From This Moment - By Alison Chaffin Higson Page 0,42

out you two. Please. I can’t take anymore.” Jake does the T sign with his hands as he sits next to Elise.

Giggling, Rona replies, “No, neither can I.”

“I’m really not having breakfast with you again.” Jake looks appalled.

~~ Rona ~~

God, I’m not sure what’s wrong with me this morning. I can’t seem to shut up with sexual innuendo. Guess I must be on a high after the shower with Cade this morning; I certainly feel on one.

I decide it might be best to take Cade up on his advice and eat my bagel. Cade has brought me coffee to go with it. After a brief silence, “Is there any news from Daniel’s office?” Cade asks Jake.

“No, they haven’t found him yet, but the good news is that Grace will make a full recovery. She came around in the night, but is still a bit out of it. They’re hoping to talk to her this morning. There’s also a guy from out of town, a DEA agent, waiting to talk to her as well; he also wants to talk to Elise.” Jake replies.

“Why does a DEA agent want to talk to Elise and Grace? I thought the outside interest was about Nick?” I ask feeling rather confused.

“Daniel hinted that they might be connected, but he didn’t say how,” Jake replies.

“This sounds pretty big. Neither Rona nor Elise go anywhere without one of us with them and they don’t stay in the house alone.”

When everyone stays silent at Cade’s announcement, Elise asks, “So you think Tom will come here?”

Standing up, he runs his fingers though his hair, “Yes, I do. He will come looking for you and maybe Jake. I don’t like the fact that he could also get to Rona, to get to you.”

Standing up, I go to him and put my arms around his waist. “I’ll be okay.” He wraps me in his arms. “And so will Elise, they’ll catch him.”

“I hope so love,” he places a kiss on my forehead.

Pulling away from Cade, I can see how much this situation with Tom is bothering him.

“Cade, come and sit with me.” Sitting, he pulls me against his chest, holding me there.

I look at Jake and Elise, who are cuddling on the other sofa, “Do you guys have anything planned today?” I bring Cade’s hand up to kiss his palm before placing it back on to my stomach.

“I’m taking Elise to see our house,” he tells me with such pride.

“Good. Does she get to see inside?”

With a slight cough, “Yes.”

I smile at him. “I thought so. I’d already figured out it was Elise you’re building the house for. It makes sense that you’d want her to see it first.”

“I knew there was a reason I like you!” Jake says.

“You mean because of my beauty, charm and wit or did you mean for making your father happy or for interfering between you and Elise?” I catch the cushion Jake throws at me.

Laughing. “All the above.”

“Good answer son.” Cade starts to nuzzle the back of my neck.

Settling back into Cade, I let the conversation carry on around me, because I’m starting to get a headache. Putting my head on Cade’s chest, I reach up to rub my temples.

“Are you okay love?” Cade asks me, replacing my fingers with his over my forehead.

“Not really. I have a headache that’s crept up on me out of the blue. I’m going to have to excuse myself and go and lie down. I’m sorry.”

“Don’t worry. You’ll feel better after lying down for a while,” Elise says.

Standing up from the sofa, Cade stands too. “I’ll go up with you get you some painkillers.”

“Thanks.” Then I look towards Elise and Jake, “I’ll see you guys later?”

“Yes you will. Elise is staying here,” Jake takes Elise’s hand.

“Good.”

By the time I arrive to the bedroom my head is throbbing and I start to feel sick. Pulling the sheets back, I climb on to the bed, just as Cade arrives with my prescribed migraine tablets.

“Here love, take these.” He helps me to sit up so I can take the tablets.

“You don’t need to stay with me. I’m just going to sleep it off.” He joins me on the bed.

“I want to stay with you. Just shut your eyes and rest. I’ll be right here.”

“Okay honey.” I take hold of Cade’s hand and close my eyes.

~~ Cade ~~

Just lying here beside Rona, holding her hand, I don’t think I’ve ever felt so content in my life. Rona has been asleep about three hours.