God, this was humiliating.
I’d experienced plenty of embarrassment in my time on this earth, but standing there in that moment, I was hit with a wave of it unlike anything previously endured. I wished he would just go, already.
Why was he so insistent on hanging around?
I really didn’t want him to hear me tell the sweet lady at the desk I could only afford one night. And I really,really, did not want to crack open my pathetic little shoebox and start counting out my meager stack of cash while the weight of those sharp blue eyes flattened me into a pancake of mortification.
Perhaps sensing the tension, the receptionist interjected. “We do a weekly discount: six hundred if you stay seven nights.” She paused, then muttered, “Not that anyone does.”
I was still staring — glaring — at Cade. “Just go. Please.”
“Goldie—”
“Go!”
My voice cracked on the word, and everyone jolted at the sound — even me. Shoving down my embarrassment, I forced myself to hold his eyes and, in a more level tone, repeated, “Go. Please. I’ve got it from here.”
He studied me for another long moment. I thought he wasn’t going to listen but, miraculously, he hauled his tall frame off the desk and straightened to full height. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out his wallet and extracted what appeared to be a business card. He used one of the desk pens to scrawl a phone number on the back in blocky, masculine writing. When he was finished, he could’ve simply handed it to me but instead, in a blink, he reached out and tucked the tiny white square of cardstock into the back pocket of my cut-off shorts.
It happened so fast, I didn’t even have time to backpedal.
“What—”
“My cell number,” he said simply, stepping away. “Call me tomorrow about your car. I should have an update from Puck by mid-afternoon.”
“That’s not necess?—”
“Tomorrow,” he said firmly, cutting me off before I could tell him I wouldn’t be dragging him into any more of my problems. “Or before that. If you need me for any reason?—”
“I won’t!”
“Right.” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “Sleep well, Goldie.”
He crossed to the door with long-legged strides. He was halfway there when, from the parlor-style room on the right, a small form raced into the reception area, moving so fast he was almost a blur. He skidded abruptly to a halt, nearly tripping on the rug in the process. Cade’s large hand settled on the boy’s shoulder, steadying him before he could face-plant at his feet.
“Whoa there. Slow down, bud.”
“Detective Hightower! Detective Hightower! It’s me! Rory! Remember?”
Cade planted his hands on his hips and stared down at the little boy, who was no more than six or seven, by my best guess. He was barefoot, tousle-headed, and dressed in pajamas that were covered in small silver spaceships.
“Rory?” Cade echoed. “Hmm… No, I don’t think so…”
The kid looked crushed he’d been so easily forgotten. “Really? You don’t remember? We met in the summertime! At home —” He looked quickly at his mother and a note of uncertainty crept into his voice. “I mean, at our old place. At Dad’s place.”
“No, that can’t be.” Cade shook his head back and forth. “Rory was a little boy. You look more like an alien to me.”
An utterly delighted grin moved over the kid’s face. He looked a lot like Georgia — light brown hair, bright hazel eyes, and fine, foxlike features. “That’s right! I’m going to be a Martian for Halloween! I wanted the costume with the built-in lasers we saw at the store. It comes with a matching helmet! And a pair of blasters! But Mom said it cost too much.” His smile crumpled a little, but he forced a chipper tone. “Now she’s making me a costume from scratch! And it’s gonna beawesome! Right, Mom?”
“Right,” Georgia echoed morosely, no doubt thinking of the monumental sewing task ahead of her. She’d come around her desk to face-off with her son. “Bub, what are you doing out of bed? It’s way past your bedtime.”
“I heard voices,” the kid said, like his reasoning should be obvious. He looked abruptly at me, naked curiosity in his eyes. “Who areyou?”
“She’s a guest, Rory,” Georgia said patiently. “She’s staying here tonight.”
“Sweet!” He threw both arms into the air over his head in celebration. “Are you here for Halloween?”
I shook my head. “Just for one night.”