lesson one, never show a reaction. So she talked to Dani, Kenna and Paige and allowed herself to be dragged around the room and introduced to practically everyone in the town by the Rose sisters before Cade caught up with them.

He came up beside her and lightly ran his hand down her back before resting it on the curve of her hip. ”Are you about ready to go home?” he whispered into her ear. His warm breath danced over her skin, resulting in goose b.u.mps and s.h.i.+vers that were definitely not caused from being cold.

Home. The word meant something now. She gave him a full smile and nodded. She really wanted to get home and be with him. He expertly extricated her from the conversation and steered her out of the room. She slipped on her coat when she noticed John Wolfe again.

”Hey, he knew I was DEA. Did you tell him?” She casually nodded in his direction.

”Who, John?”

”Yes, he came up to me and told me he was glad I was here to clean up the drug mess and offered any information I needed.”

”He's a local legend. He knows everything, but no one knows how. I'm not surprised he knows about the drugs, and I'm not surprised he knows you are DEA. I would be surprised if we ever found out how he knows all this. If he offered to help, take him up on it. He and the Roses are the heart and soul of this town. He'll find out anything you need and will move heaven and earth to protect Keeneston.” Cade leaned over and gave her a gentle kiss on the lips before saying good-bye to some of his friends gathering their coats.

They approached his home, and she saw the curtain in the front window move aside and a big black nose press against the widow. A purple bow was tied in his hair today. Justin barked his greeting as he bounded toward the door with his hair flying and bow bouncing.

A sense of peacefulness settled over her as she watched Justin land two big paws on Cade's chest and cover his face with his kisses. She may not have experienced the feeling often, but she knew what it was. She was happy, and she was in love with a man and his goofy dog.

Cade laughed as Justin bounded around. Annie slipped out of her coat and leaned against Cade. He slipped his arm around her shoulders and tucked her head against his chest.

”Cade?”

”Yes.”

”I love you, too.” She felt the hitch in his breathing as he heard her soft words. He spun her around and kissed her fast and hard. His hands were everywhere, and she was suddenly standing there in nothing but her black bra, panties and heels.

”G.o.d, I have been dying to tell you how much I love you, but I was afraid I would scare you away.” His tie went flying and landed out of sight. ”I was afraid before. I'm glad you didn't push it. But, I know it now with certainty. I know what I want, and it's you.” She didn't speak anymore after that. He didn't give her time. He decided to show her a kind of love that didn't need words.

The playoffs. Jesus, the playoffs. Cade took a couple deep breaths and wrung his hands. He was stalling going into the locker room. He knew it, but he couldn't let the boys see his nerves. He had never made it to the playoffs. Heck, he'd never coached before either. How was he going to do this?

”Coach?”

”Austin, what can I do for you?” Cade watched as his quarterback squared his shoulders and looked him right in the eye.

”Over Thanksgiving, I realized something. We both know I was supplementing with S2. I told myself it was for the team. To help win State and to help me win a scholars.h.i.+p. I thought it made me better, but it made me worse. I had dinner with Bonner, and he's still in physical therapy and has to take all these medications. I don't want that to happen to anyone else. I realized what happened to Bonner could happen to me or any of my teammates who are taking S2. I have talked to the team. We're all clean now, but I know what I need to do. I need to turn myself in to you as a drug user. I know you'll want me off the team. Maybe I could get some counseling from Miss Hill and come back next year?” Austin stood his ground and was prepared to take his punishment. Cade couldn't help but respect him. He had grown up.

”After the game, let's meet in my office in the field house with your parents and Miss Hill and discuss the situation. I am very proud of you for talking to me. It shows great leaders.h.i.+p, Austin. Real quarterbacks need to lead on and off the field.”

”Yes, sir.” Austin went back into the locker room and Cade felt his adrenalin surge. He had a plan and it would work if he got some help from John Wolfe.

Cade ran the length of the sidelines, cheering Trey on as he made his way to the end zone. There was one minute left in the rematch game against their rival T.H. Morgan and they were tied. Austin had pa.s.sed the ball to Trey who had leveled one defender and twisted out of another tackle forty yards back. He had broken free and was heading for the end zone to give Keeneston the lead.

Trey tucked the ball against his chest as he lunged past the last defensive player to reach the end zone. The whistle blew and the referee's arms went up causing the stadium to erupt.

”Come on, men! Huddle up! The game is not over. They still have time to score.” Cade called his defense around him as the extra point was kicked. ”Stick to your man. Don't give them an inch. You win this, and you play at Commonwealth Stadium from now on.”

The defense took the field with determination. The quarterback from T.H. Morgan pulled his arm back and released a canon of a ball that shot downfield. Cade almost closed his eyes, but he couldn't look away. If the receiver caught this ball, there would only be Aiden, the freshman safety, there to prevent the touchdown.